Chapter 6
Aya
The night air carried a crisp edge as Marco's car rolled down the familiar streets toward my parents' house. My palms were damp on my lap, and I gripped the edge of the seat. "I still can't believe I'm doing this," I muttered, half to myself.
Marco glanced at me with an amused smile, tapping the steering wheel. "Relax, Aya. Your family's intimidating only if you overthink it."
"I'm not overthinking," I said, though my voice betrayed me. "I'm just… nervous. It's not every day you announce you're leaving the country, with someone tagging along."
He laughed lightly. "With me? I promise I'm harmless. Unless Alexa decides to interrogate me."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "You're going to be grilled anyway. Might as well get used to it."
The house appeared at the end of the street, its windows glowing warmly. I caught my reflection in the side mirror, adjusted my hair, then exhaled slowly. Tonight wasn't just another visit. Tonight felt like the threshold of everything I'd been quietly dreaming of—the leap I'd finally chosen.
Marco parked smoothly in the driveway, careful to avoid the potted plants my mom hated me for knocking over as a kid. "Ready?" he asked.
I nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The moment we stepped inside, the house burst into familiar noise. My siblings were sprawled in the living room, the smell of roasted chicken, garlic rice, and baked goods drifting from the kitchen. Alexa, my six-year-old niece, spotted us immediately, squealing as she barreled into my legs.
"Tita Aya!" she cried, hugging me with surprising force. She froze mid-spin when she saw Marco beside me. "You brought someone!"
Atasha appeared behind her with a mischievous grin. "Well, well, Aya. Finally introducing us to your mysterious travel buddy?"
I groaned, shaking my head. "Relax, everyone. This is Marco, my colleague. My friend."
Marco, ever composed, smiled politely. "Good evening. Thank you for having me."
Dad, as always, was louder than Mom. He clapped Marco on the back, chuckling. "Finally! Someone brave enough to walk in with Aya. Welcome to the chaos."
The room erupted with laughter. I sank a little into myself, wishing I could disappear, but Marco's calm presence steadied me.
Alexa leaned toward Kai, whispering so loudly it made everyone turn: "See? He looks like her boyfriend."
I shot her a playful glare. "Finish your juice first, or I'll drink it myself."
The kids giggled, Marco stifled a laugh, and Andre leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "Ah, Aya. You never do anything halfway, do you? Now you're taking someone with you to Canada?"
"Don't make it sound like a crime," I said, sliding into the nearest chair.
Atasha smirked. "Crime? More like scandal. Imagine traveling halfway across the world together. Don't forget to send us wedding invitations."
I groaned. Marco chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't worry. Aya keeps me on a very short leash at the clinic. No chance of anything else."
"Ha!" Mark exclaimed, raising his eyebrows. "Short leash, huh? We'll see about that."
The table was a lively mix of teasing and laughter as dinner started. Plates of roasted chicken, garlic rice, sautéed vegetables, and Mom's secret adobo recipe circled the table. The aroma alone made my stomach rumble. Marco quietly helped pass the food, joking lightly with Andre about who could handle the spiciest adobo, and Andre played along with mock audacity.
"Marco," Atasha said, leaning across the table, "what's it like working with Aya? Be honest. Is she really as terrifying as she lets on?"
Marco grinned, choosing his words carefully. "Terrifying? Maybe. But mostly… focused. Smart. Efficient. She can handle anything in the clinic, and she's… relentless if she wants something done right."
The table erupted with laughter. "Relentless, huh?" I muttered, cheeks heating. "I'm just… competent."
"Competent?" Andre snorted. "Aya, your humble act won't work here. Marco, tell them the story about the toddler incident last month. I heard it from someone you both work with. I guess you know that too."
Marco laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, yes. The 'cookie mix-up.' Aya calmed a toddler who refused to cooperate during the hearing test by negotiating with… a half-eaten cookie. She had the kid laughing and following instructions in under five minutes. Pure magic."
Atasha clapped dramatically. "See? I knew it! She's a superhero at work. And now she's going to leave us for Canada."
I tried to protest, but my voice was drowned out by laughter and Alexa's squeals.
Dad lifted his glass halfway through dinner. "To Aya," he said, eyes crinkling. "Our daughter who chases the world but never forgets home."
I swallowed hard, warmth spreading through my chest. Mom didn't lift her glass, her hands folded neatly in front of her, her expression unreadable. That quiet restraint carried all the tension I'd been trying not to think about.
When dessert arrived, chocolate cake and cream puffs—the kids erupted in excitement. Alexa clambered onto my lap, whispering conspiratorially, "Don't forget us, Tita Aya. Even if Canada has better chocolate."
I kissed her temple. "Never. You'll be the first I tell all my stories to."
Kai, meanwhile, had decided Marco was a worthy opponent for a game of card slap. The two of them laughed and shouted, Marco's humor mixing seamlessly with the chaos. I watched, amused, grateful, and slightly nervous all at once.
Later, as the room quieted, I pulled Mom aside onto the balcony. The night was cool, and the hum of distant traffic mingled with the quiet chirping of crickets.
"I… wanted to talk," I said softly, leaning against the railing.
Mom's expression was carefully neutral. "I suppose this is about Canada."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes. I've decided to go. I know it's sudden, but it's what I want. I need this."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Aya, leaving so soon… it feels like you're drifting away. Do you even realize how fast this all happened?"
