Chapter 1: Home

Inhaling the fresh breeze of air on the window of the bus felt so refreshing and calming while the sun rays slightly squinting her eyes. Compared to the fast-paced urban life, the sound of horns of vehicles in the streets, the stress and traffic roads in the city, it just felt so relaxing feeding her mind and body with this changing environment. The familiar sweet refreshing smell of trees and meadows and the combination smell of damp moss and wildflowers filling her nostrils was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. How could she ever forget the smell of home? The place she used to grow and the place she left behind for a new life. After staying for almost 8 years in France, she finally decided to come home and visit her hometown. She was afraid to come home but her sister is expecting her to attend and be a part of the most special event of her life. Last month, she just send her the invitation to her wedding day with a message that she was expecting her to come home and attend her upcoming wedding. Although she didn't understand why her sister end up marrying a different man when all along she thought she was in love with her best friend Kyle, she still chose to support her decision.  She just doesn't understand why Alexa can easily throw away the relationship she had with Kyle and decide to marry another man? It makes her wonder what happened with them after she left the country. 

She suddenly remember how she met Kyle two weeks ago.  She accidentally met him in a bar in Paris and he looked so devastated and miserable. Funny because he has mistaken her to be her twin sister and kissed her fully on the mouth because of his drunkenness. He apologized in the end after realizing she was not Alexa. Meeting him that way after 8 long years was kinda painful and heartbreaking. Kyle was the first and only man she ever love in the past and seeing him in that condition couldn't help her to get mad at her sister. That night Kyle confide to her how he was so lost and miserable because Alexa was getting married. Out of drunkenness, he even asked her to help her forget her sister and date him which of course is a big obtuseness. Funny because for a moment, she think twice about what if she accepted his offer? After all these years, she still finds herself having feelings for him. She let him stay in her apartment that night and when he was sober the next morning, he apologized for the trouble he caused and then left. Too bad she never see him again after that.  She's not gonna lie one of the reasons she decided to come home is to take a chance on him. Who knows he will eventually learn to love her and realize that he was the right woman for her? 

She could remember the last time she decided to leave the country and pursue her dreams in Paris. One of the reasons she left is when Kyle rejected her and then her sister betrayed her. Funny because the first time she confessed her feelings to her best friend  is the first time she had gotten her heartbroken and felt bitter because he happens to be in love with her twin sister Alexa. She doesn't understand? They have the same face but how come he chose her sister over her?  She was Kyle's best friend, they share the same passion and she cared so much for him but why did he choose Maria Alexandra over her? Sometimes, she doesn't understand if it's a blessing or a curse to have a twin sister. She loves Alexa so much but there are always situations that they tend to compare the two of them and it feels like it was always a competition with her and she can help but get jealous or get bitter because it was always her twin sister they choose over her. Alexa used to be her parent's favorite. She was the kindest, the smartest, and sweetest so everyone seems to be fond of her. It feels like she was living in her shadow and people expected her to be like her when she have her own personality, her own identity. Alexa is very good at academics and she was expressing her will to run the business while she loves painting and arts but her parents were against of it because they thought she will gain nothing in that career. She always loves to have a course related to painting and arts but her Dad wanted her to take Bussiness Administration just like Alexa so that's what's she took in college. Since it was not her passion, she end up failing and turned out to be a disappointment to her parents. For her parents' painting and arts is a complete waste of time. 

