A Night To Remember (El Primo Series #1)

Chapter 23

I took a deep breath.

Lance is still not at home. He texted me that he will not go home for two days because of some reason.

Hundreds replies I sent to Uno but even a single message he didn't response me.

I already made my final decision...

For the last time, I turned around to this apartment and smiled. Many memories have been created in this house and I'm sure that I will treasure every single of it.

I sat down on the sofa and placed my luggage at my side.

The second time, I took a deep breath.

I called the number that has always been calling me. I didn't know how they found out my phone number but they have their own ways, anyway.

A painful but cherished smile came from my mouth. I still remember the first time they called me...

I'm at the supermarket and I bought food for our stock. I didn't have a chance to accept the call since I am next to the counter so I just ignored it.

I laughed.

It's funny how many times they called me but I always refused it. But look at me now, calling them for some reason.

[ Flashback ]

Habang nagluluto ako ng umagahan ay biglang nag-ring ang aking cellphone.

"Uno, pakikuha nga 'yong cellphone ko!" sigaw ko.

Natampal ko na lang ang aking noo ng ma-realise na tulog pa pala si Uno kaya pinatay ko ang kalan.

Nang tignan ko ang number ng tumatawag ay unknown ito kaya napakunot ang aking noo.

"Hello, who's this?" tanong ko rito.

"Is this Heina Amor Curtis?" ma-awtoridad na saad sa kabilang linya.

Halos mabitawan ko na ang sandok na hawak ko nang makilala ang boses ng taong iyon.

"What do you need from me?" tanong ko rito.

"Why are you enduring that kind of life, Heina? You can be with—"

"Sorry, but I more like to be alone rather than to be with y'all," walang pag-aalangan na sagot ko rito.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya.

"Okay, but if you change your mind. Just call this number," aniya.

[ End of Flashback ]

They kept calling me and I kept rejecting it.

I never thought that I would come to this point, to think between my life or my freedom...

"Hello, who is—"

"I finally made my decision," I said.

I heard her gasp.

I know she never expected it.

"What decision, my dear Heina?" she asked.

I suddenly got cringed when she said 'my'. I know it's normal but it's kinda uncomfortable to me.

"I accepted it," I said.

"Accepted what?" she asked.

My eyes rolled.

I can imagine her smirking and playful smile right now.

"You know what I meant. Don't ever tease me again if you don't want me to change my mind," I said in an authoritative tone.

She laughed. "Okay, calm down. Your patience is too short... just like your father," she said.

I suddenly stopped frowning because of what she said and I didn't speak for a while.

When she noticed it, she said, "I will send men that will fetch you there, darling. Just wait for a while."

"Yeah," I response and ended the call.

I might have no respect but I'm really not comfortable with how she used to call me.

I texted Uno again. "Uno, I will finally leave now. Hoping that you're fine wherever you are :)"

After I sent it. I smile again. The emoji is really cute.

I'm surprised when someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, my eyebrows went up.

"Who are y'all?" I asked.

"We are the guards that will lead you to the mansion," a guy said.

They took my luggage and led me in the direction of the car.

For the last time, I took a glance in the apartment. When they were about to close it, I shouted, "Wait lang!"

They looked at me with confusing eyes.

I ran towards the door and took Heino from the sofa.

Heino is my only memory from Uno...

"Let's go," I said.

They led me and made sure that I'm safe by taking a step.

It's somehow awkward because I'm not used to this.

When they are assured that I'm in the van, I thought they were gonna sit in the van too but they walked toward another car.

Supposedly, the driver, two guards and I are the only one who's here.

"Ah, saan sila pupunta?" I asked to them.

The driver answered. "They have separated cars because madam doesn't wanted you to be awkward to them."

I nodded.

I took a glance for the last time at my home while our van is starting to move.

This has been my home for years and years of memories I took with it.

A painful smile came from my mouth.

Everyone left me so I should rather leave my home too. It's not forgetting my memories with them, but creating another memory without them.

Zain died months ago and until now he still didn't have the justice that he must have. Bessy left me 2-3 days after Zain died, that was months ago too. She left me without any explanation...

The company fired me because of the accident which still left me with a lot of questions. Tita—Ma'am Thina has been cold to me without any reason—without telling me what was the reason.

Uno left me without saying anything before he left, without saying goodbye...

"Ma'am, ayos lang po ba kayo? May masakit po ba sa inyo?"

I suddenly opened my eyes when a guard asked me.

"Ah, I'm o-okay," I said.

I touched my cheeks and suddenly a smile disappeared.

I cried...

"You all don't need to worry. I'm fine," I said again because the three of them are panicking.

"Are you sure, Ma'am? Madam will sue us if anything happens to you," he said.

I laughed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Okay? No need to worry," I said again.

Pagkatapos ko sabihin iyon ay nanahimik na ulit ang loob ng sasakyan. Naglagay ako ng headset sa aking tainga at tumingin sa bintana.

Pak! May sound trip na, feeling heartbroken pa.

My mood suddenly changed when I heard one of my favorite sad song.

I sing along with it without thinking about everyone who are inside the van.

My world suddenly stopped when I heard the chorus part. I sang it...

"But I love you so..."

Why does everyone come with a surprise and then leave me without saying anything that surprised me more.

I know to myself that this song is portraying us... Uno.

I leaned on the car seat. Because of the vibe of the music, the temperature inside the van and also my mood, my eyes closed without me knowing it and everything became heavy.

The bodyguards woke me up. "Ma'am, nandito na po tayo."

