JILLYANNA MADRID?

Jillyanna drove back to her house first to record herself. She had to finish the recording and do the post-editing later that night so that it could be released the next day.

She took a rest after two hours of recording before changing her clothes to visit Cielo's family.

She chose a pair of black jeans and a white sweater, paired with white rubber shoes. She used a sling bag to put in her wallet, phone, and keys.

She put on her baseball cap and mask before grabbing the paper bags containing her gifts. She made sure that all windows and doors are locked as part of her safety precautions. Lucian had always reminded them of that ever since they were young.

Jillyanna got into her car and drove off to Cielo's family villa. She arrived just a few minutes before six as she had promised. She parked her car in the garage and took out her gifts.

"Yanna! You're finally here!" Sky Abejuela-Madrid, Cielo's mother, exclaimed excitedly after seeing her.

"Good evening, Auntie." Jillyanna greeted her with a warm hug. Sky held her hand and led her inside the house.

"Yanyan! Yanyan is here!" Alex Madrid, Cielo's father, came out from the kitchen and greeted her.

"Hello, uncle!" Jillyanna waved her hand to the man who was wiping his hands on his apron.

Jillyanna felt warm inside her heart upon seeing the genuine smile of the people around her. Cielo saw this scene and smiled, too. "I'm really doubting my existence more and more."

Cielo joked at them before hugging her tightly. "It's been a month since I last saw you personally. If it wasn't for the launching event, you wouldn't even show your ugly face!"

She complained to her but at the same time, she was really happy to see her best friend doing well.

"I know. It was my fault. Don't worry, I'd be staying here for a few months before I'll decide where to go. There's something I really want to do." Jillyanna confided to her best friend knowing that Cielo knew what she was talking about.

"You're definitely crazy!" Cielo rubbed her head messily as she always does every time she thinks of something silly.

"These are my gifts by the way. I don't know if you'll like them." Jillyanna handed them the paper bags which contained different kinds of items.

Cielo opened the bag which had her name written on it and what came into view made her eyes go wide.

"Holy shit! I can't believe this!" She squealed and screamed and hugged her best friend again and again. "It's the Chanel Box Minaudiere Shoulder Bag! It's a limited edition! How the hell did you get your hands on this?!"

She still can't believe her eyes. She turned the bag over and over to see it for herself. It was authentic!

"I'm the best of all best friends. Of course, I'd find a way for you. So make sure that our cafe will do great so I can get more money." Jillyanna responded to her with a wide grin on her face. She was happy to see Cielo happy.

"You didn't really have to do this. I still have so many bags that you gifted me. I don't even know what to use. But I will take this. Hehe. Thank you so much! Mwah!" Cielo made a kissing gesture while hugging the bag to herself.

Sky and Alex looked at their silly daughter before opening their own bag. Alex received limited edition running shoes from Nike and several vitamins. Sky got a bracelet from Tiffany & Co. Plus different kinds of facial products.

"You're still the same. You spent your money on us again." Sky spoke with a melancholic voice.

"If I won't spend it on you, to whom should I spend it? Auntie, you've taken care of me all these years. If it weren't for you guys, I would've suffered from my relative's hands. I knew why my mother hid me for so many years and I wouldn't let them get their hands on my mother's money. I can only express my gratitude through this. So just let me do it, okay?"

Jillyanna's response made them teary-eyed. They knew how much she suffered and it was all due to her hard work that she obtain what she has now. Sky hugged her and Cielo followed.

"Let's make a group hug!" Alex shouted childishly and hugged all of them.

Since Jillyanna graduated from school, she busied herself to work and they seldom see her in person. But that didn't change their love and care for her.

"Ahem. Ahem." An awkward cough made them turn toward the door.

A handsome young man stood there with Jillyanna's favorite red velvet cake.

"Welcome home!" he greeted her with their usual fist bump routine.

"You're as handsome as ever, big bro," Jillyanna commented before taking the cake from his hand. "Thanks for this. Ah...Lucian, this is yours." she handed him a small paper bag which was quite heavy despite its size.

