One last step of the stair and I am in the land of Philippines.
I heard Perth yawning then looked at the sky. I smiled when our gaze met. He just smiled a bit then held my hand.
He doesn't want to go here. I convinced him for how many weeks. Wala rin siyang nagawa. I promise him to go back in US. We're going back to US if that... is a vacation. Hindi na kami titira roon. I want to sell our properties there but Tita Mayala convinced me to don't sell it. May paraan naman daw para sa kakailanganin na pera.
Kahit na maraming problema sa pagdating dito sa Pilipinas ay hindi ko iyon inisip. Seeing my relatives and friends are giving me enough strength to face them.
"Nasaan si Lance, Tita?" tanong ko nang makadating kami sa bahay nila.
"He's at work, Hill. Ewan ko ba sa kaniya. Hindi na iyon bumibisita sa bahay."
I chuckled with Tita Mayala rants. Lance didn't take his father footsteps. Engineer ang kinuha niya. I guess Tito Loyd will encourage Lance to take care their business soon.
Dito kami sa bahay nila dumiretiyo dahil may hinanda sila para sa pagdating namin. Pagpasok namin sa bahay nila ay nakita ko na bumaba si Lauren sa hagdanan nila at sinalubong si Perth. Pinabayaan namin ang dalawa sa living room. Napunta kami ni Tita Mayala sa kusina nila na puno ng pagkain. Tito Loyd was reading a newspaper but when he saw me, he stood and walk toward us.
"Welcome home, Hill." He gave me a hug.
I smiled then turned to Tita Mayala. She smiled a bit.
"Our home is big, Hill. You and Perth can-"
"No, Tita. Doon kami sa condo ni Miya titira. Baka sa susunod na taon ay bibili ako ng bahay para sa amin ni Perth."
She sighed sadly. She wants us to live here. Hindi naman sa hindi ko gustong tumira dito pero gusto kong sanayin ang mamuhay ng nagiisa, dalawa kami ni Perth. I want us to face the challenges and learn from it.
Nang matapos ang paguusap namin ni Tita Mayala at Tito Loyd ay napagpasiyahan na naming kumain. The whole lunch is nostalgic. Ang bago lang ay ang kasama si Perth. It was overwhelming to see him getting comfortable while chatting with our relatives.
Pagkatapos ng lunch ay nagkwentuhan muna kami ni Tita Mayala. Ang kaniyang asawa naman ay pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ng newspaper sa kanilang living room at pinabayaan kami ni Tita Mayala na magusap. Si Lauren at Perth ay nanood ng TV habang naguusap. Kaya nang makaalis kami ay gumagabi na. Hinatid kami ng isa nilang tauhan.
I was tired the whole ride. Perth seemed tired too. Dahil sa pagod ay hindi na ako nagabalang buksan ang mga maleta namin. Miya was waiting inside her condo. She is giving me her condo and of course, I pay it. She insisted that I shouldn't pay it. Hindi ako pumayag at nagtransfer agad ng pera sa account niya. Wala rin naman siyang nagawa.
"You want to sleep now?" I asked Perth when I saw him yawning.
