My Last And My Only

Chapter 97: Where To Tomorrow?

By the time Khae pulled into her driveway, the warmth of the evening still lingered.

She turned off the engine and sat there for a moment.

A smile found its way onto her face almost immediately.

It had been... a good day.

Better than good.

Seeing Aiah laugh with Chico.

Watching Chico fit in so naturally.

Watching Aiah realize that the people she loved could exist in the same space without anything feeling forced.

Khae rested her forehead briefly against the steering wheel.

"...Home."

She whispered the word to herself before getting out of the car.

Meanwhile...

Back at Gwen's house.

The living room looked considerably messier than it had a few hours ago.

The pasalubong still occupied half the coffee table.

Boxes of rosquillos.

Packets of dried mangoes.

Homemade cookies Lou had sent.

The handwritten letter Aiah had already tucked safely into her journal upstairs.

Chico emerged from the guest room carrying a neatly folded hoodie.

"So..."

He looked around.

"Where do I put this?"

Gwen looked up from the couch.

"You've been here for three hours."

"And?"

"You're already asking where things belong."

"I'm trying to be a good houseguest."

"I respect that."

She pointed toward a nearby chair.

"Temporary chair."

"Ah."

"The chair where random things become permanent."

"I know that chair."

"We all have that chair."

Aiah laughed quietly as she returned from the kitchen carrying three mugs of hot chocolate.

"Tita Ivy?"

"Still working."

"Again?"

Gwen nodded.

"She said not to wait up."

Aiah placed one mug in front of Chico.

"Thanks."

"I figured airplane fatigue plus Gwen equals hot chocolate."

"...Fair."

Just as everyone settled onto the couch—

Gwen's phone rang.

The familiar ringtone echoed through the living room.

She looked at the screen.

Walo Hanggang Dulo 🩵

"Oh no."