Loving You

Chapter 8

Year 2020

You were waiting for your luggage and wondering who would pick you up from the airport. It’s been 4 years since the last time you’re at your own country. You had that love-hate feeling coming back here. Love to see your dad and brothers again, hate to see them at the same time and all the dramas that would follows. You’re sure of that.

The reason for you to come back was simple, because you’d promised your dad after graduated from college, it’s time for you to come home. Four years ago you’re agree thinking that it would be a long way until the day comes. But now, it suddenly here and it seemed that you had never left.

“Maggie......” you heard a familiar voice shouted your name.

“Taaaay......” you ran to him and hugged him while at the same time he picked you up and swung you around.

You were both giggling like little kids and didn’t really care about people around you that watched you with some judging look on their faces.

“Yaaahhh.....cut it out both of you.” You heard another familiar voice with annoying tone.

“Nickyyyyy.....” you quickly let go of Taylor and ran toward Nicholas to give him a big hug that you could give. You missed them both so much and Steve, too, but you knew that he couldn’t be there due to his job. He’s a doctor now, a heart specialist to be exact. You couldn’t be more proud of him and you knew that your mom would, too.

“How’s your flight?” Nicholas was asking you while ruffling your hair.

“It’s okay. Nothing much to do beside sleeping and watching entertainment on the screen and eating, then repeat.” Nicholas laughed.

“I was supposed to pick someone, too. Let me call him first.” While Nicholas was on the phone, Taylor approached you and gave you back hugged.

“How’s my baby sis? Glad to be back?” He was wriggling his eyebrows and you were looking at him funny, you knew that he must be up to something.

“What is it that you want to tell me? Spit it out!” You more than curious now since he gave you his signature, mischievous smile.

“I was wondering, if you miss us that’s all. Why you thought that I will have something on my mind?”

“Because I know you, Tay. I know that you want to tell me something and you couldn’t hold it any longer.” You look at him in the eyes and in the end he gave in.

“Okay, okay.....jeez. I was gonna ask you, whether you were ever thinking about James?”

You almost choked on your own saliva when you heard of what he had to say. “W-what is that? Why suddenly you asked me that question? What kind of question is that anyway?”

“Is just a friendly and concern question from a brother to his sister?”

“Yeah, right. Uh-huh, like I would believe that?” You were giving him a glare when Nicholas was finally back.

“Okay, ready to go? My friend is catching another ride but he’ll be staying at our place.” Taylor was looking at Nicholas and back at me, confused.

“What do you mean that he’ll be staying at our place? Who is your friend?”

“I told you before along with dad during last week meeting. My friend, Stanley will be working with us and he’ll be staying at our place, well, mostly in the guest house.”

“WHAT???” You were laughing very hard when you saw Taylor’s shocking look. Everyone knew that the guest house was his sanctuary, that’s what he called it anyway. Now that Nicholas was letting his friend to stay in one of the room, it threw him off a little.

“Why can he just stay in a hotel or something or somewhere? Please? Please.....” Taylor was desperately pleading to him and it really was a funny sight to see him doing that.

“No, because I need him to work closely with me in the home studio. I need to make sure that he’ll be taking care of. That’s why he’ll be staying in our place.”

By this time, Taylor knew that there’s no way he could change Nicholas’ mind. So all he could do now just sulked it up.

>>> 

Stanley POV

Such an exhausting flight even though I was sleeping all the way.

*Ring*Ring*

“Yes, hello?”

“Stanley? Have you arrived yet? It’s Nicholas.”

“Oh, hey. Yes, just arrived. What’s up?”

“I’m in the airport right now, picking up my sister. I thought I can give you a lift.”

“Ah, I promised Henry I’ll be meeting him at the airport then go straight to your place.”

“Okay then, I’ll be seeing you both at my place. See you later.”

Now, where is that guy? He told me that he’ll be arriving around the same time as me.

>>> 

You opened your eyes and suddenly realized that it’s already dark outside. You looked at your phone and it showed 8 pm. “Wow, I’ve been sleeping for quite awhile.”

After decided to take a shower, you headed downstairs. You saw that dinner’s ready but no one was eating yet. You wondered if your dad was already home. You knew that usually he would be coming home late but he never missed to eat his dinner at home. He’s been doing that since he got married to your mom. He promised no matter how long his works took him, he would be eating dinner at home. You wondered if that changed since your mom was no longer alive.

You were watching TV when you saw your dad came back home and you ran to him and hugged him. “Hey, princess. Miss you, too.” You missed hearing the nickname that he gave you since you’re a baby. You always be the princess in this household but the only people that called you, just your dad and your oldest brother, Steve. Nicholas and Taylor would always called you “baby sis” and you hated that.

“Have you eaten your dinner yet?”

“Nope, not yet. I’m waiting for you and I know the rest also haven’t eaten either.”

“Well, call them up and we can eat together. I’m starving.” You immediately asked one of the maid to call your brothers since you’re not sure where everybody was.

