"GRETCHEN."
My Dad greeted me as I entered his office. He is sitting comfortably on his swivel chair while looking at me consciously. He motioned his hands towards the couch in front of his table signalling me to sit there, so I did.
"We're going back to the Philippines."
I didn't say anything. I just sat there emotionless while looking down at the floor but heck, I'm excited. Finally, the long wait is over.
There was a minute of silence between the two of us. He waited for my response or any reaction but when he realized that he was just waiting for nothing, he spoke again. "Pack your things. Our flight will be tomorrow morning at exactly 6 o'clock. You may go now."
I get my ass up and leave his office. I didn't look back nor bid my goodbye to him. Well, that's normal. But then, on my way out, a woman in her late thirties suddenly bumped into me.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said while looking at me apologetically. I kinda know her. She's my Dad's business partner if I'm not mistaken. I often see her here.
I nodded my head while looking down. "I'm sorry too," I said, then turned my back to her. I don't know if I'm just hallucinating or not but I think I saw on my peripheral vision that the woman smiled genuinely.
The guy wearing all black clothes who's standing outside my father's office followed me when I went to the elevator. He then pressed the button heading to the ground floor of this building.
I suddenly remember what happened earlier at Dad's office. We're going back to the Philippines. Are they back again together? I wonder.
I can clearly remember that when I was six years old, my parents got separated. My father take me with him here in New York to manage his business while my mother and little brother who's only five years old were left there in the Philippines. Gosh. I fucking miss them. It's been a while since the last time that I saw them in person. I wonder how their life is going.
When we reached the ground floor, I stepped out of the elevator then went to the parking lot. The guy is just following me from behind. Meet Johary. He's an American but not pure blooded, I'm sure that he also has Filipino blood. Should I say that he's my bodyguard or personal assistant? This jerk is always following me around which is so goddamn annoying but he's more than that. For me, he's a childhood friend. We've been together since I was a little. I remember us together with my little brother. We were so innocent and happy like normal kids. We used to bond and play a lot but that was way back then when everything's not a fucking mess.
Everything changes as that motherfucker enters the picture. My childhood was ruined. No, let me rephrase it. MY LIFE WAS RUINED. Our life changes as my parent's separation happens. We flew to New York and at such a young age, me and Johary were trained to be strong. We learned how to throw punches, kicks, and even learned how to use a knife and fire a gun. Dad said that we needed to learn how to defend ourselves.
We walked towards the direction of a black limousine, then there, I saw a man wearing his all black outfit same as the one who's following me. Meet Mr. Heil. Johary's father. Half-Filipino, half-American. He's one of my father's most trusted men. He opened the car's door, so I got in.
I just put on my airpods, close my eyes and then listen to music. Minutes passed by when I felt that the limo had stopped. The car's door opened so I get my ass off and then went inside the large house only to be greeted by the gloomy ambiance. Well, nothing's new, I'm used to it anyway. Dad's men are scattered in every corner of this house and it sucks seeing their faces. Damn, I'm not even a President's daughter or a royal princess to be guarded like this.
