Chaos in the Cavity of Peace (Love in Mendiola Series #1)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

KEECIA

"Nandito ka na ba talaga ulit sa Manila?" Charleigh's excited voice echoed through my car's speaker.

"Yup. I just landed an hour ago," sagot ko. "Pauwi na ko ngayon."

I almost released the steering wheel to cover my ears when she squealed. Ang ingay. But I couldn't help but smile because I missed this noise. I hadn't heard it in months.

Charleigh was the first person I reached out to when I decided to return home. We caught up for a bit, but of course, I still hadn't told her everything. Naisip kong mas okay kung sabihin ko sakaniya lahat sa personal. So, I just informed her that I was coming back and shared my flight details, just in case. That's why she called me immediately after my plane touched down.

"Miss na miss kita, gaga ka!" She sounded like she wanted to pull my hair. Luckily, she couldn't come out of the call.

"I missed you more, Charleigh," I said sincerely.

"Dapat talaga sinundo ka nalang namin from the airport!"

I clicked my tongue. "Hindi na, abala pa. Plus, I left my car parked there, so it made sense to drive back home."

"Eh, hindi ka ba jet-lagged? O pagod from the flight?"

"A bit, but it's only a two-hour flight, Char. Kaya ko pa."

"Ah, ganon?" Her tone was suggestive. "Oh sige, dahil diyan magkita tayo mamaya! Kailangan mong i-chika samin lahat ng ganap mo—"

I cut her off, licking my lips nervously. "Yeah, um... I haven't told the others yet that I'm back. Ikaw palang nasasabihan ko."

"Oh! About that..." she trailed off, stuttering.

"You already told them," it wasn't a question.

"Hehe," she giggled nervously. "Sorry, na-excite ako masyado. Eh, kasi naman, ilang buwan kang di nagparamdam samin. Siyempre, di lang ako ang nangungulila sayo, no."

I paused, feeling a twinge of sadness and guilt. She was right. Inabandona ko silang lahat ng ilang buwan, tapos bigla nalang akong babalik... expecting them to welcome me back. Bakit ngayon ko lang naisip yun? God, I've been really selfish lately, aren't I?

"I'm sorry, Char," I said quietly. "It's just... it's been a crazy few months of mess and—"

"Hep hep!" Pinutol niya ang sinasabi ko. "Bago mo ituloy yang sasabihin mo, uunahan na kita. Firstly, di kami galit sayo, okay? So, there's no need to apologize. Whatever it is, naiintindihan ka namin. Ang importante, nakabalik ka na at masaya kami para sayo kasi okay ka na," seryoso niyang sambit. "And lastly, why are we talking about this over the phone? We should save it para pag nagkita tayo mamaya!"