Love's Unexpected Path. | MIKHAIAH | AM SERIES 01

CHAPTER 16

'

When I arrived at the airport, I knew no one would be there to pick me up. Both of my aunts had shifts at the hospital—one is a nurse, and the other is a surgeon.

Their kids are still very young, and both of them are single mothers now, having separated from their husbands.

Sabi nila dati ay si mommy daw ang pinaka swerte sakanilang tatlo. Pero ngayon duda na ko.

HAHAHHAHA, kasi parang hindi naman.

As I stood there alone, a wave of reality hit me.

I was truly on my own now, stepping into a world that felt foreign, but one I had to navigate regardless.

I couldn’t help but think about how life turned out for my aunts, strong women who had endured so much. Yet here I was, following a path I wasn’t entirely sure of, but one I knew I had to take it.

~

“Oh my God, Rajiah?!” Tita Marta exclaimed as soon as she opened the gate, quickly pulling me into a tight hug.

“Hey, Mom! I’m going to be late for school—” a young voice interrupted.

“Who’s that, Mommy?” a curious seven-year-old girl asked, peeking from behind Tita Marta. I glanced over at her.

“These are your cousins, Ayiah,” Tita Marta continued, her voice breaking with emotion. “This is Josh, my eldest, and his sister, Brianna.”

I smiled at them warmly. “Hi, guys,” I greeted, trying to be friendly, but they didn’t seem to react much. Their expressions remained unchanged, and an awkward silence followed.

Just then, another voice broke through. “Tita, I really need to go—hey, what's up!” It was a fifteen-year-old boy, and when I smiled at him, to my relief, he smiled back.

“And this is Juan,” Tita Marta introduced proudly. “Juan is the eldest of Liza’s kids, the one we’ve been telling you about. He’s 15. Next to him is Jose, who’s 12, and then the twins, Jiame and Jimenez, they’re 8.”

We exchanged quick greetings before Tita Marta ushered them all into the van.

“Where’s Tita Liza?” I asked. Pag katapos ay inabot sakin ni tita ang key ng bahay.

“She’s still at work, but she’ll be home later to pick up your cousins,” Tita Marta explained. “For now, just relax and rest. We’ll talk about your mental health later, okay?”

There was something in her tone, a tenderness, a concern that I hadn’t felt in so long. It touched something deep inside me. I smiled, genuinely this time, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

“Thank you, Tita—”

Before I could finish, she leaned in and kissed my forehead, giving me a soft wave goodbye as she got into the car.

And just like that, they were gone. I stood there for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions, before grabbing my suitcases and bringing them inside.

Their house was huge, three floors of modern design with sleek furniture that looked brand new. Everything was pristine, carefully decorated, like it belonged in a magazine.

I locked the door behind me and sank onto the couch in the living room, letting out a long breath.

Exhaustion washed over me, but I didn’t want to go upstairs without Tita’s permission first.

Instead, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to rest, if only for a moment, trying to feel a little bit of peace in this unfamiliar place.

'
Kinagabihan ay nagising ako sa tawag ni tita Liza.