Hide And Seek - S01 E07

9 months ago

Hide And Seek - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

After eight years of being apart from my parents and studying hard, I was able to establish my very own veterinary clinic and a café managed by my friend from the university, Elaine. We became roommates after I was accepted to be part of the university, but she took a culinary course back then so I let her manage the café for me. I only visit there to sign some documents every Sunday afternoon or every time the clinic is not busy.

Today is Sunday, but instead of working in the clinic or signing documents in the café, I decided to come back to my hometown to finally visit my parents after those years. I couldn't visit them due to my hectic schedule from when I was a student until I finally became a doctor, but I always keep in touch with them after I eat dinner or during my free time.

I've been on the road since this morning, it's almost three hours of a road trip from the city to my hometown so I need to wake up early today to prepare myself and to drive.

I am surrounded by the green grass that's neatly cut, the trees near the road, and the different shapes and sizes of the houses in the neighborhood.

I rolled down my window to enjoy the refreshing countryside breeze. Cool and refreshing air can help you relax compared to the city where the air is polluted and as warm as boiling water's steam that will make you frustrated and sticky.

Before I dropped by my parent's house, I visited my alma mater first, where I studied in high school. It's changed somehow. The colors of the buildings changed from bright yellow to dirty white with some blue lines and the gates that were red before changed to blue now.

I turned off the ignition after I parked my car in front of my parent's house. Instead of looking at them, I looked at the nearby house where he lives. I lost my connection to him when I left. There are so many good people in the city, they are so good that they will take advantage of your kindness and snatch all your valuable things when you're not looking.

It's a good thing I wrote my parent's number in my notebook in case something bad happened to me, that's why I still managed to contact them when I changed my number. I asked my parents back then about his phone number which they gave me immediately, but I don't have any courage to text him after what I did. What if he's mad at me? What am I going to say if I text him?

I didn't bother to text or appear in his life again. He had Stephanie with him, his girl, his happiness, while I only gave him sorrow and hatred.

I'm still lost in my thoughts when I hear a closing door. I looked in the direction where the sound came from and saw a couple standing on the porch, it was my parents. Maybe they saw the car pull up before their house. Upon seeing me, my Mom cried in an instant while my Dad shook his head at my Mom's sobs.

My eyes get teary upon seeing them again after so many years of being apart from each other. I get out of the car and rush to them, to give them hugs and kisses.

"Oh, baby," my Mom said to me, still crying. She put her hands on my face, squeezing my cheeks, observing me from head to toe. "Look at you! You're so thin. Are you even taking care of yourself while you are there?" she weeps.

I can't stop myself from laughing at her reaction, "Of course, Mom," I replied.

"Why don't we go inside first and have a seat? She's probably tired from driving for too long," my Dad said, but when I looked at him, he also had teary eyes that he wiped instantly.

Once we entered the house, I saw no sign of changes inside. The paint on the ceiling is still white while the walls are painted in faded brown that is complementing the colors of the wooden furniture in the hallway going through the living room.

Our round table in the dining area before became rectangular, which was good for six people. I put my little gift on the table and sat down facing them. It is my favorite cake from my café that was made by my friend.

"How are you?" It's funny to hear the same question every day. They always asked me the same question every time I called them, until now that I'm here in front of them.

"I'm doing great. There are not many patients in the clinic compared to the super busy café," I explained while eating the cake my Mom served me.

"How about you two? How are you here?" I asked them back. "We're also doing great, thanks to our hardworking baby," she laughs.

"Hon, Anna is not a baby anymore, she's an adult now," my Dad said defensively then playfully winked at me. I laugh at how he defies Mom and takes my side.

"Dad's right, Mom, I'm not a baby anymore. Is there a baby as tall as I am? Or as strong as I am?" I asked them with confidence and a big grin on my face which made them both burst into laughter because of my playful remark.

Mom clapped her hands on my face again and said, "there is no one like you, our dear Anna," she smiled gently and then hugged me tightly. They asked me to go out with them and have a little tour around the town. Everything may have changed in our neighborhood, but not the people who are living in this town. They are always full of sarcasm. They always laugh, drink, and talk about everything even if they already talked about it earlier.