"Beep...! Beep...!"
Izzy alarm rang continually. It's was 6:00am. Still feeling sleepy, she turned off the alarm and she tried to pick herself up but she was too tired to move and was fully lost in her dream. She slept off in no time.
Few minutes later, Ivan stomped into the room with a frying pan and spoon. Ivan gasp when he saw Isabelle still sleeping, he sighed and said to himself, "Uhh... As I expected." He struck the frying pan very hard with the spoon, creating a heavy boomerang, a loud noise in the room.
"Bang..! Bang..!" Ivan keep beating the frying pan.
Immediately, Izzy jump out of her bed searching for something to hit who ever was making such noise. "Argh! Argh!!" She realizes it was her Uncle Ivan, she breathe out in relief and fall back to bed.
Ivan stare at her pitifully as he shook his head. He drop the frying pan and spoon on her room cabinet and walk closer to her.
"Rise and shine! Izzy wake up we have a long day today. Make sure you are down before 7:00am with your suitcase if you don't come down by then whatever plan I have for you, I will cancel it." he frown and walk away.
When her uncle made that last statement, Izzy still has the urge to sleep, but she remembers what today meant for her. She can't let all her hardwork and effort go to waste.
"Oh My Gosh" she muttered as she horridly stand up from the bed then brush her face softly and ran to the bathroom.
In a short while, Izzy came out of her room with her suitcase and was dressed in a simple outfit. She look like a young girl going for a research or a programme.
Ivan stare at Isabelle from head to toe and smirked, "You look perfect. You look nervous, are you ready?"
Isabelle took a deep breath and exhaled, "Yes I am. I'm just trying to take in things. The truth is, we are living behind everything from our past to another life. It's difficult to take in, I mean I'll miss this place."
Ivan grins. He grab her gently by the shoulder, "I understand. I can bet you that you will make better interesting memories at the mouthskirt of Manila."
Isabelle hissed, "I hope so."
"Let's go?"
"Yea let's go..."Finally, Ivan and Isabelle were ready to leave. They walk out of the room together and paused outside as they gaze at the small building once more.
"I'll miss this house..." Ivan said in low but sad tone.
"Me too," Isabelle respond in a low tone while staring at the building. Ivan grab Isabelle and his suitcase and took them to the car booth. Isabelle grimace as she look around compound one more time before hopping into the car.
Ivan pack all necessary things Izzy will need out there. He have worked so hard for this day to come and now... It's happening.
He put on a sunglasses and hop into his new car, the latest model SUV. Ivan scoffed, "How did you see my new ride?"
Isabelle knit her brow and replied, "She is beautiful. Where did you get the money to afford this car?"
"Shouldn't your question be who owns this cool ride?"
Isabelle furrowed her brow in curiosity, "I get it, Who owns it?"
Ivan grins cunnily, "That's what we are about to find out..." Ivan pull the gear and step on the gas peddle then drove off instantly without any further delay.
Ivan made Isabelle to sit at the back behind him while he drives. At first, she wanted to protest against it but she decided to do as she was told.
The journey from Pampanga to Manila was not too far but was not that close. Still it was a long trip.
The journey was peaceful and quiet. There was less traffic and less broken roads. Finally the silence in the car got broken as Ivan cell phone rings out. He glance at the phone and pick up the call,
"Hello..." It was George calling.
"Hello George, watsup?"
"Hey Bro, were are you?" George asked.
"Bro you don't have to panic, we are on our way, we'll be there shortly. Just stay put and wait for us, we'll be there..." Ivan said with his hands on the wheels and his eyes were so focus on the road.
"Ok that's a goodnews. My wife and I will be expecting you," George said and cuts the call.
George Reyes is a very close friend of Ivan, they were more like brothers than friends. They had always have each others back and were more focus on each other progress. George was born into a filthy rich family. He is bent on destroying Richard's life after when he heard about his wife past.
