Road Trip Day 27
Location: a hospital in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley

Alice Flonne's POV:

We are brought to a simple medical room, where Jake lays unconscious. Ever since the operation, the bandage was visibly removed...and he didn't breathe on a ventilator anymore...he's recovering.

I put my beef pares dish on the table, as I sat with Lexi and Kyle beside him. I smiled...I realized that...perhaps...and at least...I brought back the family together...since mom entrusted my older brothers to me. I wonder how mom is faring...wherever she is right now...

"Umm...hello, Jake. It's been awhile since the last time we see each other. I hope that you're recovering now." Then, I began to talk to my brother...assuming that he's listening while asleep. "I would like to say thank you...for saving my life...you decided to take the bullet for me...because you don't wanted to be separated from me. You're truly are my hero...remember the time you protected me from those bullies when I was a kid? You endured all of their punches...you don't let them touch me. Oh! By the way, Jake is here to see you..."

Then I let my older brother Kyle speak for himself...

"Jake...I hope you're hearing me at this moment...I'm here because...I'm worried about you. I know you still have a grudge over me but...you're my brother...I still care about you. I regret the time I punched you...when you brought girls in our house. I didn't intended to do it...it's just my mind darkens...and my emotion bursted...because that's not my brother Jake that I know...you're my bro...who knows what is best for all of us. When mom is still pregnant for Alice...and dad is still alive, you're the one who knows how to cheer things up...you plan games, parties and anything that makes us all cheer up...you even plan with me mom and dad's wedding anniversary! Hehehe! I remember their happy looks on their faces when they saw it...and the best hi fives that we had when our plan succeeded...I just don't know why we ended up like this..."

"As if I care!"

I'm so focused on what Kyle is saying...that I didn't know that Jake's already conscious...and reacting to what his brother said.

"Come on, Jake. You need to make up with Kyle." I intervene with my brothers. "Can you tell me why you hold some bad feelings with Kyle?"

"Hmph! He's the one who ruins my relationship with my girlfriend!!!" While lying in his hospital bed, Jake confesses.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well...he ruins every single date with my girlfriend because...ugh...he suck in doing homework. I mean...you're so smart to do it, why did you need help in algebra? Perhaps you're not good in doing anything!"

"Hey! I'm not ruining your date! When you're going out in that date of yours, why wouldn't you tell so I can leave you alone?!"

"Oh! So here we go again...ow...taking an unsolicited advice from the homewrecker!" Jake then raises his voice as he sat up on his bed.

"Homewrecker?!?! What do you mean homewrecker?!?!"

"Hmm? You don't remember?! Everytime our parents leave the house and entrusted us some household work, you never helped me...instead you ruined my work...you're doing the job exactly the opposite of what I'm telling you to do. So now when they arrive and notice that there are no chores undone, the blame falls on me."

"That's because you're doing it wrong." Kyle refutes. "You actually suck in doing chores and I'm doing what's right for you!"

"RIGHT FOR ME?!?! HOW ABOUT YOU TALK MORE ABOUT IT ON MY FIST?!?!"

"Umm...guys...can you please...cut it out?" I tried to intervene with them but in vain...it's already too late...

Alex's POV:

In a matter of minutes...Flonne's older brothers Kyle and Jake are blowing a fuse...cussing each other with curses, evil words and threats...even to the point that they are really close to fighting each other...

"That's it! Let's settle all of this once and for all!" Jake's taunts for a fistfight. "Even I endured a gunshot so you'll never stand a chance against me!"

"Oh yeah?!?! Then bring it on!!!" Kyle stands up and about to collide his forehead with Jake's...only to be stopped through me. "You know...you have underestimated me for a long time...maybe this is the right time I show you how strong I rea-"

"STOOOP IT!!!"

A loud shout stopped everything in the room...the shout came from Flonne...sobbing...and disappointed at her brothers...

