E T H A N

As soon as we got back, the first thing I heard was my parents calling out our names. We both looked at each other and finally decided to walk inside. There we saw Mrs. Carmen sitting at the table. 

There was already prepared food so Yen decided to just put the bucket meal for later. This was a serious one so Yen made sure to get back as soon as she could as I sat next to my dad. Not even a minute has passed, I could already feel Vanessa's aunt staring at me from time to time.

She had this look that would make you irritated rather than scared. 

"So, I'm pretty sure you've heard the news," Mrs. Carmen started off as we all sat down at the table. My parents invited her so we could have a little chat. But to be honest, I didn't want her to be here at all.

I know for sure that our topic in this dining would be all about Vanessa coming to visit me here in the Philippines. It's almost as if she was a star. Even without her here, she's the subject that everyone would like to start off with. It's all about her, nothing else.

I just rolled my eyes while Yen hit me. I never really liked Mrs. Carmen in the very beginning. I was just forced to smile at her for the sake of mom and dad.

"We already knew before you came. 'You don't have to say it again and again,' I said in a whisper as she looked seriously at me. Her eyes didn't look away in my direction, making Yen really nervous.

I didn't want to ruin the reputation of dad and mom with her but I had no choice but to speak the truth. He never stops. She always mentions her niece's name and telling us about her arrival.

And I'm not in the mood to hear her rambling.

Actually, I have no interest in hearing about my relationship with Vanessa on loop. I have a side that I like her and I have a side that I don't want her to be my girlfriend. I don't know. Maybe I'm just not ready for a relationship yet and they're forcing me to have one.

Mrs. Carmen suddenly coughed so we looked at her. If looks could kill, I would've been dead by now. She doesn't even know how to react.

"With that being said, Vanessa's coming home in 2 weeks. Maybe in a year or two, she will return to the states. Of course, son, you're coming with her. " That was what she said before taking a bite of her steak. 

At the same time, she smiled at me while I gave her a glare.

I don't want to go back yet.  

Yen noticed that I'm getting a bit disrespectful and kicked me under the table. God, she could kick hard. You thought she was really in favor of what Vanessa's aunt was saying. I'm sure she also doesn't want to return to the states right away.

But since Mrs. Carmen is here with us, she didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

"I'm sorry, but I actually disagree. I don't want to go back to the states. I want to take a long vacation here, " I answered before putting down my table knife and looked away rather than meeting her eye.

I was not in the mood to talk once again. Especially not with her. She'll just keep on insisting that I go back with Vanessa and have no freedom at all.

"You can't do that, Ethan." This time, she wasn't eating anymore. I feel like I would have melted into my position here if my sister hadn't stopped Mrs. Carmen.   

"Actually, his vacation isn't over, Mrs. Carmen. He will enjoy many more days right now. You don't have to send him back to the states right away, " Yen opened up –- protecting me from the rant that Vanessa's aunt would say.

Mrs. Carmen's eyes bore into ours but her words said otherwise. "Fine, I won't send him back right away. But he needs to see Vanessa next week. My niece needs to talk to her lover for once."

I know Vanessa's aunt very well. She'd use riches to manipulate a person. Vanessa got her attitude but she's much more possessive. Most girls define that both Vanessa and her aunt are almost like a replica.

Look, I never really wanted to say such things to her. I'm just really irritated because she always just keeps on repeating Vanessa's like a broken radio over and over again. 

She was very happy with her niece because she got the courage to face me again.

To be honest, having said that she would come within this month, was not okay for me. At the moment, it felt like I wanted to run to another country so she wouldn't be able to see me. 

Who wouldn't be surprised if your childhood best friend who likes you and thinks she's your girlfriend for who-knows-how-long will return to the Philippines for about two weeks without any message whatsoever?

Of course, I was scared.

Pushing all of my thoughts away, I decided to look at my parents. Well, they weren't talking since they know how Mrs. Carmen reacts. If they decided to get involved, they knew that Vanessa's aunt would surely put her attention to them, which was the last thing that they wanted. 

"Alright, I'll talk to her. But don't be surprised if we're not that close anymore, " I told them before standing up and apologizing. That was the only thing I knew that could stop the drama. I've been here for too long.

Excusing myself, I told everyone — even my parents, who were too silent at the dinner table — that I'd cool off at the mall. This day was too much for me to handle.

I went outside and opened my car. I turned it on and drove.