George is a young, handsome man in his early 30s. His is a average tall man with huge chest and a long legs. His eyes are blue which make him uniquely cute. Whenever he smiles his dimples popped out.
------Reyes Mansion------
Vida Reyes who happens to be George's wife, was not able to sleep the whole night. She move to and fro making sure everything was okay.
Vida Reyes is a beautiful young woman in her late 20s. She is an elegant and average size woman.
She became scared of having a baby after she lost her 5 months old foetus baby through miscarriage.
Now after many years in putting up a cock and boo story about having a daughter who studies in Australia. Finally, even for a short while, she is going to be a mother.
She could not get that thought out of her head. George watched her closely from the terrace then walk towards her and hug her from behind. He kiss her cheek softly.
"Babe, you don't have to over stress yourself, it's just temporary and it's not for a life time." George whisper softly into her ears.
"Even still baby, I can't ignore the fact that we'll be parents be it short or long term I'll be a Mom. That's all that matters to me," she pull his hands away and walk away.
She keeps coordinating the maids in setting the whole place. George couldn't help but to smile and watch his wife roaming around the mansion.
After a long hectic drive, Izzy and Ivan arrived. Isabelle glance at the place and gulped, "Woo a mansion?"
Ivan laugh hysterically, "Yes I told you."
"Is this were I'll be living? Is this my new home?" Isabelle was full of surprise, her eyes keep scanning the outer part of the mansion in disbelief.
'This house is so beautiful' Isabelle said in her thought.
The Reyes mansion was very big with a very large compound. The garden is very beautiful and the flowers are well trimmed and watered.
Ivan and Isabelle step out of the car and was about stepping into the mansion.
"Ma'am, Sir, Miss Reyes has arrive." Nanny Yolly alerts them as she bow her head down.
Vida glance at Susan and asked, "Is the food ready?"
"Yes Mrs Reyes, I already served it," Susan answered in a calm voice.
"That's good." Vida hurriedly ran to the washroom, brush herself up and she came out of the restroom looking so anxious and scared. Her heart race very fast and her hands shrink tremendously.
George noticed it, he grasp hold of her hands as they both waits for them to come in.
Isabelle was so excited to see more, she held the car door handle to whine the door open, but Ivan stopped her.
"Don't! Let me." He came out of the car and open the door gently then closed it when she was fully out.
"Thank you Uncle Ivan but that wasn't necessary," Isabelle said in a cute tone.
"Isabelle?" Ivan held her hand.
Isabelle frozed, "Uncle, Is there a problem?"
"Don't address me as your Uncle, I am your driver. You'll address me by my name while we are in public."
"But..."
Ivan shone Isabelle, "No but! Isabelle put your act together and acts like someone who's coming from the states. Don't make it look so obvious. Now listen to me, when you get inside, address them as Mom and Dad. Do you understand?"
Isabelle shrinked a little, "Yes."
"Let's go!" He went to the booth and get their stuffs while Isabelle brush herself up and walk inside.
While she entered in, all the maids bow and greeted her, "Good Morning Miss Reyes. Good morning Miss Reyes..."
Isabelle face sparkle brightly, "Cooool! That's awesome."
Nanny Yolly glance at her and walk toward her, "Welcome back home Miss Reyes."
"It's nice to be back!" Isabelle replied in a calm voice.
"You look pretty in person, I've heard a lot of about you from Mrs Reyes. She never pass a day without talking about you..." Yolly said while holding Isabelle's hands.
Isabelle finds Yolly behavior so awkward and more like a gossip type. She scoop away from her embrace and walk toward the living room.
Immediately, her eyes catch up with them. Her heart skipped, she gaze at them for awhile and got a little bit emotional before acting on her impulses. Isabelle who was looking so beautiful and well dressed, ran up to her new parents with full of excitement and hug them tight, "Mom! Dad!"
Vida and George were surprised and decided to play along, "Nikki sweetheart, I miss so much," Vida said as they both hug her as they became emotional.
It was at the moment Izzy realize that she is now, "NICOLE REYES."