Saturday, November 7, 2009

Paper Planes - Chapter 1

Chapter One: Homecoming



Hacienda Villavicencio.

He stood before the huge gates, reading at the sign on it's enormous arch. Hacienda Villavicencio... this is the place where he spent his younger years. When was the last time he have set a foot on this place? Three years? Four Years? Five Years? Maybe more than that. Since he got a scholarship at one of the top universities in Manila, he have not gone home. And here he is now, finally home after years of struggling with his studies. He walked inside the unpaved path of the Hacienda. He looked around, and noticed that nothing have changed. From afar, he could see the old Victorian house of the Villavicencios. It stood still, as majestic as ever, just like the family that owned the place.

“Brian?” he heard someone call. He looked back, and saw a young lady smiling at him. “Sarah?” he called. The young lady nodded her head, and then ran towards him. She jumped into him, and hugged him tight. “I missed you, kuya!” she said to him. “I missed you too...” he said. He let go of her, and looked at her closely. “You've grown taller, I see...” he said. Sarah smiled proudly at him. “Of course. I'm as tall as you are now, Kuya Brian...” she said. “You maybe as tall as I am, but you can never be as fast as I am!” he said to her, then he ran towards their old shanty, a little father from the old Victorian house. Sarah put her hands on her waist, pouting at the guy who ran away from her. “Hey! No fair! Wait for me!” she shouted at him. Then, he raced with him, hoping she could still beat Brian from this race.

As she expected, she lose to him again. Sarah panted, shaking her head. Her cousin really runs fast, and she's just half as good as he is. “You're such a turtle...” Brian told her as they reached their house. “You're so... unfair... why... didn't you... wait... for me...” she said between pants. Brian just smirked at her as he entered the gate of the small shanty. He saw an elder woman sweeping the ground. As the elder woman stood up, she was surprised to see him standing in front of her. “Brian? Is that really you, Brian?” she asked Brian smiled at him, and nodded his head. Brian walked towards the elderly woman, and kissed the back of her hand. “Auntie Irma, I missed you...” he said. The elder woman smiled at him, and hugged him. “I'm glad you are home now, iho...” he said. “I'm glad to be back, Auntie Irma.”

Just then, an elderly man got out of the house. And just like his wife, he was surprised to see his nephew finally home. “Brian!” he called in glee. Irma let go of his nephew as her husband ran towards him and hugged him. “Finally, Engineer Brian Del Mundo is back!” he said. “I'm so glad to see you again, Uncle Luis!” he said. Luis smiled proudly at his nephew. He knew he have been working and studying so hard in Manila, and he was glad that he is back to have a vacation. He sure missed this lad, whom he considered as his real son. “This calls for a celebration. Not only is Sarah graduating with honors from high school, but our dear Brian is back.” he said. Brian smiled at him and shook his head. “No need for that, Uncle Luis...”
“Of course it is! You have never came home for the past five years! I know you were too busy with your studies and with your work, so we need to celebrate later....”
Brian could not say no to his uncle. He was glad that he have never changed towards him, despite the fact that he wasn't able to come home as often as he wanted to. “Brian, you must be hungry from your travel. I'll prepare your favorite chicken adobo, OK?” Irma said. Brian nodded his head, and then he watched the couple enter the house.

He looked back, and saw Sarah smiling at him. “You must have missed home, Kuya Brian...” she said. Brian smiled and nodded his head. “I did... seems like nothing have changed here in the hacienda, isn't it...” he said. “Yes, nothing have changed here...” she said. “By the way, how's Ralph?” he asked. Upon hearing her cousin's question, the smile on her face was slowly formed again. She knew that the first thing he would ask is his best friend, and she knew he will be very happy Brian would find out something about Ralph.

--

The gate of the hacienda opened as the black Ford Expedition entered its premises. The car stopped in front of the Victorian house, and as soon as everyone around saw the car, the maids got into their position. The door of the car opened, and a man in his early twenties got out of it. The maids bowed their head as a sign of respect to him. “Welcome home, Senorito Ralph...” they greeted. Ralph took off his shades and smiled at them. “Thank you.” he said as he entered the door. He walked inside the house and saw it empty. It has always been like this whenever he came home. His parents were never here to stay, and his grandfather might be going around the hacienda. “Nothing has changed, I guess...” he thought.

He looked at the man beside him, and smiled. “Lito, take all my bags to my room. I need to rest for a while.” he said. The man smiled, and then headed outside the house to get his bags. He sat on the couch, and watched as the maids took all of his luggages. He looked outside the door, and at one corner, he saw Sarah talking to one of their maids. Curious, he stood up and walked towards her. “Sarah?” he called. Sarah paused and looked up at him. “Senorito Ralph?”
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that... haven't you learned your lesson?”
Sarah lowered her head, embarassed by what he said. “I'm sorry, Sen – Ralph...” she said in a low voice. Ralph smiled at her as he walked towards her. He tapped the shoulder of the elder woman she was talking to. “Manang Linda, please get me and Sarah some juice. I want to talk to her.” she said. The elder woman nodded her head and headed towards the house. “Long time no see, Sarah...” he said to her. Sarah looked up at him and smiled. “It's been a long time since I last saw you, Ralph...” she said shyly. Ralph gave out a faint laugh. “You're still shy as ever. Shy, but prettier...” he said. He could see Sarah blush at what he said. “Thank you...”
“So, how was the hacienda while I'm not around?”
“Boring...”
“You missed me?”
“Why would I miss the arrogant young master of this hacienda?”
“I know you missed me, Sarah... don't deny it.”
“Think what you want to think, but I didn't miss you.”

