CHAPTER 38

AMETHYST'S POV

"I'm really excited to go home!" Bella exclaimed in so much excitement.

Each of us was holding large plastic bags.

They contain some treats and things for our families that we will arrange later once we were back in the apartment.

"Yes! Me too!" I agree with her with a big smile plastered on my face.

Three days from now we will be flying back to the Philippines.

Just a vacation for one month and then we will come back here to work again.

Then, after three years, our contract is over and we will return to the Philippines. It's just our choice if we want a renewal for our contract.

Bella and I haven't talked about this yet.

I'm so excited to see what I've been worked for.

Our was now renovated and it got bigger.

We now have a second floor and there are four rooms in total.
Two on the second floor and two on the ground floor.

The rooms on the second floor is for Crystal and I each.

Allen's room is on downstairs and mom and uncle Arnaldo are just sharing in the same room.

But even though I'm not even there yet, they were still cleaning what will serve as my room everyday.

We have also expanded the living room and bought a lot of things.
We are now complete in appliances.

Our grocery store is now under construction.

I still really need to save for the investment. I also intend to join the seminars for those who want to do business when I actually return to the Philippines.

I also bought uncle Arnaldo his own bus.

And of course, I have already saved up somehow to look for my daughter.

But, I will just look for her when we finally go back to the Philippines and that will be three years from now.
So that I can really focus and I will not be short in money.

Trev is also with us and they are still going strong even though they have been there for almost three years. I am just so happy for them.

He will also go back to the Philippines for a vacation like us.

We are in Manila and Trev is only in Quezon City so his house is not really that far from Bella's.

It's not province to city like that. They will not experience the super long distance relationship.


He is also carrying large plastic bags.

It's good that even though they were together, Bella didn't get pregnant.

Well, as far as I know they will prioritize marriage before starting a family. I'm wishing them all the best!

After we got out of the mall, we traveled back to our apartment.

Trev doesn't want to buy a car here. He said he will just buy one once we got back home in the Philippines and when he or we will not come back here to work.


------


It's already past ten in the evening and I'm on the balcony of our apartment.

I am just sitting down on the chair and looking at my phone that was on the top of the table.

We have also already finished arranging all the things we had when we got back here earlier.

We also talked to our families earlier.

I'm the only one here because Bella is already asleep.

Trev was already on his apartment and that was not really afar from here.

I sighed softly as I played with my fingers.

I was wondering if I should call him.

Will he come with us?

I think it's been almost a month since our last conversation.

I have already informed Bella and mom about this but I said I'm not really sure yet.

They are just okay with what I said, but me? I do not know.

I just let out another breath before I picked up my phone that was on top of the table.

I turned it on and dialed Adam's number.

I was about to press the call button but I was still really got nervous that I stopped myself.

Of course, it might be awkward if he will really come with us?

Given that he only talks to me and he and Bella are not that close yet because they still have a bit of formality when they talk with each other.

But I hope I'm just overthinking.

"Well, what is the matter if the guy will really come?" I blew out air again before I just pressed the call button.

I put my phone close to my ear and it rang.

It was just a few rings and Adam answered the call.

"Hi! How are you?" he greeted me enthusiastically on the other line.

I just smiled because of his energy.

"I'm just fine. How about you?" I answered and asked here.

"I'm just fine, too. I'm sorry, I've been busy for the whole month because of the case that we're handling. But, luckily our last hearing will be held the day after tomorrow." I just nodded at what he said even though he can't see me. But I hummed.


"I was right. I didn't bother you either because I thought you were busy, so I just gave you time." I smile even though he can't see me. I even heard him laughed softly.

"So, what are you up to?" he asked.

"Are you still busy right now?" I asked first.

Because he said the day after tomorrow is their last hearing. Maybe he's even working overtime now.

"My shift just ended one hour ago, I'm already on my unit. I didn't do over time," he replied.

"Good. Well, I want to ask you something," I just said here.

"Go on. What is it?"

"We will go back to the Philippines for a vacation, do you want to come with us?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure! I will love that!" he immediately answered enthusiastically.

"By the way, when is your flight?" he asked.


"Uhm, three days from now. That means, the next day after your final hearing," I answered slowly.

"Sorry for late informing you," I quickly added.

