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
“Sana ginising mo ako,” Matt hugged her from behind and started to kiss her neck.“Dy.” Gabby tried to avoid his kisses, a slight panic in her voice.Matt followed the line of sight of Gabby and found Chico was looking back at him.Hindi niya man lang ito napansin coming into the kitchen. The boy hidden from view by the high back of the chairs of the dining table.“Good morning, Daddy.”Matt innocently kissed Gabby’s cheek and sighed. Gabby snickered.“Bud, you’re too early.”“He woke me up.” Bulong ni Gabby. Gabby tu
“ALL ALONG I THOUGHT YOU TWO ARE OKAY.” Nag-aalalang sambit ni Cheryl.Sinulyapan ni Gabby ang video nito sa monitor at nakakunot nga ang noo nito. Disappointment and worry on her face.“Getting together? Hindi 'yon ang para sa amin.” Gabby continued to type on her keyboard as if she was not distracted.“You allowed him in your house. You let him meet the twins then you think getting together is not for you. Hindi ba too late na para doon?”Gabby just shook her head. Glanced on her handwritten notes na hilig niya pa rin gawin when she’s outlining her stories.“G, why? Is it because of that ex-girlfriend? Kasi ‘yong G na kilala ko is not someon
Mabilis na isinuot ni Gabby ang long-sleeved polo na nasa balikat.He got out of bed. “I’ll prepare a bath for you,” malambing na turan ni Matt.Gabby can hear him move to the ensuite. Mabilis na tumayo si Gabby pagkatapos na maisara ang tatlong butones.She ran to the playroom as fast as her aching body would let her. She wanted to lock herself in but to her frustration, hindi niya talaga pinalagyan ng lock ang pinto at ayaw niyang magkamaling mai-lock ng kambal. She went to the bathroom na nandoon. She pushed the door close at nanghihinang sumandal sa pinto.Ano na naman ang pinasok mo? Naghuhumiyaw ang tanong sa isip niya. She looked at herself in the mirror. Suot niya pa ang pol
“Mark will be here in a while.” ani Matt pagkatapos nilang kumain.“I can take a fever medicine, sleep and I’ll be fine tomorrow.”“He picked up Liv at Lexie’s shop downstairs so it’s not a big deal.”Matt kissed the frown from her forehead.Pilit namang iniba ni Gabby ang usapan and moved it to what Matt needed to do for the kids that night.“Chico is taking other subjects but he will be fine. Mango will need to review her reading lessons.” She acted like the kiss on her forehead was not a big deal but deep inside she found it really sweet.“I got it.”
“ARE YOU SURE?” Tanong ni Mark.They stood side-by-side as they watched the kids finish a tagging game“Yes, I’ll be bringing them on Friday.”Napa-iling naman si Mark kay Matt.“And I thought you wanted to do this the old-fashioned way. What did you say again?”“Shut up.”Hindi naman nagpatinag si Mark. “I recall you saying you don’t want her to think you are just after the twins.”“She did not accept my proposal.”“Marriage proposal?”
Matt just sealed Gabby’s lips with his. Ayaw niyang marinig ang mga susunod pang mga sasabihin nito.He let her lips go after a while. Hindi rin siya makapagsalita. He grabbed Gabby’s head and placed it on his chest. Niyakap niya ito nang mas mahigpit.Hindi niya kayang itanggi. She was right when she said he was happy to see her pregnant pictures and he looked forward to it. It was selfish but he felt a bit of disappointment. He forced to concentrate on Gabby though. She must be a hundred times more devastated kesa sa kanya.“That’s why I had them through IVF. I knew mahirap na akong magkaanak if I delayed it. I wanted to have kids, Matt.” Gabby gripped Matt’s shirt.“I grew up with so many children my ag
Matt tried to hide his smile, inilang hakbang lang nito ang pagitan nila ni Gabby."Matt," naiinis na si Gabby. "Hindi ako nagbibiro"Mas lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti ni Matt. He warmed his hand by rubbing it together and cupped her face."How long have you practiced that?" he asked, smiling."Practiced what?" Gabby swallowed. She licked her lips which had started to dry. She could feel the blood drain from her face."You're white as a sheet.""Matt hindi ako nagbibiro.""As you said."He moved his hand toward her chest over the wil
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