[Mystery/Thriller] In the Faraway Land of San Roque

Alfredo Buenavidez

The sky was sad. It's going to rain soon. The wind was cold, playing in the rice fields of San Roque.

Alfredo was inside a huge bus. He was holding a DLSR camera as the vehicle traveled the straight and paved road in the middle of the paddy field. He was wearing glasses and had a small smile playing on his lips as he stared out the bus window. The green scenery gave comfort to his melancholy.

As the wind danced through his shoulder-length auburn hair, the problem he left in the city suddenly came to his mind. He belonged to a powerful family, one of the clans that drives the economy of the whole province. Buenavidez was known in the field of capitalism and being a monster when it comes to business.

Because of the high status of the clan to which he belongs, the family has high dreams for him. From childhood, he was taught how to be alert and clever in the field of capitalism. He thought he would be a capitalist one day, but when he stepped into college, photojournalism took over his passion.

It all started on a rainy Tuesday in July 2008. He met Maureen, a Fine Arts student who was part of the cheerleading team. Maureen’s group was practicing, when the girl suddenly lost her balance while at the top of the pyramid formation. Alfredo passed by the group just in time, so when the group squeaked in surprise, he looked up and saw the woman falling.

He caught Maureen in his arms, and from that day on, they became friends. Because of different courses and inclinations, they often did not meet. But when the photojournalism club at the University opened, Maureen encouraged him to join. He agreed as he wanted to have a common place with the girl. He stepped into the world of photojournalism without even a shred of knowledge about it.

Maureen taught him how to get the right angle, and he eventually became accustomed to using the camera. Since then, they have always been together taking beautiful photos inside and outside the University. Because they were often together, Alfredo gradually fell in love with Maureen. He confessed his feelings to the girl, but she quickly rejected him and avoided him until he never saw her again. He just found out that Maureen had dropped out because the girl had a boyfriend, and the boyfriend got Maureen pregnant.

Since then, he improved his photography and soon was offered to be the president of such club. Alfredo accepted the SSG President’s offer making him busy with his course and his club. Even so, Alfredo still managed to maintain his grades, but when he entered the senior year, his father had known the responsibility that he took on himself when he was still in his junior year. His father did not agree with his decision and threatened him --- he will not receive even a single penny from his parents if he will not give up his presidential position in Photojournalism club.

Alfredo's ego was hurt and he decided to become a stubborn child. He chose his passion and dream. His father was so angry that he froze all Alfredo's bank accounts. Fortunately, he had a little savings from the photographs he sold since he started his hobby.

He went up on stage during his college graduation without his parents. He accepted the diploma with a sad smile on his lips. That day, word spread in Alta Sosyedad --- the Elite Society --- that his family had rejected him. Buenavidez became the subject of rumors so his father ordered him to return to the family, but Alfredo objected because of his pride.

A few days after his graduation, he looked for a job. Using the profolio he had earned in college, he was immediately accepted into a local publication. Buenavidez's business rival found it out immediately, so photos of him cleaning a messy table had spread across the exclusive website of Alta Sosyedad to attack his family's reputation.

The Buenavidez family had became the center of humorous rumors in Alta Sosyedad. His father was so angry that on his second day at work, he was fired by his boss and the local publication had closed. He just found out that the local publication had gone bankrupt and he was not ignorant to not know that his father used money to pull the local publication down, so he would return home.

Because of the incident, Alfredo's pride became even higher and he looked for another small company to work for but he found nothing. Until he found a job posting in a national publication based in Manila. In that moment, he found hope. Buenavidez is a prominent family in Cebu, but it is different when it comes to Manila.

Although the influence of his own clan is vast, Alfredo knew that it is only a small percentage compared to the clans who run the government and the true pillars of the country's economy. So he took the courage to take the risk and passed the pre-screening. But there was another requirement that he had to pass and that was the unique travelogue and photojournal. The Hiring Manager gave him three months so he quickly looked for a good place in the province of Cebu.

Almost all tourist spots in Cebu have been featured in various publications. From Carnaza Island in Daanbantayan, Kawasan Falls in Badian, even Sumilon Island in Oslob, all the famous destinations he has been to. So he wants to find a place that tourists have not yet found.

