A Love Full of Stars

Chapter 2: Arrival

After seventeen hours of flight and sitting around doing nothing but overthink and looking at nature as we pass by, we finally reached the beautiful islands of the Philippines.

The flight attendant carries my bags as I walk inside the airport's massive building, finding my way out. It's nice... to finally be back here. To my favorite place. To the place where I belong.

Once I got outside the plane, I hurtled inside the airport to get rid of the humidity caused by the hot arisen sun. It's a relief not just because of the comforting cool air that hugs me, but also because of the structure of the airport itself.

Because of awe, I gleefully wandered through the glass ceiling, glass windows, while my guards mind my things.

As I was looking up, continuously walking slowly, I bumped into someone.

The man I bumped into is a very tall man, with a lot of luggage with him.

My eyes went to his, which seems to be a dark brown pair of eyes staring back at me.

I can do nothing but look at him. I started to study his face. He has this perfectly plumped pinkish lips that are proportioned with its well-pronounced cupid's bow; a "David Beckham" styled hair; pointed nose; and a very precise jawline.

He wears a black tux coated with a long brown coat that looked undeniably good on him—not that I had to mention it.

A smile started to form on his lips. "I—Uhm. I'm... I'm sorry." I stuttered, confusingly feeling my heart pumping abnormally.

Is it ok that I'm feeling something that I am familiar with, but don't know what is it in the first place? Because that's how I feel right now. And it's kinda... Weird.

My eyes darted to his lips which then started to move. "Be careful next time." he softly said His voice... Ugh. It made something in me rise, in a way. And I think it's no good. What the hell's happening with me?

I cleared my throat. "Uh, yeah. I'm very sorry." I successfully forced myself to let out a serious tone to avoid any hint that his presence had affected me.

I suddenly felt a presence behind my back. When I turned around to look who it is, It was my guards carrying my bags.

I, once again turned around to face the man I was talking to a moment ago. "Uhm, I got to go...." I don't know if I'm right if I feel that a sudden sadness devoured my body.

I didn't wait for his reply. I just briefly nodded my head as a sign that I'm already going. So, I did.

As I walk to the exit, with sounds of shoes touching the tiled ground hard and fast can be heard even with many people around.

I stopped when I felt a hot hand grab mine. Turning around, I saw him. The man who bewitched me.

"I'm Solomon by the way." I smiled up to my ears.

I got to know his name. The joy ate up the sadness that I was feeling just a while ago.

"Luna," I responded, with a face beaming. I offered my hand, and he immediately took it. I felt countless sparks of electricity with that body encounter, it makes me want to release something. A breath, a mumble, a whisper, or a moan.

"A beautiful name...." he said. Weirdly, that unknown familiar feeling went back at me. I decided to ignore it. But somehow it's too strong to ignore. I kept my posture. "It's nice to, Uhm... Meeting you, Solomon." I saw my guards standing, quietly waiting for me to get inside the family's private car that's been here for maybe an hour.

"Uh, I got to go. My bodyguards are already waiting for me." I c****d my head to where my guards are to show Solomon that they are waiting for me.

I slowly removed my hands from his grasp as I whisper those words.He lets go of my hands like a feather was blown by a wind. He nodded.

"Okay. Be careful," he added with pain and dismay evidently embedded in each word he released.

Did he really feel dismayed and sad? Or was I just delusional? Maybe it's just a fraction of my desire.

I mentally shrugged. Maybe I'm overthinking. He doesn't even personally know me, and so do I. So how come he would be hurt. How come I would be hurt

Funny, Luna. You are. You just met.

I broke the distance between us. Letting myself go inside the car. I even fought the urge to come back to him. I'm trying so hard to restrain myself and go back and throw myself at him.

Crazy Luna. What the f**k is happening to me? Get a grip! Get into the damn car, i***t!

I bowed my head as I enter the car. I forced myself to erase the thoughts that are bugging me since earlier. Don't look at him, don't look at him.

I watched my guards put my bags on the trunk. Looking at the side rear-view mirror of the car, familiar facial features caught my attention.

Those very thin set of eyebrows, wrinkly forehead that showed his age, and very eyes. I smiled up to discover that it was him. My old driver back when I was a little girl.

How I missed this man. "Kuya Jake?" I spoke, contemplating his face.

His eyes shined and his lips formed into a smile. "Welcome back, Miss Luna." "I missed you!" I return.

After some greetings, we decided to go. I learned that we're going to the De la Vega mansion. And the thought of going back home is just... I'm excited!

And as we drove by, passing over different types of vehicles and houses, I started to think about how I will spend my week. School starts next week, and I haven't planned anything. Anything but studying. Or maybe I can go shopping.

"Kuya Jake, can we first go to the nearest mall around here? I have to buy presents for the kids." I asked.

He just looked at me in the rear-view mirror and nodded. "There's a mall two hundred meters around. I'll bring you there." and so the old driver did it.

We went to the nearest mall whence I bought some kinds of stuff and presents for the kids as I did. I hope the kids will like these presents, it's been ages since I came home here.

I didn't consume much time for I got everything with the help of Kuya Jake. He knows the kids that well, so I have no problems picking the rights things.

We immediately decided to go home after shopping. After a few minutes, I saw a familiar gate. I never realized how fast we got home...

Seeing that large gate that used to scare me when I was a little girl, memories started to flash in my mind. Where I used to run and was chased by my older cousins who always look after me in the garden.

I wonder, is everything in here still the same. Inside is a forty-acre land, with a three-story built mansion with a touch of a Spanish house accent on some parts of it.

I'm always in awe about how big this mansion and land were. I went out of the car when Kuya Jake stopped it.

I don't know if it's still the same as I remember. If it is, I will feel definitely at home.

I can see the tree that my father said they planted specifically for me the day after I was born.

The smell of the forest we owned is bringing me a nostalgic feeling as if I remember something I don't know if it really happened.

Ah! the big doors, the big dark brown doors that still smell the same. Newly varnished and looking shiny.

I took a quick glimpse of the mansion before going inside.

The floor is made out of mahogany woods, while the walls are made of allocasuarina luehmannii wood. I looked up and saw the naturally slate tiled roof.

This mansion. The De La Vega Villa—as my Dad calls it—is ginormous but almost half of the land already became a forest.

I have memories of living here, but I can't precisely remember those memories.

Maybe because I was still a kid when I used to live here. Only those specific parts where I used to live with my cousins.

But why do I don't remember the others? How did I end up in Seattle?

For all I know, my life is... Well... Great!

And then all of a sudden, I'm in Seattle.

Living there was hell, the school that went to is conscientious objectors to bullying.

With a rotten school system. I know I don't belong there, from the very start.

I closed my eyes as I breathe everything in, the mansion, the forest, the memories, the man, Solomon...

That guy, that beautiful man just can't get out of my head.

I wanted him so bad...

But... Whatever I'm just so happy. I'm really back...

I should keep this strange feeling inside the bag. Maybe that should help...