I Still Love You

LEENA'S POINT OF VIEW I smiled taking a deep breath as I stood in the middle of the airport lounge. I could feel people's weird stares but I didn't really care. The fresh air that I knew since I was young was all that mattered at the moment. The airport back home smelled the same as I remembered. I had missed being back home, I missed my father, I missed my mother and my brother. I had not seen them for almost a year. The thing is, I had been away for my bachelor's degree studies in a foreign country. I just completed my four years of studies and that's why I was back home. I released the breath and I nodded to myself excited. I was finally home and I couldn't wait to see my family. So I started pushing my luggage to the airport exit and before I could form a thought of getting a taxi to take me home, I heard my name being yelled and I sort of froze. I recognized that voice. I was more of surprised to hear it. I stared ahead and I saw him. My dumb brother stood beside his car waving at me. At first, I frowned upon seeing him. I was confused about how he knew I was coming back today. This was supposed to be a surprise. I didn't tell anyone I was coming back today. I sighed walking towards him and he had that snug smile on his face that told me he won or something. I hated it. "Wipe that stupid smile off your face."I told him annoyed while pushing the bags towards him with a deliberate force. He groaned when the bags hit him then he turned to look at me. "How rude. No greetings? We haven't seen each other in like forever and this is how you greet me?"he asked me clicking his tongue and walked to the car's trunk with my luggage. "How the hell do you know I was coming today?"I asked him wrapping my arms around my chest as I watched him pack my bags in his car trunk. I didn't fail to notice the car too. It was new and it must have cost a fortune. "You underestimate father a little too much. He sent me to pick you up. I didn't even want to, I had better things to do than pick up my ungrateful dumb sister."he said closing the trunk door to look at me. I rolled my eyes at his statement. My brother and I fight like crazy but at the end of the day, we still love each other so much. He and I are only two years apart. He is older than me and although he mocks me so many times and I cry a lot because of his mocking, he is super overprotective of me. I can trust him with my life, all day everyday to keep me safe. "How did Dad know I was coming home today?"I asked my brother. His name was Larry. He looked at his wrist watch before his face hardened. "Get in the car Leena. I don't think we have time."he told me. His voice was filled with urgency. I frowned but I still walked to the passenger's seat and he later joined me and sat on the driver's seat. I looked around the interior of the car and my face was a little excited. This particular car he had today was new. I had noticed earlier. "You got another new car?"I asked him now looking at him smiling.It was a nice car. I could tell it cost a fortune but that wasn't a surprise to me. Larry always loved expensive cars and I would love to say we were lucky we were born in a fortunate family where money wasn't a problem. So a car like this wasn't a big deal but it was still nice to know he had a new car although the last time I checked, he had like three luxury cars. I don't think he needed more cars. I heard Larry chuckle as he started the car. What was so funny? "I can't afford this car yet."he said and I frowned. What was that supposed to mean? "I borrowed it from a guy my father knows. You know him too. Chase Westbrook. Dad's best friend." Larry said and my heart skipped a beat after hearing that familiar name. Chase Westbrook. I hated recalling that name. Actually, it was a bittersweet name for me. I took a deep breath to bury all those memories threatening to resurface. I didn't like recalling how embarrassing I sometimes can be. I was being stupid back then declaring my love for a man who was my Dad's best friend. Jeez, he was so much older than me. It was no surprise he rejected me anyway. What did I expect anyway? I was so stupid. "So he let you borrow the car just like that?"I asked Larry to distract my mind into thinking about my embarrassing past. "I know right? The guy always looks like he is about to kill someone. He actually offered the car to me. I have always been too scared to ask him if I could drive it even though I have always wished I could drive the car."Larry laughed nervously. I could understand his nervousness. Chase was the most intimidating person I know on earth. He rarely smiles and god knows what possessed me to declare my undying love for him four years ago. I was fresh in my twenty years of age and I thought I was grown for some reason. I was so stupid and embarrassing.