That kind of place that is mysterious and has a unique history that he can put in a travelogue. But it is difficult to find a place that has not been visited by tourists because no one will provide information about it.

Until he remembered the story of his classmate when he was in elementary school. According to her, there is a town in Northern Cebu with an old cemetery. The strange thing about that cemetery is that not a single bone can be seen. There were only graves and according to rumors, the people believed to be buried in the old cemetery were still alive.

He didn't believe what his classmate said, but now that he needed a strange story, he decided to find what this town hides in the northern part of Cebu.

He also spent several weeks asking people about the cemetery, but no one could tell its exact location. Until one day, he came across a shelf of magazines.

A familiar woman's face was on the cover page, and there he remembered his former classmate who told the story about the old cemetery. He smiled and scratched the back of his neck.

Why didn’t he think to ask the very person who gave him the idea?

So he called the magazine company and asked for Vera’s contact. They did not disappoint him and immediately gave the details after he told them his name.

He had not seen Vera for several years and he was literally stunned to see the girl.

Her wavy hair and her sweet smile made his heart beat faster. He suddenly ran out of air so he had to close his eyes and take a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, the girl was already standing in front, head slightly tilted to look up at him. "Am I that scary? You looked like you've seen a ghost," Vera joked.

Alfredo smiled softly and stared at the girl. Her slim body matched the dark red dress that was knee length. Her fair skin was the typical complexion he always adored in female members of Alta Sosyedad. Of course. Vera is a member of the Elite Circle.

A warmth filled his heart as he gestured Vera, "Lady, please have a sit."

Vera smiled at him and sat in the chair opposite his. He sat down as well.

"It's been years and you've changed a lot," Vera commented, feasting her eyes on his appearance.

He nodded. "You're indeed a lady now."

Vera's brows raised. For a few seconds, the woman stared at his face making him uncomfortable in his seat. No woman had ever stared at his face that long apart from Maureen and his mother.

He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to say something, but the hairs of his skin resonated with the demure laugh of Vera. He was left astounded as he watched the woman fixed her hair and smiled at him once again.

The warmth in his heart came back.

"Come on, Alfred. Loosen up. You're so serious."

A smile crept the sides of his lips and he sighed in contentment. "I never thought you'll be this beautiful one day. If I had known, I should not have bullied you when we're young."

The smile on Vera's lips vanished. Alfredo went alert at the sudden change of the atmosphere.

"So you remember," Vera said in a soft tone, avoiding his gaze.

Sadness crept his being. The warmth in his heart diminished and was replaced by the surge of remorse coming from the depths of his heart. He was a jerk and he knew it.

"I'm sorry for treating you bad," he said in deep voice. "I regret hurting you."

Vera closed her fist tightly and her lips formed a thin line. A wave of silence passed by and minutes later, he was the one who broke the stillness between them.

"I have something to ask from you, but I also want to ask forgiveness ---"

Vera cut his words with a sharp snort. "You should not ask those things." And the girl meet his gaze. "Buenavidez is not something I could reach until I succedded the place of my sister. Now that I am here, you ask for my forgiveness. Well, you don't know that word, Alfred. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"I know now," he said, tone was soft and low. He then averted his gaze. "Someone taught me how and I am confident that I already know it."

A chuckle escaped from Vera's lips and he fought the urged to meet her gaze again. He could feel in his face the intent stare that Vera was giving to him.

"Surely, you know how to maintain your pride, Alfred."

And he no longer fought the urge and looked back at Vera. Their gazes met.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"I heard many rumors about you working like an ant in a small business. And within a day, that small business went bankrupt. We both knew what that means, but you are here, sitting in front of me, looking ragged."

His jaw clenched at what Vera said. A cold water poured his aching ego, making him bitter than the last time someone insulted him.

"Forget what I said." His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. "I am here for one purpose and that is to ask about the cemetery in Northern Cebu that you've narrated in our class."

The side of Vera's lips twitched as a mockery but when she spoke, her tone was soft. "Do you plan to bury me alive in that cemetery?" she joked.

Alfredo snorted at what she said. "Just answer me."

"Answer me first."

"I asked first, so you answer me."

Vera sighed and leaned her back on the chair. "It's just a folklore. Nothing's good with that story."

