Under the Stars (Tonjuarez Series I)

Prologue

His appearance changed a lot. He looked more... matured now.

Like he was healthy through these years, like he didn't lay on a hospital bed for years.

Ramdam ang bigat ng mga titig ko, he tried to look at me, ngunit bago pa niya mahuli ang tingin ko ay umiwas na ako. I couldn't afford an eye contact with him, not the moment I just arrived.

That would be... Too much.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa strap ng aking bag.

"Have a seat!" Napatayo si Tita Anica para i-welcome kami.

Umupo na kaming tatlo at kung seswertehin nga naman, magkaharap pa kami.

"Matilda! Riley! And Yara! Long time no see!" bati ni Tita Anica.

"I know right, it feels so long kahit na nagkita naman tayo last Christmas sa States!"

"That's already long, it's been one year." singit ni Tito Wancho and they laughed, except the two of us.

Thankfully, the atmosphere is not that heavy.

Tumingin sa akin si Tita Anica. "Yara? You're a grown woman now! I missed you. Hindi ka nakabisita sa U.S. kahit isang beses." malungkot na sabi nito.

Ngumiti ako. "I missed you too Tita. Super focused and busy lang sa college." balik ko.

"I see. Do you have a boyfriend already?" she asked out of the blue, my eyes widened a little.

The question raised tension to the room, na kahit ang kaharap ko ay tumingin na sa 'kin, parang nag aantay din ng sagot.

Seconds came with a really loud silence.

"I-I don't have... Tita." I even stuttered. Hindi sa nagsisinungaling ako but I just felt pressured.

"She's busy right now because she just graduated, looking for a job." singit ni Mommy. Sinubukan kong ngumiti ulit.

"Really? What's your profession again?" tanong naman ni Tito Wancho.

"Filming, I want to be on a filming set po." sagot ko.

"Wow. saktong-sakto you can apply in J Prime." Tita Anica said excitedly.

"I'm about po, kung papalarin makapasok."

"Kaya 'yan. It would be nice kung magkakatrabaho kayo ni Caden." hindi ako agad nakasagot. The idea of us working together is unimaginable for me.

Dahil doon ay nabaling na ang atensyon sa kanya, kanina pa siya tahimik.

"Caden, I didn't recognize you. You've changed a lot in one year." turan ni Mommy, nakuha nito ang atensyon niya at ngumiti.

"I've fully recovered last year, I am well now Tita Matilda." he said in a very deep and calm voice. His voice changed too, like every aspect of him matured.

"That's great! By the way, congrats to your magazine company. Buti at may time ka pa para umuwi ng Pilipinas. How's the business?" patuloy na usisa ni Mommy.

Nagtataka akong tinignan ito. He has his own company?! Since when? I've never heard of that!

Sumandal ito sa backrest ng upuan na parang nag-iisip.

"The company is doing fine, but I am on leave until the end of the year." he calmly said.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Anong klaseng CEO ang iiwan ang company niya nang ganoon katagal?

"Why? Is there a problem?" pag-uusisa na rin ni Daddy.

"With my company? No, there's nothing wrong Tito, but Dad asked me if I can work at J Prime for one year, he really needs the help."

"Then what about your company? Kasisimula palang nito hindi ba?"

"Cian is currently taking care of it." sagot nito at tumingin sa akin. Nagsalubong ang mga mata namin.

He looked at me as if he was trying to pinpoint something. I know what he was trying to say, hindi pa ba siya nakakamoved on sa nangyari four years ago?

My mom clapped her hands like she remembered something. "Speaking off. Kaya ba hindi siya umuwi?"

Tita Anica sighed. A deep sighed. "He's staying in America and he is taking care of his divorce."

"What?!" Mom and Dad said in chorus.

Lahat kami ay nagulat. Cian is getting divorced? Kumunot ang noo ko. Why so sudden?

"O, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up." Mom said.

"It's okay, everyone will find out about it eventually. I just hope maayos nila ng asawa niya. He is so devastated right now, but he is trying his best."

"Let's just focus on the good news. Shall we? No negative vibes tonight." Tito Wancho broke the awkward topic.

"You're right love, the food is here!" Ani Tita Anica.

We started eating pero hindi parin natapos ang kwentuhan nila Mommy, I heard that J Prime is now facing some problems kaya sila umuwi sila at kasama si Caden.

What can he help by the way? If we're just the same age then he probably just graduated from college too, but he already has his own company?

What have I missed these past few years?

Maybe because sinasadya ko talagang umiwas, sa mga balita sa kanila or sa kanya mismo. But even from our high school classmates before wala naman akong nabalitaan. What happened to him that he is so lowkey now? Sobrang layo sa personality niya dati.

And the fact that I didn't even know that he had already recovered, when did he become so healthy again?

The last update I've heard about him is that he was declared comatosed, a nineteen year old in coma.

Parang may dumadagan sa puso ko everytime I think of it. It is upsetting that I isolated myself away from him even though I don't want to. It is upsetting that I did all that effort just for him, even the mere fact that I cared upsets me.

We finished eating.

Nagpaalam akong pupunta lang ng comfort room saglit para mag retouched. I reapplied my red lipstick, I also fixed my bun and my dress before going out. I want to look powerful to him, I am not a manipulated highschool girl anymore.

I gathered all my courage as I walked out, pero lahat ng iyon ay parang naglaho na parang bula nang makita ko kung sino ang nag aantay sa labas.

His body is leaning on the wall and his hands are both inside the pocket of his black slack. He is standing there dominating the vibe of the whole hallway. With his dark aura and strong features, he would easily blend in the dark.

Parang gustong bumalik ng paa ko sa loob, but I should face this, face him already. Even if a small encounter like this will affect me, how can I go on with my present life?

Kahit mabibigat ang hakbang at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad at nilampasan siya.

"Yara." he called me in his deep and cool voice, way darker than before.

I closed my eyes. Bakit ba kailangan niya pa akong tawagin?!

I sighed before turning back to him.

"Why?" I said, irritated. Looking irritated, at least.

His aura darkened because of my reaction.

Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Even if my stomach was churning, I looked at him. He smirked at me like he was deeply annoyed too.

"Are you disappointed? He's not here."