Zackary

A familiar black Porsche drove in front of me and without waiting for anything, I hopped inside the car's backseat placing my acoustic guitar on the leather seats.

"Drive me to Drew's, " I ordered.

I took a final glance at the airport before we drove away through the highway.

After flying back and forth a few times this year, this trip feels really different. I'm not sure if It's time to give up or what.

I should be disappointed, but why wasn't I?

"Nice suit, Dave," I commended trying to get rid of my thoughts.

"Thanks, Sir. It's a gift from Mr. Stevens," he replied between smiles.

"Dad's always been thoughtful." I smiled back.

"I agree, Sir."

I let out a small chuckle at his sudden honest reply.

"How was your trip, Sir?" he asked.

Well, I think I wouldn't get rid of it that easy.

"Same, still nothing," I sighed.

He glanced at me from the rearview mirror and gave me a soft smile.

"It's ok, Sir. You can always try again,"

"Thanks, Dave,"

It took us a while before we arrived at my destination. I gave him a manly top on his shoulder before I stepped out of the car.

"Tell Dad, I'll call him later," I said before closing the car's door.

I looked up the two-story white mansion before started moving my way to the marble floors.

"Zack!" A cute voice called me from the front door.

"Have you been waiting for me?" I smiled before carrying her on my arms.

"Yes, you are five minutes late."

I chuckled at her cuteness.

Drew suddenly ran out of the door, " Zack, " he said catching his breath as if he ran here from a mile.

I chuckled at his condition.

"You okay?" I asked staring at him weirdly.

He took a step toward us, "Stacey, I've been looking for you!" He gave Stacey a serious look before he continues, "where did you hide my phone?" He asked.

I turnned to look at Stacey, who's grinning on my arms.

Oh, God. She did it again.

"Stacey, give it back to your brother, " I spoke in a straight voice.

"No!" she refused.

"Stacey, look," Her brother called, "I'll do whatever you want, just give me back my phone," Drew gave her a begging look, smacking his hands together.

A twenty-year-old man begging to his five-year-old sister for a phone, how ironic.

This is one of the many reasons why I don't have a sister.

She looked at me with a frown as I carried her down.

"No! You're always talking to Ericka on the phone and won't play with me!" she ranted and ran inside.

"Oh, no, " Andrew and I looked at each other with the same expression.

"I was gone for a week and you're already dating a new girl?" I laughed looking at him unbelievably.

Drew let out a loud sigh before glancing at me.

"I'm glad you're back, Bro," he greeted fondly and gave me a bro hug before gesturing for our handshake.

I have known Andrew for almost all of my life, he's a brother to me.

"Glad you're glad," I replied keeping the smile on my face before stepping inside the house.

I placed my guitar and bag on the sofa before walking to the kitchen.

"By the look on your face, I can say that you don't have news to say," Drew guessed as he followed me to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge and poured myself a glass of water.

"No, I got some," I asserted smiling at him.

An annoying smile formed on his face, "You found him?" He asked excitedly.

"No," I replied in deadpan.

"Then what's your news?"

"Later," I grabbed my baggage and walk to the stairs, and of course he followed me.

"Women?" He insisted on asking.

"I'm tired,"

"Is she pretty?"

I opened the door and went inside.

"Is sh-"

I shut the door on his face.

I heard murmurs behind the door, he kept on asking.

I ignored his questions and lay my self down. I heard a knock and before I could uttered him to go away, his head pop in the door. He gave me a very very weird grin.

"Did you just had...umm... you know with someone?"

"No," I replied quickly.

"Then what? Say it right now before I could make different scenarios inside my head."

"Oh, c'mon, Drew," I chuckled.

"Ok." He walked in.

"What? I'm going to sleep, go away,"

"You just said, c'mon,"

"Yeah, but I didn't mean you come in, it's c'mon, leave me alone."

"This is my house by the way if you forgot,"

"Ok, then I'm heading home,"

"I'm just joking, Okay? I'll wake you up before lunch. Better share the news when you woke up" He said, walking out the door.

I sighed in relief.

Glad he's gone.

°°°

I woke up and rolled to the corner of the bed to grab my phone.

It's 3 pm already.

