Night's Warmth

Chapter 6 - Grandfather

"You explored my cabin, didn't you?"

Gab turns to me with a shocked expression, almost choking the words he lets out.

"O-Oh! U-umm!" Gab clears his throat. "Y-Yes.. Yes I did. How did you know?"

I turn to Gab. "You're not the type to stay still, even if you're extremely injured." I gesture to his bandages.

Gab sighs and turns away from me. "I'm sorry.."

I pat his back. "It's fine. I'll let you off this time. You might've remembered something while you were up and walking."

Gab's ears then perk up. He swiftly turns to me again with a face of realization.

"What is it? Did you recall something from your past?"

Gab gets up from the bed, takes my old picture from the table, sits back next to me, and hands it to me.

"..."

"This is an old picture of me and my grandpa."

I can hear Gab sigh in relief.

"Why are you giving this picture to me?" I turn to him. "Did you remember something when you took a look at it?"

Gab looks at me. "Remember our first encounter where I pinned you against the wall and was about to hurt you when I abruptly let you go? Or when I grabbed your shoulders and looked down on you very deeply?"

I nod. "Y-Yeah.. I clearly remember.."

Gab sighs again. "I forgot to apologize to you about that.. I'm deeply sorry for almost hurting you. I was.. very scared and on edge at the time.."

I faintly smile sheepishly. "It's alright.. I understand how you felt.." I look back at the picture. "But anyways, why are you so focused on this particular picture of me and my grandpa?" I look back at Gab.

"Your last name.. dela Cruz.. it sounded familiar to me for some reason.. And when I was pinning you at the wall, when I looked at your face, an old man suddenly popped into my mind, like he was the key to my past. When I grabbed your shoulders and looked down on you deeply, I was double-checking if you were connected to that man."

Gab continues. "While you were away, I was exploring your cabin when I found that picture. I recognized the old man as the one who was in my mind, a man that was surely a part of my past."

I take a moment to process Gab's words. "So you're saying that my grandpa was somehow connected to your past?"

Gab nods. "Yes, that's what I believe. I don't remember much about my past, but seeing that picture triggered something in me." Gab pauses for a moment before asking. "What's his name?"

"Ramon.. Ramon Lazaro Candelario dela Cruz.."

"Ramon.. Lazaro.. Candelario.. dela Cruz.."

Gab closes his eyes and repeats the name multiple times, trying to uncover a part of his memory. After a few seconds, he opens his eyes again and sighs loudly.

"Ugh, nothing's clicking.."

I sigh. "It's okay. Take your time."

As we sit on the bed and brainstorm, a memory pops up in my head.

"Wait, I think there's a possible connection here. Ramon told me a story where he once traveled to Alaska to visit a family friend."

Gab's ears perk up and he sits straight up properly and looks at me with an attentive expression. "Go on."

I take a deep breath before telling the story. "15 years ago, he traveled to Alaska and visited a family friend. Around three days into his stay, he was jogging to the northern parts of Alaska when he tripped over something. He turned and walked over to see a bleeding mountain tiger cub with no consciousness."