She's Home (1)

Fem arrived at B City at nearly dusk. The ten hour travel was quite exhausting although all she did was to sit and sleep in the bus. She took note of the busses she rode from South City to B City. They were luxury express busses by the Arevalo Trans. Although she paid her own fair, she was made to sit at the most comfortable seat at the back of the driver. When she arrived at Central City Bus Terminal, she was immediately guided by the conductor to the next earliest bus bound to B City.

Everything seemed to have been arranged for her. She was feeling puzzled and uneasy. She wasn't used to this kind of treatment. She is used to being independent doing things by herself.

When she got down from the bus, she looked around. She had a hunch that someone was expecting her arrival and watching her move. She just can't see him or them whoever they are. She fished out her phone and texted Mark.

[Hey my man! Just arrived at B City safe and sound. I'm feeling wonderful! It's so nice to be back home!]

She smiled after she sent the message. Since it was already late, she decided to go to her uncle Benjie's home for the night. She might as well fetch her sister Trell to go home. It should be fun having a Christmas Family Reunion.

She hailed a taxi and directed the driver to the outskirt of the city. It was a 20 minute hassle free drive.

While she was on the car, Mark called.

"Where are you now? You sound so happy to have left me here! I knew it, you're always eager to break away from me!" His voice had a hint of insecurity.

" Hey Mark, I thought we've already talked about this? Stop being petty or else I will make your fears come true." Fem boldly said.

"You even sound so bold now, sweetheart. You're making me tremble in fear!" Mark's deep voice sounded lonely.

"Hahahah, shut up major! I'm going to my uncle's place for the night. I remember you sent me there before during our first date. It's the same house I'm going. Now, calm down and don't over think. I love you." Fem said in a melancholic voice. She understood Mark's fear but she thought he was over reacting. She needed to assure him that no matter how easy-go-lucky she is, she is still able to discern sincere emotions from showy ones.

"Has your trip been comfortable?" He asked. It reminded her to ask if the busses she rode were his family's company to which he said yes. He told her about his brother JP's position but he didn't mention about Ysabel.

Fem reached the gate of her uncle's house and found it unlocked so she just went in. Her phone still on her ear talking to Mark. She bid goodbye to him before she knocked the door.

Trell opened the door. She was wearing an apron and a spatula. Obviously, she was cooking for dinner. Trell was surprised to see her younger sister but a wide smile wasn't concealed by her chubby cheeks. For Trell, Fem always come and go like a storm on a summer, always out of timing but leaves a refreshing vibe.

Fem sat down to rest a bit before she went to shower. After coming out of the bathroom, dinner was already served. Uncle Benjie and aunty Cathy were already starting to eat. They were surprised to see this tall slender figure emerging from the bathroom door.

"When did you arrive? Why do you always come un-announced." Uncle Benjie wrinkled his forehead.

"Why should I announce? Are you going to make a feast for me if i did?" She grinned.

"No, we're going to plan which expensive restaurant you're going to treat us to. Aren't you an architect now? " Uncle Benjie sounded annoyed.

From what Fem could understand, he was a bit insecure that his two older children haven't achieved much at their ages now. Sure, they lived in the city but his children are not as easy-go-lucky as her. They're striving hard to achieve their goal which is fine but seeing this easy-go-lucky niece achieving her dream effortlessly made him feel envious.

"Expensive Restaurant uncle? Why don't we just go home to the province and make a feast there! That way, we will feed all the people in the whole village. What do you say?" Fem grinned as she pulled a chair to join them for dinner. She knew she wasn't invited but she nevertheless invited herself shamelessly.

Her uncle Benjie just eyed at her without much reaction. Fem asked about her two cousins but she learned that they've gone to work. The first one a part time worker at an exporting company while the second in a gaming shop. Fem nodded and asked the couple's permission to give Trell some days vacation to which they agreed.

That night when they went to bed, Fem and Trell made up their minds to take the earliest bus to the north province. They can buy some home stuff at the bus stop on their way.

They woke up early in the morning before everyone was awake. At six o'clock, they were already boarding the bus to the north with only back packs.

They bought some grocery items in the supermarket where the bus stopped for breakfast and refreshments.

At 9:30, they were already at the foot of Mount Sleeping Beauty. The building that was being constructed when Fem was still in school was now a skycraper almost done in its external phases. Fem looked up to the mountain where they had a night out camping after graduation. Up to the viewpoint, there was a maroon roofed house, its windows glaring as they reflected the sun's rays. 'Was that the mansion that Neil mentioned to me?' She mentally asked herself. 'Well, not bad! But I still yet have to see!' She chuckled under her breath.

"Let's go now before the sun gets so hot up there!" Trell said retracting her gaze from the mountain to the flight of steps leading upwards.

"The development sure made it easier for hikers to go up the mountain. Let's set a target to arrive within an hour and a half." Fem told Trell.

Trell panted immediately like a thristy dog after about a hundred steps. "Make it two hours", she bargained.

After an hour, the two sisters finally arrived at the viewpoint. Near it was the huge maroon roofed mansion house. Fem couldn't help but go and inspect its surroundings and how it was made. Why does this look so familiar? Why do I seem to have done such a design before? Aside from the stone tablet at its front yard that read "Fem Manor", everything seemed to have been copied from her mind. 'Who is the architect of this?' she wondered. Fem felt threatened that her dreamhouse design was conceived by someone else.

Fem took a photo of the mansion at every angle before they continued hiking for another hour reaching home at half past eleven o'clock. It was just timely that someone inside was cooking when they arrived. The smell of the fresh vegetables being sauteed met them at the entrance of the backyard.

The two placed their bags down and gulped their remaining water before they sprawled on the bench outside tired and exhausted. Nobody heard them arrive yet.