Stained Recovery

Vacation Part 2 || Chapter 22

The streets of Manila were congested with vehicles. It was a beautiful place but it seems overpopulated to me.

We were headed to Leona's ancestral home here. Cleo mentioned that she was so excited, she even cancelled her trip with Gilbert — and going straight to Manila after watching my last show.

Cleo's mother was so welcoming, I even asked my girlfriend if she was being for real or was just trying to please her daughter.

From the stories Jas and Cleo told me when she met Naomi, she was not really fond of the girl.

"This place is giving me Bangkok vibes, Cleo. But it's like much warmer here." I heard Doug say from the back of the van.

We looked like a bunch of tourists packed inside a coaster van, provided by Leona. Cleo sat beside me quietly — she looked really distracted, and it was like she didn't hear Doug at all.

My eyebrows knitted deeply — what's wrong with my baby? She was like this since she talked to Ray before we left the airport.

"Baby, what's wrong — are you okay?" I asked gently. I squeezed her hand before she gave her attention back to me.

She looked confused for a second before covering it up and smiling at me. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I was just tired, I spaced out."

Yeah, I doubt that... but I didn't wanna push her to tell me if she wasn't ready.

"You know you can tell me anything right?" I told her. Cleo's eyes were cold and steely a few seconds ago — but as she looked at me, it softened and I could see a bit of smile in them.

She just nodded and kissed my forehead. "Yeah, I know... um, we're going to my old apartment first. I have to get something."

Cleo was acting a little off — she was quieter than normal.

"Ari! Do you have your sunscreen in your bag?" Doug hollered from behind us. We were seated on the front row so I had to crane my neck to give him the tube.

We were like a bunch of kids with the noise they were making. But even with the noise, I couldn't help my eyes from closing — I've been a little tired from out flight... maybe it wouldn't be so bad to snooze a little.

I laid my head onto Cleo's shoulder and her hand automatically held my head to support it from falling. Her warmth and scent relaxed me in an instant, helping me drift into a peaceful slumber.

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"Ari, hey — girl..." I could feel the gentle tapping on my shoulder as I woke.

My eyes adjusted to the light and after being slightly confused for a second, I remembered that I fell asleep on Cleo earlier. The only difference was I had my head against her shoulders but right now, I was lying down the car seat.

"Hey, sorry, I must've slept through. Where's Cleo?" I immediately wondered where my girlfriend was.

Courtney scratched her nose, her dead giveaway when she's getting antsy and uncomfortable.

"Yeah, she's been out for about 30 mins now. She just said she needed to get something from her old apartment. We're parked near the building — I want to get some food!" She hissed, looking irritated.

I glanced at Jasmine who was pensively looking outside from the window. She had a deep frown on her face, making me wonder what she was thinking about.

"Jas, can we get some food here?" I asked, startling her a little. Why was she jumpy?

"Oh, um... we can ask one of Cleo's men. Hold on, what do you want?" She said.