Secret for Vinhelm #3 Read online

"Hey sweetie! It's so nice to see you again." She stopped what she was doing and hugged Meahri. She hugged her back.

  When they pulled away, Meahri asked."Where's Sab?" She looked at the food in front of her, which looked like they were having a party. There was just so much food she didn't know where to start.

  "She's at her friend's house working on their project. She told us they might finish past midnight so we told her if she can spend the night there, it would be better." She said as she resumed mixing the salad. She snatched a veggie from the bowl before Emilia was able to put it on the table.

  "This is so good!" She missed this. She missed being around her family. She had always been an independent girl but from time to time she couldn't help but be homesick.

  "We prepared all these just for you." It was Felix who said this.

  "But isn't this too much? There's only 3 of us and all these food looks like it’s for 10 people!" She was in awe. It’s not that she wasn’t used to it. It had always been like this in their house. Seemed like since she started living on her own, she got used to how she lived her life that she had forgotten how good it felt being around her family. It made her realized how much she missed this. Them.

  "We know you don't get to eat a lot and enjoy your food due to your busy schedule so we wanted you to relax even a bit whenever you're here-" Felix was cut off by Emilia.

  "And of course, eat as much as you want!" She took her seat.

  "Thank you!" She couldn’t stop smiling ever since she entered their house. The same house she once lived in. She felt nostalgic. There was no doubt about it.

  They started to dig in. She missed the salad so much that she kept on going for second rounds.

  "Don't just eat the salad. There's a lot of other food too." Emilia was laughing seeing how much Meahri was enjoying the food.

  "Sorry. It's just that they're so fresh!" She looked like she was in paradise. Seemed like what they say was true that whenever you feel sad, the only thing that would make you feel better was food.

  They continued to enjoy their food, talking about random stuff and laughing about their crazy stories. Meahri felt like she never left home. It had always been her home since her parents died and she sure was lucky to be with this family. She couldn't ask for anything better than them.

  An hour went by without them knowing.

  "Sweetie, guess what's for dessert?" Emilia left her seat and headed for the fridge.

  "There's even a dessert?!" She exclaimed and a huge smiled formed on her face.

  "You guys are the best!" She smiled and continued, "Wait let me guess. Tiramisu?!" Her eyes went wide.

  "Bingo!" Felix had a huge grin on his face.

  "Oh my god. I'm so full right now but if it's Tiramisu, I just can never say no!"

  Everyone burst into laughter. It was true. Tiramisu had been one of Meahri's favorite desserts. It didn’t matter how full she was as long as it was Tiramisu they're talking about, she’d make damn sure she’d find a way to put them in her tummy.

  When the Tiramisu was on the table, she looked like she was about to drool all over the place. "Go ahead. Don't be shy." Felix teased as he pushed the cake closer to her.

  "Then I won't be." She sounded so happy. She sounded like a little girl who tried to hide her giggle after getting her first ever teddy bear but she was too happy that she couldn't hide it. She was smiling while she was busy taking a portion of the cake.

  "Don't worry, you'll be taking the leftover back with you." Emilia said as she took a spoonful of pasta.

  "Really? I can have this all to myself?" She knew Emilia wasn't joking but she just wanted to ask for assurance of her favorite dessert.

  Emilia smiled and nodded at her.

  "Thank you aunt! You're the best cook ever!"

  She was smiling so much that it wouldn’t be a surprise if her cheeks ended up hurting any moment from now. She was being spoiled whenever she was with them. Emilia was a great cook and that was why all their meals were like a feast but what she loved the most was Emilia’s Tiramisu. It was definitely the best she ever tasted.

  "You know you can just ask whenever you want me to make one for you." Emilia broke the sudden silence that formed between them.

  "Yeah... It's just that..." She sounded hesitant. There was something in her eyes that made Felix felt uneasy.

  "Meahri I always told you, we're family. You don't need to be shy whenever you're with us." He reached for her and patted her head.

  "Thank you."

  And just like that the Meahri who was smiling like a crazy girl a second ago sounded sad and down. Tears started to form in her eyes. All it took was one look between Felix and Emilia for them to understood that there was indeed something wrong.

  "It's okay sweetie. Let me wrap the Tiramisu so you can take it back with you." She offered and stood up.

  Meahri who was now crying just nodded. She didn't know what else to say. All of a sudden her mind went blank. Felix stood up and kneeled beside her. He held her face and wiped the tears.

  "Let's get some fresh air." The concern in his voice was too obvious that even for a blank Meahri, she was able to sense it too.

  She nodded. She stood up and they headed to their garden.

  He pulled one of the chairs in their garden table and let her sit on it while he sat on the other chair that was placed on the other side of the table. He didn't want to ask her. He wanted to give her all the time and space she needed. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t talk no matter what he does unless she wanted to. So he let her be.

  Minutes passed by.

  There were still no words from either of them. She was relaxing herself, trying to inhale as much fresh air as she can. While he stared at the sky, Emilia approached them with a small tray in her hands.

  "Drink this sweetie. It will make you feel better."

  Meahri looked at her and she was smiling at her. She looked at what it was and it was her favorite drink, Caramel Macchiato. Emilia gave her husband his usual cup of coffee before leaving.

