The one That Comes Along

Introducing

Manila, Philippines..

After five years of living in Canada, he just thought that his country had not change a bit. Grumabe pa nga yata. Sobrang traffic, at kahit aircon na ang kanyang baby mazda3 ay ramdam pa rin ang mala-impyernong init.

" Ano, drian.. ready ka na ba for your welcome in party? " ani cassandra sa kanyang nakababatang kapatid.

Bumuntong hininga siya. He's not fond of any parties. Kahit noong bata pa siya, sa tuwing may celebration sa bahay ay nagkukulong lamang siya sakanyang silid.

" you know I don't like parties, ate. Sinabi ko na yun nong malapit nakong umuwi diba? Ayoko non! " matigas niyang sabi.

" But drian.. Pagbigyan mo naman sila. You've been gone for five years.. they must missed you so much.. Especially mom and dad. " pacute pang sabi nito. If she thinks na kaya nitong iplease siya sa ganoong paraan.. well, she had won, wala pa man itong sinasabi. How could he resist to his one and only sister. And to think na ito ang nag aruga sakanya noon habang busy ang kanilang parents.

" fine, all for you ate. "

she hugs him.. And pour his cheeks a kisses..

" thank you, baby.. I know you will never fail me. "

And he sighed again. How he would not know na ate niya mismo ang organizer ng so-called welcome party niya. Napailing na lamang siya.

After 1 and a half hour ay sa wakas narating din nila ang mansyon na kanyang kinalakhan. Hindi pa man din siya nakababa sa kotse ay kitang kita na niya ang malaking LED monitor sa labas ng bakuran ng mansyon.. It says:

Welcome home our dear ADRIAN DELA FUENTE!

Napailing lamang ulit siya atsaka lumabas ng sasakyan. He saw her mother quickly approached him with teary eyes.. She hugs him.. At tulad dati nanlalambot siya everytime na ginagawa ito ng kanyang ina. He hugs her back and kiss her hair. He missed his mom so much that he wanted to cry it loud. Pero syempre hindi niya iyon gagawin.. In front of these many? No way.

His mother become so emotional na halos wala na itong sinasabi at iyak na lamang ng iyak.

" so ano? mag iiyakan nalang tayo? " said of familiar voice.

He took a gazed and find that shaking voice.. And as far as he know.. It's his father's..

More than a decade na niya itong hindi nakikita.. But unlike her mom, he doesn't seem to have missed his father. Actually hindi niya inaasahang makikita ito. Ay, hindi.. Hindi niya man lang to naisip.. He is just someone in a mansion now..

" haven't you missed me, son? " he asked in a baritono voice. And ofcourse widen his arms- for an embrace- para sa isang PALABAS!

He just shook his head, hindi pa rin ito nagbabago. Ayaw niya sana ngunit pinagbigyan na niya ito, he just gave him a very cold hug.. At ganoon rin ang kanyang ama, ni hindi niya halos naramdaman ang pagpitik nito sa kanyang balikat sa sobrang gaan. Matapos yun ay napailing nalamang siya- must have been his mannerism s tuwing nadidissapoint siya- at saka niya pa ito binigyan ng isang nakakalokong ngisi. And knowing his father, wala pa rin itong pakialam. Ang kanyang kuya Andrew lamang niya ang iniintindi nito eh, sila ng ate niya are like invisibles.. Palibhasa, wala sa bokabularyo ng mga ito ang magpatali sa mga kagustuhan nito.

Especially when his ate marry her personal body guard and driver. But of course it's another story to tell.

Pumasok na siya sa loob ng mansyon sa panghihikayat ng kanyang ate at mommy.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na ang kanyang kuya.. Actually he's dying to see him. Namiss niya rin ito.. For him, his kuya is his best buddy.

But as he know.. Their attention comes to him.. Sandali lang niya itong nakausap dahil inagaw na ito ng mga bisita- must his visitors- ngunit lihim niya rin iyong ikinatuwa. Ayaw man niya ay nagpaalam na siya sakanyang mommy at ate.. at hindi na siya nagpapigil pa.

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Five years..

It's been five years since Miko left her. He died in a car accident. Dead on the spot ika nga kaya wala man lang pagkakataon upang makapagpaalam ito sakanya..

It's his death anniversary.. Limang taon na ngunit malungkot pa rin siya. For her Miko is her everything. Tanda pa niya noon na halos sumama siya sa hukay nito sa sobrang kalugmukan.. She even intended a suicide.. Bumuntong hininga siya sa harap ng puntod nito.

" hanggang kelan ako dapat mag move in miko? I missed you." and suddenly her eyes become teary. ayaw na sana niyang umiyak. Nagsasawa na siya, ngunit hindi niya kaya itong pigilan at naiinis siya. She remembered the thing he used to do evrytime she cried.. At namimiss niya iyon. Gusto niyang gawin ni Miko ang mga yun sakanya ngayon. But ofcourse it will never happen.. At iyon ang lalong nakakapagpalungkot sakanya.

Ayaw pa sana niyang iwan ang puntod ng dating kasintahan ngunit may pasok pa siya. Muntik pa niyang makalimutan na ngayong araw uuwi ang bunsong anak ni madame dela fuente at pinapupunta siya nito sa mansion.

She quickly wipe her tears and fix herself.. Paglabas ng cemetery ay agad niyang pinara ang unang taxi na kanyang nakita. She told the driver the address.. Hindi iyon ang unang pagkakataon na pupunta siya roon.. Makailang beses na rin siya dinala ni madame dela fuente roon.

After 30 mins. she finally reached the mansion. Kilala na siya ng guard kung kayat pinapasok na.siya nito at hindi na sinino pa.

Lakad takbo ang kanyang ginawa. Late na nga naman na siya. Mukhang nariyan na ang anak ni madame..

Habang binabagtas ang madamong daan, natapilok pa siya ng may matapakang bato.. Pagminamalas ka nga naman.. But when she was about to fall, someone's grab her arm..

" oh miss, mag iingat ka naman. " sabi nito.

She took a deep glance.. Kinikilala niya ang lalaking ito. She didn't know him. ofcourse how would she know.. Baka kamag anakan lamang ito ng mga dela fuente.. But another side of her wish na sana ang lalaking kaharap niya ay si Adruan dela fuente. But that's too impossible.. Bakit naman iyon lalabas eh party nito iyon.

" ah, thank you. " she said in a low voice after she recovered her balance. Nahihiya siya. Nakakahiya naman talaga. But the guy seems so nice still smiling at her.

" you seemed so cute.. Namumula ka, oh? Bakit? " sabi ng gwapong lalaking kaharap niya.

She didn't used to deny what's inside of her.. So she told him the truth.

" nahihiya kasi ako. hmm.. You know I feel like I'm some kind of tanga. " and she smiled.

He smiled even wider.

She took a guick glance on het wrist watch.. naalala niyang late na siya at dapat magpakita na sakanyang madame.

" I have to go. Thank you ulit. " she gave him her sweetest smile.

Naglakad na siya palayo at dahil kinakabahan na baka mapagsabihan, hindi na niya tuloy naintindihan ang sinigaw nung lalaki.