Covered By My Own Umbrella

White Suitcase

"Sis, they are now here!" Gabby yelled as he opened the door of our van.

I immediately get out of the van and greet uncle Richard, aunt Cristina - uncle Richard's wife, and our 9-year-old cousin Amriel.

"Wow, you've all grown up into beautiful and handsome folks, ah!" Uncle Richard uttered, amazed by the way he looked at us.

"Hmm, yes, that's true, but they've all grown not just the way you said earlier but also into a naughty and joker like you," grandma said as she clutched her hands at uncle Richard's left shoulder.

"Gabby and Leigh, you've both grown so tall that you're now taller than your uncle. Before, you were just these cute little boys who were walking down the street in our neighborhood without a shirt or even an underwear, and now, look at you, seems like both a head turner of many girls in school," uncle Richard jabbered.

We are all sharing stories while I am hearing Gabby and Leigh's murmuring beside me.

"Oh, Gab and Leigh, I guess you'd like to ask me some questions?" Uncle Richard questioned, perplexed.

"Is it about your basketball shoes, which you and Leigh were asking to me last week? Don't worry, I bought three pairs for you both," uncle Richard cheerfully reassured Gabby and Leigh.

"Thank you, uncle, but that is only a secondary reason. The main reason is, we have just noticed that your step son did not come with you. Was he left alone in Canada and did not bother to come with you?" Gabby and Leigh asked courteously.

"No, he went with us. But he won't be coming with us today because his biological dad picked him up earlier inside," uncle Richard elaborated.

"Oh, we see uncle. I hope we can get along with him as well, when will he be coming to our house?" Gabby asked.

"We will pick him up tomorrow," aunt Cristina, our step cousin's mom replied.

"Yes!" Gabby exclaimed as she gave Leigh a high five.

"Oh, let's take a time out and just continue all of this when we get home," grandma snarled.

"All right, let's go!" Uncle Richard trailed behind.

"Get in, I'll just put the boxes and suitcases into the trunk of the car and we'll be ready to go," uncle Criz informed uncle Richard and aunt Cristina.

"Bro, you can ride the van with them. I'll just ask Mom to transfer here so you can spend more time chatting on the road," mom offered.

"Alright!" Uncle Richard responded.

When we decided to leave the airport and return home, the sun had not yet come out. We did not eat at a restaurant because our family had planned a simple welcome party for uncle Richard and his family at home. Grandma said it would just be a hassle for us to dine in, and restaurants are still closed at this time of the day.

In the van, Cathy and I joined uncle Richard, aunt Cristina, and Amriel. Uncle Charles is still the driver of the van. While we are in the van, I try to converse with Amriel, who is babbling while playing a mobile game on his iPad.

"Hello, Amriel!" I said, approaching him.

"Hi, I am Eliah. It's great to meet you!" I muttered happily.

"What are you doing? Oh, that's Pinnecraft. You know what, my brother enjoys playing that game as well. Did you see Gabby earlier? He's my brother," I spoke once more.

I did not receive a response from him. He didn't reply to every question I threw him. He is very talkative when he is alone playing, but when I get to ask him, he doesn't even say a word.

"Yes, Eliah. He isn't accustomed to meeting new people. However, as you get closer to him, he becomes more friendly. It undoubtedly takes time," aunt Cristina barged in when she noticed Amriel wasn't responding to all of my questions.

"It's all right, aunt. I understand it," I responded sincerely.

"By the way, uncle and aunt, this is Cathy, my best friend," I introduced Cathy cheerfully.

"Oh, Cathy. It's nice meeting you, and I appreciate your friendship with Eliah," uncle Richard uttered.

After a brief conversation, uncle Richard and aunt Cristina take a short nap, as does my cousin Amriel and grandma. Cathy and I remain awake.

While Cathy is busy browsing on her phone and listening to a podcast she has been following, I decided to move to the seat next to Uncle Charles.

"Wait, I'm just going to sit beside uncle and talk to him so he doesn't fall asleep, especially since he hasn't slept since yesterday." I informed Cathy.

"OK bestie, I'm just here, just call me if you need me," Cathy said quietly, being careful not to wake the folks who are sleeping.

I silently make my way to the front of the car, next to the driver's seat, where uncle Charles is sitting.

"Hello there, uncle. I'm back!" I spoke cheerfully.

Uncle Charles whispered, "Shhh, lower your voice."

"Oh, I forgot," I exclaimed, overjoyed.

"Oh, what is it that has brought you here?" Uncle Charles asked.

"There's something I want to tell you, but I just realized I couldn't tell you what happened earlier to me because we should keep quiet," I said, pounding my palm to my head.

"Oh, yes! Just let me know when we get home. We're getting close to our house now,” uncle Charles said in reverent whispers.

"But don't worry, Eliah, you can still tell me that when we get home. For now, can I ask you to wake up your uncle Richard when we arrive at our street?" Uncle Charles asked for a favor.

"Yes uncle. You got me!"

We arrived safely at home after a few minutes, along with mom, aunt Joce, uncle Criz, Gabby, Sam, and Leigh in the other car.

While I was waking up uncle Richard, I saw Gabby and Leigh get out of the car and walk over to uncle Charles, who's unloading the compartment of the van, which contained three large brown boxes, four suitcases, and two backpacks.

"Honey, wake up, we're here. Don't bother waking Amriel; I'll just carry him inside and put him in bed," aunt Cristina was informed by Uncle Richard.

"All right, honey," Aunt Cristina said, fixing the stuff of Amriel and assisting uncle Richard in piggybacking on Amriel.

"Gabby, could you help Grandma walk?" Uncle Richard asked Gabby a favor.

