Chapter Three

"Hay nako, finally naman nakarating ka na, akala ko naman nilamon kana na ng lupa. Ang layo naman ata ng nahanap mong parking?" Patuksong sabi ni Vicky sabay halik sa pisngi ko. Sumond ding tumayo si Lannie na may kasamang pagtili pagkakita sakin.

"OMG! Akala ko hindi kana makakarating, muntik na naming iorder lahat ng breakfast meal nila sa tagal mo" of course, hindi joke yung pag si Lannie ang nagsabi.

"First nasa Pilipinas tayo at alam niyo naman kung gaano ka hirap mag hanap at travel around this time. Second, I highly doubt na hindi mo pa ginagawa yun kasi knowing you, susulitin mo talagang kumain ng pinoy food habang nandito ka" Pageexplain ko kay Lannie at Vicky. After naming mag beso at yakapan, we finally settled to sitting on the chairs. Of course puno na yung table namin with food kahit pa hindi pa ako nakakapag order ng own food ko. Though at this much food, wala naman kaming choice ni Vicky kundi kainin nalang din yung mga inorder niya kasi sigurado din namang hindi niya mauubos lahat.

"Oh my gosh, now that you are here, you should try this beef broccoli tapos try mo din yung sweet sour nila, promise its so great you wont stop eating" Lannie is some kind of a foody, she enjoys any food presented to her and the fact that she travels a lot makes it even more easy for her to gather different kind of cuisines. Kahit saan mo siya dalhin siguradong may makakain and siya and yung nakakainis dun, kahit gaano siya ka matakaw, payat pa rin siya. Yep, siya yung literal na you have that one friend na kahit anong lamon niya sexy pa rin.

"Lan, you seriously need to stop ordering so much food" pagsasabi ko sakanya kasi mga bata palang kami, palagi ko na siya sinasabihan about wasting her money on food tapos hindi niya lang uubusin. Sayang kasi yung mga natitira niyang food, ang dami daming mga bata ngayon ang hindi nakakakain and here she is wasting a platter of chicken just for the sake of satisfying her cravings.

"I told you she was going to say that" Vicky smirks

"Stop whining, she already made me promise that if something is left over from this food, mamimigay ako sa kalye-kalye, Alam ko namang kakatayin niyo kong dalawa pag pinatapon ko nanaman yung nauiwang pagkain" nakasimangot na sagot ni Lannie "Tsaka bakit ba ang aga aga pinupuntirya niyo nanaman akong dalawa. Ako na nga tong balik bayan ako pa tong nabubully." pagsusumamo ni Lannie but both Vicky and I, memorize na memorize na namin yung mga ganutong momments ni Lannie.

"Alam mo kumain ka nalang. Bago pa kita sipain pabalik ng Boston" I fed her a piece of her favorite lechon kawali and that made her cheer again. Sabay kaming umiling ni Vicky at napatawa nalang sa actions ng kaibigan namin.

"Anyways ano nanaman ba ang naging problem sa business ni mama mo? The last time na nandito ka nagmadali ka din pumunta ng Cebu para ayusin yung problem doon." I ask in concern kasi bago yung business nila sa Cebu and dahil yung main company nila naka locate sa Boston so mas madalas sila doon kesa sa Pilipinas.

"Someone got injured nanaman daw dahil sa machine na ginagamit sa site doon, I have to deal with the family na nag paplan na kasuhan yung kumpanya dahil harmful to human being daw yung ginagamit doon" she whines like she always does kapag ayaw niya yung kasong hahawakan niya and sometimes she also acts like a kid, pero isa si Lannie sa mga nakakatakot na corporate lawyer once she puts her mind into the case. During university days, nung finally pinayagan na siya nila tita na dito muna sa Pilipinas mag aral ng pre law niya, isa siya mga taong kinakatakutan ng karamihan once siya na ang sasabak sa debate or any kind of case presentation.

Though very opposite yung personality niya sa profession na pinasok niya, shes one of the best lawyers on the field. And kahit pa mukhang ang bigat ng paratang sa kompanya nila, i have no doubt na magagawan niya din ng paraan yung pag sesettle ng problema doon.

"I hope okay lang yung na injured, or else baka mas mabigat yung itapon sainyo" sagot naman ni Vicky.

"Ayus naman daw siya, actually nung sinend sakin yung copy ng cctv footage, mukhang plinano lahat. Thats why i have to go there para ako na mismo yung mag settle bago pa lumaki yung issue at guluhin nanaman nila mommy yung buhay ko" Lannie explains.

