Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

Alex chose to wear a pink spaghetti strapped dress with ruffled top and balloon skirt. She paired it with nude strappy stiletto sandals. Her long straight hair was styled in a fishtail braid.

'Wow! Where's the party?" Angel asked her.

'At CPRU," Alex answered. She is kind of expecting her family's reaction about her OOTD.

'Is that allowed on your dress code?" Benjie asked Alex.

That's when Alex remembered their school's dress code. They are allowed to wear sleeveless clothes and off-shoulder blouse, and even those with gathered neckline. But they are not allowed to wear spaghetti strapped blouses, tube top and most especially, backless tops and dresses.

'I think you forgot that the dress code for college and high school departments are just the same," Angel said. 'You can only wear that if there really is a party."

'Just wear a bolero," Alice suggested.

'Okay, Mom." Alex kind of felt sad that she forgot about the dress code. She just wanted to look good today.

'What is a bolero?" Benjie asked.

"Bolero: it's like a mini-jacket," Alice answered.

'I really won't understand women's clothing," Benjie said.

'By the way. I've talked to Raquel and she said your uniforms are finished," Alice told her daughters.

'Really, Mom?" Alex was excited once again. 'Wow! I have my college uniform now."

'We'll get them tomorrow, Mom," Angel said. 'My last subject will end up late today. Casa Rafaela is until 6PM only, right?"

'Okay. I'll just text Racquel," Alice said.

'I need a new pair of shoes. I need to buy those shoes I saw at the mall last week. They will look good at my new uniform," Alex said as if imagining how her uniform as a college student would look on her. And so, Alex' good mood returned with the news of her college uniform. It continued all morning, until her rendezvous with Richard Quinto that afternoon at the cafeteria.

Richard looked handsome on his green and white striped polo shirt. Alex smiled upon seeing him, and he smiled back when their eyes met. He stood up as Alex was walking towards him.

'Hi!" Alex greeted.

'Thanks for coming," Richard said.

'I'm sorry I was late."

'No, it's okay. We're not the ones who decide if our classes will end up late."

'And we cannot control our professor's disposition."

Richard smiled. 'So, let's buy some food?"

'Sure."

They went to the counter and ordered food. They had lasagna and diet coke in can. Richard paid for everything and he also carried them on his tray. They looked for a table that is quite secluded from other students. They saw one in a corner where they can still see the entrance and exit of the cafeteria.

'Are you going to buy me snacks every day?" Alex teased.

'If that means I could be with you every day, then why not?" Richard answered.

Alex is not sure if Richard only said that to ride on her joke, but she kind of liked what he said.

'That concessionaire has the best lasagna," Alex said. 'Go ahead. Try it so that you will know what I mean. That's actually my favorite."

"I know this tastes good."

'You already tried it?" Alex asked.

"A lot of times. Roberto's was named after my Dad's oldest brother."

'You own Roberto's?" Alex was amazed.

"It's actually the fourth restaurant in the chain of restaurants of the Quintos."

'Really? I wasn't aware of that, though I know the Quintos owned most of the food businesses here in Tarlac."

'Our grandparents started it all, and their children and grandchildren inherited it. Dad is the only one who doesn't manage a restaurant, but he still has a share in the family business."

Alex suddenly remembered, 'So that's the reason why we never go to Roberto's."

Richard is quite surprised. 'Really?"

'Yes. We can only try their food because they have a spot here in the school cafeteria. When we tell our parents we want to eat at Roberto's, Mom always disagree. We just go to another restaurant, like those in the hotels owned by the Fernandez."

'I don't know them."

'They own the chains of hotels and motels here in Tarlac. The largest is the Melting Pot Hotel. It's a four-star hotel in downtown Tarlac."

'I see..." Richard said. 'So, if that's the case, that your parents don't even want to go in the restaurants owned by our clan, then that means they don't like not only my parents but the whole Quinto clan as well. Then this is not just a case of a simple misunderstanding."

'You have a point."

