Clarriese Zyah's POV
Day after I went to Dreammy Pen HQ, I processed my papers for going to the Philippines. I am worried about Lola. Maybe it's now time to face all of them.
No one could ever escape from the truth. Fate won't be an exception for me. I couldn't picture in my mind how I am going to face my father but I know I could stand it somehow.  
I already had a lot of time running away. I've been away with the thought of healing myself. But I know within me how I missed my family and friends. I can only be genuinely happy when I am with them. 
What's the point of being afraid to go back when they are all waiting for me? 
When my plane landed at NAIA, I stepped down with excitement bubbling in my heart. Nothing beats the feeling of being in your homeland. I could smile with relief. It is true that the Philippines is indeed for the Pilipinos. Am I right? That's what I am thinking right now. 
"Zyah!" I heard my name being called amidst the crowd. I roamed around my gaze and saw two ladies waving their hands cheerfully. They are holding a banner on their free hands with "Finally, you are home, our Zyie," written on it. 
"Hey!" I ran towards them while pulling my suitcase.
They welcomed me with a tight and warm hug. I don't know how to put it into words how I miss these two. It feels so nice to be hugged by them after a long time of not being together. 
"You are getting prettier, Zyie!" Ellaine commented right after we broke our hug. "You just leave without saying goodbye and now you're back being gorgeous as ever!"
"She became prettier after being hurt!" Dwight added.
"Aren't I alway beautiful?" I joined in with their fun.
"Save the talk later! Let's go!" Ellaine started pulling my suitcase.
"Dwight, how's our grandma?" I asked. I've been worrying about her condition. My mom said she was sick. I wonder if she gets better now or not.
"Ah?" Dwight faced me with frowned brows. "Of courses, she's at your house with Lolo Dioniso," she replied.
"Is there still hope with her illness? How is she doing now?" I asked again. 
Dwight stopped from walking and faced me. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"I've been away for a long time. If mother won't inform me that grandma is sick, I don't know when I will be able to go back," I uttered.
"Zy, you—"
Dwight's words were halted midway when Ellaine gave her a pat on the elbow.
"Let's just go there," she said. "To see them."
As Ellaine's car gets close to our house, my heart beats rapidly. The more nervousness devours me. I let out a deep sigh before stepping out of the car. Dwight and Ellaine were walking ahead of me. They were pulling my suitcase. 
"Surprise!" They all cheered when I entered the gate. They even throw se confetti. 
Everyone before me was smiling and celebrating my return. I even saw my grandmother beaming in front of me. She was happy as she claps. 
Wait? Just a moment. My mother told me that she's sick, isn't? Then why is she standing here? 
I could only see both of my grandparents. Where's mom?"
"Wait. . ." I muttered. My brain couldn't process what was happening.
"Zyah, apo," my grandmother began. "We would like to apologize for lying to you. It's true that I am sick but not that worse."
"What?"
My grandmother took a step closer to me. "You've been away for so long and didn't have good communication with us. We are worried about you," she said, teary-eyed. "We didn't even know where you go. You didn't bid goodbye when you left. We could only wonder every single day how are you."
My grandmother's words made my tears fall. Another bolt of pain enclosed my heart. Am I that selfish? I left and made them worry about me. 
"Lola, I am sorry," I uttered between my sobs. "I made you worry, Lola."
I walked forward and hugged her. "Lola. . ."
"You are home, baby!" Another set of confetti flew in the air. 
"Ma!" I exclaimed and went to hug her. I found myself crying even more now that I felt the warmth of my mother's embrace. Nothing in the world could equibiradiate the warmth of the mother's embrace. "Ma, I missed you so bad."
"Baby, welcome home," my mother mumbled from behind, caressing the back of my head. 
"What did you do out there that you seemed skinnier, apo?" Lolo suddenly asked. 
I distance myself from my mother and went towards my grandfather. We bumped each other's fists before we hugged each other. 
"Lolo, I am always slender, aren't I?"
"Zy. . . " my mom mouthed when my gaze fell on her once again."I am sorry about lying to you about that message. It's my idea."
I smiled. "It's alright, Ma. If you didn't message me, maybe I am still overseas now. It's good to be back," I replied
"Right, Lolo?" I looked at my grandfather's direction and grinned. "I am back to ruin your amazing day!"
"Weh? I am the one who's going to ruin your day!" my grandfather retorted.
"Zy, your dad is here," my mom interrupted.
I froze where I was standing. My dad is here?
"This is the reason why I wanted you to go home." She held both of my hands. "We don't want to continue living with the guilt in your heart because of what happened. You need to know the truth that—"
"Pa?" I uttered under my breath when I saw my father stepping down the stairs. 
My tears began to well up again. Finally, my dad and I met again.  It's been so many years since I've last seen him. The build of his figure is far from the day we last saw each other. I could even barely remember it. 
"Zyah, anak. . . "
I ran where my dad was standing. All of my doubt suddenly disappeared when he called me that way. My yearning heart overthrew the uncertainties I have when I haven't met him. Now that he is standing in front of me, all I want is to cry on his shoulder. I felt guilty for doubting his love for me. 
"Papa!" I cried in his embrace. The warmth of his hugs is what I've been longing for so long. There is part of my heart that joyed when I am in his arms. My dad. I missed him so much. 
"Anak, I have to tell you something.”
I shook my head without breaking our hug. "Pa, it's not your fault. I already forgive you.”
I could now breathe without struggles. I felt relieved, as if something sharp that was long pierced on my heart was gone. I felt a joy that I never experienced this past year. 
I didn't expect that this would be my reaction. I thought I would have gone mad or something but it didn't happen. I felt weak in my father's embrace. This proved to me that no matter what happened, nothing could beat my love for my father. This love couldn't be changed by anything. This is firm and genuine. 
