Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Goodbye

I GET UP with a smile on my lips. I can't believe, after 2 years I dreamed of my parents. We are so much happy in my dreams.

I am eager to call them, at least mommy or one of my best friends who is in the Philippines.

"Why not, what's the problem if I hear from them? Yes, I should call Nancy. It's been a while since we talked," I said to myself.

Before I could even dial the number I was going to call, someone called me first. I smiled when Nancy herself called me.

"Hello, Nance. How are you? I was going to call you but you got ahead of me—"

"Aurora..."

"Yes?"

"I-I'm here at the hospital now,"

I frowned. "W-what happened to you? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but..."

"But, what? What are you doing at the hospital, Nance?"

"Y-your mom..."

I was suddenly alarmed. "Mommy? What, nance, which mommy?"

"Your mom, Aurora. Aunt Helen called me earlier—"

"And?" I couldn't control my nervousness so I raised my voice. "What happened to my mom, Nancy?!"

I heard an accented sob from my best friend.

"Shit! Nance, what happened to mommy? Please, say it!"

"It's not your mom, Aurora... She's okay, b-but your— daddy Raul."

My lips suddenly parted when he mentioned my dad's name. "W-what happened to my— Daddy?"

"Aurora, come home... He's in a critical condition right now. Okay, I'm so sorry if I called you. I just feel sorry for your mommy. I'm so sorry if I distracted you," she was still crying loudly on the other line. "Aurora, please, talk to me, my friend—"

"Nance, what happened to D-daddy?"

"He had a heart attack. It happened just yesterday. Then Auntie inform me what happened. When I learned about what happened, I immediately rushed to the hospital today,"

"Oh, God..."

My tears fell one after the other at that time. My chest suddenly tightened when I found out that bad news. My knees were weak and I sat on the end of my bed.

"Auntie Helen doesn't know what to do when there's something bad happened to your dad. She was too nervous. That's why she didn't call me immediately yesterday. Her eyes were swollen from crying when I caught her outside the ICU. S-she said— she's afraid of being left by your father. She also said that there is nothing left for her because you have moved far away from them, and she said that she has no other family to lean on sympathy here at the hospital."

I'm sobbing and my heart feels like it's being crushed with so much pain while listening to it. I feel pain inside just thinking about mommy's condition without sympathy in the hospital where daddy was, I feel even more hurt.

"Aunt begged me to let you know about your Daddy's condition now."

"Nance—"

"Auntie. Did w-what happen inside? Has Tito regained consciousness?"

I stood up suddenly.

"They let me out…" I heard a crying person reply. And I am sure that it is my mother, it is her soft voice.

"Mommy..." I suddenly sobbed. I feel sorry for every sob I hear, it's like my heart was broken into pieces.

"The doctors are trying to save his life. I don't want him to go... Our Aurora hasn't come home yet... He hasn't seen our daughter's yet."

I was worried about what I heard from the other line. I feel afraid. "No! He won't leave! That won't happen. Mommy... Mommy..." I started crying more. "Nancy, give your phone to mom. I'll talk to my mother."

"Auntie, calm down. Please, calm down. That won't happen. Aurora will come home. She will hug Uncle Raul. Here's the phone. It's Aurora. Please, Aunt... take courage. Aurora will be coming home soon," Nancy trying to comfort my mother.

"My daughter..." A crying word on the other line.

"M-mom, I'm so sorry...I'm going home, I'm going home right now. Please, let daddy be alive. Mom, Daddy, and I will play a chess board so he needs to be alive."

"Daughter... Aurora, please, come home. I can't be alone while waiting for your Daddy to be okay. Please, I need you here by my side baby... We need you and your Daddy..." Mommy's wails begged me which made my chest hurt even more.

"Wait for me, mom. I'll be coming home as soon as possible."

"Aurora, y-your Daddy... Your Daddy." Mommy kept crying.

"Mom, please calm down. Promise, I will comfort you there. We will both watch over Dad."

