Chapter 50

“Bye! Bye! Flowers,” Inah muttered while still waving at the blooming flowers in Alenna’s yard.

It’s spring season this month, when I got them pregnant then. Inah’s dress dances in the middle of the moderate wind. She was wearing a black sleeveless floral dress that matched her wavy hair. Van, on the other hand, was wearing only a simple white polo and black pants, laughing because of what Lana whispered again.

Lana just a simple highwaist and crop top that really fits her body shape, plus her pony tail hair and sunglasses. I just raised an eyebrow at her then let go of Inah. It’s only now that I’m wearing this, because it’s only now that my body shape is back to normal. I had the courage to wear a high low black dress.

“Let’s go inside! Come in! Come in!” Inah’s loud shout caused everyone to laugh.

She was like that last night, I almost got beaten up because she didn’t want to sleep because she couldn’t wait to come home. Even though we all had no sleep because of taking care of our belongings, did we leave suddenly so even the paperwork had to be complete. Although I felt drowsy, I tried to stay awake just to monitor our return to the Philippines. I just didn’t let them know that we were going home, Mama A said that was also good so that I wouldn’t be too nervous. I don’t want to think about nonsense. Even Lana, even though she was anxious, her nervousness could still be seen. Mama A will take care of us.

We just quietly looked around, we are using two cars now, Mama A and Cyron and the children are in the front car, while Lana and Alenna and I are here. Mama A got a driver so that when she arrived at the airport, the car could be returned.

“Gosh! I’m nervous, maybe later we’ll all be scolded,” Alenna looked at us nervously because she was next to the driver.

“It’s just us, not you,” she said laughing which made me laugh as well.

“But seriously. What if you weren’t hired like that?”

“Alenna, they’re the ones sending us home, so how can we not be accepted? What you said will scold us. I’m ready, I just don’t know about that one,” it teased me.

I just smiled and then turned outside the window where flowers were in full bloom outside. “I wrote my explanation in the paper,” I said laughing as Lana laughed.

Somehow I was just entertaining myself, because for sure when we got there there would be a war. I just listened to the conversation between the two about the men in the mansion that we grew up with, it looks like Alenna is going to hunt for men among the men there, she said she wants to forget the naughty man she met when she was jumping on the runway, so he might get caught in the mansion.

How are they doing? I heard that some of them already have children. I can’t gossip because I’m just worried and when I just talk about them I immediately feel scared.

When we arrived at the Airport, we were accompanied by two drivers to carry the suitcases. It’s just three suitcases that are still big. One for Lana and two for me. They also have Mama A’s toolshe left home in the Philippines so there is nothing to worry about.

“Where’s the airplane, ma?” Van asked crookedly as he looked around.

“Later son, it will be out there,” I said with a smile.

Inah, on the other hand, I almost pulled because she was too slow to walk because she was still looking at every detail of the place, if she didn’t look around, she was looking up. It wasn’t obvious that I locked them in the house, it’s just that maybe he just saw this. I laughed a little because at the same time they looked back at the absence due to the sudden speech of the airline itself, laughing at Alenna’s video shot of them which she often does whenever we are together.

“Hello!” Inah waved at those we passed by and immediately smiled at her.

“Just behave okay? Listen to mama, Inah, Van,” I glared at her.

Inah didn’t burst into applause when she finally saw the big plane, the camera was still focused on the two who were taking a long walk. When we were able to climb, even the flight attendants at the entrance could not escape Inah, she greeted them and wanted to kiss.

“It’s just one Inah, I’ll leave you here,” I said calmly as she nodded.

“Just one,” she muttered as we sat down.

“No, you shouldn’t breastfeeding me anymore. You’re a big girl,” I whispered here.

It shook strongly then brought its face slightly closer to my ear. “I’m still small, that’s how it is oh.” She showed his little finger which was really small.

I looked back at it then shook again. It just sucked on me then leaned on my side. While waiting for the others, my companion and I were just in line. My two children are in both seats as well.

“Cabin crew, please take your seats for take-off.”

