"Dad!"
isang gulat na gulat at tuwang-tuwang Charmaine ang sumalubong kay Alden pagkarating niya sa bahay. Ilang araw niya rin itong hindi nakita. He really missed his daughter. Isang mahigpit na yakap ang ibinigay sa kanya ng anak niya.
"So, hindi mo sinabi sa akin na ngayon ka na babalik. I really missed you Dad."
"I missed you too sweetheart." sagot niya sa kanyang anak. "I wanted to surprise you kaya hindi na kita tinawagan."
"You really surprised me Dad." Hinila siya ng dalaga at pinaupo sa sofa. "Tell me Dad. How was your vacation?"
Nagliwanag ang mukha niya sa tanong ni Charmaine. Batid niyang napansin din iyon ng kanyang anak dahil mas lalong lumiwanag ang mukha nito. Nadagdagan ang excitement nito.
"My vacation?" he uttered, closed his eyes, and thought of the vacation he just had. Isang makahulugang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi niya pagkaalala sa mga nangyari sa pinanggalingan niya. Sagada. Yes, Sagada. What a beautiful place. Sagada. Sagada. Then there's Menard. . . . and Kerry Anne too. Ah, yes, Kerry Anne. Sweet sweet Kerry Anne.
"Dad?" Charmaine complained, impatience in her voice. She truly ruined his moment. "So how was it?"
"Ah, it's magical."
"Magical?!" bulalas ni Charmaine. "Daddy, you are getting poetic. You better tell me what happened."
"Ok." Alden resigned. "I just had the most amazing vacation. It was the first time for years."
"Wow! I am glad you had it Dad. So What's behind that amazing vacation?"
"Correction Charmaine. It's rather who. Not what."
Biglang nawala ang liwanag sa mukha ni Charmaine. Napalitan iyon ng takot at pagtataka. "W-who? Dad?"
"I met Menard and his family sweetie."
"Menard who?" saglit na nawala sa konsentrasyon ang dalaga. "Menard?! Your friend Menard!? The one we met in Baguio?"
"Oo anak."
"And what's with Menard?"
"Sa kanila ako nakipanuluyan. They own a guest house in Sagada."
"And?"
"And I've got the chance to meet his mother and grandmother. Mababait silang mga ta Charm."
"Ok." Charmaine dismissed the topic. "I want to meet them also."
"In time sweetheart. In time."
*****
He sees things differently now. Matagal na siyang nakabalik sa Metro pero parang naiwan sa Sagada ang puso niya. Nevertheless, he did not neglect his duties as a boss to his employees, as a partner to his co-partners, as a friend to his friends, and as a father to Charmaine.
Marami na nga lang nabago sa kanya. Maybe, the vacation had given him a good and positive energy that he is utilizing right now. He began to see things in a lighter way. Hindi na rin niya nakikita ang lahat ng problema kahit sa mga pinakaliit-liitang mga bagay. Hindi na rin niya pasan-pasan ang buong mundo. He is doing things like he is always looking forward on something to happen. Maging siya ay hindi niya maitindihan kung saan nanggagaling ang lahat ng mga iyon.
"Sir, hawaan niyo naman ako ng positive energy niyo." Isang araw ay sabi sa kanya ni Bea.
"Excuse me?"
"Sir Alden, honestly, mula nang nagbalik kayo mula sa bakasyon niyo ay parang may nag-iba. You look different now. There is something different inside you. And I believe that."
"What do you mean Bea?"
"Well, palagi na kayong nakangiti nagyon. Hindi na mainitin ang ulo. Hindi niyo na kami masyadong pinapahirapan. Ano bang sikreto niyo Sir?"
He gave out a small laugh. "Wala lang ito Bea. Gusto ko lang maging masaya."
"Sabi niyo eh. Pero maganda rin ng naidulot ng bakasyon niyo. Lahat kami dito sa office ay napansin ang pagbabago sa inyo. And we are so glad about it. Anyway, I am here to remind you of your meeting with the film producers."
"Noted Bea. Thank you."
*****
Kung meron mang nababahala sa nangyayari kay Alden ay walang iba kundi si Charmaine iyon. Masaya si Charmaine sa nakikita niyang pagbabago sa ama niya pero natatakot siya at the same time.
Totoong nagbalik ang dati niyang Daddy. He is now his old self. His self when Maine was still alive. Hindi naniniwala si Charmaine na ang bakasyon mismo ng ama niya ang dahilan ng mga pagbabago dito.
May namumuong kutob sa loob niya sa nangyayari sa kanyang ama kaya lihim niyang pinapanood ito kung nasa bahay ito. Madalas niyang napapansin si Alden na nakatingin sa kawalan habang nakangiti. It was as if he is always daydreaming even at night. Sometimes, he is talking to his self as well. Yun nga lang, hindi niya nagawang pakinggan kung anuman ang sinasabi nito. Mas lalong nagkakatotoo ang mga kutob niya.
"Huwag mong gawan ng issue ang Daddy mo Charm." sermon sa kanya ni Maiden. She just shared to her all of her observations on his father.
"I am not Maiden. I am just worried."
"Don't be. Ayaw mo ba ang nangyayari kay Tito ngayon. Ilang taon na rin ang nakalipas Charm. Ngayon lang natin napapansin an unti-unti siyang nagbabalik sa dati niyang sarili."
"That's exactly my problem Maiden! Matagal na nga siyang hindi ganoon. I am not worried that he is slowly coping up. I am just worried about the reason behind this everything."
Natigilan si Maiden at saka napatingin sa kanya ng matiim. "You are overreacting Charmaine. Maybe, Sagada is just a perfect place for your father to gather his old self back."
"Hindi ako naniniwala. There could be another reason."
"What could it be?"
"I don't know pero para siyang in-love ngayon."
"Charmaine!
"I am telling you the truth Maiden. Daddy is behaving like he is in-love. And I am worried. Hindi ko alam kung kanino siya in-love."
"Maybe, you are mistaken Charmaine. Sabi ko nga, huwag mong gawan ng issue ang mga nangyayari kay Tito Alden ngayon."
"Basta natatakot ako. I need to do something."
"Don't do something Charmaine."
"Wala akong gagawing masama. Kailangan ko lang alamin kung nagmamahal na nga si Dad. And I need to know who is this woman."
"You are going crazy friend!"
"I am not." Charmaine dismissed the topic. "Anyway, malapit na ang sem break. May palno ka na ba?"
"Wala pa. Pero sigurado ako na kasama kayo ni Nichard ko kung magpaplano man ako."
"I know that. I am thinking, what do you think of Sagada."
"Charmaine!" Maiden freaked out.