When the call ended, I immediately called the travel agency I know. I immediately booked a ticket home to the Philippines. As soon as possible, I needed to get there immediately to help my mother at the hospital.

When I already have my ticket— I immediately took action and packed my luggage.

I have five hours left. I have to go to Bélla Resort first to say goodbye to the owner and especially to the person I'm holding at the restaurant.

I don't waste time. After my boss signed up for my emergency leave, I said goodbye immediately. Then I went to the restaurant.

"Please be kind here while I was gone, okay? I will miss you all." I tearfully say goodbye to all of them. "If it's not really important, I won't leave now. But don't worry because I'll come back when everything is going to be okay, and of course, when my father's condition in the Philippines is okay." I doubt to keep my promise.

"Be careful, ma'am Aurora. We will all miss you here at the restaurant," almost everyone said.

"Thank you." I tried to smile a bit.

"Take care, Ma'am. We wish that your father's condition will be okay." I turned to our cook, Edwin.

"Thank you. So, I'm leaving. I only have a few hours left before my flight. While I'm gone, your Ma'am Joyce will be handling this restaurant."

I see the sadness wrapped in every face of my employees. I know, they will surely miss me here and I will feel the same.

After I got out of my car, I decided to go to Travis' office first.

"I think, it's a sign. A sign that we are not meant for each other. I really need to do this." I said to myself.

I dare to go to him and talk to him in depth.

I let out a loud sigh before finally knocking and entering his office at the hotel he was working at.

"Honey? Oh, come, come. Did my girlfriend miss me?" he happily stood up and came to me. He was surprised as I slightly dodged when he hugged me and kissed me on my cheek. He frowned as he looked into my eyes.

"I came here because—"

"What happened, hon? Why are your eyes puffy?"

"Travis, listen."

"Sit down,"

"No. I only have a few hours left. . I'm here to— to say goodbye to you." His brow furrowed even more. "My family needs me right now, I'm going home to the Philippines. A-and I already book my flight."

"You want me to come with you? I'll go with you—"

"No." I shook my head in response. "The main reason why I am here is... .i-is to formally part with you. I-I want to end our relationship."

"What?" He was surprised by what I said. "W-what... No, Aurora. What's this? Just because you're coming home, you're going to break up with me right away? For what reason? Is there any problem aside with your family?"

I didn't answer while staring into his eyes. I can't answer anything and even more so I can't answer him that yes, I have to leave after I heard from mommy about everything that what Daddy's problem.

I am guilty big time. I am a very careless child to my parents, and also I feel guilty about the chance that I give to Travis. He will think I made him hope. Yes, I feel love for him, but my love for my parents is deeper and I am willing to sacrifice all I have right now just to be with my parents.

"Aurora, tell me what I can help you with?"

I looked at his hands that tightly held mine. He also kissed it, but I immediately withdrew my hands from it. I tearfully stare at him and shake my head.

"Travis, please... Let's just accept that we've only got this far. There's a woman who deserves your love, and that's not me."

I saw the hardening of its form. He wipes his tears when it comes out. He sighed deeply.

"Okay, I know you have a deep reason. I have no right to keep you, I feel that there is absolutely no hope for you to love me."

"No, it's not like what you think—"

"Aurora, please I don't want to hear any words because I feel that you will never be able to give your heart to me completely. I feel it—"

"Travis,"

"I hope you can fix whatever problem you have when you get home."

I swallowed hard. I feel hurt and guilty. But I'm also thankful that I didn't deepen my relationship with him before I hurt it too much.

"Thank you..." I whispered softly. "Be careful here."

He nodded with sadness in his eyes. I moved and came closer to him, without hesitation I hugged him tightly.

"I hope you will forgive me. I'm so sorry, Travis. Sorry..." I can't stop my tears from falling.

I feel he loosen his arms from me. ."Be safe on your flight, Aurora." The only last thing he said to me.