Sitting inside the Black Escalade hiding in dark tented windshield looking outside, mix emotion rushing into his vein that send out uncontrollable feelings producing cold sweat and palpitation cause by anxiety.

Nando driving quietly but observing his passenger through the back view mirror.  After few glances, he got a little worried watching Him his shirt three holes below his neck and folding his sleeves right up to his elbow.

Sir, okay lang kayo?

Okay lang ako, paki lakasan na lang ang aircon please.

Sir, naka full blast na ang aircon naten,  gusto ninyo buksan ko na lang ang window ninyo?  Baka gusto ninyo maka lasap ng preskong hangin.

Sige, buksan mo maliit lang ng hindi ko naman ma amoy lahat na hayop.

Sir hindi na kayo sanay sa amoy dito ano? Matagal tagal na din kasi na hindi ka naka uwi dito. Peru alam mo Sir, kahit medyo maamoy nga dito sigurado mas malinis naman ng hindi hamak ang hangin dito kaysa sa Manila. Doon lahat ng usok ng sasakyan at ng mga pabrika, yon lahat ang lasap mo at diretso lahat yon sa baga mo.

Tama ka diyan sa sinabi mo.

Nando is a very talkative guy. He keeps Him entertained which helps Him forget his discomfort. As the vehicle enters into a huge sign “Ahora Entra en nuestro Amor Paraíso…”  He looks up and smiles. He is finally home.

Sir, nandito na tayo , 45 minutes na lang maka pag pahinga na kayo. Okay na ang daan pina ayos yan ng Papa ninyo wala na ang mga lubak, tapos mas maraming mga puno ng kahoy naka helira sa daanan hanggang mansion yan , bago din yan mga Eucalyptus,  Foxtail, Narra and Mangga.

Nando keep talking on and on that all he can hear is a buzzing sound. He looks into a strip of sugarcane fields, corn fields and open meadow where an old shack standing alone with a windmill beside it. The ugly old house catches his eyes and brought back memories. Memories that has been buried for a very long time, as they pass it suddenly he feel the urge to go back and take another look.

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Manong Nando, sandali.

Surprise, the driver abruptly stops the car…. Bakit Sir, ano ang problema.

Balik mo sandali.

Nando stop right at front of the shack.

Manong Nando, anong nangyari diyan bakit nagging ganyang ang hitsura?

Sir, hindi na yang ginagamit, kaya sa pangalawa tangalin na yan. Ginagawa kasing tambayan at taguan ng mga bata. Diyan naka tambay pag hindi pumapasok sa paaralan.

Somehow, his feet pushes him to go out and check the place, once again weird feelings come back and cold just rush into the back of his neck.

Sir, saan ho kayo pupunta? Baka masugatan kayo matataas ang damo diyan.

Ignoring the driver he continues towards the old ugly house. With three longer strides, he finally reaches the wobbly steps and rotten front deck. He tries to pick what is inside but he can’t see anything aside from flatten cardboard and garbage. He tries to open the door.

Sir, hindi na ninyo ma buksan yan kasi naka pako para hindi na mabuksan ng mga bata dito.

After hearing Nando, he gives up and leaves the door alone. He went and checks around to see what is going on at the back. He remembers the deep well and the small flower garden. But of course, those are gone also. The deep well is now covered with concrete and no trace of any flowers at all but dried, dead tall grass. In his dismay, he turns back and starts walking towards his ride.

Tuloy na tayo Sir? Tanong ng driver, while looking at him sa back view mirror.

Without any words, looking at the driver and give him a nod.

After five minutes of driving, familiar road strike him.

Manong Nando, di ba daan yan papuntang plaza? Puede ba doon ka dumaan? May tagusan naman doon di ba?

Naku Sir, sarado na ang tagusan na yon, anim na taon na. Pinasara ng Papa ninyo simula ng dumami ang population dito para mapatayuan ng bahay ng ibang trabahador at ng mga pamilya nila. Ang bilis kasi dumami parang mga palaka sa kangkongan. Hahaha

When the driver saw his reaction, he continues.

Sir, puwede naman ako dumaan sa plaza ikot lang ako, alam ko gusto mo makita ang tambayan mo noon. Maganda na ang plaza natin Sir, mas maganda ang basketball court malawak at malinis. Tapos maraming mga program program, magaling si Anne siya kasi ang assistant ni Mama mo sa mga ganyang bagay.

Anne?

Si Anne Sir, iyong anak ni Amor and Tonyo, naka tapos kasi ng komersyo tapos dito na nag trabaho bilang taga abala sa mga programa pang local.

Oo naalala ko si Anne.

Tapos Sir, nagka tuluyan sila ni Stephen. Si Stephen naman principal sa Elementarya.

He was surprise how bright the plaza and how clean and beautiful it is, flowers everywhere and matured trees. As they go around the plaza, his eyes were searching for a particular house. As he can remember vividly, all woods, mango tress at the front right leaning on the pink gate made of recycled truck tires. With two benches made of bamboo facing the plaza and rows and rows of flat gardens of daisies and roses. Got deep into his imagination while the whole place is so quite which remind him how always peaceful this place is, look at his watch and it is only 10 pm, a time he used to go out and meet people for twelve years of his life.

Driver interrupted him. Sir, yan ang mga bagong bahay na itinayo. Ang puting bakud, yan ang bahay ni Stephen at Anne. Ang mga bahay naman dito, nilipat na din dyan ng pinatayo ang bagong court. Ang ganda ng basketball court ano Sir, masaya dito pag sabado at linggo may mga liga liga kasi,  tapos ang championship ay itong dadating na October 7 sa fiesta ng Lady of Holy Rosary, kung maalaala mo ang Patron ng Mama mo.

So now he got his answer, the reason why he can’t seems to find the pink gate maybe because of that reason. But those rows of houses, none of them has pink gate anymore. 

After few more minutes, they entered into a huge gate with long drive way shaded with matured trees and clusters of light post. Passing through acres of greens and flowers, beautiful kidney shape swimming pool will lighted and a beautiful entrance steps made of marble welcoming into a luxurious mansion.

He get out from the car, stand on the entrance for a while took a deep breath and look around. Try to put him into the old place once he loves most. Now wondering if he still can remember why he loves the place or is he still willing to let old feelings comeback. How much of those feelings he wants back anyway……