Ralph just laughed at her. Ever since they were kids, he liked teasing Sarah. He teased her a lot that he makes her cry most of the time. “Hey, you just came home in time, by the way...” Sarah said. Ralph gave him a confused look. “What do you mean?” he asked. “Brian...” she said. “He just came back today...”


--

Brian stood before the old acacia tree. He touched it, and then he remembered his happy childhood playing around this tree. It was in this tree that he met another boy who became his best friend. That boy accepted him as his friend, despite the fact that they have different status in life. Underneath this tree, was a pact they made not so long ago. He knelt down, touching the stone marker of their childhood treasure. “Nothing has still changes, it's still here after all...” he thought. “Hey, we said we'll dig that up after 20 years. We still have 8 more years to go! Don't think of digging that up!” he heard a familiar voice said. He smiled to himself as he stood up. Brian looked back, and saw Ralph smiling at him. “Jose Raphael Inigo Villavicencio IV...” Brian said. “Brian Patrick Del Mundo...” Ralph said as he walked towards him. Ralph gave him his trademark sunshine smile as he walked towards him. “Man! I missed you!” Ralph said, patting his arm. “Me too. How's your life in the states? I heard from Sarah that whenever you come home here from vacation, you're bring some chicks with you?” Brian said, smiling at him. Ralph just laughed at him. “That cousin of your! She's still as nosy as always...” Ralph said. “And how are you? Engineer Del Mundo?” he asked. Brian laughed at him. “Doing great, I guess. I decided to have a short vacation before I work. I'll be working at BGP Estates.” Brian said. Ralph smiled at him. He turned his gaze from, and smiled to himself. “Well, I guess I have to start working for my dad after the fiesta...” he said. “It's only expected of you. After all, you are the only son of Senor Raphael, and the only heir of the Villavicencios...” Brian said.

Ralph looked at him, and smiled at him sadly “Sometimes, I wish I am not a Villavicencio... so that I could do everything that I want.” he said. “Weird, I know a lot of guys here wanting to be Ralph Villavicencio, the only heir of the richest family here in San Carlos.” Brian said. “Do you want to be in my shoe, Brian?” he asked. Brian smiled at him, and shook his head. “Before, I wanted to... but looking back, I'd rather be what I am now.” he said. “That's why I envy you, Brian. You seem to be contented with the things that you have.”
“Well, I have to face the fact that there are things that I can't do, that I don't have control over with.”
“Yeah, and while I can do the things I want, I have to think of a huge responsibility...”

Brian looked at Ralph, and saw his friend sigh. “You're still not giving up on that dream of yours to be a pilot, aren't you?” he asked. “Why? Have you given up on it?” Ralph asked. “You know very well how poor we are. Although I wanted so much to be a pilot, we can't afford it.” Brian said. “That's your excuse. While me, I can afford it, but dad wouldn't let me become a pilot.” Ralph said. Then, Ralph knelt down in front of the marker, and smiled to himself. “It will be a few years from now, and we will dig up this treasure of ours. Looking back, I wish I had the courage to pursue my own dream...” Ralph said. Then, he looked at Brian, and smiled. “I still want to fly a plane with you as my co-captain.” he said. Brian laughed, and shook his head. “Too bad, all that we can fly now are just paper planes.” Brian said.

Ralph laughed at what he said, then, he became silent. The smile on his face slowly disappeared at the thought of his childhood dream slowly fading before him. “Brian... since we both can't be pilots... what... what else do you dream of?” he asked. “Me? I dream of meeting the girl of my dreams, marrying her, building a home with her, raising our children with her, growing old with her. I will work hard so that I could give her a better life... that's all that I'm dreaming of now. How about you, Ralph?” he asked. Ralph paused, and stared at the stone marker. “At this point... I don't know. How can you dream a life you've always wanted if your life is being ran by your parents? From the food that I have to eat, to the dress I have to wear, to the kids I have to hang out with, and from the major I should take up... they all planned it out for me. I have a hunch they are already planning who should I marry in the future.” he said. Brian let out a laugh. Ralph looked at him, and smiled. “It's hard being a Villavicencio, I tell you, Brian.” he said. “I know, Ralph. I know. I pity you.” Brian said. “You really should.” Ralph said.

Then, he stood up, and walked up to him. He put his arm around his shoulder, and then stared at the acacia tree. “We may have not fulfilled our dreams when we were still kids. I hope that we could fulfill the dreams and hopes we have right now.” Ralph said. “I guess both of us should work hard for it. But, what is it that you really want in life, Ralph? You have to know what it is.” he said. Ralph looked at his best friend and smiled. “I guess I have a dream like yours. Most of all, I want to grow old with my best friend. We can both watch our children and grandchildren grow up as we play chess.” Brian laughed again at him. “Funny. Really funny. Funny but sweet.” he said. Then, Ralph lifted up his closed fist, and smiled at him. “Promise me no matter what happens, nothing will change in our friendship, and nothing will stand in between us.” he said. Brian lifted his fist, and bump it with Ralph's fist. “Promise.”

Labels: original story, Paper Planes