Secrets of the Pineda

1: The start

Venice pov

"Why do you really need to go back to philippines? Pumupunta naman tayo dun if we want too. Why will you stay there for years? Our teams are okay here. You have good grades naman. You're the team captain pa nga. Everything's fine, everything's perfect. So I don't get it why do you need to go? Really, it's not a big deal. Right?"

I just kept on smiling while looking at my bestfriend/cousin Alexa. She can't stop talking while pacing back and forth in front of me here at the airport.

Kagabi ko Lang kasi sinabi sakanya na sa pinas na ako mag aaral for college. Matagal ko ng pinapakiusapan ang mama ko na mag punta ako doon but she didn't want me too. Pero nagulat ako ng ibigay sa akin nila uncle last week ang plane ticket ko papuntang pilipinas. One way trip. They told me if this is what I really want then they will allow me. It's been years since I told them about this. Ilang beses akong nakiusap but they hardly disagree.

"Do you really need to do this? Is it worth it? You're happy here. Are you happy here? Why do you need to find him? Ugh! Hindi ko talaga maintindihan!"

I sighed . Yeah. That's my question too. Why do I need to find him? In the first place, he left me. And he didn't bother to find me or look for me.

I don't really know why. But I have this urge to find him. I don't want to regret everything.

My life is not perfect. Yes, I have tons of friends. Real and not. But they made me happy everytime.

I have a complete and happy family. I'm the only child and my family loves me alot. They're perfect, they wants all the best for me. They're willing to give everything to me just to make me happy. And I love them so much more.

I have a good records at our school. Calisweez Academy. One of the top college in US. I'm a team captain of women's volleyball team and a gold medalist in archery. I always got A+, I'm good at sports, musics and arts.

I thought I have everything. I thought my life is complete and happy. And I thought I couldn't ask for more. But I was wrong. Because deep inside. There is something lost. And I need to find it, to find him. Because I can't really be happy, completely wholeheartedly happy.

"You know what alex, no matter what you say. I still need to go. And no one can stop me." She stop and look intently in my eyes and when she saw seriousness on it. She just frowned. Kaya lumapit na ako sakanya at hinawakan ko siya sa balikat.

"Hey, you remember when we are in the middle school? I kept on asking who am I? Why I don't have a complete family? Why am I different with others? I had a lot of questions while growing up, lex. And this time I don't want to add another questions knowing that no one can answer it but only him. Gusto kong mabuhay ng walang tanong sa Kung sino ang totoong ako. I want to live a life na mararamdaman kong kumpleto na ang pagkatao ko. Of all people, ikaw ang taong dapat makakaintindi sa akin dahil ikaw ang kasama kong lumaki. So please, just support me." Nakita ko ang pamamasa ng mga mata niya. I smiled slightly. Alexa will always be the crying baby and I'm like the mother hen.

"But that's 2 years, baby girl. 2 fucking years!" I want to cry with her too but I stopped myself. 2 years! I sighed heavily. I will miss those endearment. It makes my heart soft everytime.

I hugged her tight and I heard her crying. I smiled at her and kiss her on her cheeks. I can't blame her for whining with the 2 years I'll be gone. Sabay na kaming lumaki and we never leave each other's side since then. Isang araw or Hindi pa nga ata aabot ng isang araw ang pinakatagal na naming Hindi pag kikita. So 2 years will be hard for the both of us. And for my mom.

"Madali Lang yung 2 years. I will call you. We can have skype, you know. Don't let the squad skip practice. Always do the routines, okay?" She nodded and kiss my cheeks too.