Its not new sa business world na merong mga foul play na nangyayari. Minsan kasi if the company doesn't give what the employees wants minsan nag reresult to sa pag rerebel ng ibang empleyado. Lets just say na minsan meron ding ambag sa situation ang nature ng tao na malaki ang pangangailangan,

"I suggest that you run a quick background check sa naaksidente mong empleyado, like hows he doing with his family and kung wala naman ba siyang malaking pangangailangan para gumawa ng gulo. I have a git feeling na baka pera lang din yung kailangan nila kaya nila ginagawa sa kompanya niyo to." I still believe that in every situation merong two sides and kwento. I'm sure may reason ang lahat ng bagay .

"I agree with Jana's suggestion, wala din namang mawawala sainyo if kakamustahin mo yung situation niya sa family." Vicky agrees to my suggestion and im sure na enough na kay Lannie yun.

"Okay then but can we please skip the boring part and just talk about how each of us is doing. Nag uumpisa palang ang araw at boring sibject na agad yung pinaguusapan natin." Lannie whines, obviously back to her childish nature. I still wonder kung paano siya naging lawyer.

Nakita kong sinisiko ni Vicky si Lannie while nudging her head towards me, she obviously wants something from me so I asked.

"What?"

Vicky bites her lip but then she looks to Lannie and they both look at each other before looking back to me.

"Okay, whats with the look? Hindi na tayo mga bata so stop with the dilly dallying and just say of you have something to say" I used my fork and took one bite of roast beef para lang pakita sa kanila na okay lang ako kahit ano man yung sabihin nila.

"Well" Vicky starts "Di ko natanong sayo to kagabi kasi busy ako sa bar pero seeing you now, I dont think i need to ask the question" I'm starting to think na alam ko na kung ano yung gusto nila itanong sakin. I mean yun lang naman ang bukod tanging tanong nila sila for this past few years,

"You guys keep asking me the same question everytime nagkikita tayo and everytime na tinatanong niyo yun pareho pa din ang sagot ko sainyo." For the past few years na going stable yung relationship namin ni Darren, ilang beses na akong natanong ng mga kaibigan ko kung hindi paba ako tinatanong ni Darren to settle down and sa ilang beses nila akong tinanong same pa din ang sagot ko sakanila "Hindi niya pa rin ako tinatanong and hindi pa namin napag uusapan yung ganung bagay. We are still too young to settle down and kaka CEO niya lang and im also still managing my parents businesses. Hindi porket naging official employee nako ng MA corp eh wala nakong filial duties" I explained for the hundreth time because parang mas excited pa sila sakin na magkaroon ng pamilya kesa sa ako na nasa mismong relasyon.

"Yun na nga yung point doon, Darren is finally where he is supposed to be, you've already helped him get to where he is now. Hindi paba time na mag settle down na kayo. I know you habe your dreams and all this time you've been tied down by your responsibilities na nagaalala na kami na baka hindi kana masaya sa nangyayari sa life mo." Vicky points out

"Plus, hanggang kailan kaba magiging selfless, and dami mo ng na sacrifice for the sake of the people you love. Nung ngang nabuo yung joint powers ng business niyo tsaka nila Darren ang dami naming nag isip na kasal nalang ang hinihintay sainyo. Pero that was four years ago na. Hindi ka naman namin minamadali but we just really want to know if hanggang kailan kayo maghihintay" Lannie adds habang binabalatan niya yung malaking hipon sa plato niya. Of course di pwedeng pag usap, usap lang, kelangan meron pa ding low key na paglamon.

"I do appreciate you guys worrying about me, but i'm totally fine. Masaya naman kami ni Darren the way we are right now and as for the businesses. Alam naman natin yung main reason kung bakit andito ako diba at kung bakit naging employee nadin ako ng MA corp. I'm still my fathers representative of the company and I have to keep working as one until my father decides na okay na kong gawin yung gusto ko. Almost malapit na din naman akong matapos sa MA Corp after that im off to study again" pag sagot ko sakanilang mga nasabi.

