1 Chapter 1 - A Fresh Start

"Criss cross may be the paths, but love finds a way straight into the hearts."

-Ruhani Kalam

"Jeacelle, are you sure about this? You're gone for 5 years, you're not even familiar at this place." 

I turned to my friend Shiela na nakasilip sa bukas na bintana ng kotse niya from the outside. Apparently, I borrowed her car 'coz I want to drive in the downtown alone. She looked worried. I bet she's worried for her precious car.

"Don't worry, I won't scratch your car. I'll be careful," I assure her.

"Bitch, that's not it! Baka maligaw ka!"

Really? Coming from her? Eh siya nga itong walang sense of direction.

"I won't. Haven't you heard about GPS? Does it ring a bell?" I teased and grinned that made her roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Okay, just be careful and come back before eight," she reminded.

I sighed and nodded. I'm sure she prepared a welcome party for me. She's like an open book, so easy to read. But I hope she still remember that I really hate surprises but I love her to death so I won't let her efforts go to waste.

"Jeca, ha! Bumalik ka agad. Kapag nawala ka tawagan mo ko," she added. Typical Shiela, daig pa ang nanay kung makapagbilin. Mabuti pa siya may concern sa akin hindi gaya ng nanay ko na basta na lang akong ipinatapon sa States, 5 years ago. 

Mabilis kong pinaharurot ang kotse niya nang natapos na siya sa mga bilin niya. From the rear view mirror, I saw her wave at me. I open the roof of this convertible car and let the cold breeze of December brush my face and my long blonde hair flying with the wind.

5 years was nothing. It's still the same old city of Horencio. Yeah right, the name of this city is so vintage pero hindi maikakaila ang pagiging moderno nito because of the tall buildings and malls everywhere. This was my grandparent's home town kahit dalawang beses palang akong nakapunta dito noon, parang wala namang pinagbago ang lugar na ito. 

The road was wide and empty, hindi ata uso ang traffic sa lugar na 'to. Hell, yeah! I was tempted to increase my speed but then I realized this is not my car and I don't want to cause trouble on my first day here. What a bummer!

It's only 5 p.m so I roam around in the downtown looking for some place to eased my boredom. Puno ng Christmas lights and decoration ang bawat establishment na nadadaanan ko. Then I noticed a cafe at the left side of the road. I decided to stop by since I was already craving for a latte. I went inside and to my surprise, walang katao-tao sa loob. The whole place was in pink. Okay, kung sino man ang may-ari nito, hindi naman masyadong halatang mahilig siya sa pink. Should I gave the owner an advice for the interior? Why? It's so cringey. It's not that I hate pink, it's cute! Kaso nasobrahan naman ang cafe na 'to. From the wall to floor, chairs and table. Even the ceiling was in neon pink. Ugh! Masakit sa mata.

Napailing na lamang ako na nagpunta sa counter. 

"Yes ma'am, what's your order?" the girl in the counter greeted me and she looked taken aback. Why? I was wearing my black rockstar garb with thick make up and red lipstick. Siguro iniisip niya na hindi ako bagay sa cafe na 'to. Whatever. Girl, don't judge a book by it's cover. I still have a soft spot for cute things.

"Peppermint mocha latte, please." I said politely and smiled back at her. She punched my order as I gave her the exact payment before I sat on the nearest table from the counter waiting for my order.

I was scanning the whole place again when I noticed a guy sitting at the corner of the cafe, hindi pala ako nag-iisa. And he was looking at me? Or assuming lang ako? I shrugged and look away as I pulled out my phone from my bag. At gaya ng inaasahan tadtad na ko ng text mula kay Shiela. Saglit pa lang naman ako nawawala sa paningin niya.

"Uhm, hey!" 

Nag-angat ako nang tingin. Nasa harap ko na pala yung lalaki, hindi ko namalayan ang paglapit niya.

"Yeah?"

"For you. My treat." He gave me a plate of strawberry short cake that earned him a questioning look from me.