"Oh, okay. That's fine. I can make it," he just said.

"Can you help me tomorrow?" he just asked immediately.

"Help where?" I also just asked.

"With my visa, passport and etcetera?"

"Sure, why not? What time?" I just looked up and the cloudy sky opened up to me.

But it doesn't look like it's going to rain. It's jusy cold here.

"After my work. I'll just call you. Is that fine with you?" he asked and I even heard him like as if he do some stretching.

"Yes, that's fine. I think that's tiring for you," I said while laughing a bit.

"After that is a vacation, isn't it?"

"You're right. Oh, by the way, I think you are too tired right now and already want to rest. So, sorry for disturbing you, let's end this call." He just laughed at what I said.

"Yeah, I was about to sleep when you called,"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I whispered.

"Just kidding. You are never disruption to me." Now I was the one who laughed at what he said.

"Thank you for informing me. Thank you that it is just fine if I come with you,"

"That's nothing,"

"Salamat (Thank you)." I laughed at what he said. It's slang because of course, he's not a Filipino.
Of course he's not really used to it.

But the way he said it? I found it cute.
I really founding it cute when other races try to speak in Filipino.

"What?" he innocently asked.

"Sorry for laughing. I just find it cute." He also laughed at what I said.

I already taught him some basic Filipino words. Like: kumusta (hello), salamat (thank you), patawad (sorry), maganda (beautiful) and guwapo (handsome).

I aslo planned before to make fun but I thought that I might just regret it soon, so I just didn't do it. Also, that is shameful and humiliating.

"Okay, I gotta go," he just said.

"Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow,"

"Good night,"

"Good night, too,"

"Sweet dreams and take care,"

"You too, sleep well."

I just smiled before I ended our call.

Adam and I never developed.

As in we are just friends. Not that boy best friend, tho. Well, we sometimes bully each other. But not everytime because I was afraid he might shoot me. Just kidding.

I don't know, maybe we just got vibes. He was kind and reliable but we didn't like each other.

In fact, he is dating someone right now and he is asking me for tips and such.

------


The next day I helped Adam and he called me at five o'clock in the afternoon.

Maybe it's because he has a connection, a name and he already has already the papers before so we immediately arranged the things he needed even though it was late.

He even treat us in dinner.
And we also had dinner at his apartment, with Bella and Trev.

I introduced him thoroughly and we immediately got along.

I also showed him to my mom, they thought he was my lover but I said he was just a friend.


I don't know, I also meeting someone else here.
The others tried to court me and some are even really courted me but they also gave up.

They're not my type, tho. I know I can't even love them.

Trev even teased me because he remembered the first time we met Adam or mr. Leroy.

The next day, Adam happily announced to me that they had won the case.
So we are all excited and happy to leave tomorrow.


------

"Sister! We're here!" I immediately turned to where that familiar voice came from.


"Crystal! Mom!" My smiles were big when I saw them.

I dropped my suitcase and immediately approached them.

They also ran towards me and when they got close to me we immediately all hugged.

When we let go of the hug, mom was crying.

She just hugged me again.
"How are you, honey?" she asked as her shoulders are shaking slightly.
How sweet, she cried when she finally saw me after a long time. I just didn't help it but to also cry.

"I'm just doing pretty good, ma. I'm so happy because I'm now with all of you again." After a while, mom let go of our hug and her hand came down from my arms.
"We are also very happy," mom said with teary eyes.

I just laughed and wiped my tears.

"What the edge! The tears of joy are over! Let's all just feel joy!" I said enthusiastically to them.

Crystal immediately stood next to me and then hugged my side.

Uncle Arnaldo and Allen are also here.

We returned to my things and Adam was there.

"Uhm, ma, Tal, this is Adam," I introduced them.
They bowed for a moment.

"Uhm, Adam, this is my family. My mom, Jonah." Adam do shake hands with mom and immediately do the 'mano' afterwards.


Mom got surprised because of this. I taught him this before we came here.

"Hi, ma'am!" he greeted enthusiastically.

My mama just laughed.

"Don't call me ma'am. You can just call me auntie." Adam smiled and nodded.

I also introduced him one by one to Crystal, uncle Arnaldo and Allen.

Bella had her family with her, as did Trev.

