[ Tuesday, November 8 ]
"Shawn? Where are you?" Summer's question was filled with urgency, which I don't understand why. Did she miss me that much? It's not like we haven't talked for the past 15 hours. A person sleeps 8 hours a day – I slept at 11 pm, ending the night with a phone call for her and woke up at exactly 7 am to prepare myself for my trip back to Edevieth.
I put on one of the straps of my backpack as I hold my phone on my other hand. "Well, I'm on my way back to Edevieth," I answered casually.
"What? How can I not know about this? Since when were you planning to go back there? And for what? Shawn, I'm your girlfriend, I deserve to know."
I chuckled as I heard that word and hearing it sounded music to my ears, making my heart skip a bit.
Girlfriend.
I know that I should be used to call her that, but for some reason I forgot to tell her my plans for I've been busy recently, planning about how to bring the kids here in the city.
"That's so sweet of you, calling yourself my girlfriend." I teased.
"That's not the point," she commented, sighing loudly, making sure that I'll hear it. "You know what? If you're here with me right now, I would've slapped you already."
"Alright mom, I'm sorry," I mocked playfully. I can imagine Summer rolling her eyes for playing around. She hates it when I act like this, but I like teasing her. "Anyway, sorry if I didn't tell you, but at least you know now. Not that I don't want you to meddle with my affairs, but seriously, I forgot."
"I can't believe you," she sighed loudly for the second time in disappointment. "You're only 27, yet you're way too forgetful. That's not normal."
"Whatever. Hearing my age suddenly reminds me about my parents' silver anniversary just this May. You get what I mean?" I'd be glad if she gets it. Part of me is a bit thrilled to hear her conclusion about a little trivia about me.
"You're 27 but your parents just celebrated their 25th. So, you're … uh, you know … unplanned child?"
Clever. That was fast for her to realize. I'm already expecting that she'll think that fast. It's one of the things that I like about her. She's confident, strong, dreamer, achiever, quick-thinker, smart. Not to mention, sweet and forgiving. I guess I'm just blessed to have someone like her. After what I've done – leaving her hanging for a year to prioritize different matters and not even maintaining a decent communication – some other girls might keep hatred and never forgive me.
Thankfully, Summer chose to swallow up her pride and forgive me that very moment when we saw each other again as if nothing happened. I couldn't ask for anything more. Being forgiven like that is quite some miracle. It definitely is.
"Bingo. Right, I'm a product of pre-marital sex. I was there in their wedding, but as a 2-year old kid, I had no idea what was going on." I answered. With that thought that I wasn't planned, it makes me think about how my mother reacted when she found out that she had me right after her graduation from college. "Anyway, I'll just talk to you later. I have to get going."
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"Kuya Shawn, you're back!" Laura giggled as she ran towards me and hugged my legs tight. Her arms aren't too tight for my feeling, but I know that's the tightest she can give. Laura's already 6, but I think she's too short for her age. Either that or simply because I'm a tall guy. 183cm tall as against 115cm girl. Yeah, that difference.
I carried Laura to my level and secured her body on my arms and I kissed her on the forehead. "I don't remember you calling me kuya before the last time I was here. What's with you?"
"I just thought of doing that because you're like my big brother. Teehee."
Cute. I don't really like that word, but that's the first word that I thought of when she answered that.
"I suppose you know why I'm here? Did mom tell you about my plans of bringing all of you there?"
"And start everything from scratch? Yeah, I believe so. Yuna was a bit emotional about it. She said she'll miss this place because she grew up here, and she's afraid of being in the city."
I nodded as I put Laura down and we headed inside the house together.
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The creamy aroma of the soup filled the kitchen the moment I entered. My stomach, on the other hand, made its response to the food which made my mouth water. I may not be drooling literally, but I can imagine myself doing it. The scent was strong enough for me to be hungry. It won't be surprising if I'll eat at least four bowls of it in one sitting.
