Middle aged lady in uniform welcome him.

Sir Gerald welcome home, gusto mo kumain?

Gerald gives her a sweet embrace. Nanay Elena it’s so good to see you. Kamusta po kayo?

Okay naman ako, tumatanda peru malakas pa rin, wala pa naman rayuma. hehehe

Gerald laugh and pull the lady into a side embrace while walking towards the kitchen. Hindi pa rin kayo nag babago masayahin pa rin kayo.

Hay naku Gerald, masaya talaga kami dito, hindi uso ang stress dito. Oh ano kumain ka na ba? Gusto mo pag hain kita? Nag gawa si Nanay Thelma ng paborito mo na kare-kare, curry na manok at adobo.

Wow, grabe naman baka tumaba agad ako…… Actually busog pa ako at late na rin, hindi na ako kumakain pag lampas na sa oras kasi tutulog na agad baka lumaki ang tiyan ko. Hahaha

Naku Gerald, walang oras oras dito tataba ka talaga. Patatabain kita.

Nay Elena, si Papa and Mama?

Tulog na si Papa mo, madali kasi siya mapagod kasi alas otso ng gabi inaakyat na yan siya ng Mama mo sa room, kasi ayaw matulog kapag wala si Mama mo sa tabi. Kung gusto mo puntahan mo, baka gising pa si Mama mo at nag babasa lang.

Bukas na lang let them rest. So Nay Elena update mo ako, ano ang pag babago dito?

Dito sa loob ng bahay, ganon pa rin, kami pa rin ni Nanay Thelma ang youngest dito. Si Erna, 2 na ang anak, alam mo na siguro yon. Hay, sayang nga hindi naka pag tapos at nabuntis siya ni Jay. Kaya ayon si Jay naman driver ng trucking sa tubohan. Kaya nandito ang panganay nilang anak si Nicolas katulong naming dito sa bahay sa pag linis linis at siya ang kasa kasama ng Papa mo sa araw araw na lakad. Si Ditas naman naka tapos ng pagka kumadruna kaya siya ang nag papaanak sa mga tauhan ng Hacienda, sa Health Center siya ang nandoon araw araw.

Nay Elena si Mang Doro?

Oh si Doro? Doro pa rin. Hahaha tuwing alas 7 ng gabi pa ikis ikis pa rin ang lakad pauwi. Hahaha

Siya pa rin ba ang taga pang alaga ng mga hayop?

Oo siya pa rin, alam mo kasi kahit ganyan lang yan si Doro loyal yan sa Papa mo, sa pamilya ninyo.

Eh Nay Elena ano pala ang nangyayare doon sa lumang bahay sa damohan?

Ay pina patanggal na yan ng Papa mo, bukas makalawa boboldosin na yan.

Talaga ho?

Oo bakit?

Sino ho ang gagawa noon?

Si Doro ang nag aasikaso niyan.

Nay Elene puweda ba bukas na bukas bago pa mag simula mag trabaho si Mang Doro paki sabi puntahan muna ako at importante lang talaga.

Sige pa puntahin ko si Nicolas kay Doro bukas ng umaga bago mag tilaok ang manok.

Ho? ….hahaha natawa na lang si Gerald.

Gusto mo ng alak?

Sige Nay Elena, pahingi na lang ng whisky ni Papa diyan.

Gerald spends another 2 hours just lounging at the garden beside the swimming pool, at one point he went and soak his feet hanging on the poolside while having a drink. He looks up and watches the sky, enjoying the stars. Until now He got mix feelings if he really wants to spend his life in the farm his family owns for years, leaving his modern and luxurious life in the city. At 30 he is still single, successful businessman and has traveled all over the world. Never in his wildest dream that one day He will be coming home and consider a life His father had.

6 in the morning, Gerald wake up by a knocked on his bedroom door.

Sir Gerald, nandito na si Mang Doro.

Remembered his instructions to Nanay Elena last night, He get-up and open his door.

Good morning Sir, nasa baba na po si Mang Doro.

Okay, salamat. Then, the maid in her thirties turns around.

