Amber Alert (El Vicente Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Kabanata 25

"You didn't bring much." I heard at my back as I fixed my hair that was messed up on my browline sunglasses.

I laughed. "Aren't you glad? Wala kang masyadong bubuhatin."

He got taller for how many years. His body got even bulkier. We spent most of our days in the gym under the gloomy weather in New York. He is obsessed with making his body like Chris Hemsworth. I used to laugh at the thought of it.

He chuckled. "But why, though? I thought you were here for good?"

"I am!" I combed my short black hair backward. "Ate's back next month. Ipapadala ko na lang iyong mga naiwan ko. Besides, those don't fit the weather here, anyway. Kailangan ko ng bago!"

Nagbikit siya ng balikat at hinila ang malaking bagahe ko. My other things are on Dad's condo now. Nauna pa iyon last week sa akin. Hindi ko dinala lahat dahil iyon nga, hindi ko naman kailangan ang karamihan at kung may naiwan pa'y si Ate na raw ang bahala doon.

Sinalubong ako ng mainit simoy ng hangin galing sa Manila. The air wasn't too pleasant. Mainit pa din sa Pilipinas. The mixture of different pollutions immediately entered my nose. Hindi na ako nagulat doon.

Binalingan ko si Alistair na walang hirap na ipasok ang maleta ko sa likod ng sasakyan niya. I remained looking around, feeling new to this city.

Sinarado niya ang pintuan sa likod ng sasakyan niya. Damn, even in our college days his car is oozing. He has some crazy obsession in cars, too, I noticed.

Hinaplos niya ang baywang ko. "Saan tayo?"

"I'll stay on my condo, Alis. Jetlag." kunwari akong nag-inat. "Umuwi ka na din..."

"Jetlag din ako. I'll stay on in our condo, too." he joked.

Inilingan ko siya at pabirong itinulak. "Go home, Alvarez!"

"Whatever, Fedelin.."

Manila is new to me. New. Nakapunta naman ako dito dati pero hindi ako nagtatagal. My parents are usually doing business here before. I suddenly miss the cool breeze of wind in ElVi. Our house there. School. Bar...

Sumandal ako sa passenger seat at mabigat ang mga mata habang nakatitig sa naglalakihang mga buildings sa Manila. Tila nagpapataasan at nagpapatibayan. Large malls looked attractive on my eyes and made me excited for shopping.

I should call Flora some other time to assist me. Next week pa ang punta niya rito kaya naiinip na ako. I feel like I need more clothes. I need to shop.

I've been very exposed to shopping centers in the States with my college girls. I never really liked spending too much money before but when I met some friends and old friends there, I was buying some kinds of stuff that were against my will!

"Mom's asking me to go home next week. May aasikasuhin lang. Sa tingin' mo?" he suddenly asked out of the blue. Go home? ElVi?

Ngumisi ako. "It's probably work. You should go..."

"Yeah, but I'm thinking about you. Ayos ka lang ba rito?"

I laughed and looked at him ridiculously. "Of course! Why not, Alis?"

"I don't know. Feeling ko lang mamimiss mo ako."

I rolled my eyes and didn't talk.

Five years in the States felt like a century. Alis had his mental treatment in States with me. I was there the whole time he healed. I helped him heal. We became more open to each other at that time. He apologized and I did, too. We both didn't like what happened in the past.

Our company needed theirs to survive. My mom took that opportunity and wanted us to have a special connection which I found very ridiculous. I still remember how I was mad at my mother for that.