CHAPTER 1: WELCOME BACK PHILIPPINES

This is the day that Xia arrived in the Philippines from Paris, as her second mother and little brother quickly prepared to pick her up from the Airport to surprise. Her stepmother said yesterday via phone call that they couldn't pick her up because her mother was having a business meeting but Xia didn't know that the two has a plan to surprise her at the Airport.

"Hurry up Charlie, we need to go before your sister arrived at Airline De Manila Airport." - said her stepmother who is her real mother's sister.

"Wait Mom, just give me a minute!" - Charlie replied. After a minutes pass by he went down the stairs as he buttoned up the island style polo shirt he was wearing and jeans pants for his under. Charlie was a dark -skinned, a handsome and simple guy. Xia is the youngest in the two of them. Their biological mother died at a young age due to the breast cancer at the age of 30 years old while his father has an another family. Xia is only 3 years old when her parents decided to seperate. Xia was the mother and father of his brother when her mother died until the sister of her mother decided to take care of them and consider them a real children when she was 15 years old and his brother was 10 years old. The two separated when Xia turned into 18 years old because of the scholarship opportunity that she applied in Paris, France. More than two years and a half she stayed at Paris until the contract end. They had not been together for 2 years even in a birthday of his brother. They meet but only through social media and now that she has came back here in Philippines, the fun and excitement that she feel was exaggerated.

During the two hours of travel, the two arrived at the airport waiting to Airplane to landed. A yellow banner that brought by his brother while standing at the front of the waiting area of the Airport that can see to his brother’s eyes that he can’t wait to see and hug her sister.

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“On behalf of This Airline, the flight crew would like to welcome you to This International Airport. We will be arriving at the gate momentarily. Please remain in your seats with your seat belt securely fastened until the aircraft has come to a complete stop at the terminal gate.” announce the pilot in an airline.

After a 13 -hour and 52 -minute flight from France to the Philippines, the plane that Xia was on arrived. A beautiful girl wearing white pants that were super -fitted with her curvy waist and legs and a red Puff off shoulder that she partner in her white pants got off the plane with two suitcases she was carrying. She picked up her wide phone whose unit was Apple and searched the contacts for what she wanted to call.

It rang twice as the other line answered.

"Hello Mom?" - Xia answered calmlly

“Hijah? Are you now arriving at the international airport? ” - other line answered on the phone with a confident voice.

As Xia was walking, her conversation with her stepmother was interrupted when she saw a banner held by his brother, Charlie, as she walked quickly and hugged his brother tight that charlie can’t breath anymore.

“I thought, you couldn't went here? ” - Xia asked in a shocked with a surprise in her eyes

“Honestly Xie, we lied. I want to surprise you so I told Mom to tell you we can’t go but the truth is we are waiting here how many hours pass by! ” - charlie replied with joy in his eyes as he hugged tightly and sweet as a candy

“ What a such sweet brother and I am too lucky that you came to me”- Xia replied as they hugged in the middle of the airport that there is no ending.

“Aheemm! Did you forget that your Mom is still here beside you guys ?! ” - cut by the mother of two

"Sorry mom, I forget it, I'm just really happy because after 2 years the three of us is now together!" - Xia replied.

“ I am happy too Hija, especially to the both of you” a mother replied with a geniune smile

“But by the way I already prepared all the dishes where all is your favorite so let’s go home to celebrate this day with you’’

“Charlie, take your sister’s suitcase ” - ordered her mother that he obeyed as well.

7:30 in the evening at San Jose Residence

After the family celebration, the siblings went upstairs to the second floor of their house. Charlie helped her sister put away her belongings at the cabinet of her own room as both talked and bond. Pass midnight when Charlie felt sleepy as he decided to went to his room and rest. Meanwhile, Xia is in the part of the balcony where the wind of the ngiht blows in her whole body. Xia looks at the sky as she watched the stars twinkle above the clouds and felt the coolness of the breeze by hugging both hands in her arms.

“Why you’re still awake Hija?” - her mother suddenly groaned when she saw it on the balcony.

"I want to breathe a little mom, nakasanayan ko kasi sa Paris mga ganitong oras gising at nagtratrabaho pa ako" - Xia replied.

As her mother joined her loneliness outside the balcony watching the skies and stars at night.

"Is there something wrong or misleading your mind?” her mother asked as she looks to her.

“Because the depth you look at the clouds is like an ocean in the sea. "

“I'm just thinking, how much Charlie and I have done, Charlie is now 16 years old. He is now a guy and not a baby anymore. It’s been a long time I am not with him. And me? I already finish the contract. I already work and save for us. It's a sad and pity reality that Mama didn't see where we have now. If only she were alive, she would probably be the happiest mother because of our achievements. She will be proud of me ” - said Xia while her eyes is teary as her voice is changing into emotion.

Suddenly the girl felt emotional while talking to her Auntie. Long ago when she was a 13 years old and her brother is only 8 years old her real mother died. It's been a long time and she hasn't been able to visit her grave so she felt missed a few years ago. After the two talked in the middle of night , they decided to went inside and rest in their own rooms.