Muli (An Agnes-Jerry fic)

SEVEN

As Jerry maneuvers the car to the entrance of the hotel, Alie points out, "There's Tita Agnes!"

It makes him smile.

Alie has been asking a lot about Agnes the past few days, after their impromptu dinner. His daughter is a bit picky with people, and the fact that she likes this one makes him smile. Well, not that it's surprising -- Agnes has always been good with children -- but it's his kid. Of course it matters.

He parks by the entrance and Melissa opens the door. Dino gets out to help Daisy and Agnes with their luggage, to put it all at the back. The couple moves to the second row, where Daisy also sits. Agnes takes her place beside Alie on the first row at the back because a young man is already seated in front.

"Okay na?" Jerry asks, turning to them. He meets Agnes' eyes. She's wearing her eyeglasses, and somehow it makes him smile even more. "Hi."

"Hello," she replies, smiling too, just as Daisy says an extra energetic, "Hi, Jerry!"

They laugh.

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Jerry stays quiet behind the wheel, while Daisy chats with Melissa and Dino. He looks at the rearview mirror when he stops at the red light. Alie has snuggled up to her Tita Agnes, Mushu on her other side, as she shares something on her iPad.

"Tita Agnes, how come Mushu is small in the movie? But he's big right here, o."

Agnes smiles. "Well, there's an even bigger version of Mushu. Sa Disneyland! As tall as Tita Agnes."

The child frowns. "How did that happen? Is Mulan a giant?!"

Jerry watches as his ex-girlfriend -- ex-fiancee far too many times -- laughs at this, then tries to explain it as logically and child-friendly as she can to his daughter.

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Jerry and Agnes were sitting at a crowded fastfood restaurant when he noticed that she couldn't really keep still, hands clasped on the table. He reached out and held her left. "Babes? Long day at work?"

She looked at him and tried to smile. "Medyo. Ang kulit ng mga bata."

He squeezed her hand just as their order arrived. She pulled her hand away, watching as the dishes were placed on the table, then thanked the waiter.

Jerry split the spaghetti into two portions so they could share it before turning to the piece of Chickenjoy.

"Ikaw, Babes?" she asked. "Kumusta naman ang araw mo?"

"It was okay... Business meetings. Sinamahan ko si Cynthia doon sa isang prospective client sa may Alabang kanina."

She nodded. He glanced up and saw her taking but a small bite from her burger.

"Babes?"

"Yeah?"

"Pagod lang ba 'yan, or you want to talk to me about something?" He smiled. "If this is about Cynthia again --"

"No. No. It's not about her."

"Well, good... Kasi kahit na ang cute cute mo kapag nagseselos ka, there's nothing --"

"My mom said I should have my green card processed this year or else hindi na pwede. She wants me to move with her and her new family to San Francisco."

She said this quickly, not pausing for breath.  And then she fell silent, as she looked at him, searching his face.

He didn't know what to tell her. He put the plastic utensils down. "Well... What do you think about her offer?"