TO LOVE AGAIN

CHAPTER 2

We are now in the middle of our way home. I just kept quiet while looking up at the sky. There are so many stars that light up the whole sky. Among those stars, a bright one caught my eyes. It shines in the extra light it has. It made me smile as I gazed at it, thinking, it was Nathan, my dad. Based on the movie I had watched on when they miss their dead loved ones, they simply look up at the night sky to find the brightest star, because it is a symbol of their dead loved one. That's only a theory I think, and it's not bad for us to believe that. But in my current situation, I believe that.

'I missed you, dad. So much.' my mind whispered as I watched the brightest star.

Maybe if things hadn't been so bitter and bad I would have been with my dad now. We would have been together now, and we would have been happier today. But no, maybe this is really the faith of my life, it is that destiny let us meet at the wrong time. But it's okay because I know, there is a reason for everything that happens in human life. And because of what happened to me, I didn't know how to open my heart for love again. Since I left the Philippines, I closed it totally.

Again, I heaved a sigh.

"Are you okay, baby?" I returned to my senses with mom's question.

"Yep. I'm okay." I said leaning my back to the seat.

"Hmm. Seems you're not. Is there something bothering you? Tell me." In the tone of that statement, mommy knew she really knew something was bothering me.

And now, I can't lie. But, I can't tell her.

I heaved a sighed.

"Just.." I sighed again. "Just tired. Don't worry mom, I'm okay." I didn't know what to do. I don't even know what is bothering me.

"C'mon baby. Just tell me, if you don't want to go back to the Philippines, then I will accompany Nicoli back there--"

"No mom. I'm going with him. I'm okay. Don't worry."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm. I'm sure."

"Okay. But if you will going to change your mind, just tell me. Okay? I'll be going with him."

"Yeah. Thanks, mom."

---

In a minute, mommy and I had just arrived home. As we entered, I immediately saw Nicoli, walking down the stairs.

"Hey, Sis! Hi mom. Good evening." He greeted us. When he got down he gave me a kiss on the forehead as well as, mommy. That's Nicoli. He is a damn sweet brother. So luckily the girl he liked. He's boyfriend material.

"My baby, good evening too," Mommy patted his cheek as she put down her handbag on the small table next to our large couch here in the living room. I went to the kitchen to get some cold water in the refrigerator.

"Hey." It's Nicoli. He taps my shoulder before he sits on the chair.

"What?" I asked him after I drank some water.

"Are you really, going with me?" He asked, confusedly. Damn, he's really worried about me. I'm moved.

"I told you about that already," I asked as I sat down in a chair in front of him. I got chips, put it on the table, and ate them.

"Just making sure. I don't want you to feel like you're being forced. I know, the Philippines was the place that has the worst memories ---"

"Ssshh! It's over. It was buried in the past, Nics. Don't mention it, again. Okay? And this is final, I'm going home with you."

"Alright, alright. Relax. I'm just worried about you."

"Yeah I know, thanks. C'mon, let's sleep." I stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

"Yup! Goodnight, sleep well." He said before I could step on the stairs going to my room.

When I got to my room, I immediately threw my body down on the bed, looked at the ceiling, and took a few sighs.

Are we really going home this Friday? Hmm is it the right time for us to go back there?

Again, I released a heavy sighed. There's an excitement inside me yet there's also something's strange feelings that I don't really know. Urgh. I'm being so weird.

Gosh. Whatever, Ish. You're overthinking again and again and again.

---

THURSDAY ~

Right! Days really passes by so fast. I was closing my eyes yesterday and as I opened my eyes today, Nicoli and I were ready to leave America tomorrow. It really can't be stopped, well I'm a little bit excited because I'll be going to see and be with my bitches friends again, going to visit dad's grave every day and... Yeh, I missed the Philippines' atmosphere. And right now, I am packing all of my important things here in my office, the rest si mommy will take care of it.

While I am busy fixing up my things, my laptop rang shortly by the notification.

I suddenly stop putting all my stuff in a small box. I sat down in my swivel chair and opened my laptop. There's a notification in my email. Hmm. Who is this?

I click the 'open' button.

From: patersonevanxxxx

9 AM

"Hey, I heard that you're going home tomorrow. Can I fetch you? Please?"

"Hey, I heard that you're going home tomorrow. Can I fetch you? Please?"

My forehead wrinkled at that message from Evan. Well, this is not the first time he has sent me a message through email. Sometimes he is requesting a video call but I refused to do that. For almost 8 years, I can't really believe that this demon is still following me.

And how'd he know I'll be going tomorrow? Where did he get the information again? It was impossible for Aime to tell him, we're both cursing that bastard.

I rolled my eyeballs and I off my laptop. He's wasting my time.

I went back to what I was doing. After I fixed all my thins, I glanced at my office. Hmmm. I will really be going to miss my office here. From every corner of it. And of course... Gonna miss my employees, who once become my family.

"Good morning, Miss Hakinley." all of my employees here in the ground area greeted me as they saw me coming out from the basement. They gave me a smile followed by their claps. Their faces, smiles and everything shows a wonderful love for me.

In return, I also gave them good feedbacks and motivation so that they could do their job better here at my company while I am not around. I'm sure, pretty sure, I will going to miss their smiles and presence every day.

"I'll see you soon guys, so just keep doing good work. Remember, things get easy when everyone is helping out each other."

"We will keep that in our mind, Miss. Hakinley. We'll see you soon too." One of them said, and for the last, they gave me a clap.