Just as the engine of the jeepney stopped, my heart reached its highest rate. Nasa labas na kami ng isang malaking bahay, sa harap ng bakod ng tinatawag nilang Nieva's property. Behind these gates is the big lot of Nieva's compound. 
Kung paano nalaman nila Uncle Allan ang lugar na ito ay hindi ko alam. My Mom and father are not married, they just got engaged. Hindi natuloy ang kasal nang mabuo ako. I don't know if I'm the primary reason why they broke up. Thinking about it makes me feel so guilty. 
"Gusto mo bang samahan ka namin?" 
I slightly jumped on my seat when Uncle Allan asked the question. Lumingon ako sa kan'ya. He's also looking at the big brown gate. 
"Ahh--" 
Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay bumukas na ang pinto mula sa likuran ng sasakyan, hudyat na may lalabas. "Of course! Sasamahan ka namin!" Sambit ng babaeng pinsan, nakaamba ang mga binti na lumabas ng sasakyan. 
Hinintay ni Uncle Allan ang sagot ko. I sighed heavily before slowly nodding my head. I can't -- I can't do this alone. 
"Wow, ang laki pala talaga," hindi maiwasan na mamanghang sambit ng aking pinsan na babae hanggang naka lingkis sa aking mga braso. 
I couldn't agree more. Dahil pagpasok pa lang namin ng gate ay bumungad sa amin ang isa sa malalaking bahay ng mga Nieva. Since it's a compound, it has three big houses surrounded by a beautiful and a beautiful fountain. And most of the cars are parked outside; big vans, cars, and even motorcycles. How can they be this rich? 
I can't help myself but feel amazed. My eyes and mouth are slightly parted because of amusement. 
The guards let us enter the premises na para bang inaahasan na nila kaming darating. They're actually two to three guards inside the guard house beside the gate. And since the sun is starting to set, the lights and street lights of the compound are all lighted. 
We were asked to go inside the big house in the middle. Among the three houses, it's biggest among the three. It has three floors and each floor has its own balcony and a small swimming pool. It looks like a small built hotel. 
"Allan?" Isang malalim na boses ang bumungad sa amin nang makapasok kami sa loob ng bahay. 
Hindi ko masabi kung sino ang tumawag sa pangalan ni Uncle. But looking at him made my eyes widened a bit. Namumukhaan ko ang lalaking kausap ni Uncle. I just can't remember where I saw him. 
"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" natatawang tanong ng Ginoo. He is tall, dark and handsome, a speces on his eyes gave more charms on his old facial features. 
Malagom na tumawa si Uncle Allan. "Yayain sana kita sa Liga. Malapit na ang fiesta, Orton." Nagbibirong paalala ni Uncle. 
I can't help but to slightly grin. Nawala lang ito sa aking labi nang biglang napabaling ang tingin ang matandang lalaki sa akin. Hindi nito naitago ang gulat na expression sa mukha. Pero hindi naman iyon nag tagal at napalitan ng ngiti. Nawala ang atensyon kay Uncle. He gave me a delightful look. Pati si Uncle na nakangisi ay napalingon na rin sa akin.
"Ben, come here." Pinaypay ni Uncle ang kan'yang kamay sa akin upang palapitin ako. Lili softly pushed me when I didn't move onto my place. 
Hindi matanggal sa akin ang tingin ng lalaking nag ngangalang Orton. I secretly blew an air out of my mouth and fakely smile. I move my body towards the side of Uncle Allan. 
"Orton, meet my beautiful niece, Elissandra Ben Zene, Ez's daughter." Nakangiting pagpapakilala sa akin ni Uncle Allan. 
I bowed my head a little. Nervousness filled my chest. "Hello po," I greeted him with an anxious smile. 
Uncle Orton stared at me. I don't even know if I have the rights to call him Uncle. He gave me a smile, a soft smile. 
"Hey," even his voice is soft, like how my Uncle Allan talks to me. 
'What's with them?' 
"You look so much of your mother. I'm really happy to see you, Zeney," he said. 
'Luh, close ba kami? Only my friends and Mama call me with that name.' 
I dont know if I said that out loud, but Uncle Orton chuckled boyishly. "Sorry. I used to call your mother Zeney," he said. I was taken a back. 
I was about to open my mouth to ask pero pumagitna si Uncle Allan. I almost glared his broad back. 
"Wag mo na ungkatin ang nakaraan, Ort. Na saan ang mga pinsan mo?" Instead, uncle Allan asked that question. 
Anong ibig sabihin nito? Hindi pala kwento si Mama tungkol sa nakaraan niya o kung paano sila nagkakilala ni Papa. I never asked even though that I'm curious. I never dared to ask, because I don't like a sad ending, I was the ending. Wala rin akong alam tungkol sa mga kaibigan ni Mama noon. 
Pinaupo kami ni Uncle Orton sa sala. I, Lili and Kuya Kylo sat on the long sofa, lingering to each other. While the two old men were sitting on the single sofa, side by side. Catching up some things. Hinihintay namin ang ibang pinsan ni Uncle Orto, ang aking ama at ang mga kapatid nito. He said that they went to a party. Wow, parang wrong timing tuloy ang pagpunta ko rito. 
"Kilala mo ba siya?" hindi ko na matiis na hindi mag tanong sa katabi kong si Lili. She was busy fidgeting her phone while Kuya Kylo is doing the same. 
Lumingon sa akin si Lili nang marinig niya ang munting bulong ko. Nilapit niya ang kaniyang katawan sa akin, I did the same. We're still sitting straight while looking at the two old men. 
I saw Lili nod on my peripheral vision. "Yup. Kaklase niya si Papa noong highschool and somehow they become teammates sa basketball," mahinang boses na kwento niya. 
Sabay kaming lumingon kay Uncle Allan at Uncle Orton. Checking if they heard us. Gladly they didn't, kaya binalik ko ang atensyon sa babaeng pinsan. 
"May alam ka ba tungkol kay Mama at Uncle Orton?" I asked, whispering the name. 
Kunot noong pinakinggan ni Lili ang tanong ko saka siya tumango. "Oo. Fan kaya si Mama ng love story ni Aunti Ez--" she immediately pressed her lips. Para bang may nasabi siyang hindi tama.
My forehead started to knot. "What love story?" Curiousity strike in me. 
She pouts her lips and curves a small smile. "Are you curious?" and a grin started to appear on his lips. 
I slowly leaned my back. Hindi ko napansin na masyado na pala akong malapit sa kan'ya. Baka mahalata kami ng dalawang matanda. 
"If you want to know," she teases while grinning. She mischievously leans her back while crossing her arms. I don't like it. Parang may balak siyang hindi maganda. 
"What?" I can't help but to be nervous. I mean, she looks like a psycho when she smiles. 
Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi sa kan'yang labi. "I have one condition tho," maarteng sambit niya. 
I raised my left brows at her. Waiting for her to continue. 
"Sa bahay ka matutulog mamaya," she said in a way that I would say yes. 
Well, that's actually a better idea. I don't know if I will be able to sleep here, too. Maybe I'll think about it, depende sa sitwasyon na mangyayari. 
I pout my lips. Thinking if I should say yes. I'm really curious about my mother's past. Hindi ko kasi kaya itong itanong sa kan'ya ng diretso. She's a good liar. 
"Sure." I casually said. I think the Nieva won't care If I will not spend the night here. 
Lili almost cheered. Buti na lang at napa kalma ko siya. She looks enthusiastic about the thought of me sleeping in their house. I mean, what's the catch if I sleep here or there? 
"So it all started with..."