"I do," I admitted. "But staying comfortable… it's not enough anymore. I need to see what's out there. To grow. To really test myself. I've always known I'd have to take a leap eventually."
Mom's gaze softened slightly, though the tension didn't fade. "You've always been stubborn, Aya. But… I suppose that stubbornness is why you've accomplished so much. Just… don't forget us entirely."
"I won't," I whispered. "I promise."
After a quiet pause, I hugged her lightly, feeling the tight knot of worry and pride settle somewhere between us.
When we returned inside, Marco was entertaining the kids with goofy faces and a mock magic trick. Andre and Mark were teasing him about his "secret plans to steal Aya's heart during the flight," and Marco played along, holding his hands over his chest in mock offence.
"I'd never!" he exclaimed theatrically, making the kids giggle.
I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. "You're ridiculous," I whispered, grateful for the levity he brought.
Dinner wound down, the laughter lingering like a warm blanket that refused to lift. Plates were cleared, crumbs swept into napkins, and Alexa had finally curled up on the couch with a half-eaten slice of cake. Marco nudged me gently. "Shall we call it a night?"
I nodded, still smiling, a little reluctant to leave the warmth of the house. "Yeah… let's go."
He held the door for me, then gestured for me to climb into his car. As I settled into the passenger seat, Marco gave me a sideways glance, his smirk teasing but reassuring. "Ready for takeoff?"
I laughed softly, the tension in my shoulders easing. "Ready. For everything that's coming next."
He started the engine, the soft hum blending with the quiet of the neighborhood. I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by, the glow of streetlights casting long shadows on the walls and sidewalks I knew by heart.
Everything looked the same, yet I knew I'd never see it the same way again. In a few days, I'd be on a plane, thousands of miles away, stepping into a world I had only glimpsed in dreams.
The memories of tonight played in my mind—the teasing from Atasha and Andre, Marco pretending to be the "future in-law," Dad's quiet pride, Mom's restrained gaze, Alexa's sticky little arms clinging to me, and the way Marco had laughed with my siblings as if he belonged there. A warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the car heater.
"Are you nervous?" Marco asked quietly, breaking my thoughts.
I tilted my head, considering him for a moment. "A little. But more… excited. I want this. I want to see what's out there. Canada, the clinic, the patients… the challenge. It's everything I've been waiting for, even if I didn't know I was waiting."
He smiled, eyes softening in the rearview mirror. "You'll be amazing. I don't doubt it for a second."
I looked back out the window again, thinking of the rooms I'd leave behind—the kitchen, still smelling faintly of garlic rice; the living room, scattered with toys and the echo of laughter; the balcony, where Mom and I had exchanged those quiet, unspoken words. And for a fleeting moment, a pang of guilt hit me. Leaving wasn't just about adventure; it was about stepping away from the life I knew, the people I loved.
But then I remembered Atasha's words from earlier.
"You've always been the one who leaves marks wherever you go. Don't stop now."
I felt that determination coil inside me like a spring, ready to push me forward.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, letting the night air fill me. "I think… I'm ready to leave a new mark," I murmured.
Marco's smile widened. "That's the Aya I know."
The streets were quiet now, the occasional dog barking or distant car breaking the silence. Each familiar corner reminded me of a thousand small moments—childhood laughter, arguments over homework, late-night chats with siblings, even moments of frustration with my parents. And yet, in all of it, I realized how these moments had prepared me, in ways I hadn't appreciated, for the leap I was about to take.
I turned to Marco, almost laughing at myself. "You know… this is probably the last time I'll walk these streets for a while."
He chuckled. "We'll make it memorable then. Think of it as a little rehearsal before Canada."
I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes briefly. Memories and anticipation swirled together, a mixture of nostalgia and possibility. The quiet moments of reflection, the teasing laughter from the dinner table, the warmth of my family's love—they all wrapped around me, grounding me, even as the unknown loomed ahead.
The car slowed, and I realized we were approaching my house. Familiar lights spilled across the driveway, casting long shadows on the walls. I swallowed, feeling a mixture of comfort and melancholy. "This… this feels heavier than I thought it would."
Marco glanced at me with a teasing smirk. "Heavy? Or emotional?"
I laughed softly, letting my hand brush over the edge of the seat. "Both."
He parked and turned off the engine. The quiet hum of the night filled the space between us. I opened the door, stepping out, feeling the cool air brush against my face. "Thank you," I said softly. "For tonight, for… everything."
Marco shrugged, grinning. "I only followed orders. You looked like you needed a co-pilot for tonight's mission."
I rolled my eyes, smiling genuinely. "Mission accomplished, then. You survived my family. That's a win in itself."
He laughed, closing the door. "Barely. But hey… it's a night to remember."
I took a final look at the house, feeling a quiet reassurance settle over me. The laughter, the teasing, the warmth—they weren't leaving me behind. They were carried with me, tucked into my chest, ready to remind me where I came from even as I ventured into the unknown.
For the first time in a long while, I believed the leap wasn't just necessary. It was worth it. And as I watched Marco drive away, I felt a strange mixture of freedom, nervousness, and a quiet, steady hope that the journey ahead would be everything I was daring to imagine.