Whispers of Hope ✓

CHAPTER 21

ISHITA'S POV

"Are you sure about this Ish?"

"I—no Auntie, honestly."

I answered as Mrs. Santos came close patting my hands firmly. After talking to Joshua, we literally went directly to their house. I talked with everyone there as they welcomed me warmly as usual especially Layad who was both surprised and glad to have me there with them all of a sudden. But then I insisted to come back home to the massage center. I felt the need to talk this out with Mrs. Santos. At the very least, she's still the closest mother figure to me, aside from ma'am Isabella.

"I understand. But what will you do now especially that you already agreed with Mr. Isabella?"

"I—I don't know Auntie. For now, I will have to trust on my intuition and maybe trust Joshua with everything."

After talking with Auntie, it was already 9pm and as I entered my room, my phone suddenly rang. I looked at the caller ID and it was Joshua. I furrowed my brows slightly as I wondered why he called. We clearly talked that I will be sleeping here in the massage center and will just have to drive early to their house tomorrow.

"Yes, hello?"

Without more thoughts, I answered and I was welcomed with Layad's squeals. I raised a brow and looked back at my phone screen and it was Joshua's number clearly.

"Layad, I told you not to disturb your Ate Ish! She needs to rest for our trip tomorrow—"

"Tito Joshy! Ate Ish is mine, why do you have to take her away from me!"

I then giggled upon hearing the uncle and nephew pair fighting over naïve things on the other line.

"Ate Ish! Why did you go home? Can you not come back and play with me here?"

"Layad! She cannot play with you. She needs to rest—"

"Shhh Tito Joshy, I'm talking to Ate Ish, not you. Go away Tito."

Again, I was left laughing at the two fighting on the other line.

"Tito Joshy is right Layad. We will be having a good long trip by tomorrow so I need to earn lot of energy for me to be strong within the flight. I'm sorry for now okay sweetie. I will play with you some other time."

I heard Layad's soft snort.

"Then can you not just come sleep with me. My mama says she will stay up all night with Lola (grandma) Isabella to make food for you two to take in India. So I don't have anyone to sleep with. Can you not come Ate Ish? Hm? Please?"

I contemplated for minutes and finally agreed. I heard Layad squeal from the other line as I hear Joshua's almost tired sigh seemingly cannot do anything with his nephew's stubbornness. I only giggled and disconnected the call. I then went directly downstairs and talked to Mrs. Santos once more and explained everything. She warmly agrees and gave me one more tight hug telling me her goodbyes and good lucks. While waiting for Joshua, Auntie resumed to give me words of advices and I couldn't help but feel nervous of the thought leaving her again and even the Philippines. Tho it might not take long but the thought that it's India I'm about to go to back to the place of my nightmares; where everything started and seemed to never end.

"Ish dear, please be strong and if anything happens, I'm always one call away. Remember that you can't trust anyone there but yourself. If by little chance in your heart you came to trust Mr. Isabella now, lean on him and be shameless enough to ask him for help. It's okay to be shameless; it's okay to be weak in front of him if it's the only way you can relieve your fears. Okay Ish?"

I nodded aggressively as I sobbed on her shoulders. We stayed like that for moments and Joshua's car was then heard parking outside. I said one last goodbye to Mrs. Santos and walked out the premises of the massage center. Joshua welcomed me sitting on his car front as he smiles to me opening the passenger door.