After Daylight

6. When Yllak Met His Future Trouble

YLLAK

"Are you sure you don't need my help?" I asked the woman who was sitting down on my bed. She was still wearing my shirt and boxers. My love bites from four days ago was still visible on her neck and thighs.

She shook her head. "No Yllak. I can handle it myself. Just be on your way," She replied, giving me a faint smile. "Tell Celestine I said hi." She added

I looked at her. I looked at Reika then shook my head and left my room, pulling my suitcase and my duffel bag with me. Gone was the woman I used to love. I really thought that we'd end up together. I accepted her as she is. I didn't give a damn if I wasn't her first in everything. The only thing I wanted was to be her last.

I took care of her despite of how busy I was with my studies and part time jobs. I gave her a home. I helped her getting the job she always wanted. We celebrated every occasion together. I even did not go home last Christmas and new year because she asked me if we could spend it together.

My younger sister Celestine was the only person in the world who knew about us. Our relationship was a secret because it was how she wanted it. I have always told her I wanted to tell my parents about our relationship but she always told me to wait. Yun pala, umaasa siya na babalik si Alexander sa kanya. How foolish of me to believe she loved me in the span of two years we have been together.

How foolish of you, Ferdinand Yllak.

"Where's ate Reika?" Celestine asked me when we met in the airport. I saw a young version of mama there for a second. She really does look like mama except for the nose. She got it from dad.

"She said hi." I told her.

We started walking.

"Akala ko ba she will finally come home with you and you will introduce her as your girlfriend?" She asked curiously.

I shook my head. "No Celestine. We have broken up last night."

My sister stopped walking. She looked at me and I feel like I am looking at our mama's eyes at the same time. "Tangina niya." She mumbled.

I just laughed. "It's okay Celestine. It just means were not meant to be together." I told her.

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Mama was all smiles when she saw us exiting the airport. It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when my sister and I arrived in Manila.

She hugged Celestine first before hugging me. I hugged her back and kissed her cheeks. Mama was still pretty despite her age, In my head, she was still that woman who always took me around whenever she has work with tita Spencer.

And in this world, there is only one woman who will never break my heart and that is my mama.

"I missed you panganay ko." She mumbled.

I just smiled. In my head, ate Iris would still be the panganay of this family. We went out the airport after the hugging and kissing. Our family driver was waiting outside. He greeted me, welcoming me and my sister back home and took our luggage. I opened the car door for mama and Celestine then closed it before heading to the passenger's seat.

Nakita ko si Celestine na siniksik ang sarili kay mama. It made me smile. The driver started the engine so I relaxed myself in my seat when my foot kicked something on the floor.

"What's this?" I asked mama after picking up some bundle of papers on the floor which I picked.

She looked at me and laughed. "Some love letters given to KM. Naiwan niya ata."

"Ang taray ng bunso. May manliligaw." Celestine commented.

I raised a brow. I know KM looked like dad when he was younger. Didn't expect he was that handsome. I took one of the letters. I'm sure KM wouldn't mind if I read some.

KM,

May entrance exam ba kapag mag-aapply ako bilang girlfriend mo?

Maghihintay sa iyong sagot,

Cisa

I scoffed a laugh, shaking my head. Amused, I opened another letter.

Carl Alexsander Marks Orpilya Markos,

I loves you very much. My hart bits for you and only you. Notis me.

Loved,

Gianna

I tossed the bundle of letters from where I picked it up.

Kids.

I glanced at mama and my sister by the rear view mirror. Tinulugan na nila ang traffic sa EDSA. I stared outside the window, watching the traffic. I guess I really am back at home.

My gazed turned at a billboard near the Coke advertisement. There was a woman with piercing brown eyes and curly long hair. She has freckles across her nose and cheeks. She had a fierce look. I think she is endorsing a skin care brand for morena's. The car moved before I could even read her name on the billboard.

The first thing I did as soon as I got home was to visit the flower garden of ate Iris and Nikolai. I sighed. He would have turned seven by now if he lived.

I guess KM did his responsibilities in taking care of the flower garden. I sat down on the grass, crossing my legs.

"Hey ate, Nikolai. I'm home." I started my usual routine ever since I was a kid.

"You must have seen me that day Reika broke up with me on our second year anniversary," I scoffed a laugh. "I did everything but I guess, it's still Alexander and will always be Alexander."

The magazine in the corner caught my attention while I was talking. It was The Gist. I remember mama reading it in our library when I was ten. There was a smile on her face while she was reading it that day.

I asked her why she was smiling and she answered me with. "I just remember when your dad and I were young, in love and jealous over a lot of things." I didn't gave it a thought because I was only ten.

I opened the magazine to the page which was folded.

As I am writing this, I realized that one great love exists because they don't end up together in reality. So I don't want you to be my one great love. I want you to be my unconditional love. What about you Sandro?

I closed the magazine, thinking if I was meant to read it at this moment. I have always thought Reika is my one great love ever since I realized I love her.

"Kuya Yllak!" KM's baritone voice interrupted me from my thoughts.

I stood up. Pinagpagan ko ang sarili ko bago salubungin ang kapatid ko. KM ran to me and hugged me. I hugged him back and messed with his hair.

"How are you?" I asked him.

"Gwapo pa rin." He joked.

I laughed. "Mas gwapo ako sayo."

He ignored me. "Have you heard when ate Naomi is coming home?" He asked.

"Next week ata. Why?"

"I heard we have a family photo shoot and interview for tita Dani's network." He replied.

I only looked at him. The only memory I have in the Valiente Corporation is when I was seven. Mama had a guest appearance in a tv show. I was left in the playroom for kids and I met a girl with a curly hair. I even told her her hair looks like noodles. She cried. Anyway, she had a mole on the side of her left eye. I'm not sure but I think she told me her name was Ara. 
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Mwe