Chapter 22

"I'm so glad to be back." I smiled when I saw my cousins at the airport.

I told them not to wait for me but they a showed up here and they are holding a banner with "WELCOME BACK SELENA." on it.

I saw Prince smiled at me. I'm still guilty for not loving him back, he used to bring out the best in me. He's always there for me but I know we will not going to be happy together.

"Till next time Selena." He hugged me tight.

"We will going to see each other and by that time I want you happy."

He nodded and smiled. I gave him my bracelet.

"I'm always here." I smiled.

He nodded and walked away. I saw my cousins running towards me and Kzarina hugged me tight. They grew a lot.

I saw Kuya Anthony holding a kid. If I didn't knew that my mother got pregnant I will think that it's Kuya's child.

"Hi Gino." I said and pinched her cheeks.

"Is she Ate Selena?" He asked Kuya Anthony.

"Yes."

"You said she's fat and ugly." Gino giggled.

"You said that huh?" I laughed at Kuya while raising my eyebrows.

"Hey, let's go for a night club later!" I said.

"You missed us that much huh?" Kuya Mikko laughed.

I nodded and was about to look for a night club when Carylle said.

"Just treat us for some samgyupsal now, we are hungry. We can have night out because of our family dinner." She said holding her stomach.

"I didn't know." I said confusedly.

We went to a samgyupsal store and started eating. Kuya Mikko ate a lot because it's my treat.

"Kuya Mikko you will be fat." Gino mouthed.

Everyone laughed and Gino smirked.

"Where is Yuri?" I asked.

"He's taking his final exam. You will see him at our family dinner." Clifford said.

"Lolo is cool about it?" I was shocked.

The last time I've been here is I saw Lolo and Yuri fighting over that thing.

"They are in good terms now."

"Let's see each other later!" Kzarina waved bye and move to their van.

I'm excited to go home! I miss my parents.

"Ate our house is beautiful." Gino said as I carry him.

I was about to knock at the door when someone opened it for me.

"Surprise! Welcome back!"

My mother hugged me and kissed my cheeks. I miss them, I miss home.

"I miss you mom." I smiled.

"I miss you too."

"I miss you dad!"

There's a lot of food. I saw Gino eating cake and ice cream on the side. He's so ready for this.

We've talked about a lot of stuffs and about the dinner later.

"Did you tell her?" My father asked Kuya Anthony.

"Tell me what?" I asked confusedly.

"Nothing, just fix yourself and we are going to the house." Kuya smiled.

I find it weird but I just did what he just said.

I took a bath and put light makeup on my face. I chose a white fitted dress. It's above the knee, and it embraces the shape of my body. I put on the necklace that my brother gave me and let my hair fall. I grabbed my silver stilettos and went downstairs.

"You look perfect." My brother smiled.

"You look ugly," I replied.

We laughed and did some picture taking. I know my brother wanted to be a photographer, but it's the law in our family that the first born be a doctor. I feel bad for him. If I could take that responsibility, I would just to make him happy.

"Ate, do I look cute?" Gino, my baby brother, giggled.

"You look so cute. The cutest person I've ever seen." I smiled.

"You hear that, Kuya? I'm the cutest, and you're the yuckiest." He laughed.

My brother was about to tickle Gino when our parents called us. It's already 8:00 in the evening, and we're getting late for the family dinner.

Dad drove the car while Mom and Gino were in the front seat. Me and Kuya are busy talking in the back seat.

"Who's that girl?" I asked.

Lately, I always catch Kuya talking to someone on his phone, and today I just saw a beautiful girl as his wallpaper.

"Secret, no glue." He laughed.

"No glue? What the hell? It's no clue." I laughed as I teased him.

"That's my baby. She's beautiful, right?" He whispered.

I nodded and smiled at him. Whoever this girl is, she's making my brother happy, and I want to thank her for that.

"Aren't you going to introduce her to our family?" I asked.

"I already introduced her to our parents. We got caught." He scratched his head.

"I'm going to introduce her later. You know Lolo will ask everyone." He shrugged his shoulders.

