Matt returned to his seat as if nothing extraordinary happened.
“What?” tanong niya sa sekretarya while returning his attention to the meeting.
“Boss, baka ayaw ni Miss G ng clingy,” Melissa tried to soften her voice pero hindi pa rin maiwasan marinig siya ng iba.
“The next time any man clings to you, Melissa, don’t let go,” Matt advised.
Sumimangot naman si Melissa sa narinig. She has been working for Matt for five years already at medyo nabibiro niya na ito minsan.
“Sir - Sir, cute naman po ang clingy up to a certain degree.” Hindi na napigil at sumabat na din ang isa sa mga Senior PM sa usapan.
“Sorry about that.” Pag-uulit ni Gabby sa sinasabi. She said it with finality para wala nang magtanong. “As I was saying, I need a week to revise the story.” Dugtong niya. “Direk?”She prayed that Joel cooperate with her and hindi na magtanong ng tungkol kay Matt.“Yeah, we can do that.”She was relieved when she heard him answer.“Then we can set another meeting on Friday.” ani Gabby.Agad naman na sinalo ni Cheryl ang usapan, “I’ll send the calendar. Let’s set it at the same time. And hopefully we get a glimpse again niyang tinatago mo dyan.” At nanunudyo pa itong tumawa.
Binihisan na ni Gabby ang mga anak pagkatapos nilang mag-agahan. Not a shadow of Matt returned. Nabanggit naman ni Gabby na 9 AM ang usapan niya with the broker. They were leaving already.She wore faded blue jeans, and a plain light blue shirt at pinarisan lang ng rubber shoes. She wanted to be comfortable as she expected that it would be a whole day activity. Pinag shorts niya naman si Chico and a light blue shirt, pinagsuot niya ito ng cap. Naghanda din siya ng light blue na shirt para kay Mango but she insisted na gusto nitong isuot ang blue dress na pinilit nitong bilhin ni Matt when they went out. She hoped mauto niya pa yung mga anak niya talaga na magsuot ng mga terno. She scaled back already, just matching yung mga kulay ng mga suot nila.She looked at her phone one more time. Wala. Walang text or missed call from Matt. Sinilip niya ulit ang dala
“NIAM, I CANNOT AFFORD THIS LOCATION.” Gabby said once they cross the gate of one of the most expensive and exclusive subdivisions in the metro.“See the location first.”“Kahit na gusto ko pa siya, mamumulubi ako.”“Come on, you are exaggerating.”Napapabuntung-hininga na lang si Gabby.They stopped in a corner lot. Her eyes looked at the site na obvious na may construction na ginagawa. The front of the property was covered by metal sheets and she can read the signages and First Construction.Atubiling bumaba si Gabby. She took Chico’s hand and Niam carried Mango. She just followed Niam as he walk
Jessica was nearest to Gabby so she approached her first with a polite smile, she clasped her hand at nakigpagbeso-beso dito.“Babe, help me up.” said Lexie sa katabing si Lucas. “May bisita tayo and I can’t even greet them properly.”Napalingon naman si Gabby dito. Lexie was heavily pregnant. Umiling siya dito at sinenyasan itong maupo lang. Gabby took the opportunity para mapalayo kay Matt. She went to Lexie at naupo sa tabi nito bringing Chico to sit on her lap.“Daddy, put me down.” pakiusap ni Mango at sumunod din sa ina.“Your tummy is biiiiig.” Mango said nang makalapit. She even made a big circle with her hands na ikinatawa ni Lexie.
“I MISS YOUR FOOD THE MOST, LEX,” puri ni Jessica pagkatapos ng munting salu-salo na inihanda ni Lexie.Mahina naman bumulong lang si Gabby sa katabing si Chico, “Anak, what will you say?”“Thank you, Tita.”Sumunod din na nagpasalamat si Mango copying Chico.Gabby reached behind and patted Mango’s hair. Nabigla pa si Gabby when she felt Matt’s hand grasp her hand pero agad din nitong binitawan when she lightly shook it off. Napapagitnaan nila ang kambal tulad nang kung paano sila maupo sa hapag when eating at home.“Buti nalang nagdadala si Matt ng mga pagkain when he visits me in Paris.” Jessica continued to say. She was seated on the other side o
“Jess!” Matt called after Jessica.Jessica left the pantry crying inconsolably.“F*ck this day!” malakas na mura ni Matt and turned to go after Jessica.Inabutan niya ito sa labas ng bahay.Mark had a hand on Jessica's arm stopping her from going."Jess, calm down." Pinilit itong yakapin ni Mark hanggang napahagulgol na lang Ito sa balikat ng kaibigan."G," Mark mouthed sabay turo to the parking below sa parating na si Matt.Matt ran to the parking. Found four kids taking a step each on the stairs, happily sending their new friends home.
