Chapter 078

"Vienna .. wake up, we have arrived." I slowly opened my eyes when I heard Tine's soft voice. He was still in the car smiling at me. "Let's go?" he said, I nodded in response. He got out of the car first and opened the door for me. I looked around as I got out of his car. We are in a barangay but I didn't expect this place to be quiet. There are many houses but not many people go out of their homes and I see very few now. Did we live here before? Why I didn't even remember this place? "I don't know where our old house is, because Mother Selda only gave me the address. I'll ask first, just wait for me here," I said and he nodded in response. I immediately went to a store after I crossed the other road. People will inevitably look at me, especially since I'm new to them. "Good morning, can I ask a question?" I said. A lady turned to me, she was even surprised to see me but she also smiled at me immediately. "Good morning too hija, okay what is it?" she replied smiling. "Where is Rey Malvar's house?" She didn't answer but immediately faced the other side of the road and pointed to a large house. 'Why didn't I even see that when I got out of Tine's car?' "Are you Rey's daughter? Are you Vienna?" she asked. I couldn't answer right away, I was afraid at the way she was staring at me. But how did she know? Why does she easily recognize me? "H-how did you know me?" I nervously said. "Even though it's been a few years since you left this place, I still remember your face when you were young," she replied seriously but with a smile. I looked down, I don't know what to say to her. But suddenly she held me by the shoulder so I looked up at her. "I know what happened to you and I also know your dad is gone." "How did you know?" I asked, wondered. She didn't answer me, but smiled at me and held my shoulder again. "I'll tell you later. The caretaker of your house, Eduardo, is inside. Does he know you're coming?" I shook my head in response and she looked across the street where our old house was. "Come on, I'll accompany you." "No need, I have someone with me." "Is that so, okay hija. By the way, I'm your Aunt Maricel, your dad's former teacher when he was in high school." "I'm sorry if I didn't recognize you right away." "It's okay hija, I understand. Umm .. Vienna, can I hug you?" I just nodded and she immediately approached and hugged me. "I'm happy to see you again, Vienna. Alright, I might be bothering you. Just come here later with your friend, I'll prepare a snack for you two," she said and she let go of my hug. I also said goodbye to her and crossed to the other side of the road where Tine was waiting for me. "Who is the lady you asked earlier?" he asked. The two of us are already here in front of the gate but I haven't rung the doorbell yet. I want to look at the whole house first and mother Selda is right, it's beautiful. "She was dad's teacher in high school," I replied. I was still looking at the house and I couldn't help but be amazed at how beautiful it was. I can't believe I lived here 9 years ago. I don't remember anything in this house, not one. "Good morning, what can I do to you two?" Tine and I looked at a man who came with a broom in his hand. Is he Mang Eduardo? "Good morning, I'm Vienna Malvar. Are you the caretaker of the house?" He looked at me in shock and suddenly let go of the broom he was holding. "Ma'am Vienna is that you? Ma'am, please forgive me if I didn't recognize you right away," he said, rattled. He immediately opened the gate and let us in. It was good that he knew me right away but he, I didn't even know or remember him. "It's okay, I understand you," I replied with a smile. "Thank you, ma'am Vienna. I am Eduardo Perez, the caretaker of your house for six years," he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Mang Eduardo, I also want to introduce you to my friend." "Are you Martin, son?" he asked directly which surprised Tine and me. "Mang Eduardo .. he's not Martin," I interrupted. "I'm Tine, Vienna's friend," then he looked at me. I suddenly felt nervous when he said the word friend. "I'm sorry ma'am Vienna and I'm sorry too, son," the old man said while looking down. "It's okay Mang Eduardo, don't apologize," Tine said. I sighed suddenly, it looks like today I will know everything about Martin. The only thing I want to find in this house is the teddy bear that is exactly the same as the teddy bear that Sebastian gave me. It helped me remember Martin. But I didn't think that here, I would find an answer about his personality. We have already entered the house. Mang Eduardo can't stop himself from talking about what happened here before. Tine and I just listened but I don't remember any of his stories. A white cloth covered the furniture inside apart from the picture frames that remained hanging on the wall. But I can't believe that dad made this house as a birthday gift for mom. "Are you going to live here again, ma'am?" Mang Eduardo asked. I shook my head in response while looking at a wedding picture. It's my mom and my dad when they got married a few years ago. I don't know why it's still hanging here even though my parents have been separated for a long time. "Your dad told me before he died that I would give you the title of the house when you come back here," he added. Dad didn't say anything to me about that. I only found out when he was gone. "When did Dad tell you that?" I asked as I turned to him. "On your eighteenth birthday, he called me to tell me about it. The title of this house was been named to you so sir Rey never thought of selling it." I couldn't believe what I found out, I really didn't know anything about it. Mother Selda told me, Dad made this house as a gift to mom but why is the title named after me? "Back then, the title of the house was been named to your mom. But when she and sir Rey separated, your dad immediately changed it." Now I understand why and it only means one thing, I am the owner of this house.