CHAPTER 6

The air I am breathing, the people I am seeing, the atmosphere I am viewing were all different. They are far from the country I grew in, the Philippines. The people are serious and I don’t think I can approach anyone here. I was at the arrival area and I am struggling with my luggage but a staff helped me using a trolley.

My aunt said that they’re holding a banner with my name written on it. There are a lot of people out and they’re also waiting for their love ones, I think. My eyes searched for it and I had difficulty because I arrived here in Vancouver five in the afternoon and its getting dark especially now that time flies so fast, it’s already six in the evening. Although its summer here, I can still feel the coldness but I can handle it since I am wearing a boots, my old rose mini dress above my knee. I also used Jack’s leather jacket and I put on a scarf. My brown curly hair is moving freely, I did not tied it.

Upon roaming my eyes around, I saw a fat and hulking man holding a banner with my name. I turned my eyes to the young man beside him and my eyes widened when I got familiarized with him. That’s my cousin, Aron! I waved at them and they looked at me then looked down again, they’re trying to check something and when they raised it, I saw that it’s a medium sized paper. It’s still far from where I am standing but I can tell that’s it is a picture, my picture maybe.

I walked towards them and the staff followed me until I reached their place. I smiled at them and Aron did the same. I feel shy approaching them.

“Welcome to Canada. Are you, Jezcyl Lorenzo? My wife’s niece?” asked the man. This is aunt Nelen’s husband and the father of Aron and Morgan.

“Yes, uncle.” I hugged him also. It’s awkward because I am not really close with him.

“Welcome to Vancouver, cousin.” Aron greeted me and smiled. He went to hug me as well.

“We should go. Today is Morgan’s 13th birthday and we’re going to celebrate it.” Uncle said while carrying my luggage. We walked to his car and placed my things there.

“We have a party at our house that’s why mom cannot come with us to pick you. She needs to be there.” Aron explained beside me.

“That’s okay. I didn’t know its Morgan’s birthday. I don’t have any gift, I feel embarrassed.”

He laughed a bit, “Don’t be. He’s excited to see you, in fact.”

We rode the car going to their place and maybe out of the tiredness, I fell asleep. 

I was just awakened when Aron tapped the back of my shoulder. I opened my eyes slowly and saw a path going to their house. The sides of the path were planted with colorful flowers. Their two story house is huge painted with white and black. I feel like I am on a movie because the design of the house is just the same as it is. I was kind of nervous when I saw the balcony filled with people holding a champagne glass and they seemed not too young like what I’ve expected on a 13th birthday of a person. Some of them noticed a car not too far from them and I know that they’re looking at us. I am still inside the car. I’m really nervous.

Looks like a lot of people would welcome me tonight. I sighed heavily. I planned to live a low key life here but seeing these people now, I don’t think so.

“Hey, Jezcyl. Come out, don’t be afraid. They won’t eat you.” Then he smiled widely. He’s already outside and Uncle Jed is doing my luggage. 

I sighed again, “You can do this, Jezcyl.” I said to myself before going out.

Earlier, I was okay with my dress but now that I can see there’s too many people who’ll probably be watching me makes me uncomfortable. My heart is thumping fast, I don’t know why. I just want to go inside and hid inside my room. I wish they won’t throw their attention at me. 

I wanted to shout at Aron who’s walking fast ahead of me. I don’t want to walk alone. Even though my backpack is on him now and I have my sling bag with me, I still feel uneasy. I stopped walking and looked back only to see Uncle Jed carrying my two luggage. I waited for Uncle to walk with me. 

“Nervous?” 

I nodded.

“Sorry about Aron. His friends are there.”

I smiled, “its okay, Uncle. I don’t mind.” Liar.

We’re coming nearer and nearer and my heart is like to burst out. Damn. I was never stressed like this in my whole life. Maybe because I am facing different people, new people around me. 

As we are approaching the house, some people looked at us, particularly me.

Ghad!

I hate this.

