The Accused (A Series #1)

Chapter Forty-Six

"You're here," hindi makapaniwalang sambit niya kay Finno nang makalapit na sila rito.

He was still oblivious of how surprised she was seeing him there. She made sure to send him a text to inform na hindi muna sila makakauwi ng mga anak. Hindi ba nito iyon natanggap?

"Yep! As promised, I will fetch you. And now, I'm here. I'm so excited to see you." He lovingly looked at Cevin and Aurine na karga karga na nito sa isang kamay. "Oh, here. This is for you."

Inabot nito sa kanya ang bouquet na kanina pa nito hawak. Malapad pa rin itong ngumingiti.

"Thank you."

She accepted it while giving him a small smile.

It's not that she was mad that he was there. She was just bothered, and she felt bad. Finno never break promises. Nangako ito sa kanila na susunduin sila sa airport pagkauwi nila. By the looks he was giving them, he seemed to not know that they were staying for few more days with Calev.

"Oh, hi, man," he greeted Calev casually.

Calev on the other hand looked stiff and he was wearing his usual blank expression.

"Hi," he simply answered. He was just silently looking back at Finno and their children.

Binaling na ulit ni Finno ang tingin sa mga anak.

"How was your trip, princess?" he asked Aurine.

"Fine, Dada! Auwine saw clouds. Many clouds."

"That's nice. How about you, little man?" Si Cevin naman ang binalingan nito. Kanina ay nakita niyang niyakap ni Finno ang anak. Finno was gazing at her son sweetly and happily like he was glad that he was back home again.

"Cevin fine, Dada."

Finno smiled at how short her son replied. Cevin was smiling too, though.

Bumalik ulit ang tingin nito sa kanya.

"Let's go?"

"Ah... Finno..."

His forehead immediately creased when he noticed the hesitation on her voice.

"Why, is there a problem?" he asked.

Her eyes unintendedly searched for Calev's. He was already looking at her kaya agad niyang binalik ang tingin kay Finno. His eyes were looking at her and Calev back and forth.

"Did you not receive my messages?"

"Oh, about that. I was here since yesterday. I have to meet someone. And I kind of... well, I lost my phone." He smiled at her shyly. "Kanina ko pa hinahanap, but I could not find it. I might have dropped it somewhere. Ang tanga naman talaga ng cellphone na 'yon."

Bahagya silang natawa. Deep inside, she was feeling really bad for him. He lost his phone, kaya siguro ay hindi nito natanggap ang mga mensahe niya bago sila sumakay ng eroplano. How would she tell him now?

"Why, though? What was your message all about?"

He was genuinely oblivious.

"We... we planned to stay for three more days here," she carefully uttered as she watched how his expressions change. The sudden dismay on his eyes were evident but he immediately masked it away.

"Oh... uhh, where will you stay?"

She glanced at Calev na kanina pa nakatitig sa kanya. She felt awkward with it pero hindi niya pinahalata. She looked back at Finno and she saw that recognition already registered on his face, but she answered it anyway.