“Mamita!”
I exclaimed and run to her as soon as I saw her waiting at the van. She smiled at me as she spreads her arm, giving me a tight hug.
“Miss you, my angel...” She mumbled. “How's your flight?”
“ It's tiring but I am fine. Let's go, mamita?” I asked her as I cling my arms. “I am really excited to see the villa again.”
“ Sure thing.” She chuckled. She then looked at someone who's behind us. It was the driver. “ Romulo, carry her luggage.” He then nodded and follow what my Mamita said. I was about to follow the driver towards the van when I heard someone else spoke.
“You forgot someone, tsk.” I looked at her. Claire, my cousin who's way older than me stood beside Mamita as she greeted her. She glared at me which made rolled my eyes before I went inside first towards the van. Mamita sat beside me as she was followed by Claire.
As soon as things are settled, the driver, Romulo maneuvered the van towards our villa who is owned by my grandparents.
“Mamita, that girl is really tiresome to take care of.” I heard Claire said to our grandmother pointing at me. Mamita just chuckled as she give me a quick glance. She knew my personality too well.
“What would you expect from our princess? She can have all she wants.” She muttered. I chuckled as I listened to them.
My cousin is not that fond with me. As she take care of me for two years, she's always been stressed out on a daily basis. She's always annoyed when she saw me bitching other girls in our school or when I don't act appropriately. She should be thankful that all I could do is to sit as I hear her lecturing me about my bad doings.
“It's good that we're having a vacation in your villa, Mamita. I hope Clifford will visit there too. It's already summer.” She exclaimed.
“ You can visit the beaches near our villa. It will relax you, Claire.” Mamita uttered.
“That would do.” My cousin answered politely. “ Nicole.” She called me.
“Hmm?” I hummed yet my eyes are focused outside.
“You want to transfer here? It would be great if you have the same school with my brother.” she suggested. I sighed before I looked at her.
“ Claire. I know you're just worried that I might bully those students in my school, but I won't. I promise.” I smiled.
“The last time you said that, you've caused your classmate a two weeks absent because you punch him.” She sighed. I smirk at her remarks. I remember that. I can feel my grandmother's eyes on me.
“You did what, Nicole?” Mamita was about to scold me when I clinged on her arm and smiled sweetly at her.
“It's nothing mamita.” I chuckled as I rest my head on her shoulders. “And besides, he deserved that. He's a pervert.” I shrugged.
My grandmother just shook her head as she looks at me. Claire was sleeping already as she snoring lightly while we're on the van. I leaned my back on my seat and looked at the path we're taking. The road were already fixed as they put those street lights on the both side of the road. The last time I went here was when I am twelve and it wasn't still there. So far, the city is now progressive than before but not as progressive than our hometown in Manila.
The trees that we're passing by are what I see and it's like dancing with the wind as it sways back and forth. I looked above and the clouds is heavy shaded with gray as it's about to rain. It's already five in the afternoon, and badly, I can't see the sunset right now.
An hour travel from the airport, we immediately arrived at my grandparents' villa. The gates opened and it showed us the villa, a Mediterranean style with Stucco walls. Basically, the roof is made of red tile and clay. It also has enclosed patios. There's also an exterior patio and garden which is being design by my Mamita. They just levelled it up and build a second floor with a balcony on the middle part of it. The windows are huge too. No wonder the breeze is always cold even if you're inside.
Claire went out of the van first before she assist our grandmother. Mamita is not that weak as you look at her, she can still walk with her age of sixty five. She still looks intimidating even with that age. But being Claire, who's a professional nurse, she still helped her.
“I can manage, Claire.” Mamita mumbled and went out of the van. I followed her. I saw our driver carrying our luggage and some of the bodyguards. I salute them and they just nodded before I went inside just to witnessed that they held a party here.
They prepared a welcome party just by the decorations. There's some lettering on the wall that says, 'WELCOME BACK!'. The food is also placed on the middle part on the table especially the cake.
Shock was really evident on our face except Mamita who just smiled at us. There's also some of my cousins here, Clifford and Clyron and some of their friends. I went to greet them one by one and also hug them. Some are familiar to me and smiled at my greeting.
“ Thank you for this!” Claire said to them. I roamed my eyes around and caught the cake being sliced by someone. I felt my tongue watered with the sight of it. I glanced at my cousins first and they just laughed at me. But they just nodded and that's my cue to get a slice of cake.
“ Couz!” I looked at my back when I heard that familiar voice. Clifford who stand beside me, give me a smile as he's with someone. “ Finally, you're here again!”
“ Yeah, Cliff!” I chuckled and finished eating my cake. I looked at the two guys with him. “Hey there! I am Nicole.”
“Nathan here!” A moreno guy offered his hand. I extended mine and shook it with him. I noticed he has a cute smile and also he's handsome.
“ I am Luke!” The guy with his camera wave his hand at me. I chuckled and nodded. He's obviously loves photography. He's also attractive with his Japanese features. He looks good with his long hair.
“ Let's take a pic.” He aimed his camera in front of him and I stood in between my cousin and Nathan. I smiled as the camera flash. Luke was about to take a picture of us again when someone put his arms on my shoulders and joined with us. The camera flashed again while me, blushing so much because of shock as I felt my heart pounding so much. I can't even turned my back and check who that guy was and remain stilled while I am calming my heart.
“So cute.” Luke commented as he look at the pictures. “ I'll send you a copy of this.” Clifford went beside him.
“ Tsk, you're really a photo bomber, dude.” Clifford exclaimed. I suddenly heard a husky laughed behind me.
“ Tsk. Suit yourselves with my face.” He didn't even removed his arms on my shoulders. I looked up at him and I was amazed at how his jaws are well defined. He's so tall though I am tall too yet I am just around his nose. He looked down at me and his eyes locked with mine.
Someone chuckled which break our eye contact. He remove his arm on my shoulder and give a space between us. I almost heaved a sigh.
“Nics, he's Ethan. One of my best friend.” He introduced him. I stared at him completely. He's so gorgeous well being. I smiled. “And dude, she's Nicole, my cousin.”
“Hey.” He boredly said. I almost pouted at his reaction but still, I just smiled again. I just noticed that he's wearing earpods. He looks so good on his blue hoody jacket too.
“We need to go, Nicole.” Nathan muttered. “We still have to practice.”
I just nodded. “Thank you for coming.” They nodded. That guy who's name Ethan give me a quick glance and mumbled something before he turned his back and left with his friends.