  When she was a few steps away from them, Meahri called her.

  "You can stay." She smiled.

  "Are you sure?" Emilia asked.

  They were a family but whenever there was something bothering Meahri, she always leave them because she knew she’d be more comfortable and more open that way. She never asked her to stay, not even once until now. She was happy about it but part of her was worried about the girl.

  She looked at Meahri and she just knew that whatever she was experiencing, it wasn't something small. The girl lost a lot of weight and her aura wasn't her usual aura. Yes she had a smile on her face but she wasn't really smiling.

  When Emilia was beside Felix, he held her hand and nodded. She took one of the chairs and took a seat.

  For another few minutes, Meahri didn't say another word. She just took her time with her drink. Her aunt and uncle wasn’t saying anything either. She knew they were just waiting for her and she appreciate it a lot.

  She appreciated how they didn’t force her for anything.

  When she finally had the courage to speak, found the words to say, and knew where to start, she told them about Vhynce. She told them everything. Where, when, and how it all started up to how everything ended. She even told them about Vhynce’s so-called ‘principle’ as well as her being Secret.

  As she told them the story, she saw a lot of different expressions on their faces. She expected them not to believe her and thought that maybe it was all her imagination but they didn’t. They may have some doubts but mostly, they believed her. She knew they have a lot of questions but they never asked.

  Meahri knew that anyone who’d hear it for the first time would never believe her but it was the truth and it did happen.

  While she was telling them about how things ended between them, she can no longer stop the tears. It had been months but it still felt so fresh for her. She could still feel how much pain she felt that exact same time.

  As s
he cried her hearts out, Felix and Emilia approached her and hugged her.

  “Shhh… It’s not your fault.” Felix comforted her as he brushed her hair.

  “Don’t ever feel sorry for loving so much, sweetie…” This came from Emilia.

  Both of them couldn’t believe how much the girl had gone through. She left for only 4 years and there were so many things that happened in her life. Not to mention, everything between her and Vhynce just happened in a span of almost a year.

  Part of them wanted to blame their selves for letting her leave but then they wanted her to be happy and she did tell them that it was what she wanted. To live on her own. To be independent. They may want to blame their selves right now but it wasn’t what their girl needed. What she needed right now was to feel that she wasn’t alone.

  While they were in the middle of everything, Meahri’s phone rang. The two hesitantly let her go. She took her phone from her pocket and was surprised to see who it was. It was Therry.

  She didn’t know if she should answer the call or not. She knew if she didn’t, he’d be worried and if she did while she was still crying, it wouldn’t make any difference. Either way, he’d be worried. So she decided to go with the latter.

  When she answered the call, both Felix and Emilia gave her some space.

  “Hey sis, where are you?” Therry asked.

  “Hey Therry… I’m… at my u-uncle’s house… Do y-you need anything?” She sniffed. She was chocking on her tears. She wanted to hide it but with her current state, there was no way she could. Besides, it was Therry. It wasn’t like she could hide anything from him either.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” On the other end of the line, Therry looked worried. Rayle and Tyler saw it, and they had a bad feeling about it.

  Meahri choked a laugh. “N-nothing. I was just having a talk with my family.”

  “Okay.”

  She knew Therry wasn’t convinced but he just decided to drop it. For now.

  “So… Thing is, the reason I called you is because we’re actually at your condo and w-“ She cut him off.

  “We? Who’s we?” She asked in confusion. Were they supposed to meet tonight? She tried cracking her brain but she couldn’t remember anything about meeting them.

  “Me, Rayle and Tyler. We actually need to talk to you about something.” He sounded serious and sorry at the same time. He knew it wasn’t the right time but it was now or never.

  Before she can answer, he beat her to it.

  “I know it’s not the right time but it’s very important. Do you mind coming home or we could just pick you up?” He was pushing it.

  A rush of worry filled her body. What was it that so important that she had to come home? They even insisted on picking her up. Could it be that something bad happened to Vhynce? She whitened at her thoughts. She was too scared and worried that she didn’t realize she stopped crying.

  “I’ll just come home. Can you guys wait for me? It will take me around an hour.” She said as she got up from her chair.

  “We’ll be here sis.” He assured.

  When she ended the call, she saw the look on Felix and Emilia’s eyes. They knew something was wrong again. She can’t go into details now since she didn’t have any idea what was wrong either but she knew she had to at least tell them something.

  “It was Therry. He’s one of Vhynce’s friends and he called me asking to come home. I don’t really know why but I –“ Before she could finish her sentence, Emilia already understood what her worry was.

  “It’s okay Sweetie.” She reached for her and hugged her. “Don’t think about anything for now. Just go home and talk to them.”

  “But what if… what if something happened to him?” Her words were clogged by her sobs.

  When will she ever stop crying because of him? When will she ever stop worrying about him? When will she move on?

  “Shhh… No. No. Nothing happened to him.” She assured. She too wished it was true. For her girl, she wished nothing happened to the boy.

  “Do you want us to drive you?” It was Felix who asked this.

