Chapter 18

Nate reached home almost the same time Cela reached his brother's house. He unloaded the chips and drinks from his car. He also thinks of having the car washed to be ready for Monday although it was cleaned the other day.

For some reason, he's delaying calling Nina. But he knows there's no other way but to do now.

"Hi, Nate." Nina greeted.

"I just arrived home," Nate said.

"Can we talk now? Is it a good time?" Nina asked.

"Yeah but can we do audio call only? I swear, I'm here in my house," he asked. He feels he's not ready to see her face right now but doesn't want her to think he's in some place else.

"It's fine with me where you want to take the call. I'm okay with audio call. I'm not ready to face you anyway," she said.

"What happened these past couple of days? I don't understand anything until now but I am trying to think of the best reasons," he asked her straight to the point.

Nina is silent.

"Are you still there? Are you okay?" Nate asked. He's genuinely concerned about her. "Tell me."

He could hear her sigh from the other line.

"His wife died," she said initially.

"Wife? Whose wife?" he asked.

"His wife," she said.

Nate realized who she was referring to and it made him more confused.

"And now? What does that have to do with you or with us? What are you trying to tell me?" he asked in the most calm way possible but his voice begins to shake.

"Please help me," she said.

"How? How can I help you this time?" he asked.

"I don't know how but I need you to help me," she said. She begins to break down in tears.

"Did you two meet there? Was that the reason why you changed your flight to an earlier one and without telling me?" he asked. He tries to ignore her sobbing.

"He called last Friday. He said he wanted to talk to me in person but I swear to you, I really refused. He was persistent so I told him we could meet but here in Cebu and only in the morning. I thought that would make him give up. I didn't realize he would really book a ticket to meet me here," she explained.

"That's a lame excuse. You could have shut him down at an instant. Tell him you're getting married and you are never meeting him again on purpose," he said.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't know what I was thinking last Friday, I thought I could handle it well," she said.

Nate is becoming furious. It's clear that Nina was giving her ex a chance when she gave him an easy condition to meet her.

"You could've told me about that right after he called you," he said.

Nina feels guilty.

"Wait. Was it your intention that I meet with Cela? It's part of your plan to meet him, wasn't it?" he asked.

Nina couldn't answer immediately. She's silent.

"You dragged people in to this mess?" he asked too.

"I'm really sorry. My mind really turned crazy and all of a sudden I was dragging innocent people in to my own mess. I thought somehow it would lessen my guilt if I willingly allowed you to see her," she said.

"He's really making you crazy. He still does," he said.

This has got to be the first time they are in a problematic situation but being with Nina so closely in the last couple of years made him know her deeply and understand where she is coming from. He was her hero and she too saved him from being lonely. They were and are there for each other. Isn't that worth fighting for?

"My flight back home is tonight not tomorrow. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. Please meet me," she begged.

It's Nate's turn to be silent. He's frustrated.

In Rolan's place, everyone is in a good spirit including Cela. He's happy to see her smiling again inside their home.

"Were you totally clueless about these two?" he asked her about Nanny Rita and Doc Rio.

"Well, it's not my thing to be nosy on other people's lives plus I was busy writing stories so I had no idea," she answered.

"Ivy kept you busy," Joyce said as if throwing shade to Ivy.

"Kinda like that but I surely loved writing those books too," Cela said.

Ivy looked away to roll her eyes.

"So while everyone is here, I'd like to know your thoughts on me getting married at my age now? Don't you think I'm too old for this?" Nanny Rita asked to divert the conversation.

"Well, anyone can get married in any age if they want to get married," Cela replied.

"Nanny Rita, you are not that old. You're only a decade older than me. You're just like my big sister. You and Doc Rio are still in your prime," Rolan said.

"So what do you think, Cela?" Doc Rio asked. "Do you think our story could pass for a romantic novel?"

"Oh, don't let Ivy hear that. She might follow up for the third book or ask for a fourth book," Cela joked.

"But theirs is a good story, right?" Ivy said. "I might write it myself," she added.

"Wow! I haven't heard that in a long time," Cela said. "Wait. I couldn't remember if I heard you say that ever," she added to.

"Listen, since Cela's already here. Why don't we have an early dinner then let's have coffee outside. What do you think?" Rolan suggested.

"That's a brilliant idea. I can make quick shopping for something nice to wear tomorrow both for me and Nanny Rita," Cela agreed with excitement.

