I can't say I do without you

Home

The vehicle has come to a standstill. Through the window, I could see my older brother Samuel standing outside the house. Mr. Osiris helped me by opening the door. I was taken aback when Osiris lowered his head to me before handing me the luggage. "Mr. Osiris, no, please," I said as I raised his head. "Do not bow to me; I am not a member of the royal family, and I am nothing."

Mr. Osiris placed his hand on my head. "Be careful, Gemma."

I nodded. "You, too, Mr. Osiris," I said as I walked away from Mr. Osiris, toward Kuya Samuel, who had a cigarette stuck between his fingers, smoking and ready to run out. "When did you start smoking?"

He tossed aside the cigarette, nearly recoiling in astonishment at seeing me. "Y- you're here," Kuya Samuel said, surprised.

"Yeah, I'm here," I said, pausing. "Aren't you going to embrace your beloved sister?"

Kuya Samuel grinned, grabbed me, and gave me a firm embrace. A hearty hug that made me feel better. "It seems like a reunion after a long time."

"You have no idea how much I missed this sensation; I had hoped for a long time to be able to embrace my older brother again, who still thinks of me as a baby despite the fact that I am no longer a child."

"Because you are, baby."

"By the way, brother," I said as I slipped out of his hug. "Smoking is harmful to the human body."

"I'm doing this to relieve stress."

I lifted my index finger as the others folded, waving it in front of his face. "Nope, unhealthy habit," I said as I walked inside, while my older brother begged me to let him smoke at least once a day, but I refused. I don't want him to develop a bad habit that will harm his health. "No, means no."

As I walked in, Allerick and Blythe were chasing each other around the house. They came to a halt when they saw me and began sprinting towards me while yelling my name.

"Mama, ate Gemma is here!" Allerick said. "Your school activity has ended; are you staying? Will you be returning?"

I knelt a little and uttered the words "I'm staying" before kissing his forehead. While Allerick leaped with pleasure, Blythe just listened to what we were saying. I held Blythe's head in my arms and embraced it.

Allerick peered behind me as if expecting to find someone. "I thought papa was with you," Allerick barely whispers, his eyes longing for someone. The vow I made to them flashed before my eyes. Unfortunately, my plan did not work out when I went to the palace; I left before it was done, so how can I tell them that Dad cannot yet return home?

"Gemma!" Mama rushes over to me, her arms wrapped over my head. She didn't say anything, but she clung to me as if she didn't want to let go.

"Mama, I can't breathe, y- you're squeezing me so tight."

I could hear them laughing as I spoke those words.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Mama fixed my hair, which she had destroyed. "I'm just delighted you arrived home; how are you? Have you had any scars?" She examined my face and entire body to ensure I didn't have any scars.

"Mama, you're overreacting; Gemma didn't go to war," Kuya joked.

Mama's eyes were drawn to Kuya Samuel. "You can't blame me if I'm overreacting; it's as if Gemma has already jumped into the conflict where she has gone."

"Okay, okay." Kuya Samuel couldn't even fight with Mama, so he didn't show any second emotion.

"Wait, did you eat?" Mama asked.