Back home
"Good morning." Aryana greeted her Chinese friends cheerfully. She learned last night that they were staying in the same hotel.
"Can I join you for breakfast?" All five heads nodded synchronically.
Mu Chen stood up and pulled a chair for her.
They finished their breakfast and agreed that they will go together to the airport. Coincidentally, the group was flying out that morning as well.
When her friends were about to board the plane, Mu Chen handed a small velvet box to Aryana. The Lao siblings, Rita and Flora, Mike Cheung, and Amy Song followed suit. Each handed her a gift box.
Aryana was dumbfounded. She did not know whether to accept the gifts or not. She was also embarrassed because she did not have anything to give them.
The last call to board the flight was announced. Aryana reluctantly accepted their gifts. She took a groupie wearing her most brilliant smile and bid them goodbye.
She posted the photo on her social media account tagging the five of them.
When she heard the announcement to board the plane, Aryana took out her cell phone and sent a text message to Erik and Marlon.
'Boarding the plane to Green Heights province now. I suppose you are busy and I don't want to be a burden so I did not come to say goodbye. Besides, I don't know how to see you both. Thank you for a wonderful time. I'm hundred percent sure I will ace my project,'
After sending the message she turned off her cell phone and boarded the plane.
Upon arriving, she went directly to her boarding house. There, she opened the gifts that her friends gave her. The Lao sisters gave her a matching earring and necklace. Mike and Amy gave her jade bracelets.
The last gift she opened was that of Mu Chen. It was a jade pi disc pendant suspended on a golden chain. She took photos of the gifts and send them to the sender with sincere notes of thanks.
She bought a new laptop, some grocery items, and other stuff for Aunt Elena. It was already sunset when she reached their village.
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Very early the following day, she took the motorcycle and went to the cemetery.
It has been months since she visited her father's tomb. She cleared the weeds that covered the front of the tomb and then she put down the fresh flowers that she plucked from Aunt Elena's garden.
"Hi, Dad. I missed you." She gently traced the photo etched on the tombstone.
"Guess what, I met Erik. He saved my life." She paused. "You were the one who lead me to him right?"
"Thank you for watching over me Daddy."
She lingered in front of the tomb for a long time. She simply sat there in silence, reminiscing the happy memories she had with her Dad.
A shadow briefly loomed over her and shifted to her side. Then a bouquet of expensive flowers was laid beside the ones she placed.
"Erik…" she looked at him in surprise.
Erik was in a daze. He stared at the photo of Robert and was silent for a long time.
"Erik," she called him a second time.
He turned to her. He looked very sad. He reached out and clasped both of her hands.
Looking at Robert's photo, he said in a hoarse voice. "I promised your father that I will take care of you, but I neglected that promise."
With his eyes still fixed on the tombstone, he added "Forgive me. I think I am given a second chance to fulfill that promise." Then he looked at Aryana solemnly.
They just sat there silently for a long time.
When it was already mid-morning and the sun is getting hot, Aryana told Erik that it was time to go back.
"By the way, how did you get here?" She asked while looking around, expecting to see either Marlon or Ace.
"Your neighbor dropped me here on his motorbike."
"Where are Marlon and Ace?" She asked.
"At your Aunt's house. I asked them to do some errands."
"Do you know how to drive a motorcycle?"
Erik hesitated for a moment before he answered "Yes. But I'm not familiar with the terrain here so can I hitch a ride?"
Aryana nodded shyly. "I don't have a spare helmet"
"It's alright. I haven't seen any traffic enforcer here."
Aryana chuckled. She mounted the motorcycle and started the engine. Erik followed suit and he casually rested his hands on her shoulders.
They were cruising on a rough road and Erik's hands slid down to circle her waist to keep himself steady.
Aryana's face became red and her heart was thumping loudly. They looked very intimate but Erik was nonchalant about it.
In reality, a strong emotion was engulfing his whole being. His heart was beating wildly as he sniffed the fruity fragrance of her hair and feel the softness of her waist.
He tightened his hands around her waist as Aryana sped along.
They arrived at the greenhouse in no time.
Aryana and Erik entered the house together. She was surprised to see her Aunt Beatrice inside.
"So what Denise said is true. You find yourself a sugar Daddy." She sneered while sizing up Erik.
"What are you talking about Beatrice?" Elena butted in.
"Denise said that Aryana found herself a man on Paradise Island. She did not spend a single night with Denise and her friends. Look at her Elena! How shameless has she become! It's because she lacked a mother's guidance. Her father was equally useless! My poor husband! She is smearing his name." She berated Aryana.
At first, Aryana was embarrassed by her Aunt's uncultured outbursts. However, her countenance became darker at the mention of her parents.
"Don't bring my dead parents into the conversation Auntie. They were nothing like you. Why don't you take a deeper look at your daughter and you'll know what shamelessness is!" She retorted angrily. She has no respect left for her aunt. Not even an ounce.
"You… you!"
Beatrice was speechless but she recovered quickly and raised her hand to slap her.
A strong grip stopped her hand in mid-air. Beatrice found herself looking into a pair of dark cold eyes a chill ran through her body.
"So, you are the scoundrel who cheated me and steal Aryana's monthly pocket allowance and tuition fees for six years. How dare you!"