“So, how’s your flight? Ready to start work on Monday?” You were not surprised that your dad didn’t give you anytime to relax and settle. He was what you would call a workaholic, business minded person, but one thing that you admired from him was, he always put a family first despite his busyness.

“Well, ready as I can be since I have no choice.” You shrugged your shoulders and could see your dad’s small smile. He knew you weren’t amused of what he had planned for you but he held on to your promise that by the time you graduated, you would be back home and work in his company.

Suddenly you heard your name was called out by a very familiar voice, “Princess......, where are you?” Yes, it’s definitely your older brother, Steve. He was running to you excitedly just like a kid seeing his favorite toy and lifting you up mid-air, swinging you around in a circle.

“Miss my handsome face, princess? You look thinner! Have you been eating right? What I always tell you-“

“That I need to eat right so people will love me and my beautiful face.” You cut him off because you knew what he’s going to say. You couldn’t deny that Steve had a handsome and beautiful feature. People always said that he had the perfect face for a model, but he chose to become a doctor instead. That decision had made your dad disappointed at him at one point in time but now, he could no longer care and actually he was very proud of him according to what your mom told you the last time you talked to her.

How you missed your mom at this time. You could confide with her if you’re having any life problems. But now, you need to confide in yourself or maybe Steve, but he’s quite busy nowadays since he’s a heart specialist now and you didn’t want to bother him with your problems. Not that you’re having one now, but who knows.

>>> 

Everyone including Nicholas and Taylor were sitting on the dining table when the maid appeared and headed towards Nicholas and told him that he got guests outside waiting for him. He just nodded and started to stand up, walking towards the front door. But not long after that he appeared again in the dining room along with two other guys behind him.

“Dad, I want to introduce you to our new producer. This is Stanley Myers. He’s the one that I’ve been telling you about.” The guy that Nicholas was introducing to your dad quite good looking with a cold and mysterious aura around him.

“Do you still remember Henry Watts? He’s back from Japan and now plan to reside here for good.”

“Hello, sir! How are you? I hope you’re still remember me.” This guy were all sunshine with his bright smile and all. He really looked familiar.

“H.....” You heard Steve screamed and walking toward him and giving him a big hug. “Hey, brother.....” Now was Taylor turned to scream and running toward this guy that I still had not a clue of who he was.

“Maggie, do you not remember Henry? H? You used to call him Hewwy and he hated it.” Nicholas was trying to make you remember of who he was when you still didn’t have any clue whatsoever.

“Maggie??? This is Maggie? The little girl that I used to babysit when actually was your brothers’ job?” Nicholas was nudging his elbow when Henry realized that your dad was there. He was just grinning and made an apologetic gesture to your dad.

You were still have no clue on who he was but the sudden action that he was doing right after was giving you the surprised on itself. “You still don’t remember me?” He sounded a little disappointed but after he saw you smiled, he knew that you remembered him.

“Hewwy? H? The one that always put me in a stroller, pushed it hard and said that I’m flying?” You saw his pale look but you couldn’t stop your laugh right after. “Okay, I think I remember now. You’re Jammie’s cousin.” Everyone silent after hearing you mentioned his name but you acted indifferent since you didn’t really think much of it anyway. Not after four years.

“Well, at least you remember me now. How are you? I heard from Nicky that you just arrived today.”

“Yes, just this afternoon.” You nodded and smiled to him.

“Oh, well I almost forgot. Stan, this is Maggie, Nicky’s sister, the one that I’ve been telling you about on the way here.” You looked surprised upon hearing that they were talking about you. But you shook his hand nonchalantly and he was looking at you as if remembering something.

“Hey, nice to meet you.” He showed his gummy smile that you found it adorable. Not matching with his exterior look, the way he dressed was all black from head to toe but when he smiled, it gave you a different vibe.

“Likewise.”

“Stan, these are my brothers, Steve and Taylor. You will be sharing the guest house with Tay and please don’t mind him if he’s playing video games all night. Just let him know if he’s bothering you.” Nicholas looked at Taylor and gave his knowing look that said I would be watching you.

“So, enough with the introduction. Let’s we all eat our dinner. I will have a meeting later for an hour in my office. Hans is coming to talk about the gala dinner next week.”

“Gala dinner? On what occasion?” You were facing your dad to get an explanation because usually the annual gala dinner would not be held until end of the year. But this was just mid year and you knew there was no other significant celebration or anniversary during this time, so you were a little bit confused.

“Of course it’s to celebrate your homecoming and to introduce you to all our partners. Also I think Nicholas has something to discuss to you before the event.” Now, you were looking at Nicholas to ask for an explanation. But it seemed he just didn’t want to discuss it now since he was looking away from you, “How about we just eat first and Maggie, we can discuss what’s dad said tomorrow. Okay?”

Well, there’s no point arguing with him right now, so you just agreed and nodded your head.

Everyone was enjoying their meals, especially you, since it’s been a long time you ate dinner together with your family. You didn’t know that you actually missed this moment.