"This dessert fairy is the same as always. Careful with cavities!" Lucian reminded her while checking out what was inside the bag.

"I know. I'll brush my teeth twice." Jillyanna responded with a pout.

She went to the kitchen with Sky and placed the cake on the fridge. Alex continued cooking the last dish leaving only Cielo and Lucian in the living room.

Lucian opened the bag carefully and was greeted with a small box. He took out the red and black box from the bag before placing the bag on the table.

"God! This is too much!" Lucian commented while staring at the White Gold Nautilus watch from Patek Philippe.

Jillyanna just came out in time to see his reaction. "I saw one interview during a case trial. You keep checking your phone for the time and I noticed that you didn't have a watch."

Lucian was dumbfounded to hear her reason. "Still little girl, this is expensive. You could have just bought something less in price." Lucian explained feeling guilty about her gift since he only brought a cake for her.

"It's not much compared to the hard work you put into my mother's case. This is the only way I can thank you guys." Jillyanna sat opposite them with crossed legs.

Cielo laughed while seeing her boyfriend's guilty face. "Stop feeling guilty about it. She won't change her mind. Just use that." she pinched his face before giving him a peck on his lips.

"I even felt more guilty since we haven't found the culprit yet." Lucian scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly before hugging Cielo closer to him.

"It's fine. You are not just a police officer who helped me with my mother's case. You're a big brother who took care of me all these years. Just take it as a gift from your little sister."

Lucian expressed his gratitude and accepted the gift from Jillyanna. It was true that he was a big brother to her since he was three years ahead of her and Cielo.

That night, she had a lively dinner with them. They talked about various things, recalled their past, and joked with each other. She felt happy for having them in her life.

After 9:00 o'clock in the evening, Jillyanna bid her farewell since she still had things to do.

"You won't really stay for the night? I even cleaned your room!" Cielo was sulking that she was leaving once again.

Jillyanna shrugged her shoulders from being helpless. "I have to edit the recording tonight. I'll come home next Monday. How about that? I'll be staying here during weekdays."

Cielo's upset face turned into a smile. "You promised that! You better keep your promise!"

"Yes. Yes. Yes. I promise. I'll pack my things ahead of time and come back next week." Jillyanna hugged her best friend for a few seconds before getting inside her car.

"We'll wait for you," Cielo yelled while she waved her hand, watching her car disappear into the night.

On the way home, Jillyanna stopped her car in front of a pharmacy and bought some coffee to keep her awake.

She didn't really stock her cupboard with coffee. She'd only buy it when she needed it the most. She paid for three canned coffee and walked out of the store.

When Travis entered the store, his eyes went wide and shock was registered on his face. He walked around the store aisles but he couldn't pinpoint her location. None of the people inside the store have the same body built as her.

There was something on the woman at the cemetery that kept bugging him. And now, he was sure that she is or she was in the store before he came in.

Jillyanna jogged back to her car when she caught sight of someone familiar to her. The woman looked at her and a smile formed on her lips.

"It's you," Savannah spoke and walked towards her.

"Yeah. It's me. Sorry again for what happened earlier." Jillyanna apologized once again. "Coffee?" she handed her a can to show her sincerity.

"Just the answer to keep me awake. Thank you. You don't have to feel guilty about it." Savannah received the coffee and opened it right in front of her.

"I'm glad you're fine. If you don't mind, I have to go now. I still have some things to do." Jillyanna admitted since she was going to edit her recordings.

"I'm Savannah." Savannah introduced herself to her with an outstretched hand.

"I'm Jillyanna." Jillyanna took her hand and shook it gently. Savannah's eyes lit up from hearing her name.

"Jillyanna? Jillyanna..." she prolonged the sound of Jillyanna's name in question.

"Jillyanna Madrid." Jillyanna provided her complete name. The lights in Savannah's eyes faded.

"I see. I just found your name so familiar. Thanks for this coffee by the way." Savannah waved the coffee can in her hand.

"No worries. I'll go ahead now." Jillyanna got inside her car and sped away. She will be spending the night with her computer again.