"Grabe, bakit ngayon ka lang ulit pumunta rito?!" nagtatampo kunwaring tanong ko.

Dwight look at my back. I saw him made a sign at Papa. My father laughed. Tumatawa siyang lumingon ulit sa akin.

"The ranch has lot of works, Kel," he said.

Hmm, yeah, malaki na rin ang rancho nila. It started to grow bigger when Dwight's brother was appointed to manage their business at Navas. Kaya siguro abala na rin si Dwight.

Hinawakan ako ni Dwight sa likod ko. He guided me to walk and went outside. Hindi na nga ako nakapag-paalam pa kay Papa. Dumiretso kami ng lakad palabas ng bahay. We headed our way to the garden.

Pinaghila niya ako ng upuan. Napa-angat ako ng kilay. He shut his brows at me too.

"Swift move, huh?" asar ko sa kanya.

He just give me a loop sided smile. I tilted my head.

"I came here for reason, Kel," he suddenly said.

My smile suddenly faded. Bigla akong kinabahan doon. Lumunok ako at umupo ng diretso. I stared at his face.

Napatawa siya nang makita niya ang mukha ko. Umirap ako.

"Kinakabahan ka?" naghahamon na tanong niya.

"Psh, ewan ko sa'yo!" I yelled.

He sat in front of me. Sumandal siya sa bakal na upuan at inilagay ang mga kamay niya sa lamesa.

"There's nothing to be nervous, Kel. Hindi naman tungkol kay Realtor ang sasabihin ko," my mind stopped functioning for a minute.

It's been years since I last heard his name. Dahil maski ako ay hindi ko binanggit ang pangalan niya. So as Papa. Wala rin namang alam si Gil doon. Because I didn't tell him anything about him.

Hindi ko masabi ang pangalan niya gamit ang sarili kong bibig sa nakalipas na mga taon. All I could do was to uttered his name inside my head. I never dared to speak any of him.

Umubo ako upang ayusin ang boses ko. I felt like I lost my voice when I heard that name for a long time.

"Then what is it? Akala ko naman bumibisita ka lang," angal ko pa.

Umusog siya papalapit sa akin. He extended his left arm and caressed my hair. My lips protruded at his action.

"Kasal ni Aiden sa susunod na linggo," aniya.

"Ha?" I asked.

Did I heard it right? Wedding?

"It's Aiden's wedding next week, Kel, and I'm inviting you," he told me.

Bakit naman parang biglaan? I never heard about Aiden's engagement before then Dwight's inviting me on his wedding?

Wala sa sarili akong napangiti. Buti pa siya...

Gil and Dense already met. Then Aiden is getting married next week. I wonder who's the lucky woman he is marrying? We aren't really close, kagaya sa kung gaano kami kalapit ni Dwight but, we are still friends.

I snapped my fingers when a thought popped up on my mind.

"Wait. Saan naman? Sa Laguna ba—"

"Navas."

I stilled. Napahinto ako nang sagutin ni Dwight ang tanong ko.

"N-Navas? D-did you just say N-Navas?" pag-uulit ko.

He nodded his head and stared at me directly.

"It was Mama's suggestion. Doon na lang daw sa Navas," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi na lang ako umimik pa matapos iyon. Wala rin naman na akong sasabihin pa tungkol doon. Besides, I am not in the right to say anything about it. Isa lang naman akong imbitado.

But then, I'm going there? Pupunta ako sa Navas? I-I will be going there again? There's a big possibility that we will meet. Na magkita kami roon. Navas is not that huge compare to the city, kaya hindi malabong magkita nga kami.

I don't know what will I say if ever that'll happen. Kung ano ang gagawin ko kapag nakita ko siya roon. If I should greet him or what, I don't really know.

I just know that maybe, he has someone right now. Na may ibang tao na siyang gusto. But I didn't know why I also wanted to go there. Na sa kalooban ko, ay gusto ko na rin ang makita siya. Even if takes shame and... Pain.

Sa loob ng mahigit apat na taon ay magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ko na siya gusto. Because all my life, I only love Realtor. Siya lang ang lalaking gusto ko. With him, I found my peace.

"Martes ang balik ko sa Navas, Kel. Sasabay ka ba? I can give you a ride so you don't need to bring your car," ani Dwight.

Tuesday? May trabaho pa ako no'n. I just can't leave Manila without any notice about my work. May mga kliyente pa rin ako na kailangan kong kitain.

"Hmm, I'll submit a leave for two weeks, at least," I said instead.

Dwight left our house three ours after our talked. Nagpaalam siya kay Papa na pupunta kami ng Navas. Akala ko magda-dalawang isip pa si Papa na pumayag doon, but as Dwight told him that will going there, he agreed without any second thought.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng kwarto ko. I took a bath and wore a white sleeveless floral dress. I just let my hair down and put only a pink lipstick and foundation. Kinuha ko na rin ang puti kong pouch. I put my car keys and some cash together with my ATM inside.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto ko. Dumiretso muna ako ng tungo papunta sa may swimming pool kung nasaan si Papa. Mga ilang hakbang pa ako mula sa kanya nang matanaw ko agad siya.

I walked straight towards my father. He glanced at my way. Ngumiti agad si Papa nang makita niya ako. His smile warmed my heart.

"Papa," I kissed his cheek when I got near him.

"Where are you going this late, hmmm?" he softly asked me.

Lumayo ako kay Papa. I smile a bit.

"I'm going somewhere, Papa. Kung saan lang ako dalhin ng kotse ko," natatawang sagot ko.

Papa laughed at my words. Tumawa na rin ako.

"Aalis na ako," muling paalam ko.

Papa nodded his head. He stopped laughing but the traces of it remained of his face. Nakangiti pa rin siyang nagtango ng kanyang ulo sa akin.

"Go ahead. Just take care of yourself, okay?" aniya.

I smiled once more before I turned my back at Papa. Dumiretso na ako sa garahe ng bahay namin at binuhay ang kotse ko. I immediately entered my car and closed it.

Binuksan ko ang stereo ng kotse ko. The song that was playing was the song that Rigor and Marcy last played before I left them. Kanta iyon ni Caleb Santos na I need you more today.

Bigla akong napangiti nang maalala ko ang barkada. I never lost contact with them. 'Yon nga lang ay hindi na kami nagkita pa simula nang umalis ako.

Marcy migrated in Canada together with Rigor. Habang si James naman ay abala na rin sa family business nila. While Sheryl, she and Clarence has there on clothing line. Tanging si Realtor lang ang wala akong balita.

I stopped my car in front of the hotel. It was a five star hotel in Makati. Kaharap no'n ay isang restaurant. I suddenly crave for foods. Lalabas na sana ako ng kotse nang bigla kong maalala ang lugar ni Gil. It was in Taguig.

Muli kong binuhay ang kotse ko at nagmaneho papunta sa BGC sa Taguig. I'm planning to ask him something. Hihingi na rin ako ng labor tungkol sa opisina ko.

It took me minutes before I arrived at his place in Taguig. Agad akong nag-park ng kotse ko at nagtanong sa receptionist tungkol sa kung anong floor si Gil. Nang makakuha ako ng sagot ay agad na akong sumakay ng elevator.

Nang makarating ako sa palapag kung nasaan ang unit niya ay agad na rin akong lumabas ng elevator. I walked towards the door of his unit. I pressed the doorbell. I waited for more than three minutes before the door opened.

"Are you busy, Gil—"

"Yes—" we both cut off.

It was Dense who opened the door.