It was her last day in Seoul, and she had decided to leave for Madrid. None of her friends knew, not even Sophia.or Isabella.
Her mother asked her as they were standing in the garage of her house with all her luggage, ready to leave for airport.
" Honey, you ready to go? "
" Yes, Mother " she replied with a small, sad smile.
Her mother studied her carefully, saying sadly afterwards
" You can stay if you want to, you know that, right? " she said more like apologizing.
Gabriella nodded but looking down to hide the tears that were threatening to spill out.
" Let''s go " she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
" Don't worry mum. I'll be at grandma's. I'll be alright, you just take care of yourself. I'll call you when I reach there and I'll try to comeback soon. " She said in low voice but loud enough for her mother to hear.
Both of them knew, coming back isn't exactly as it sounds. But none of them said anything
Her mother just hugged her tightly, kissing her head.
Gabriella leaned into the embrace, silently thanking her mother for not pushing the matter further.
.....
The flight to Madrid felt long and heavy. Once she finally landed and retrieved her luggage which seemed to take an eternity.
She was walking through the airport. The bustle of the place echoed around her, blending with the rhythmic clatter of luggage and chatter of people conversing around. It was all so different from Seoul, and yet the overwhelming feeling of not quite belonging made her chest ache.
As she dragged her luggage behind her, her gaze landed on them, there they were, standing at the entrance, Elena and Mateo, the sibling duo. Both of them, her maternal cousins. Mateo being the older one, among two. Next to them was Sandra, wife of Mateo.
Elena waved excitedly, a wide grin plastered on her face. Mateo held up a handmade sign that read,
" Welcome back, troublemaker! "
The handmade welcome sign made her chuckled from afar. Sandra stood beside them, arms crossed but smiling warmly like a big sister. Gabriella smiled automatically, the weight in her chest lightening a little seeing them after months. She remembered when they visited her in Seoul and she was the one receiving them with her group of friends just like that.
" There you are! " Elena squealed, wrapping her in a hug so tight that Gabriella could hardly breathe.
" Finally! Do you know how long I've been counting the days? I've missed you so so so much. "
" I have missed you all " Gabriella admitted softly, allowing herself to sink into the warmth of the moment.
" Missed us or the hangouts? " Mateo teased, earning a playful nudge from Sandra.
" Can't it be both? " she commented, a teasing smile curving her lips.
For the first time in days, she felt a little lighter, even if the ache still lingered quietly beneath the surface.
Gabriella laughed, holding her cousin Elena close hugging her tightly.
" You make it sound like I've been gone for years. "
" Four months, it was. " Elena raised her eyebrows in response gasping dramatically, but Gabriella just laughed.
" But You're finally here. Thank God, You know what, Sara has been driving me insane waiting for updates about you! " Elena continued, and Gabriella laughed at the playful complaint about her other cousin.
" Yeah... She messaged me asking where I was " Gabriella shared, still laughing.
" She called me three times this morning " Mateo added, rolling his eyes dramatically.
" Like I have insider information or something."
" She worries " Elena said, nudging her brother in mock-offense which he just laughed it off.
" You know how she is. " Gabriella nodded.
" She's a pain, but a lovable one. I'll call her." Gabriella assured while smiling.
" You better " Sandra chimed in, her voice soft.
" You're the only one she listens to."
" I will, " Gabriella said smiling and moving forward to hug Sandra warmly.
" Welcome back, Gabby, " Sandra said lovingly, hugging her back.
" Thank you, Sandy. It's good to see you again."
"I had no idea Mateo was serious enough about you, to marry you. I expected to see a new face this time," she teased, glancing at Mateo.
Mateo chuckled, wrapping an arm around Sandra's shoulders.
" Well, Gabby, sorry to disappoint your expectations. I guess I like consistency," he teased, planting a light kiss on Sandra's temple.
Gabriella smiled at their lovely interaction, but a familiar ache tugged at her heartstrings, pulling her back to the memory of someone she had once shared an unbreakable bond with, a deepest connection that still lingered in the quiet corners of her soul.
Composing herself, she glanced at Elena, who was making a mock-puking face at the couple, pulling Gabriella out of her thoughts with a soft laugh.
" Ugh, can you two save the romance for later? You're making the rest of us single people nauseous," Elena quipped, crossing her arms, dramatically.
Mateo turned to her with a mock-serious expression.
" Hey, it's not my fault, if Sandra found me irresistible. " he said with a playful wink, earning a playful nudge from Sandra.
Gabriella chuckled as Mateo and Sandra turned their attention to her. Grinning, Mateo added,
" And where were you, huh? Skipping the biggest event of our life? Honestly, Gabby, I was starting to think you were avoiding me! "
" Oh, come on, Matt " Gabriella shot back, raising an eyebrow.
" You know I had a good excuse! But hey, I'm here now, isn't it great?"
" Barely," Elena cut in with a smirk.
" If I hadn't guilt-tripped you, you'd still be curled up in your bed in Seoul."
Gabriella laughed, shaking her head.
" Alright, alright, you all win. Next time, I'll teleport if I have to! "
Their laughter echoed warmly, a pure feeling of familial love was there which she felt at the moment.
"Okay okay! Enough with that you look exhausted, Gabby. Let's go home now." Sandra said, a smile tugging at her lips listening to their playful banters.