This has always been my plan and alam ni Darren to at ng mga friends ko. I've always been my dads little princess kaya kahit anong pinapagawa niya sakin sinusunod ko, iniwan na din kasi kami ng totoo kong nanay kaya si dad na talaga yung tumayong parent saming dalawa ni kuya. Ayaw ko kasing ma disappoint siya sakin kaya kahit na gusto kong mag-aral ng fine arts dati, nung sinabi ni dad na magaral nalang ako ng business management, agad din akong umoo. Syempre doon ko din naman mas lalong nakilala si Darren kaya kahit pa ayaw ko yung naging course ko that time naging masaya naman yung university days ko. Then the merger happened ang my brother was appointed head of our business, akala ko noon makakalaya nako but my father asked me to be the companies representative sa company nila Darren, at first syempre wala naman naging problema doon kasi my thought was makakasama ko si Darren and I can make my father happy. Kaso parang nakalimutan naman ako ng tatay ko in the process of my transfer kanila Darren. Nung una di ko naman pinansin pero paunti unti, bumibigat nalang yung thought sa puso ko. Kaya yung iniisip ko nalang is, hindi pa enough yung nagagawa ko kaya hindi pa ko pinapatigil ni dad sa pagiging representative ng kompanya namin. Though my brother Allan wanted me to go back sa Boston at pagpatuloy yung dream ko, i just said no. The thought of my responsibility as my fathers daughter weighed more than my selfish desires.

Darren knows all about this things and he supports me. Ilang beses niya na nga ako sinabihang ipursue ko na yung pangarap ko pero gaya ng reaction ko sa kuya ko, I stayed and kept working as MA corps negotiator and my fathers representative.

"Thats the problem, what if that day never comes. Kaya nga gusto ko na namin magkasariling pamilya para makalaya ka na din sa tatay mo" Lannie whines again and its starting to make me laugh. Kung makadaing kasi siya parang siya yung nasa sapatos ko. Now that i think about it, i actually envy my two best friends life,

Lannie can freely roam around the world and okay lang sa family niya unless may problem sa kompanya nila, while si Vicky, out of her own hardwork, nagawa niyang magpatayo ng sariling bar and hotel na ngayon ay nagiging best place to hang in the city. They've always been free to choose kung anong gusto nilang gawin sa mga buhay nila. I just wish na sana dumating din yung araw na maranasan ko yung naranasan nila.

"Basta girl, andito naman kami if ever you decide na gusto mo ng maging masaya, we know masaya ka ngayon kasi andyan si Darren, pero iba kasi yung saya na pwedeng mong makamit kapag sarili mo naman yung inintindi mo" pabulong na sabi ni Vicky sabay tapik kay Lannie kasi tumatango ito habang hawak hawak yung dalawa tinidor. Napangiti nalang ako sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko at matapos nun ay iniba na din namin yung usapan. I didn't want to spoil the rest of the day by dwelling on my life kaya buti nalang naiba na din yung topic namin.

After the whole breakfast and with a full stomach, nag decide na din si Lannie na she had enough and needs to prepare bago siya umalis papuntang Cebu. Si Vicky naman may ka meet up kaya kailangan niya din umalis. Bet namin ni Lannie, bagong boyfriend nanaman niya siguro yung imemeet niya. So nung nagkahiwa hiwalay na kami, i decided to grab some coffee bago pumunta ng office para naman medyo mainitan yung tsan ko at sobrang dami nanaman nung kinain namin kanina. I might need to go for a quick run mamaya kauwi ko sa apartment at baka pag hinayaan ko lang eh lumubo nako. I always value a healthy lifestyle para kahit ugid ugud nako sa future, i can still do a lot of things.

I should probably call Darren at baka gusto niya din ng something along the way. Nung nahanap ko na yung sasakyan ko, I immediately opened my door and placed my bag sa passenger sit. Syempre kahit pa maaga na at wala na masyadong crime sa Pilipinas, iba pa din ang maingat. I grabbed my phone from my bag and went to my recent calls. After a few rings, he finally answered.

"Hey love im in the meeting, can I call you back in ten minutes" agad na pagbati ni Darren making me embarass for disturbing him during a meeting. Pwede niya naman kasi ako itext nalang diba para naman sana hindi na sila na distorbo.

"Im sorry, continue with your meeting then" syempre ako yung naunang magbaba ng phone at baka mas lalo lang humaba yung kahihiyan na ginawa ko. We always wanted to show professionalism pagdating sa office kaya we both dont bring our relationship in front of the employees, its safer din kasi. Though alam naman ng lahat na we are both in relationship, ayaw lang talaga namin pareho na imix yung personal time namin sa working hours namin.

