Throwing Rules to the Wind, page 12
Rissa squealed.
Then they heard Oliver shout, “Why don’t you squat on the bike, so the camera can go higher?”
“And fall off?” Keith yelled back.
Zara and Rissa giggled as the men exerted themselves to get the perfect shot. Eventually the two guys returned to the van.
“Did you guys get it?” Zara asked, rubbing her hands together.
“Yep,” Keith announced smugly.
Oliver patted him on the back and handed Zara the camera.
Zara looked through the preview, her eyes widening as she viewed shot after shot. “These are really good, Keith.” She regarded him with a smile. “I think these captured the freshness and rawness that Dumaguete still has.”
Keith grinned from ear to ear. “Thanks.”
Zara snapped her fingers as phrases flooded her brain. “This just inspired me. I gotta write my thoughts down.”
Keith chuckled as they all quickly entered the van. Zara snatched her tablet and typed down her ideas. As soon as the van started up the slope again, Zara leaned over the front seat and reached for the car radio, flipping through the channels until Chito Miranda crooned Parokya ni Edgar’s “Swimming Beach” through the speakers.
When she sat back down, Keith studied her for a moment, a smirk growing on his face.
“What?” Zara asked.
“So is it true about you and Matt?”
“What?” she squeaked. She cleared her throat. “What does Chito Miranda have to do with Matt?”
“I never took you as the type who listened to rock music. And this is Matt’s favorite radio channel.” Keith crossed his arms in front of his chest. “So is it true?”
Rissa leaned forward from the back and regarded Zara eagerly.
“C’mon, Zara. Tell us. I’ve been hearing this rumor too.” Rissa poked at Zara’s shoulder. “Plus we saw you two hanging out by yourselves during his last weeks with Biyahe.”
Zara took a deep breath. “Okay, fine. Yeah, we’re kind of together.”
“Kind of?” Rissa’s eyes widened. “If it was just a kind of, does that mean he’s still available? But that doesn’t make sense—”
“No, he’s not—,” Zara snapped, then took a deep breath. “He’s not available.”
Keith and Rissa grinned like Cheshire cats, while Oliver merely chuckled at their exchange.
“We are together,” Zara confirmed.
Rissa cheered, “And is he really working with Mactan Airlines now?”
“Yes, he is.” Zara sighed heavily.
Keith and Rissa asked a hundred questions about her and Matt. Much to her relief, they arrived soon enough at the pit stop; she had sweated under their inquisition.
They alighted from the van and were greeted with crisp mountain air, a bewitching quiet, and the majesty of the two lakes that spanned four mountains. Zara gave the team instructions. Keith and Rissa were going to cover Lake Balinsasayao first, while Zara and Oliver would cover Lake Danao.
“Sure, boss,” Rissa responded.
“Copy.” Keith saluted her and followed Risa to the tree house at the end of the lake.
“Seems like you’ve earned everybody’s respect,” Oliver remarked, grinning.
“Are you saying that because—” Zara stared at the retreating backs of the two. “I’m not trying to use my association with Matt to further my career at Biyahe. If anything, I’ve been insisting we keep things quiet.”
“I know. He told me as much.”
Zara studied him.
“I’m sorry your friend had to leave because of me.”
“Nah, don’t be. He’s landed himself a good opportunity. Don’t beat yourself up over it.” Oliver shrugged. “He’s a smart guy. It may not seem like it because he seems very carefree, but underneath that relaxed exterior, he always has a plan.”
“Yeah . . .” She stared out at the lakes. “I suppose.”
“So, if at any time you doubt the man, come talk to me.” He winked at her. With another flash of his teeth, he added, “I like you for him.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Beware of Heartbreakers
“I have to cover for another writer for a feature in Bangkok next week. Wanna come with me?” Matt asked over the phone.
Zara groaned as she sauntered down the sidewalk back to Biyahe. Unwelcome news, and the black jersey top and denims she wore did not help to stave off the blistering noontime heat. “I’m psyched for you, really, but it’s Liam’s birthday party next Saturday.”
Matt sighed. “I know . . . I’ll be in Bangkok from Wednesday to Sunday next week, but I’ll be in Manila from Sunday till Tuesday, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll see you then. Who will go on the trip with you?”
“It will be just me and Trina, since it’s only a three-pager.”
She stopped in her tracks.
“It might get a little boring though,” he continued. “I wanted to check out the music scene, but I don’t think she’s into that.”
When she did not respond, he went, “Zara, are you still there?”
Calm down. Matt is a decent guy. I will not be controlled by this fear.
“Skype with me while you’re there?” She flushed and had to fan herself.
“Sure. Of course.”
“Why is this so last minute?” she huffed. “Anyway, yeah, just let her do her thing while you check out the music scene. You don’t have to be together all the time, right? And I’m picking you up at the airport on Sunday. What are your flight details?”
Matt gave her the information, which Zara later noted down studiously on her phone calendar. She trudged the rest of the way back to the office, muttering to herself.
