Mimi Turns Pretty - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED ✅

Chapter 48

I've taken roadtrips alone crossing multiple states when I was in the US. Kasama sa part where I was trying to discover things on my own. It's one of the things that I enjoyed, driving with actually nowhere to go was relaxing and fun.

I discovered na I liked being in a small town with forest surrounding it, rather than being in a city full of buildings and bustling traffic. Iba pala ang dalang calm and peace when you're surrounded by nature.

I took up hiking and took long walks sa mga parks near NY during the weekends. It was one of the best things I've discovered, and I couldn't wait to spend time sa places na pareho noon sa Pilipinas pag-uwi ko.

That's why even though I've been driving for the past two hours, the beautiful greenery surrounding the roads don't bore me. I'm headed to a place na mas tahimik kaysa sa Manila and I smile.

I'm also headed to where Ollie is, and I'm both excited and terrified.

Kuya didn't provide me anymore details other than where he is. Hindi na rin ako nagtanong kay Kuya, I guess I trust na hindi niya naman ibibigay sa akin ang location ni Ollie if he thought it would be a bad thing for me. Pero wala na rin siyang ibang tulong na ibinigay. I really have to do this on my own.

Wala namang ibang dapat mag-ayos talaga nito kung hindi ako.

I look at the map on my phone and see that I'm left with almost one hour to travel. Medyo malapit na ako. It seemed like months ago I've dreamt of this same moment where I would have to face my fears of rejection and tell Ollie how I feel.

I honestly have no idea kung anong dapat kong i-expect from this, all I know is that I need to do it. When I left I know that I've probably hurt him to the point where he doesn't want to have anything to do with me, but at the time I had to be true to myself. Kailangan ko umalis personally, but I didn't know kung anong mangyayari sa pag-alis ko and I wasn't selfish enough to ask him to wait for me again. He's already been through so much because of me, and he didn't deserve someone na paghihintayin siya indefinitely.

I'm getting more and more anxious as I get nearer that place where he is. But I can't help the hope that's blooming in my heart as I get closer to him.

It takes me about 40 minutes to get to the few final streets I need to turn to para makarating kung nasaan man si Ollie. As I get nearer though medyo na-confuse ako kung tama ba ang mga kalsadang nilikuan ko dahil paliit ng paliit ang kalsada at napapaligiran ng malalaking puno.

I look back down on the business card and it just had the name The Tree of Life on it and the logo that was the same as the one on my necklace. There's only the business address and phone number on the back of the card.

"Naliligaw na ba ako?"

The sun is about to set, and I was contemplating calling Kuya, but I stop when I see a big carved wood with the tree of life logo on it. There were huge open gates beside it.

I guess I'm here.

May dalawang sasakyan na magkasunod na lumabas from the street and I try to peek kung isa ba doon si Ollie, but it's not his car and Ollie wasn't driving from what I can see sa windshields.

I take a turn for the road nang may kumaway sa akin from the right side of the road, mukhang guard but he was wearing civilian clothing.

I rolled my window down, "Manong, dito po ba ang Tree of Life?"

Tumango lang si Manong, "Yes ma'am. Pero sarado na po kasi kami, hanggang alas-singko lang po ang bukas ng farm. Tsaka kailangan n'yo pong magpa-schedule bago po kayo makapasok. Tawag po muna kayo sa opisina sa Lunes."

It was Friday and I can't wait two more days bago ko makausap si Ollie. Ayaw ko rin na tawagan lang siya. I needed to talk to him face to face.

Nakiusap ako kay Manong, "Naku Manong galing pa po kasi ako ng Maynila. Tsaka may kakilala ko po ako sa loob, baka pwede n'yo naman akong papasukin."

Kumunot ang noo ni Manong, "May kakilala po kayo? Ano hong pangalan?"

"Oliver De Luna po."

Parang nagulat si Manong at kinawayan akong pumasok, "Ah sige Ma'am. Ira-radyo ko pong papunta na po kayo, derecho lang po kayo sundan n'yo lang po ang main road para makarating sa bahay sa dulo ng farm, pagkalampas po ng kuwadra."

I smile at him, "Salamat po," and I continue driving with my heart pounding in my ears.

***

After the gate, there was a dirt road big enough for only one vehicle, parang private road lang siya. Thank God I brought the SUV instead of Kuya's car, kundi baka nahirapan ako mag-drive.

Parang gubat pa rin dito sa kalsada and I have to be careful not to hit the big rocks on the side. This road though hindi cemented is beautiful. The lights from the sun parang rays lang na tumatama sa kalsada dahil sa sobrang dami ng puno sa paligid.

After a short drive through the road lined up with trees, the place completely changes as it opens up to a whole field of plants, trees and animals roaming around.

I smile as I see some peacocks, geese near what looks like a man-made lagoon, goats and lots of chickens. It's weird to see these animals so free in this place. There's also a lot of plants and trees I don't see very often, like coffee trees, and this place has a whole field of them.

There a whole field dedicated to produce, like tomatoes, lemons, lettuce, and there's a field full of flowers.

This place is just so magical.

It takes me about ten minutes to get to the stables, and sabi nga ni Manong that's where I'll find Ollie.

I take a right turn since the stables are in the end of the road, and there I see a house. It's like a bahay kubo pero modern. It's made out of cement, wood and glass. I stop when I reach the gravel road leading to the house.

I forget why I'm here for a moment because the house looks so amazing. It's like an odd mix of modern and traditional Filipino architecture. The roof of the house is made of wood, and some panels around the house are too. But the stairs on the side and the walls are made of cement, while the windows and the walls surrounding the roof are made of glass. Dad would have been so impressed by this house.

I just sit in the car admiring the house when I see a figure coming down from the stairs.

His hair was not up in his usual man bun, his hair got longer since I last saw him, and it looks like he still has that stubble. He's wearing a plain white shirt and some jeans.

He stops at the foot of the stairs, crosses his arms and leans his shoulder on the side of the wall. His face impassive.

Guess I'm not getting a warm welcome.

I take a deep breath, get out of the car and walk towards him.

+++

AN 11/15/2020

This house is just so pretty. I love it so much.

Check it out on youtube - just search for modern bahay kubo :)

CTTO