"Welcome back to Philippines East Curtis! How true na dito ka na nakabased at di na sa Geneva?"
"Is it true that you quit modelling for your family business here?"
"Are you joining your brothers in managing your family's company?"
"Kamusta na kayo ni Captain Ford? Engaged na ba kayo? Do you already have a wedding date?"
Ugh. Reporters.
I just smiled at them as I walked by. I didn't plan to answer any of their questions dahil magpapapress conference naman ako.
I scanned the crowd to look for my dear brother.
"Kiera! Over here witch sister!" Kuya West called out.
Well well well, the devil himself is really here to pick me up.
I hugged him as I reached him.
"It's East wizard! And oh yeah, I missed you too!" I told him with matching batok. Kuya West was pissed naman sa ginawa ko.
"Let's go home shall we? I am so tired from the flight, I need to sleep this off Kuya." I demanded. Mas lalo pa siyang sumimangot sa sinabi ko.
"Oi Kiera, naging famous model ka lang inuutusan mo na ko ha. Alam mo bang may kapalit itong pagsundo ko sayo?" He blurted out.
Sinimulan ko na ang lakad palabas ng airport para lang di na siya marinig pang magnag sakin. Hays still not changing Kuya West.
Normal lang to saming dalawa guys, wala talagang sweet bones yang kuya kong yan. Unlike Kuya North, Kuya West is not the sweet type.
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"Good morning unica hija, come on sit down at kumain na tayo. Pinaluto ko lahat ng favorite mo dahil alam kong ilang taon mo ding di nakain itong mga to." Mom greeted me.
Nadatnan ko silang lahat na nag aabang sakin dito sa dining room namin. They were all smiling before me. Mom and dad were still the same, they looked older but still looking in love and happy. My brothers were here too, nasobrahan lang ng ngiti ang devil brother ko.
I kissed mom and dad sa cheeks and also my brothers, nakita ko namang pinunasan ni South yung kiss ko. Hay sungit talaga nitong bunso namin.
"As much as I want to eat more, I can't. May photo shoot ako this weekend kaya naka diet plan ako ngayon." I told them pagkaupo.
"Yun naman pala, akin na lang yang parte mo Kiera. Ako na kakain para sayo." -Kuya West
I just shrugged my shoulders at him. Bully talaga siya sakin eh.
"West Kien! Kababalik lang ng kapatid mo yet you're bullying her agad. Cut it out." Suway ni dad sa kanya.
Napangiti naman ako kay Kuya West at kinindatan siya. Sinimangutan naman niya ko.
"How was your flight princess? Sabi ni Kien ay may jet lag ka daw kahapon dahil naalog yang utak mo ng turbulence?" Concern na tanong ni Dad.
Siningkitan ko naman ng tingin si Kuya West na sumipol sipol naman sa upuan niya.
"Nagka Kien lag ako kahapon dad, si Kuya naman kase pumapanget habang tumatanda." Bawi kong sabi.
Tinignan naman ako ng masama ni Kuya West.
"1-0. Pumuntos na agad si Ate Kiera. Habol ka Kuya West." - South Kiev
"Anong puntos ka jan bunso? Kumain ka na lang at wag ng sumali pa sa away ng ate at kuya mo. West Kien pwede ba wag ka munang mang asar sa kapatid mo? Kakauwi lang niya, wala munang asaran ha. East Kiera kumain ka, di ka naman siguro lolobo agad sa weekend di ba? Kain lang anak." - Mom
"Mom's right. Ceasefire muna kayo West at East. Btw, princess I bought you Audi R8 as a welcome home gift at para na rin sa pagwelcome sayo sa company. I hope you'll like it." - Kuya North
I screamed at the top of my lungs at pumunta kay Kuya North para yakapin siya.
"You're the best Kuya in the world Kuya North! I love you so much! I won't like it but I will love it, thank you thank you!" I exclaimed.
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"Are you really ready in joining our business iha? You've been away for so long at alam kong di madali ang mag adjust from one place to another, from one job to another." -Mom
I looked at my Mom. The woman whom I aspired to be when I was young.
"No one is ever ready and I am not an option to that Mom. But, I've worked for this in my whole years living in Geneva, I believe that I am ready." -Me
I have to be.
"How about the people in the past? Are you ready meeting them? Do not forget that we're their business partners." Mom asked.
I arched my left brow while looking at her.
I know she's referring to someone particular. During my teenage years lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay ko ay laging updated ang parents ko lalo na kay Mom.
"Ace and their family will be there iha. So tell me, are you still ready in joining our business?" Mom scrutinized.
I looked at her and laughed. Sinamaan naman niya ko ng tingin.
My nosy mom. tsk tsk tsk
"Mom, are you serious? Di ka pa rin ba nakamove on samin ni Ace? It has been years already. I'm sure everybody moved on Mom. Sana ikaw rin." I told her.
Napahinga naman siya ng malakas. Yung parang nabunutan ng tinik.
"Don't worry, I'm okay with everyone including Ace. We were so young back then, everything is still not in their places. I think we've outgrown kung anoman yung nangyari noon Ma. I expect na we'll be civil with each other since we're friends naman bago pa nangyari yung noon." I explained.
"You were so young, kaya ba nagdecide kang magpakalayo noon? Don't get me wrong iha, you're my daughter at alam kong sobra pa sa friends ang tingin mo sa kanya noon. You can always tell me when you're hurting at--"
"That was in the past Mom. Everything happens for a reason. That needs to happen para marating ko kung anoman ang narating ko ngayon. He will always be a part of me kase he played a big part in my past. But that's it, he belongs in my past. So please can we move on Mom?" I cut her off.
Mom hugged me and I hugged her back.
"I'm sorry iha. I forgot how time quickly passed. Pasensya ka na at di kita nadamayan noon. Sobra lang kaming naging busy ng dad mo. I am proud of you, of what you've become. My baby is now a true lady." Mangiyak ngiyak na sabi niya.
Oh mothers!
"It's okay Mom, alam kong I avoided talking to you regarding me and Ace. Kaya I understand kung ngayon mo mabobrought up yung tungkol samin noon. It was so hard back then, alam kong naging close ka na rin kay Ace kaya alam kong masasaktan ka lang para samin, para sakin sa nangyari. Pero mom, okay na po talaga ako ngayon so please be okay na rin. I also expect na di ka galit sa kanya. Kami lang ang may issue, labas po kayo dun nila dad and his parents." I replied.
"Of course iha, nanghinayang lang ako sa inyo pero like what you said everything happens for a reason. I still like Ace though such a fine man. Napakahands on na niya ngayon sa company nila. Good training from his parents. Speaking of guys, kelan mo ipapakilala sakin si Captain mo?" -Mom
Napailing na lang ako sa kanya. I definitely missed her.
"Well that Captain has a name Ma. You'll meet him very soon and I know that you'll adore him too." I told her.
