It had to be YOU.

4

"WHAT? You're joking, Dad. I'm not yet engaged to be married!" nagpupuyos sa galit na sigaw niya sa ama. Hindi siya makapaniwalang engaged na siya. At sa hindi pa niya kilala!

Hindi naman sa ayaw niya. He's 28 and needs to plan on settling down. Pero gusto niyang siya mismo ang gumawa niyon. Siya mismo ang maghahanap ng babaeng mamahalin niya. Ayaw na ayaw niyang pinapangunahan sa mga desisyon niya, lalo na sa personal na aspeto.

So he decided to take a break from everything and everyone. He needed some time alone. And now he's here at one of the most prestigious villages in Laguna, the Olympus Garden Village. Pagmamay ari ito ng isa sa pinakamayamang pamilya sa bansa, ang Burgos Clan. Nakabili sila ng property sa village na iyon a few years back. Alam naman ng mga magulang at kapatid na dito muna siya tutuloy habang nag.iisip. He finished all of his commitments a few days ago. Now he's on vacation. Real vacation.

Ilang beses na siyang nakakapunta dito pero iba pa din ang nararamdaman niya. Namamangha pa din siya sa mga building structures. It's as if he's transported to Greece. It has this Grecian feeling all over. Naisip niya munang tingnan ang buong paligid. May dance studio, restaurants at isang chapel sa loob. Nasa may trail siya ng Palawan Cherries nang makita niya ang Serendipitea, ang paborito niyang milk tea shop sa Alabang. Akala niya ay sa Alabang lang meron nito. Dito din pala. Big time ang may-ari, ah?

Pagkapasok sa loob ay agad niyang napansin ang dalawang babaeng nakaupo sa pinakadulong table. Narinig niyang nag.aasaran ang dalawa base na din sa pag.uusap ng mga ito.

"Sasabihin ko kay Daddy, ipasara na tong Serendipitea. 'Di naman kumikita eh."

"Tumigil ka nga, ate. Sasabihin ko kay Daddy ipatapon ka ng tuluyan sa Japan."

"Louisa!"

The girls had the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen. Magkamukha din ang mga ito. Probably sisters, he thought. But the girl who was wearing the dress just made him call all the saints he know. She's simple yet elegant, just the girl he likes.

The girl in the dress stood up and walked gracefully towards the counter. Wow. She owns the place? Tumingin muna siya sa menu at namili.

Magsasalita na sana siya ng bigla niyang mapansin ang babae sa counter. She was staring at him!

"One wintermelon large plus pearls as add ons, and a slice of mango cheesecake." Pinilit niyang maging kalmado ngunit hindi niya maitago ang ngiti. She's just amusing.

"You're Rohann." Napamaang siya sa sinabi ng dalaga. Nakilala siya nito!

"Pardon?"

"You're Rohann. Rohann Madrigal. I know you!" She said with amusement in her eyes. She flashed a smile that one guy's heart would really melt.

He leaned on the cashier and smiled. Itinapat niya sa bibig ang daliri at bumulong ng bahagya, "Can you not shout to everybody that I'm here? Let's just keep this between the two of us." She nodded in approval. He grinned with the thought. This will be good.

"I'll get your order now. Just a second. Ihahatid ko na lang sa inuupuan mo."

He found his place at the table next to where the sisters are sitting. Nandoon pa din ang isa sa magkapatid, doing something on her Ipad.

"Here's your order, Sir," nakangiting sabi ni Louise at inilapag ang tray sa lamesa, "do you need anything else?"

"None at the moment. Thanks. We haven't officially met. I'm Rohann, by the way." Inilahad niya ang kamay at masuyong tinanggap naman ito ng dalaga.

"Louise," nakangiting sabi nito. Umupo ito sa kabilang table, sa tabi ng kapatid nito. Napansin siguro nitong nakatingin siya sa kanilang magkapatid kaya naman nagsalita ito. "That's my sister, Roevi Patrice. Don't mind her, she's probably pestering--"

"It's Roevi, Mr. Madrigal. Nice meeting you but I have to go." 'Yun lang at umalis na ito. Napapailing lang ang kapatid nitong si Louise.

"I'm sorry for what my sister did, Mr. Madrigal. Minsan talaga nawawalan ng manners iyon."

"It's okay, and please call me Rohann. Mr. Madrigal's very formal. So, you own the place?" He sipped on his wintermelon while looking ather. She's really pretty.

"Yeah. This is my 4th branch actually."

"So you own the one in Alabang?"

"Yes."

"Who are you, really?" Nginitian lang siya nito.

"Louise Burgos-Fontanilla. 23 years old, a Business Management major, owner of Serendipitea." Holy crap! They own the whole village!

NAPANSIN niyang nasamid ng bahagya si Rohann sa sinabi niya. "Did I say something wrong? Rohann? Are you okay?" He nodded and she sighed in relief, "akala ko kung ano nang nangyari sa'yo."

"I was just shocked. I never thought I'd get to meet one of you. I mean, mailap sa media ang pamilya ninyo, hindi ba?"

"Yeah, sort of. Pero hindi naman kasi nakakapasok ng basta basta ang mga reporters dito sa village. The security's very tight."

"I see. But you still own the whole village."

"Not me, my grandparents. Hindi naman ako ang mayaman." She saw his muscles flex. Gwapo talaga ang kumag.

"But you're still one of the owners," nginitian na lamang niya ito, "I've heard that you and your cousins are pretty. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kayo kaganda." Her heart's melting right now. Oh Dear Lord, please help me! Ngunit biglang nagring ang telepono niya, it's her father. "Excuse me, I'll just take this."

He just nodded and flashed his most wonderful smile, "Sure,"

Tumayo na siya at sinagot ang tawag ng ama. Nais nitong umuwi siya sa bahay at kausapin ang ate niya. She's really close to her sister. Kadalasan ay siya lang ang nakakausap nito ng matino. Kaya ngayon ay kailangan niyang umuwi at kausapin ito.

Binalikan niya si Rohann at humingi ng paumanhin. "I'm sorry, Rohann. My parents want me to talk to my sister. Medyo magulo kasi utak nun ngayon, kailangan ng guidance."

"No problem. And it was fun talking to you, by the way."

"Don't worry, drinks on me. Mauna na ko! Bye!"