CHAPTER EIGHT

THE COUPLE invited them for a walk around the field, but Ally decided to go back to rest instead.

They still had no idea how long they would stay at their place, and where to go next. She chose to stay inside the house and go through Gino’s old stuff. She was wondering if she could find something that will eventually lead her to him.

She went inside the room behind the stairs. No one was using it, so it was turned into a stockroom—the family’s old belongings were kept there.

Ally found old school supplies and toys. Gino and Gustine must have had a wonderful childhood back then.

Ally swiped the dust off the plastic ware she found and sneezed in the process. She pulled the neckline of her shirt up with a frown to cover her nose. She smiled as she opened it. She found Gino’s old songbooks, guitar pick, and capo. She went through everything she could find.

“Hey.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the sound of Gael’s voice.

“You did not tell me you’d be here. I’ve been looking for you upstairs.”

“How could you miss me that easily?” she teased.

“What?”

“Cover your nose. It’s full of dust in here.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked as he stood beside her.

“I’m checking Gino’s old stuff, back to the time when we were not friends yet,” she said as she removed the cover of her nose. “I’m also hoping I could find a hint that will lead us to where he would possibly go.”

“Gino is really special to you.”

“Of course, he’s my best friend,” Ally replied with a smile.

“You’re in love with him.”

For a moment, Ally was stunned. Gael realized it, too. Well, it was not that hard to see. Maybe Gino was just that numb to notice how she felt about him.

“Let’s just say Ghia, and I saw the same thing about him. But what can I do? Ghia was better, so Gino fell in love with her. I have accepted that, though.” Ally put the cover of the plastic box back and turned her back at Gael. Her eyes roamed around the narrow room, still looking for Gino’s important possessions.

“If that’s the case, why are you stopping me from getting in their way? Ghia is your rival.”

Ally sighed. “This is the real world, Gael. I love Gino, but I can’t force him to love him back, can I? I can only wish him his happiness. Besides, he loves me, too. Only as a best friend, though. But still, it’s a big thing for me. That only means we will forever be part of each other’s life.”

“You don’t deserve an unrequited love.”

Ally grinned as she turned to Gael.

“You think so? Thank you.”

“Why don’t you divert your affection to someone else?”

“I just don’t want to. I was hoping that one day, Gino will see me in a different way. That he will notice me as a woman who was girlfriend-material and not just his best friend. But I came to accept that that day will never come anymore. Well, almost.” She heaved a sigh.

Ally stared at Gael’s handsome face, and a naughty idea crossed her mind.

What if she tells him that they’d date instead? She was willing to elope with him, too, if his parents decided to disapprove of their relationship.

“What’s with that look?” Gael uttered in confusion.

Ally grinned and brushed that silly idea off her mind.

“You’re so handsome.”

She looked away so he would not see her flushed face.

Ally stopped at once as she spotted an old guitar hanging on the wall. It sure belonged to either Gino or Gustine. Something inside her pushed her to reach for it and brushed the dust off it.

She checked the back of the guitar and saw letters written on it. It was a handwritten letter using a marker pen.

Gino, keep using your talent to worship the Lord. Pastor Rommel

Who’s Pastor Rommel?

Ally thought she’d heard that name before. Her heart pounded as a new sense of hope rose up from her chest. Maybe Pastor Rommel knew where Gino could possibly be.

“What’s the matter?” Gael asked anxiously.

“I need to talk to Uncle Genre right now. Maybe they know where I can find this Pastor Rommel,” she said, her eyes wide.

*** *** *** **** ***

“DIDN’T Gino mention to you? It was Pastor Rommel who taught him how to play the guitar. He looks up to Pastor. Because of him, Gino improved in his talent. Pastor Rommel is like a close uncle to him. He used to be at the church every day to learn to play.

Sadly, we had to move to Manila for their education. But as far as I know, they never lost contact,” Uncle Gener explained after both them came rushing to the rice field.

“Is the church you’re talking about just around here?” Ally asked, a little fidgety. Her guts told her that Pastor Rommel was the key to finding Gino.

“Well, yes, but when Gino was in second-year high school, Pastor Rommel transferred into another district. And we heard that he went to the US four years ago. I am not sure if he was already back, but I can ask our captain for you. He was one of the church elders.”

“How can we talk to the captain?”

“I’m going to call him and ask him if he could spare some time for us. He lives around here. We can ask him to drop by later,” Auntie Hasmine said.

“Thank you very much, Uncle, Auntie,” Ally said in happiness and reached for Gael’s arm absent-mindedly. “We are close to finding them.”

Gael nodded with a half-smile and put his arm over hers.