Chasing You (On Hold)

Chapter 19

"Hey, you wanna stop over at a drive through?" Tanong ni Kade. Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya, we've been driving for an hour and a half after naipadala yung replacement car ni Kade. Luckily, one of his cars were already done coding nung tinawagan niya ang mga taong bahala dun so, here we are.

"I don't mind. Are you hungry? If you are, we can. Bawal magpagutom." Sabi ko naman at umiling agad siya.

"We're almost there, so I was just wondering if you were hungry. I pulled you out of your office really late today at ayokong nagpapalipas ka ng gutom." Sabi niya while still focused on the road. I looked to the side to shy away the smile on my face.

I saw him glance at me again on my peripheral vision, as if concerned by my sudden look away.

"Isla?" Tanong niya ulit.

"Malapit naman na tayo Kade. It's fine, I'm not that hungry yet. Maya nalang para mas makatipid ka sa gas." Sagot ko at tiningnan siyang nasa daan pa rin ang tingin, pero kahit ganon, ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang lahat ng atensyon niya sakin.

"Hmm.." I raised a brow.

"If that's what you say so.." Natahimik nalang ako at nakuha naman ang atensyon ko sa malaking sign na nag-aabang habang papasok na kami sa siyudad, it says,

"Welcome to.. Tagaytay.." I whispered quietly, and all the questions immediately rushed into my mind. Ba't kaya kami nasa Tagaytay? How.. does he know something about my family?

Wait, I'm jumping into conclusions and this is wrong. Baka dinala niya lang ako dito para mamasyal diba? But I've literally been to every nook and cranny of Tagaytay that, it is not as exciting to me--other than, I get to be with Kade Madrigal in my hometown for the first time.

Amorsolo Andrada, my grandfather used to be the mayor of Tagaytay way back during the 30s. He was the youngest mayor the city ever had, having elected when he was 21 years old and retired at 45. Malaki ang naging impluwensiya at reputasyon ng mga IAndrada rito--lalong lalo na't yung papa't mga tito ko.

This was also where he met Isela Gadriel Andrada. My grandmother, who I was so very closely named after. Their love is carved on the very heart of this city, and their story is everywhere around me that the sight of the city's entrance triggers my nostalgia.

Dito ako lumaki. Kasama sina lolo't lola, sina mommy't daddy. Tagaytay is my home, that it is ironic how I've forgotten about it.

"Isla?" Napatingin naman ako kay Kade, and glanced behind him. I noticed we had just arrived in a very big mansion. Napakunot ang noo ko sa nakita.. I know this mansion..

"Isla, we're here." Don Emilio Salvador.. Madrigal. How could I have not known? He is a Madrigal! But I never knew he was related to the Salvador Madrigals! This.. feels unreal!

"Where.. what is this place Kade?" I asked and looked at him, he seemed fazed at my reaction as if he knew that I knew something about the place.

"Casa Salvador De Madrigal. My ancestral home." I can't believe it! He is related to..

"This was built in the 1850s. My grandfather, Mio Salvador Madrigal was born and raised in Tagaytay."

Emilio Salvador Madrigal was a controversial name in the 30s. I was told his story at a very young age, and was immediately inspired. He was commonly known as Don Emilio Salvador, the young prodigy. People never acknowledged he was a Madrigal despite the fact that his father, Tellermo Madrigal was a ruthless tycoon in Manila's blooming export industry back then.

Mas pinili niyang makilala bilang Salvador pagkatapos mawalan ng ina, at nang nagpakasal muli ang tatay,

"..while my great grandmother, Remedios Salvador, was from Spain and met my great grandfather at Cebu. It is said that she was my great grandfather, Tellermo Madrigal's great love. But because of grief and sorrow, naging desperado si Lolo Tellermo na mag-asawa. He couldn't live with Remedios' death, but my grandfather Emilio, chose to honour her birthname."