3

Gamaliel was really gone.

That night he finally drove Lexton's car to go home, home that was really home. The house he used to live in with someone, which he had to protect even if it made him face death.

Driving the Aston Martin Vanquish for almost four hours, Gama finally made a turn at the end of the road that brought him to a large field. A few trees that were not too tall stood firmly on the right and left sides of the road, with the lighting already looking brighter than before. Holding the steering wheel tightly, Gama took a deep breath.

He was almost there.

Aurora Vernon stood in the doorway, watching intently as a car approached their small house. Standing tall with her beads watching, Aurora felt her heart pounding in her chest.

It was almost like a dream.

It had never crossed Aurora's mind that she would see him again, but it seemed as if the universe had heard every one of her prayers over the years. And now, Aurora was really waiting. Patiently, hopefully.

The car slowed down slowly, which made Aurora breathe with difficulty. Her chest felt tight, filled with mixed feelings that were difficult to identify one by one in there. There was a feeling of fear followed by a feeling of happiness, and Aurora was enjoying it all in silence now.

The car's spotlights dimmed instantly, as the driver's door opened with a firm push. A man emerged from it, looking straight at the house in the middle of a field that was no longer fertile. His feet stomped on the parched-looking ground, and it seemed like rain hadn't come to this area for quite some time.

Their eyes met gazes not long after. Aurora held her breath unconsciously, as she clasped her fingers in front of her chest. Replying to the gaze of the man down there who was looking at her with the same look in his eyes as a few years ago when he decided to evacuate Aurora to the right place.

"Aurora!"

Gama could not hide his emotion, as his footsteps moved quickly towards his sister up there.

Aurora was on the verge of tears. It had been a long time since she had heard someone call her name like that, and that call from Gama had managed to make her chest rumble. She was no longer Aletha, but she was Aurora. Aurora Vernon. Her true self.

Gama climbed the wooden stairs with firm steps, looking forward to pulling his only sister into his arms now. Dropping his backpack unceremoniously on their wooden floor, Gama embraced Aurora who was already sobbing softly.

"Thank you for waiting for me to come home, Auro," Gama whispered softly, stroking the back of his little sister who seemed to have grown so much now.

Aurora tightened the hug. It still felt so warm. Exactly the same as the last hug Gama gave her before he made her go far away and even changed her name to Aletha.

Aurora was not yet able to speak. Her longing was overwhelming, and she was grateful that her brother was really home now. Now they could move on, now they could be together for the rest of time. Hoping they could make up for all the lost time over the years, and no longer be apart.

Gama relaxed the embrace slowly, looking at the visual of his sister who had now grown into a beautiful girl with charming hazel-colored beads. Aurora had grown taller, and she really looked like a girl now. No longer looking as disheveled as how Gama left her back then, Aurora Vernon was even able to bewitch men with just one smile.

Ending a sob due to the overwhelming emotion, Aurora brushed both hands across her smooth cheeks.

"You look like a great guy, brother," Aurora complimented offhandedly, noticing how dashing Gama looked in his jet-black outfit. The man's shirt clung perfectly, covering his firm muscles and broad chest.

It was like looking at someone else because the old Gama wasn't like this.

Gama chuckled. Running his palm through Aurora's hair, he let the wind be their companion tonight.

"You're really not my little sister anymore, Auro," Gama said. "Time has made you grow into a blossoming flower, and it looks like I'll have to prepare to chase away any bugs that will be swirling around you later."

Aurora's laughter just broke out, realizing that her brother hadn't changed at all. Gama with his beautiful words, Gama with his incredible protection.

Gama would keep her safe, just like the reason why he had sent her away these past few years. It was none other than to keep her safe, completely untouched.

"Come in," Aurora invited.

She didn't know how long her brother had spent on the road, but the moonlight directly above them signaled that the night was growing late.

Gama nodded vaguely. Carrying his backpack that he had placed on the wooden floor, he followed Aurora who had turned around first to enter their house.

Closing the door with one decisive movement, Gama was silent for a few seconds as he found that the house was still as solid as ever. None of the furniture had moved, nor had the paintings and ornaments. Everything still looked the same.

"Do you want to eat now, Brother?" Aurora's voice came back from the direction of the kitchen, followed by Gama's nod later.

"You cook, Auro?" he asked a little incredulously. He didn't know how his sister had spent her life so far, and he couldn't wait to hear all about it.

Aurora was wearing a faint smile, resting on the side of the dining table. A serving hood appeared on the table, and Aurora lifted it without hesitation slowly.

"Aunt Mary taught me many things over the years," Aurora replied honestly. "She said I should be able to cook, and I've been in the kitchen with her non-stop."

Gamaliel leaned closer. He might have enough time later to look at one portrait after another still hanging on the wall, now that he had taken a step toward the dining table.

Two bowls of asparagus soup were served on the table, which somehow looked so appetizing. Gama swallowed with difficulty, realizing his appetite had just crept up.

"Here's your favorite crab soup if you're still into that," Aurora said quietly, handing a stainless spoon to Gama, who had now pulled out a chair for him to sit on.

Gama took the spoon with an open hand, watching as Aurora took a seat right in front of him. The young girl was waiting, wondering how her brother would react to her cooking tonight.

The soup she had cooked not too long ago was a welcome home meal for Gama. She hoped her brother would still like the crab asparagus soup, as Aurora remembered them fighting over unequal portions of soup as children.

Gama smiled slightly, moving the spoon to fill it with Aurora's asparagus soup. Putting the spoon into his mouth, Gama unconsciously widened his bead.

"How was it?" asked Aurora hesitantly. "Is it good?"

Gama was silent for a while. Intentionally wanting to play a prank on his worried-looking sister, he then laughed softly.

"You're really a girl now, Aurora," he said. "You even cook and this is really delicious. Tell me, how can I protect you from the boys later?"

There was a laugh that escaped Aurora's tiny pink lips. Blushing on one hand, yet grateful on the other. It didn't matter about the men who started getting close to her; as long as Gama was around, then it was more than enough. She only needed her brother, she really didn't need anything else.

Gama spooned repeatedly again the crab soup, enjoying how his first moment back with his sister. Listening to Aurora who began to tell him about her life as the distance stretched between them, both Gama and Aurora had sunk into a tomb of memories.

The night was creeping up, and Gama really didn't notice his cell phone in the bag vibrating since earlier. Repeated calls were still coming into his organizati

on's dedicated phone number, with a contact he had saved with just three letters.

URG.