For now, mag dadrive na muna ako sa pinakamalapit na coffee shop na gusto ko para makabili ng coffee and i'll just probably bring Darren some cake.

Hindi rin naka ako nag tagal sa daan kasi agad din akong naka hanap ng starbucks at doon nalang ako bumili ng coffee ko tsaka ng cinnamon para kay Darren. May pagka sweet tooth kasi si Darren ayaw niya lang aminin he thinks nababawasan yung pagiging lalaki niya paginaadmit niyang mahilig siya sa sweets. Though its one of the things i love about him. He automatically turns red kapag na rerealize niyang nakikita na siya ng ibang tao na nagsenjoy na kumakain ng cake or chocolates. Any kind of sweets name it and masaya siya kakainin yun. I guess its because mahilig din kasi siya maging healthy person kaya yung pinaka cheat niya lang sa katawan is when he eats his sweets. Aside from that meron pang mga maliliit na bagay na cute characteristic si Darren na hanggang ngayon ayaw niyang ipaalam sa iba.

Since nasa Pilipinas ako, natraffic nanaman ako. Bago pako makarating ng opisina for sure ubos ko na ang kape ko at this rate. I was already getting irritated at nung magiiba nako ng route na dadaanan biglang nag ring yung phone ko showing Darrens face with the green heart emoji.

"Love?" I answered as I put him on speaker.

"Sorry, medyo nag extend kami sa meeting. Are you on your way back naba?" He asks in his usual gentle tone

"Im on my way na but sobra yung traffic. I was about to find another way before you called." He chuckles knowing na ayaw na ayaw kong na iipit sa traffic.

"Nasan kaba banda? Meron akong lunch with clients sa Westside, baka mas madali kang makapunta dun, papadrop nalang ako doon tapos sama ka nalang din ng lunch tapos I can drive you back sa office nun" he offers at syempre aarte paba ako. Malapit na din naman tong way ko sa Westside tsaka para siya nalang nga talaga ang mag drive mamaya.

"Can I wait for you sa mall ng Westside? Para di mo nako isipin while nasa meeting ka, you can just call me right after. I have a surprise din sayo" I made a u-turn buti nalang hindi pako nakakaabot sa pinaka traffic na part ng daan na to.

"A surprise?" He asks curious as always

"May dala akong favorite mo, kaso you need to ear lunch mamaya kaya di mo siya pwede kainin before the meeting" Napangiti ako knowing na kakainin niya pa din yung cinnamon kahit pa busog na siya from lunch.

"Well you better hide it from me then. Papunta na kami doon, papa drop nalang ako kay Manong Larry. Text me if andon kana din. Magingat ka sa pagmamaneho." Habilin neto.

"Always naman po" pangaasar ko sakanya, he doesn't like being treated like an elder.

"Shut it" I can imagine him making a face "I'll see you in awhile okay. I love you love" he sweetly said good bye but he didn't give me a chance to say something is return because he already hanged up. Always nagmamadali eh 11:15 palang naman. Anyways dapat ko na talagang ireroute young waze ko at baka mapunta nanaman ako sa area na sobrang traffic.

Now that i'm alone I remember the very first time na nakilala ko si Darren. High School na kasi ako nung pinalipat ako nila daddy sa Pilipinas para magpatuloy ng pag aaral ko. I remember na sobrang late ko ng nag transfer nun pero napayagan pa din kasi isa si dad sa sponsors ng school kaya agad din akong napasok. My dad wanted me to experience life in the Philippines at para din matuto ako maging independent kasi nga gaya ng sabi ko before, I was my fathers princess so kahit di ko hinihingi before talagang todo bigay si daddy sakin. Aside from that, namatay din si mommy around that year kaya naisipan ni daddy na its much better na ma expose ako sa ibang environment kesa sa mag stay ako kasama niya when he was grieving. So dad shipped both me and my brother to our aunts. I also remember being so embarrassed kasi wala akong friends at wala akong kakilala na pwede kong samahan during lunch or kahit sa classroom man lang. I was a loner and I was grieving. Si kuya naman during that time, well lets just say na dahil sa ginawa ni daddy samin, naging rebelios siya tsaka very distant.

