Chapter Five: Life at Fairbanks, Alaska

MY mother and I are scheduled to fly to Fairbanks, Alaska, today.

As my father and I had agreed, I should end my relationship with Lucas in return for his safety and freedom. I'm going to do it while my eyes are closed despite the burden on my chest.

My mother, who had been watching me as I packed our stuff, asked, "Scarlet, do you have any idea why we need to abruptly leave the country?"

"I don't know either, mom. Dad just said that we can bond for a long time if we are in America," I lied.

"But it would be great if he was with us too. So that I can still be with both of you before I die." She said solemnly while her voice slightly trembling,

I wiped my tears that were starting to fall before I stood up and faced my mother.

"Mom, dad is so darn busy. Let's just allow him to make his own decision. And then he said he would follow us, so you have nothing to be worried about." I kept on lying.

Until now, my mother was still unaware of the real situation in our family.

"Oh, good to know that. I seriously thought he was merely going to stay here," she replied, managing to smile this time.

I just smiled at her and continued what I was doing. Exactly when dad arrived, I finished packing our stuff.

Dad asked, knowing that he was referring to me, "Are you done?"

I turned my gaze on him. "Yes," I replied sparingly. So he started pulling out our suitcase and put it in his car.

"Are you going to follow us to America?" my mother suddenly asked him. At that moment, I was forced to look straight into my father's eyes, and he immediately understood what I wanted to convey.

"Yes, honey. I promise I'll follow there once I've fixed everything I have to deal with in the company," he said calmly.

"Okay. Don't take too long. I want to be with you both," my mother said sadly again.

"Yes, honey. I'll follow you to America right away." He said while kissing my mom on her forehead. "Oh, by the way, I've also talked to your caregiver. I've paid for all her services to you."

"Huh? I thought she was going to America with us?" mommy asked again.

"No mom!" I interrupted their conversation. "I'll take care of you myself."

"Huh? Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to-"

"Mom, it's okay. Let dad and I decide. I also wanted to take care and spend time with you, so I prefer to stay by your side all the time."

"Hmm...okay. I have no choice but to follow you, two." She was forced to agree.

After a while, dad drove us to the airport.

A frigid climate has descended upon us in America. Even though I'm wearing twice as much clothing, the cold has still been stinging into my bones.

"Oh, why do you seem sad? Aren't you happy that we are here again at your auntie's house?" mom asked while she's sitting now in her wheelchair.

I was forced to give her a weak smile. "Of course, I'm happy mom. I...I just miss my dad." I lied to her.

"Oh, me too baby. But your dad is so busy."

"Yeah, I know mom. Uhm, what do you want for dinner? I'm going to cook." I'll change the topic.

"Just don't mind the dinner. It's still too early. Let's just talk about your relationship with Lucas."

I was stunned for a while after hearing her words.

"So, why didn't he show up before we left the country?"

"Mom, Lucas isn't in the Philippines so-"

My mother kept asking, "Are you and Lucas really still together? I'm now doubting that person. Actually, even though he was so busy before... he still managed to visit me."

I didn't answer right away. I sighed a few more times before I thought of something to answer him.

"Mom, you're just being paranoid. As I told you, Lucas is so busy, and he's not in the Philippines. He's in Japan and busy taking care of his business."

"Okay. I'm sorry, baby. I just miss him. You know how much I love him and how I treated him like my biological son."

"Don't worry mom. Lucas and dad will come here at the same time," my voice was full of bitterness.

I find it difficult to lie to my own mother. I still wanted to regret my father's idea. The fact that my mother's life depends on it, that's why it enables me to stick with this lie.

"Mom, I'm hungry, so I badly need to cook."

"The fridge is empty. I checked it earlier." Mom said.

"Oh, I just have to go out to buy some groceries."

"Hmm...what if we just call for a delivery and-"

"Mom, you're not allowed to eat that kind of food. Don't worry, I'll just hurry up so I can get back right away." I insisted. That's why my mom doesn't have a choice but to agree.

It's annoying. I need to wait for a taxi. It's not like in the Philippines when I walk out the door of our house, my car is immediately in the parking lot.

I waited for a taxi for almost ten minutes before I even got on.

After a while, the Starbucks Coffee on the other side of the street caught my attention, causing me to remember Lucas, again.

We went to Starbucks for our first coffee date since we both enjoyed the Hot Caramel Macchiato and the New York Cheese Cake, which we regularly get. I remember that we always received a discount from the manager because she was so happy seeing a couple like us having the same coffee and cake flavor.

I didn't realize that my tears were slowly falling. Thank God that the taxi driver is good and kind to me. He handed me a tissue, causing me to feel embarrassed.

"Oh, thank you, sir. And I'm so sorry if-"

"It's okay ma'am. I always encounter some passenger who is crying inside my taxi." He said while smiling at me.

I stared at him, then I noticed that he was also a Filipino citizen.

"Tss, now I know why you have a strange accent and your English is a bit crooked. You must be a Filipino as well, right?"

The anguish and embarrassment I was feeling earlier changed to happiness as I said directly, causing us to laugh together.

"Oh, you're too smart, ma'am. You noticed it right away, huh!" he said while laughing again.

After a while, we stopped in front of a supermarket. I immediately got off and paid, but I didn't expect that the taxi driver would give me a discount. He said that he was happy to talk with me, and he also gave me his calling card so that next time I won't have to worry and wait for a taxi every time I go somewhere.