Tense, the others got out of the way while Bree walked forward.
They watched.
Ashley's hand twitched, then instantly raised off Bree. She paused and stepped back.
Bree went to sit.
She then noticed Ashley looking distracted — like she'd forgotten something.
"Ashley...."
"Sorry. Ice cream and some chicken for ya also." Was her quick reply.
"Yes. Yes." Erwina added and the both ladies hurried out for the kitchen.
★★★
★★★
Erwina looked at Alejandro where they stood in the dim light of the porch.
It was evening time and Alejandro had just dropped Ashley and Brielle at the apartment.
On his way back into into the house, he met Erwina on her way out of the house for home.
Now, she sighed.
"Alejandro, there's no other confirmation available. None needed. She's the one. Always...."
Alejandro kept his eyes on the shadows ahead.
"I don't believe anything's gonna happen, though."
"We all hope not." Erwina replied softly.
Silence fell between them and a look of concern crossed Erwina's visage. She stepped closer and looked into Alejandro's face.
"Hey.... We don't wanna think too much about it, okay?"
"Who said I'm thinking?"
Erwina smiled wistfully and patted Alejandro's shoulder.
"You shouldn't fight it. It's all made for a reason. You're strong...."
"Thanks.... Erwina." Alejandro blurted, slightly embarrassed. "I'll be retiring."
The blonde shrugged.
"Sleep tight."
And Alejandro disappeared into the house.
For some time, Erwina was there, looking at the skies and soon, she crossed the yard for her bike.
★★★
★★★
He shut the door quietly behind him.
Silence greeted him—thick and unmoving.
He stood still in the hallway for a moment, eyes cast downward, hands in fists and stuck in his pockets.
The weight of what Erwina said pressed against his chest like a curse.
"She's the one. Always..."
He already knew.
But knowing didn't mean accepting everything that it came with. It didn't mean he'd let things happen the way they were meant to. No.
He wasn't built for surrender.
He was built to contain the chaos, not to obey it.
Up the stairs, the silence still followed him. Room to room. Memory to memory.
Bree's face flashed again.
That look in her eyes—half-recognition, half-wonder. Like she had brushed the edge of something she wasn't supposed to touch. And something touched back.
He walked into his room and shut the door harder than necessary. Then walked toward his sofa and was soon sunk in. Breathing deeply.
Her voice, soft and confused, repeated in his head:
"Fainted? I kinda have a headache..."
She didn't remember. That was good.
That was very good.
But Ashley had felt something. She always did.
He cursed under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, the tension crawling up his spine like live wire.
It had begun. No turning back now. And a handful of things were inevitable.
Still…
He didn't care what ancient stories had been written in blood. He didn't care what the Almighty Parliament had prophesied or planned.
If it came down to choosing between her and them—
They would lose.
Every last one of them.
★★★
★★★
Bree and her five-people-squad friends stood with Mrs Sara Daniels at the front of her hotel. Her flight back home was really close by. It was time to say goodbye.
The air felt awkward. Sara smiled and looked at her daughter longingly, with so much love it made Bree's stomach twist.
Bree blushed.
Gently, she pulled mom into a hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Let me tell your friends bye too." Sara said brightly, turning to the others.
She moved down the line, shaking each hand — Alejandro, Rolando, Maverick, Erwina, Ashley.
Sara's smile remained gracious but dampened when she paused before Alejandro.
She paused to whisper something in his ear.
He nodded, firm and respectful.
Sara gestured a silent THANK YOU his way.
Then, Sara looked at her daughter who was watching her with sad eyes now, reached for her hands and held them tight.
"I'm missing you so much already."
Bree gave a soft, awkward laugh and bit her lower lip.
"Me, too, Mom."
Sara looked back at Alejandro—who had been watching interestedly all along —her smile wide enough to cover the earth from side to side and said:
"Oh, Mr Alejandro. Thank you so much once again. You bought her groceries.... and took my daughter to heart. I'll never forget it."
Alejandro respectfully dipped his head with his usual calm and unreadable expression. Bree couldn't help but quickly look away apprehensively.
"Don't mention it, ma'am." He said.
Sara looked at the others.
"I really don't know what else to say. God bless you all. Amen."
Bree was behind and supported her mother's prayer with an enthusiastic nod.
"Amen."
The squad smiled at her and she giggled.
"I'll be on my way now." Mrs. Daniels said.
"Safe journey, Mrs Daniels." Maverick said first. The others echoed same.
Except Alejandro, of course.
"We'll help Alejandro with keeping you up to date with how everything's going." Erwina added with a soft smile.
"Thank you so much."
"Yeah."
She turned to her daughter one last time and pulled her into a tight hug again.
It wasn't a long one but it held weight. Bree was already feeling grievous because it was getting on her face that her mother was really about to go back to Texas.
Her chest began to tighten.
This was real. Her mom was really leaving now.
Sara wasn't smiling anymore either. She was feeling sad and her grip trembled.
This was the first time. Ever. Wherever her daughter was, she was always there to see her and to feel her.
Bree had always had her mother nearby. Her true faith and warmth laid in her.
But no, not this time around. She really had to let her stay by herself.
One way or the other, Sara knew she couldn't be with her daughter all the time and that there had to be a good time to adapt.
This was it.
She let go.
"See you, Mom."
Bree's voice cracked at the edge but she seemed to be trying to compose herself and stand tall.
She watched her mom get in the taxi and wave at her.
Quickly, she waved back and waved on and on even as the taxi disappeared down the city road.
With a flash, she could see her mom sitting in the backseat of the taxi wiping tears but what could she do?
Thankfully, she was fast enough to remember that she wasn't standing there alone and she had to get this people out of here and quit being a baby.
Bree turned to look at them and smiled softly. She tried hard for it to reach her eyes but oh, it refused. Her smile was shaking.
Her eyes were red, heart raw.
So, she spoke instead.
"Uhm...." Her voice quivered and she swallowed anything she was about to say back in and looked at everyone guiltily.
Bree could see understanding oozing from them. The sympathy. And, that wasn't helping any longer.
Bree took a pause and swallowed then tried again.
"Don't mind me. I'll – I'll be fine...." She managed to say and sniffed and felt some emotions swell in her throat. Her nose were already runny and she knew what was to come.
Ye she tried to fight it for her face's sake but it seemed impossible.
Instinctively, the others turned to look at Alejandro. Sharply.
But damn, he was looking away, embarrassed of the situation.
"We should all...." Rolando was saying when the sob punched through her like a dam gone wrong.
Bree burst out softly with grieving tears tumbling down her face.
"She's going.... That's my mom."
She broke down.
Ashley and Erwina flew into action.
The two girls wrapped Bree in their embrace, her tears soaking through the moment like rain.