Back then, I really thought na ending na talaga ng masasayang days ko , that until nakilala ko nga si Darren. Nung time na yun, hindi ko alam what happened to him pero halos ng mga kaklase namin during that time nagawang mainis sakanya dahil naging ignorante siya. There was a time na nasa klase na kami lahat and yes he was my classmate for some reason section nalang daw nila yung may vacant pa for a new student kaya automatic na doon ako nilagay, one of my classmates na di ko na maalala ang name kasi hindi ko naman talaga sila naging close, she tried hitting on Darren like literal na landi to the highest level. She was beautiful and I actually felt sorry for her kasi ginawa niyang low class yung sarili niya sa pag lapit niya ng ganun kay Darren that time. Akala ng lahat ng nasa klase papatulan na siya ni Darren and i even heard one of my classmates say na baka merong chance since she used to be someones friend and that person used to date Darren. Oh diba, galing ko din maging chismosa pero yun yung narinig ko kaya mas naawa ako sa kaklase namin. Bigla nalang tumayo si Darren noon tsaka niya nalang tiningnan yung kaklase namen at umalis. Like walang salita, no reaction, he simply left.

Usap usapan noon, sinundan daw siya nung kaklase namin sa Rose garden tapos meron daw nangyari sakanila but that didn't really happen. Pano ko nasabi? Because I was there. Nung kasing tumayo si Darren nun at tiningnan yung kaklase namin, I saw the way he looked at her and it was not disdain or hate or like, it was loneliness. Its like meron siyanng dinadala na hindi alam ng lahat and I know that feeling, i recognized his feelings because I was feeling the same. So nung umalis siya nun, i pretended na pupunta daw akong restroom, pero I was actually hoping that I find him somewhere. Kaso hindi ko until nakita ko yung rose garden. That time kasi binan nilang pumasok yung mga students sa place na yun kasi nagkaroon daw ng oarasite yung mga tanim kaya paramg ginagamot, kaso nakita kong open naman yung gates sa pinto kaya pinasok ko na. Una curiosity got the best of me and second I was really hoping that i could skip my class by staying there and just think of what I should do for the rest if the hour but then nung kapasok ko sa garden, rows of pink roses and little pine trees covered my eyes. Obviously yung garden hindi naman talaga na insecto more like gusto lang nila layuan ng mga students yung lugar habang kinucultivate nila yung lupa tsaka yung mga pananim. So I thought I was alone kaya todo admire naman ako sa mga bulaklak tsaka sa mga iba pang nakatanim nun dun until meron gardener na nakakita sakin at sinigawan ako.

As a student na nahuli ng isang adult na wala sa loob ng classrom at nasa loob ng lugar na bawal sa students, tapos sisigawan kapa, talagang matatakot ka at kakabahan. Tatakbo na sana ako kaso may biglang humawak sa balikat ko nun kaya mas lalo akong nanigas but then nagsalita siya at buti nalang ginawa niya yun kasi kung hindi baka napasigaw na ko sa takot.

"Kuya Efren, kasama ko po siya. Sorry po hindi niya po alam na bawal pa hawakan yung mga bulaklak" Darren shouted to the man. Thats the first time na narinig kong magsalita si Darren na merong halong emosyon. That day Darren saved me from being called to the office kasi it turns out that he was helping the gardeners feed the plants and making them healthy. He always goes there para lang mag tanim at mag pa pawis at dahil exemplary student siya all throughout high school hinayaan nalang siya ng mga teachers na gawin kahit anong gusto niya. Hindi alam ng mga ibang students na ganun ang ginagawa ni Darren everytime na nawawala siya nun but because of what he did for me nung sinabi niya sa gardener na kilala niya ko mas naging curious ako sakanya. Call it a little crush or whatever but naging total follower niya ko noon. Until such time na nagsawa siyang palaging may nakasunod sakanya or sumama pag pumupunta siyang garden, kinausap na niya ko.

Flashback

"Could you please stop following me from now on? Its getting annoying" he finally decided to talk. Thats what I'm actually aiming for, to make you annoyed and finally talk to me. If theres someone who can relate to me it would be him and I need him see that, para naman meron na din akong kaibigan dito sa school. All the kids are treating me differently because I can't speak fluent tagalog and if i do they'll just laugh at me and call me manong. I atleast know that there is someone thats more mature than those kids and can understand my feelings, thats Darren and thats why I've been following him all this time. Also I may have developed a slight crush on him because he actually saved me back when I was caught skipping and going in the garden. "Look i dont know what your intentions are but you need to stop whatever it is that you're doing. I don't like people poking their heads on my stuff and I especially hate it when they follow me around. Do you get what I'm saying or would you like me to translate it into another language?" He was clearly pissed but I was actually rejoicing inside because this is the first time he talked with so many words and emotion. He is usually lifeless and monotone but listen to him now. So the next thing I did made him so surprise. I burst out laughing

"i'm sorry" I said between my laugh "I really am" I breathe in to slowly calm down but nope its no use, i was now snorting "I so sorry" I tried covering my mouth but the joy inside me cannot be contained.

