Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

The Martinez sisters were silent as they headed to the CPRU parking lot. Angel gave Alex the keys to her slate metallic Toyota Corolla.

"You drive," Angel said to her sister.

"Me?" Alex is quite shocked. She took the keys from Angel.

"My foot aches," Angel said as she got into the passenger seat.

Alex is still wondering but still proceeded to the driver's seat. She knows how to drive, and she also has her license already. She just doesn't have her own car. Their father said he would gift her a car on her 18th birthday, just like what he did for Angel on her debut.

It's okay, though. Alex likes going to and from school with her sister. It's like another bonding moment for the two of them who are really very close to each other. Sometimes, Angel allows her to drive her car. Just like today.

The two of them were silent as they made their way home to Moonville. They both seem to wait who will speak first. It was Alex who decided to break the silence.

"I didn't know he was a Quinto."

Angel remained silent. She just continued staring at the road ahead.

"He was my classmate in Philippine History this morning. We got along very well. Then we met again on our last subject. He was my classmate again."

"Then from now on, you need to avoid him," Angel finally said.

"How could I, Ate? He's my classmate."

"There are a lot of seats in a classroom, Alex. You can choose one that's not beside his."

"But... Like what I've said, we get along very well."

"Do you like that Quinto boy?" Angel turned to look at her.

"H-Ha? N-No!" Alex denied, though obviously she was a bit rattled by that question.

"Are you sure?"

"O-Of course, Ate... Like, I mean, like what I've said, we get along very well..."

"Then stop talking to him."

Alex looked at Angel. She was about to protest but Angel talked first.

"Bryan de Vera was applying for The Echo earlier, as Paolo's replacement. Mom saw him and even though he takes good pictures and make good drawings, she still did not allow him to join."

"Aren't you the editor-in-chief of The Echo? Why did Mom make the decision instead of you?"

"Mom is the Dean's friend. If she found out that I allowed Bryan to join The Echo, she might do something bad to him. She was there and if I did not immediately do as she said, she would do everything for me to do what she wants. I could not argue with her. You know her when it comes to the Quintos and the de Veras. She suddenly goes beast mode. "

"It's a pity then."

"It's sad but we can't do anything about it."

"Do you like Bryan de Vera?"

It was Angel's turn to get defensive. "What? I don't like him! I told you, it's a pity because he could be a good addition to The Echo."

"That means you like him for The Echo."

Angel sighed. "I guess so..."

"Do you know the reason why this animosity started, Ate?"

"I don't, and I don't dare ask. Mom and Dad will definitely not approve of us asking them about that."

"It's just so unfair. Why do we have to suffer from what happened 20 years or so ago?"

"That's how it is. History is what makes us."

Alex did not answer and just continued driving.

Bryan's blue Ford Fusion just arrived in Moonville. The security of the said subdivision is tight. All incoming vehicles are stopped at the gate to check who is inside. If the person is not a resident and just a guest, the guard calls the homeowner to confirm whether they will let the visitor in.

Bryan lowered the window and greeted the guards at the gate. Richard, who is next to him in the passenger seat, also greeted the guards.

"All right, Sir. Come in." The guard motioned for the barrier at the entrance of Moonville to be raised.

"Thank you, Sir," Bryan said.

Bryan drove into the subdivision. Their house is just near the entrance gate. The de Veras were one of the first to acquire property when the Moon Village was established. And since his father, Raul, became the successor of the late Sebastian de Vera, they now live in the Spanish inspired three-storey ancestral house of the de Veras. Meanwhile, the newly bought house of the Quintos is just opposite the said mansion.

"By the way. I already joined the basketball team, so I will be going home late in the coming days. You might want to drive your own car now."

Richard looked at him. "It's okay. I'll just wait for you after you practice. For sure I can find something fun to do while waiting for you."

"You already know the way, right?"

"This is my first time in CPRU," he said.

"You have a very good memory," Bryan said. "Wouldn't it be great to drive your own car?"

"I want to come home from school with you. That's how much I love you," Richard joked.

The car stopped in front of the Quinto's two-storey mansion.

"I knew it. That's why I feel weird whenever you look at me," Bryan bantered. "Get out of my car!"

"Bye, sweetheart!" Richard said before sending him a flying kiss.

Bryan looked at him with disgust. Richard laughed as he got out of the car. Bryan then drove to their own house.

Richard, on the other hand, also entered the black wrought iron gate of their house. His parents bought the house two years ago. The previous owner has migrated to Australia, and the first to know about the sale were the de Veras. His uncle Raul immediately informed his father, so they bought the house since they are planning to stay for good in Tarlac.

Richard saw his father in the living room. So instead of heading straight to his room upstairs, he went to greet him first.

"Dad! You're early."

"I had a headache because of that board meeting. 'Bored' meeting," said Ricardo. He is sitting on a white single armchair holding a book he's reading. "You know those gross profit ratios and other business terms are not my forte. I'm a doctor, and my job is to make people feel better."

Richard laughed as he sat down on the black sofa next to his father. He laid down his bag on the square center table made of wood.

"But Dad, you know you need to learn about those business stuff."

"Why do you think I try to endure those meetings?"

"How is TGH?"

"We're doing great," Ricardo gladly replied. "We can now build a new building for additional rooms, so that we could renovate the old rooms in the main building. I think those are as old as your Tito Raul, or older." Richard laughed again. Raul is Bryan's father, his mother's eldest sibling.

"Where's Mom, by the way?"

"Still in the hospital. One of her patients suddenly went into labor."

Richard's mom is an obstetrician/gynecologist. His father Ricardo is also a general physician and a pediatrician.

"You're not the Pedia?" he asked his father.

"It's a new patient. It's their second child and she wants the Pedia of their eldest to handle this child as well," Ricardo replied. "By the way, how was the first day?"

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"It's okay." Richard suddenly thought of Alex Martinez.

Ricardo seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. "Met someone interesting?"

"Why did you think so?" Richard asked laughing.

"Nothing. I just thought, maybe you met someone you want to get to know better. Like what happened to me. I met your mom during my first day in college. We instantly became friends on the first day. We easily got along very well. But, you know, I had a girlfriend then. I was in love with her, so I really only considered your mommy as a friend. But, look at us now. We were really destined for each other."

Richard suddenly became interested in his father's story. "Dad, how did you know that Mom is the one? I mean, you said, you love someone else back then." "I don't know. I think you'll just feel it?"

"Like the first time you saw her, your world stopped? Like everyone around you did not matter? There's just you and her..." Richard suddenly became dreamy. "You met someone, didn't you?" Ricardo is not asking, he's confirming.

Richard looked at his father. "Me? No! Uhm... Dad..." He turned to face him. "What's the story behind you and the Martinez?"

Ricardo was slightly taken aback by the question. He leaned back on his seat. His facial expression as well as his tone also changed. "You know, Son, it's something that me and your mom would not want to talk about. It's... a very bad case of misunderstanding."

"But... it was 20 years ago, right? Or more than... Can't you make it up with them?"

"Son, even though that's what me and your mom wants, I'm not sure about Benjie and his family."

"But, at least you can try. Right, Dad?"

"Ask your mom about it." Ricardo opened the book he was holding and started reading again.

Richard looked at the book his father is reading. "You're reading Inferno?"

Ricardo looked at his son.

"You haven't read that yet, Dad?"

"Nope, and I would like to finish it until tomorrow, if possible."

Ricardo has finished one third of the book, but Richard knows that his father reads quickly so he's confident he could finish the entire book by tomorrow.

"All right Dad, I'll leave you on that."

He tapped his father's shoulder and then went up to his room.