"That's for you to find out."

Mr. Perez's words became my motivation to look harder on the previous papers that were related on the massacre two years ago. And unfortunately, I haven't found a lead yet. It's been a week too since the last time Marco and I saw each other. He left for a business meeting together with the business partners his father had before. He wanted me to come with him but I had to refuse as I can't leave my job as a Journalist.

Even though Marco was not here, Mady never failed to invite me every night for a dinner. She says that she sees me as her big sister that she never had. Just like today, she sent me a message. Telling me to eat with her on the newly opened steak house a little far from my apartment. She also met Hail the other day when she personally invited me to try the cookies she baked.

I looked on the screen of my phone when it beeped.

From: Marco

the airplane just landed.

So he's finally back. I smiled before typing my reply to him.

To: Marco

Welcome home. Gonna meet Mads again.

I putted my phone back on my bag as I started clearing my cubicle. My shift will end anytime soon and Mady said that we will meet on the nearest cafe on my office.

As soon as I get there, someone called my name and when I turned around, I saw Mira holding a tray of pastries. I waved my hand at her as I followed her to her table. Then I sat in front of her afterwards.

"You're not going to order anything?" she asked as she handed me a piece of her macarons but I refused to have one.

"Thank you, but no thanks," I said as I slightly shook my head.

"This is the first time you refused on my offer," she said then she looked at me as if she saw a ghost.

"Mady will be here in a few," I answered as I looked on my phone to ask where she was. But instead of her message, I saw Marco's.

From: Marco

pick me up. bring mady w u

I was about to type my reply when I received a text from Mady.

From: Mady

athenaaaaa im sorry but can u meet me halfway? we're going to pick stupid marco up!

I facepalmed on my mind while reading Mady's text. I replied 'okay' before facing Mira.

"Hey, Mira. I'm sorry but I have to go, let's hang out some other time, okay?" I said as I kissed her on her cheeks before exiting the cafe and calling a taxi. I told the driver to drop me off on the airport before texting Mady to just meet me there.

After a few, I arrived on the airport then Mady told me to go inside first as Marco was already waiting on the arrival.

"Athena!" Marco said as soon as he saw me, I waved my hand on him as I walk towards him.

I froze on my position when he suddenly hugged me the moment I got near him. I was not moving, I do not know what I'm supposed to do. Hug him back? I... don't know.

"How was your trip?" I asked while the three of us- Marco, Mady and I, are eating on the steak house Mady suggested.

"It was okay," he said as he fished out his phone from his pocket then he began scrolling. "What if we go here next month?" he said as he showed us the picture of the view from his hotel room.

My attention shifted to Mady when she started choking on her food. I immediately handed her a glass of water. I was rubbing her back while she was drinking.

"Next month?!" she exclaimed as soon as she got over from choking.

"Why not?" Marco shot back at her but Mady turned silent afterwards. She continued eating silently as if she was thinking about something important.

Three days after that night, two weeks before the month where we will go out of the country when I received a message from Marco saying that Mady will turn eighteen next month and that we will celebrate her birthday on Maldives. He already booked a flight for the three of us, Morris can't come since he said he doesn't have the time to travel.

From: Marco

will pick u up tomo. help me plan her party. gn

Sunday morning came and Marco really picked me up. We decided to eat our breakfast on the cafe where we first met and then we decided to do our planning there instead of going somewhere else.

"Are we going to invite some of her friends?" I asked as I started typing the things we planned on my MacBook.

He sipped on his tea first before he answered, "I don't think they will come but I'll try to ask some." he said then he showed me a picture in his phone of a room filled with balloons and LED lights. "Can we do this?"

"Alright," I said as I started typing the materials for that. "What about her cake?" I asked while I was browsing on Mady's Instagram. I'm looking for some ideas that we could use for this.

"I know how to bake, don't worry. We will do her cake." he said. So he knows how to bake? He's too... gifted.

"What should I get her?" I asked him after sipping on my smoothie.

"Hm... She appreciates everything that was given to her. So anything will do? I guess," he said then he showed me a picture of baby on his phone. "She told me not to post her past pictures during her birthdays on my social media but I will this time."

"She's cute!" I exclaimed while looking on her photo, "Can you airdrop this to me? And her other pictures from when she was a baby until now?" I asked when an idea popped up.

We just continued planning for Mady's birthday but I will never forget my main task: to know Marco and his background. As time passes by, I slowly realize that he is a loving brother to his siblings. He takes good care of them especially to Mady. And I salute him for that.