I saw my father crying as well. Even my mother and my grandparents couldn't hold back their tears as well. Dwight and Ellaine are getting emotional too. 
"Enough with the drama!" Grandfather interrupted. "Let's enjoy the food first before they'll get cold!"
"Let's eat! The condiments I used would go to waste if you all couldn't taste the dishes I prepared!" grandmother added!
That made my mother smile. "Your condiments, really, ma?"
We helped ourselves with the food prepared on the table while enjoying the conversation. As we enjoy our talk, it's as if the delicacies becomd tastier.
I really enjoyed that lunch because it's been a while since I last had a feast. I've been busy with my "Drizzles of Yellow." I could only prepare a cup of noodles or just stop by at any fast food chain. 
The vitality in my heart has become alive again because of my family's laughter. Nothing can beat the happiness that came from your family inside your house. 
"Zyah! It's your time to shine!" Ellaine threw herself to my bed. "Tell us what happened to you while you're away!"
Dwight also came into my room and closed the door. 
The three of us decided to come up to my room after the meal. I felt a little bit unwell because of jetlag. I badly want to lie down in my comfy bed. 
"And what am I going to tell you, huh?" I asked. I reached for my pillow and embraced it.
"How's Valentine's Day in France?" Dwight asked. The way she laughed immediately raised suspicion.
"Yeah, Zy!" Ellaine smiled. "You really picked the wrong place this time!"
I couldn't help but smile as I shook my head. "Sorry, alright? I didn't expect that I would spend Valentines there!"
"Do you still remember our first year college days?" Dwight began.
"Which of them, Dwight?" Ellaine turned to her, waiting for her next words.
"Zyie got sick during Valentine's day when we were at Dreamnote!"
"I couldn't even understand it either,"I defended myself. "I don't know why I really felt awful that day."
"It's a pity that you missed such a day," Dwight said. "Some of the programs weren't done again in our second year."
"Oh? What am I seeing?!" Ellaine blurted out.
I was startled upon my realization when I turned my gaze to Ellaine. She was holding my camera. I just randomly put it down. I didn't notice that she was already browsing it because I was busy chatting with Dwight.
"What's that?" Dwight hurriedly joined and saw what made Ellaine occupied. 
Just like Ellaine, Dwight couldn't believe what she just saw. She repeatedly switches her gaze between me and the camera in front of them.  
"So, it's you, Zyie?" Ellaine asked in a very serious manner.
I nervously forced a smile "I'm sorry."
"You're the author of Drizzles of Yellow?" Dwight followed. 
Like Ellaine, I could see how surprised Dwight was. Dwight is an avid reader of Drizzles of Yellow. Everytime we talk, there are no times that she won't bring up that website. She told me how she admired the author. 
"I didn't mean to hide it from you guys," I said, eyes down. I couldn't look at them. I am afraid that they'll get mad at me for concealing the truth from them.
What if they'll think that I am making fun of them? They've been talking to me about it but I pretended that I know nothing. I am afraid that they will get mad at me for not telling them that I am the author of Drizzles of Yellow that they always mentioned to me. 
"You are really her? That Little Author or something?"" Ellaine inquired.
I nodded. "Hmm."
I couldn't move when both of them hugged me without saying a word. 
"We are proud of you, Zyie! You have been trending for many months here in the country!" Ellaine cried out.
"You've reached far!" Dwight commented. "You didn't say anything about it. We could support you from the beginning, you know.
"What are you saying? Even if you don't say it, I could feel your support!" I said.
"If you are really that Petit Auteur, then that means you are the new signed writer of Inkwell?" Ellaine asked but most likely exclaimed.
 I could only smile as I brought my head down. "Yeah. That was me."
"What? Does Dale know that you are this Little Author?" Dwight asked. 
I shook my head. Nope. He doesn't know," I replied. "And I don't have any thought to let him know."
"Why?" They both asked. 
"You already know that, don't you? He's mad at me. I am afraid he'll rather let the Inkwell drop than to work with me," I said with every pain in my words.
Ellaine leaned close to me so I rested my head on her shoulder. 
"You still love him, don't you?" she asked. 
I emphatically closed my eyes when I felt it began ro water. Until now, I still couldn't free myself from our story he ended a long time ago. 
"Zy. . . " Dwight called in a concerned manner. 
"Hmm?"
"Just what if. What if you'll meet Dale again?"
I smiled bitterly. "We? Meet again? It's impossible, Dwighty."
"Zy-"
I smiled yet deep inside I knew it was a forced one. "I taught myself. I tried to forget him," I said, letting out what I really feel inside. "I got tired of chasing him out of my mind but even with how hard I tried, his image was still there. His smiles when we were together were still vivid inside my head. I fell asleep crying, the next morning the tears were still there. I've come to the point that I got tired. I was really tired and I just let him linger in my head, in my heart."
"Zy, you've been brave enough. You fought alone." Dwight left gentle pats on md.
"Yeah. But still, it's no use."
"You never know the flow of fate," Ellaine uttered.
"Yeah, I never know," I replied. "I never knew our relationship would last just like that." My voice was still enveloped with pain. 
My encounter with Dale made me realize how hard it was to let go of someone. Someone that you love fully with your heart. He made me realize that I am that stubborn person who doesn't know how to let go of him. 
I loved him more than anyone else. And now, until now, I still think of him. He is still in my mind, in my heart. He never left. 
Oh, he already left. It's just that my heart doesn't want to let go of him. 
"What I mean is we never know how fate works. What if both of you still have a chance to meet again?!" Ellaine stated positively.
"Fate?" I wondered. "Look, he is now in New York. He has the moon, I have the sun. Our fate will surely never meet."
"Zy, it's still possible!"
"Huh?"
"Eclipse!" they both screamed.