Chapter 3. Welcome Back, Mikaela!

Mikaela had always dreamt of a better life. Growing up in a small town in the Philippines, she knew that education was her ticket to success. She worked hard in school and was determined to make her dreams a reality. And after 10 long years, she finally did.

Mikaela left her hometown at the age of 18 to pursue her college education in the United States. She was filled with hope and determination as she set foot on American soil. She knew that the road ahead would not be easy, but she was ready for the challenge.

Her college years were filled with ups and downs. She faced many obstacles and had to overcome numerous challenges. She had to adjust to a new culture, make new friends, and navigate through the complex American education system. But she never gave up.

Mikaela spent countless hours studying and working hard to earn good grades. She took on part-time jobs to support herself and pay for her tuition. She even joined a few student organizations to build her network and gain more experience.

After four long years, Mikaela finally graduated from college with a degree in business administration. She was filled with pride and joy as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. She knew that all her hard work had paid off.

Mikaela stayed in the United States after graduation and started her career in the corporate world. She worked for a few companies and gained valuable experience in her field. She was always looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow.

After a few years, Mikaela decided to start her own business. She had always been interested in entrepreneurship and knew that this was her chance to make a difference. She started a small online store selling Filipino-inspired products and services. She worked tirelessly to build her brand and grow her business.

Her hard work paid off. Her business became a huge success, and she was able to expand her product line and hire more employees. She was now living the life she had always dreamed of. She had a successful business, a loving family, and a beautiful home. But something was missing, and it was the man she had loved before, Samuel. She was also hoping that she could meet Samuel when she came back.

Mikaela decided to go back to her hometown after 10 long years. She wanted to reconnect with her roots and give back to her community. She organized a small charity event and donated a portion of her profits to help local students pursue their education. She also shared her story with them and encouraged them to follow their dreams.

“Thank you for helping, Ms. Mikaela,” the head of the school thanked her.

“It’s a pleasure to help.”

Mikaela was walking in the streets where Samuel’s house was, but when she came back, the house was full of grass and looked abandoned. She was confused, and her forehead wrinkled.

“What happened here?” she asked herself while scanning the house.

She was about to go inside, but someone stopped her.

“Don’t.”

She turned her back and looked at the woman behind her.

“What? What happened here?” she asked the woman.

“That house had been abandoned for years. No one knows what happened to their son, but... we never see him after his parents died.” Those words surprised her.

Mika didn’t know that Sam’s parents had passed away. She was still stunned while looking at the house. It used to be a lively and happy house filled with joy and love.

After learning the truth about what happened to his parents, Mika decided to go to the bar to drink and forget everything she had discovered.

Mikaela walked into the dimly lit bar, the sound of muffled chatter and clinking glasses filling her ears. She took a deep breath and tried to push the thoughts of Samuel’s parents out of her mind. She had only found out about their tragic death earlier, and the guilt of not being there for Samuel was weighing heavily on her.

She found an empty barstool and took a seat, the cool leather providing a small sense of comfort. She signaled to the bartender and ordered a drink, hoping it would help numb the pain. As she waited, she looked around the bar, taking in the scene.

The place was packed with people, all of them lost in their own worlds, their own problems. Mikaela felt a sense of relief wash over her—at least for a few hours, she could forget about her own troubles and just blend in with the crowd.

As she sipped her drink, Mikaela let her mind wander. She thought about all the times she had spent with Samuel and his parents, how happy they had all been. She couldn’t believe they were gone—it all felt so surreal.

And now, as she sat alone at the bar, drowning her sorrows in alcohol, she realized that she had made a terrible mistake. She should have been there for him, should have been the one to break the news. But now it was too late, and she was left with nothing but regret.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice when someone slid onto the stool next to hers. She only looked up when the person spoke.

“Hi there,” a voice said, and Mikaela turned to see a man with bright blue eyes and a crooked smile.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

Mikaela hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Sure, why not?”

The man signaled to the bartender and ordered two more drinks. They chatted for a while, talking about everything and nothing, until Mikaela felt a sudden urge to kiss him.

Without thinking, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, she forgot about everything else, forgot about Samuel and his parents and the guilt that consumed her. It was just her and this stranger lost in the moment.

But then she pulled back, feeling ashamed and guilty. This was not who she was, not the kind of person she wanted to be. She looked up at the man, ready to apologize, but when she saw his face, she froze.

It was Samuel.