"You guys...sniff...I've traveled far and wide...sniff...to find you...sniff...and bring us together as a family...sniff...but this...sniff...this is what you give back to me?!?! How dare you!!! This...sniff...this is not the family...sniff...I wanted to see. Don't you know that I'm the one who hurts the most because of this...sniff...senseless fighting?!?! Perhaps...sniff...perhaps you didn't care about me...sniff...like I wasn't exist at all!!! When will you stop fighting?!?! When will you start caring about me?!?! You know what...sniff...if you don't want...sniff...to have a decent family like we are before...sniff...then fine! So be it! Kyle, you can return to your girlfriend and go home to Pagudpud. Jake...after you recover, return to your stupid camp! You really didn't care about your promise to me to rebuild our family...sniff...I will just find mom by myself!!!"

Nobody dares to speak...after Flonne scolded her brothers. Their heads lowered in fit of regret for what they have done to themselves...and to their younger sister.

"Come on, Lexi. Let's go..." And when Flonne decides to leave the room...

"ALICE!" Jake and Kyle calls her attention.

"WHAT?!?! YOU SAID THAT YOU'LL GONNA HAVE A FISTFIGHT, RIGHT?" Flonne shouts at them. "THEN GO AHEAD!!! WHY YOU STILL NOT STARTED?!?!

"Alice!" Kyle and Jake approaches Flonne and hug her very tightly...as they silently sobbing. "Alice...please...don't leave us alone!"

I see Flonne's angry face...slowly melting away...as tears fell from her eyes again.

"Sorry...we're so sorry, Alice! We di-didn't meant to hurt you." Kyle pleas to her while tear-eyed. "We want to have a decent family just like before so please...sniff...please don't leave us!"

"Alice...I felt so ashamed...on what I've done to you." Jake added. "Don't leave, little sis. We need you...we want to change! I'm sick of this life...I wanted to have a new life...I wanted to be like you...I saw you how you fare in my camp...you're optimistic...you're full of ideas...you always wears a smile in the face of danger...Alice, please...sniff...please forgive me...sniff...I really want to change...sniff...please don't leave us...sniff...please...huhuhuhu!!!"

Flonne and her brothers then cried...while hugging each other very tightly. This...perhaps...is the start of rebuilding of Flonne's family...the one that she's dreaming for so long...

"Alright then...I'll forgive both of you." Finally, Flonne smiles at them. "Both please...please don't fight anymore, okay?" If you have problems with each other, don't hesitate to call me, understand?"

"Yes, lil sis!" Jake and Kyle nods and smiles back at her.

"Hehehe! Guys, guess what? I have something I want to show you..." Flonne then shows the dish that she long wanted to give to them. "Here it is! My very own beef pares! Hehehe!"

"Wow! I never thought you cook dishes like that!" Flonne's face pouted when Jake complimented her work. "Anyway, let's try this dish. Kyle, you go first."

Kyle quickly complied...he take a cut of the beef, dip into the sauce, and tasted it with garlic fried rice...as Jake followed suit. They munched...and savored the taste of Flonne's creation...as she visibly uneasy through the looks on her face. But within moments...it seems that...Jake and Kyle's enjoying the food! In fact, they're competing for the best cuts of the dish...well, at least they're having fun now. Hehehe!

"So...umm...how's my dish?" Flonne then asks her brothers. "Is it the same recipe that mom makes before?"

"Hmm...well, your dish is pretty neat." Kyle comments about the beef pares. "But...about comparing this with mom's...hmm..."

"Oh, come on! Just spit it out already!" Flonne demands as the brothers silently talks about the taste. "Don't you know that my heart is pounding all morning?!"

"Oh! Ehehehe...my bad." Jake chuckles before handling down the decision. "Well...I could say that...your beef pares is much more better than mom's. Hehehe!"

"Oh...I see. Hehehe!!!" Flonne smiles brightly and giggles. "Thanks guys. I knew you will like it!"

"You sure are!" Jake makes a thumbs up to her younger sister. "But...Alice...Kyle...I need to tell you something...something you should know a long time ago..."

"Okay then, let ne hear you."

"Yes, Alice. Guys...I know...I know where mom is..."

"WHAAAT?!?!"