Chapter 2.

"Are you sure you don't want to spend your holiday vacation in the Philippines?" Chaeyoon asked Ariana while they were eating lunch. 

From her own plate, she looked up at her parents and shook her head repeatedly. "I don't want to, Mommy. I'm perfectly fine to spend my vacation in California."

"Okay, I respect your decision." Her mother cleared her throat. "But, don't you want to see your brothers? They already miss you, Ariana," her mother said, trying to convince her. She then looked down on her own plate. 

"Babe, let our daughter do whatever she wants." Her father chimed in. "Let her stay if she wants to. The doctor advised us not to force our daughter. It won't be of any help if we force her to do things she doesn't want. Besides, Rick and the others can just go and visit here if they want to see Ariana since it's their vacation time in the Philippines." She paused when she heard her father. Does that mean she'll see her brothers? 

It's been months since Ariana and her adopted parents left the Philippines. She continued her studies in California and is still undergoing treatment. Even though she never lost her memories in the first place, she needs to undergo those physical treatments just to deceive her parents. 

"That's a good idea, babe. I'll call Ken Rick after this. I'm sure they'll be happy to learn that they'll be able to see their sister," her mother said excitedly. 

She remained in her seat, biting her lower lip to suppress the words. She's been avoiding her brothers for months, making tons of excuses just to avoid seeing them. And yet it seems like she won't be able to avoid them this time. 

"Mommy, may I go shopping by myself after lunch?" Ariana asked, trying to change the topic. 

Both her parents turned to her direction, her dad smiled while her mother was looking at her anxiously. "Are you sure you want to go alone?" She asked, hesitant. 

She nodded her head a few times. "Yes"

"But honey-"

"Babe, let her go. Giving our daughter some freedom, she sometimes needs space and giving time for herself is a good thing for Ariana. Besides, we can't be with Ariana all the time." Ariana secretly smiled to her father's words, at times like this, he always considers her side. When it comes to freedom and decision making, her father is the first one to understand her. Maybe because that thing wasn't granted to her father by her grandfather, Klimt, when her father was still young, causing Renoir to become rebellious before. 

"Babe?" Her father tried to convince her mother. 

Chaeyoon sighed. "Fine, if that's what you want," she said, still reluctant. 

"Yes!" Ariana happily exclaimed. She grinned widely as she turned to her father. "Thank you, Daddy!" She then turned to her mother once more. "Thank you too, mommy!"

"Just go home early, okay? I don't like it if you stay outside too long. Okay?"

"Yes mommy! Promise!" She said, excited. This will be the first time that she'll go out of their house alone. During these past few months, her mom never left her alone to the point that she even tried to be with her during her school days. 

Her parents drove her to the mall after lunch. Hearing her mother's excuse like they'll just hang out in one of the mall's café made her laugh a little. She really thought they would let her be alone for once but she thought it wrong. They will be somewhere inside the same mall after all. 

"Babe, she'll be fine," her father said as her mom won't even let go of her hand when she said that she'll head inside the said mall. 

"Babe our daughter is only seventeen, what if she gets lost inside the mall?" She laughed at her mother's silly remark. 

"Oh, babe…"

"Mommy, Daddy is right. I'll be fine." Ariana gave an assuring smile. 

"Are you sure?" Her mother asked, frowning. 

"Yes mommy!"

***

Ariana did nothing else but window shopping, she's actually not the type of person who likes to shop, the only reason why she asked to be at the mall is to be alone and clear her mind and entertain herself. Thinking about meeting her older brothers gives her stress because she wasn't ready to meet them yet. She doesn't even know if they were convinced about her lie. Her older brothers are really smart and very observant. One small mistake and they'll immediately find out that she never lost her memories. 

She's been in several boutiques and yet she hasn't bought a single thing. She's sure that her parents will be confused if she comes home empty handed so she tries to look for something to buy. 

She ended up in a famous brand of bags. While looking for something to buy, Ariana noticed a woman arguing with a sales lady who's assisting her. 

"I said I wanted the pink one, not this!"

"Ma'am, it's not for sale; that one was already paid for and reserved," the sales lady explained. 

"But I'd like to have the pink one!" Ariana was taken aback when the woman yelled. It was obvious that what that woman did made the other customers annoyed. 

"It's reserved and paid for by someone Ma'am," the sales lady said, trying her best to be patient. 

"This is bullsh*t! I told you, I want the pink one!" She heard the woman cussed. So is this woman a fellow Filipino? Without second thoughts, Ariana walked towards the two arguing ladies. 

"Excuse me," she stepped in. 

"Yes, Ma'am?" The sales lady asked calmly while smiling. 

"Could you please excuse us for a moment so I can talk to her alone?" She smiled. The sales lady's eyes sparkled, secretly thanking her for arriving. Ariana immediately spoke when the sales lady left them. 

"You're speaking our native language and yet you don't look like a Filipino," she said. 

The woman cocked one of her eyebrows. "So?" The woman answered. 

"I'm Ariana and I'm a Filipino…" She introduced herself as she offered her hand. 

"And?" Still with the sassy attitude, the woman answered. 

"It's been a while since I've met a fellow countryman. Coffee?" The woman's eyebrow rose higher than before. She stared at her, trying to find out if she's being mocked or not. 

"I'm Daisy, Daisy Guillermo." The woman then took her hand and shook it. 

Daisy and Ariana went to the nearest coffee shop. They ordered on their own, a strawberry cheesecake and matcha frappe is what Ariana ordered while Daisy ordered an iced hazelnut latte. They took the nearest table to the counter and when the bartender called them for the order, Ariana was the one who presented to take their order.