The pilot’s voice immediately turned the two children around and frowned. Because we were just next to the window they spent the whole day looking at it. Fortunately, they didn’t scold us, we had to swap Inah’s place so that they could be side by side. They said they would watch the sun set again at the same time.

The air flight to Manila takes fifteen hours. I noticed that Lana was asleep on the other side of us, because she didn’t really sleep like Alenna who fell asleep somehow. When I took care of the two of them they were also asleep, both lying on her shoulders, I just lifted the small blanket over them a little to reduce the cold. Maybe this is the time for me to rest. I felt a faint pinch on my cheek, I even moved my head to the right, but that pinch got worse.

I quickly opened my eyes and there appeared two smiling children, they looked fine. I noticed it was bright outside the window.

“Buenas Tardes Mama,” they both greeted. Tardes? Son of a?!

“Omg! It’s afternoon?” I was so weak that they nodded quickly.

“Omg? Now you just said that line, feeling young, wews,” I heard on the other side.

Lana laughed as she removed the suitcases. I looked at my waist still wearing the seatbelt I had just forgotten to remove. When I regained my sanity, I decided to stand up and put the two children first. When we got down we were completely even inhaled the air, which is really only Philippine. Mama A was holding the two children who seemed to be saying something because of their mouths. Cyron just looked at me then smiled as Alenna gestured with her index finger that you were torn.

“How is that? We have entered our beloved Philippines,” Lana smiled as we entered.

“Hopefully in the mansion too,” I joked as we looked at each other once more.

The airport has hardly changed, it still looks like this since I left, it’s as if I’m back to normal, leaving the Philippines full of fear and pain. Now I go home feeling nervous. I don’t have to be afraid anymore because they already know the truth, it’s up to them whether they will accept me or not. I don’t have a problem with that anymore because after all, I followed their wishes to go home to the Philippines.

“Tara! Are we jollibee?” Lana’s offer to the children.

“Mama doesn’t have any money, just come next,” Inah said softly and slowly.

I stumbled.

Am I so poor that even my children notice? Oh god! I don’t make them hungry.

“No money? It’s not in your mother’s vocabulary, she just doesn’t have any savings from Spain, but she’s rich. Come on!” The two quickly grabbed Lana’s hand which further licked me.

She was right, I didn’t have any savings when I was in Spain, I had already moved almost half of uncle’s shipment. But I have my own property that we can live in in case we don’t welcome there. All I need is a job to be content.

It was almost three o’clock in the afternoon when we decided to take the car that Mama A had sent to one of the staff at the former company we worked for. Quiet and only children talking about the plane. We adults just look around, feeling if someone wants to speak based on the exchange of looks. I was firmly grasped with my fingers when I looked at the gate, unchanged, still quiet around, I didn’t know if in the houses we were passing by they were still living.

“Here we go,” Cyron said driving.

We stopped at a large gate, a view of the interior that was more full of flowers, I noticed that it was even more beautiful with more and more flowers. Hacienda became even greener and the mansion still that way.

“Why aren’t we being opened?” Alenna asked, which I also noticed.

“That’s why. It used to open on its own,” Lana said. I took the initiative.

I picked up my cell phone and called a twin. They didn’t know we were going home.

[Veron? Hmm? How are you? Long time no call,] my twin whispered.

It looks like she just woke up.

“What the hell? Fool, let us in,” I said bravely.

The children couldn’t hear me because someone was still laughing in their ears. I heard what fell and it even devalued.

[Enter? What the hell?! Where are you?] I could already hear loud footsteps and the closing of the door.

“It’s at the gate,” I replied.

[W-Wait,] gasping for breath it says. [Lucas! Where are you?! Open the gate!] I heard it shout so I took the cell phone away.

Others laughed, especially my two children who were looking at the cell phone.

[Give him a second, I’ll take a shower. Bye!]

She finally hung up the phone. I do not avoid smiling, I thought she would preach to me.

“Aunt Zorxy? The angry bird?” Inah asked crookedly which made them laugh even more.

“Inah, when you see her don’t call your aunt an angry bird okay? Spain will bring you back, do you want that?” I’m threatening here.

