Chapter 29 - Home

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HER

           I AM FINALLY HOME. I barely slept during the whole flight, a lot of things were going on in my head.  But although I felt tired, I was so excited the moment I stepped out of the plane.  After 9 years, I am back. 

            I immediately got my luggage from the carousel, went out of the airport and hailed a cab. My mom has been trying to reach me the whole week but I intentionally did not answer her. I want to surprise her. I bet she is mad at me for dodging all her calls.

            While in the cab, I looked around, trying to grasp what I am seeing on my surroundings.  All my friends who were recently back home were right. A lot has changed. I saw the new hotels and casinos which were comparable to the Vegas Hotels abroad. I heard that one of the hotels along this new avenue is Tristan's. If I probably stayed here, I would have designed his hotel chain.  I heard he has more hotels scattered around the country, not to mention also around the world since he has expanded globally. 

             I remembered him talking about it a lot when I was still in school.  He would hang out with me when I did my plates in the gazebo near the Beato Angelico Building.   He would lurk around while watching me work on my projects.  My drawings always captivate him.  He believed I have a gift and I could transform even the simplest ordinary building to an elegant structure.  He wanted to be my first client.  He said he wanted me to design his hotel franchise.  I thought it would never happen but fate tricked us.  I couldn't imagine that I would be able to design a boutique hotel for him but in another city.

              I stopped daydreaming when I realized the cab is already near our house.  I immediately dialed my Mom's number.  I am excited to do my prank on her.

            "Hello Mommy!  How are you?  Sorry I missed your calls!" I pretended to sound regret in my voice.  I am trying to stop myself from laughing.

            "Alecxandra! Finally, it's about time you called!  I have been going crazy here, I thought something happened to you.  Don't ever do that again!" She said concerned.

             "Ok Mommy, I promise! You missed me too much, huh!"  I teased. 

             "Of course! Let us do FaceTime so I can see your beautiful face."  She said excitedly. Since Paul bought her a new phone, she couldn't get enough of the technology of FaceTime.  She doesn't want to do voice calls anymore!

              The cab finally stopped in front of our house.  It is an ancestral home that my Dad inherited from my grandparents.  We loved this house a lot.  It boasts of Spanish Architecture that we were able to preserve.  My mom was able to keep it in a pristine condition.  I could see behind the see-through iron gate railings that her garden is flourishing with gumamela, bougainvillea and other ornamental flowers.  The short golden spikes from the acacia tree is also in full bloom. 

               There was a cute gazebo under the tree.  Our Mom loves to read.  This would be a perfect place for her to relax and read.  I bet this was the project that Paul told me about several years ago. He did a great job with it. 

              "Ok, you really want to see my face?"  I reached out my hand inside and opened the iron gate.  My Mom never locks it.  I walked towards the cobbled path leading to our doorstep and rang the doorbell. 

              "Yes, I'll call you in FaceTime.  But first, let me just get the door.  Somebody rang the doorbell.  I probably have a package."  She opened the door and complete disbelief was written all over her face when she saw me standing in the doorway.  I was widely grinning at her.

              "Surprise!  You said you wanted to see my face so here I am!"  I exclaimed.  She leapt at me and hugged me tight.  She was crying.  I was not able to control myself and tears of joy also ran on my face.  I missed my mom so much. 

              "Why did you not call? We could have picked you up!"  She said while wiping away her tears.  I was still grinning at her.

              "It will no longer be a surprise if I called." I chuckled.  "Where is Paul? I am excited to see him, too!"  I said.

               "He went to work.  Tonight is the launch of their new clothing line.  You know he is the head designer of their company.  He has been busy the past few days.  But I think after their event, he said he can already chill."  I laughed at my Mom's remark. She even knows the word "chill." 

              "You know I have been dreaming about you the past few weeks.  Is there something wrong, Alecxandra?  Why did you suddenly come home?"  She said concerned.  She always has this strong intuition.  I guess all moms are like that. 

              "Something happened.  I met Tristan again."  I told her everything.  After I finished my story, she immediately said to me.

              "Then, just wait for him.  Mark my word, he will follow you here.  That guy loves you a lot.  I just don't know what came into you that time.  You were young and very ambitious back then.  Nobody can stop you from following your dreams.  That is why I am so proud of you.  You have accomplished a lot in such a young age.  Imagine, lead architect in a big company in New York!"  She said proudly. 

              I smiled and hugged her again.  We continued to talk to catch up all our lost times.  By night time, I was already exhausted.  Paul has not come home yet.  I told my Mom not to text him so I could surprise him as well.

              I decided to take a nap while waiting for Paul.  My eyes are already drifting to sleep.  Before I dozed off, the only thing that stuck in my head with all the things we talked about was what my Mom said about Tristan following me here.  Even though I already told myself to stop making assumptions, deep in my heart, I am hoping she is right.


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