CHAPTER ELEVEN

AFTER her summer class in Manila, Yelena needs to go back home. Meaning to say, she needs to be away with Zacariel because he needs to work. She doesn't even know if a long distance relationship would work between them.

Masyadong mabilis para sa kanya ang mga pangyayari. Noong nakaraang summer lang ay naghiwalay sila at hindi inaasahan na sa susunod na summer at magkakabalikan. It was really out of her plans. Maybe, it really meant to happen? That their paths will cross again? To start over again? And this time they want it official?

Yelena smiled after reading Zacariel's text message. Beside her is Santi who was silent since they left Manila.

"What's with that silence, Santi? What's wrong?"

He sighed right away. Then he ttansferred his gaze to the window on his side.

"Is this about your parents? You can talk to me, you know that."

Mahaba ang byahe nila. Kasama nila sa van ay ang driver, personal bodyguard ni Santi, at sa likod naman ay si Josie na kasambahay ng pamilya Laquesta.

"I don't think this is the right time to talk about it, Yelena," then he pointed his lips to the people with them.

Tahimik lang naman ang mga ito. Mag-u-usap usap lang kung may katanungan sa isa't-isa o kung tumawag ang magulang ni Santi para kumustahin sila sa byahe.

"Pag-usapan nalang natin ang tungkol sa inyo ni Zacariel. You're going to have a long distance relationship. Tingin mo, ayos ba iyon?"

Now that someone asked her that question, she started to think about it more. Oo nga, ayos lang ba na magkahiwalay sila ni Zacariel? Kailan kaya sila magkikita ulit? Ano ang magiging set up nila para mapanatili na maayos ang relasyon nila kahit na madalas ay magkalayo sa isa't-isa.

"Siguro, ayos lang naman? Sanay naman ako na malayo sa kanya o kaya ay hindi siya nakikita."

Advantage din siguro na sanay siya na walang Zacariel sa paligid niya. It felt like she can still live happily without him. Nakapagtataka na sa totoo lang ay wala siyang masyadong pakialam kung malayo sa kanya ang binata. O baka naman ngayon lang 'yon? Dahil nag-uumpisa palang ang relasyon nila at gano'n agad ang estado?

"Paano kapag namimiss mo siya? Pupuntahan mo siya sa Maynila?"

"Kapag miss na miss ko na talaga siya, pwede ko siyang puntahan sa Maynila-"

"Hindi gano'n, Yelena," Santi cut her off immediately. "Dapat ikaw ang puntahan niya. He needs to make effort to see you and be with you."

Yelena pursed her lips.

Hindi dahil babae siya, hindi naman ibig sabihin niyon ay ang lalaki lang dapat ang gumawa ng effort para magkasama sila. It should be both of them, right? To make a relationship last, they both need to exert effort and give enough time to be with each other.

"He can visit me if he's not busy."

"What if he's always busy? Tapos ikaw, hindi naman masyado. Paano? Ikaw palagi ang magpupunta sa kanya?"

Halatang dismayado ang kaibigan.

"Hmm, only if missed him."

"Tsk. Yelena, I think, you need to make up your mind. Try mo kayang ikaw naman ang hinahabol niya."

For some reason, Santi's last words hit her. Medyo masakit iyon siguro dahil totoo.

Sa kanilang dalawa ni Zacariel, sa palagay niya ay siya naman ang naghahabol. He didn't even chase her after what happened last year. Nagpakita nalang ulit kung kailan kalmado na ang lahat.

He didn't really make an effort to get her Yes to be his girlfriend. Instead, it looked like she was the one who really wanted a relationship with him. At dahil may namagitan na sa kanila, mukhang napilitan na rin si Zacariel na magkaroon sila ng opisyal na relasyon.

She got carried away by her emotions and by the heat whenever they were together. Ni hindi niya yata naisip na baka sa huli, siya pa rin ang talo. Dahil lahat na yata ng sa kanya ay naibigay niya na sa binata.

Being his girlfriend doesn't gives her a guarantee that he's really hers. Malay niya ba kung may iba itong katagpuang babae habang magkalayo sila?

She needs to always keep her mind that Zacariel Guerrera is the most playful compare to his brothers.