"I'm sorry but I don't accept food from a stranger. And besides, I'm allergic to strawberries," I stated sounding bored.

"Oh, sorry about that. How about chocolates?"

I shook my head. What's wrong with this guy? Gwapo siya, though.

"Are you hitting on me?" Diretsong tanong ko. I heard him chuckled as he raised his both hands in defeat.

"Sorry, you just look like someone I know. Did I creep you out?" He asked apologetically. He looked gentle and kind, mukha naman siyang hindi gagawa ng masama.

"Panis na yang pick up line mo," I commented. Tumawa naman siya akala mo naman close kami. But there's an emotion in his deep brown eyes, which I cannot fathom. He was staring at me with longing so I look back at him confused. Something's really wrong with this guy. Baka mamaya baliw pala ito o kaya budol budol kaya nag-iwas ulit ako ng tingin. Nakakahipnotismo kasi ang mga mata niya, to be honest. Saktong dumating ang order ko kaya agad na akong lumabas ng cafe.

"Hey wait!" I heard him yelled but I didn't bother to throw a glance at him. Weirdo.

******

It was quarter to 8 when I got back to my grandparent's house where I'm currently staying. It was a semi-bungalow with 2 bedrooms. It was too big for me. My grandmother passed away 2 weeks ago, nailibing na siya ng makarating ang balita sa akin. Kung nasaan man ang lola ko, sigurado akong masaya na siya dahil kasama na niya si lolo. Her last will was for me to go back here for good. Sobrang toxic na din ng buhay ko sa U.S so I've decided to take a break and come back here in the Philippines.

Mom doesn't know that I was here, for sure magagalit yun. I don't know what's the reason kung bakit bigla-bigla na lang niya akong pinaalis ng Pinas. As for my dad, ewan ko kung saan na siya nilagay ng kamay ng Diyos. I can't even remember his face, basta alam ko lang he left my mom when I was six.

"So kamusta ang paggagala mo?" tanong ni Shiela paglabas na paglabas ko palang sa kotse niya.

"I met a weird guy in the cafe," I answered as I gave her back the key of her car. "Thanks, by the way."

"Gwapo ba?" She asked, her eyes twinkled in excitement.

"Gwapo nga pero mukhang may saltik," sabi ko na lang. 

"Tinanong mo ang pangalan?" She bombarded me with a question once again.

"Do I really look like that I'm here for a guy hunting?" I spat sarcastically. 

"Nagtatanong lang naman," she pouted. Pa-cute ang gaga. 

"Tara na nga sa loob," pag-yaya niya pero nauna naman pumasok at iniwan ako sa labas. Nagtampo naman agad. Sumunod na lang ako sa kanya kaso bumungad sa akin ang kadiliman ng buong bahay. But it didn't bother me though. 

Biglang bumukas ang ilaw sa sala kaya nagpanggap na lang akong na-surprise.

"Welcome back!" Sabay sabay nilang sigaw.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"Blow mo na yung candle, dali!" Shiela grabbed my hand and led me in front of her cousin, Drew. He was holding a cake with a candle on it. Mga baliw. Hindi ko naman birthday. Ginawa ko na lang ang sinabi nila, I don't want to ruin the mood. Sabihan pa akong KJ. Effort nila eh, lumuwas pa talaga sila from Manila para masamahan ako dito sa Horencio.

"Welcome back, Jec! Are you back for good?" Drew put the cake on the table to gave me a quick hug.

"I think so," I answered unsure.

"You should be! It's boring without you here. At sabi nga nila, it's more fun in the Philippines," he quoted the infamous slogan for tourism kaya natawa na lang ako. Same old, same old.

"Wow! You look so fab and hot!" A short girl in a braided hair approached me. I couldn't help but screamed in happiness when I recognized her.

"Chelleeeeeee," I hugged her tight as we both jumped in joy. "I missed you bruha!"

"I missed you too!" She giggled.