"So, Ariana. You lived here with your family?" Daisy asked while twirling her drink's straw and staring at her. 

"With my parents, my older brothers stayed in the Philippines."

"I see…."

"How about you? You stayed here with your family?" This time, Ariana was the one to ask. 

"Nah… I just paid a visit. My Daddy lives here, but since he gave me to my real father, I stayed in the Philippines. I'll come back to our country soon to spend the New Year. "

"You have two dads? Wow! That’s cool," Ariana exclaimed, amazed. For her, things like that are cool. She's a product of her mother's misfortune and since she never met her real father, hearing things like this really amazed her. 

Daisy chuckled. "Yes, I've got two dads."

"Wow! That's so cool!"

"Nah… I don't think so. Actually it's kinda chaotic." She took a little sip from her drink before continuing. "I grew up knowing that my father is my Daddy Jayco, but then suddenly I found out he's not actually my biological father. That he just accidentally took me in and that I have a different family."

She cleared her throat. "And you know what's more disappointing than knowing that my beloved father is not actually my real father? It's that my real father won't even spare me a single glance." Daisy smiled bitterly. 

"I'm sorry, " Ariana sincerely apologized. She has no idea that the woman is going through those kinds of things. 

"Don't be. Life sucks anyway. We have our own struggles in life." Daisy shrugged as she said those. 

Ariana smiled. It's her first time meeting someone as strong as Daisy. She thinks she likes her already, and now, she wants to know more about the girl and be her friend. 

"So, why are you guys here in California?" Ariana swallowed the piece of strawberry cheesecake that she took to answer the woman. 

"I have amnesia and I am taking my therapy here, and with a thought of not wasting my time,I chose to continue my studies here."

"Well, that's bad...your amnesia, I mean. I'm sure you've had it rough, especially your family because of that. You're not with your brothers and because you can't remember them, I'm sure they miss you a lot and it's hard for them to approach you."

That got her. It's like she hit herself with a stone she picked up. The cheesecake was left mid air, then Ariana placed them back in her plate and spaced out in front of her own dessert. Memories of her brothers doing their best to make her happy although they're not really related came rushing through her mind. Those times that they looked dejected when they found out that she lost her memories, the day that they bid their goodbyes to them. 

After hanging out with Daisy for two hours, she decided to bid her goodbye. Daisy didn't object because she said she still wanted to go somewhere before dark.  But before they parted, the two first exchanged numbers and agreed to still talk even though it was unclear if they would meet again.  Her new friend convinced her several more times to return to the Philippines next year so that they could be together.  Ariana didn't promise, but she said she would consider Daisy's suggestion carefully.  She thinks they will be good friends if given the chance.

***

Ariana is nervous when she steps out of their van after her father parked it in the SIA (Sacramento International Airport) parking lot. This is the day her brothers will arrive from the Philippines. After her talk with Daisy, Ariana gave what her friend told her a lot of thought. That same night, she found it hard to sleep since she feels like her guilt is eating her up for doing that thing. 

She became unfair to her brothers when she decided to pretend to lose her memories, that's why she decided that she'll face them today. She wanted to see them as much as they wished to see her too. They've been good older brothers to her, maybe this is the right time for her to be a good sister and a daughter to her family. She's had enough time to be with her parents alone and maybe it's time for her family to be together again. 

"Are you excited to see your brothers?" Her mother asked while holding her hand. They are now heading to the arrival area inside SIA. 

She smiled a little at her mother. "I'm excited, Mommy. But I'm nervous seeing them for such a long time."

"Don't be, they are your brothers."

"I can't help it, Mom." She admitted. 

"Babe, it's normal for our daughter to feel nervous. Remember, she still can't remember her brothers." Her father said, understandingly. 

"Well… That makes me sad, our daughter forgetting her brothers." Her mother heaved a deep breath. "Why aren't you still recovering your memories?"

"Babe?" Her father warned. 

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything sweetie." Her mother stopped walking and pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't mind me, I'm just too sad about your situation."

"It's fine, Mommy. I understand.”

Because of her selfishness, she did not see the negative impact of what she did on her family.  She knows that her parents miss her siblings, but they are just trying to fight the sadness of not being with their own children for her sake.  Ariana knows how hard it is for her parents, she sees you every day but she just chose to turn a blind eye on their pain. 

‘I'm so selfish.’

When they arrived in front of the arrival area, her mother immediately pulled out the banner they had worked so hard to make yesterday.  They did that so that her siblings could easily see them when they came out of the arrival gate.

They stayed a few minutes and just stood there in front of the arrival gate.  Later then, two tall men approached them. Her parents' faces lit up the moment they saw them, Ariana can see the joy and happiness in her parents eyes at the sight of their children. She stared at the two men her parents hugged, the two men who were his older brother whom he had not seen for a long time.

"Big brother Rick, big brother Kurt," Ariana called, she's standing a few inches away from them. 

They both let go of their parents' embrace and they both turned towards their sister and smiled. Ariana can't help the emotions that are stirring inside her resulting for her tears to stream down her face. The two stepped towards her, but immediately stopped.  Ariana who was eager to hug the two would have run towards them if not only because of the strong arm that hugged her from behind.

"I've been dying to see you, Ariana."  whispered the baritone voice in her ear.  For the first time in her life, her heart was pounding, and Ariana knew it wasn't because of nervousness, but because of an unfamiliar feeling —'Brian Gil! '