I Still Love You

Welcome Home

LEENA'S POINT OF VIEW

"Why do you have Chase's car anyway?"I asked Larry a little curious. I just couldn't help myself.

"I just told you he let me borrow it. Are you dumb?"Larry asked me irritated.

I rolled my eyes. "You know I didn't mean that. How the hell did he let you have his car?"I rephrased my question for my dumb brother to understand.

"That's a secret."he said and I frowned. He was kidding right? How was he gatekeeping information about that?

"You are so annoying man."I said leaning back on my seat and we both sat in silence as we drove across the familiar streets. Nothing had changed about the city I grew up in and that kind of made me happy. Me being back here would sound just like the old days except now I was older and a tiny bit mature, I think. I wasn't really sure about that honestly.

Soon, we were driving along our long driveway leading to our house. I smirked watching my home. God, it was so good to be back home. Studying abroad was all good but it was so far from home. Whoever said that east or west home is the best, wasn't lying.

Larry stopped the car at the driveway and I just couldn't be patient. I stormed out of the car and run towards the door eager to see my mother and my father. I knew Larry would bring my luggage in.

I opened the door but what welcomed me was all this shiny decorations that made me feeeze at the door as looked around trying to make sense of what I was looking at. What was going on?

Just then, I felt Larry beside me and I turned to look at him but he was already smiling at me. The fond type of smile that he always gave me when he was not annoyed with me.

"What's going on?"I asked him and his smile widened. He looked away from me and then he suddenly snapped his finger and just then there was a pop sound and confettis rained on me and I gasped surprised looking up.

Then the singing came next and I blinked when it was a happy birthday song. I frowned and that's when everyone's faces became visible. They were all singing a happy birthday song to me and I was a little confused because today wasn't my birthday. What was going on?

The singing came to a stop and my eyes locked with my mother's. She seemed all excited and happy and so was everyone else.

"Welcome home darling."Mom told me as she walked towards me and she affectionately hugged me. I hugged her super tight feeling a little emotional to feel her warmth that God knew I had missed. "And happy belated birthday."she whispered to me before pulling away from the hug to look at me and I was a little sad her warmth had gone so soon. I wanted to be embraced for longer than just a minute. I had missed her.

Wait, my birthday. Oh yeah, my birthday was last week. So, this is what all this was about? Celebrating my already passed birthday on the day I was coming back home? I guess I wasn't really mad about but....

"You guys didn't have to do this."I told my Mom. They really didn't have to when it wasn't even my birthday.

"This was initially a welcome party but since your birthday wasn't long ago, we thought we could also celebrate it today together."My Mom explained and I smiled sweetly.

"Thank you."I appreciatingly said looking around to thank everyone who was here. My dearest Dad, Larry, our Butler, the man in his fifties had literally raised me. I couldn't remember anytime he wasn't around since I was young. I could see my aunt, on my mother's side and her daughter. Her daughter and I were in the same age range. She and I grew together but we were not really that close. She was closer to Larry than me. And finally my eyes came into contact with that face. I always lost my cool but thank God I really maintained my composure and I didn't get surprised.

Why was he even around? This was a family thing right? He was the only one not family. The Butler didn't count, he was practically family at this point. We just weren't blood related but blood doesn't really define family sometimes.

I quickly averted my gaze away from that face of Chase Westbrook. I was glad I felt nothing for him anymore. I was over him. I had taken time to get over him. Four years were enough.

Wait, I think I understand how Larry had his car now. It was because he was present. And the reason Larry wouldn't say much was because he knew about this party which was supposed to be a surprise party.

"Welcome home princess."my Dad's voice broke me out of my short term distraction from my thoughts. I turned to look at him and he was already walking over to me.

"I missed you Dad."I said before I run to meet him halfway and I hugged him. My Dad and had a special relationship. I had a special relationship with my Mom but my Dad sort of pampered me a little too much and I really loved him for that.