TO LOVE AGAIN

CHAPTER 1

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA, USA

SATURDAY, 5:45 PM

*Phone ringing*

"Elisha's speaking---- hey! Nic's? Did you just change your number, huh?" My forehead twitched as I answered my brother, Nicoli call. I thought it was my clients already.

I heard him laughed on the other line. "Yeah. Save my new number. By the way, are done with your work?"

"Not yet?" I took my iPod and I moved to the large couch here inside my office. "Why? Do you need anything." I ask as I settled myself on the couch.

"I need to tell you something, Ish!!" Said Nicoli excitedly, that I could see in my vision his wide smile written on his face.

"Hmmm. What is it?"

"Wait a sec, I'll be there in your office."

"What -? Rea--" My line cut as he suddenly dropped the call and immediately, the door of my office had rung. I guess it's him. Really? Is he really that fast to get here?

I quickly stood up, walked through the door, and opened it. From outside, Nicoli showed up as I expected, he looked up at me with a wide smile on his face.

"How important is that?" I asked him and turned back to the couch to continue what I was doing earlier.

He shut the door. "Really important to me. But for you? I'm not sure." He chuckled. He sat on the other couch, in front of me.

"What is it?" I asked without looking at him because I put all of my attention on my iPod, where I'm finishing the gown's layout for my client.

"We're going back to the Philippines this Friday." No trace of anything in his voice, only a trace of happiness.

With that he had said, I stopped what I was doing, literally.

It's been 8 years since we left the Philippines. The three of us lived here in states in peaceful, happy, and prosperous, especially that I have now my own company here, as well in the Philippines. Aime, my best friend, and at the same time my business partner is in charge there. Remember, Aime back then? She was the manager of one of the women's companies in the Philippines. But now, she's my partner in my fashion business, since she had also a background in drawing, including her hobbies are designing dresses, gowns, and any kind of dresses, so we decided to build our company. So let's go back to what my bother told me. He's really good when it comes to joking around with me.

"Nice Prank. How many times have you said that to me?" I glanced at him for a moment and raised my brows before returning my gaze to my work.

Actually, he always used to pranked me about, we would be going home in the Philippines because his own bar needed him. I forgot to brag this about, my brother, Nicoli, was the owner of the bar, which I always go to. So back to the story, for almost 8 years, only his friend, Caryl manages his bar there. He couldn't even go home alone. Well, because I don't want to. I don't want to be separated from my brother. I can leave the states because my mom is here to take care of my company. Yet, I know, he is just doing a prank for me again. If I'm not mistaken, he told me this for about 16th time.

"16th times? But this one is true. Not a prank, a joke, I'm not. We're going back to the Philippines." This time, his voice filled with a serious tone.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him again.

"Are you serious? Really?"

"Yes." He nodded. I could see his shoulder lift in his favor. "Mom already knew about it and she's okay with it. In fact, I already planned to tell you about this last week but, I didn't want to hasten you. Ish, I really want to go back to the Philippines. I missed dad, I want to visit his grave." He said gently.

Really, no joke?

"Okay. Let's go home. Let's go back to the Philippines."

"Really!? Are you really going with me?" He showed up his surprise as well as his excitement reaction.

"Yes. Will I let you leave alone?"

"Thanks, Ish," he smiled at me and smiled back.

----

"Really? This Friday??? Is that sure?" Aime asked in shock in the other line. I'm talking to him right now via video call, to deliver the information to her that I and my brother will be going back to the Philippines this Friday.

I let out a deep sighed and I leaned my back in my swivel chair. "Yep. This time, Nicoli doesn't make fun of me anymore. This may be the time for me to go back there."

"Hmmm. Is your heart okay now? Moved on?"

"Of course! It's been a while. And, I want to visit .. Dad.... at his grave."

Gosh, Isha. It's been 8 years, but why does it seem like it has still a bit of a disappointment on my heart to call him 'daddy'? Urgh.

"Well, you're stuttering a little bit, but yeah. I'm excited to see you again! Bitches are excited to see you too!" Aime reply happily, she even kissed her laptop screen.

"Are you really excited to see me or my brother?" I said teasingly that made her forehead wrinkled.

"What! Of course, you. You're the one I want to see. What are you saying there." Said Aime with a trace of stuttered in her voice. I just laughed.

You're obvious, biatch.

"Hey, why are you so defensive. I'm just f*****g joking." I laughed.

"You, biatch." She rolled her eyeballs. "Okay, let's talk again later. I'm going to church now. Don't forget to update me when you get back, okay? Take care, biatch! See you soon! Bye!" She waved at me and gave me a flying kiss.

"Yup. Bye." I give her a flying kiss too before I close my laptop.

As the line died. I let out a deep sighed. I lift my head up, looking at the ceiling.

3 days to go before Friday before we will be going to go back to the Philippines. I know when I get back there, I don't know when we'll ever go back to America. It's not that I don't want to return to the Philippines, but. it's just that, it seems like I'm not ready to go back to the country that once it gave me painful memories. But I have no choice at all. I need to forget and buried everything in the past and move on. Yes, it's not easy to do that, but it will happen. Besides, if I let Nicoli go back there alone, with himself, still, I couldn't stay here without him. Not because I don't want to be with mom, but because, I don't want to be separated from Nicoli, who sometimes struggles alone because even his family before is not with him. And I don't want my brother to feel that again, I don't want to let him alone again. Because I know the feeling of being alone.

I sighed, and my phone vibrated for a moment. I took it over my desk and looked at who was texting.

Mom

5 PM

Baby, are you still at your office? Reply, ASAP.

Hmmm. Why she would ask that?

Me

5:02 PM

yup, mom. Why?

(Sent)

For almost 8 years, finally, mom and I are in good terms now. I can see how sorry she was to me. She filled up all the things she never gave me back then. Not only that, she accepted Nicoli wholeheartedly, she also loved Nicoli as if it was her real child even though it was Daddy's son with her best friend. That thing doesn't matter to her now. She finally moved about what happened in the past. I envy her. But one thing mommy didn't know was, Dad and I was together back then. Well, I don't have any plans to tell her about that. It's now buried.

Mom

5:05 PM

Okay, wait for me there. Gonna fetch you.

~~

Me

5:06 PM

Alright, mom. Take care!

(Sent)

I put my phone on my desk again.

Time check. It's already 6 PM. I got up from my seat and fixed up my belongings. Then I got out in my office, got on the elevator, and headed to the ground floor to wait for her. Actually, I have my car, but because my mum would pick me up, my car would be left here.

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