Chapter 3

I quickly run to my room. For the second time, I am so embarrassed about myself!My mother entered my room with that angry face. "What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to greet your guest?"

"Mama, I don't want to greet my guest with a face like this!" I pointed to my oily face and my tangled hair. "I smelled like poop and why didn't you tell me it's Doctor Dizon who am I going to meet? I thought it's Gail."

I get some decent clothes then cleaned myself. Thank goodness, this room has a built-in bathroom. I didn't know how I managed to get dressed and put some make-up on in just 20 minutes. I awkwardly smile at Doctor Dizon when I finally show up.

"Hello, are you alright now?" he asked while watching me sit beside him.

"Y-Yeah," I lied.

"Really? I brought some medicines for your headache and also, you left this in my car." He handed me a box of medicine and an old hairclip.

"This wasn't mine," I said then gave him back the hairclip.

"Are you sure?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, I'm not wearing any hair accessories last night. That's not mine. Maybe on your girlfriend." I smirked.

"Hmm, nice try. I don't have a girlfriend," he said.

Impossible! That handsome doesn't have a girlfriend?

"You're lying." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not unless you want to be my girlfriend," he said then smiled.

I bit my lips to hide my smile. "Smooth, aren't you, Mister?"

We stare at each other for a minute until my mother interrupts us to offer some snacks to our beloved visitor.

"Actually, I came here to say that my grandmother wanted to meet you so badly," he said.

His grandmother?

"I never met your grandmother. Why does she want to meet me?" I swallowed hard.

"You met her once, I believe. She wants to say something very important. Her memories are not that vivid anymore, but you are still so familiar to her." He was so serious.

"Are you sure that was me?" I was so confused.

He took a small photo in her pocket then gave it to me. I was shocked when I saw myself in an old photo.

"It's my grandmother when she was a young lady, and this was you... Right?"

No!

"How can this be me? I live here."

"That's why you need to come to me. Talk to my grandmother. She will answer your questions, I was so confused too. The first time she asked me to watch you, to guard you and make you safe whenever you go, I don't know why she would want me to do that," he paused. "Aliyah, come to me. This my grandmother's last desire."

"You really know what's happening, don't you?"

He just stares at me.

"Can you please tell me what is it? Is it possible that-" I paused. No, that's not possible. It is so impossible!

"My grandmother can explain it all. Just let yourself come to her." His voice was almost begging.

"You know since the day I came back here a lot of things happened so weirdly. My grandpa always said the thing that so unusual. And now you are here nearly saying that I went back in time! I went to free myself from some stress in the city, I never had a decent sleep since the pandemic started. Please, give me a break," I said then turn my back to him.

"I know this is too much but knowing the truth will put you on peace. I've been watching you since you decided to have a life in the city. You always have that bothered face and whenever you are trying to be happy, you ended up crying without any reason. You thought you are crazy, but believe me, you are not."

I gasped some air to breathe properly. How does he know that I've been dealing with anxiety? I assumed that I was going to lose my mind. I have never been truly happy, there were always sadness and the feeling of loneliness.

"Just listen to my grandma Sonia' s story first then I will leave you alone," he said.

Sonia?

I faced him. He was shocked when he saw some tears in my eyes. He went near me then wiped my tears. My heart skipped a beat.

"Don't worry, I'm here." He held my chin.

I almost faint when I heard my father's fake cough. I immediately pushed Doctor Dizon. He greets my father.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Arandia. May I ask permission to bring your daughter to our house to pay a visit to my grandma Sonia," Dr. Dizon said.

My father and mother looked at me with questions. I just nodded.

"It will be a quick visit, promise." I just want some clarification on what is going on. If grandma Sonia can answer that then so be it.

"You should relax, she can't do you harm." He held my shoulder then smiled at me as we enter her grandma's room.

I stopped. He looked at me with confusion.

"Why?"

"Can I know your name first?" I raised my eyebrow. "Is it a little unfair that I trusted you a lot in an instant, yet I didn't even know your first name, Mr. Dizon?"

He laughed lightly. "You can call me Dizon for now."

"Dizon?" I laughed.

He nodded then we enter the room. It was so quiet; a lot of old pictures and things are all around. The old lady is seating on her rocking chair that was made of rattan while looking at the window.

"Grandma, I have a little surprise for you," Dr. Dizon said after approaching her grandma.

Grandma Sonia looked at me with amusement. He moved her hand to sign me to come closer to her. I kneeled in front of her, she quickly touched my cheek then suddenly a tear came out of her eyes.

"I never questioned him when he said he never forget you even for a moment. I never argue with him when he said you are much beautiful than me. But you know what the thing I never accept until he dies? The truth that he never loves me, and it has always been you," she said then cry more.

I don't know what she was saying, what I know right now is she was hurt. I hugged her.

"He even left me with our kids just to watch you grow. I was mad at him. I even wished that somehow you disappeared." She cried even harder.

"I don't understand, grandma. I never met your husband." I was so confused.

"Not yet but you will. He is now probably waiting for you. I'm begging you, Aliyah. Don't let him fall in love with you. Please, change my fate. Make him love me," she begged then held my hands tight.

"What? How can I do that? You said your husband was already. How can I supposed to change his mind?" I asked her. I looked at Dr. Dizon after.

"Just make a promise, my grandma suffered a lot when he married my grandfather for convenience. Grandma loved him so much that she forgave him so many times for this family to stay whole. She deserved to be loved too. Make grandpa fall in love with her. Don't fall."