"Tama na yan, baka maipit si baby." Suway naman sa amin ng isang lalaki as he pulled my friend Rachelle away from me. Doon ko lang napansin that she was wearing a blue maternity dress at yung baby bump niya.

"Oh my God! Congrats! Who's the father?" I asked. I saw her grabbed the arm of the guy beside her kaya naman nanlaki ang mga mata ko. It was Neil, the nerd guy from our class but gone was his thick glasses. He's wearing a gray contact lenses now. He looked so manly too because of his clean cut. Hindi gaya noon na hindi ata uso sa kanya ang gupit.

"Seriously? Kayo ang nagkatuluyan?" Manghang tanong ko. They both raised their left hand to show me their wedding ring. Akalain mo yun? Aso't pusa sila noong college, mahilig sa debate palibhasa matalino parehas at ayaw magpatalo. Sila din pala sa huli. Love really moves in mysterious way. Matagal akong walang naging balita sa kanila, kami lang talaga ni Shiela ang may constant communication even after we graduated from college at kahit nang pumunta ako ng U.S.

"Ilang months na?"

"5 months," they replied in unison.

I couldn't contain my happiness seeing my friends again. Parang kailan lang walang direksyon mga buhay namin pero heto sila bubuo na ng pamilya while the rest of us already accomplished our dreams.

God knows how much I missed them.

"Wala ba akong hug diyan?" Singit naman ng isa pang lalaki. May katangkaran ito kaya kinailangan ko pa tuloy siyang tingalain. I recognized him the moment I saw his goofy smile.

"Who you?" I acted like I don't know him which made his smile disappear.

"Ako lang naman ang star player ng basketball team natin noong college tapos kinalimutan mo lang ako? It hurts, you know." Napahawak siya sa dibdib niya na umaarte pang nasasaktan. Mukhang tanga.

"You should be an actor and not a basketball player," I retorted. Of course who wouldn't recognized him? He's a famous basketball player now gaya ng pangarap niya.

"Pa-autograph naman, Michael Jordan," I said jokingly. 

"Hug muna, bago autograph." He opened his arms widely inviting me for a hug which I gladly accept.

"I'm so proud of you, Tyrone!" I said between our hug.

"I'm proud of you too. I heard you're an interior designer now." 

"Yes!" I beamed proudly. I've been through hell and back fighting for this dream. My mom was really against it because she wanted me to take up business but I followed my heart. And look at me now.

"Ahem." I heard Shiela cleared her throat kaya naman napataas ang kilay ko at kumalas na sa yakap ni Tyrone. Malisyosang babae. Tutuksuhin na naman ako nito kay Tyrone dahil napatagal ata ang pagyayakapan namin. He's my ultimate crush nung college, daming fangirls niyan dahil bukod sa gwapo naman talaga, magaling sa kahit anong sports. Passion niya lang talaga ang basketball. And I admit it, mas lalo siyang gumwapo ngayon.

"Yung ngiti mo! Baka mapunit labi mo." Napairap na lang ako sa hangin. Panira talaga 'tong si Shiela ever since. Crush niya din kasi 'to. 

"Don't worry. Sa'yong sa'yo siya!" I whispered. She glared at me and I stick my tongue out to her. 

"Ano tatayo na lang ba tayo dito buong gabi? Gutom na ko," reklamo ni buntis kaya nagtawanan kami. Nagpunta na kami sa dining area at kanya kanyang pwesto kami sa table. It looks like a feast dahil sa dami ng pagkain sa mesa. Wow!

"Wait, I invited my friend. Nandiyan na ata siya." Drew suddenly stop us from digging in kaya kulang na lang magwala si Rachelle dahil gutom na talaga ito. Drew stood up and went outside nang may bumusina sa labas. Nagsalin na lang muna ko ng juice sa baso ko dahil uhaw na uhaw na ko. Maya maya pa ay bumalik din si Drew, may kasama siyang lalaki. He must be his friend. Halos maibuga ko ang iniinom ko when I recognized him. He's the weird guy at the cafe!

"Ikaw?!" Buong lakas kong sigaw.