One Week Later..
-PHILIPPINES-
-His Arrival-
White Francis closed his eyes and filled his chest with wild frenzy air as the fresh and relaxing breeze of the wide-private airport of the Dickinson's welcomed the arrival of his presence. It was already five thirty in the afternoon and they arrived late because of Cazzandra earlier. Good thing that matter was already fixed. And now.. There he was. Yes.. Finally, after one week of waiting, he, in flesh and blood, finally came back to the place he hated the most back then. But right at that moment, he's there again for a better reason, to meet up with the Dikkinsons' daughter personally and help that woman forget its past and to finally let go of his past also.
"White Francis, hijo! Kumpadre! Finally, in flesh and blood once again!"
White Francis just plainly smiled at Mr. Dikkinson. "It's good to see you again, Mr. Dikkinson." He said and extended his hand for a handshake. But Mr. Dikkinson didn't take his hand, instead, the latter happily hugged him tight and the latter did the same to his father as well.
"Oh, hijo, you must know that I don't exchange handshakes to my future son-in-law. Right ,kumpadre?" Mr. Dikkinson laughingly said after the latter hugged him.
So White Francis and his father both laughed in chorus in amusement.
"You're so right, kumpadre!"
And the three of them laughed again.
"Welcome back to the Philippines, hijo!"
Mr. Dikkinson said while smiling at him.
So he smiled back. "It's good to be back."
"Where's your mother by the way, son?"
"I apologised for her absence but she can't make it today, Sir. She needs to settle my younger brother's problem in Barcelona. But she told me to tell you and your wife that she'll visit here sooner." White Francis explained formally with a plain smile.
"Oh very well then.. Let's just let it be. Because right now.." Mr. Dikkinson's voice suddenly became serious and smiled meaningfully at him while tapping his shoulder. "I want to ask you something, hijo."
"What is it, Sir?"
"Are you ready to finally meet my daughter?"
White Francis just formally smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sir. I'll be honoured."
"And I know she feels exactly the same! So what are we waiting for, gentlemen? Let's get into the car and let's make this most-awaited meet up.. Happen!" Mr. Dikkinson excitedly exclaimed and so with one last heave of breath, White Francis formally obliged.
"Nelica, daughter?"
From putting some dishes on the food tray that moment in the kitchen, Nelica gazed upon her mother who was walking towards her that moment while smiling so sweetly at her.
"Yes, mom?"
"Prepare yourself. They have arrived in the airport already and surely they're now driving their way here."
She nodded and closed her eyes tightly. Then she walked towards her mother and hugged the latter tightly. "I'm.. I'm suddenly nervous, mom. And I don't know why."
"It'll fade once you finally see your most awaited prince any minute now. So go upstairs now and make yourself beautiful in the eyes of a very charming guy you're about to meet tonight."
She sighed and nodded to that. And after a few minutes of preparing herself, Harem Vennelicka stared at her reflection in the mirror so intently inside her bedroom. She's already prepared. From her make up to her beautiful, body-hugging, pink dress. Then she smiled bitterly. She's almost prepared to face her visitors later, especially to that man she's bound to meet that very day. Up to that moment she still can't believe that she choose to meet up with that man for her parents. And truth be told, she was feeling so uneasy that time to face her special visitor later, how she will act in front of him without letting that man see her bashful side. She was used to being a thick-faced brat back then when she was still boyish. But then everything about her changed when she met him. That thought made her sigh and groaned suddenly in frustration. She thought that day would last without her thinking about her past and just focus on what's going to happen later. Turns out.. She's mistaken.
Nelica heaved out a breath again and expelled it harshly. Then she picked up her guitar hung on the wall, walked towards the balcony of her room. Then she stared deeply into the wide, blue ocean and to the breathtaking view of the forest surrounding that island that they owned. Then she breathed deeply and closed her eyes while softly strumming her guitar. But eventually stopped when a memory that she had long forgotten.. Suddenly, flashed in her thoughts.. Unexpectedly.
"If you go, I'll go"
"If you stay, i'll stay."
"When you cry I'll try to put a smile on your face."
"If you fall, we fall."
"I will hear you call."
"Always know that baby I am yours and you're mine, mine, mine."
"We're a match made in heaven."
"Mine, mine, mine."
"We're a match made in heaven."
"Wow, Franz, you're a fast learner! Do that again please?"
He smiled sweetly at her. "Sure. But you have to kiss me first, my beautiful teacher."