"What's the location of that cemetery?"

"Uhuh." Vera smiled from ear to ear, teasing him, and crossed her arms against her chest. "I'm done answering your question. You should answer mine."

He squinted his eyes on her but resigned eventually. "I don't think I have the courage to bury a person alive."

"Well, you might try soon. Going in that cemetery will make you a madman."

His curiosity perked at what she said. "Why?"

Vera's lips twitched again. "You owed me two questions."

"What?" He threw his hands in the air and leaned back. He snorted. "Go, ask me."

"I can't think of one." Vera pursed her lips and pretended to think for few minutes.

Alfredo's patience was in the brink and he tried his best to suppress his anger. He thought that he could ask Vera in a nice way, but then his tongue slipped. If only he didn't recall the things in the past, he might be holding new information about the cemetery now.

Watching Vera as the woman was scribbling something on a notepad, his brows met. What was she doing?

Just as he opened his mouth to ask, the woman giggled and raised her head to meet his gaze. His mouth closed immediately and he sat up straight.

"So... you better come up with questions equivalent to mine after this time?" he said, mockery was in his voice.

He was not the type to play with time and he was irritated to people wasting his precious time. Vera was one of them, he supposed. But the innocent smile on the woman's lips always made him shudder in excitement and he did not know why.

"First," Vera chirped. "Am I your first crush?"

A cold water splashed his face at her question. He coughed a bit and tried to hide the uncomfortable feeling he have. "Why are you asking that irrelevant question?"

"Uhuh. You owed me three questions now."

He filled his lungs with air and knotted his brows. "I don't have time to play with you," he said.

Vera cracked a laugh but he let his expression remained stoic as a nonverbal sign to the woman.

When she saw his cold face, she immediately withdrew her free composure and cleared her throat.

"Alright. I also don't want to play with you." She sighed and looked down on the table. "Alfred, you can go back to your family. You don't have to waste your time for this nonsense."

Whe he sensed the seriousness in Vera's tone, he averted his gaze. "I want to prove something to them."

"And see? I told you. You're good in keeping your pride."

"Vera."

"You should look for a town named San Roque." Vera stared at him for a few seconds before she continued. "I really don't advice that you'll go into that place. San Roque is not for you."

"I know what I'm doing."

"I know that you are stubborn, just like the old times." A small smile tugged the side of Vera's lips before she stood and picked up her bag lying on the other chair. "As much as I want to stay, but I need to go."

Alfredo stood and nodded. He accompanied her to the door. He didn't order anything but the store keeper was kind enough to smile at him. He returned the favor with a small smile too.

There was a red car waiting outside and he knew that Vera's driver was inside.

The woman turned to him. "I'll go. Be careful in San Roque. My aunt said that it's dangerous to walk outside during nighttime so don't try to walk under the full moon or moonless sky."

"Thanks." He grinned at her. "I'll keep that in mind."

Vera held her gaze to his face for few seconds, lips were twitching like there's something that she wanted to say but she couldn't.

"What is it?" he asked.

She blinked. He was surprised to see tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Vera --"

"I love you." She smiled at him with eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm happy that you call me. I know that you were my bully, but over these years, I was really hoping for our closure. Please don't be hard on yourself as I had already forgiven you since the day that we parted ways."

Vera stepped closer to him, tiptoed, and gave him a kiss on the side of his lips, before turning around and getting inside the car.

He was left stunned for a moment, before   someone poked his arms. He looked down and he saw a girl of eight.

"Kuya, buy this one," the girl said and handed him a newspaper. "It's my last copy. People hoarded the newspapers because of the recent headline. I saw you with the crying girl earlier. I think that you need this newspaper more than anyone in this city."

His brows knotted at what the girl said. He took the newspaper and looked at the headline. His hands shuddered when he saw Vera's picture on it.

Indeed, he needed that newspaper. He realized why Vera cried while saying goodbye to him. The woman will marry the city Mayor's son tomorrow.

The newspaper he was holding crumpled as he looked around. But a hand held his arm.

"Kuya, you haven't paid for my crumpled newspaper yet!"

[This is a novel type story. Please do search In the Faraway Land of San Roque and you can read the rest, as I'll update this story soon.

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