"Sure kang babalik kapa dito ah? Baka mamaya ay mawawala ka na naman" Tanong ni Nana Carmen sa akin habang nag aayos ng gamit ko at nilagay sa maleta.
"Babalik ako Nana, pero as of now may mga pamilya pa akong naiwan duon sa Czech at gusto ko na sa pagkatapos ng lahat na ito, dadalhin ko sila dito sa Pilipinas" sinarado ko na ang zipper ng maleta ko tsaka ako pumunta sa mirror to check my self. Nang okay na ay nag pa tawag si Nana ng guard upang ibaba ang maleta ko papunta sa living room.
As Lucian joined me in the living room, he looked at me with a warm smile. "Are you really going to the airport? Please take care of yourself," he said softly, his eyes filled with genuine concern. He pulled me into a gentle embrace, and his lips found mine in a tender kiss. It was a moment filled with affection and longing.
"I promise to take care, Lucian," I replied, my voice soft and sincere. "I'll be back soon, and then we can finally start our life together na here."
He caressed my cheek with his thumb, his touch sending a shiver of warmth through me. "I can't wait for that moment," he whispered, his gaze locked onto mine. "I love you, Schatje"
My heart swelled with emotion, and I reached up to cup his face in my hands. "I love you too, Lucian," I confessed, my eyes shimmering with tears of happiness.
His arm wrapped around my waist, drawing me closer to him. The comfort of his touch and the depth of his feelings enveloped me. "I'll be counting the days until you're back," he said, his voice a soothing melody.
Si Nana Carmen ang nag hatid sa akin papunta sa airport sabay ng isang driver. Binaonan pa ako ni Nana Carmen ng biko na gawa niya para sa akin.
"Mag ingat ka Sonne!" Sigaw ni Nana Carmen. Nag wave lang ako sa kanya tsaka ako tuloy tuloy na pumasok na sa Airport.
When the airplane finally touched down in Czech, I quickly disembarked and scanned the crowd for familiar faces. Among the sea of people, I spotted Sky, my girl best friend, holding a flag in her hand. A surge of excitement and comfort washed over me as our eyes met.
I made my way towards her, and as we embraced, Sky's eyes twinkled with joy. "Welcome back, Sonne!" she exclaimed, the flag fluttering in the breeze. "It's been too long!"
"Anong too long? One month pa lang ahh"
"Ah basta! Payakap nga"
I returned the hug with a smile, feeling grateful for her presence. "I've missed you, Sky. It's good to be back."
As we caught up with each other's lives, Sky's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, how's the medical mission? You've been doing such amazing work."
I nodded, a sense of accomplishment filling me. "It was both challenging and rewarding. We were able to help so many people and make a real difference. But I'm glad to be back for a while and spend time with family and friends."
Sky's enthusiasm was contagious, and we continued to chat about the mission, sharing stories of the people we had met and the impact we had made. It felt wonderful to have her by my side, listening attentively and showing genuine interest in my experiences.
As we chatted and caught up, Sky and I eventually made our way to her house. The familiarity of her place brought back fond memories, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the times we had spent together.
As I stepped into her house, my eyes fell upon a framed photo of Sky's daughter, Heaven, on the mantel. Seeing that innocent smile on Heaven's face instantly reminded me of my own daughter, Elle. A bittersweet longing tugged at my heart, and I couldn't help but think about the moments I had missed with her during my time away.
Lost in my thoughts, I absentmindedly traced my fingers along the edges of the photograph. "Heaven's growing up so fast," I mused aloud, a wistful smile forming on my lips. Open na iyong eyes niya then marunong na siyang mag smile. So cute
Sky nodded, her expression filled with both pride and a touch of nostalgia. "Yes, she's a bundle of energy and curiosity. Reminds me a lot of Elle."
My heart ached at the mention of Elle's name. "I miss her so much," I admitted, my voice tinged with emotion. "I can't wait to pick her up from school later."
Sky placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, understanding in her eyes. "I'm sure she's been counting down the days until you're back. You'll make up for lost time, Sonne."
As time passed, I bid farewell to Sky and borrowed her car to pick up my daughter from school. As I parked the car at the school, I saw Elle running towards my car, her excitement evident on her face. The car door swung open, but her joyful greeting turned into a surprised pause as she locked eyes with me.
"Mommy?" Her voice held a mix of disbelief and amazement, her eyes widening. "Mommy, I miss you so much!"
My heart swelled with emotion as I leaned out of the car and held out my arms. Without a moment's hesitation, Elle rushed into my embrace, her small arms wrapping around me tightly. Tears welled up in my eyes as I held her close, feeling the warmth of her presence and the overwhelming love between us.
"I missed you too, my sweet Elle," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "I couldn't wait to see you again."
Elle pulled back slightly, her eyes shimmering with tears. "I can't believe you're really here," she said, her voice a mixture of happiness and wonder.
