Distance

An Unexpected Turn

Faye's POV

It's been a month since she broke the promise to come back home.

Damn.

My mood shifts whenever I think about the last time we were together. Was this her plan all along? To have one final date with me before deciding to stay in the US?

How can I be so sure? Why do I feel so obsessed lately? I know her mom passed away and her dad is in a coma. She needs to stay there, but it feels like she's not returning. I only have two weeks left of my vacation, and I'm terrified that I won't be able to be with her next month once my leave ends.

Ring...

Bright calling.

"Yes, Bright?" I answered, realizing it was my sister on the other end.

"Your nephew has been diagnosed with depression, Sis. I hope you can help him. I need a favor from you, as my older sister," she said, her voice breaking.

"Hmm?" I responded.

"Can you look after him for a while? I'm going on a business trip tomorrow, and there's no one else to take care of him. I'm afraid to hire someone. Please, just for two weeks," she pleaded, and I remembered the times when our parents died.

I admit I was a bit rebellious back then. I tried asking for their help, hoping to stay with them for a few months after our parents died. She agreed, but her husband's attitude made me feel unwelcome, so I chose not to stay and avoided being a burden.

But since it's my nephew who's in trouble right now, I can't just leave him like this.

"I'll come over," I said, driving there immediately.

When I arrived at their house, my sister looked worried because Bright hadn't come out of his room since yesterday.

I knocked on his door, calling his name, but there was no response.

"When did you take him to the doctor?" I asked, realizing I hadn't heard anything from them in a while.

"Three days ago, Sis. He's been irritable like he's bipolar, and he refuses to go outside like he used to. The only silver lining is that classes ended two weeks ago, but he's been like this for the past three weeks," she said, her voice full of concern.

"Did the doctor say why he's depressed?" I asked, still standing at his door.

"Yoko broke up with him three weeks ago. I think that's when it all started," she revealed.

What? Did they break up? Why didn't I know?

"Why did they break up?" I asked, realizing it's been a week since I last heard from Yoko. At first, we talked constantly, but then she got busy with her mom's funeral and taking care of her dad. Our communication just faded away.

"Uhm, she told him she's not coming back to the Philippines. She wants to pursue her studies in the US. He said it's impossible for them to be together now, and even Marissa wouldn't let him visit," she explained, and I was shocked.

So... she lied to me?

She's not coming back.

My heart started to break as I realized how foolish I was to believe she would.

I sighed deeply and suggested my sister use the spare key to open his room door, but she told me he had taken it.

Suddenly, we heard a noise from inside the room, and panic set in. Fearing he might be attempting suicide, we had no choice but to break down the door.