The Spectre

Chapter Three : Catching Up

"Here you go kiddo." Aunt Ingrid told me as I sat on one of the chairs in the dining table to join them. She handed me a plate containing waffles with strawberry syrup on top, my favorite. It made me forget she called me "kiddo" which I totally hate.

"Ingrid, I told you to not call her anything like kid, kiddo, baby, little angel or whatsoever. Good thing you prepared one of her favorites, or else you would see how she is when you sour up her mood." Mom laughed as if saying I really look like a kid having tantrums whenever I'm being called by pet names I despise.

Way to go mom! So awesome! I almost rolled my eyes.

"Oh she won't get mad at me, I think we'll definitely get along, am I right Arya?" I looked up to see Aunt Ingrid looming over me as I ate. I managed to smile with my mouth full.

"As long as you make good waffles like this I think we will." I muffled.

"She likes to eat a lot, Ingrid. I'm warning you. You have to keep your fridge full." Mom joked.

"Mom!" I warned her.

"It's okay sweetie, I always keep the fridge full don't worry." Aunt Ingrid laughed and winked at me. I let out a sigh and just continued eating.

"By the way, your mom told me to enroll you in a school and I just did a few weeks ago. You'll be studying at Brentville High. It's an international school dear, you wouldn't have a hard time mingling with other students." Aunt Ingrid told me as she watched me eat.

"Sounds good. Thanks, Aunt Ingrid." I answered.

"No problem. We could take a walk later in the afternoon so I can show you the way to the school. It's just near and since school starts this coming Monday I think you ought to know how to get there." She told me smilingly.

"Mmm-kay." I answered in between bites.

"And, you're Aunt Ingrid owns a spice shop downtown and I'll be helping her run it for the meantime while I look for work. So most of the time you'll be alone in this house, is it okay with you honey?" Mom asked me.

"It's okay, I can take care of myself. It's not like you'll be gone for weeks right?" I muttered raising an eyebrow at her.

Aunt Ingrid laughed, "Johanna, I think it's you who treats her like a baby." She looks at me. "We'll be home by dinner dear, and don't worry, I'll still do the cooking. Or maybe your mom." She laughed again.

"Ugh! Don't let her do anything that has something to do with cooking! She's awful!" I rolled my eyes and I hear my aunt's laugh once more.

"Why my dear daughter! What an awful thing to say!" My mom tried to act comically pretending she was hurt by what I have said and I laughed. She really looks funny every time she does that.

"Hey Aunt Ingrid, do you have an internet connection here I could use?" I asked her remembering that I had to send a message to my best friend, Samantha, as I've promised once I get here.

"Yes I have, password is Ingrid814." She happily told me.

"Cool, thanks." I pushed my finished plate away from me and I stood up, "So, I'll leave you guys to catch up and chat. I'm going to my room for awhile." I excused myself. "Where's my room by the way, aunt?"

"Oh it's the first door you'll see as you go up the stairs." She told me.

"Thanks." I gave her a smile and walked towards the living room to grab my stuff and hurriedly went upstairs. I reached my room and was amazed to see that it was fixed according to my liking, with purple bed sheets and blankets and pillow cases, a java lamp on the bedside and a study table just near the window. But it still looks plain though, back in our old home I had posters of rock bands on my wall. Maybe I could do the same here but not now. I have a feeling we will not be staying here for long.

I took out my laptop and placed it on top of my study table and powered it on. And as I wait, I looked out the window and realized that I could view the front street from here. "Nice.." I whispered. I was about to sit down in front of my laptop when a figure caught my eye and I almost gasped. It was him, the boy I just met awhile ago. And he is standing there in front of the house with a quirky smile on his face. I furrowed my eyebrows. He waved a hand at me and as I was about to raise mine to wave back I heard someone enter my room.

"Is everything okay?"

I turned to see my aunt looking quizzically at me. I looked back outside only to see that he was gone. "Uh, yeah.." I answered.

"So how do you like your room?" Aunt Ingrid asked me with a smile.

"It looks nice and comfortable." I told her.

She sat on my bed and looked around. "I asked your mom about your preference in color. You have a good taste. I like purple too." I smiled at her knowingly.

"Anyways, I'll leave you alone for awhile. Don't forget to get some rest alright? Call me if you need anything." She winked at me before she went out.

I faced my laptop and logged onto Facebook and sent a private message to Samantha. In just a few seconds she replied with a video call. Her familiar chubby face showed up on the screen and I felt delighted just seeing her.

"Bestie! I'm so glad to see you! I've been waiting for you to message me!" Samantha's perky voice boomed in my ears.

"Yeah I missed you too." I grinned. "Sorry to keep you waiting. We just arrived a few hours ago."

"I see.." She answered, "So, how's the Philippines? Is it nice?" She asked me with excitement in her eyes.

"Yeah it is, although the weather here is kinda humid. But anyway, it's a tropical country and it's summer so I guess I have to bear with it." I shrugged.

"And.. How about your aunt? What's she like?"

"She's nice. But I have to admit, she was a bit kinda weird the first time. I dunno. She's okay though." I answered. "Enough about me, I'm doing just fine. How's everything back there? How's school? Our friends?"

"Everything's pretty much the same. Danica and Karen misses you too. We went out yesterday and we kept talking and wondering about how you are."

"Tell them I miss them too. Say hi to them for me alright?" I smiled. Danica and Karen are also close friends of mine and the four of us have been inseparable since first grade.

"Sure thingy." Samantha chirped.

"And uhm, how about Evan? How is he?"

"He's doing fine. Well, I hope. He didn't take it very well, with you leaving the country after you broke up with him." Samantha's face fell as she answered me and I could imagine Evan, my ex boyfriend, looking devastated and depressed. I could not help not to feel guilty.

"I know.. But it's gonna be hard for the two of us you know.. I'm not a fan of long distance relationships.." I told her. "I wouldn't break up with him if I didn't have to go.."

"Yeah I understand. I really do." Samantha nodded and looked at me in an assuring way.

"Anyway, tell him I said hi.." I told her trying to smile.

"I will." Samantha replied.

"Hey Sam, I gotta take a nap for awhile. Is it okay? Let's talk more later when I wake up. Alright?" I told her.

"Sure, sure. PM me once your up. Miss you lots! Mwah mwah!"

"I miss you more!" I laughed. "Bye!"

"Later!" She voice out and afterwards the line went dead.

I let out a heavy sigh as I stood up and went to lie on my bed. I miss my friends, my old school, our old house, and even Evan. I really lost a lot because of my parents' separation and I hate it because I could not do anything about it. But I hate my parents more because they had let it happen. A broken family, how wonderful.

I felt my eyelids getting heavy and I let myself sleep. The long flight had made me tired and I want to stop worrying even just for awhile. I just hope that when I wake up, everything I'm in is just a dream.