I gently brushed a tear from her cheek with my thumb, a soft smile on my lips. "I promised I'd come back, didn't I? And now I'm here to stay."
After our emotional reunion, Elle and I settled into the car, sharing smiles and stories as we headed to her favorite restaurant for dinner. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and a sense of familiarity that had been dearly missed.
As we sat down at the restaurant, the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. Elle's eyes shone with anticipation as she scanned the menu, her enthusiasm contagious.
"I've missed eating out with you, Mommy," Elle said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "What's your favorite dish here?"
Elle's face lit up as she placed her order, her eagerness evident in every word. As we waited for our food to arrive, we delved into a conversation that flowed effortlessly, like we had never been apart.
"So, how has school been, Elle?" I asked, genuinely curious about her experiences.
Elle's eyes sparkled as she recounted her days. "School's been good! I've made some new friends, and my teacher is really nice. We've been learning about space and planets, and I even got to make a model of the solar system."
Her excitement was palpable, and I couldn't help but be proud of her. "That sounds amazing! I can't wait to see your model."
As Elle continued to share her school adventures, she revealed that the school year was coming to an end. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she mentioned her upcoming vacation plans.
"Mommy, I can't believe the school year is almost over," Elle exclaimed, a mixture of excitement and nostalgia in her voice. "I can't wait to go to the Philippines and spend time with you and maybe even see Daddy."
Her words caught me off guard, causing a momentary pause in our conversation. I glanced at her, trying to gauge her reaction to what she had just said. "Daddy?" I repeated softly, a mix of surprise and curiosity in my voice.
Elle's gaze shifted slightly, and she looked down at her plate, her fingers playing with her utensils. "Yeah," she replied, her tone slightly hesitant. "Aunt Sky mentioned that Daddy is in the Philippines now."
I took a deep breath, understanding the significance of this moment for Elle. "Elle, if that's something you want, I'm here to support you. Just remember that we'll take things step by step, okay? I want both of us to feel comfortable and prepared for whatever might happen."
Elle's eyes met mine, and I could see a mix of hope and uncertainty in them. "I know, Mommy. I just want to know him a little better."
"Of course," I assured her, reaching across the table to place my hand over hers. "We'll take the time we need, and I promise that whatever happens, I'll be right here with you."
Elle's smile widened, and she squeezed my hand. "Thanks, Mommy. but can you please describe daddy? or like how did your relationship start? "
Elle's curiosity was evident in her eyes as she asked me to describe her father and how our relationship had started. I smiled, recognizing her determination to understand more about our history.
"Well, sweetheart," I began, my gaze softened as I recalled those initial moments. "Your daddy and I actually started off with a rather unusual beginning. We were in an arranged marriage, which means that our families thought it would be a good match for us to be together."
Elle's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Arranged marriage? But that's when families choose who you marry, right?"
I nodded, appreciating her grasp of the concept. "Exactly. Our families thought it would be a good idea, but at first, things weren't easy for us. We were both hesitant and unsure about this arrangement. Your daddy and I come from different backgrounds, and we didn't know much about each other."
Elle listened intently, her eyes locked onto mine. "So, what changed?"
I smiled at her curiosity. "Well, despite our initial reservations, we decided to give it a chance. We started spending time together, getting to know each other better. And over time, something unexpected happened."
"What happened?" Elle's voice held a mixture of wonder and anticipation.
"We started to care for each other," I replied, my voice softening with the memory. "As we spent more time together, we began to see each other's strengths and kindness. Your daddy's determination to make things work and his caring nature really touched my heart."
Elle's eyes brightened as she absorbed my words. "So, you fell in love?"
I chuckled warmly. "Yes, sweetheart. We fell in love. It wasn't the typical love story, but it was our own unique journey. We learned to understand and support each other, and that's how our relationship grew."
Elle's smile was wide and genuine. "That's amazing, Mommy. It's like a real-life fairy tale."
I laughed softly, touched by her enthusiasm. "It kind of is, isn't it? Life has a way of surprising us with unexpected twists and turns."
Elle's gaze turned thoughtful. "And now that Daddy is e in the Philippines, I want to know him too, like you did."
I reached out to squeeze her hand. "I think that's a wonderful sentiment, Elle. Just remember, we'll take things one step at a time. Your relationship with your daddy will develop naturally, just like ours did."
Elle nodded, determination in her eyes. "I understand, Mommy. Thank you for sharing your story."
I smiled, feeling grateful for our open and honest conversation. "You're welcome, sweetheart. Always remember that I'm here to support you and to help guide you through whatever comes our way."
As our dinner continued, our bond felt stronger than ever. Elle's curiosity and openness reassured me that, no matter the challenges that might arise, we would navigate them together as a family. Our story was unfolding, one chapter at a time, and I was excited to see where it would lead us.
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Sorry for the long update, xxdxdxdxs
Start na kasi ng class namin pero I will promise naman na matatapos na itong story before the first week of September