Pursuance Two

Vesta silently sipped the wine while thinking about what her friend had declared. It melted her of how sharply Jillian’s gaze gave to her.

“Don’t make a stupid decision, Vesta. Let Tita Elena just be on that thing.” Jillian was not pleased about it. Vesta presumed Jillian could help her, but as her aunt, Jillian was from the same perspective.

Vesta placed the half-content wine glass on the glass table. Vesta scowled, it’s not the thing that Jillian averse but the reason that they don’t want her to go there.

“Will you please tell me the reason I shouldn’t go there? Because it feels like you want to tell me something that you can’t say to me, Jillian. What is that then?”

Vesta saw the suddenness in Jillian’s look that disappeared a mere second. Jillian regressed her sitting position and her eyes weren’t looking at Vesta.

“I’m just worried about you. You may end up like your twin. Do you want Aunt Elena to hurt again? You are breaking her heart now for what you are doing. She is protecting you will not lead the fate like your twin,” Jillian reasoned out.

Vesta lost her gusto now. No one will dictate to her. No matter what, she will find her brother. Vesta perceived he was alive and was waiting for her.

“I thought you would support me in my decision? Why change? Tell me, Jillian, what’s the reason. It seems like you and my aunt learn something about what happened to Xyller. Why won’t you tell me?” Vesta said in a rambling tone.

Jillian pressed her lips. “I’m just worried for you, Vesta. I’m trying my best to help you by giving some information ab–”

“I’m not satisfied with it; you hired someone to find him. But it’s the same as the one Aunt Elena hired. Where is his body, then? Clothes with blood are not enough for me. I want him not just the things he had, Jillian,” Vesta shook. She breathed deep. Her chest was so crowded that if she would talk, she would cry in front of Jillian. Her friend should support her, but her feelings hurt by what she did.

“I’m so sorry about it. I’m also affected. You didn’t know how I’m hurting, Vesta. I’m his girlfriend. I want to find him as you wanted, but we know he’s gone. It’s difficult to move on, but we need to even it’s so hard.” Jillian’s eyes reddened while telling those words.

Vesta has enough with this. She stood up in her chair, turned her back, and hurried. Moving on? She can’t until she sees his body then she’ll accept they’re right, he was dead.

“Vesta!”

Vesta ignored her voice and stepped out of her apartment door. She only wanted the truth. But why does it feel like they were lying to her?

****

Vesta got off the bus; it’s a long ride. At last, she reached the place. La Moran, it’s by Mindanao. (just a fictional place).

Vesta cut the long hair she had and changed its style in color into wavy reddish-brown. She wore a black fake eyeglass. She wore a simple blue shirt and black, tattered jeans. The black snicker she was using made her more comfortable than the usual long heels sandals she wore. She walked to the waiting area in the terminal, pulling her wheeled matte black baggage.

Some locals stared at her and sensing the curiosity in their eyes. Vesta did not mind it as she breathed easily picking her phone in her sling bag. A message she sent to her cousin Ashley telling her she was here waiting. The peri-urban air genlty passed, giving a sudden refreshment on her.

People on boarding and unboarding for rides, the noise of chattered and vehicles envelope the terminal area. Vesta saw more trees here than in Manila and there’s no building that reached over five floors in the view.

Her eyesight glanced in the passing vehicle, a red Maserati. It looked like there were a lot of rich people here. She bothered herself by chatting with her group in the chat. When her groupmate realized she was going on vacation for six months, a sadness befall them. She hoped six months was enoughed to find him or lest even the truth...

The Colours

Pink: I hate you for leaving us.

Red: Why you did not bring us, Blue 😭😭 You are so unfair!

Violet: 😭😭😭 your souvenir to me when you come back. I’m going to die missing you every day.

Red: 😰😰 This is so painful rather than my break up with Blake.

Black: What a drama! Guys, you didn’t know Sha was so stressed let her have her vacation.

A long vacation, so guys, understand. 💕💕

Scarlet: 😭😭

Scarlet: Onee-chan, I’ll miss you so much. Take care 💕🥺

Heh, you are all so dramatic. Just chillax there when I’m here k 😄😄😄, get ready when I come back, the deal we made ago, do it now. 

Scarlet: 😱😱😫, I forget it Onee-chan.

Black: 😤🥺it’s not fair.

Scarlet: 😖😖 I’m ready for it even I’m not ready.

Pink: We can do it, guys.

Red: I’m always ready, aye aye aye 😝😝😝

Vesta could not help not to grin at their reactions, though she had not forgotten about the deals of each one should make her new song composition for the New Album releasing next year.

