Gillian slept through the night. It was a dreamless sleep. She woke up refreshed the next morning.Rye was sitting at the nearby chair. He was reading the newspaper."Good morning," she croaked chirpily."Hi! Good morning!" He quickly folded the paper and stood up. "Did you sleep well?" he queried with a gentle smile."Yes. How about you?" She smiled back while struggling to get up. She seemed smothered with the sheet. She was wearing pajamas and a nightshirt. Both colored white.Rye helped her. "I'm sorry. Were you uncomfortable? I had to cover you."Her wide eyes questioned him."I slept here with you and I want to... lessen the temptation." His neck and ears reddened with embarrassment but his eyes scorched her with a burning desire.Gillian blushed when she understood. She looked anywhere away from him. "I--I want to go to the bathroom..."She closed the door and leaned on it. She was serious when she told him that she did not want to have sex anymore. Her first reason: she was pre
The next morning, her parents and Tita Chedeng flew by helicopter to the site. Sam and Ginny went with them. They promised to be home every weekend."Bye, Mama! See you on Friday evening!" Ginny waved cheerfully.Because she was pregnant, Gillian decided not to come back to her work.
The large house sat on a hill with an overlooking view of the restless sea. Its private beach was empty. The waves formed foam against the rocky formation on the dark sands. The sun just started to set, rendering the skies with purple, orange, and red hues.Rye put down the binoculars."What's the plan?" Jim asked while he watched appreciatively the magnificent Pacific Ocean.
Rye was ready. He planned to grab any opportunity that would place Gillian into his life so he came prepared. He had applied for a marriage license a month ago."When is the wedding?" Jamil barked at Rye."Tomorrow," he replied humbly."Too soon?" Genova reacted worriedly."I will marry Gillian in church when the baby is born, Ma'am Genova.""You want to have a civil marriage?" Jamil expressed straightforwardly. "Gillian, my child, do you agree?"Gillian was still bemused as she gazed at her engagement ring. She looked up when her name was called by her father."What is it, Papa?""Rye wants a civil marriage. Do you want it, too?""Yes, Papa," she replied with no hesitation. "A church wedding is expensive."'I want to see you in a white resplendent wedding gown, Gillian!' Rye shouted inside his mind."Can we be married here?" Gillian requested modestly. Her limpid eyes pleading with Rye."Dad?" Rye seek his father's assistance."We can fly Judge Cortez over here tomorrow," Jim answered
Neither of them signed a prenuptial agreement. Both Jamil and Jim thought of it but when they saw Rye and Gillian gazing lovingly to each other, no one mentioned it.They saw the love that burned between Rye and Gillian even though they didn't know yet.Jim remembered something buried deep in his memory. He was pensive when he came near Rye after the wedding.
"The baby's head already popped out!" Chedeng's nursing instinct went on rescue mode. She gave instructions to Sam and Ginny left and right.Rye did not feel relief upon seeing the trio. He was too worried. He remained by Gillian's side because of her tight grip on his hand.When the baby gave out its first shrill cry, Rye could not explain his feelings. He cried while grinning like crazy."Here's your Junior," Chedeng laid down the bundle of joy beside the tired but smiling Gillian. "He is hungry!"An uproar of clapping hands and laughing voices sounded outside."The grandparents are merry-making," Sam observed while tiredly wiping his sweating face. "They are outside," he added as an afterthought."Oh, what a way of coming out to this world, little brother!" Ginny exclaimed cheerfully.Chedeng helped Gillian with the breastfeeding of the baby. "You will be awkward on the first try, Gillian. But you and the baby will get the hang of it, you'll see," she imparted kindly. She helped Gil
"I was thinking, Gillian," Rye announced the next morning."What is it?" Gillian asked curiously.They were walking side by side on the sands. They were holding hands while he cuddled Rhys in one arm. The baby was watching the seagulls flying above drowsily."I want to build a house by the sea. I don't want to come back to the mountain house." Rye halted and faced Gillian. "What do you say?""It's okay by me. I'll live wherever you want to live, Rye," she replied softly."The mountain house has no occupants for a long time. My parents often forget about the place.""My mother often wonder why I chose to live in the mountains. The transportation is difficult. The houses are scarce. There is no excitement, as Ginny had always commented. Until you lived there..." Gillian murmured pensively."It is fate's intervention. I met you when you needed my help." Rye kissed her knuckles."Yes, Rye. Without your help to my family, I don't know if we could survive the storm..."Rye pulled Gillian on
