CHAPTER THREE
We went back to the dining room together. All of their eyes were looking at us.
"Jessy, are you okay?" The guy named Marcus asked her.
I put my arm around her shoulder.
"That was not new in this house, Marcus. They have been like that since they were young." Mom said and gestured for us to take our seat.
"Why don't you share the good news to them, Marcus?" One of Mom's friends said.
I forgot her name.
Marcus stood up and walked to us.
He was smiling from ear to ear.
"I got the lead role in your next movie Jessy. I'll be your leading man." He said and pulled Jessica for a hug. So Marcus was into acting too. Well, I don’t care.
I wanted to push him off of her but I calm myself like the way I practiced whenever I accidentally watched a movie clip of her with another man.
God knows how much I wanted her to stop from acting but I couldn't take away her passion.
"OMG! Are you sure? Congratulations, Marcus." I heard Jessica said.
I looked away and pulled my chair to sit down.
Lunch was boring for me. They all just talked about Jessica and Marcus' upcoming movie. I didn't bother to say something.
Dad and Papa went to the pool side area after lunch.
I could see that Jessy's enjoying Marcus company so I just went to the back of our house.
I remember the tree house that Papa built for me when I was seven years old. It was my safe haven back then.
"Sir Ethan." Manang Sita, our old house maid greeted me.
I smiled as I walked towards her.
"Manang Sita, how are you?" I asked and hugged her.
She also used to be my nanny. She's like a second mother to me. We offered her a house in their province for her retirement but she declined. She said before that her life is here with us. So our parents decided to let her stay in our house in one condition, that she won't do any household chores again. She's a part of our family.
"I'm fine Hijo. Something bothering you?" She touched my face.
I held her hand and placed it in my chest.
"No Manang. I just miss this place." I replied and looked up at my tree house.
It was old but I could see some restoration that they made.
"Sir Nick asked Carlito to maintain that tree house. It's as good as new. But be careful when you go up there. You're not a child anymore, your head will surely hit the ceiling." She chuckled.
"Thanks Manang. I'll go up." I said and started removing my shoes.
"Okay. Careful Hijo." She reminded me while I climbed the hanging ladder.
I signal okay and continue climbing up.
On my last step I reached for the hanging rope and pulled myself up.
The door size is 5feet so I have to bend down for me to fit.
I switched on the light. My things were still organized.
This tree house was so big for me before but now, all I could do was bend and move a little so I won't hit some of my old stuff.
I removed the white cloth that they cover to my little table.
I saw Papa's blue print of the tree house. I taped it here to remind me of what I wanted when I grew up.
He never forced me to take up engineering to follow his footsteps. Papa did this tree house himself. If I remember correctly, he made it in two months because he never let anyone help him. Right then and there, when I first saw the actual tree house, I fell in love with what Papa does. From time to time, he would go to our office to help me with a project or two.
I dusted off the white cloth at the window.
"Ethan stop it!" I stopped when I heard Jessica's voice.
I hurriedly looked down from the door.
"Go down Jessica! The tree house might collapse!" I shouted to her but she didn't stop from climbing.
All I could do was reach for her hand and pull her up.
"You never listen to me." I said and removed the leaves that got stuck on her hair.
She smiled and pushed me inside the house.
She's just two inches smaller than me so she has to bend down too to fit in the room.
"Reminiscing the past, huh." She said and nudged my shoulder.
“I just miss this place. No problem and responsibilities.” I answered and dusted off the small chair for her.
“Right. If only we could stay here forever. You still remember the day I fell from this tree? God! Dad was so worried.” She chuckled and looked around the small room.
I smiled while remembering that fateful day.
I thought Papa would cut off the tree because of that. That was the first time that he got mad at me.
Jessica hid in here when she saw me with a girl in my room. She threw all of my drawings and stuff down. I was the first one to saw her.
She pulled up the hanging ladder so I couldn't climb up to her.
I started climbing the tree itself to explain what she saw but she threatened me that she would jump so I stopped and just looked up at her.
“You still have the scar on your back?” She asked.
I nodded and chuckled.
I got the scar because she tripped from the door jamb and fell down the tree house. I was so determined to catch her, not minding her weight if she will fall on my body.
My back hit the big stone after catching her. I was still lucky because I didn't fracture my spinal cord according to our family doctor.
I would do it again if I had too.
“I will always catch you.” I said, looking at her pitch black eyes.
Her eyes widened.
Shit.
“Really?” She asked, both of her cheeks were flushed red.
I didn't realize that I said that all out loud.
“Of course. We are family, Jessica.” I plainly said and looked away.
I went to my old cabinet and checked the combination lock.
“What’s in there?” Jessica asked and peaked to the lock.
I covered it with my body while typing her birthday.
“Ethan! I want to see what’s inside!” She said, pulling my arm.
I stand still and lock it again. I just checked if it was still working.
“Stop it Jessica. I told you it’s off limits.” I said and held both of her shoulders.
She pouted her lips and backed out.
I sighed while looking at her lips.
Control Ethan. Control yourself.
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“Sir the car’s ready.” The guard said and handed back my keycard.
I was reading a memo sent to my private email from my superior. We have an urgent meeting in the basecamp.
I need to be there before three o’clock.
I turned to Jessica and gave the keycard of my car.
“Oh, am gonna drive?” She excitedly asked.
“Yeah. Can you take Dad home?" I asked, replying to the email that I will be on my way.
Jessica's eyebrows almost met.
"What do you mean? You're not coming with us? We're gonna watch a movie, right?" She confusedly asked.
I looked at her and kissed her cheek.
"I have an urgent meeting in the office. But I promise, I'll see you in your condo later." I said and turned to Dad, who was watching us.
"Ethan!" She screamed as I hugged Dad.
"If you promise to a girl, you have to fulfill that." Dad whispered and tapped my back.
"Copy Sir." I said and opened the car door for him. "Take care Dad. I'll see you next week." I added.
When I turned to Jessica she was already getting in the driver's seat.
Her face looked so mad.
I'm sorry, Princess.
Duty calls.
"Amelia Jessica, drive carefully." I said even though she was driving the car out.
I scratched my nape.
I'll just buy her flowers later. Keep that in mind E.T.
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