He's right. Every family dinner, my grandfather will ask everyone if we have a special someone. The good thing about that is he accepts everyone, even if your past is bad or your financial state is not so good. Lolo will try to understand everything, and I'm proud because of that.

"How about you, Selena, still single at your age?" My dad joked.

"As if someone will choose the wrong path and love Selena." Kuya laughed.

"Ha-ha, that's funny." I rolled my eyes.

They don't know anything about Ciro. They don't know anything about my ex-boyfriend. I kept everything secret. I wonder where he is now. It's been 5 years, and still, I'm stuck as hell.

"Don't rush everything, darling, ok? Everything will fall into the right place. You'll find your soulmate." Mom smiled.

"How about me, mommy? My soulmate, where is she?" Gino giggled.

"You're too young for that little boy. When you're like your Kuya, Anthony, you will meet your soulmate." Dad replied.

"Go down, sweeties, don't forget to greet your uncle and aunties," Dad said as he carried Gino.

Kuya held my hand, and we walked upstairs. My grandparents' house is so huge, there's a huge gate at the entrance. The left side was the pool area, where there are two pools. The right side was the garage. I saw 3 cars parked there, maybe my cousins are already here. The front door was big and stunning. There are 10 bedrooms on the second floor, but it would take me a day to describe how lovely this house is.

When we reached the dining table, I saw my grandfather sitting at the end of the long table, smiling. I sat beside Kuya, and he gave me a thumbs up.

"We're complete!" My grandfather said.

The maids started to serve the food. I felt like my mouth was watering; there were so many kinds of seafood and Filipino foods.

"Wait, where's Hazel?" My grandmother asked.

My cousin. Are they still together? Are they already married? Maybe.

"She will arrive, just checking the hospital, Mama." Tita Sophia said to her mother.

Kuya Tristan lead the prayer, and everyone clapped their hands. We are all ready to eat.

"My question, over and over again, is—"

"Anyone here who have a special someone?" We laughed as we cut off our grandfather.

Kuya raised his hand and stand up. Seems like everyone is surprised.

"Reigh Ashley Trexso, grandpa. We've been together for months now." Kuya said proudly.

"What a nice name. Bring her here next family dinner, ok? I bet she's beautiful because you're handsome." Lolo smiled.

"She is."

"Anyone else except for Anthony?" My grandfather asked again.

"Me, Lolo!"

Hazel shouted and ran towards our grandfather. She's so beautiful, her yellow dress embraced her body like she's a supermodel. It's noticeable that she became mature after 5 years. Her stilettos are shining, her smile is stunning.

"You're late, Iha, but your relationship doesn't count. We already know." Grandpa said.

Hazel giggled and sat in front of me together with her boyfriend, fiancé rather, Ciro Privino. I looked at Kuya, and he noticed that my eyes were watering.

"Are you ok?" He whispered.

"H-he's, Kuya, it's h-him," I said.

Kuya handed me his handkerchief and signed for me to go to the garden to breathe for a while. I know he didn't understand my connection to Ciro, but he felt something was wrong.

"Lolo, can I excuse myself? I just need to use the bathroom." I said while frowning.

"Are you ok, Iha? Do you have allergies? Your eyes are getting red." My grandmother noticed and sounded so worried.

"Nah, I'm ok, Lola, just need to pee," I said and excused myself.

Instead of going to the bathroom, I went to our garden and sat on the swing there.

I thought I was ok, I thought that everything was fine, but when I saw him with her, my heart just broke itself. That should be me, I said to myself while wiping my tears.

"Selena, fix yourself. Everything's ok," I said comforting myself.

"You're still wearing the ring that I gave you." A familiar voice whispered at my back.

I looked back and saw him, his beautiful eyes turned into deep black ones. He grew so fast, even his voice changed, everything's changed.

"I just forget to remove it," I said.

I immediately stand and walk upstairs.

"Why do you always leave me?" He grabbed my arms.

"Because this is the right thing."

He released me and left me at the staircase. When I went back to my seat, everyone was busy with their own business.

I stare at him, and he's happily talking to Hazel. Maybe in another life, it would be me.