Their Marriage

Chapter 9

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

Gabriella's Point of View

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa hagdan, buhat si Hiro. Malay niyo may hindi pa gi-

"Oh, hija, saan ang lakad mo?" nakakagulat naman 'tong si Nanay.

"Good morning din, Nanay Susan." tanong niya na kagagaling lang sa kusina. "May pupuntahan lang po kami ni Hiro."

"Saan naman iyon?"

"Dyan-dyan lang po." tinitigan lang ako ni Nanay Susan ng ilang saglit saka ako pinayagan kaming umalis.

"Pero huwag kayong magtagal, mukhang uulan." zinipper ko na ang aking dark blue jacket, nilagyan ng leash si Hiro, at nagpaalam na kay Nanay Susan.

Nagsimula kaming mag-jogging. Matagal-tagal na rin akong hindi nag-jojogging. Siguro a year? Simula nun hindi na ako nag-jogging dahil tinamad na ako.

So, the reason why I'm jogging right now is to clear up my mind dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang naging ganun si Leo, sa umpisa wala siyang pakielam sa akin tapos sa susunod nagagalit na siya. Mga lalaki talaga parang mga babae- hindi maintindihan.

💍💍💍

Vincent Leo's Point of View

"Why are you calling this early in the morning, Ma?" I lazily answered.

[Naiistorbo ko ba kayo ni Gabriella? Sige, mamaya nalang ako tata-]

"No, no. What's up?" I said with closed eyes.

[Your father and I are staying there overnight.]

"What? When?" I instantly replied, my eyes opening.

[Later this evening or afternoon. Just wanted to give you a heads up, son.]

"Thanks for the surprise, Ma. Really, thanks. Why so sudden by the way?"

[Gusto lang namin kayong bisitahin kasi two days after tomorrow pupunta kami sa Europe.]

"For how long?"

[Weeks? Months? Depende sa kung anong mangyayari sa deal.]

"Wait, why won't you let me go?"

[Kasi ikaw ang magbabantay sa kumpanya, gusto namin ng papa mong magbakasyon, at baka mamiss ka ng asawa mo. Is she awake?]

Mabilis akong nag-isip, "No, still sleeping."

[Say 'hi' for us. Okay, Vincent Leo?]

"Yes."

[We're getting ready to leave for work. Hope to see you there later. Love you, anak.]

"You, too, Ma."

Call Ended

I groaned and quickly stood up from my bed which made my head throb by the sudden movement. Lumabas ako ng kwarto para puntahan si Gabriella sa kabilang kwarto.

Kumatok ako ng tatlong beses. Noong walang sumagot, pasimple kong pinihit ang door knob kung bukas 'yun.

It's not locked.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan 'yun, hoping her dog would jump right at me but surprisingly the dog and her as well weren't there. The bed was even neatly tidied up. Maybe they're downstairs?

When I walked down the stairs I spotted no one in the living room. Maybe in the kitchen?

"Good morning." I greeted once I entered the kitchen. And again, there were no Gabriella and her dog to be found. "Where is...?"