Seven Minutes In Heaven (COMPLETE)

Chapter One - The Comeback

Efren sat inside the conference room coolly. Katulad nga ng sinabi sa kanya ni Miggy the day before, wala ito sa meeting nila dahil sasamahan nito si Abby na sunduin si Matilda sa airport .

She has a lot of explaining to do when we meet.

Maikli lang naman ang naging meeting, wala kasi si Miggy.

Efren was the new owner of the shipping company that his brother built. Years ago, naging interesado ito sa mga barko kaya naman naging isa na naman itong kumpanya. It was Efren who had the idea to branch it out. Dalawang company na ang under ng Casped Shipping Inc. -- ang isa ay para sa mga cargo ships at ang isa ay para sa mga luxury cruise ships. His company had its ups and downs and finally, it was slowly booming. Lalo na ang Blue Line Tours, ito ang pangalan ng shipping company niya na naka-focus sa turismo at mga luxury cruise.

Miguel Evaristo or Miggy, his best friend, devoted his time as Efren's co-partner. Si Miggy ang in-charge sa Blue Line Tours, si Efren naman sa mga cargo ships o Casped Cargos Inc.

Pagkatapos ng meeting nagmadali na siya na pumunta sa parking lot. He wanted to be there at the airport when Matilda arrives. At the same time, he didn't want anyone to know about it. Kaya hindi na siya sumabay pa kay Miggy.

The drive to the airport took him a while, but he finally reached his destination.

***

Nasa arrival area si Abby at Miggy. Miggy shed off his boysih looks way back in college. He had a stubble on his jaws and sides of his face, his hair was trimmed short and wavy. Nakatayo lang siya suot ang slacks, puting shirt na napapatungan ng itim na suit jacket at black shoes. Sa harapan niya naman, nakatayo si Abby. She shed off her girly looks as well. Naka-dress ito na fit na kulay puti na hanggang tuhod at naka-ponytail ng mataas ang kulot at mahaba nitong buhok. She lost the sweet look on her face, she became more lady-like... well, almost.

"Miggy!" nilingon ni Abby ang lalaki. "Tama ba iyang oras sa wrist watch mo? Bakit hindi ko makita si Matilda?"

Marami na kasing nagpapasukan sa arrival area pero hindi pa niya nakikita si Matilda.

"Dapat kasi nagdala tayo ng banner man lang," he could not stop to sigh.

"Ang corny mo," Abby rolled her eyes. "Makikilala naman niya tayo siguro no?"

"I don't think so," Miggy crossed his arms. "Tawagin mo kaya?"

"Matilda!!!" sigaw ni Abby sa mga nagdadatingan. "Matti!!! Nandito ako!" kumaway-kaway pa ito.

Napailing na lang si Miggy na natatawa.

She finally stepped inside the arrival area. Hila-hila niya ang isang malaking maleta at may hawak na bag ang isa pa niyang kamay. Nilingon niya ang kasama.

"Hurry up, baby!" Matilda cheerfully looked over her shoulder.

Halos wala siyang pinagbago. She just learned how to use make-up modestly. Matilda even kept her full bangs and long straight hair. Mas nagka-hugis ang katawan niya, kita iyon sa suot niyang two-inches white boots, brown fit slacks at naka-tuck in na puting button-down blouse na fit din sa katawan niya. Nakasunod sa kanya si Ephraim. The 5-years-old little guy had a long jet-lack hair na umabot na sa balikat nito, his eyes were like sharp little eagle-eyes. He wore his favorite rubber shoes na umiilaw, a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt.

Humawak na si Ephraim sa kamay ni Matilda at sinabayan ang pacing nito sa paglakad. She stopped and looked around.

"Matti! I am hereee!"

Napalingon siya sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. She saw a beautiful girl in a tight little dress, waving her arms like crazy. She waved her hands, kaya naman napatingin ito aa kanya.

"Abby!" kumaway siya.

"Matti!"

Hinila ni Matilda ang anak papunta kay Abby.

Miggy, who stood quietly behind Abby, stepped beside her. Nakita na kasi nila si Matilda na palapit sa kanila.

"Abby, kasama ba ni Matilda yung bata na iyon?"

Binaba na ni Abby ang mga kamay niya. Both of them squinted their eyes to give that kid a good look.

"She's pulling his hand, so most probably they are together," Abby answered.

Napa-isip si Miggy. I have a feeling that I already saw that kid before...

Sa wakas, nakalapit na sa kanila si Matilda. She gave Abby a tight hug.

"Oh, Abby! I missed you, Abby!"

"I missed you too," ngumiti si Abby at niyakap rin ang kaibigan.

Miggy stared at the little kid behind Matilda. The kid noticed and stared back at him.

"Hi, Sir," tipid na ngiti ang binigay sa kanya ng bata at cute na kumaway ito kay Miggy.

He grinned at the kid. Miggy was sure that the kid resembled someone he knew. He just could not figure it out who it is.

Matilda gasped when she saw Miggy.

Efren?

Napansin ni Abby na nakatitig si Matilda dito kaya naman pinakilala niya si Miggy.

"Oh, Matti, si Miggy nga pala, do you still remember him?"

She finally smiled. Oh, akala ko si Efren na ito...

"Of course," she offered Miggy a handshake, "ang laki ng pinagbago mo ah, Miggy. I hardly recognized you."

He shook her hand and placed his hand back inside his pocket. "Well... you still have the same bangs."

She giggled. "Oh yup. Para maalala niyo pa ako."

"So, who's the little kid?" he shot a glance at the little kid who held Matilda's hand.

"Oh yes, guys," binuhat niya ang bata, "this is my son, Ephraim."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.

Her son? hindi makapaniwala si Abby sa narinig.

This can't be, Miggy wanted to deny it to himself that what he heard was right.

Tumalikod si Ephraim para yumakap sa mama nito. Matilda laughed and rubbed his back.

"Tara na, guys. Pasensya na ha? Napagod kasi yata si Ephraim sa sobrang kalikutan niya sa plane."

"Well, let's save the chitchats for some other time," si Miggy na ang nagmagandang-loob na humila ng maletang dala ni Matilda.

Efren stood beside a tiled post of that airport at the arrival area. He watched that sexy woman with long, confident strides and swinging long dark hair as she walked alongside with Miggy and Abby.

Naalala niya ang mga sinabi noon sa kanya ng kuya niya.

Bad for you if one day you'll meet Matilda again after... how many years? Maybe ten years... Then you will see her carrying a kid in her arms. Her own son. You will realize that you wasted ten years--

Ang naabutan na lang niya nang dumating siya sa airport ay buhat na ni Matilda ang bata at nakasubsob na ito sa balikat niya. He clenched his fists and left without bothering to show up to them.