Sandali, sino ka ulit?

Si Neneng sir.

Neneng? Ikaw yan? Bakit ka nandito?

Ako nga po Sir Gerald. Dito po ako nag tratrabaho simula ng namatay ang asawa ko.

Oh ganon ba..sige paki sabi kay Mang Doro sandali lang baba na ako.

Gerald went to the bathroom and get ready. He went down on his pair of jeans and boats ready to face the day in the country.

Mang Doro, magandang umaga ho.

Magandang umaga Gerald, pinatawag mo daw ako.

Opo Mang Doro, naka pag almosal na ba kayo? Hali ka samahan mo ako.

Gerald went to the kitchen and found his parents there having breakfast.

Gerald! I miss you son! His mom gives him a kiss and a hug, and then he went to give his father a kiss and a hug also.

I arrived last night but decided not to wake you two up.

Yes Son. Elena told us. So how was your trip?

Was good Papa, How about you? How are you?

Now that you are here, I’m feeling great. Hahaha

Son where are you going? Mukhang you are ready to jump into a farm work. Hahahah

Actually Ma, pina punta ko si Mang Doro dito, dahil I found out na pinapatanggal ninyo ang bahay sa damohan.

Yes, we don’t use it anymore so I decided to have it tear down rather than leave it there, delekado.

Papa, I want to restore that place.

You see Papa, as Gerald mom cut in into the conversation. I told you, that place is close to Gerald’s heart. Favorite niya yan since bata pa siya. That is where they used to play ng mga friends niya. I remember before, you can stay in that place all day. Every time your father gets mad at you, you run into that place. One day nakita ka namin doon tulog na tulog.

Gerald didn’t say anything. His mind went off to somewhere….into that place…is his mother correct in saying, that place is close to his heart?

Okay Gerald, it’s all yours, bahala ka kung ano ang gusto mong gawin sa bahay na yan.

Thank’s Papa, I can start calling people I know to help me with the plan.

That`s good, you can make a proposal and have it approve sa Finance para you don`t have to use your own money, coming from your own pocket.

By the way Gerald, when do you want to go to Azucarera? You need to learn how things goes anak.

Papa, can you give me one week? Let me enjoy and go back to places here na matagal ko na hindi na puntahan.

Okay, when you are ready let me know so I can call a general meeting para ma introduce kita sa mga empleyado. You’ll be happy, most of them kilala mo na since bata ka pa, some of your friends work there now.

Okay Pa…kay I got to go…. Mang Doro? Ready na kayo?

Gerald went with Mang Doro to the place. Gerald is excited to check his old “club house” as he used to call it. That is where he hang-outs with his friends after they ride their BMX and Motorbike. Lots of memories that house keep for the longest time…if only walls and floors can talk.

Ge, ano ba ang pumasok sa isip mo at gusto mo pa ipagawa ito? Walang income na papasok dito sa project na gusto mo.

Mang Doro, hindi naman para pagkitaan ang intention ko kaya gusto ko ipagawa ito. I grow up loving this place, importante ang bahay na ito sa akin.

Oh mga ala-ala, sabagay hindi talaga maipag palit ang magandang ala-ala sa pera lang.

Tama kayo diyan.

Maraming kuwento nga ang bahay na ito, marami ding pagmamahalan ang nabuo at napahamak ditto, mga anak na nabuo ng di oras. Hehehhe

Hearing Mang Doro talking, Gerald found himself looking back to the memories he once made in the place. Memories He thought he already forgot …or maybe trying to forgot.

Oh mga memories na gusto mo ma preserve habang tuluyan namang nakalimutan na ng iba….he mumble away.

Ano kamo? Mang Doro ask.

Wala ho, sabi ko puwede pa kaya ma save ang hardwood floor?

Puwede pa siguro, wala naman anay baka puwede ma gamut ulit ang mga kahoy na ito para hindi anayin….hay Gerald, sigurado k aba talaga dito?

Mang Doro, siguradong sigurado, ngayon nandito na ulit ako, gusto ko ayusin ang lugar na ito, wala ng atrasan ito.