  “No, i-it’s fine… Besides, it’s already late. I can drive.” She pulled away from Emilia and assured them that she was fine. They wanted to insist on driving her but the more time they try to convince her, the more time they waste. They decided to let her drive by herself so they sent her to her car.

  “Drive safely, okay?”

  The look on Felix and Emilia’s face made her feel sorry. After what she revealed to them about Vhynce, here she was making them worry even more.

  “I will… Thank you.”

  She didn’t bother forcing a smile. She knew she didn’t have to. They knew everything so what was the use of pretending?

  She was already sick and tired of pretending.

  They bid their goodbye and Meahri drove to her place.

  Chapter Five

  It took Meahri an hour to arrive to her place. Therry told her they were at the lobby so after she parked her car, she went down to the lobby to pick them up. When she arrived, she didn’t know what to feel. There were mixed emotions on their faces. She couldn’t hold it any longer.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Let’s talk about it upstairs.” Therry’s tone was serious. His words especially his tone didn’t help at all. It made her even more curious and worried.

  “Is it about Vhynce?”

  She looked like she was in the verge of tears. That was the only time he understood what his little sis was thinking and it was so wrong.

  They entered the elevator before Therry answered her.

  “Yes it is but it’s not what you’re thinking.” He assured her hoping she would stop having those crazy thoughts and stop worrying about the man.

  She looked at him. She wanted to push him for more but with the look on his face, he wouldn’t talk until they get inside her house. It took them a minute to get to her unit and when they were inside, she exploded.

  “Can anyone please tell me what’s wrong?” She half-shouted.

  The three men were surprised at her tone. They never saw nor heard her shout. Not even when everything was a mess between her and Vhynce. It only proved that she still cared for the man.

  Therry went to her side and put his arm around her shoulder. “Relax sis. Nothing happened to Vhynce but there is something important we need to ask you.”

  After being silent since Meahri arrived, Rayle finally speak. “It’s more of a request.”

  “Let’s take a seat first.” Therry said as he pulled her with him towards the couch.

  “Seriously. Just tell me what it is! This is not funny.” She complained.

  “We want you to go to Vhynce’s concert tomorrow.” Tyler revealed. The two men looked at him as if he ruined the surprise.

  Her mind went blank.

  Did she heard him right? Did Tyler just say he wanted her to go to Vhynce’s concert?

  Vhynce’s concert.

  It took her a moment before the words sink in. Since when did he start having concerts again? Wasn’t he retired? What the fuck was happening? How long had she been away for her to not know anything about it?

  “Sis!” Therry had been calling her but she couldn’t seem to hear him.

  “Meahri!” He shook her shoulder and that was the only time she got back to her senses.

  “Vhynce is having a concert?” She asked as her eyes blinked rapidly. She couldn’t believe what she just heard.

  “Yeah. He had been travelling around US for almost a month now.” Rayle said in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

  “Wait. What?” She couldn’t understand what was happening.

  “He’s having a US tour and New York was his last stop, which is happening tomorrow.” Tyler added.

  “We were hoping you to come. We’re actually going to perform our own songs so you’re not coming for him. You’re coming for us.” Therry sounded confident.

  “I want you to watch me perform.” Rayle sounded .
/>   “That’s all?!” She was seriously going to kill them.

  This time, it was the three men who were confused.

  “You called me telling me to come home and let’s not forget you sounded so fucking serious!” She looked at Therry who was seated beside side. “You two! Those look on your faces just now, what the hell was that for?!” This was for Rayle and Tyler.

  “Were you guys planning to kill me with worry?!” She sounded furious.

  “You’re mad sis.” Therry pointed out.

  “Oh I am mad.”

  “This is not how we planned this to go.” Tyler commented.

  Everyone gave him a look.

  “What? I’m just telling the truth.” He really was.

  Next thing they knew, they were laughing. Tyler’s humor never failed to make them burst into laughter. He have his own humor.

  “But seriously sis, I do hope you can come.” Therry confessed.

  The laughter toned down. Everyone looked serious especially Therry.

  “I’m not sure…” She wasn’t sure if she should go or not. Part of her wanted to but another part of her didn’t.

  “It’s just for a few hours and we want you to be there. I want you to be there.” Rayle sounded sincere. He even looked at her with pleading eyes.

  How can she say no to them?

  “It’s not that I don’t want to come… I mean, it’s tomorrow and I’m pretty sure it’s sold out.” She sounded disappointed.

  Meahri knew very well that if it was Vhynce’s concert, there was no way it wouldn’t be sold out. Not to mention, it wasn’t just him but RMM was with him too. She had been around them long enough to know that the other members had their own fanbase by now.

  Tyler took the ticket out of his pocket and gave it to Meahri. “We got you a VIP ticket.”

  She wasn’t just dumbfounded. She was speechless too. Never in her entire life had she ever imagined she’d attend one of Vhynce’s concerts with a VIP ticket. Let’s not forget, it’s even free.

  She was overwhelmed by the fact that after years, she’d get to see Vhynce perform again but part of her was scared. How can she not? She was obviously still in love with the man. If she decided to go to the concert, there was no way she won’t fall for him any deeper than she was.