I took a fresh shower before coming down the kitchen. I saw Stacey behind the glass doors to the backyard playing with her toys.

"Hi, Zack!" She smiled with her tiny little hand waving at me.

I smiled and waved back.

"Have you seen Drew?" I asked the maid walking through.

"He went out, Sir." She replied smiling before heading out the kitchen.

That guy is probably out doing something stupid again.

I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialed Dad's number.

"Zack!"

"Hi, Dad. How's it going?"

"Great Son, As always. Don't worry about me. Oh, and Jake informed me about your trip."

"Yea," I mumbled.

I can hear Dad sigh on the other line.

"That's ok, Zack." He spoke in a straight voice.

I sighed.

"It's ok to try, The time will come and you two will finally meet, " he continued.

"Yea, I think so," I mumbled.

"Don't worry, I believe you'll come across him again."

"Thanks, Dad."

I don't want to talk about it.

"So, have you made up your mind?" he asks.

"Still not sure, Dad. I still haven't decided."

"It's Okay, there's still a month to think. I'll call you later, I have to go. Bye, Zack."

"Bye, Dad."

I placed my phone on the kitchen counter and opened the fridge.

"Hey, Zack. Got you chicken wings." Drew spoke from the door.

I smiled.

"Stop acting like my wife," I kidded.

"I am ur wife," he shot back doing that weird grin again.

"I met a girl on the plane," I started.

"Ur wife? I mean... How?" He made the most annoying grin and walk towards me. "You stayed away from people like freak'n pandemic." He continued and of course, he laughed.

I grinned at him in amusement before I spoke further, "Actually, I accidentally made her nose bleed, "

"I didn't know you punch women!" He gave me a weird look.

"I didn't punch her, it was an accident. The thing is that... she has the bracelet."

I told him about everything that happened on the plane.

"So, she was wearing the bracelet?" He asks seriously trying to puzzle things up.

"Yea, but she said it was from her father." I sighed.

"Who knows maybe she just made that up. Girls do that."

"I don't think so,"

"How do you say that? Maybe it's from her boyfriend or a friend. Or maybe... she can tell you where he is."

I rethink the moment I asked her about the bracelet and she seemed wasn't comfortable with it.

Maybe she can be a bridge for me to meet someone. Then what if I'm wrong?

But, what if she knows?

"I'm sure about the bracelet, It's been years, what if I'm mistakin?" I asked.

"C'mon, Zack, you made the bracelet yourself. If you think that's it, then that's it."

The clock rang at 6 pm and we're still in the kitchen.

"I wanted to asked her more about the bracelet that time but I saw she's not comfortable for a reason. So, I think it might make no sense asking her further."

"Why is she not comfortable? She might be hiding something."

"You're such an over-thinker," I teased.

"Is she pretty?" He asked all of a sudden.

"Huh?" I'm confused at the sudden question.

"I said is she's prett- why are you blushing?" he teased.

"No, I'm not."

"God, bro! I've known you almost all of your 19 years of existence and I've never seen you blush like that. You look like a fifteen-year-old high school girl with her crush," he spoke between laughs.

He laughed so ugly and that made me laughed at him.

"She has brown hair and brown eyes, and she's-" I tried to described her, getting away from the question.

"I'm asking if she's pretty not describe her like you're in love,"

"I can't fall in love with a girl I just met, " I shrugged.

"Yes, you can't just fall in love with someone you just met, Zack." He enunciated my name at the end of his sentence.

"Hey, I swear," I denied.

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"Ok fine, I think so," I looked away.

"Great." He chuckled.

It's already 8 pm, we're still here in the kitchen talking about the plane incident and stuff while Blake is standing before the shelves trying to pick a good wine.

"I don't think I can drink," I said.

"Why?"

"My gut tells me not to," I joked.

"Are you crazy? You're not going to drive or stuff."

I turned away when my phone rang from the kitchen table.

I grabbed it and glanced at the unknown number.

I don't answer unknown phone calls, but there is something in this call that made me answered it.

I swiped the answer button before placing the phone to my ear.

"Zack," she cried.

I suddenly froze.

"Mathea?"

°°°

Oh, God.