Tulip's Destiny

XXIV - A Promise Kept

And even to this day, I still struggle to believe there was a time, a part of life when I hadn't met you at all. A time before you. It feels wrong even thinking of it. It always seems to me I've known you for all eternity.

When she finished, they were already seated on the dining table outside.

"Raine!" Mikhail waved, walking up towards her to give her a hand. "Come, come."

She sat down beside Mikhail with a faint smile, before turning to look at everyone. "Good morning Ma, Pa. Wow! Pandesal!"

"It's hot and fresh!" Mama announced, slicing her a piece.

"Mikhail and Manuel helped kneading the dough with Mama." Papa added proudly.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!" Khalil smiled, extending her the cheese and eggs.

"Woah..." Raine chuckled. "Thanks for the breakfast."

"Oh, by the way we need to leave by lunch." Khalil said, looking over at Raine, who sat further on the other side of the table.

"What?" She asked, having been zoned out. "Ah, I see..."

"You're leaving so soon!" Mama said, scraping a fork against the plate. "You've just arrived. Why the rush, honey?"

"Hindi man lang makakapag-harana si Mikhail sa iyo mamayang gabi." Papa lowered his voice, turning to whisper to himself.

"What?!" Raine choked. "What do you mean, harana?"

Mikhail widened his eyes, biting his lower lip nervously turned his gaze down in salvation. "Nothing!" Papa uttered, giving them a tight-lipped smile.

"Okay..." Mama raised an eyebrow before looking back at Raine. "Can't you stay any longer?"

"Mama naman eh!" She groaned. "We really can't. BUT! We promise to come back!"

"Promise?" Mama and Papa asked in harmony.

"Promise." Khalil replied, raising her pinkie finger up.

"We are sure to come back!" Manuel mumbled from a full mouth.

"Manuel!" Mikhail chuckled, stabbing a sausage on his plate.

Soon enough, Raine's phone began buzzing from her pocket and quickly excused herself. Upon seeing that the caller was unknown, she felt sick to her stomach. An unknown feeling yet so familiar, crept at her cold shoulders.

"Hello?" Raine whispered, raising the phone to her ear. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

The feeling became heavier and heavier with each passing second of silence on the other line except a distinct pattern of breaths. "I'm hanging up."

"Don't"

In panic and shock, Raine instantly dropped the call, blocking the number.
She looked back at them laughing and smiling. Raine pinched the bridge of her nose, deciding to brush off the call and finish breakfast.

"What was that?" Mama asked, caressing her back as she sat back down.

"Just a wrong number." She replied and thought to herself. "Just. A. Wrong. Number."

It wasn't long when they had left for Sabang Beach and began taking pictures to put in a portfolio for the project. Raine on the other side was constantly bothered by something else.