Home Away From Home

"come on..." shayna said, tugging at timothy's hand as she raced through the crowds in the airport. she was so excited and couldn't wait to set her eyes on her parents.
"i'm running as fast as i can honey," timothy said, trying to catch up.
"what happened to all those hours in the gym?" shayna laughed.
"i think i need to go back for more," timothy replied.

finally, they arrived at the gate. the baggage just started to crawl out of the travellator. shayna looked on expectantly for her parents... finally! this was the day she had been waiting for this day for nearly nine months. timothy cuddled shayna from behind and gave hr an encouraging kiss.
"this is the happiest i have seen you," timothy said.
"of course! i hadn't seen my parents in like a million years!" shayna replied, the bubbliness in her voice just made timothy's heart warm.

finally, shayna saw them! she beamed and waved frantically.
"mom! papa!" she shouted, still waving like an ardent fan waiting for her idol to appear. upon seeing her, shayna's parents also ran out to hug her.
"my darling! i missed you!" Mr. Fong said, kissing his daughter ont he forehead.
"i missed you too papa!" shayna said, her tears started to fall.
"you look so skinny... have you been eating well?" her mother asked, touching shayna's face.
"yes mother. timothy has been taking very good care of me. don't you worry," shayna said as timothy came up to shake hands with his future parents in law.

"shay!!!!" alyssa screamed as they pushed the trolley full of luggage towards the reunited family. shayna smiled and ran over to hug her best friend.
"i missed you too!" shayna squealed and squeezed alyssa tight.
"i'm so jealous," tyler laughed as shayna hugged him too.
"you've been taking good care of her aye?" shayna grimaced, "when are both of you tying the knot?"
"no.. the question should be when you and timothy gonna tie the knot," alyssa joked.

shayna went silent. so did tyler.
"darling, i'll take your parents to the car," timothy called out as he ushered mr and mrs fong towards the exit.
"your future husband is really starting to work on it," alyssa joked. shayna smiled back and just rolled her eyes. she didn't want to tell her best friend that colin was racing through her mind for the past five minutes.
as alyssa was talking heartily to timothy and shayna's parents, tyler tapped shayna gently on the shoulder. she turned around and tyler whispered to her, "hey. would you be free later this evening?"
shayna frowned, not knowing where he was getting at.
"i need you to follow me somewhere," tyler answered.

"is it important?"
"very."
"why now?"
"you'll know when you get there," tyler answered. shayna didn't know agreeing was the right way to go but she had to start taking risks. she's always been hiding underneath the safety of her decisions. she almost felt she was getting boring.
"one thing... don't tell anyone about this. please trust me," tyler continued. shayna forced a smile and nodded before getting back to the happy conversation.

***

colin stepped out of the plane and felt the london air blowing in his face. he was happy to get away from the hectic life back home. he didn't make it for the same flight as tyler because he had to settle some last minute business deals for his father through tele-conferencing, so he had to take a later flight. but tyler promised he'll arrange a meeting for him and shayna. colin had been looking forward to that from the time he sat down in the plane. colin checked his watch. he had twenty minutes to get to their meeting place.

as the cab pulled in front of the hotel that tyler mentioned in his call, colin stepped out and hoped he had gotten the right address. his heart was pounding. he was this close to seeing her for a long while. colin took in a deep breath and was ushered into the hotel lobby. at first he didn't see anyone and from fantasy, his heart dropped back down to reality.
maybe she isn't gonna come. maybe she knows i'd be here..., colin thought to himself.
"hey buddy!" he heard someone call and he turned to see tyler running towards him.
"hey ty! i'm so glad to see you. where is she?"
"she's settling some stuff with alyssa and timothy back in my hotel room. she'll be down in five minutes."
"that's good," colin said.

"well, the bad news is she doesn't know you are the one she is meeting," tyler warned, "so don't blame me if things don't turn out the way you wanted it to."
"thank ty. you have gone through loads to get me this. seeing her from close range is all that i need now," colin answered.
"i think i better make a run. she should be heading down soon. break a leg ya?" tyler winked.
"will do," colin teased.

***
shayna walked down the corridor and took the lift down to te lobby. she told her parents, alyssa and timothy she had to attend to something for a few minutes. tyler had better have something good installed for her. she is sacrificing time with her family for an unknown reason. as the lift landed on the lobby, shayna walked out and scanned the place for tyler.

finally, right there at the reception lounge, she saw a familiar figure walking towards her. she glared at the approaching person. oh no... it can't be... it couldn't...