My Last And My Only

Chapter 65: Under The Same Moon

The sound of the front door opening pulled Aiah away from her thoughts.

She instinctively glanced at the clock hanging above the television.

Almost seven.

Ivy was home.

A few seconds later, the familiar sound of heels echoed through the living room before the older woman appeared carrying her handbag on one shoulder. She looked exhausted, but the moment her eyes landed on Aiah, a smile immediately found its way onto her face.

"There you are."

She walked straight towards her niece and gave her a warm hug.

"I missed you."

"I've only been gone for ten days, Tita." Aiah laughed softly as she returned the embrace.

"Ten days is still ten days." Ivy pulled away and gently cupped Aiah's cheeks.

"I heard you survived your first day."

Gwen looked up from the dining table and smiled.

"She did."

"Barely." Aiah chuckled.

Ivy studied her niece for a brief moment. Aiah was smiling. But only with her lips. Her eyes... They are still carrying the sadness she had seen before Aiah left for Cebu. She knew that look. She had worn it herself years ago.

"Go wash up first." Ivy said, placing her bag on the sofa. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

The three of them moved naturally around the house, each doing their own little routine. Gwen prepared the plates while Ivy reheated the food she had cooked before leaving for work that morning.

Aiah quietly watched them from the kitchen doorway. This house had always been peaceful. No shouting. No pretending. No walking on eggshells.

Sometimes she wondered what life would've been like if she had grown up here instead. Not that she didn't like the way she grew up in Cebu. She loved it. It was perfect. But she just wondered... Would she have been less afraid? Or would she still have fallen just as deeply in love with Khae? The thought made her smile to herself. Some things probably would've happened anyway.

Dinner was unusually quiet. Not because there was tension. It was simply one of those evenings where everyone seemed tired from the day.

Halfway through the meal, Ivy casually looked at Aiah.

"So..."

Aiah looked up.

"How was school?"

"It was okay." Aiah smiled faintly.

"Just okay?" Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"I survived." Aiah nodded.

Gwen couldn't help but laugh.

"That's exactly what she told me."

Ivy smiled as well.

"Well... surviving the first day is already an achievement."

Aiah laughed softly. It felt nice. Comfortable. For a few minutes, she almost forgot everything that had happened during the past week. Almost.

Ivy noticed the way her niece would occasionally drift into silence before forcing herself back into the conversation. She knew exactly what that meant.

After dinner, Gwen volunteered to wash the dishes while Ivy prepared herself a cup of coffee. She glanced towards the living room where Aiah was absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.