Book 2: Cause All I See Is You (Jholet)

Reunion

 Ding!

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your flight attendant speaking. In just a few moments, we will begin our descent into Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines. The local time is 3:45 PM, and the current weather is partly cloudy with a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius."

The announcement came over the speakers, but Jhoanna barely noticed. Her eyes were locked on the view outside the window, staring at the clouds as the plane began its slow descent. Her headphones were snug over her ears, playing music softly, but her mind was far from it. 

The words of the flight attendant drifted by like background noise, nothing more than a faint hum beneath her thoughts.

She watched the clouds swirl and shift as they passed by the window, each one stirring up old memories. With every mile they flew closer to Manila, the more her mind filled with images of home. She hadn't been back in a while, and the thought of it brought a mix of emotions she wasn't quite ready to sort through yet.

Beside her, Francis and Jennie were sound asleep, heads resting against each other in a way that made her smile for a moment. They looked completely at peace, lost in their own worlds, while Jhoanna's mind wouldn't stop racing.

 She almost envied how easily they could sleep through it all, while her thoughts buzzed with everything she might feel when she finally touched down on familiar ground.

She leaned her head against the window, feeling the cool glass against her forehead as she stared at the city slowly coming into view below. The outline of Manila, hazy in the distance, felt both familiar and strange at the same time. Home. The word echoed in her mind, but it didn't feel like it used to. She wasn't sure if she was ready for what awaited her once the plane landed.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Jhoanna shifted in her seat, her hand lightly gripping the armrest. The clouds thinned, and soon, the sprawling city below began to reveal itself. Whether she was ready or not, she was almost home.

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The trio pushed their luggage-laden cart toward the airport entrance, where a sleek black van was waiting. A man in a crisp suit stood by the vehicle, greeting them with a polite nod before helping load their belongings into the back.

Jhoanna, wearing her oversized sunglasses, stepped aside to make a quick phone call as Francis and Jennie climbed into the van, settling into the plush seats. Once her call ended, Jhoanna slipped her phone back into her pocket and joined them inside, the cool air-conditioning offering a brief respite from the heat outside.

As she got in, she overheard Francis and Jennie chatting casually.

"We're heading to the hotel Dad arranged for us," Francis said, adjusting his seatbelt. "Then later, around 8 PM, we'll have dinner."

"Alright," Jennie replied, her eyes drifting toward Jhoanna. Something seemed off—Jhoanna had been unusually quiet during the entire trip, and it hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Boss, you okay there?" Jennie asked, her voice tinged with concern.