" You're here now. That's all it matters." she told her while they were walking out of the airport with her luggage in Mateo's hands.
Gabriella chuckled and she nodded warmly, before she continued, her expression softened as she asked about her niece.
" By the way, how's my baby Livi? Did she start walking yet? "
Sandra's face lit up, her maternal pride shining through.
" Oh, Olivia's unstoppable now. She's toddling around the house like she owns the place."
" She even tried to chase after the cat yesterday " Mateo added, shaking his head with a laugh.
"I don't know who was more scared, Olie or the cat. "
Gabriella's heart swelled with love.
" I can't believe I missed her first steps. She just turned one a few days ago, didn't she? "
" Yes " Sandra said, her voice softening.
" But don't worry, you'll see plenty of her now. She's been saying your name, you know. Since, we were in Seoul. Well… 'Gabba' is what it sounds like, but she means you."
Elena nudged Gabriella playfully.
" See? Even Olie missed you."
As they made their way to the car, Gabriella felt lighter, a warmth spread through Gabriella, melting some of the heaviness she'd carried with her. For the first time in weeks, she smiled fully.
" I can't wait to see her."
...
The city buzzed around her, indifferent to the quiet war raging in her heart. The car hummed steadily as it weaved through the bustling streets of Madrid, the chatter of her cousins filling the air. Yet, Gabriella's mind was miles away, lost in the quiet storm of her thoughts. Every street they passed seemed to stretch farther from everything she had known, leaving her with the unmistakable feeling of being torn between two worlds.
" What would he be doing now? Would he be thinking about her? " She couldn't help but wondered quietly, her gaze drifting out of the window.
The city was alive with movement, but inside, everything felt still.
She could almost feel the pull of Seoul, the way it had been, the laughter, the warmth of her friends, and Him. She didn't want to leave but she just had to.
" Does he hate her now? He didn't even say goodbye even he knew she was leaving but sent a note through a stranger." Her mind kept wondering, and it made her feel even more uneasy.
A lot of questions were swirling in her mind like a whirlpool, but she quickly pushed them away. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about him, not now, not here.
She had left it all behind when she boarded that plane. But even now, it felt as though part of her heart was still back there, still holding on to the hope that maybe, just maybe, he had felt something too.
" You okay, Gabby? " Elena's voice, broke the chain of her thoughts, her tone gentle but laced with concern.
Gabriella blinked and turned her head, realizing she'd been staring out the window without responding.
" Yeah " she said, offering a small smile.
" Just tired. I'm good." she told her.
Elena nodded, giving her an understanding look.
Mateo, sitting beside her, grinned mischievously.
" Don't worry, we'll be at Grandma's soon. A good rest will do wonders. Plus, you know, Livi's waiting to see you."
A flicker of warmth spread through Gabriella's chest at the mention of her niece. Olivia, the little one who hadn't even learned to walk yet, but who had already filled their lives with so much joy. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to focus on that.
Elena leaned in, her eyes narrowing playfully.
" Hmm, I don't know. Seems like Grandma's favorite is back," she teased, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
Gabriella raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
" Don't act innocent, Gabby," Mateo chimmed in the conversation from front seat while driving.
" Grandma's been in the kitchen all day, supervising everything herself, making your favorite dishes. And I know she doesn't do that for anyone else."
He paused, then added with a
wink looking at Gabriella from rare view mirror.
" Guess who's the golden child now? "
" Oh, don't start," Gabriella groaned, trying to hide the grin tugging at her lips. " It's not like that."
Elena sniffed the air dramatically, then raised her hand in mock surrender.
" Mmm, yeah, I definitely smell favoritism." She shot a playful glance at Mateo.
" Last time we were there, we were lucky if we got the leftover scraps, and now Gabby gets a personal feast? "
Gabriella's eyes widened in mock horror.
" No way! You two are exaggerating! "
" Am I?" Mateo laughed, clearly enjoying the moment.
" You know, I almost had to fight for a second helping last time. But now? It's all about you, Gabby. It's like you've got the special treatment contract signed."
Elena threw her hands up in mock defeat.
" Honestly, I should've known. It's always been you! You've got Grandma wrapped around your finger!"
Gabriella laughed, throwing her hands up in surrender.
" Okay, okay, you guys win! Grandma does spoil me a little. But in my defense, she knows I appreciate the food the most."
" Well, we'll just have to settle for crumbs while you get the five-course meal," Mateo teased her, while Elena nudged her gently.
" And I'll make sure to save you guys some," Gabriella said with a wink, " but no promises."
Her cousins continued their light banter, their voices a comforting background to the thoughts swirling in her mind.
The car sped past the familiar landmarks, the streets of Madrid beginning to feel less foreign as the journey wore on.
The warmth of her family, their laughter, the simple joy of being surrounded by those who cared for her, it all reminded her that maybe this was exactly what she needed right now.
" Almost there " Sandra said from the front seat, her voice steady and warm. Gabriella nodded.
She had the chance to start again, surrounded by people who loved her.
With a deep breath, Gabriella leaned back in her seat, letting the familiar comfort of her family's presence soothe her.
As the car turned onto the street that led to her grandmother's house, she felt something stir inside her, a glimmer of hope, a quiet promise to herself.
Whatever the future held, she was ready to face it.
And she had hoped, maybe, just maybe, she'd find her way back again someday.
" WAY BACK HOME "