25 Summer of Reunion

"Hush, baby, don't cry." A little boy cooed at me as he held my hand. It made me smile. What a handsome little man. He smiled back at me. His eyes danced with delight. I was thinking, 'How can a boy this young be this handsome?' He calmed me. I wanted to hold his hand forever.

My phone rang loudly. I was awakened from my deep sleep. My first thought was, 'What a beautiful dream. Am I the baby in the dream? Who was that cute little boy?' I wanted to go back to my dream but I saw MY 1st HEART flashing on my mobile screen. Justine! Panic gripped my heart. It was still so early in the morning. 'Why is he calling?' I held my breath as I answered his call.

Me: Hello… (I answered sleepily)

Justine: Wake-up sleepy head. Turn the video on. I wanna see you.

Me: NO!!! Haven't washed my face yet nor brushed my teeth.

Justine: It doesn't matter. You're beautiful to me no matter what.

I turned on the video feigning annoyance. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I did these while the video was playing. I was brushing my teeth when I saw another familiar face beside Justine.

Gary: Good morning! (My mouth dropped, toothpaste and all. I turned off the video)

Me: I'm gonna kill you Justine.

Justine: Sorry, baby. (LOL)

I made myself decent before turning the video on again.

Me: I'm sorry about that Gary. Good morning. What are you doing there?

Gary: (Laughing) Our company delivered food supplies for the evacuation center and I tagged along.

Me: How come everybody's there and I'm not? (I childishly complained)

Gary: Yeah, you should be here. Your boyfriend's very popular (He panned the video to show some young girls outside the kitchen ogling Justine while he prepares breakfast with the rest of the kitchen crew. But I think the girls were curious about Gary too. He looked as dashing as Justine).

Justine: No worries, baby. I see only you.

Me: You better or I'm gonna gouge your eyes out.

Justine: (to Gary) You see why I'm terrified of her?

Gary: God, you're so cheesy. Both of you! (LOL) I'll leave you to talk. I'm gonna console those young girls' hearts. (He got out of the video frame)

Justine: Hi, baby. I miss you. One more day and I'm back.

Me: I miss you so much. Hurry back please.

Justine: Yeah. Can't wait to hold you again. I'm thinking, should I not go back to New York?

Me: Don't you dare raise my hopes up! ('OMG, please, please, please,' I thought to myself)

Justine: No, I'm seriously thinking about several options. Or you could follow me in New York.

Me: Justine…

Justine: I know, I know. It's wishful thinking. But it's still an option, right?

Me: You're making me cry.

Justine: Hush, baby. Don't cry!

Me: OMG! You know I had a dream before you called and that's just what the little boy said to me.

Justine: What little boy?

Me: (Laughing) I'll tell you all about it when you get back. I think I just saw our future son.

Justine: What??? You don't wanna marry me yet you're dreaming of our future son already??? How can you be so shameless?

Me: (LOL) What kind of boyfriend accuses her girlfriend of being shameless?

Justine: Well, you startled me with talk of a son.

Me: It's a dream.

Justine: You're dreaming of having my son?

Me: (Can't even talk now because I was ROFL)

Me: I miss you, I miss you, I miss you!

We talked for almost half an hour. We kept on teasing each other. He'd pan out the video to the growing crowd in the kitchen. I saw Gary laughing with the girls. He made me wave to them. They all said hi. Then we'd talk some more. Mostly, we just wanted to hear each other's voice. The end of every call like this was always followed by a moment of sadness. But happiness always won in the end. I'd review what we talked about and would swoon again for every line that made my heart flutter. I often wondered to myself if this was how all first loves felt. The cliche 'first-love-never-dies' had a nice ring of truth in it. I didn't ever want this feeling to die.

"Well hello there Princes!" Alexis chirped. I didn't even realize that I'd walked to the kitchen. Alexis was comfortably sitting down wearing an all-pastel colored ensemble. He looked happy.

"You looked like a rainbow today." I said. Alexis was I thought stunned by my comment. He looked at me inquiringly. I waved my hand on his head to his feet. He sat up more straight and raised his shoulder one after another. He looked even cuter when he did that. I laughed heartily. I realized I hadn't seen him the whole day the other day and I missed him.

"You abandoned me yesterday. So much with the talk of having me all to yourself." I complained.

"It took you forever to wake up yesterday. I even had Auntie Anita checked on you. I would have done it but I thought of my very jealous brother. Tssss" Alexis complained back.

"Alex, stop teasing your brother, please," I appealed.

Justine laughed merrily. "But it's fun teasing him. He gets all worked up. Also, I wanna punish him a bit. How dare he think that I have romantic feelings for you. It hurts that my own brother doesn't know me at all." Alex declared.

"It'll help to be forthcoming about what you really feel too Alex, instead of making it known through your teasing and bantering." I suggested.

"Hmnnnn, acting like a true sister-in-law." Alex retorted.

"Now, you're being sarcastic." I said.

"Can't you at least pretend to understand where I am coming from?" Alex said, sounding hurt.

"Hey, it's not a contest who gets my sympathy, okay? I just don't want to be used as a weapon between you and Justine. I hurt too when I see you fight. I care for both of you." I assured him.

"You just care for Justine more." He concluded.

"Alexis…"

Alexis laughed loudly. "I'm just teasing you my princess. Justine and I will work it out, okay? Don't worry. I'm gathering enough courage to talk to him. I admit I abused the baby-brother-card so many times to get his attention in the hope that he sees me for what I am. He is so damn clueless. But I know I have to do my part too. Wish me luck?" He appealed.

What Alexis just said made me confused. What did he mean by 'seeing him for who he is?' I was pouring myself a mug of coffee deep in this thought when there was a commotion.

"Oh my God, Aunt Helen!!!" Alexis screamed.

A tall woman entered the kitchen followed by Grandpa Anton. She was still in her pajamas but her elegance was unmistakable. To top it, she was wearing branded big sunglasses! 'I mean who would wear sunglasses while having breakfast on a farm?' It was the first time I saw somebody do that.

Alexis ran to the woman and they embraced lovingly. "I missed you, baby!" The woman exclaimed. Even her voice was pretty. Then she faced me with her arms open wide.

"Hi Nina, aren't you going to give me a hug too?" She sweetly said to me.

I tentatively went to her. She gave me a bear hug. She smelled so divine, her embrace so warm. 'Who is this woman and WHY DOES SHE KNOW ME?'

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