So she blushed but slowly lowered down her head to kiss him.
She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. Darn it. Why the sudden flash of that long forgotten memories now anyway? For sex years, she loathed him. Yes.Six years.. Six years and she hasn't moved on yet. And that's a sad fact. Terrible sad fact. And now there goes that stupid memories again that automatically boiled her blood. Geez! She really hates that man taunting her thoughts that moment!.'That's just so.. Irritating. Tsk.' She mumbled on her thoughts and her mind creeped back on why she's going to have a very special visitor that most-awaited day. And that is because her parents wanted her to move on from all the negative things that happened in her past. But too bad.. She only agreed for her parents' happiness. And not for her. And later.. She will do everything to discourage that guy and so he'll go back to London eventually. The end. The thought made her want to smile sweetly and bitterly at the same time. And wondered what that man her parents wanted for her.. Looked like.
But whatever the case, she has to face that man later. And God knows what will happen next. So she gasped for precious air and expelled it out softly.
"Nelica, honey?" Said the voice from outside her room followed by a soft knock.
So she walked towards the door and opened it. "Yes, mom?"
Her mother excitedly smiled at her and said, "Daughter. They're finally here."
And by that, she sighed deeply again and tensely went back inside again. Then she stared at her reflection on the mirror once more.
'Alright, Love. It's now or never.' And after one last sigh and one last pacifying tactiques to calm herself down, she finally went out of her room..
Nervously.

When White Francis, Mr. Dikkinson and his father had finally arrived and got out from the car, as expected, Mrs. Dikkinson, who were gladly waiting for them at the main door of the mansion, smilingly went towards them and welcomed each of them with the old lady's warm, welcoming hug. Especially him.
"White Francis, hijo! Oh at last you're finally here! Thank you!" Mrs. Dikkinson happily said with tears of happiness in the latter's eyes and hugged him tight.
"It's my greatest honour to be here, Madame, and to finally meet your daughter in person."
The old lady then pulled away from the hug and smiled at him and to his father widely. "Oh thank you, hijo.." Then Mrs. Dikkinson hugged her father too. "And thank you too, kumpadre." His old man just smiled and hugged the old lady back.
"Oh don't mention it, kumadre. We're happy to be here."
Mrs. Dikkinson pulled away from its hug at last and smiled at him so sweetly. "So come on in, let's get inside now and welcome to our humble home! Right, honey?"
"You're so right, honey." Answered Mr. Dikkinson that made him smile while they were heading to that spacious living room.
"So where's my future daughter-in-law, kumpadre? I'm sure my son is very excited to meet Nelica personally this time." His father teased.
He just plainly smiled and shook his head slowly while smiling at them.
"Oh she's in the kitchen, kumpadre. Busy helping the maids in preparing the dinner that she personally cooked for the both of you. You know.. To silently impress our gentleman here." Mr. Dikkinson answered teasingly that made him chuckle in amusement.
'Parents.' He thought. But he must admit though, he really wanted to see that woman personally at that time already. And honestly, he's a little curious about that woman's appearance somehow.
White Francis was just silent there, while following the Dikkinson's couple who were heading towards the dining room, while his dad and the Dikkinson were busy chitchatting why his mom didn't make it to come. And when they already got inside the dining room and have finally seated on the glamorous seat, White Francis instantly cleared his throat when a sudden unexplainable feeling thudded inside his chest that moment that made him frown eventually. 'What the hell was that?' He confusingly asked in his thoughts and cleared his throat once again. But that unexplainable feeling gets worst even more when a woman suddenly entered the dining room holding a food tray while her head was slightly bowed and was walking slowly towards them. And he didn't understand why. But he just felt his goddamn heart rapidly beating so fast inside his chest while intently staring at the woman's.. Familiar figure.
"Oh there she is! Nelica, sweetheart.. Meet your visitors and most especially, your long-awaited visitor." Mrs. Dikkinson proudly and excitedly said.
So White Francis slowly stood up and stared at the woman's figure far more deeper than his previous stare until she already reached where they seated and finally raised her head up slowly to face them all in there. And when he had finally seen the woman's face not a little far from him, White Francis' entire body.. Had suddenly froze instantly of what he saw. He gulped. Those eyes.. Those lips.. That remarkably beautiful face, and that same sweet smile that abruptly faded when their eyes finally met. Their eyes widened and gasped in chorus. And there, right in that very moment, he concluded.. The world was indeed small for both of them. 'No fucking way.'
'Venz..' His heart softly whispered.