"Is this grandpa's house? It looks different from our house in Levis. But I like it too." Aaliyah remarked with a smile. That night, they just returned to Dan City, two days after Belle received the news of her father's death.
Belle caressed the little girl's silky hair. "You like it? I grew up here. Let me show you your room!", she said.
"Mommy, I want to sleep next to brother!", Aaliyah requested. Arabella only laughed at her though. "You're a big girl now. You need to learn to take care of yourself. Albee won't always be there for you." she explained.
"Why not? I want to be with him always though!" she complained. Belle didn't explain anymore and instead turned to Albee.
"What do you think Albee?" Belle asked.
"I want to have my own room." he replied immediately.
"See? Albee knows better. Let's go Albee. I'll help you two pick a room of your own."
Arianna watched the three of them climb up the stairs. Albee as always wore a cold expression. He took that after her. Aaliyah though was pouting her lips as she felt wronged. How cute. Belle.... She changed a lot this past few years. She still tends to over react about small things, but she doesn't find her too annoying anymore.
Arianna looked around the house and realized nothing much changed. The Reid's old house was exactly the way it was before, but the both them who lived here years ago are not the same Arabella and Arianna anymore.
***
"Today, I'm going to visit my dad's grave." Belle whispered next to Arianna during breakfast the next day. Arianna only replied with a nod. But Albee heard and saw the exchanged. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his head as he thought of something.
"Are you going out, Mommy Belle? Can I go with you?" he asked with a smile. Belle was stunned and she turned to Arianna helplessly with worried eyes. "Please? I have always wanted to tour the city. Please take me with you!",he begged.
Arianna sighed. The boy has always been curious since very little. He wanted to see and learn a lot of things. It wouldn't be bad to let him go, right? "Alright. You can go." Arianna replied. "How about Aaliyah?",she uttered turning to the little girl happily munching on her breakfast.
Hearing someone mention her name, Aaliyah turned to Arianna "I don't wanna go." she simply answered.
Albee hurriedly finished his breakfast and prepared to go out with Belle. He took his small bag with him and met his mommy Belle downstairs. He loves going out, but today it was more than that. He wants to see the real world. The real world that his mother has kept hidden from him.
***
11:00 AM
Yago stared outside the car window as he roam around the block. This was a place so familiar yet so foreign to him. Yago came back to Dan city four days ago, and today he decided to visit a few of his favorite places. He parked the car near a playground and went out to walk around.
It's been so many years, yes? How long has it been? About twelve years or more? When he first came to Dan City with Arianna and Dianna, he frequented this children's play ground a lot. Whenever Arianna fight with Belle, she will come to this park to ease her anger. Of course, Yago always followed her around, ready to comfort her. He glanced at the almost empty play ground. He walked towards a swing and sat there with his head lowered. This past six years has been the toughest time of his life. Harder than when he was still very young and alone.
"Mister, do you wanna play with me?"
Yago looked up when he heard that small voice with a strange accent and saw a little girl standing in front of him. What a cute little child. He wished he has one himself. If only...
"What's wrong, Mister? You don't want to play with me?" the child asked when she saw his sullen face.
Yago shook his head. "You can't ask random people to play with you. What if I'm a bad guy?",he replied.
"Are you a bad guy?",she innocently asked with her head tilted.
"No. But just don't do it to others. There are a lot of bad people in this world. They might take you away and harm you." he explained.
The little girl nodded her head with a smile. "Alright. But I don't see anyone else around. Since you're not a bad guy, maybe you can play with me! Can't you."
Kids are really naive. Yago sighed and stood up. "Okay. Wanna ride this swing? I can push it for you. What's your name?"
"I'm Aaliyah Reid. I'm four years old." Yago was stunned. Her last name was also Reid? Just like Arianna.
The little girl was really cheerful. She sat on the swing and let Yago push it as it swung higher and higher. She was laughing merrily each time the wind brushes her face. What an adorable little thing.
"You know Mister, you're quite good looking. My dad is handsome too!" she said as she rested from playing for a while.
"Well, what's your father's name? If you live around here, maybe I know him." he stated.
The little girl thought for a while. She saw this picture of a handsome man in her Mommy's drawer. What's his name again? "His name is Roy... Roy Vander. Do you know him?"
Yago was a bit surprised. This little girl is Roy Vander's child? But what is she doing here?
"Aaliyah! Aaliyah where are you!" Arianna shouted from a distance. She was looking around wearing an anxious expression. She was on the phone some time ago and didn't realize Aaliyah sneaked out of the house. This isn't Levis! She can't just run around like she did in the old town. "Aaliyah! Answer me!", she yelled again.
"Mum! I'm here!", the little girl answered. "Sorry Mister! I need to go now. My mum is calling for me." she said to Yago before dashing away.
Yago felt his world stop. Watching a worried Arianna run towards Roy Vander's daughter and hugging her tightly, how he wished he was only seeing this in a dream. She called her mommy! What is happening? Why can't she understand a thing?
"Rian..." Yago called her name as he walked towards her. It didn't matter that he couldn't understand. That moment, Yago's world just froze. He didn't care about anything else. He just wanted to hold her close.
Stunned, Arianna found herself enfold in Yago's arms. Something inside her bled that moment. She missed him so much. How long has it been? Five years and one month! He held her for the last time on christmas five years ago. Her heart raced as he held her close like this. How he wished time could stop!
"I missed you so much Rian! Where have you been? I thought you were dead." he said in a shaky voice.
Arianna froze. Dead? Is that why he married another? Arianna pushed Yago away as coldness enveloped her heart. This is wrong. Very wrong now.
"I'm good." she replied awkwardly. She then glanced at Aaliyah. "I'm sorry but we need to go now."
Remembering about the child, Yago's eyes darkened. "Is she really... Roy Vander's daughter?",he asked. He wanted to hear it from her. He wanted the truth.
Arianna was surprised. She glanced at the child again and found her looking at her too. She told Yago that she's Roy's daughter? Looks like there's a lot going on under her nose. "Yes. She's Roy's daughter. What about it?"
Yago furrowed his brows. She admitted to it? This child is really theirs? "No... Arianna... You know how much I loved you, and I still love you. I want you back!", he struggled to say those words. It's getting harder for him to breathe as he process all that he learned about the situation they were in. "I want you back..." he repeated.
Arianna stared at him and then shook her head. "No. Marital infidelity is a crime, brother..." she said mockingly before turning around and leaving Yago behind. Both hearts were broken but couldn't do anything to ease their pain...
Yago was left standing there, confused. How did this happened? He heard Arianna and Belle disappeared during a cruise. Howard accused Roy Vander of killing the girls as he was also in that cruise by the time of their disappearance. He didn't think he'll be responsible for it. But was it true? Did she really took Arianna and took liberty on her? This is hateful. He wants him dead. He thought as he clenched his fists.
Arianna was running away with her eyes rimmed red. It's the end of January and the cold wind touched her skin as well as her heart. She didn't think she'll be meeting him so soon. When he held her, she almost lost her mind for a moment. She almost forgot that he's now taken. She must not meet him anymore, lest she makes more unforgivable mistakes in the future...