I was about to took my luggage but they said that they already entered it in the house—mansion.

I'm facing the door and it made me look like I'm tiny...

Nang bumukas ito ay hindi ko inaasahan na maraming bubungad sa akin... kasama na roon si Lawrence at Lance.

Lance ran towards me and opened his arms so I opened my arms too and we made a hug.

"I miss you so much!" he shouted.

Kinotongan ko siya. "Parang hindi tayo nagkita kahapon, ah?" sarkastikong kong saad ko.

Tumawa lang siya at niyakap ulit ako. "Sa wakas, may tama ka na rin na naging desisyon sa buhay mo," sarkastikong sabi nito.

I rolled my eyes.

Naghiwalay na kami ng yakap.

"Oo nga pala. Sabi mo sa akin ay may pupuntahan ka, so rito ang punta mo?" Taas kilay kong tanong sa kaniya.

Umiling siya."Tinawagan lang ako ni grandma kasi sabi niya ay nagbago na raw ang desisyon mo."

I smiled. "So, you left the thing that you need to do just for me?" I asked and teased him.

Tumalikod siya sa akin. "Luh? Asa ka! Gusto ko lang talaga kainin 'yong kaldereta ni Lola, 'no!" sigaw niya sa akin.

Tumawa ako at nilakasan ito. Sinasadya ko talaga na marinig niya iyon para maasar siya.

"Stop laughing!" he shouted and faced me.

I look at him with a teasing face.

"Uhm? Guys? Baka nakakalimutan niyo na may kasama pa kayo rito," saad ni Lawrence.

"Tampo 'yan?" sabay na saad namin ni Lance sa kaniya.

Nakita ko naman ang paghaba ng nguso nito kaya napatingin ako kay Lance na nakatingin din pala sa akin at sabay kaming tumawa.

"Para ka talagang pato!" sigaw ni Lance rito.

"Hoy! Baka nakakalimutan mo na kambal tayo, kaya mukha ka rin pato," saad naman ni Lawrence sa kaniya.

Iling-iling na lang ako habang tinitignan ang pagtatalo nila.

Maybe, something changed but it will never change the fact that our bond is still strong like before...

"Is that how an heir will act in front of people?" a girl spoke.

The mood suddenly ruined when she spoke. The whole salas was covered by silence, even the twins suddenly stopped laughing.

I actually don't know her, well most of the people here is unfamiliar, even their faces.

Her eyebrows went up and smiled after. "Oh? Sorry to ruin the mood. I'm just stating the facts."

"Stop that, Maisy," the girl said. She looks old but still stunning.

I smiled when our eyes met.

I guess she's our grandmother...?

I saw Maisy's eyes rolled.

Hinila ako ni Lance dahil alam niyang wala akong balak na lumapit sa kanila dahil mahiyain akong tao.

Isa-isa nila akong niyakap at ni-greet maliban kay Maisy.

"So, you're Heina Amor Curtis?" the guy asked.

I shyly nodded. "Ah, y-yes." My hands are trembling.

Social anxiety again...

Lawrence grabbed my hand and he held it, that made me calm a little.

The guy giggled. "I'm Brix Curtis. Your cousin too," he said.

My eyebrows suddenly went up again. I looked at the twins with 'asking look' and they nodded.

I expected it but I'm still surprised.

I didn't expected that our genes would be so good... good. They look like those in the magazine who always feature unlike me who are just chasing clout...

"Why did you looked surprised?" he asked while giggling.

"Uhm, may I know your age?" I asked.

"29," he said.

My eyebrows went higher and higher.

He is 29 without even looking like it? He looks like a teenage man...

"Ah, you're older than me," I shyly said.

Honestly, if this man is not my cousin, I would definitely like him. I mean? He looks so fine! His style, looks, humble voice, angelic face, and also the way he sat. He's also reading the book that I like! I guess it's runs in our blood?

"Hmm, really? How old are you then?" he asked and closed the book.

"I already turned 25 years old one week ago," I said.

I gulped. I remembered that my birthday is the day that I saw Uno and Flair...

"Really? You don't look like you're 25 years old," he said.

I immediately blushed. "Really?"

"Yeah, because you look like a 50 years old woman," he said.

The smile on my face immediately faded away.

I heard the twins laughed.

"Yah!" I shouted at him.

He laughed.

After I realized what I did, I laughed too.

We're both comfortable with each other even in just a small amount of time we're together.

"Nandito pa kami, huy!" sigaw ng katabi niya.

Napansin ko naman na umalis si Maisy, tatawagin ko sana ito kaso nagsalita siya.

"Just called me if we were about to eat. Tss," she said and walked away.

Napansin ko lang na halos mga lalaki ang kasama ko rito at ako lang mukhang bata.

They're started to introduce themselves.

"I'm Leonardo Vianeza. Just call me Leo," he said in a cold tone.

I smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you, Leo," I said and he just nodded.

"Ako naman!" sigaw ng isa pa kaya natawa naman ako.

"Ako si Cybird Curtis. Tawagin mo na lang akong Cy," saad nito.

Natawa naman ako.

"Stop laughing, Heina. I know what you're thinking," he said and rolled his eyes.

But instead of stopping from laughing, I laughed more because of how he acted.

"Sa dinami-rami kasi ng pangalan na pwedeng ibigay sa akin, Cybird pa ang napili," nagtatampong saad nito.

Hindi na rin napigilan ng taong kasama ko rito ang tumawa.

We're all laughing together...

It's nice to experience it. This is the only thing I wanted that I never experienced before, but I'm experiencing it right now.