It was the first day of his new show’s taping. He felt excited and nostalgic at the same time because the location of Villa Quintana is the same location of his first major film, Just One Summer. He was looking out the window of his car when he finally saw the familiar place. The place he knew by heart.
"Boss, andito na po tayo." Kuya Rolly said when they entered the place.
"H-ha? Ah. Oo." he said and nodded.
"Boss, dito din tayo nagpupunta dati diba?" tanong uli nito as he looked at Elmo on the rearview mirror.
"Ah. Oo. Dito… dito din tayo nun." Kuya Rolly saw how sad his eyes were. Alam naman kasi niya na dun nabuo lahat ng masasayang memorya ng amo niya. The car stopped and Elmo went out to greet the staffs, his co-actors and Direk Gina Alajar.
"Hi, Elmo!" one staff greeted him. He smiled at him at saka siya lumapit kay direk.
"Uhm direk?" he said.
"Oh. Elmo, why?" the director asked. "Nagbreakfast ka na ba? Food’s on the table." dagdag nito.
"Uhm… later na lang po. Direk can I roam around the place first?" he asked.
"Sige. It’s still early pa naman and di pa kumpleto artists." pagpayag nito. "And you can get familiarized with the place na din."
"Thank you po." he said and started off. Galing siya sa bahay niya. Sa bahay ni Maria Bettina "Beto" Salazar. Dun kasi ang bahay na pagsstay-an nila during breaks and kapag wala silang scene. He heaved a deep sigh and walked out of the house and went to the hill.
*****
He was roaming his eyes around the place. Yung puno na tinatambayan nila nun, madami nang bunga. Yung mga kalabaw. Si Isko. He smiled when he saw the carabao. And para bang nagflashback sa kanya lahat. He started seeing things. Things that reminded him of his past.
FLASHBACK…
"Moe!! Dun tayo oh." Julie said sabay turo sa puno ng mangga. They walked towards the tree and Julie started to climb it.
"Julie baka mahulog ka." he said habang pinapanuod itong umakyat. Mababa lang ang mga sanga nito but still. He’s afraid that she might fall and might hurt herself.
"Sus. Takot ka lang eh. Halika dali!" she called him.
"Julie, get down. Baka mahulog ka!"
"Psh. Wala ka pala, Moe eh. Scared like a kitty cat?" she teased.
"No I’m not."
"Then come here. Mababa lang naman eh." she said.
"I don’t know how to climb a tree." he said.
"Dun oh. Umapak ka dun then yung left foot mo diyan sa sunod na branch. Then diyan sa kabila. It’s like climbing a ladder, Elmo." she explained. He followed her instructions kahit pa nangangatog ang tuhod niya sa takot. He reached her place and he sat next to her.
"Wooh! Ang taas, Julie!" He said as he slowly sat down next to her. "Aren’t you scared?" he asked then looked at her. She was staring into space as a smile forms on her face.
"Who would get scared kung ganito kaganda yung makikita mo?" she said.
"Yeah." he replied habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Julie caught him staring at her at saka niya pinaharap si Elmo sa tinitingnan niyan.
"Yan yung sinasabi ko Moe. Hindi ako. Adik!" she said.
"Bakit? Eh mas maganda yung view ko pag nakaganito ako eh. Looks… peaceful."
