Chapter 10: The Familiar Comfort Of Home
After chatting with her mother for a while, Lara excused herself and headed upstairs to her old bedroom.
As soon as she stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Everything was just as she had left it before she got married. The soft pastel walls, the neatly arranged books on the shelf, the familiar scent of lavender lingering in the air, it was as if time had stood still in this space.
Her gaze wandered to the familiar digital photo prints decorating the wall across from her bed. A small smile tugged at her lips as she walked closer, tracing the edges of the pictures with her fingers. Most of them were of her with Ali and Duke. They were snapshots of their college days—laughing at cafes, posing in front of random places, pulling silly faces at the camera, celebrating birthdays together.
She let out a soft chuckle. Those were good times.
Shaking off the bittersweet feeling creeping into her chest, she walked to her closet and pulled out a set of comfortable clothes. She grabbed a towel and headed straight for the bathroom, eager for a warm shower to clear her mind.
The hot water felt soothing against her skin, washing away the exhaustion of the day. As she let the steam envelop her, she found herself thinking about Lucas again. About the way he had coldly reminded her not to get the wrong idea, how he left without a second glance. She knew she shouldn't care. She knew she had no right to expect anything from him. And yet, the familiar sting in her chest reminded her that some wounds weren't so easy to ignore.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she finished her shower, changed into her fresh clothes, and towel-dried her hair. Then, she climbed onto her bed, leaning back against the headboard with a sigh.
Reaching for her phone, she unlocked the screen and absentmindedly opened Instagram.
Her fingers hesitated for a second before typing a familiar name into the search bar. Eievan Duke Sandejas.
It had been a while since she last checked his account. She used to visit it from time to time, just to see how he was doing, but life had gotten too busy lately.
As soon as his profile loaded, she noticed several new posts. Duke looked the same yet different—his features sharper, his style more refined. Most of his pictures were taken abroad, often with groups of people, many of whom seemed to be foreigners.
Her eyes skimmed through the photos until one person caught her attention.
It was one particular man.
He appeared in several of Duke's posts, standing beside him, laughing in candid shots, or posing casually in scenic locations. His presence was striking, commanding even through the screen.
Lara narrowed her eyes, taking in his sharp features. Handsome wasn't a strong enough word to describe him. His chiseled jawline, tousled dark hair, and striking green eyes made him almost unreal. There was something effortlessly magnetic about him, an aura of confidence that made it impossible to look away.
Her lips parted slightly. God must have taken extra time creating this man.
She chuckled at the thought, shaking her head. Compared to Lucas, this man had an entirely different aura. There was something both effortless and untouchable about him.
Curiosity piqued, she tapped on one of the pictures, reading the caption Duke had written, but there was no mention of the man's name.
Lara debated for a moment before deciding not to overthink it. She backed out of the profile and mindlessly browsed through Instagram reels, letting the random videos play one after another. The light from her phone screen flickered across her face, but her eyelids grew heavier with each passing second.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
With a soft sigh, she placed her phone down beside her and let her body sink into the familiar comfort of her bed. Her childhood bed. A place where she once felt safe, where she used to dream of a future filled with love and happiness.
Before she knew it, sleep pulled her under, and for a little while, the weight in her heart felt lighter.
⫘⫘⫘
A series of knocks pulled Lara from her sleep.
She groggily opened her eyes, blinking as she adjusted to the dim lighting in her room. Through the window, she saw that night had already fallen.
How long did I sleep?
She reached for her phone beside her and and squinted at the screen. 6:43 PM.
Another knock.
"Lara, dinner's ready," her mother called from the other side of the door.
Lara stretched, running a hand through her tousled hair before sluggishly getting up. She padded toward the door and opened it, revealing her mother standing there with an amused look.
"Did you just wake up?" her mom asked, giving her a knowing look.
Lara stifled a yawn. "Mmm... yeah."
Her mom chuckled, shaking her head. "Come on, let's go eat. Your brother actually came home early for once."
That made Lara perk up. "Really? Kuya Levi's home already?"
"For the first time in ages," her mother said dramatically.
Lara chuckled as she followed her mother downstairs. When they entered the dining area, she spotted Levi already seated at the table, lazily scrolling through his phone. At the sound of their footsteps, he looked up, his usually serious face softening into a rare smile.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to join us." Levi smirked. "Hi, sleepyhead."
Lara rolled her eyes as she pulled out a chair. "Hello to you too, Kuya."
As soon as she sat down, he reached over and ruffled her already-messy hair, making it even worse.
"Ugh, stop it!" She swatted his hand away with a glare.
Levi chuckled. "I'm just making sure you really woke up."
Their mother, watching the scene with a fond smile, sighed wistfully. "I missed this," she said, smiling. "Why did you two have to grow up so fast?"
Levi leaned back in his chair with a lazy grin. "So we could finally escape your nagging."
Lara snorted as their mother gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? Nagging?"
Levi nodded solemnly. "Yes. Years of suffering. 'Levi, fix your posture.' 'Levi, eat your vegetables.' 'Levi, stop ignoring your sister'—"
"That last one was very necessary," Lara interjected with a smirk.
"I take offense to that," Levi said, placing a hand over his chest in mock hurt. "I was the perfect older brother."
Lara scoffed. "You literally forgot to pick me up from school twice."
Levi shrugged. "That's a minor detail."
Their mother shook her head at them. "You two are impossible." But despite her exasperated tone, there was warmth in her eyes.
Lara smiled to herself. For the first time in a long while, she felt home.