The Runaway Groom

Chapter 3

Saturday evening, Riley is planning to have a surprise visit to his parents in Moulmein Province. Since he entered the university he has been living alone in one of the units of a not so luxurious condominium fifteen minutes drive from his university. His unit is on the 12th floor of the building. His room has a small balcony where you can see the beautiful city skyline, especially at night. As what he is doing now while dialing his phone.

“Sis, I'm going home tomorrow. My flight is later at dawn.” He told his sister Elaine with excitement after she picked up his call. It's been two months that he didn't go home since the new semester started as he is very busy as a graduating student.

“Really? Mum and Dad would be very happy to see you.” Elaine replied with excitement.

“But don't tell them yet as it is a surprise 'coz I told them yesterday that I might not go home for another month. But I do miss you all so I just booked a ticket and will fly tomorrow morning,” he explained.

“Okay! Okay! I'm going to tell the helpers assigned to the kitchen to cook all your favorite foods.” Elaine cut the rest he wanted to say. “Go take a rest now so you can catch your flight to the airport on time.” his sister continued.

“How about, brother? Is he there too?” He is asking about his brother Dave. Dave is the eldest among three of them and Riley is the youngest and the only one who is still studying.

“Nah! He is on a business trip in South Korea but he'll be here tomorrow afternoon,” Elaine answered.

“Okay see you all tomorrow then. Goodnight!!” He bid goodnight to her sister and hung up. He glances once more at the beautiful cityscape before entering his bedroom to rest. He needs to catch some sleep for a couple of hours before heading to the airport. He will be leaving by midnight to catch his flight at four o'clock. It takes him an hour to travel to the airport. He is a punctual person and always avoids causing inconvenience to others so it's better to get there earlier and who knows he might be stuck in traffic on his way to the airport. He just planned to catch some sleep while onboard.

MOULMEIN PROVINCE

Riley arrived at Moulmein Airport before sunrise. It's an hour and fifteen minutes flight from Cairnhill Domestic Airport. He didn't ask Elaine to pick him up at the airport so he will take a taxi to their residence. He just had his backpack so he went straight to the taxi pick-up point outside the airport building to get one to their house. He inhaled some fresh air of their province when the breeze of dawn kissed his smooth skin. It's past five in the morning and the reddish-orange hue of sunrise is slowly creeping at the horizon.

Sunrise is up when Riley arrives at their residence. He was immediately met by his sister when the taxi stopped outside their iron gate. They have a two-storey bungalow house, situated near the lake. The land where their house is located is owned by their family, inherited by his father from his grandparents. They can afford to stay in a more luxurious residence in the city but his parents chose to stay in the province, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

“Mum and Dad are still upstairs,” Elaine said, putting her arm around Riley's waist as she ushered him inside after the taxi left. Riley called her on her phone when on his way so Elaine could wait for her outside of their house.

“I'm sleepy, Sis!” He said, pouting his lips and leaned his head on her shoulder. He is a bit taller than her sister so it is easy for him to lean on her. As the youngest and close to his sister, he always wanted her to cuddle him even though they were already adults. It was like a habit of them as siblings since they were young.

“I know what you want, little brother. Have some breakfast first before you get some cuddles,” Elaine said and chuckled. She is still amused by how her brother acts sometimes as a kid.

“You sure, Sis?” Riley expressed it with delight, removing his head on his sister's shoulder and walked ahead then turned to face her.

Elaine nodded which made Riley embrace her.

“I love you, Sis!”

“I love you, too. I need to catch some sleep too as I wasn't able to sleep well last night because of excitement to see you,” Elaine replied.

“Sorry, Sis!”

“Nah! It's fine.”

When they reach inside their house, Robert and Margaret, Riley's parents are already waiting in the living room. They just wake up.

“Good morning Dad, Mum,” Riley immediately greeted them and embraced them.

“I thought you were not coming home until a month?” Margaret asked while they're heading to their dining room for breakfast.

“I thought so, but I miss you all,” he replied.

“Our baby boy needs cuddles,” Robert Carter butting in.

Riley pouted his lips and glared at his Dad.

“Dad, is it bad to miss you all? And please, don't treat me like a kid, Daddy,” he complained, stomping his feet.

Robert came and embraced him. “You didn't change, you are still our Riley baby,” he said.

Riley acted like a kid when Elaine and Margaret laughed because Robert called him a baby for the second time. Their dining room then filled with laughter as they sat down to have their breakfast.

After their breakfast, Riley went to his room on the second floor of their house to catch some sleep. Around lunchtime when he woke up because of someone's hand tapping his face like waking him up.

“Brother?” He exclaimed, squeezing his eyes when he saw his brother, Dave.

“I can't wait for you to wake up so I came here,” Dave responded sitting next to him on his bed. He is still wearing his suit, proof that he just arrived from his trip.

“How was your trip, Bro?” Riley asked.

“Good! How about you?”

“Good! Just catching up on some sleep because since midnight I was at the airport,” he replied and got up to wash up.

Dave then let him do his stuff and told him that he will be waiting for him downstairs. Since it is the weekend, their family spend time together doing the usual stuff to enjoy themselves away from the pressure of work and studies for Riley.

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“How are your studies, Riley ?” His mum asked when they were on the porch of their house.

They're having tea time after their scrumptious dinner. The porch is where their family spend time when they are all in the house as it is calming to see the peaceful, skyline silver lake, laying at the foot of a hill with a vast amount of greenery.

“It's quite hard and busy now as I am in my senior year. So many projects to do, but I always tried my best. And know what; I topped the academics again after half of this semester.” He happily told his mother about his achievements.

Margaret embraced him tightly with so much happiness. “You didn't fail us son. We're very proud of you!”

“Thank you too, Mom! It's because I have a very supportive family that's why I have to study hard to compensate for all your support.” He proudly responds to his mom and hugs her.

Even though their family is rich and Riley is quite spoiled, it didn't come up to his mind to ruin the trust that his family had for him. He looked up to his father and siblings, how they all successfully manage their business. It's just him who has no interest in the business because of his love for the arts.

“How about Zoey, is she doing well too?” Dave suddenly asked, which made Riley and his mum halt from hugging.

Riley pouted his lips looking at his brother, “Brother?!” stomping his feet like a kid.

“What?” Dave responded to him a bit annoyed. His brother doesn't like him to act like a kid in front of him.

“You're more concerned about Zoey than me!”, still stomping his feet on the floor faking he is sulking. He has known from his brother that he likes his friend since the day they met.

Dave is caught off guard, it's too late for him to realize how he sounds when asking about Zoey. “What's with that look?” when he noticed everyone smiling, looking at him.

“Nothing!” They respond in unison and laugh not to insult Dave but they are all happy for him. They know him when he is in love.

They spent the night together in happiness and joy because since Riley went to study in the city, it is seldom for them to be all together or some other time that one of them is on a business trip. They always treasure this kind of moment for their family. That is one reason also how Riley is so proud of his family. Small but full of happiness and love.