Uncle Richard had already entered the house, along with grandma, uncle Criz, aunt Joce, Gabby, and my cousins. While Cathy and I went to the van's compartment to get the left backpacks.

"Get back here, Gabby. There is still a white suitcase in the compartment," Cathy commanded my brother politely.

"Yes, sister Cathy," Gabby said quite loudly as she helped grandma walk and entered the house.

"Oh bestie, why are you hammering the suitcase with your hands? What's wrong?" Cathy asked, stopping my hands from what I'm doing.

"Jeez, I just remembered the arrogant and disgusting guy I met earlier in the airport who was also carrying a white suitcase. This white suitcase is similar to the one he was carrying when I argued with him," I did speak a little vehemently.

"My gosh bestie, don't even think about it now. It has already happened, and I am confident that you will never meet that guy again," Cathy uttered.

"Let us just carry these two backpacks inside; they're all waiting for us," Cathy added.

I'm about to follow Cathy inside when I hear the phone that is ringing somewhere. I looked to the source of the sound and discovered that it was coming from the van.

"It's aunt Cristina's phone; she may have forgotten her phone," I thought to myself as I quickly grabbed the phone from an empty seat and handed it to aunt Cristina, who is in the living room.

"Someone is calling you, Aunt. I think it's your son," I said, informing aunt Cristina who's looking for something in her handy bag.

"Hello son. Oh, how are you doing? Are you with your dad?" Aunt Cristina uttered while talking on the phone.

While I wait for aunt Cristina to finish speaking with the person on the phone, I unintentionally hear everything she says.

"Eliah, thank you for giving me my phone, which I forgot I'd left in the van earlier, thank you dear," aunt Cristina said, expressing her appreciation to me.

"No problem aunt, I'll just go ahead and bring this backpack in your room," I said, smiling.

"Sure, Eliah, thanks again."

While climbing the stairs, I saw Cathy getting out of the bedroom of uncle Richard's family.

"Oh, bestie, are you done?" I walked towards Cathy and asked her.

"Yes, I am. Your cousin is also sleeping; I'm sure he feels really tired after their 15-hour flight, even with stop-overs, is still not a joke," Cathy said this with her hands crossed.

"Yes, you're right. Oh, by the way, just wait for me here; I'll just put it inside," I told Cathy.

"All right, bestie," Cathy said, nodding.

After doing what we needed to do, Cathy and I decided to go downstairs to join my family's welcome party for uncle Richard and his family. It is 7:00 in the morning when we all gather in the dining room for morning breakfast.

"Cathy and Eliah, come here and join us!" Grandma invited us.

"Yes, grandma," I uttered, going to the dining table.

Our entire family is gathered around the dining table, eating and trying to catch up on each other's lives. They are all sharing their laughter, experiences, and events from the five years they were apart. Cathy and I are both listening in on their conversation.

"Welcome back, my son! Finally, you've come home! Thank you Cristina for coming home as well; this is only my second time seeing Amriel, and I am delighted that you chose to visit and spend your vacation with us," grandma uttered as she sat on the right edge of the table, eating.

"No problem, mama. I am also delighted to see everyone," aunt Cristina responded with a smile for all of us.

"After we eat, let's bond in the living room and also unpack the three balik-bayan boxes that contain my gifts and 'pasalubong' I have for all of you," uncle Richard said cheerfully.

"By the way, honey. Jax called earlier and said he'd be here sooner than I expected. He told me that his dad had an urgent conference in Cebu, so he advised Jax to join us for the meantime," aunt Cristina brought it up abruptly.

"Oh, really? So, who's going to pick him up?" Uncle Richard asked his wife, concerned about Jax.

"His father told me he's going to drop Jax off here before he goes to the airport," aunt Cristina responded.

"So, where are they now?" Aunt Joce interrupts the conversation.

(Aunt Cristina's cell phone vibrates, indicating a text message.)

"Jax just texted me about it. They've already passed the outpost of the village," everyone at the table was informed by aunt Cristina.

"It's best if you join Cristina outside to fetch Jax," grandma suggested to uncle Richard.

Uncle Richard and aunt Cristina courteously leave the table to wait for Jax outside. Jax is the name of aunt Cristina's eldest son, according to what I've heard from everyone. So, he is the guy Gabby was talking to me about two weeks ago after seeing him on uncle Richard's i********: profile.

"I'll finally get to meet him. Oh, why am I feeling as if I don't want to meet him? This is probably because I'm now allergic to meeting new guys?" I pondered these thoughts, grinning.

"Hey, bestie! Why are you grinning all by yourself? Cathy whispered to me.

"Is this your first meeting with Jax, your step cousin?" Cathy asked once more.

"Oh, I just remembered something, which is why I grinned, but it's nothing. Yes, it's my first time; in fact, it's our first time as a family," I replied.

"I see, that's why everyone in your family is so excited," Cathy said.

All of us are still eating and waiting for Jax' arrival, except for grandma, who has been constantly looking out the window, causing us to burst out laughing. It's a wonderful feeling to see Grandma so excited to meet his step grandson.

"He's here!" Grandma said, quite loud.

"Really, grandma?" Leigh muttered, then went to grandma to look out the window with her.

"Sam, open the door," grandma commanded quickly to Sam.

I was waiting for my step cousin when I noticed uncle Richard and aunt Cristina enter the door first, and then a guy appeared on aunt Cristina's back, which surprised me and caused my eyes to widen.

I scratched my eyes twice to make sure I saw the right person.

I approached him and abruptly pointed the fork I was holding to him.

"YOU?" I exclaimed, surprised.