Alex felt bad with that thought. That means that their family's grudge is more complicated than what they are thinking.

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'Let's not talk about that now," Richard said. 'It just ruins the nice vibe of the place. I kind of like it here, you know."

Alex smiled. "Wait till you see the basic ed's canteen."

"What do you mean?"

'It's like you're in an outdoor park. Murals everywhere, rustic tables. Even the counters have designs, and the food as well. They don't have concessionaires there. The school coop takes care of the food to make sure the students only eat healthy food."

'Was this your first school?"

'Since nursery, yes," Alex answered. 'The high school cafeteria is chic with its green and purple theme. They have booths like in restaurants... How about you? Where did you study elementary?"

'Two thousand four when we moved to Manila. We came from the States. That's where my parents married and they've decided to stay there for good. Until my maternal grandmother died. My parents realized that the family still matters the most and it's more important than opportunities abroad. So they wrapped things up in the States, and decided to go back here and stay for good."

'So you stayed in Manila?"

"Yup. Also, because Tito Raul's family is based there as well. Aside from that, Lolo Baste does not want us to live in Moonville. Ever since Lola Elena died, he resorted to drinking and working non-stop. He really wasn't able to move on." 'Maybe because he really loved your grandmother," Alex said.

'Very much. He never recovered from the pain of losing her. Mom and Tito Raul talked to him back then, but he just scolded them. That's why he never wanted us to live with him. Until he developed lung cancer because he abused his body." 'Oh..." Alex felt bad at Richard's story.

'Well, that's how it is. We can't blame him for loving Lola Elena too much."

Alex nodded. 'Your Tito Raul replaced him in TGH, right?"

'Yes. When Lolo Baste was diagnosed with cancer, he asked Tito Raul to stay here in Tarlac. He trained him to be his successor in TGH. After a year, Lolo Baste died. Tito Raul took the reins and was very good at it. But then, he still needed help, so he asked Mom to go back here in Tarlac and help him. That's how we ended up living here."

'So when did you transfer here? I think Don Sebastian de Vera died in 2010."

'My parents moved here last year. Me, I just arrived last month."

'Really?"

Richard nodded. 'Yeah. That is why I am still unfamiliar with the city, even here in CPRU."

'I can show you around whenever we have time."

'Wow! I'm blessed with a beautiful and kind tour guide."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Quinto."

Richard smiled. 'So, I assume you were born and raised here in Tarlac."

"You're right," Alex answered. 'Even my parents are both native here."

'You seem to be very close with your sister."

'Super... Oh! You don't have siblings, right?"

'Yup! My closest kin is Bryan. We're both only sons and we grew up together in Manila."

'That's good. I feel like it's very lonely to be an only child."

'It depends. You still can have friends, and if Bryan de Vera is one of them, you'll never know lonely."

Alex giggled. 'What's with Bryan de Vera?"

'Nothing in particular. I just think he's the perfect big bother. He is the most thoughtful person I've ever known."

'Just like my Ate. She always thinks of my welfare instead of hers."

'That's why you're a spoiled brat?"

'I'm not a brat! Spoiled, maybe. Our parents give us everything we need and want, but we have to work for it by getting high grades. I think it's also for the best, right?"

Richard nodded. 'You know, based on your stories, your parents seem nice. And I guarantee you, Mom and Dad are nice as well. So I really don't know what could be their problem." 'My parents would not tell the reason..."

'I tried asking my Dad yesterday. He said it's a very bad case of misunderstanding."

Alex looked at Richard, and in the process, she caught a glimpse of two students entering the cafeteria. The guy seems like one of those cool kids in school in Hollywood films. The girl looks boyish in her loose T-shirt and loose pants and ponytail.

Alex suddenly panicked. On impulse, she took her cellphone and stood up.

'It's our neighbor."

'Wait, what?" Richard also stood up.

'He might see me. He might tell my Mom."

"Wait!"

But Richard was not able to stop Alex who went straight to the exit to leave.