Mom clipped the fried chicken with a thong out of the pan filled with oil and placed it on a plate with thick tissue for it to absorb the excess oil. I helped her in serving it with rice and placed it on the table. When I saw Jerome entered the kitchen, I gestured him to call the rest of the kids for dinner, and with a grin as an answer, he didn't hesitate but did as I told him to. I can read the excitement in his eyes, for I know that the soup and fried chicken are some of his favorites. These aren't my favorites, but I certainly like it.
My mother is a good cook – great, to be more precise – which makes me remember that Summer, my future wife, hardly knows anything about cooking. Calling her as my future wife sounded funny, but as far as I know, both of us are having that dream. I guess she should take some cooking lessons from my mother when they meet. It's just that she was way too pampered and more focused on her work, which hindered her from learning how to cook at home.
Why can I imagine an exploding oven handled by her?
All the kids sat surrounding the long table, and Yuna led us in prayer for the food. Everyone seemed busy eating their meals, and the silence made my ears bleed. I was only gone for a couple of weeks, yet nobody even dared to ask how my trip was or shared anything that happened to them when I was gone. The only thing that I noticed so far is Dion, Laura, and Bianca who became tanner than I was last here. I suppose they did a lot of swimming at the beach, so their skins got burned.
"So, how were you all when I wasn't around? Any news?" I asked, breaking the ice.
"Nothing much, aside from the three got sunburned," Ramil replied, and everyone, for some reason, focused their eyes on me. I don't know what they're thinking, but I guess I should just spill it. I don't see any reason for playing around different topics that wouldn't make sense.
"I see. I'd like to go straight to the point. My dad wants all of you to be there in our house in the capital. You know … new start, new school, new environment, new everything. I came here to bring you all there. Everyone needs to adjust, of course, since that's given. But I already mended things with my dad and he'd love to have all of us there. Our house is big enough for all of you. I even planned for your room assignments. There will be two girls in each room, and three guys in one room. We have five rooms in the house but if anyone wants to go solo, then it should be fine. It's almost just enough for all of us."
"We're going to live in a mansion? You own it?" I see the eagerness in Dion's eyes as he said those words. The city isn't a perfect place, but chances are he'll like the new environment there.
Personally, I feel better in our house there because everything feels comfortable, especially my bed in my bedroom which has soft sheets, softer pillows and much more. I totally missed all those things. This island can be a paradise at some point, but nothing beats the comfort my home gives, at least in my opinion.
"I don't want to brag about it but yes, it is. I believe I mentioned my dad does for a living, right?"
"He's a politician," Bianca drank half glass of water upon answering. She put it back on the table and spoke again. "Is he a mayor or something? You only said that he's a politician."
"He's actually a senator." I scratched my head as I said the word. Being a senator in this country is something, but to be really honest, the titles don't matter. At the end of the day, every human's body rots six feet below the ground when they die and it no longer matters who's rich and who's not. "Anyway, I want to know your thoughts about moving there. Is anyone against my plans? I'd love to hear your concerns."
"All of us boys already talked about it, and the three of us, Dion, Jerome as well as me are thrilled about it. We're more than excited about being in a new environment. I don't know about the girls."
"Bianca and Agatha are fine with it. However, Laura and Yuna don't totally agree with it." My mother intervened, instead of waiting for other girls to say it. Yuna and Laura looked down, as if ashamed after I figured out about what they feel about it. I totally understand that they're not completely happy about it because this place is home for them.
Yuna's eyes kept on wandering from one place to another, avoiding my eyes. Whenever I talk to people, I want them to look at me straight in the eyes, for it annoys me when they don't. "Can I at least know the reason why you're not happy about my proposal?"
Our eyes met and she pressed her lips together, articulating her thoughts. She took a spoonful of the soup before speaking out her most honest thoughts. "I'll miss this place, it has lots of sad and happy memories," she sipped some water upon answering. "It has a place in my heart."
"We can come to visit here from time to time if you want to. Starting a new life in the city doesn't mean that we can no longer return here, you know? It's just that, the city has lots to offer."