"Paano ka makakasigurado na wala siyang iba habang malayo ka?" tanong ni Santi na talagang nagpapamulat sa mga mata niya. "Hindi ko sinisiraan si Zacariel pero alam ko ang reputasyon niya sa mga babae, Yelena. Di ba nga, ex-fling siya ng pinsan ko."

They were very young back then though when it happened. Santi told her that his cousin cried because of Zacariel. Wala sila parehong alam kung bakit. Pero ngayon na pareho ng nasa tamang edad, naintindihan nila ang mga dahilan sa likod ng mga luha.

"I have to t-trust him."

"Hindi mo pa sinasabi sa akin ang mga plano niya?"

Tumango siya. "He said, he's going to visit me and talk to my parents."

"You told him that you're parents already found a guy for you, right?"

"Yes."

"Anong sabi niya?"

"Wag ko raw isipin..." she paused because Santi growled dramatically.

"I can't believe I started to hate a Guerrera."

Yelena wants to understand what Santi's opinion about Zacariel. Ang kaibigan niya lang tangi ang natakbuhan niya noong basag na basag siya dahil sa nangyari last summer. Kaya hindi na siya magtataka kung bakit ayaw nito kay Zacariel. Kung sa kanya ay uso ang pangalawang pagkakataon, sa kaibigan niya ay mukhang hindi.

"You can hate me too for hating your boyfriend, Yelena. My opinion of him won't change unless I saw him making so much effort for you."

Halos buong byahe ay si Zacariel ang topic nila. Santi is very strict though. He's worried she would get hurt again because of Zacariel.

It was already late night when she arrived in Casa Alta. Tulog na rin ang magulang niya at si Felipa ang sumalubong sa kanya na dala ang pusa niya.

"Meadow! I missed you!" Kaagad niyang kinarga ang alaga.

"May gusto ka bang kainin o inumin bago matulog, Senyorita?"

"Hot milk is fine. Thanks."

Umakyat siya sa pangalawang palapag kung nasaan ang mga silid. Sa hallway ay nasalubong niya ang Kuya Russo niya na halatang aalis.

"Kuya? Gising ka pa? Aalis ka?"

He closed their distance then kissed her head.

"Welcome back. You must be tired. Take a rest."

Nilagpasan siya nito pero napigil niya sa braso.

"Where are you going? It's already late, Kuya."

"May aberya sa minahan. I need to check myself."

Unti-unti siyang tumango. She's not into their family business so she don't really have ideas what's going on.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang kapatid habang may kausap ito sa cellphone noong pababa sa hagdan.

Yelena fell asleep quickly and when she woke up next morning, Meadow is beside her. Ngumiti siya.

"Meadow, you're here again. That's where you should sleep," she pointed Meadow's sleeping bed.

Yelena grabbed her iPhone on the side table when it beeped.

From: Zac

Good morning. I have news. Let me know when you're available to talk.

She have missed calls too from last night. She wasn't able to text him because she was too tired.

To: Zac

We can talk before or after lunch. Whatever that suits you.

Yelena did her morning routine before she went out from her bedroom to eat late breakfast. Sa hapag ay naabutan niya na mag isang kumakain ang ina. Tila ba hinihintay talaga na may makasabay ito.

"Mom," she kissed her cheek.

Her mother motioned her to her chair after.

"You seemed happy with what you did in Manila, Yelena."

Hindi nakatakas sa kanya ang medyo pagka sarkasmo sa tinig nito.

Yelena put the earl grey tea bag on her cup.

"I am happy doing my passion, mom."

"Did you really think it is worth your time and our money?"

Welcome home, Yelena!

Though, she expected that her mother is disappointed with her action, she can't still deal it without being annoyed.

"It was a waste of time, darling."

"It was not. Please, mom, let me do my thing before I get married to whoever you chose for me."

Sumimsim ito sa tsaa. Pagkatapos ay marahan na ibinaba ang tasa kung saan kinuha.

"I wanna tell you something," that sounded intriguing. "This would be a good news for you, I know that."

"Ano naman po iyon?"

"Nakausap na namin ang lolo mo tungkol dito. He let us decide for this. I want you to think about this."

Yelena shifted on her seat. She's really intrigued!

Her mother was about to speak but her eyes went behind her. Nang sundan niya, nakita ang lolo niya na kadarating lang. He's obviously done playing golf.