Hindi pa nakakalayo si Gabby nang bumukas ulit ang pinto ng office niya. Matt grabbed her at mahigpit na niyakap.“I’m okay. Naalala ko lang.” Gabby mumbled in between sobs.“You don’t have to hide your tears from me, Gab. You don’t have to bear everything on your own.”Mas lalong napaiyak si Gabby sa narinig. Her arms tightened around Matt’s waist.“I will always be here.”His words were like a warm touch to her heart...pero may pinong kurot sa dulo.“Daddy, why is mommy crying?” malakas na tanong ni Chico. Nakakunot ang noo at masama ang tingin kay Matt.
Kanina pa nakatitig si Matt at his laptop. He was looking at the twins’ picture again. They were swaddled in blue and yellow blankets. There were no pictures of Gabby after the twins were born. I was sick. Matt kept recalling Gabby’s reply.Gusto niyang tanungin ito kahapon pero naramdaman niya ang pag-iwas nito.He looked at the pictures one more time. The progress from the first picture up to Gabby’s full term. Instead of gaining a few more pounds like how the other women seem to experience during their pregnancy, napansin niyang pumapayat ito. He moved forward to the later pics when the twins were born on the occasional pictures na nakikita ang kamay ni Gabby and they were noticeably thinner.Agad
Kababalik lang nila galing sa maagang game drive. Yun ang tawag sa mga drives to the safari looking for animals in their natural environment. The reason why people flock to the Africa. There are game drives in the morning, at mayroon din sa hapon. The best times are during the dawn hours and at dusk when the animals are busiest. The weather is cool, the game are either hunting or drinking. And the likelihood of spotting them are high. The drive normally takes about 3 hours but they were already back after just two. “You are back early, madam,” bati sa kanya ng butler na naka toka sa safari villa nila. He was very lean and very tall, characteristic of the Maasai tribe of Kenya. His skin was very dark against the crisp white of the short sleeved polo he was wearing. Gabby has seen Chege in his Maasai traditional clothes before, a red cloth over his shoulder and across his chest and wore numerous beaded necklaces and bracelets and he looked fierce in it, but he always had a smile and h
Sinalat ni Matt ang noo ni Gabby. She woke up from the movement. “Hey, morning,” a smiling Matt greeted her, his voice low. He moved his hand and felt her neck with the back of his hand. “You are all good, no fever,” he added before dropping a kiss on her lips. Gabby’s cheeks flushed with the recollection of how she came down with a fever after their first time together. She was still wearing Matt’s shirt. She already had pajamas on. She realized, binihisan siya nito and carried her to bed last night. She glanced at the twins na tulog na tulog pa din. “Sorry that woke you up. You can get back to sleep. We still have a couple of hours.” ani Matt, not leaving and still sitting on her side of the bed.Pero bumangon na rin si Gabby, she stopped herself from winching, her legs were aching, and every part of her body. “I need to pack,” sambit niya but she remained seated on the bed. Pinapakiramdaman if strength is back to her legs. “Done.” Kiniling ni Matt ang ulo pointing to the lugga
Parang mas maliwanag ang mundo pagkagising ni Gabby kinabukasan. The sea was bluer than usual and the sky was clearer. The trees that lined the street below even looked greener. Napailing siya sa naisip pero hindi niya napigilang ngumiti. “Mommy, let’s go,” malakas na tawag ni Mango from the living room. Agad na pinulot niya ang hair dryer at sinimulang tuyuin ang buhok. “Yes, baby. Five minutes,” sagot niya dito. She just half dried her hair at nilagyan ng kaunting leave-on hair conditioner. Her hair was not cooperating and was giving her riot curls. She wanted to look for a hair tie pero malamang at naubos niya na sa pag-aayos sa buhok ng anak na babae. Mabilis na dinampian ng lip tint ang labi. She checked herself in the mirror. Matt said lalabas lang sila para mamili ng ilang gamit for their safari vacation. She wore a black track pants, a white shirt and threw on a black, zipped Philipp Plein track top. The twins picked it for her. It had cartoon monsters printed on it.
“DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?” Tanong ni Nico kay Matt. Kaaalis lang ni Lio and they were left in the cigar room. Matt was still frowning, still thinking of everything he had heard. “There is something off.“ Pauna niya. He slowly poured another shot of whisky into his glass. “Like it was a partial truth?” ani ni Nico. He also had an unlighted cigar in his hand. He brought it closer to his nose to smell the premium tobacco but his eyes never left Matt. “Yes.” Nico took an envelope from inside his jacket and slid it to Matt. “Personally picked up and delivered.” “Thanks, bro.” Matt grabbed the mid-size brown envelope. He looked at the address first. It was very indistinct but it carried the name of the laboratory from the US. He opened it and quickly ran his eyes on the few pieces of paper inside. He neatly folded it and placed it back on the envelope, tsaka isinuksok sa inner pocket ng sariling jacket. “So?” Nico widely smiled. He has been with Matt since they were starting out
Lio flipped a coin between his fingers. His eyes tracked Matt until Matt occupied a solo seat in the living room. He continued to look around, he stopped flipping the coin when his eyes met Nico’s sharp gaze. “So, G is not invited to the conversation?” Lio asked and sat back comfortably. He was wearing a tan button-down shirt, sunglasses in his shirt pocket, and dark brown pants. “You might want to start talking before you overstay your welcome,” Nico interjected. He comfortably leaned on the counter of the small kitchen of the suite. “I want to talk to G first.” was Lio’s response. Sandaling nagtinginan muna si Nico at Matt before Matt turned to look away and stared at the view outside with his jaw clenched. Nico moved and walked to the bedroom, paglabas nito ay nakasunod na si Gabby. Saglit namang sinulyapan ni Gabby si Matt but he was looking away from her. A sharp pain pierced her heart. Sa maikling panahong nakilala niya ito, he always had his eyes on her, as if he k
Matt was a benefactor of the center. Kaya kakaibang welcome ang natanggao nila. May mga inihanda pa ang mga kababaihan at mga bata na mga palabas para sa kanila. There was no time to be alone which was a relief for her. Matt had a formal meeting with the sisters. He asked her to come with him pero nagdahilan siyang aayusin ang mga inihandang pasalubong para kay Sister Mary. May nagpresentang tulungan siya. Bumalik sila sa sasakyan at naroon din ang isang pang sasakyan that escorted them. She may never get used to it pero napansin niyang Matt rarely travelled alone. “We need the boxes,” she politely asked one of the armed men na kasama nila.Agad itong tumango at nagbigay ng instructions sa tatlo pang kasama nito. Kinuha ni Gabby ang isang bag ng mga pasalubong galing pa ng Pilipinas na hinanda niya para kay Sister Mary sa sasakyang ginamit nila.Limang malalaking box ng mga laruan at mga bagong damit ang ipinahanda ni Matt para sa pagbisita nila. He just called someone somewhere
“MOMMY, IS LOLA EXPECTING US?” tanong ni Mango. “Yes, anak.” Gabby was fixing Mango’s hair. Maingat na tinitirintas ang buhok nito. She placed ribbons as she braided her hair. The corner of Mango’s lips slightly up in a contained smile habang pinapanood nito ang ginagawa niya sa salamin. “Are we staying with lola?” Tanong ulit ni Mango. “No, baby, we will just visit.” Sandaling sinulyapan niya rin ito sa salamin. “Mommy, are we going to see Simba?” patuloy ang makulit na pagtatanong ni Mango, she even started kicking her feet in the air, palatandaang excited ito. Mango watched Lion King over and over on the tablet since they arrived in the hotel the day before. “We will ask Daddy, okay? He may need to be back for work.” “But daddy said we can.” Hard-headed. Matt’s voice echoed in Gabby’s head. She needs to tell Matt to be firmer with Mango. “I’m going to ask Daddy, Mommy.” Mango looked so pitiful with her expression. But Gabby was aware na inuuto lang siya ng anak. She was a
“LET ME CARRY YOU, BABY,” Matt gently coaxed Mango na buhat-buhat na ni Gabby. “No!” Matigas na tanggi nito. Pinulupot pa nito lalo ang maliliit na bisig sa leeg ni Gabby. Pilit itong ginising ni Gabby to prepare for their flight and the girl was now in a bad mood. “You’re so big now for mommy to carry you, Mango.” Chico said at tiningnan nang masama ang kapatid. Mango stuck her tongue out to Chico at mahigpit na yumakap sa ina. “Brat.” Chico murmured. Akmang iiyak uli ito kaya inunahan na ni Gabby. “Don’t cry. It will mean that you are intentionally being difficult right now. Mommy understands you are still sleepy and I can still carry you.” Marahang niyang hinaplos ang buhok nito. Nakatulog nga ulit si Mango before they were even picked up from the hotel. “Let me.” Maingat na inilipat niya si Mango to Matt’s arms. Inayos niya din ang nagusot na blouse ng anak and covered her back with the light wool coat na ayaw nitong isuot. The weather in Dubai at night was a
HE CARRIED HER OFF THE BED at inilang hakbang lang nito ang daybed na nasa isang sulok ng kwarto. He laid her on it before he reached out for throw blanket on one of the chairs. Mabilis itong nahiga sa tabi niya, fixed the one pillow on it that Chico left on the daybed earlier and he threw the blanket over them. She scooted to the end of the narrow daybed, trying to put some space between them at patagilid na nahiga. “You’re going to fall over,” bulong nito. Nilingkis nito ang kamay sa bewang niya and pulled her closer. Her back feels good against his chest. He was hard but warm. Nanatili lang silang nakahiga. Pero alam niyang gising pa ito sa pagtaas-baba ng dibdib nito. “Why did you run away?” binasag nito ang katahimikan. Mahina lang ang boses nito at nagtanong nang halos pabulong. “Don't just tell me you are sorry,” pahabol na sambit nito. She took her time thinking of what to tell him. Inabot naman ni Matt ang isang kamay ni Gabby, he traced her fingers first