A Love Full of Stars

Chapter 3: De La Vega Villa

The moment I stood on the porch, I decided not to go inside yet.

As if I was looking for more outside. I just stood for a while until I heard the sounds of the loud water clashing at each other from the large fountain, I can also hear a lot of people in the backyard.

Kuya Jake drives closer to the fountain, and my spirit went up when I see the children.

My 2 nieces, 2 nephews, and my 8 cousins stopped playing when they saw our 2 cars drive around the fountain. Their faces are mixed with alarmed and curiosity, and as they saw a woman who is standing on their porch with no warning at all.

I started preparing the gifts that I shopped on the way here, which Kuya Jake drop a little while.

The squeal they made the moment they recognize me is a piece of music to my ears. The faces of the children change. They lit up like Christmas. And they all jumped at me, all at once.

"Ate Luna!" I giggle as they started to hug me. "Oh my God." I stiffen my giggle. I gather all of them and dropped the wooden porch that is newly varnished as well.

"We've missed you, Ate Luna." They all said at once. And it's a heart-melting moment for me.

"I've missed you too. I've bought some gifts for all of you... why won't you open it inside." And all of them smile, they kindly grab the shopping bags and run inside the mansion.

There I see Kay, behind the bushes. I don't know why she's there but she caught my attention.

She's a good girl ever since she was born. She doesn’t cry nor complain.

She’s the nicest girl of all of them, she knows when to behave, when to be naughty, she obeys everything we said.

She doesn’t obey us if she knows that something bad is gonna happen if she obeys the order, she knows what's right and wrong and she is nice to people.

And slowly she walks towards me. And my eyes followed her and I slowly drop to my knees.

"Hi, Kay." I smile up to my ears. "Hello, Miss Luna." I frown. "Kay, how many times do I have to tell you, just call me Ate Luna... or Tita Ate," she looks down as she grinds something on the ground with her small little foot. "Everyone calls you that way." Oh. "Walk with me, Kay?" I hold out my hand, and without second doubt, she takes it.

“You have a Spanish class during summer, right? And you just started the class this last summer?” I ask while we’re walking.

“Yup, Apple, Michael, Andrea, Tristan, Ion, Trisha, Bea, Piolo, Theodor, Phoebe, JM, and I are trying to learn!” she says. “How is it? Is the teacher good?” I ask her still holding her hand.

“It’s good, I learned a lot of things Tita Ate, like 'Joven', 'Feo', 'Dulce' and a lot more!” She says while jumping. “And the teacher?” I ask again, “She’s very good! Except for the students, they’re naughty and stubborn!” she says and giggles.

“That’s good to know, and did I heard 'She'?” I asked. “Yeah her name is Mrs. Larson!” She replies.

“We’ve missed you, Ate Luna! Abuela Kristina and Abuela Emilia are in the backyard and Abuelo Tristopher and Abuelo Kevin are in the study playing chess.” Anne said.

“Where’s is Tita Amor?” I ask her while the other children are playing, “Mom is in the backyard, with Dad, Tita Mica, and Tito Lorenz, Tita Maria and Tito Angelo, Tita Bella and Tito Edward, Tita Anna and Tito Christian, Tita Rosie and Tito Alex.” She says while looking at the ground grinding something with her right foot.

“What’re they doing?” I ask while looking at her. “They’re cooking food! Because they expect that you’re coming!... I guess...” She replies.

We finally reach the back where all of the people are.

“Hermos!” I shout and all of them turn their attention to me. “LUNA!!!” they all shout with all excitement, they hug me altogether.

“How are you?!” “When did you get here?!” “How’s the flight?!” these are the questions I mostly hear because of the people speaking and asking questions all at the same time.

“I’m good; I just arrived here when Anne and the children came into me saying that all of you are in here! The flight is usual” I answer all of their questions, though I felt like I’m missing something, Ha! I know! Abuelo and Abuela.

I saw my two Abuelas talking to each other sitting on the swing, even though they’re old they still have a young spirit and still strong, I walk towards them.

“Mi Abuelas Hermos!” I shout as I got their attention, they both turn their heads into me I'm surprised that they still have a good hearing, they must’ve taken my advice about having a daily checkup every morning.

They look at me and then their eyes went big. “Hija!!!” they both shout while waving their hands up in the air.

I run towards them, bend my knees into the ground and hug them both.“Oh my God! I missed you both!” I breathe while hugging both of them.

“We missed you too, darling!” they say as they squeeze me. I stand up. “How are you?!” I ask them.

“I’m fine Kristina and I are talking about the companies!” Granny Emilia said. “Why do you need to think about the business? Is there something wrong? Mom and Dad can handle those? Both of you should rest your mind, like Grandpa Tristopher and Grandpa Kevin!” I reply and wearing my worried eyes.

The 2 maids bring them both to their rooms to have a rest, I run inside heading to the study to see Grandpa Tristopher and Grandpa Kevin.

I head to the study, 1st floor is kinda big, when you enter the Mansion, you'll see a very big circular curved stairs across the hallway where you are, and a very big chandelier hanging in the center of it.

All of the walls are Benjamin Moore Silver Mist colored with a touch of Rose Gold; the Mansion is well decorated and well furnished, from the very first hallway where you are stepping, it is decorated with expensive paintings, vases, and others, almost all of the hallways are Beige colored tile, walk until you reached the staircase then at your left first door is the study, one thing I noticed about the mansion is that the floor plan is like a big domino game.

It is as big as I remember. And as big as you imagine when you're outside.

The shiny mahogany floor is still stunning as ever. I still have some memories of my grandparents taking care of me. I rarely have a childhood memory with my parents here. But I just can't remember any specifications.

I wonder if my Grandfathers are still the same. I do have a nostalgic feeling that they scare me.

Gazing at the beauty of this mansion, I still can't believe I used to live here. People seemed to have fantasies of living in a huge mansion, but here I am living in one.

And then, I remember my room... I do remember that specific room, where I cover myself with a heavy comforter just to hide from my imaginations, monsters, and ghosts.

I wonder if it's still the same. A single bed, a huge closet, pink walls, and a pink bathroom. I wonder if they still have my childhood pictures there, I'm sure they're there.

As I walk and slowly approach the study room where Grandpa Tristopher and Grandpa Kevin usually are, I start having some vivid vision...

I used to run in this hallway...

Goddamn it, Luna! Maybe you're just hungry!

I stopped for a moment...

Shit!

My head hurts... Like a migraine or something.

I breathe slowly and grab my chest, hoping the pain reduces.

Please, please, please, please!

It worked!

As I slowly bring myself back together, my headache starts to dissolve, it started to go away.

Damn!

I catch my breath and compose myself.

What in the hell is that?

Why do I suddenly remember?

It's hard to ignore something like that right now.

I... I mean it's not of a big deal if I used to run here, but I remember something I didn't know I have...

I'm so out of my mind...

As soon as I came back to my senses, I fixed myself. My suit, my shirts, and my pants.

Coming back here... I didn't know there's something to uncover here.

Is it right to come back here? Did I make the right decision?

Gosh, Luna, you're overreacting, you just got here! Things are going to be ok. You will be ok! As you move forward, everything will run smoothly... I hope...

For now, let's just go and focus on my main goal... Let's meet my Abuelos.