Before I went home, I prepared myself for my brother’s lecture, but I still couldn’t help but get bored. I know I did not do well, but all of that has a purpose. That thing can’t define what I exactly did!
    “Quit it, alright? Quit that job!”
I quickly followed my brother, who was about to walk out. It’s good that Jacques is busy playing with the nanny, so he won’t pay attention to our fight.
    “You’re unreasonable!” I shouted back at him. I will not allow him to stop me now. I just want everything to end up with nothing. Also, we don’t have any choice. What are we going to present to the public then?
    “You’re the one who’s being unreasonable! You are doing too much for that man, Av. There are more–”
    “Why can’t you understand the fuck out of me?” I couldn’t help but get angry. I have done so much for that man. I am frustrated as well, but if my complaint is purely wrong, we will not get the man for the documentary. He knows how important AFA is to me, so I can’t understand why he is stopping me now. “You told me that the best choice is my choice! Whatever I choose, you’ll be on my side!”
I shrugged. This doesn’t really make me cry, but I feel different every time my brother and I fight. Yes, we fight a lot, but they are not that serious - not like this.
    Even though I was disappointed with the slowness of progress on I convincing Cormac I could do nothing else. Cormac is what we need to win, so we have to do everything just to accomplish that.
    I picked up my things again and crossed the road out of the house. As I always do every time Kuya Jac and I fight, I will go straight to Mommy’s place. I’m sure they will be surprised again because I will suddenly appear.
    “Where are you going, Avery?” My brother spoke immediately. I just smiled because until now, he still can’t stand me.
    “Mommy’s. I’ll be back in a few.” I didn’t look at him again. He would take care of Jacques here first. I can’t imagine my next move if I stay here and fight with my older brother.
***
    “You and your older brother fought again, ‘right? “I expected my parents to open up to me, but I still couldn’t help but burst out laughing. With so much going on here, that’s always the reason they think about my visit.
    “Can’t I just miss you guys?” I answered. I quickly approached mommy and hugged her.
    “Nah,” daddy replied quickly. “They fought again.”
    “Daddy!”
    They are the best parents in the world. They’ve got to be kind, cool, and understanding. They are not strict, but they always remind my brother and me not to do things we know we will regret later.
    They are my favorite people. Although we often do not meet, I know that my love for them will never diminish. Both of them are working at our company, Kuya Jac too. I was the only one who was separated because I didn’t really like that thing. I am happy with my profession today, and so are they with me.
    I did spend the whole day with them, coincidentally as well as on weekends. It’s just refreshing that I don’t see any naughty Jacques.
    As always, we spent time talking and eating. We were also able to watch various movies.
    I just can’t be happier with them. It was as if every time I was with my parents, I forgot everything I was thinking.
    After watching random movies, mommy and I went straight to the kitchen to bake— one thing we like to do, most of the time. I am really enjoying this. I know I need to enjoy it more because I will be back at work the next day.
    “My, can I ask you something?” I suddenly gabbled as we prepared the ingredients for the meal to be made.
    “You can ask me anything, Sweetie.”
    I quickly smiled at mommy, hesitant to speak. I thought if anyone could understand someone, it was their parents. I can’t clearly ask these on Cormac’s parents, but I can ask my mother. “You told me before that our past molded us to become the person we are today, My, ‘right? Is it possible to say that a person is so rude because something happened in his past? If a person is cold-hearted who does not know the people around him, can we say that he went through a unusual past that he became like that?”
    I’m not sure if that question became clear to me, but when mommy was able to smile back, I breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Av, we are not in a place to conclude on that matter. We can not say that when he is rude or his behavior is bad, something bad happened in his past because even those who had been smiling all the time can also have a bad past. We can’t just judge them directly. But then, if you really want to know, you can ask that person politely.”
    I quickly frowned at mommy’s answer. If it had been easier to do that, I would have done it. “But Mommy, he doesn’t want to. He’s so stubborn! I’ve been asking him politely–”
    “So, it’s a he?” My mother laughed at the question in front of her as if she had caught me from hiding. I just quickly giggled at her.
    “Earn his trust. Be nice. Treat him well,” she added.
    Again, if I could have done it easily, I would have done it already.
    “He can’t. It’s like he’s the kind of person who is distrustful. It will take me a year for that, and I can’t take it that way.”
    Every time I let go of the words, it was heavy. The man came back to my mind. Why does he have to be so cold and stubborn? I mean, with so many people to fit into our documentary, why such a person?
    “If that’s the case, you should ask yourself. Is the past really important? What if he’s not the type of person who likes to dwell on the past? There is nothing we can do about it, Av.”
    I understand what mommy is saying. Maybe I just look desperate at the thought of the next move. I have wasted a few days trying to force that man, but I still do not see any improvements.
    “La Avon!”
    Mommy and I once again turned to the very cute voice we heard. It was Jacques! He quickly ran towards mommy.
    “My beloved grandson!”
    I suddenly disappeared from the scene due to the grandmother’s excessive laughter so I decided to go back to the living area first, but I met my brother halfway. 
    “Av–”
    “It’s fine, Kuya. We did not fight, so don’t coax me there.” I quickly laughed at him because I saw his eyebrows meet. This guy, I’ll never be this strong without him.
    “Ah, is that so? I will just give daddy a bucket of chicken nuggets–”
    “Who the fuck are you kidding?” I didn’t let him finish what he’s saying. I quickly ran the distance from where I was standing to daddy, who was already busy opening any food that looked like it came from my older brother.
    I immediately found the bucket he was talking about, and the mad man was not joking. He really has something like this.
    “You really are my favorite sister,” he said, laughing. Daddy and I did not notice his arrival because we were constantly pouring food.
    “And you are also my favorite brother.”
    But come on, who are we joking? We are just two—the best brother and sister to each other.
    The cupcakes that mommy and I worked hard to make earlier have arrived, and the food was already served with a few more that my older brother brought. Like the old days, we were just here in the living area, sitting and sharing food with each other, but we are with Jacques this time.
    My focus on my family was shattered when my phone suddenly rang. Although I did not want to ruin the moment, I did nothing else when I saw Ma’am Cassandra’s name on the screen. I just know it’s important. My boss will not call at this time just for something trivial.
    I immediately answered the call when I got to the kitchen, “Ma’am.”
    “Avery, I’m sorry for calling you at this time but do you still remember when you told me about Cormac’s parents?”
    “Yes, ma’am. Is there an update?”
    Ma’am Cassandra could not answer immediately, so I became more anxious about it.
    “Yes. And this time, I feel that luck agrees with us. We found out that the couple is in Canada for their business trip, and according to the information we got, they will be back in the Philippines tomorrow.”
    My face automatically lit up because of that news. “Really? That’s good. I will just approach Mr. and Mrs. Carter, and I will get information from–”
    “No. Of course, you can’t do that,” my boss said emphatically. “If that’s the case, if you make a move on Mr. Carter’s back, he may not like it and will reject us even more. Avery, you need to think about this properly. We don’t just need information. We need the consent and the person, too.”
    Things were running through my relentlessly. Fear, nervousness, and frustration were mixed. “What should I do, then?”
    “For now, just earn the parents’ trust. If we find it difficult to convince Mr. carter, we will first convince his parents. If you already got their trust, they will do our job with the man. They will be the ones to convince Mr. Cormac Carter.” I clearly understood what Ma’am Cassandra said. I really don’t know what else I must do now or how I will start the plan again if Cormac already thinks that something really happened to us last night.