"Yeah, and obviously because you want to go back to your old life, Shawn. Be honest about that. I do understand though since you left your old life just for us. You deserve to have it back." Ramil intruded, his face serious.
He's right. I want to go back to my old life and get the life I've always wanted. It feels perfect that I can still be with the kids in my comfortable home back in the city, plus of course, having the girl of my dreams back in my arms for real.
"Shawn sacrificed a lot for us, he deserves something better. Besides, we can still be together and for a while, leave this place that's filled with sad memories. I can't imagine anything better than that." Ramil added.
"That makes sense," Yuna answered.
"Shawn sacrificed for all of us, so this time it should be about him." Bianca looked at me again and flashed a smile filled with sadness. "I approve. Laura and I are coming. It's for the best."
I grinned as I hear her decision, for that's what I wanted to hear.
"But how about this house? What will happen to this when we go there?" Jerome asked. That's a good question. Thankfully, I have it all planned out.
"We can either sell this or save it so that if we'll return, we have a place to stay in. I want to hear everyone's thoughts. Let's do the voting," I raised my right hand that caught everyone's attention.
"For those who want to keep this house, raise your hand."
Everyone raised their hands. I'm not really surprised. In fact, I'm expecting it. This house is full of sad and happy memories. It sure has some sentimental value.
"Very well, we're going to keep this then and lock it properly so that no one will break in. Then, we should all prepare our stuff and move there in the city."
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[ Saturday, November 19 ]
I brought out the bags from the rented L300 that was used to pick us up from the pier. The guard opened the gates of our house and everyone stepped in. As we walk to the gardens and entered the house itself, everyone grew silent and looked around the house in awe, as if they entered a different world.
Yuna, Agatha, and Jerome walked closer to the landscape painting on the living room – a painting of a forest at night that leads to the beach, with a sky full of stars and a crescent moon that reflects the sea.
"This is so beautiful!" Agatha giggled as she compliments it. Bianca, on the other hand, followed the three to take a closer look.
"Shawn, you painted this? I believe this signature below is yours." Bianca commented. That's so observant of her. I wasn't expecting them to notice that little detail, but I'm glad that someone did.
"Yes, I used to paint. I still can, I believe. I'll try to paint again to see if my painting skills aren't rusty yet."
Mom grinned as she hears what I said. She is my biggest fan, and most of the paintings in this house are my works. I'm proud of it, but I never thought of selling them until today. Maybe I can sell sometime as my source of income? Maybe, I don't know.
Dad descended the stairs and he wears a wide grin across his lips as he sees all of us. He walked towards mom first, his arms open wide for a hug. Tears fell from mom's eyes and dad kissed her forehead as he secures her in his arms.
"You have no idea how much I missed you," dad whispered, but loud enough for me to hear for I'm just standing next to them.
Mom leaned on dad's chest and hid her face from him. "What are you talking about? I missed you more." She chuckled upon saying those. Dad did the same. "No, I missed you more." He added.
Alright, enough of the I missed you so much drama, they're acting like younger couples although if that's normal for them, I'm not going to say anything. I appreciate the sweetness, but there are more important things to settle. The kids won't do anything else but to look at the two of them, yet the couple hugs as if no one's watching. I can't blame them for missing each other since it's more than a year since they last met. They sure have lots of things to talk about.
"I hate to cut in, but dad here's the kids." I began, and I introduced them one by one, as well as their ages.
Some of the kids seem to be thrilled when dad showed how welcomed they are in this house, but some others like Agatha, Laura, Jerome and Yuna seems to be testing the waters, trying to see if all the things will work as they have expected. I wasn't really expecting the dad would be this open for all the kids because he used to hate my decision of choosing them over our family. He did change a lot and I can't help but wonder why. Did someone make him take a medicine that gives compassion to the people after taking it? I have no idea.
"I believe I should show you your assigned rooms," I said as I look at the kids and pick up some bags. One of the male attendants decided to carry some bags also and the kids followed me upstairs.