CHAPTER 16: Way Back Home

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

Mom and I packed our things up for our flight back to the Singapore. Dad will be left alone in here again, just like before. I felt bad for a moment, thinking that we need to leave him again but at least, I will got a chance to see Erevell back there.

“Someone is smiling to himself,” Mom muttered under her breath. “Is it what you called, Erevell effect?”

“Huh?” I asked, raising one of my brows in confusion.

“Even if don’t tell me, I knew you are excited for this trip. I mean, later on you’ll pretty sure see your bestfriend again...”

I smiled to myself, before continue packing up my things. I wanted to answer my Mom, but I just couldn’t found some proper words to tell her.

“Mom, what if... What if Erevell’s operation gone wrong?” I felt horrified, asking that question myself.

I hadn’t think too much about her health after we left the country. I haven’t got any news and she didn’t contact me as well. Erevell is... She’s stubborn and silly. I know that she will find a way to talk to me after her operation. But she didn’t, so maybe something indeed gone wrong... But, I just couldn’t think about that inevitable thing.

“Gab! That’s a horrible thing to ask! I mean, she’s your bestfriend...” Mom looked at my direction, stunned.

“Mom... I haven’t thought about that thing before... But right now... I don’t know what to expect the moment we came back in there. I mean, Erevell never find a way to contact me...”

“So as you. Maybe she’s just busy like us. Maybe she choose to wait and not to think some horrible stuffs like you...” Mom scolded.

“Sorry... I just... I don’t know what to think anymore, Mom. I’m just worried about her. And... I miss her so much,” I blurted out.

Mom smiled at me before walking towards my direction. She then gave me a light hug, and somehow, it helps me ease the worry in my chest. Erevell is still there... And she will always be there.

“You know what, Gabriel?” Mom looked down at me.

“Yeah?”

“When they told me that your Dad has been on an accident, I chose to be quiet rather than to show you I’m suffering out of worry... It helped a lot, I guess. You should learn to be tough sometimes, son. It will help you a lot. Though, in your case with Erevell, I’m sure she surpassed that operation. You know how strong she is, right?”

“Right.” I nodded.
Mom chuckled, before giving me a forehead kiss. She then moved away, continuing to pack her things up for we only have nineteen hours left before our flight to Singapore. I sighed, thinking that Erevell will be there when we come back. She still strong, and weird. We will reminisce our memories together and after the awkwardness between the both of us worn out, we will definitely be back to normal.

On the other hand, I am also thinking about Mom’s statement earlier. It was like a confession of truth. She said it herself. She’s quiet different from all the other wives out there. She’s unique, I guess. She doesn’t weep nor cry in front of everyone. She never complain and she always try her best to be calm in any situation. She’s indeed strong, like my bestfriend, Erevell.

I was about to ask her one more question when Dad entered to our room, cutting our conversation.

“Mom, is there–” The door swing open.

“Hey! What is this fuss all about? You’re leaving your old man again, Gabriel?” Dad asked jokingly.

I chuckled, before moving towards him to give him a light hug. To be honest, I’m going to miss him. This country, our school... And even the friendship I have made with Claire and Kate. I haven’t got a chance to apologize to the later one after the graduation... She just left, vanished out of everyone’s sight like the wind after our graduation.

“Thinking about something, son?” Dad asked. Before I could answer, Mom already stepped into our conversation.

“That son of yours has been thinking so many messy things about life lately. You know, it would have been nice if you will come with us,” Mom stated.

“I wanted to, you know that. It’s just that, I need to work.”

“Really? Right after being in an accident? Come on. It’s only been a year, Gary. You should take a break from any stressful things now.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. But I won’t. I need to make some new investments. That was essential.”

I chuckled, seeing Mom frowned her face. When she saw me laughing at her, her facial expression becomes more furious than ever.

“Gabriel, don’t be like your father someday. Build a family, not a company. Take care of your future wife and children, not stocks and investments,” she stated sarcastically, making Dad heard all the fuss she’s been talking about.

Well I guess I could retrieve those words earlier. Yeah, Mom does complain, but only occasionally.

“Don’t be like that. You two are going to leave me here all alone pretty much sooner or later so please don’t act so jealous of my work,” Dad said, walking towards Mom’s direction to give her a hug.

I chuckled to myself, badly wanting to exit in this awkward situation. As Mom and Dad is doing their little thing, I decided to went outside of my room to prepared some snacks for us. After that, I climbed up back to our house’s second floor and knock in the door before entering the room.

Dad is flashing a wide grin while Mom is blushing. Looks like the two of them finally resolve their little argument about Dad’s work earlier.

“Hey, I got you two some foods from the kitchen.”

Dad thanked me, getting the tray out of my hands before he started to help himself eating the cookies and juice. Mom came too, took a nibble, before looking at me.

“Thank you for this, son. I’m going to prepare dinner soon so we could eat all together before we leave for tomorrow,” Mom stated.

I nodded, before I saw Dad put his arms around Mom’s shoulder.

“Last supper with me, eh?”

“Stop saying that. This is not the last time that we are having a dinner together. You are going to visit your son and I at the Singapore soon. You promised...”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Dad gave her a forehead kiss, making me wanting to puke for their too much sweetness.

“Hey, don’t laugh at us!” Mom scolded, making me chuckled once more.

Our last day in the Philippines pretty much ended that way. The three of us ate dinner all together as a whole family before I help Mom washed the dishes. Then we went to our own respective bedroom, waiting for sleep to come.

I sighed, tired of waiting to see my bestfriend. It will only be a few hours left before I could see her again. It was less than a day, actually. But it felt so long that I couldn’t even sleep thinking how is she doing right now. I hope Mom was right. I hope she’s still there.

Until the morning came. Dad drove us to the nearest airport and as we bid our final goodbyes to each other, I saw a bead of tear escaping from Mom’s eye. Dad wiped it away, before planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll see you two later on. Just wait for me. I’ll visit you whenever I’m not busy.”

“Fine, fine. Just don’t make us wait too long. I badly wanted to see you again, Gary.”

“Sure. Come here.” He gave Mom a hug, before looking at my direction. “Come here, son. Let your old man give you a hug.”

I smiled, before walking towards their direction. We continued doing our mini group hug before we finally parted, Mom’s eyes looking sore. Maybe she’s a strong woman, indeed. But in front of my Dad, she’s still as vulnerable as any other wives out there.

As we make our way towards the airplane, I felt uneasy, my stomach is having some kind of weird feelings in it. Butterflies, I guess? But why? Maybe because of the fact that I’m finally on my way home to my bestfriend... The only true friend that I got in my whole life. I’m going to see Erevell again, after a long year of waiting...