A Second Chance

Part 13 - Souvenirs and Trip

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'Me?' Charmaine almost choked the food inside her mouth. 'Ma perché propio a me (but why me), Nonna? She asked her Nonne

'Because you are the fluent tagalog speaking among them' Granny Tin said pointing at her siblings. 'You will be a great help to Paolo. And besides we will also be there so nobody will be here with you, inteso (understand) bella?'

'Si, Nonna Tin..' she said nodding

'Va bene, finiamo la nostra colazione (ok, let's finish our breakfast) and we will continue the talk after' Nonna Tini said clapping her hands.

After their meal, the girls, Niki and Coleen went to Charmaine's room.

'Sorellina, come stai? (Little sister, how are you?)' Coleen asked when they were seated on Charmaine's bed with Lupo on her lap.

'Sto bene, sorella (I'm good sister)' she replied

'Ahh...dispiace per essere occupato (sorry for being busy)' they said

'Vieni qui (come here)' Nikki said and hug her

'Really...sorelle..I'm okay..ho appena perso tutto (I just missed you two)' and she kissed her sisters..

'Now, where are my souvenirs?' She excitedly asked her sisters holding her palm out to them.

'oh yeah..souvenirs...I'll get it in my room' Coleen went out to get it. Nikki went out to get hers as well. Charmaine was left in the room. She went to her 'souvenirs shelf' and adjusted the ones already displayed to give space to the new ones. She sat on her bed to wait for her sisters. She think back of the conversation they had during breakfast. Philippines! She smiled. It will be her first time to go to Asia and more so in the Philippines. She looked at her souvenirs. She had a favorite from each country. But the one she love most came from the Philippines. Paolo gave it to her a year ago. Actually, she asked him if she can have it. And she wears it now and then. It's a bead bracelet. A white one. A friend of his gave it to him as a present. He said that Filipinos often gave presents, even simple ones as a pala....palu...pasalubong...a Filipino tradition.

What's taking them so long? Can't wait another minute, she went out of her room and went to Coleen's room which is right next to her room.

'Coleen?' She knocked. Nothing. She opened the door, it's empty. Lupo came running in and jumped on the bed. Circled and settled himself on the middle. 'Lupo, cane cattivo! (bad dog!) get down there' but he didn't budge. 'You missed Coleen too, huh?' Lupo just twitched his ears.

Where is she? Maybe she's in Nikki's room. She left Lupo and went to Nikki's, but no one is in the room either. Hmmm...funny. She smiled. Maybe her sisters have a surprise...She run quietly to Nico's room. The door is slghtly ajar and the room is quiet. She peeked but no movement inside. Ok this is weird...she stood in the hallway for awhile and that's when she heard the muted conversation. She listened. It's coming inside Paolo's room. She slowly walked to the room and stood there. She was about to open the door but she changed her mind. She'll eavesdrop for a while to know what their up to. Sometimes she hates their surprises. This time she wants to be in the upper hand. She put her ear against the door and listened.

'Paolo, are you sure you want to bring Nonne with you?

'It's their decision to come, not me...'

'Why the Philippines? You've only been there once'

'Not just once...I didn't tell you I was there 6 months ago when Nonna Nid asked me to check our satellite foundation based there. She said maybe it's time'

'It's time? For what? What does she mean by that?

'I don't know. I asked her myself. She just said I'll know in time'