03 || It Was A Trap

Chapter Three: It Was A Trap After All

Eli's POV

My lips hung open as I tried to understand what was sent. I spoke to mother the other day and she said nothing of dad's sudden illness. Why was this happening now?

I turned to look at Ashley. “Maybe it is high time you went home.” She said and I tried not cry at the sudden breakdown I was having.

“I… I… I don’t know at all. I have a lot of things to do here. I can…”

“Eli! You can't what? You can't leave when your own father is dying. C'mon, you have to go.” She said and I stared at the window for a while before looking away.

Picking my phone, I dialed my mother’s number and she was not picking. It must be really urgent.

“okay, I will take the first flight going to Great Dane tomorrow. But after I am done, I will come back. This is too sudden.” I rambled. Ashley sighed and placed her hand on my shoulders.

“No one is more important than the people that birth you.” She said with a soft expression and I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.

“Go prepare, and call your travel agent to prepare a ticket for you.” She said and I slowly stood up, my legs were wobbly. I was worried about my father. He is really a fragile person and a sudden illness can do more enough damage. I am really worried.

I can't even sleep. I tried calling Jace but my ego won't let me. Tomorrow, I will leave.

**

Ashley told me she would help me tell my colleagues at work that something urgent came up. I could not sleep during the night. My eye bags were already dark. The plane will take just six hours and some minutes. I just relaxed against my chair and dozed off, forgetting the issues that were plaguing my mind. My father… was he the one I was worried about?

No, I knew deeply that he was not the one I was worried about. It was HIM. The person that was the reason I left GD City. Now I am going back there, how do I want to survive seeing him and knowing he is still breathing?

Maybe I should forget him. He has not been in my memory as often. And I should forget him, he would have moved on. I mean, he said so himself.

Let me forget him. Forget him, Eli!

We soon landed and I felt someone tapped me. I opened one eye and saw the person that was sitting next to me muttering something. Maybe he had said we had landed. I nodded my head and sat up properly. Making my way to the exit, the whoosh of air slapped me on the face as if welcoming me for running away like coward years ago. I bit my lips and looked around. I tried as much not to revel in the scent of GD. I missed this city, it was no lie. The warmth it provided and everything about it.

I had good memories and bad ones. But the ones I remembered clearly were the bad ones, ironic right?

I flinched when I heard something vibrate in my pocket. Forcing my phone from the pocket, I saw that it was my mother that was calling me.

I let out a deep breath and clicked the green button. “Hello.”

“Elisa, where are you?” she asked.

“Already here.” I said dryly.

“oh, I see. I missed your call. I was quite busy.” She said and my brows furrowed. She was busy?

“how is dad?” I asked in return as I went to do my clearance and all.

“He is fine. Hurry up, okay? You don’t know how happy I am.” She said.

“You guys are at home?” I asked, so that I will either branch at the hospital or the house.

“Yes, we are. And we are expecting you. Love you.” She said and disconnected the call. Hauling my suitcase, I signaled to a cab and gave him the address of my place. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

The place had changed. It was no lie. Beautiful trees, more restaurants and less diners. Nice. Just nice. I will miss my sun-kissed noodles.

That is on my first to do list.

We soon got home and I paid him his bill. Standing before my father’s house, a storey building with great outdoor design, I released a ragged breath as I tries to keep the memories at bay. Moving towards the entrance, I knocked. Once. Twice. Thrice.

“Coming.” I heard my mother’s voice. Tears glistened my emerald orbs as I heard her voice. I missed my mother so much. So freaking much. I slowly wiped off the tears and swallowed hard. The door knob was twisted and I heard some shuffling before it was pushed open. There, she stood, in her late forties self, even though she still looked young. She refused to have more kids apart from Jace and I. A smile graced her face, defining her deep dimples and it gave me visual of Jace's ones.

“Mother…” I called out and she rushed forward to hug me.

“Eli! My daughter.” She said, planting pecks all over me.

“I missed you.” I said and this time I could not stop the tears. None of my parents knew what had made me leave, all they thought was because they refused to help my job. But it was more than that.

“Come in.” she said, after unlocking from the tight hug.

Just as I stepped in, I came face to face with my father who stood, hale and healthy. My eyes went wide in shock at what was happening.

“Elisa, are you not happy to meet me?” My father asked but I already stoned my face.

“You tricked me into coming?” I snapped.

“What?!” The both of them chorused.

“Elisabeth, what are you saying? Why would we do that?” My father said, coming forward to hug me.

“No, dad. You tricked into coming by saying you are dying.” I said and they both gasped in shock.

“We did not. Jace only told us that…”

“Hello, younger sister. Long time no see.” I heard the devil's voice behind me.