"ARE YOU FINALLY COMING BACK? LIKE AFTER 10 MONTHS?" Karine yelled through the phone, forcing Nat to mute his excited sister.
"Yes, my dear little sister. I didn't think you'd miss me this much?" Nat teased Karine as Jamie climbed onto Nat's lap to join the video call.
"I think you’re overestimating yourself please, I miss my little cutie patootie niece, not you..." Karine rolled her eyes before brightening up at the sight of Jamie on the screen.
"KARINE! GRANDMA!" Jamie waved excitedly upon seeing her aunt and grandma.
"Hello, my precious! Grandma can't wait to see you soon! I've missed you!" Alice waved back to Jamie.
"We'll be reaching next Monday, at noon." Nat checked their flight details.
"I'll be there to pick you guys up. No buts." Alice knew that Nat wouldn't want to trouble her but she wasn't letting them take a taxi home.
"Yes Ma'am." Nat saluted jokingly, knowing that Alice couldn't wait to see Jamie.
"Wait, you haven't told us the most important thing! Is your girlfriend coming too?" Karine took over the phone from her mother.
"Ninang is going to the US to meet tita Jill!" Jamie answered for Nat.
"Really? That's such a bummer...I thought I could meet my future sister-in-law!" Karine sighed as Nat chuckled at Karine's words.
~
"Hey, just wanted to let you know that we're heading back to Singapore next week. Sorry for informing you last minute..." Nat and Jamie were at their usual Sunday meet up with Aly.
"How long will you stay?" Aly was slightly taken aback.
"Maybe 2-3 weeks? I have some things to settle and my parents miss Jamie too. It's been 10 months since they've seen her physically." Nat was apologetic for the suddenness of the trip.
"Oh no, it's fine. We can video call when you're back there. It's been a while since I've visited Singapore too. I think I haven't been back since 4 years ago..." Aly remembered the undergraduate days she spent with Nat in Singapore.
"Things have changed since then...I may not even recognise some things when I get back!" Nat joked, eliciting a laugh from Aly too. Nat had become more comfortable with Aly and found himself slowly letting go of the anger he had towards her.
"Can I ask you for a huge favour before you go back?" Aly plucked up the courage.
"Depends on the favour?" Nat gave Aly an amused expression, not knowing what she was going to ask.
"Can Jamie and I spend a day at my place?" Aly held her breath as she anticipated Nat's reply.
"Well, I'm okay with that but you've got to ask her yourself..." Nat looked over at Jamie.
"Do you want to come over to my place and play? Just you and me?" Aly asked Jamie carefully.
"Can I, Daddy?" Jamie held onto Nat's hand.
"As long as you're okay, Daddy's okay too." Nat assured Jamie with a smile.
"How about tomorrow? Its a public holiday so she doesn't have school right?" Aly couldn't contain her excitement.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath The Surface
RomanceAika Robredo was a poster child: with a Masters from Harvard, a respectable career trajectory and dependable eldest daughter of the Robredo family. Everyone was telling Aika that all she had left to do was finding her 'dream guy' to settle down with...