When Baby Rhys woke, he gurgled noisily. Rye went to him."Hungry?" He glanced at his wristwatch. It was past lunchtime. "Yes, you are starving. You slept for four hours straight!"Baby Rhys chortled loudly."Let's disturb Mama!" Rye snuggled the baby to his chest. They crossed to the next room. He knocked on the door softly."Come in."Rye hesitated for a moment. He could not tell the mood of Gillian because her words were muffled.The baby wagged his chubby arms and short legs when he heard his mother's voice.Rye pushed the door slowly. He felt relief because it was not locked."Rhys wants his lunch," he said by way of greeting. He eyed Gillian's face searchingly. She was seated on the bed with an open book at her side."Come here, baby," she crooned to her child with open arms.The baby struggled strongly from his hold."Careful, Rhys," he cautioned while he laid the baby to her arms gently.Gillian opened her bodice to take out her breast. The child eagerly clutched at its softnes
Rye had given the President himself the thick bundle of money. He had closed the three accounts of Gillian, Genova and Ginny. It was late in the afternoon when they reached Manila. He was given an audience by the President."President, I give you a hundred and fifty million pesos. Fifty million is intended for kids who couldn't go to college and get an education. One hundred million is intended for the victims of the three typhoons, which ravaged our country in one month! The money is inherited by my wife and her family. Please, do not name them. "
The big wedding started coming upon them one week before the exact day. The Tinbul family clan went on pouring from different parts of the globe. Helicopters went to and from the site where half of the hotel was finished.The finished half of the hotel was occupied by the guests, all relatives and friends of Jamil Tinbul."I don't want to overwhelm you, Genova dear." Jamil introduced his family, batch by batch.
After the trauma created by the 'shed' incident, life had been peaceful and serene.Ginny continued her studies. She had resigned from her hospital work."Grandpa Jamil is building a clinic for me," Ginny said proudly."That's a good idea," Genova praised her granddaughter.
Aduelo's clan and Tommy Manlupa's team of people worked together to fight the remaining army of Sualo. They were unreasonable. They were deaf to Aduelo's pleas. They drunkenly ran into their deaths.Rye could see the battle happening in front of him very clearly. Aduelo was old and exhausted but he did not stop until the rebels were defeated.Afterwards, the creature faded one by one. Aduelo was the last one. He was waving his hand solemnly.
"You are so brave, Chedeng," John praised her again about a dozen times."Genevieve is such a sweet child. I'd do anything to help," Chedeng said primly. Ginny was Genevieve now, as per instruction of Rye. "If you'll excuse me, I shall dress now.""It's too early." John glanced at the wall clock.
"Are you afraid that I'll leave you and go somewhere?" Ginny asked thoughtfully. She stared at Sam unblinkingly.Sam thought for a second before he sighed in a resigned manner. "I promised myself that I'll never keep you in the dark. Wait, here."He got up and picked up the bathrobe. He went to his room and when he came back, Ginny was dressed again. She was sitting on the bed while waiting for him. Wordlessly, he handed over the paper.
"Siblings don't marry within one year!" Genova was the first to protest half-heartedly."But Gillian and Genevieve are not siblings, my dear Genova," Jamil reasoned calmly. "They are mother and daughter.""Oh! I forgot! Yes, of course.""So there's no more problem?"
"What's bugging you, Sam?" Rye asked Sam.He was walking by the beach one full moon night. He didn't think his former employer had seen him pacing the sands."It's the shed," Sam blurted out. "I'm hearing voices--and one them sounded like me!""I'm not hearing voices but I believe y
Genova was fussed over by everybody when she came home. Chedeng became the official nurse. While Gillian, Ginny, and Rhys were the companions."I cannot carry you yet, Rhys."The baby gurgled and chortled as though he could understand what her grandmother said."I heard you farted l