"Oh, don't trouble yourself with what I'm going to wear tomorrow. Joyce bought me dress and Ivy gave me shoes. Everything's settled already," Nanny Rita said.

"Really? I was the last one to know about this wedding?" Cela asked. She couldn't believe that those two ladies are competing even for Nanny Rita's approval. "Well, then I'll think of another item for you."

"But I am here. You could shop for me if you're eager to spend your money," Rolan said.

"How about you buying me a dress? You're richer by many times than me," Cela asked.

"Game!" Rolan answered. It's his chance to give his sister something.

Nanny Rita cannot contain her joy seeing the two siblings getting closer once again. It's a wish that came true just before her big day and she couldn't ask for more.

Although she tries not to show it, Cela is happy coming home to the house where she grew up and be able to experience this happy moment with her brother and their nanny once again. They're her only family. And this moment came just when she needed it the most. She couldn't imagine spending the rest of the day in her house alone after being with Nate the entire morning that ended in a sad note.

While Cela found a refuge in the company of her family, Nate is contemplating on what he learned that day and the next steps he has to make.

He tries to remind himself why he loves Nina. He recalls that day he first met Nina in a party. She looked very pretty but it was the sadness in her eyes that struck him. Right at that moment, he knew she needed help and he was the person assigned to do that task of saving her. He's not wrong about her. She's a special person who deserves the best. In return, she taught him to love more than to work harder. Things had been good since they started dating until this recent issue that came in just a month before the wedding.

"This is just a test, Nate. Don't be overwhelmed. Don't lose sight of the real thing," he told himself.

He drives a smaller car to pick up Nina from the airport. He wants to free his mind of unnecessary doubts clouding his judgement and just think of Nina and them together.

But the test is still on going. As soon as the traffic light signaled green, he got his wallet from the car's drawer and pulled Cela's calling card. Hyun gave it to him along with his own calling card on the first day that they showed up in the gallery. He never saved the number in his phone but he kept the card in his wallet.

Cela's phone rings.

Nate waits for her to pick up the call but her bag is in her room while they are happy and busy having dinner downstairs.

He tries once again but she still doesn't answer.

"That's it, Nate," he told himself as he drives away.

"Everyone, get ready. We are leaving in five minutes," Rolan told everyone in the house.

"I'll just get my charger from my car. My battery got drained," Cela said.

"I have a powerbank in the van. You can borrow it," Rolan said.

The group happily drives to the nearest mall to get their evening coffee. The day has officially become a Sunday family day.

Nate starts to feel shaky as he gets near the airport. He will see Nina anytime now and he doesn't feel he's ready to face her and hear more of what she has to say.

One hour before Nina's expected arrival, he finds the urge to call Cela once again. He doesn't know what to say to her but he's hoping he will get some answer to questions he himself cannot even ask vocally. Perhaps, he just wants to hear her voice. This moment brings so much confusion. It's too much to handle.

"Rolan, your powerbank is also lowbatt. Oh my," Cela complained.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. Just charge your phone in the car," Rolan suggested.

"Never mind. We're already here. Besides, Ivy's here so no one is going to call me," Cela joked on Ivy.

"You're extra mean to me today," Ivy said.

"Just payback time," Cela said.

Joyce listens to the conversation of the two discreetly. She also wants to be close to Cela like a true sister. Good thing that Nanny Rita developed fondness for her over the years being always present in their lives while Cela is estranged.

"You can borrow mine. It's fully charged," she told Cela.

Nanny Rita gently patted Cela's back as if saying to her to take the powerbank.

"Oh boy, this is going to be another story," she told herself.

Nate feels more confused with his emotions as Nina's arrival gets closer and Cela still cannot be reached. He knows he has to stop now but he keeps giving in to the feeling of wanting to talk to her and see what's going to happen.

"Nate!" Nina called him. She's unexpectedly early.

Nate's wondering suddenly stopped. He may not be ready but here is the reality already in front of him.

"You're just having cold feet, Nate," he told himself this time as he walks closer to Nina.

He stopped in front of her not knowing what to say or how to greet her but the same sadness in her eyes that he saw the first time they met is showing again.

He sighed. He pulled her close. "Come here."

The two lock in embrace in the middle of the crowd of arriving passengers. It looks like a familiar scene in a movie but it can be more than that.