I.

'Nikki, come home. Your grandmother is dead. And we have a situation. We need you here.'

I tuck the letter back to the small white envelope it came from. It's my mother's neat, cursive handwriting. I can't really tell how the news impact me. It doesn't feel too light nor too heavy for me. But it's the first time I ever heard anything from my mother—for years.

Two days ago, Clara, my assistant, handed me the letter while I'm having my usual morning coffee. I could tell it's not a business letter by the way it smells, like lavender, my mother's favorite perfume.

The last letter I received from home was two years ago, on my little sister's 18th birthday, which I wasn't able to attend due to 'unforeseen' circumstances.

I glance at the suitcases I managed to pack. There were three. I don't always pack lightly. Besides, It's been years since I was home, surely, nothing I own back there would fit me. I receive a message from Clara that my plane ticket is ready.

I glare at the mirror in front of me. I hate the thought of going home. Like I don't belong there. But here I am, readying myself like I'm moving somewhere to stay for good. I look at the white envelope that lay on the table. I huff as I start typing messages, instructions on how and what to do with my shops in the next days that I'll be gone. Hopefully, I could be back in a few days. Yes, hopefully.

***

I wasn't expecting anyone to come fetch me at the airport but Dionne, my little sister, came anyway. She has this warm huge, smile plastered on her face that I have no choice but to smile back. It didn't have to last even a second tho. The spell breaks the moment my eyes lands on the tall, dark guy beside her. I tip the middle of my tinted shades on top of my nose as I look at the guy. He didn't look intimidated, must be because he can't see my laser eyes boring down his very soul.

"Nikki! I miss you so much! You meanie! Why only come home now?" My sister jumps at me teary-eyed but I step back to avoid myself getting crushed by her embrace.

I raise my shades up my head so the guy could see my brows raised as I look at him. "Who's this?" I ask my sister.

"Oh, sorry, my manners! This is *manong Lorenzo. He grew up under **Inang's care. He was the one taking care of her until she passed away." (*Manong is used to address an older man. Usually an older brother or friend. **Inang: used to address grandmothers and mothers as well.)

Lorenzo nods at me. Neither of us bothers to offer for a handshake. I'm cool with it. Why pretend to be nice if you don't like the person? I don't know about him, but I don't think I would ever want to be close with him.

He ends up carrying two of my suitcases while I carry the third. My sister tags along chirping at how lovely my hair is and how gorgeous of a woman I've grown to be. I know right.

"We miss you so much Nikki!" Dionne smiles till her eyes disappear, looking all Japanese like our late grandfather is. As for me, I got my looks from our mother, big and round and all doe.

As soon as I see our ride home, I want to carry my things and go back instantly.

"You're making me ride a carabao?!" I shriek.

Both Dionne and Lorenzo look at me with jaws dropped.

" Do you want to?" Lorenzo asks, and I could almost swear he finds it funny whatever expression I'm wearing over my face.

"If not then why did you...oh!" It was then I realize we just stopped near the carabao and it's cart because his car is parked beside it. I ball my fist as I try to calm myself down. It's an old, battered rusty red pick-up truck. Better than a carabao ride, right?

We pass by field after field and the view is getting greener by the second. Lorenzo, or Renz as Dionne refer rather too fondly, isn't talking much but my little sister keeps talking it bores me to death. I am not interested about the upcoming 'watermelon harvest season' no matter how enticing she makes it sound. When she notices I'm already fast asleep (which I pretended to be,) she turns her attention to Renz who is busy minding his own business driving his battered old pick-up truck.

***

"What took you forever?" my mother's arms were all over me and my face before I could even take a step back. Renz manages to carry all my things while my mother walks hand in hand with me.

My Inang's funeral will be up until tomorrow and people, relatives I supposed are all over the place.

There are lots of people at the wake and all eyes are on me I want to shrink this instant. My mother's hand was warm and she squeezes mine gently.

"Good thing Renz is here to pick you up, my hands are tied."

I nod as we ascended the mahogany spiral stairs, all 30-steps which I used to love when I was a child.

The living room upstairs is pack with visitors as well which I believe must be our other relatives who came from other places.

"Everyone, this is my eldest, Danikka. Nikki, these are the Valderrama's. We will be speaking with them after we take care of your Inang Feliza"

I don't recall being related to any Valderrama's so I don't have any idea about what my mother just said. Again, I just nod. I don't know anyone in the room, but okay.

***

"What do you mean you're getting married? No one's getting married! You turned 20 just months ago!" I slam my palm at the dining table as I rise up my feet.

Two days ago, we sent our Inang Feliza to her grave, and now I can't believe we're talking about marriage—my little sister, Dionne's marriage. And she's barely twenty!

The Valderrama's turn out to be not our relatives, but my sister's future in-laws. This is ridiculous!

"Well, I could wait until you get married first Nikki," my sister suggests in her lowest voice.

I turn all red and grit my teeth hoping to contain my anger.

"Good, wait for a decade more!"

I hear my mother apologizing to the Valderrama's as I storm out the room.

"Your Inang was right, your patience is thin as hair."

I almost jump to my feet when I hear Renz sneakily speaks behind me. It's been a few minutes since I left the dinner and I found a hammock placed between the branches of two large mango trees.

"Leave me alone," I dismiss him but I do not sense any movement from behind. I look at him only to meet his eyes looking at me with curiosity.

"Your mother told me to fetch you."

"I don't care if Dionne wants to get married so early. It's not my life."

" You must love your sister so much to hate the thought of giving her away."

" I don't. I won't even blink if she gets married this instant. " I regret saying it but he will never hear me take it back.

We hear the crickets chirp from the field and the water flow by the brook in front of us but no words came out of either mouths.

I bite my lips at the thought of my little sister when she was just a tiny baby in my arms... growing up into a bouncy toddler, all those tea parties when I was 8 and she was 2... and all those crayons she destroyed when I was in school and she was just learning to walk... and now she's getting married!

"I have to do something!" I turn my head to where Renz was standing and he is just looking at me intently. I don't know what's going through his head.

"What's the plan? Kidnap your sister? Keep her away from here and come back after another decade?"

"Stay out of this. It's none of your business."

He gave me an " Oh, really? " kind of look but then he throws his hands up in the air.

" Whatever you say, Princess."

"Don't call me that!" But his back is already turning away from me. He leaves me dumbfounded, jaws dropped and wanting to smack him even more than I want to smack my little sister.

A few steps away, he turns toward me and say, "If you plan to leave again, make sure you don't only come back for another funeral."

I press my lips together to stop myself from talking back at him.

Seriously, this guy is pushing my buttons.