Episode 2

Little hands were tugging at my own making me bend a little because she reached just to my waist.

This little fella tugged me after calling me her Sister. She suddenly started to pull me enthusiastically and happily told me of how she misses me and longed for me to arrive home. If you don't know what was going on I was also lost and can't really explain what was currently happening or to tell who was this pretty cute little girl pulling me eagerly. She was even hopping like a happy little bunny.

"Let's go, ate. It's ate right? That's what big sisters' are called in the Philippines, am I right?" She asked with her cute little accent. "I've made my little research about the place after papà told me that you are going home, finally! I was so happy that I just can't wait for the day to arrive. I even asked papa if I can come and fetch you but he didn't let me because it was not safe." She kept talking randomly.

I can't deny the part of me that actually trust her after telling myself that I won't ever trust anyone when I set foot in this place. Maybe it's because of how amiable she's been acting towards me.

And maybe because a part of me hoped that maybe, maybe she's different. She seems really different too. She didn't give me the rejection and distant looks I got from everyone else but instead a welcoming smile and sweet words.

We were already inside and just like what I remembered there's several turns of hallways because the place was like a maze and if you're not familiar with the place there's a big possibility to get lost.

I noticed that unlike before, I was not being dragged by her anymore but I was walking with her, following her way as she held my hand.

And on our way to our destination that the little girl is eager to take me to, I saw maids at the side cleaning or walking past us but not before taking a bow to the little girl and giving me a look, narrowing their eyes at me.

I just rolled my eyes inwardly and casted them my sweetest smile that earned me rolled eyes and more narrowed looks.

The place became more familiar when we were totally inside, the familiar rooms adorned with beautiful portraits and some complementing decoratives on the wall that looks authentic and antique. The familiar antique Vases that as far as I could remember was big enough for me to hide at its back away from the dangers the little me is terrified of. And the protruding columns in the walls that became my hiding place whenever we're playing hide and seek wishing of being part of the wall so that I would never be seen by the seeker.

And then the portrait of the long generation of the family was orderly hanged on the wall. From the People who first made the family history to the latest. That made me asks innocently before: Why was I not there?

I noticed that the latter portrait, the latest family portrait of the current genereation, a family portrait to be specific, was updated.

The portrait consist of three familiar faces, and the little girl holding my hand right now.

My eyes bored at it until we went past it.

I was deep in thoughts, when something or to be exact, someone caught my eyes.

Why is he here at a time like this? Isn't he supposed to be at work or something related to business? I said in my mind as I see a familiar silhouette of a man the little girl is pulling me to.

I was about to excuse myself to Ella to just go ahead or for us to go upstairs already and make excuses like I'm tired, which I really was, but the little girl for goodness sake called out making our presence noticed.

"Papa! Papa! Look who's here!" She announced happily the opposite of what I was feeling at the moment.

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