There are three stages of stair to finally reach the floor of the balcony and there, Aron was standing while laughing with his friends, there are girls.

He turned to me, “Oh!” he grabbed me and my face heated up. I am not a socialite person except for my friends that’s why I’m being like this. 

“This is my cousin, Jezcyl. She’s from the Philippines. She just came.” He introduced me to his friends.

The girls smiled at me and kissed my cheek as a greeting, “Welcome to Vancouver, Jezcyl. You’re pretty.” Said the girl. From her aura I can sense that she’s friendly.

“Let’s be friends, Jezcyl. For how long are you staying here?” asked another

I smiled a bit, “For six months.”

“Great!” 

I extended my arm to shook hands with them.

“I’ll just bring this to your room.” Uncle Jed said who just walked past by me. 

I smiled and nodded at him. That was also the time when I wandered my eyes on their house. There are tables not too far from us and in some corners there are people chatting. The party is exactly what I watched in Americans movie. How they party there, is the same in here. When it was in the movie version, I thought it was good and exciting but looking like this right now, is not exactly what I feel when I was watching movies.

As my eyes wandered around, it landed on a table whose people are just silently drinking and sipping from their glasses while giving the attention here, on us. There are six men in the table but I was captivated by a pair of blue ocean eyes. I avoided his gazes right away. I removed my scarf because I’m feeling too hot and my face is heating up. Somehow I felt relaxed when the cold breeze of the air touched my bare skin around my neck.

“Aron, can I have my bag? I’ll just put it on my room so I can go to Aunt Nelen, I want to greet Morgan.” I asked interrupting him. 

“You can carry your bag? I can escort you to your room, if you want.”

“No, its okay. Don’t leave them here. I can handle this.” He should not leave their visitors. Maybe I’ll just look for Aunt. I took my bag from him and went off. 

When I was at the verge of the stair going up, I was shocked when Aunt Nelen came running to me with her excited voice.

She hugged me and I can tell that she’s very happy. She kissed my cheek, “Oh my, oh my! My niece grew up so pretty.” She’s smiling sweetly towards me

“Thanks, aunt.” 

She looked at behind me to check something, I guess. “How’s your flight?” she asked

I smiled at her, “It was good, Aunt. Thank you for letting me stay here. I’ll work hard, Aunt. I’ll find a part time job while doing my study so I can help from the expenses here.”

“Don’t think too much about it. Like what I’ve told you, I got your back. I’ll help you and my husband is also willing to do. He even volunteered to pick you in the airport instead of me.” I laughed and looked at Uncle beside her laughing too.

“Where’s Morgan? It’s his birthday. I’m sorry I’ve got no gift. I happened to know it a while ago.”

Aunt Nelen took my arm and guided me, “Come on. He’s in the yard with his classmates and friends. He doesn’t want to socialize with his brother’s guests in the balcony. By the way, Morgan’s very excited to see you.” She giggled. She looks more excited.

I am looking forward to meet Morgan. I saw his early pictures and he is so cute. He has a fat face and a curly hair. I also loved his long eyelashes. 

We reached the garden with a mini playground and saw children playing. Some of them are in phones, playing chess, reading book in a corner and here, a boy running to me with his cheerful face.

“Heeeeyyy!” he hugged me and I lowered my body. I kissed both of his cheeks and pinched it.

“Hello, Morgan. Happy birthday! I’m sorry, I have no gift for you.”

He smiled at me, “That’s okay! I’m happy to see you!” he hugged me once again.

Oh! He’s so adorable.

I stayed there for couple of minutes until I walked into my room. My whole body is aching and I badly want to rest but I remembered my family in the Philippines. I have to call them but I still don’t have a number for Canada and I can’t use mine because I will be charged there and if that happens, I’ve got a lot to pay.

Exactly as I got out from the bed, a knock on my door came.

“Coming.”

I walked fast and partially opened the door. 

“Come down, you have to eat something.” 

