Chapter 2

“Oh sorry!” I said quickly, continuing to walk.

“Ohh, you again,” he said, a smile on his face. I didn’t answer him because I was in too much of a hurry. He just smiled, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and quietly walked off in the opposite direction.

I continued on my way home. I quickly crossed the streets of the campus, passed by the small shops and stalls on the side, until I finally reached the gate of our house. I took a deep breath and reached for the door, leaving behind the chaos of campus.

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I really hadn’t expected the scene before me.

“SURPRISE!” Mom and Aunt shouted, and there was Joe my younger brother, whom I hadn’t seen in seven years.

I immediately hugged Joe, barely able to believe it. It all felt like a dream. It was as if I had been waiting for this moment for so long, and now, here he was, right in front of me. I felt the warmth of his hug, the sound of his laughter, and the simple joy I had missed for so long.

“Jane… it’s been so long since we last saw each other,” he said, his voice slightly trembling.

I couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears streamed down my face as I hugged him tighter.

“Joe… I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered.

Mom and Aunt smiled, clearly happy at our reunion. It was as if the entire house was suddenly filled with light and laughter, and the sadness of the past days vanished, even if just for a while.

Inside the house, laughter echoed in every corner. Mom and Aunt busied themselves with preparing food, while Joe kept retelling stories of his past seven years.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his stories, especially how amazed he was at the simplest things around the house from the old sofa to the tiny potted plant by the window. The kitchen filled with the aroma of our favorite dishes, and the clinking of plates and cutlery sounded like music, making everyone’s hearts lighter.

“Mom, your adobo is amazing!” Joe said, clearly enjoying it.

“You already know that, my son,” Mom replied, laughing.

I sat beside them, smiling as I watched. Each laugh, each burst of joy seemed to warm my heart, temporarily washing away all the exhaustion and stress from school and campus life.

The next morning, I was the first to wake up in the house. It was only three in the morning, and everything was quiet. The cool air outside danced lightly with the moonlight streaming through the window.

I slowly fixed my hair and dressed in a simple outfit for the kitchen. Then, I began preparing breakfast. I opened the fridge and took out some ingredients: eggs, bread, and milk. As I heated the pan, I chopped some vegetables and started cooking an omelette the aroma quickly filling the house. Nearby, I warmed the milk and toasted the bread until it turned golden brown.

While cooking, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath and momentarily relax in the morning silence. The quiet and the simple tasks I performed gave me a sense of calm I rarely felt.

Once everything was ready, I set the plates on the table, ready for Mom, Aunt, and Joe to wake up.

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