"Anong problema mo? May saltik kaba? Or talagang naka trip kalang?" He asked me but I didn't understand half of what he said "Alam mo kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, wag mo akong idamay sa trip mo. WHY DONT YOU JUST GO AND LEAVE ME ALONE. Seryoso kitang kinakausap, tapos tatawanan mo lang ako? mukha ba akong nag jojoke sa paningin mo or sadyang bastos kalang. Hindi porket sa ibang bansa ka lumaki eh pwede mo na dalhin sa pilipinas yung ugali mo...." He was ranting so fast that I didn't catch every single word he said. I know how to speak tagalog but only by a little because we literally grew up with English people surrounding us. I raised both my hands in surrender and to also stop him from speaking more. Though on the other hand he did speak a lot this time.

"I'm sorry if I laughed when you seriously wanted to make me explain. But in my defense I laughed because its the first time I heard you such long statement and with emotion. I admit that I did think of myself as someone creepy for following you, but I only did that because I do think that your someone who can understand me. I saw the look in your eyes when you face that girl who literally rubbed herself all over you. Instead of being mad, or entertaining her, you looked at her with so much sadness in your eyes that I almost thought you wanted to care for her but you also needed care for yourself" I explained making him look at me with still furious eyes "I'm sorry okay, thats why I came to this place that day, I actually wanted to follow you and maybe talk to you but I lost you. Then I end up being in this place and then i got caught but you saved me. You were suddenly there though fake, but you were smiling when you were talking to that gardener, thats why I thought I needed to see you more, understand you more so that when I get to talk to you. I'll know exactly what i'll say" I slowly moved closer but he steps back creating more space between us but even so, my eyes were locked on to his, reading every bit of emotion that I also have. "I think I know exactly what to tell you now" I smiled.

"What?" He asks but its obvious that he wasn't as interested to what im about to say.

"That you'll be okay, you are going to be fine and you are doing great" I smile innocently, i know that this words are also something I would like to hear from someone else "You don't have to hide anymore because I see you and you are doing perfectly great" I added and then he simply looked at me for a long second then I saw it.

I saw his eyes well up with tears but he was still standing straight with a straight expression looking at me.

"Don't utter words you don't understand" He speaks with no emotion but his eyes shouts another thing.

"But I do understand and you need to stop shutting people off. if you could just hear half of the words some our classmates say about you. They just all want you back they all miss you and they all just want to help" i fought back. I've only been here for about a month now and all my classmates would speak the same things about him.They all felt sorry but they also dont know what to do.

He avoids my eyes and I'm sure that I hit a spot inside him.

"You're just a newbie here. Stop putting your ears in places that could bring you trouble. If you can't keep yourself away from trouble just go back to where you came from and leave me be" He walked away after sayong those things and I only felt defeated. I was still not able to reach him.

Days after my confrontation with Darren I noticed that he didn't come to school for some time. I waited for him everyday, after school inside the Rose garden and sometimes sa school gate. I was really hoping to see him again and talk to him. My guilt was eating me up inside and I just needed to make sure that he was atleast fine. Then one day came that I waited for him, like I usually do in the Rose Garden after class. He didn't come to school again and its already been a week. i was contemplating whether I should ask the guidance councilor where he lives or maybe some of the kids at my class but I was afraid of what they might think of me. So I waited, until a group of guys from the upperclassmen decided to invade the Rose Garden and cause some random disturbance. There were about eight of them and of course the gardeners tried stopping them but it was no use because the guys were using force to come through the gates. I though about calling for some help but I can't live the gardeners who were mistreated by the upperclassmen so I stepped in. No matter how stupid that sounds like, I, a girl who has no skills in fighting or whatsoever, puts herself in between the beaten gardeners and the guys who knock them down. I was crazy, I know. But I had no choice.