I did not answered aunt at first because I was hesitant to go downstairs again but I think I have to. There is a Wi-Fi but I don’t know the password. I looked at myself at the mirror and I still look good. I decided not to change my dress for a moment because I don’t want to go there with only shorts and a large T-shirt on me.

“Okay, aunt. I’ll go there in a minute.” 

“Alright. I’ll be waiting for you.” She was about to go but I stopped her.

“Wait.” 

Aunt turned to see me again.

“Ahmm. I have to call my parents, c-can I access on your Wi—

“Of course! Just go, find Aron. He knows the password. He just changed it recently because I kept messing up with him and Morgan when they have games. They’re slowly ruining their health because of that things.”

Oh.

“Yes, aunt. I understand. I’ll just go to him and then I’ll be in the dining area.” I smiled and she did the same before going.

I made my way downstairs and looked for Aron. I blended with the crowd, drinking, talking, and dancing. Most of them are wasted already. 

As I was looking far, I did not noticed a man whom I bumped into.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” His wine was thrown up on his shirt now.

He just stared at me and I’m a little bit scared because I can sense that he’s drunk already.

“I’m sorry, I was not looking. I—

“I don’t accept apologies.” 

Now, I felt really nervous. Is he going to hurt me?

“You’re new here?”

“Y-yes.” I hope he doesn’t feel that I’m kind of intimidated.

Then he smiled, “Okay, since you’re new here, I’ll let it slide. See you around, pinky pinky.” And he winked at me before he left.

I can’t move. I looked down to see the dress I’m wearing. He made me a nickname because I’m wearing pink? 

I sighed and continued searching for Aron and I found him sitting at that table in the corner. But I stopped going over their table because they were all men there. However, someone inside me is pushing me to go there and I did nothing but to move my feet taking the way. They all hushed from talking when they saw me and I was relieved when Aron turned to me.

“Ahm-

“Hey, cousin! What are you doing here? I thought you’re asleep.” He interrupted me

“I forgot something, I—

My words were cut when he twisted to his friends, “Bro, this is my cousin, Jezcyl. She’s from the Philippines, I mentioned her to you earlier.”

My heart is pounding when his friends started to offer their hands. I stepped my right foot to come closer.

“Hi, Jezcyl. My name is Nate. Welcome to Vancouver.” I can’t tell if his smiling or smirking. He has this long brown curly hair and he has a pretty smile. His eyes are colored gray.

I shake my hands with him, “Hi.” I smiled a bit to him and his friends begun to introduce themselves.

“I’m Jonathan.” His hair is just messy. He got this sharp nose and a square jaw. 

“Alan, here.” The same with him, he got a square jaw and his eyes are dark brown

“Hi. I’m Yorie.”

“Nice meeting you, Jezcyl. I’m Leon, by the way.”

They offered their hands to me and I gladly accepted it but there is only one man left, a man with his blue ocean eyes who’s seriously looking at me. I don’t know if he’s even blinking. He has this dark black messy hair. His nose is sharp as well and his lips? Its pretty well shaped. 

I thought he’s not gonna’ introduce himself but he slowly lifted his right arm and offered it on me. I don’t want to stare at his eyes, I feel like I am being hypnotized by it.

“Zoren.”

My warm hand became cold and when our hands met, I felt something. I have no idea what is it. I was about to pull my hand but he’s still holding it and I was stunned when he slightly caressed the back of it.

“Zoren, bro. Stop it, you’re scaring my cousin.” 

He grinned. He’s creepy, totally.

I’m glad that he pulled his hand away. Then I faced my cousin and handed him my phone. I know their eyes are following my moves, I can see it.

My cousin laughed when he saw what I am trying to ask for. He typed the password and showed it to me. I bit my lower lip and prevented myself from smiling. I am being childish again. He handed my phone again.

“Thanks.” I smiled at him.

“Filipinos surely love to smile.” Said a man in front of me. They are all just sitting there with this round table while me and Aron are standing.

“I’ll just dine with aunt.” I said before leaving them.