"Welcome to Cebu, Mrs. Torralba!"
She smiled awkwardly, ngayon na lang ata siya ulit natawag na ganon. Sa mga nagdaang araw parang nakakalimutan na niya yung sakit at pagiisa.
"Here's your key po."
She nodded at dumiretso na sa elevator, nakasunod sakanya ang bellboy. Noong nakapasok na siya ng kwarto, kinuha niya ang gamit niya at nagpasalamat sa hotel staff.
Agad siyang humiga sa kama at pinikit ang mata. Apat na araw lang naman siya dito. Kailangan niya lang magpresent sa isang investor tapos okay na. Gusto nalang niya matapos sa lahat ng ito para makauwi na sa Manila. She needs to admit, after meeting him, sobrang comfortable na ng lahat kapag magkasama sila. Nalilimutan niya lahat ng problema niya. She really likes him now. Baka nga love na.
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"He's all that I have, please save him"
paulit ulit iyong nasa isip ni Thirdy. He drives faster. He mentally curses himself as if it will do something.
He glances at the corgi in the shotgun seat, looking so quiet and weak.
"Please don't die." he whispered, he can feel everything shaking in his body. Noong makadating sa vet, agad siyang nagpark at binitbit ang aso sa loob. He saw that there's a line. Pang apat pa siya.
"Miss, please. Emergency" sabi niya habang bitbit si Pepper. The lady just looked at him atyaka sa mga taong nakapila at nauna sakanya.
"Please" he asked again.
"Ma'am and Sir, may emergency po. Uunahin po na namin si Sir" she announced bago samahan si Thirdy sa isang room.
"Doc, emergency daw po"
The vet looked at Pepper. He was checking the dog noong naalala ni Thirdy na kailangan niyang sabihin kay Bea ang nangyayari.
He tried to call her pero hindi nasagot. He decided to call Det pero cannot be reach, umalis nga pala ang parents ni Bea ng bansa. He's thinking so many things, noong naalala niya si Gail. He immediately dial her number at humingi ng tulong. Hindi na kasi talaga niya alam ang gagawin niya.
"Sir, what happened po ba?" the vet suddenly asked
"Nagjojogging po kasi kami tapos may nagtext sakin kaya tumigil ako, tapos hindi ko napansin na msyado palang mahaba yung tali niya, nasagasaan ng motor yang paa niyang yan" he pointed at Pepper's leg.
The vet ordered an x-ray, atyaka inexplain kay Thirdy ang mga kailangan bilhin at gawin. He's praying na sana dumating na si Gail.
"Cap" Gail greeted na mukhang pawis na pawis.
"How is he?"
"I think I broke one of his leg" he's really scared right now.
"At least buhay" Gail trying to lighten the mood.
"I don't think papatawarin niya ko"
"Patapos na meeting niya in a few minutes. Say it right away."
He just sighed and nodded.
When Pepper is out of one of the rooms, he's already wearing a leg-splint.
"I'm sorry, buddy. Are you okay now?" He carried him and kissed his head. Pepper just leaned his head in his shoulder like a baby.
Gail talked to the vet again, she took notes of everything the doctor said.
"Captain, okay na. Tawagan mo na siya. Tapos na meeting non" Gail reminded him before leaving him with Pepper.
Pagsakay niya sa kotse, he looks at the dog.
"She'll kill me, Pep" He said before clicking her number.
"Hello, bakit kanina ka pa natawag? I miss you too!" She playfully chuckled
"Uhm Bea" he started
"Hmm"
"May kasalanan ako" He continued
Bea just laughed it off
"Si Pepper"
Bea's quiet now
"Nasagasaan yung.."
before he could continue, she reacted
"What the hell? Pauwi na ko. I'll pick him up sa bahay mo."
and she ended the call.
Thirdy just looks at the dog and whispered
"mukhang huling kita mo na sakin"
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He stayed up all night waiting for her. He tried to convince her na susunduin niya nalang si Bea sa airport pero ayaw nito pumayag. Ayaw nalang niya lumaki yung gulo.
When the doorbell tings, agad siyang tumayo at binuksan ang pinto. He saw how worried she is.
"Where is he?" she asked trying not to shout
Thirdy put him in a cage just like what the vet suggested. Bea immediately went to Pepper.
"The vet explained everything to Gail. You can ask her if you have questions."
"How can you be so careless?"
"I'm sorry." he said
"You know what, I promised myself to never date someone who hates my dog. This is my son, Thirdy"
"I'm sorry."
"Josh never hurt Pepper. Maybe I was wrong. Baka hindi ka naman talaga bigay ng asawa ko" She carried the cage, didn't know what she is saying.
"What?" he reacted
But Bea continues to walk away
"Beatriz, you are married?"
"I am. " She looks back at him. Her eyes are blurry.
"How come you didn't tell me? Ano ako kabet?"
Thirdy's voice is louder now.
But she stayed on where she is standing.
"Hindi ka man lang mageexplain? What the hell? Ano to joke time?" he chuckled sarcastically
"So tama pala si Anton. Niloloko mo lang ako" She closes her eyes, and the tears are now falling.
"Bye Thirdy." she whispered before walking away
"Bea, wag ganito. I need your saving too." he tried to speak clearly pero she shuts the door.
