Chapter 12 Chapter 12
Aurora was surprised by the young man's action, so she couldn't react immediately due to shock. She felt the tension from the surprise. "Wow, you're really something! A simple kiss on the cheek almost made me squeal with excitement!"
The other part of her mind seemed to tease her. She went back to the kitchen after composing herself. "Senorita, belated happy birthday," the old woman greeted her warmly.
Aurora smiled and hugged her. The old woman hadn't forgotten. She had become like a second mother to her after her mom passed away. "Thank you, Nanay Maring."
She kissed the old woman's cheek. "Let me help you." She took the meat to be cooked. As they cooked, they chatted and shared stories.
She learned that everyone hadn't stopped looking for her. She was lucky to have her dad, even though they weren't related by blood, because he loved and valued her.
After they finished cooking, she tidied herself up and helped the housemaids get dressed. A few hours later, the men started arriving. When they were all seated at the table, she called out to the housemaids.
"Let's all eat," she said with a smile.
"Ma'am?" they replied in unison.
"Please, sit down. I made sure there's enough food for everyone so we can eat together. It's like a celebration for my birthday and a thank you for your kindness to our family. And doc bought cake, too."
She looked at Fiel. "Alright, Maring, let's all sit down and eat together," her dad added.
"Okay, senior. Thank you."
They enjoyed their meal while chatting. They discussed the people who had broken into their house. She could still see the tension in the housemaids' eyes as they recalled the incident.
"I didn't think we'd make it," Yaya Maring said, her voice shaking.
"People can be so cruel these days. They're willing to kill for money," her dad added.
"How did I end up with you, doc?" she asked the doctor.
"We just happened to be passing by and heard someone screaming."
"We immediately called the police, and luckily, some officers happened to be in the area. We told them what happened. Thankfully, they were able to rescue you quickly," Thor added.
"Were all the intruders caught, Dad?"
"No, one of them escaped. But don't worry, I've assigned police officers to guard us and make sure we're safe. I don't want anything like that to happen again. I don't want anyone to get hurt," her dad replied.
"Don't worry, we'll help with the guarding, especially now," Leron said.
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"There's a report that someone is watching your compound, but there's no confirmation yet. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry," Thor explained. "So don't worry, Aurora. You'll sleep soundly even in the middle of the night."
Gray smiled when he said this. "That's why I had them stay here because I trust them, hija."
The truth was, she wasn't scared. She'd draw strength from the people she loved to protect them.
She's not a piece of breakable doll. The old Aurora who was once afraid and weak was gone. Her problem now was how to tell her father the truth. She hoped he wouldn't be scared of her.
She held onto the fact that he loved her. She didn't have to tell her father the truth, but she loved him, so she didn't want to lie to him. She'd also bring her father to the mountain of wolves to make her feel secure while searching for the General's grandchild.
There was no guarantee she'd find the General's grandchild. There was no clue. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was tough, but she had to take the risk.
She remembered Ryuk's words. Right! They were destined to meet again. That meant she'd already met the person she was looking for. Who that person was remained a big puzzle for her.
She wouldn't give up because many of her kind could be sacrificed if she failed in her mission. She wanted to be with her parents. They'd done everything to protect her, so she'd do the same.
Moragana had taken a lot from her, so she couldn't forgive her. "Are you okay, hija? You've been quiet for a while. Don't think about what we discussed. You shouldn't worry about those things," her dad said, breaking into her thoughts.
"You're just upset because you didn't get any gifts, huh. Oh, here's my gift for you." She turned to Gray because of what he said. The young man handed her a small box.
"Oh, Gray! Thank you," she said, kissing his cheek.
They smiled when Fiel cleared his throat.
"Aurora, do you hear anything?" Gray asked playfully, wanting to tease his friend.
"No, why? Do you guys hear anything?"
"Maybe it's just a dog with a sore throat." Leron and Thor laughed almost simultaneously at Gray's response.
Don Rodrigo and the others smiled at their playful teasing. "I've already made up my mind. I was going to give you something else, but I made up my mind." Fiel smile mischievously.
"You're cheating. We're just kidding, you know."
"I'm just kidding too. Happy birthday, Aurora." He handed her a red velvet box. The other two also gave her their gifts.
"Oh, thank you, guys." She stood up to approach the three and kissed their cheeks. "You're so funny, you're so cold." Aurora laughed at her own joke.
"You're the one who's funny," Gray replied with a smile, poking her nose lightly.
"Please forgive us for our gift, senorita. This is all we could afford," Grace said, handing her a not-so-large teddy bear.
"This is our gift to you," she added shyly. Aurora hugged them, tears in her eyes. She's really lucky to have people like them. She hugged her dad tight.
"Dad, thank you for everything, for the boundless love. I know how much you and mommy love me. I'm so lucky to have you always." She turned to everyone.
"And to all of you, and my new friends. Thank you for showing us care." She held her breath. "Dad, let me seize this moment to say thank you for all you've done for me. I wouldn't be where I am today without your support and guidance. You and mommy were my feet when I couldn't walk. Every time I woke up in the middle of the night because of bad dreams, you were always there for me. No words can express how happy I am to have you as my parents. I wouldn't be complete without you by my side. I love you, Dad." Her father hugged her, tears streaming down his face.
She couldn't hold back her tears either, tears of joy.