We talked first and planned what we would do in the next days and weeks.

It's not tomorrow because we're going to rest first.

We will just meet tomorrow to plan more properly.

The three of us went home to our respective houses. We took Adam with us first.

There are a total of four rooms in the house, so it will be just fine.

He will use my room first and I will sleep in my sister's room.

I also miss my sister sleeping next to me.

We are still tired so tomorrow we will look for a hotel that Adam can stay at that is just close to us.

That was exactly the plan and Adam was just fine with it. He also wants to stay in a hotel instead in our house.

He said he was ashamed, I invited him many times to just stay in us but he rejected all of my offerings.

We even had fun eating together at night. Our dining table was full of laughter and conversation.
I miss this so much.
There is just an adjustment because Adam is here. My family got into English.

------

Because this is the closest hotel to us, even if the memories that I want to forget come back, I have no choice.

Adam stayed at the Montecillo hotel after Bella and Trev and I met at home.

Same hotel where my messy and scary past happened and started.

We also helped him with his things but I was the only one left here to help him organize his things.

Besides, we will look for a car that can be rented.

"I had a bad memory here," I suddenly blurted out as I helped Adam arrange his clothes.

He looked at me.
"What is it?" he just asked.
I just laughed at first. "Sorry for opening it up. I don't really want to talk about it." I just blew an air.

"I want to forget it or at least make new memories here. Sorry, pretty ironic isn't it that I opened it and I don't really wanna talk about it?" I just said as I shook my head.

"That's fine. That's normal. I won't force you too if you don't really want too." I looked at him and then smiled.

"Yet, I know that you hate that." My smile just widened as I closed my eyes at him as if I am teasing him.

When I opened my eyes, he was just laughing too.

I just shook my head before I continued moving his clothes from the suitcase to the hotel drawer.

He is hanging up his polo shirts.

My face just crumpled because of the next thing I grabbed from his suitcase.

His boxers.

------

Because I suddenly remembered Earl, I thought of visiting him at his grave.

So after Adam and I finally found a car, I immediately asked him to take me at the cemetery.

He just choose not to get out of the car because I told him that my I'm just going to my boyfriend that we didn't break up.

He asked why he died and at first I didn't want to answer and I didn't know how to answer him.

But I just said that he died because of an accident, that was also what everyone knows, tho.

He respected my desire for privacy.

He knows it's better if I go to Earl's grave alone and talk to him.

As far as I can remember, Earl's death anniversary is next week. It looks like I can't come here not next week because we might still be on an outing by chance.

I gently caressed Earl's tombstone as I approached it.

His burial is only at eye level.
This is just a public cemetery, why?

First I lit the two white candles that I brought.
"Hi, babe. How are you?" I cried because I couldn't stop my tears from falling.

"S-sorry, huh? I didn't do anything. Our relationship has suffered, then my life has been also messed up," my voice rasped and I was gasping for breath.

"I-I'm really sorry." I just bowed down while crying.

After a while, the wind suddenly blew and seemed to hug me.

I felt the same feeling when he was buried. This kind of cold and windy feeling.

"I-I really want justice to be served to you but how?"
"What we dealt with was too brutal and powerful. I-I'm really sorry," my voice broke again.

I also cried for a few minutes at Earl's grave.

When I calmed myself down, I looked up.

"I-I'll try. As much as I can. Soon, I'll try to find you justice," I said nodding.

The strange wind blew again.

I just smiled and touched again his tombstone.

"Good bye for now. I love you." I turned my back on it and then I started walking.

I looked back at Earl's grave but my eyes caught a man standing not far away.

It peeks out at the end of these wall of graves.

My chest was pounding just like that when I saw those eyes!

Although he's wearing a black face mask, it was his eyes that identified him.

I rubbed my eyes but when I looked in the man's direction again, he was gone.

My chest is pounding in nervousness!

It shouldn't be him!

I'm not even sure if I saw blue eyes.
I wish I was just fooled by my eyes.

Even though I was nervous, I still tried to step on my feet.

I surprised my peek at the end of these graves but the man was gone.

I looked around but it was gone.

I walked around and looked for it but I couldn't really find it.

I hope so.

I hope it's not him or someone connected to him. I don't want to see or even talk to him anymore.



/W.W/