Jessica was downstairs. It took some time after Gabby ended the call before that sunk in. Jessica was obviously not looking for Matt but wanted to see her. Gabby asked Cheryl to look after the twins but not after she was grilled kung saan siya pupunta. She changed into denim pants and a plain white cotton shirt and slipped on simple white Adidas sneakers. She made her way down. It was not difficult to spot Jessica though she was quietly waiting in the spacious lounge area. She was in a slick black jumpsuit with black pumps. “Hi,” bati niya dito nang makalapit na siya. Jessica also spotted her right away and stood up from her seat. “Hi, sorry that I went here na walang pasabi.” Gabby gave a small smile. “It’s okay.” She pointed to a small coffee shop on the ground floor of her condo building. It was always less busy, a little more on the high-end side as the building itself is in an upscale neighborhood. They order coffee first. Gabby asked for a Flat white
“CARE TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU WOULD RUN AWAY?” Tiningnan siya ni Matt before he took his first spoonful of soup. Gabby wished that the twins did not leave. Pinakain muna nila ang dalawa before they asked for their meal to be served. Humiling ang kambal na ikutin ang eroplano. A flight crew happily volunteered to accompany them. “Nag-Nag paalam naman ako.” Mabilis na sumubo na siya and concentrated on her plate. “That hardly counts as a notification” tukoy nito sa duwag niyang text message. “nor is that an explanation.” Ano pa ba ang sasabihin niya? Alam niyang tinitingnan pa rin siya nito so she concentrated on cutting a piece of Wolfgang’s steak that Matt ordered for her. Gabby had a hard time chewing and swallowing her food. She could only taste bitterness in her mouth. She washed it down with water and did not bother to taste the red wine. “I am sorry.” She almost choked on her words. Hindi niya alam kung narinig nito ang sinagot niya but she pushed the tray away to
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
“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
“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
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
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
“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