"Look what we have here, a little girl trying to save a bunch of useless men" He chuckles and that when I whif the smell of alcohol lingering from his breathe. They were intoxicated and thats against the school policy. I even saw one of them hid the bottle of what seems to be a vodka. I know how drinks look like and how they smell, My useless brother made me recognize them all. In his own little ways, he thinks he is protecting me when he taught me how to differentiate water from gin or other alcoholic products. Anyways, they are drunk and theres no point at making civilized discussion with this guys.

"Why not join us instead princess? i'm pretty sure na mag mag eenjoy kang kasama kami kesa sa mga hardinerong mga to" one of them speaks up then moves to come closer to my face but before he could even reach me, I moves back and stood my ground.

"Don't you there come near me or the rest of the gardeners. You should just go and do your dbad drinking habits outside of this place. This people worked so hard everyday to make this place beautiful and you coming here is destroying that look. So just please leave and I promise that I wont tell anyone what happened here" I tried sounding confident but I was so afraid of what they might do and I can't even shout for help because no one comes here unless its the teachers checking the progress on this place.

"Tapang mo ha, wag ka na kasing pakipot, alam ko namang bibigay kalang din. Don't you know who I am? Girlds would kill just to be in your place right now" another guys speaks, this time he looks fearsome because pf hos shaved eyebrows.

"Then go bother those girls. Leave this place alone" I shouted hoping that someone else could here my voice. "this place in important to someone I know so i'm not going to let you destroy this place" I kept shouting remembering Darrens face while he helps all the gardeners make this place into a beautiful garden. Even if they hurt me or make me do thing, I will never let them make a bad memory inside this place. I closed my eyes expecting for someone to either slap or punch me for stopping them. Just like what they did to the Gardeners awhile ago.

"You really have a habit of making things complicated. Bakit ba ang hilig hilig mong nanghihimasok sa gulo ng iba?" I soft voice cuts everyones attention. "at kayo naman, nawala lang ako ng isang linggo gumagawa na kayo ng gulo. Nag rerebelde narin ba kayo dahil wala ako?" He continuous and that made me open my eyes. Its him. He came back and he is here. I almost cried seeing as he almost looked so great.

"Darren, bro. We were just having fun and we wanted to check out one of your projects. Kaso naging aggressive kasi yung mga tauhan mo kaya napilitan kaming labanan sila. We didn't even use full strength on them" the first guy who flirted with me laughs then the rest of them did the same.

Darren shakes his head then he suddenly extended his hand to place it on the guys shoulders.

"You know what? How about we do this instead Clark?" Darrens figure grew dangerous and fearsome, but I wasn't scared of him. I was more afraid of what the other guys would do to him if a fight break out. His alone with no back up, well theres me but i'm practically useless during a fight. "how about we settle this with both our companies ongoing negotiation on the line. I heard from my father that you dad is planning to sell all his stocks and my father is more than willing to give him the exact amount his asking. Kung hindi ka tatalikod ngayon at tigilan yung nga hardinero dito at pati na rin si Janette, I can just call my dad and let your father struggle on his bankruptcy. Like I always said before to you, i'm such an easy man to talk to so tell me, ano yung gusto mong mangyati this time?" Darren is obviously putting this Guy Clark on a very difficult situation. If he do something thats against Darrens proposition, they're business is going to get in trouble. I atleast know this stuff because my dad wants me to pursue that career.

"You really are a pain the ass" Clarks eyes were filled with anger and rage but there was one thing that struck me, he also looks sad "But i'm glad you are finally back. I'm sorry for hurting your girl and for throwing a tantrum on your men. Pag bakante ka mamayang gabi, may plano kamo nila Erwin baka gusto mo sumama" The guy Clark nods at Darren then they both do this thing where they suddenly talk in their guy language and everyone seems to understand except me.

"By the way, shes not my girl" Darren suddenly corrects Clark then points at me "Isa lang siyang makulit na tao na nakilala ko at ginising ako. Thats all" with the little amount of tagalog vocab that I know, I was able to understand his words. He faced me then he genuinely smiled and I was the happiest person on that day.

Thinking about this memory now, I really felt happy that day. Feeling ko kasi ang succeed ako and from that day on naging mag kaibigan na kami ni Darren. There were some days na inexplain niya na din sakin yung buong reason kung bakit naging cold siya at kung bakit nawala siya ng isang linggo nun. When he told his friends na friends lang talaga kami, I also felt that way and I was happy. So up until college we were just Jana and Darren the two friends who enjoyed each others company.

How we end up together as couple?

I guess it just eventually happened.