Her mouth was slightly arched and she shook. “No. Auntie won’t call me an angry bird,” she nodded.

After a while, the big gate finally opened, causing Inah’s excitement to prevail. Wide smile looking around Especially on the right side where it is flat and there are trees at the end. I noticed Lana biting her finger and shaking one foot, she was used to that when she was nervous.

“Twinny! Look at me. Am I look fabulous? Is Aunt’s make-up okay?” Alenna asked the twins.

“Yes,” Van nodded.

“Yes, but I’m the one who’s more fabolous,” Inah said innocently still nodding.

Everyone just laughed, Inah just turned to where she then pointed to the first part.

“Ma! Look! Grandpa Zenos!” For some unknown reason, my body suddenly went cold.

As happy as Inah is, I am just as nervous. I could clearly see my uncle standing under a tree right near the mansion, he was only wearing a white T-shirt and simple black panjamas maybe that he often wore when he was at home he just stared at the car and seemed to be clocking us.

“Okay. We’re here. Is there still a retreat?” Cyron joked that Mama A just hit him.

“Chill okay? I’ll take care of you,” Mama A smiled.

Some time later I decided to open the door. I could feel the strong wind causing my dress to blow a little on the far side. I took a deep breath at the same time as our eyes met. How to step? He is scary. It’s like I want to step back.

“I’m free to approach, Veronika,” he said with a smile then stepped forward.

None of my own ran like a child. It was like a little Veronika Azusa who hugged her uncle tightly with a greeting. In a moment, I felt like a child.

“Welcome home, little Veronika,” he teased then pinched my nose when I got out of his arms.

“Y-You won’t drive me away?” I asked nervously as he nodded.

“No. I will never do that.” I couldn’t help but smile because the opposite of what I thought would happen today, was so different.

I noticed him looking behind me and his smile widened, his eyes narrowed then took a deep breath. “Looks like you huh. Naughty.” I was stunned by what my uncle said.

I quickly turned around and there my two children appeared before me. I just scratched my forehead when I saw Inah chasing the butterflies while Van was staring all over the place.

“No! No! No! Don’t do that, oh my god! Inah! Come here!” I call here who noticed Van.

Inah stopped running and then came up to me. “I’ll catch it, Mama, it’s just one,” she snorted.

But before I could take their hand, they quickly ran away in front of me, making me look like a fool from where I was standing. I immediately turned around and there I saw that they were close to my uncle who was slightly bent over and smiling to meet the two children.

I noticed that Lana was gone, the suitcases and whoever was going to enter the mansion, only my children and my uncle and I were outside.

“Let’s go inside,” uncle smiled holding the children.

The exterior has not been changed yet, the decoration has only increased and it looks like it is hard to water the plant because of the blooming flowers. Even though we were not at the main door, Inah and Van immediately bowed and took off their shoes.

“What are you doing?” uncle asked with a smile.

“Inah—”

“That your grandfather’s house is dirty, that we didn’t bring our broom, it’s far away, over there.” She snout.

“Mama said, take off your clothes when you enter the house,” Van added.

“It’s okay, just wear your slippers there. Oh, here,” uncle reached for a small pair of slippers similar to the slippers of others here in the mansion.

He even bought my children. Laughing, uncle turned to me and then finally went inside, just like that, big piano in the middle and pictures hanging on the walls, I didn’t notice that the children were gone. When I reached the opposite side of the stairs to the top, I immediately heard the noise of children and the noise of people I had left behind.

Instead of going up, I turned to the right, which opened up on my left, the kitchen on the right, and on the left, the large living room where everyone was. Silently watching me.

“Mama Veron is different, how is Amiga ?!” Lucas laughing cry almost unchanged.

Uncle kissed my forehead and left me standing. The others were still silent especially the women, a familiar grin I heard from behind me. Newly bathed.

“My coffee?” my twin asked the same question before I left.

“Wxpired,” I whispered then gave her a hug.

“You didn’t miss me?” I added when she broke up with me.

It passed me then went straight to the people in the living room. “Why? Do you have coffee?” its philosophizing causes others to laugh.

I’m almost done. They’re all accepted me, and smiled with me.