A Trip Down Memory Lane

Chapter Seventeen: Good News? Sad News?

A/N: Konting-konti na lang, tatagalugin ko na ito. Ubos na ung naipon kong English! Hahaha. Just kidding. Enjoy. :)

POV: ZIEG

Uncle Nikolai and I went to the nearby court to play basketball. Actually, we didn't plan this. I was in my deep sleep this morning when he woke me up and invited me to play because he wants to become physically fit again after weeks of no exercise because of his work.

After three hours of playing, we went home. When we arrived there, we ate breakfast altogether. But, there is something different with Nika. She is acting strangely. It feels like she's avoiding me - wait, Uncle Nikolai too?

After our breakfast, I volunteered to wash the dishes. Nika went upstairs; Uncle opened the TV in the living room while Luanne and Zoe were gone. They probably watch Luanne's favorite anime, 'Long Live!', in their desktop computer. Suzy, on the other hand, is so generous to give me a helping hand. So, I grabbed this opportunity to ask her what happened to Nika, "What's up with her?"

"I think she is jelly."

"Whaaat? To whom?

"Who else? To you and to Uncle."

"The F? Why?"

"I think she is jealous to the fact that you got more Uncle's attention than to her since he got here."

Why is she thinking like that?

After I analyzed and reflect what is going on to her, I came up with my own theory. Since she's the only child, she's used to having the full attention of her parents. And I think she treated me as a threat to Uncle's attention.

Therefore, I decided to solve this conflict once and for all. I'm unaccustomed to have someone mad at me or anything. And here I am, knocking to her door.

"Nika, can we talk?"

She shouted from the other side of their room's door, "About what?"

"Ugh... Assignments??" I lied, terribly.

"Okay. Come in."

I saw her just got seated from their bed, cross-legged with a pillow on her legs. I sat down beside her.

"Actually, I lied. Ughm.. Do we have a problem?"

"Huh?"

"I heard from Suzy the reason why you were pissed earlier."

"Oh great, my talkative cousin strikes again."

"I'm so sorry if you feel that way. And since Aunt Susan and Uncle John will come back later, we will be back to our house with Zoe. Is it a good news right? You and Uncle Nikolai will have more time together.

"But let me tell you this," I continued. "I have no intention to steal the attention of him to you. It's just there are things that we can talk about."

"Like what?" she asked.

I paused for a while, "Like... like sports! We both love sports and other boys stuff. Since we are the only men here, we got along immediately because we shared common interests."

"I see."

"Are we cool now?"

"For now, yes."

"Hey, what's with that?"

"Ah, nothing."

"Psh. Drama Queen."

POV: Annika

Geez, I am ashamed to myself. I overreacted.

So now, I'm with Dad and we're on our way to Pyxis City to have a good time together. I really missed this kind of bonding of us since I got here.

I admit that I'm a daddy's girl so Dad just lets me do what I want such us buying new dresses. We also bought things for the rest of our fam back to Celestia. Moreover, we watched a movie together too! It's really fun!

It doesn't stop there. We also went to this city's Central Park to relax for a moment and enjoy the ambiance.

I saw kids playing in front of us, and I remembered what I used to do as a kid. Like them, I love to play outside especially in the playgrounds. As far as I recall, I had a playmate when I was in primary school but I don't remember her name. And I also remember that tragic accident. I wonder how's that boy now? He saved me two times that day from death. Since the last attack of my PTSD, the images from that incident are slowly to become clear to me. I was in the path of being direct-hit of that truck but at the very last moment, he was able to push me away. The latest images that I recalled is that after the accident, I saw many bodies lying and some of them were struggling to get up. I tried to find him and finally I saw him many meters away from where I am, lying on the ground, covered by blood.

From that very moment of recollection of thoughts, I am now eager to know some lost memories of my past. I hope I will be able to find answers now that I'm back here.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

When on our way home, Dad was driving while I'm scrolling my smartphone. That's the moment when I heard the news...

"Nika?" Dad asked while driving. Had a quick glance at me and then back to the road.

"Hmm?"

"I have good news and a bad news as well. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Geez, why is Dad's mood changed? Is there something wrong? Can we disregard the bad news?

"Bad news first... I guess." I hesitated at first because I don't really want to hear it.

"Okay. I'll say the good news first."

"What's the point of asking then?"

"Haha. Why so serious?" he asked while laughing. "I just promoted as an EXECUTIVE OFFICER. I finally did it Annika!"

"Eh? For real? Really? Really?" Woah, I'm happy for dad! Due to my excitement, I didn't notice that I am pushing him back-and-forth in the driver's seat.

"Yea, yea. Chill Nika. I'm driving."

"Ah, Sorry." I tried to calm myself. "I'm so happy for you dad!"

"But...." He paused for a while. There was an awkward silence. I guess I have no choice to hear this bad news. "I was assigned to Japan. So for months, or even a year, I will not be seeing you."

I know how Dad pushed himself too hard to get that position therefore, I will not be a hindrance to it. But the fact that I'm not gonna see him for years? I'm not prepared for that.

It's been only two months that I didn't see him that made me missed him so much. So much more for years? It's beyond my imagination.

Tears are now falling, "Aw, Dad. I'll go with you then."

"Dear, I really want too but it's a long process. I promise you. If everything is okay, I'll get you as soon as possible."

"O-okay Dad." I paused and took a deep breath. "I'm gonna miss you so much." I hugged him from his seat.

He reached me by his right hand and then kissed my head. "I'm gonna miss you too dear. But I know, you're gonna be okay here knowing that there are so many nice people around you. Everything will be fine."

A/N: Thoughts?