Chapter 26.1
1785 Words
As the security guards help us get passed the angry mob who are trying to charge my way, I finally saw my mom with Angelo and Uncle Loui.
My little brother immediately run towards me, but I couldn’t hug him because we were all in a rush to get out of the airport. Countless camera flash blind my vision as we push through the crowd.
“Let us through please,” my mom who wasn’t really a sociable person held my hand as she blocks people from coming near me.
“We’re near the parking lot already, okay? You’ll be fine,” she tried to make me feel better by wrapping her arms around my frail body.
My arms and legs hurt. I can feel the scratches even in my face and the swelling in my face is so obvious. I really wanted to cry but I was so shocked about what just happened that I didn’t have time to process anything.
Finally, we were able to get inside the van. Mom sat beside me as we rushed to get out of the place.
“We need to get to the hospital first,” my mom said while hugging me to her chest.
“No need mom. I’m okay.”
“No, please. Can we go to the hospital first? I just want to make sure, Leila.”
Since the girls are also worried, we went to the hospital. Kesha called our manager to ask for help in the hospital. Because of connections, we were able to get in and out of the hospital without getting noticed. I didn’t sustain any serious injuries, but the scratches needed to be cleaned so we were able to get home after almost two hours.
“They better be thankful that you didn’t sustain any injuries because I swear to god those fans of yours will go to jail, Leila!”
I thought mom was calm a while ago but when we finally stepped inside the house, she went rampage.
“How dare those people do this to my daughter?”
She continued to rant as Uncle Loui came to her to calm her down. I saw Angelo looking at me, so I called him to sit on my lap.
“Come here, baby.”
He walked slowly towards me but refused to sit on my lap.
“You don’t want to be with achi?” I told him while doing my puppy look.
“I want to. But you have scratches all over your body and I’m afraid to hurt you more,” he said cutely with teary eyes.
“Oh, my cute little baby is worried for achi. I’m okay baby but I will feel really bad if you won’t hug me right now,” I said while smiling from ear to ear to show him that I’m completely okay. Even though I’m not.
“Is it okay to hug achi, mommy?” he cutely asked our mom for permission. Mom looked at me asking if I’m really okay with her eyes. So, I nodded.
“Sure baby. Hug and kiss achi so her bruises will heal faster.”
After what my mom cleverly said, Angelo went to me immediately.
“Did you miss me?”
“I do! Three thousand times!” he answered which made us all laugh.
“Uhm…... uncle, auntie, I ordered food. I guess your starving already so let’s eat?” Kesha said which made us all stand up to go to the dining area.
“You’re right. I didn’t think about eating while in the hospital because I’m so worried,” mom answered.
We ate happily as me and my mom take turns in feeding Angelo. The girls were telling all kinds of stories, so the late lunch didn’t become boring.
After eating ang playing with Angelo almost all day, my mom and I finally had the time to talk when she found me in the backyard wandering alone.
“Why are you outside? It’s cold,” she said while smiling. I smiled back because even though what happened earlier was really traumatizing, it didn’t erase the fact that my mom is here.
She really is here. And seeing the worry in her eyes made me strangely even happier. She’s here and she actually cares. “The cold breeze is calming me mom,” I answered.
I was startled when she suddenly grasps my hand and enclosed it between hers making me feel her warmth. “Are you really okay?” she asked as she tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ear. I smiled widely, almost laughing before answering her. “I’m really okay mom.”
“Honey……”
She sounds like she was about to cry as she speaks, so I went closer to hug her.
“Hey…… mom…... don’t cry please. I’m totally fine.”
I tried joking around to make her laugh because even though it makes me feel happy whenever she’s worried, I didn’t want to make her cry.
“I’m sorry baby. It took this long for mom to come to you. I’m really sorry that I wasn’t there these past years,” she cried as she hugs me tight.
“Mom, I understand you. I understand what you might have felt. So, it’s okay. What’s important is that you’re here now.”
“I was so angry. I was so angry with your father that I failed to acknowledge that you were just a child. That you needed a mother. I was so engrossed in pain that I forgot you were hurting too. I’m sorry baby. I can never turn back time even though I wish I could. I love you so much, Leila.”
“I love you mom. So much.”
We were hugging each other, both enduring the cold breeze. For some weird comical reason, we both stop crying and just started laughing.
“What are we doing outside crying like this? So dramatic mom, Leila.”
“Wait. You started it, mom!”
“Let’s just go inside. You’ll catch a cold in this kind of weather.”
When we reach the living room. No one was around anymore. It’s already late and everyone must be tired, so they fell asleep early. Instead of going to bed, mom and I decided to spend time together and talk more.
“What are your plans? I don’t think you should stay here. What happened earlier was dangerous, Leila. You should just come with us.”
“I want to mom. But I can’t. I have contracts that I signed; I can’t just go to China even if I wanted to.”
“What did the company tell you? What are their plans for you?”
“I haven’t talk to them yet.”
Funny thing was, we didn’t talk about Silas that much. Maybe mom sensed that I wasn’t ready to talk about him, so she spared me by avoiding him as a topic. After that, we went to bed. Her and Uncle Loui will use the guestroom while Angelo is already on my bed.
After taking a half bath, I laid down my bed and hug my squishy baby brother tightly.
By now, I know that I’m trending again, but my mom made me promise to not check any social media for news. And I already learned too. If I forced myself to hear what people are saying about me, for sure I would react badly, and I didn’t want my brother to see me in that state.
They’ll be here for just two weeks and I want that little time for us to spend happily.
The next morning, I suddenly stood up from the bed when I felt the world shaking. I thought there’s an earthquake or something of that sort but apparently, and thankfully, it was just my brother jumping on the bed.
“Good Morning, achi!”
“Angelo!” I couldn’t help but to raise my voice a little. “I thought there’s an earthquake or something!” I was so shocked, but my cute little brother just smiled at me like he finds me being flustered funny.
“It’s because you’re such a sleepyhead achi! Mom told me to wake you up already because the breakfast will be cold.”
“Mom cooked breakfast?” I excitedly asked as I carry him out the room. The girls are not in their beds, so I guessed they’re already in the dining area.
“Finally! The princess is already up and awake!” Leina exclaimed which made everyone laughed.
“Does she normally wake up this late?” my mom asked Raqi in which Raqi nodded. “Hey! Not every time! I even prepare our breakfast sometimes!” I countered. “Yeah sure,” she annoyingly responded which made me roll my eyes.
“Stop bantering and just eat!” my mom reprimanded us.
We ate happily. My mom is a chef so naturally, the food is really great. After eating, we decided to play ‘Mafia’ with Angelo while mom and uncle Loui decided to go to the mall to buy essential things that they failed to bring.
“Do you understand Angelo?”
“Yes, achi Sassy,” my brother cutely said after we explained to him the rules of the game.
“Okay if you really get it, explain it to us,” Raqi demanded.
“Mafia can kill anyone. The police can capture the mafia and the doctor can heal the people killed by the mafia,” my brother who is naturally gifted explained smoothly.
“Wow! You’re really smart Angelo! Now I wonder if Erina is really your sibling,” Kesha teased which made me pinch her arm. “Hey!”
“Of course, we’re siblings. We have the same eyes,” Angelo was quickly on my side.
“See that? We’re siblings, right baby?”
“Yes achi!”
- Writer