I have faith in you guys. Aja! Aja! Fighting Pinoy!

Black: fighting dzai.

Scarlet: for the future...

Red: husband of Scarlet.

Pink: 🥳🥳🥳Ui, there’s a rumor that Davidson will propose to you @Scarlet

What? For real 🥰🥰 ? Ayeee.

Scarlet: What about the packing gas chamber, humanoid pink, what’s in your ear? It’s not real because we are not even in a relationship! Tse!

Black: Condolences, Scarlet.

Scarlet: Really? 😤😤😤 @Black

Vesta stopped typing when she saw a car stopped one meter away from her. The driver’s window opened, and the smiling face of Ashley appeared. Was she waiting?

“Do you have a plan to ride with me?” Ashley jokes in an impatient tone. Vesta knew Ashley just came.

She stood up to the waiting bench area and walked to Ashley with her baggage. Ashley went out of the car and gave Vesta a tight hugged.

“How are you? You’ve grown into a beautiful lady.” Ashley hugged, tackled Vesta as if Ashley missed her so very much.

“Don’t tease me, pretty cousin. I’m fine, you see? How about you?” Vesta smiled and broke into the hug to each other.

“I’m fine, as usual. I’m still gorgeous,” Ashley said with a wink that causes Vesta to laugh.

“Let’s go, Vesta. Mother can’t wait to see you,” Ashley said, in an exciting mood while walking to the car.

Ashley helped her bring the suitcases to the back seat of her cousin’s Toyota Vios. The car’s colored pink having one blue striped line design. Before Vesta got in the front seat. She noticed that there were no changes in Ashley’s personality; she was still funny and optimistic.

“How’s the trip?” Ashley inquired before she turned on the engine.

“It is good,” Vesta replied.

Ashley’s hair color was black and inherited its nose to her father, a Brazilian, with an upturned nose and grey eyes. Ashley inherited the lips and skin from her mother Stella, who was Vesta’s godmother, a milky white skin.

“Good. Good. If I went here, the trip would be so total hell for me. Imagine 10 hours going in here?” Ashley referred with a shook in her head.

“I know you how you hated a long trip, sounds reasonable. Anyway, how’s your mom?” Vesta questioned, glancing at her.

“She’s fine with health, but being her mother, I felt like I’m still a baby on her side. However, I love her so much. Aren't all?” Ashley grinning.

Vesta smiled at what Ashley said yet the sadness embraced her within. She once have a mother and she was missing her so badly, if only...

-------

 Vesta just looked outside the window while watching their passes, feeling the smooth drive of the car in the cemented pavement. The area has changed. She has seen a lot of establishments standing and having more two-story buildings established.

“Vesta? Is that true you told me when you called?” Ashley said, breaking the silence, eye's set  on the road.

“Yes. I am planing to enrol myself at Farex University. I need to do something there,” Vesta mumbled without even looking at Ashley's direction.

Xyller studied the Botanist program at Farex University. Vesta remembered how her brother loved plants when they were a lad. That’s the reason Xyller has chosen the course. Xyller was in the second year when the news came to Vesta. It was unexpected and unforgettable.

“I’m so excited! We’re going to be classmates. I study there, so will you follow the same course I have? It’s kinda nice, education.” Ashley showed excitement at knowing that Vesta will school at Farex University.

Ashley’s expression changed when something brought in her mind. “I’m so sorry about what happened to Xyller.” Vesta heard the pain in Ashley’s voice. It's pain adding more to Vesta's grieving soul.

Xyrell did not live with their godmother Estella and settled down in the dormitory while he studied at the university. That’s what he wanted to be on his own-being independent, even when she insisted about the idea to him, but he did not listen. Vesta knew her brother enough. If Xyrelle decided, you could not unbend it no matter how anyone tried to bend it.

What was his decision, it's final. Vesta never called her brother a twin, she preferred to call him by his name. She does not want to be the center of having a twin as much as possible she kept her private life secret from the public.

“You did not do wrong, Ash. It was an unexpected happening,” Vesta falsified a smile while asserting those words to make Ashley better.

“Sorry for that, Vesta,” Ashley said. Vesta saw the pain in Ashley’s eyes. Suddenly Vesta felt her heart squeezed by phrases that Ashley let go of.

Vesta kept quietly turning her head in the window’s direction. Watching the houses, they passed. While staring she could not stop, not to weep. Vesta knew deep down in her heart that Xyller was alive. She hoped, and she was not losing hope, that she would find him.

“Xyrell, where are you?” Vesta whispered to herself.