Tumayo silang mag ina upang magbigay respeto pero at nang makalapit ito sa kanya ay nagmano siya.

He sat on his usual spot and Matilde carefully poured his glass of orange juice.

"How was your summer class in Manila, Yelena?"

"It was interesting. I'd like to continue fashion design." She said frankly.

The smirk on Federigo Altamonte's lips told her that he's amused and at the same time, dismayed.

"Well, you could. Nasa pag-uusap ninyo 'yan ng..." he paused then glanced at her mother. "Did you tell Yelena about the plan?"

"I was about to tell her, Papá."

"Go ahead and tell her."

Her grandfather is kind but he's also strict even to them. Kaya naman medyo ilag din ang mommy niya rito.

"Anak, this would only happen if you convince your brother. Talk to him and tell him to get married first before you. Kung hindi papayag ang Kuya Russo mo, you have no choice but to get married first."

Easy to say, but she's already doubting that she could not convince her brother to get married. Kahit siguro magmakaawa siya? Was he that heartless though? Siguro sa iba, pero hindi sa kanya.

"Bakit po biglaan yata ang ganitong desisyon?"

Medyo napahinto sa pag inom ng juice ang lolo niya dahil sa tanong niya. It seemed like she just disrespected their decision for questioning them.

"Let just say... we don't want your brother to be with someone that is not belong to our circle." Her mother said meaningfully.

Only stupid person won't understand what her mother's talked about.

"If Kuya Russo already liked someone else, it would be hard for me to convince him to get married to a woman that you would choose for him."

"That's what I'm trying to say, hija. Baka kaya mo siyang paki-usapan na siya muna ang magpakasal bago ikaw. So, he would avoid that temptation."

They cannot convince him to get married, that's why they are using her? Dahil alam ng mga ito na hindi makakatanggi sa kanya ang Kuya Russo niya!

Yelena smiled with bitterness.

"Russo would only give me a heart attack, so I won't meddle with this to avoid early death," her grandfather said.

"He won't listen to us," her mother sighed. "But maybe he would listen to you, Yelena. Para sa iyo din naman ang gagawin mo, anak."

That conversation left her in deep thought. Kaya habang kausap niya si Zacariel, hindi siya makapag-focus.

"Aren't you happy?" he asked, a bit worried.

Yelena blinked. In front of her is the huge land where her father and grandfather used to play golf. Nagpahatid siya doon para makalanghap na rin ng sariwang hangin.

"Uh, I spaced out. What did you say?"

"I said, I'll be in hacienda this weekend. I can visit you and talk to your parents personally."

She should be happy that he will be there, but she couldn't find that happiness because her mind is something else.

"Kung sa tingin mo ay masyado akong mabilis, sabihin mo lang. We can take this slow, Yelena. I don't want to pressure you."

Humugot siya ng hangin sa dibdib at unti-unting pinakawalan.

Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang ibinigay sa kanyang pagkakataon ng lolo niya. Kaya lang Alam niyang mahihirapan talaga siyang kumbinsihin ang Kuya Russo niya. Lalo na at mukhang may ibang babae na itong nagugustuhan.

"Zacariel, I have important things that I want to tell you. But I want to talk about it in person."

"Alright. I'll see you this weekend."

"Uh, magpupunta nalang ako sa Hacienda. Doon nalang tayo mag usap."

It took a couple of seconds before she heard him sigh. Para bang nalilito sa mga sinasabi niya ngunit nagtitimpi lang na magtanong kung ano ba ang bumabagabag sa kanya.

"I know that you are new to this kind of relationship, but please do know that I'm trying my best to be with you as often as possible."

That put a smile on her lips. Hearing those words from him soothed her.

"Thank you for your effort," that's all that she can say.

"Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, Zacariel. Masaya rin akong malaman na magkikita tayo. I want to go to Querencia."

Thinking about the waterfalls and the nipa hut that they built their made her excited. Nakakalimutan niya ang problema na hatid ng sariling pamilya niya.

"We can spend more of our time there. If that's fine with you."

"I wouldn't mind staying there as long as I'm with you."

Her heart pounded. Suddenly, heated images of them in Querencia flashed her mind that made her cheeks burned.

What if it would happen again? There's a big possibility that it would. Especially that she already experienced being one with him and it's a good feeling. She liked every little thing about it.