Although with the differences and comparison, Alexa managed to be a good older sister and a good friend to her. She knew her hidden feelings to Kyle and she supported her all the way. Unfortunately, she didn't know her silly sister has hidden feelings as well to Kyle and just manage to keep it to herself so she won't hurt her feelings. How she wished she just chose to become honest about her feelings than lie to her. She would gladly appreciate that than feeling betrayed by the person you trust the most. They both met Kyle in elementary because he used to be their classmate plus he lives in the same subdivision they live. Kyle is much closer to her because they both love painting, arts, and music while Alexa hates Kyle because she feels like competing with him for her attention. All along she knew they hate each other but she realized they just make her believe that way to hide their true relationship. Unfortunately, on the same night she confessed and got rejected by Kyle is the same night she found out that the woman he loves is her twin sister. She caught them making out in Alexa's room because Kyle secretly used to sneak at her sister's room. That they have been hiding their relationship for months and she don't have any clue about it. The feeling of betrayal, the sense of being lost, and feeling alone is what she felt at that night. It feels like she also lost the one person she can run with beyond Kyle. Alexa betrayed her not because she had fallen in love with the man she loves but for keeping a secret and making a fool out of her. They both talk to her and explained how they love each other. She understood of course, but they can't just expect the pain will go away just because they apologize don't they? Knowing they love each other and not wanting to be a bother, she gave way to them and decided to leave the country and study in Paris, France.  She had lost her best friend anyway because she chose to confide what she truly feels so there's no sense of hoping to build back the friendship that they lost. Whether she likes it or not, what happened also created a gap between her and her sister's relationship so it felt nothing was left in her the reason why she decided to leave. Her parents tried to go against her plan. Her Dad even threatened her to stop his support and not sustain her studies if she leave the country. It has always been a dream for her to study and mold her talent in France. Actually, she share the same dream with Kyle but realized she will start her journey alone after what happened.  So despite her parent's disapproval, she left everything behind to pursue her dreams. After all, it is the only thing she got after being betrayed and losing the two most trusted people she has. 

Settling in France was never easy at first. It was hard living in a strange country. She was well aware that she came from a rich family so it's a major change for her to cope and stand on her own feet. Being used to having a good and comfortable life in her own country, it's not easy for her to work double shifts while sustaining her studies and rental bills at the same time. She works hard to sustain herself in a strange land without the help and support of her parents. There are times she was losing hope and just wanted to give up. Being lonely and being alone in Paris without a family she can rely on was never been easy. How she missed them and hoped at the back of her mind that soon they will call and make her come home but unfortunately, that never happened.

Sometimes she was thinking if her parents had already forgotten about her or is she that a big failure for them not to even call and know her condition? How they can just disown her and stop their support without remorse and guilt feelings? Maybe because they think she'll realize she made a wrong decision but she never did. It's the best decision she has ever made in her life. Then she came to a point she stop hoping she will be soon be understood by them. One thing for sure, there is not a single day she prayed for their good health and happiness. Life has been good for her somehow because with her experience and how life made her strong to the test of time, she was glad she never gave up because her hard work and pains were paid off when she finally graduated and established her name as an artist in Paris. She even launched successful exhibits and recently established her dream Art gallery. Everything happened just exactly how she planned her life and she was thankful for that. 

She became more happier when just a month ago, her sister reached for her by sending her an invitation to her wedding to finally end their long gap. Although she didn't know how she found where she live, she was happy somehow that she never forget to invite her to the most special event in her life. She said her parents are no longer upset and they were expecting her to come home and attend the wedding.  The truth is she has been long anticipated for this to happen. To come home and be accepted by her parents again. Although she didn't know how Alexa end up marrying a different guy, she was somehow happy for her sister and wish her nothing but the best.  

After clearing her schedule and leaving the gallery with her trusted friend, she took the flight two days before her sister's wedding and expected to arrive at her hometown the night before the wedding. She called Alexa the day of her arrival and requested not to be picked up by the driver to surprise their parents. She decided to ride public transportation while traveling home to enjoy her trip and she was glad she did it because she had fun and enjoyed traveling alone. She planned to stay in the country for a month before coming back to Paris. Or might as well stay for good if she gets along well with Kyle. From the back of her mind, she is secretly hoping to have a chance with Kyle when she comes home. Who knows he will learn to love her and give her a chance this time.

While on the way, she couldn't help to get emotional as the bus passes each and every place she had missed. There might have been a few changes because she noticed the town became more developed and structures and establishments were added but the vibe and atmosphere are still the same.  She suddenly felt nostalgic while reminiscing those bittersweet moments and events of her childhood by seeing those places. It felt so good to finally come back to the town she used to call her home. She just couldn't wait to finally arrive in the mansion and see her family. She was silently praying a warm welcome to her parents because at the back of her mind, she was hoping that they'd been longing for her to come back. Hoping that they had missed her the way she missed them.