Maybe Next Time

Chapter 31

To all my dear readers who have made it to this chapter, thank you from the bottom of my heart! This story wouldn't have been possible without your love for our characters. This would be the last chapter before the epilogue, I want to say how much I’ve enjoyed writing Zaylee and Lachlan's story. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to our finance couple, but I hope their story has touched you as much as it has touched me. Thank you so much! 🤗

---------

I stepped out of the airport and felt the familiar warmth of the Philippines wrap around me like a long-lost friend. My heart was still racing from our last meeting, the memory of Lachlan's loving eyes and his last words were haunting me.

Hindi ko sinabi sakaniya na uuwi na ako pagka-kinabukasan kahit na dapat ay magse-stay pa ako roon ng isang linggo. Hindi kakayanin ng puso ko kung mananatili pa ako roon. Seeing that message from Jara? Hindi ko na iri-risk pa. I'm not a risk-taker type of investor kaya hindi ko rin itataya ang puso ko sa sakit kapag nakita ko silang dalawa ng bagong girlfriend niya.

I didn’t tell anyone. I just knew I needed to come home. Ang alam ng mga kaibigan ko at pamilya ko ay next week pa ako uuwi. Hindi rin naman kasi nila alam na magkikita kami ni Lachlan doon. Who would have thought na siya pala ang may-ari ng Lumiere Dynamics? What a small world indeed.

Naisipan ko munang umuwi sa bahay at hindi muna ako dumiretso sa aking condo dahil namimiss ko na ang mga kapatid ko. When I finally stepped through the door of our family house, I was greeted with their shock expressions. 

"Zaylee? Ba't ka nandito?" Mamang asked. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her hand flying to her chest as if to steady her racing heart.

"Hindi na ba ako allowed sa bahay na'to?" asking her back with my smiles. "Namimiss ko na kayo."

And with that, ay agad ako nitong niyakap. Hindi pa rin siguro siya makapaniwala na nagsayang ako ng plane ticket para lang kay Lachlan!

She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine with concern. “What happened, anak? Akala ko ba next week ka pa uuwi? Kumusta yung meeting mo?”

"Surpise! Namimiss ko lang talaga kayo. Tsaka yung meeting ko, ayos lang yun! Diyos na po ang bahala."

Mamang gently guided me to the sala, her hand still holding mine as if she couldn’t quite believe I was really there. She called out to my siblings, her voice full of excitement, telling them to come downstairs.

"Ate!" one of my sister runs to me.

"Ateeee!" pati na rin ang kapatid kong lalaki.

"Kayo ha! Pinapasakit niyo ang ulo nina Mamang at Papang. Diba I gave you a bank account where you can save your money? Sinabi ko na sa inyo na kailangan niyong mag ipon. Right?

"Yes po ate"

"Good. Magco-college na kayo. Dapat nga ay nagsisimula na kayong mag-apply ng mga requirements."

"Ate naman. Freshies pa lang ako pero gusto mo nasa adulting stage na agad ako."

"Sabagay, pero basta. You have to learn how to handle your finances. Mahirap na."

Mamang gave me a knowing smile as she gently pushed me toward the stairs. “Huwag niyo nang istorbohin ang ate niyo. At ikaw naman, umakyat ka na muna sa kwarto mo. I’ll prepare the food. Alam kong pagod ka sa byahe.”

Agad akong tumango. Once I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. I grabbed my phone and quickly set up a video call with Naina and Joyce. Kailangan ko silang makausap!

It didn’t take long for their faces to appear on the screen, both of them looking as shocked and excited as I felt.

“Ba't ka napatawag? T-teka, nasa Pilipinas ka? Akala ko ba may meeting ka sa New Zealand? Umuwi na kayo ni Matthias?!” Naina exclaimed, her eyes wide.