novelxo Chapter 2: The Dreams Continue
The Philippines
Ari serves as the operation manager for his family's tobacco plantation. With his comptroller and marketing background on their side, the business acquired additional land areas to expand their plantation. His business acumen is well-admired by local businessmen, he's especially admired by the women, both single and married women. His presence in the right social circles is well-known...as the most eligible bachelor around. He earned a reputation as the biggest womanizer guy in town. He dated here and there but never seriously dated anyone.
His dreams of Hannah continue.
His brother Yael said one morning, "I hope you'll get married soon."
"It's been years since the divorce. It's time for you to start another family of your own."
Ari just smirks and said, "My heart belongs to somebody else."
Yael responded, "Who? Your ex-wife?"
Yael yells, "FORGET ABOUT HER; SHE'S MARRIED ALREADY."
Ari answers, "No, my big brother... her name is Hannah. I will find and win her heart."
"Where are you, Hannah? I always dream of you every night, call me..."
Hannah
Hannah worked as a missionary for 2 years. She was assigned to Cambodia and the Philippines. She enjoys helping people, especially the underserved poor.
In Cambodia, she worked in a Rehabilitation Center for abused children. She stayed in Svay Pak, the vicious epicenter of child sex slavery. The children are held captive and sexually abused. Determined to make a difference, she works feverishly with the victims to restore their lives, to help with their reintegration back into society, and prevention. Hannah is passionate about assisting the town's process of rebuilding from the inside out. She provided hope in the midst of blinding darkness.
In the Philippines, she worked in an orphanage. Taking care of abandoned babies, children and helping find foster parents for them.
It was a fulfilling time in her life. She filmed a docu-drama documenting the painful scenario on the ground, and spent time raising funds to help these victims of child and human trafficking. She wanted to spread awareness to a diverse audience that this crime is real and not a hoax.
Time flew so fast that 2 years have passed. She went back home, studied behavioral science for a year, and became a social worker for special needs children.
Her dreams of Ari continues.
After finding some free time, Hannah called her friend group on the phone.
"I need a break", Hannah said to her friend Coney. "It's been 2 years since I joined our yearly trips with our friends."
"Good to hear from you Hannah, you're ready to join this year's trip?", Coney said.
Hannah agreed, "Yes, I am. I need to breathe some fresh air and chit chat. "
"Until now, I really don't know how you do it, but you did, so congratulations!" Coney said. "You missed 2 years of our scheduled trips but it's okay now, we are glad you're back and alive." "This year we will visit the Philippines", Coney said.
"I only have 2 weeks' vacation", Hannah said. "That's enough time for R and R. I know this place up north. A friend sent me an invite to bring friends there, where we can harvest fresh vegetables, fruits and do some hiking."
Chie said, "For a change maybe we can do that for a week, fresh air and fresh foods make me smile, live in the province. Okay, we spend 5 days there, some days in Bora and Manila, to complete our 2 weeks vacation."
"We start in Bora for a nice swim, beaches, and food. It was a relaxing place to start. Seafood is great, and people are friendly, shops have exquisite displays of beach wearable clothing and jewelry. Sunbathing is perfect here!", ley quips.
Chie continued, "Then we proceed to Tarlac. From the airport, the traffic is so disappointing that we spend many many hours from Manila to Tarlac."
After some planning on the phone, Hannah and her friends went off on their trip.
"I am so hungry", Gie complain. "How far is our cottage? I am really starving, I might pass out of hunger...'
"Hey, there's a hotel, maybe there's a restaurant inside," Coney said, then excitedly asked the driver, "Go to the parking lot so we can go inside and look for a restaurant."
All of them alighted off their taxi ride and went inside the hotel looking for a place to eat. There are three guys at the door, watching everything Hannah and her friends enter the restaurant with a few people inside already. A friend said, "They must have some food inside. Let's go, Susan", and they all enter the entrance door.
As the friends enter one by one, Hannah is the last one to get to the door...suddenly one of the three guys standing by the doorwalk hurriedly to the group. All eyes to him almost running to Hannah. "Is that you, Hannah? Is it really YOU?"
The two guys and the rest of Hannah's friend are shocked to see him moving toward Hannah and embracing her so tight. Hannah is so surprised herself to see Ari running to her. He gives her a bone-crushing hug.
"I found you at last.", he whispers in her ear. Hannah is still speechless.000