Chapter 31.2
1758 Words
We bought a lot of toys and gifts for them so everyone can have one. Tired from running, I sat beside my mom who gave me water to drink. “You’re such a bully, Leila,” she was still laughing when she said that so I’m not sure if she’s scolding me or what. “It’s fun though, right mom?” I asked, still joking. “Of course!” she laughingly answered.
“Are you happy, Leila?” she suddenly asked. I smiled at her then embrace her tightly. “I am mom. I’m super happy, thank you.”
“You’re always welcome.”
“We have to go now,” I smiled sadly at the children. It’s almost five in the afternoon and if we don’t go now, we’ll have a hard time going home.
“Why don’t you just sleep here, achi?” Camille, one of the children, asked.
I wish I could. I’ve never been this happy since the scandal happened. I think I have never laughed this loud and smile this wide since I left the entertainment industry. There’s just something about children that makes me forget all the pain. Maybe it’s their innocence. It’s just refreshing. And to think that all these children don’t have parents, but they can still smile and laugh like this. It gave me a new perspective. That I should still be thankful for everything that I have. I have my family. And I’ll do anything for them to not get hurt.
“I want to Camille. I had fun being with all of you, but we cannot just live here and leave everything behind. I’m sorry honey,” I hugged her instead because I think she’s about to cry. According to the nuns, it’s not everyday they get a visit here. It’s not even once a month. If they’re lucky, someone would pay a visit to the children once every three months so seeing us is actually a delight for them.
Down in the village, the kids are bullied to because they don’t have parents. That’s just so mean and absurd but that’s how the society sees them. It’s just sad. And so, I talked to Sister Jane a while ago and promised to visit them whenever I can and provide financial help too. She was so thankful but to be honest, I felt the happiest with these children around me.
“Are you going to come back?” Camille asked once again.
“We will. I promise,” I said before kissing her cheeks.
“When I celebrate my birthday, we’ll go here,” I was startled when Angelo spoked. “Right achi?” he asked me.
“Sure!” I excitedly answered. “Hear that Camille? We’ll see each other again soon,” when I said that the kid finally smiled.
I hug the children once more before we finally bid goodbye. The ride was smooth but as soon as we get to the city, we were stuck in traffic.
“I already miss the fresh air in the countryside! The city just sucks!” I laughed at what Sir Leo said. We’re together in his car while Uncle Loui, mom and Angelo were in the other car. We’re just behind them.
“I wish I could just live there,” I exclaimed which made Sir Leo looked at me.
“Really?”
“Yes. I just want to wake up with the noise of the nature and not the engine of a car or the loud fights of our neighbors. I want to plant different vegetables and fruits that I can just harvest and eat. And I want to take care of animals too. You know, like chickens and cows for eggs and milk. Haaaaay……. I just want a simple life.”
“Erina.”
“Hmm?” I answered without looking at him.
“Remember what I told you before?”
“As I’ve said, you tell me a lot of things,” we both laughed with my answer.
“Steve and his producer friends are building their own company,” I remembered him telling me that which made me looked at his side. “That’s why I decided to quit in H&H, because I’ll be working with the newly built one,” he added.
“Wow, it’s really happening. Tell him I said congratulations,” I smiled while saying that. I feel proud of them. And Sir Steve is a good person, I’m sure he’ll treat his employees right.
“Why don’t you tell him that yourself?” he said with a serious voice.
“What do you mean?” I was confused when I asked that question. I changed my phone so nobody in my past can contact me. My social media accounts were deleted by the company, so I didn’t have to worry about those. I was actually shocked when Sir Leo found where I live but according to him, he used his connections and of course, the new issue about me helped him locate me.
That’s why I’m confused, I can’t possibly contact Sir Steve now, unless he’s here which I doubt because he’ll be extremely busy with his new company.
“Don’t you want to come back, Erina?” what he just asked me shocked me to the core.
“Wait,” I looked at him with my forehead creased. “Is this the reason why you’re here?” I can even feel my anger rising now because he’s not answering. “What the hell Sir Leo! I thought you understand me! I’m not going back to that industry ever again!” I couldn’t help but to raise my voice.
“Erina, come on. Hear me out first,” he pleaded.
“What? What is it that you’re going to say that can convince me otherwise, huh?”
“Don’t you want to clear your name, Erina? We all know you didn’t do anything wrong! You are extremely talented, Erina! Are you really going to throw everything away?”
I can’t help but remember the days when I was still a trainee. Everyday was a competition and every day, the competition get’s harder and harder. The pressure wouldn’t even let me sleep at night; it wouldn’t let me eat properly. But I got through all of that because I have friends, and I love them so much. And that’s why I protected them and I’m going to keep doing that.
“I’m sorry but I can’t do what you’re asking me to do,” I said that with finality in my voice.
“Erina, just thing about it---”
“The cars are already moving, we should get home,” I cut him off.
Because I’m afraid. I’m afraid with the words he’s going to say. I’m afraid that he might be able to convince me to return. To confront my past. Because no matter how much I convince myself that I don’t want that life anymore, I still think about it. I still crave the feeling of singing in front of ten thousands of people. But I shouldn’t. I restrained myself for this long already. I was able to do it. And I wouldn’t let him undo all of my efforts. No. never.
After almost an hour, we finally reached the house. I immediately went out of the car and wait until my mother opened the door to our house. When I entered the house, I immediately went out the guestroom where Sir Leo is sleeping. I took all of his things and brought them to the living room.
“What are you doing, Leila? Those are Leo’s things,” she exclaimed while trying to make me stop. But I didn’t.
“Leila stop!” my mother shouted when I finally brought all his things out.
“Sir Leo has to go now mom,” I explained calmly. “He has a lot of things he needs to do, right Sir Leo?” I directed my question to Sir Leo who just entered the house after carrying all the things we brough and use in the orphanage.
I looked at him in the eye conveying all the emotions I suppressed. And I hope he understands what I want to say. Thankfully, he does understand because he just smiled at my mother like nothing serious is happening.
“Oh yes madam! I’m sorry but there’s and emergency that I need to attend to,” he calmly explained.
“Emergency? What kind of emergency,” my mother probed.
“Oh, it’s just with my former employer. Everything’s okay but it’s a little time sensitive so I need to go now,” he explained while carrying his things. My mother and I followed him outside while Uncle Loui helped him with his things.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes madam. Thank you for letting me stay here,” he said when they finally put all of his things inside the car. My mother hug him and bid him goodbye same as my uncle and Angelo.
“Visit us again, okay?”
“Of course, madam.”
“What are you doing Leila? You won’t even hug Leo?” my mother insisted so I just did it so she wouldn’t ask any other questions.
“I’ll see you again, okay?” Sir Leo whispered in my ears.
“I just hope you won’t see me for the same reason again,” I answered.
He didn’t. he never asked me again. Because I was the one who beg him to take me back.
- Writer
