04 || No Place To Go

Chapter Four: No Place To Go.

Eli's POV

I turned to look at him. “why did you lie?” I asked him with my nose flared and he gave a crooked smile.

“Tell me why I should not lie?” he asked, feigning ignorance and taking a seat. I felt like punching his jaw. He smirked as he flipped the top of can open before he downed the content and wiped his lips with the back of his hands.

“Don't look at me like that! You are just an unfilial daughter. Our parents have just two of us and you left, leaving them to cater for themselves. What do you think? Mother would always cry for her daughter to come back home to her and you being that daughter, will say you are chasing the dreams they refused to support or you are running away from..”

“Stop!!!” I cut him immediately and walked towards him.

My eyes reddened in anger and teeth teetering in rage as I glared at him. “I did not run away. I left. Because why not? See, Jace, you are my elder brother. But I still refuse to tolerate this.” I said and he broke into a bitter, humorless laughter.

He stood up and smiled before leaning closer to me. His breath filled with the drink he had gulped.

I scrunched my nose and moved back. “Welcome back, younger sister. Do well to take care of our parents. I am leaving for Los Angeles. Got a better and paying job. It is your turn now.” He said and was about to leave. I now understood why he was always bothering me to come home. He knew that the both of us can't be far from our parents so he tricked me to coming back home. I reached out for his hands.

“Jace, you can't do this! I have to return.” I said and he jerked his hands away.

“Maybe if you had a clear head then, you would have been able to see I was protecting you. But you ran like a coward.” He said and I gulped hard.

It was true. I ran. I did not leave.

“But I can't stay here. I have work and my apartment over there. I have…”

“Ask if they can let you leave. As for me, I strived for this job and I am not losing it.” He said and waved to our parents who had this apologetic expressions on their face.

I turned to look at them. “so finally, you got me to live with you again.” I said with a release of deep breath. My mother walked towards me and she cupped my face.

“I hope the both of you are able to sort out what ever it is. And as for living with us, you don’t need to. We are not kids. Your brother did that out of concern for us. You can still go back to continue your work.” She said and I nodded my head softly. I turned to my father and engulfed him in a hug.

“My beautiful sunshine. Don’t mind the drama your brother pulled up. You know just how he is.” He said and I chuckled softly. I hugged him even more, I missed him. It was no lie.

•••

“So what job did he get?” I asked my mother as we both prepared bacon for dinner.

“A computer engineering post or something.” She replied absentmindedly. I nodded my head slightly and continued mixing the dough. Typical Jace has always been after that job since he graduated from college. I am happy that he got the job but that was at the expense of me coming back to this haunting city.

When am I even going to go back?

I could start here also. I can operate from the two places. Hmmm, that will need some planning.

“Eli pass me the powder.” My mother said and I did.

We soon prepared the food and we served it. My father joined us and we ate as we chatted softly. This reminded me of an image where mother, father, Jace, I, and HIM. We were seated and my mother said something funny, it was the first I had seen him laugh at something. I felt like taking a picture that would make it last longer. We all took turns making jokes and when it was his turn, he said, ‘What happens when a wildflower which is yet to blossom looks ripe and pretty that even the gardener could not help but keep it. He tended to it every day. Do you want to know what happened after all?”

We all said, “Yes!” he raised his brows and dug into his food before turning to look at me. “You have to wait till I finish watching the movie.” He said and we all broke into laughter.

My mother threw her handkerchief at him and he dodged. “How dare you keep us in suspense for nothing!”

It looked like a joke but it was not really.

“Eli.” My mother's distant voice brought me back and I blinked to look at her.

“Huh?” I stammered.

“I was asking about Jace's friend, that quiet boy that often has dinner with us. It has been years since we saw him. Years, I mean after you left..” She said with a pointed look and I knew she was asking about him.

I shrugged. “how do you expect me to know? he is Jace's friend.” I said, slowly eating.

“Really? Did they have a fallout? Because Jace also refused to talk about him.” She said and I exhaled deeply.

“I know nothing,” I said and was about to add something when my phone beeped with a message. I looked at it with narrowed eyes.

Wait, wasn't this daughter of the president of GD jewelry dealer?

Why was she messaging me?

I clicked it open and read it.

“Hi, I went through your I*******m and I must say I am impressed with the reviews and your works with designs. I will be getting married soon and I want you to be in charge of it. Reply to my message to know further details.”

What?! Me?!

I went through the profile to see if it was a fake account but it was real!!

This… GD is my fortune!