“I’m cool, I’m cool,” she huffed. “I won’t sweat it.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Zara checked the WiFi signal on her phone and put on her earpiece.
C’mon. C’mon. Pick up. What’s he up to?
It was Wednesday morning, and Matt had messaged Zara that he and Trina had just arrived in Bangkok.
“Hey, I thought you’d be at work right now. Everything all right?” Matt asked as soon as he answered the Skype video call.
Zara saw the entrance of a hotel behind him.
“Everything’s fine,” Zara replied. “I just called to get your opinion about work stuff, if that’s fine.”
“Sure, fire away.”
“Yeah, uh,” Zara started, “the piece on Dumaguete, do you think we should use the picture of the Twin Lakes or of the cathedral? I sent them to you last time, if you remember.”
Zara began tapping her pen on her notepad.
“Definitely the cathedral picture with the market beside it.”
Zara frowned as Matt’s head bobbed up and down.
“Hold on.”
“Okay.” Her shoulders slumped.
What was I expecting? Was I expecting to catch him getting close to Trina?
When Matt’s face came back on the screen, she continued, “And . . . and what about the foodie piece, should we use the budbud or the sans rival?”[40]
“Try to go with budbud this time. Biyahe already covered sans rival a few years ago.” Matt’s head wobbled on the screen again, and then his background changed to the inside of a car. “But be sure to highlight the sans rival too.”
Suddenly Zara heard a female giving directions.
Was that Trina?
“And uhh . . . when I’m trying to say that Dumaguete reflects a city that was born a Spanish pueblo[41] and raised an American city, do you think I should use the word ‘quintessential’ or ‘archetypal’?”
“Definitely quintessential. Sounds more—” Matt pursed his lips. Something caught his attention. “Babe, hold on . . .”
She sighed.
“Okay, sorry, what was that, babe?”
“Never mind. I’ll handle it,” she grumbled. “So where are you both off to?”
“We’re on our way to the Golden Buddha. Hey, Trina, say hi to my girlfriend, Zara. I think you saw her at the store at the office, remember?”
He turned the screen, and Zara was assaulted with the fresh, innocent-looking face of the chinita, who was buttoned up in a denim shirt.
Isn’t it tropical in Bangkok too? Good, maybe she’ll melt under all that denim.
“Hi!” Trina smiled and waved at the screen. After a moment, she turned to her right and frowned. “Hey, I don’t see her.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Matt turned the screen back to him.
Zara’s shoulders slumped farther down. “Skype with me when you get back to the hotel?”
“Sure, babe.” Matt frowned. “I’ll . . . I’ll catch up with you later.”
♦ ♦ ♦
After grabbing dinner with Laine, Zara propped up her laptop and waited for Matt to call. Using the camera as a mirror, she combed her fingers through her hair and fluffed it up, then tilted her head to the side, causing her hair to spill over her shoulder.
I should call now.
She inhaled, her finger poised over the mouse button.
This is crazy.
She closed her laptop.
Matt is a decent guy. Hasn’t done anything to give you cause to doubt him. I should give him some space.
I really shouldn’t overthink this . . .
She groaned.
Ugh, I’m so tired of this—worrying, having this tussle in my head.
Whether to trust or not to trust.
♦ ♦ ♦
Everything was all set up before Liam’s birthday party. The smell of fried chicken, sweet spaghetti, and hotdog wafted about. The SpongeBob-inspired cake on the buffet table was matched by the SpongeBob and Patrick balloons scattered around the room, and the hired magician was preparing his props and balloon twisters. But Zara was sulking at their group’s table.
When Jazmine approached her, Zara stated in low tones, “Do you know that the probability of a man cheating on his partner rises on Saturday nights?”
“I was going to say thank you for arranging all this,” Jazmine said, gesturing around her, “but I guess that’s not what you really care about at the moment.”
Zara buried her face in her hands.
Jazmine laid a hand on Zara’s arm. “He’s not going to cheat on you. Hasn’t he been calling?”
From the stage, Anne, who was going to host the party, hollered, “When is the magician supposed to start his act? Is it before the games or after?”
“After!” the magician shouted back.
Suddenly Laine ran into the room.
“Jaz!” Laine’s eyes were wide and her cheeks pink. “Jaz—”
“What is it?” Jazmine asked.
“Your parents are here. Christine brought them,” Laine answered, panting.
Jazmine stood up abruptly, sending her chair tumbling to the floor.
“What?” She sucked in a breath and paled. “She didn’t tell me.”
Anne strode over to her friends. “What’s wrong?”
“Jaz’s parents are here,” Zara answered.
Anne’s eyes bulged. She huffed and laid her hands on her hips. She glanced at Liam, who was cruising around the children’s table.
“You want me to take care of them?” Anne asked in a low voice. “I have a few words I’d like to say.”
Before Jaz could answer, Christine arrived. She looked around the room until her eyes met Jazmine’s. Without leaving her sister’s gaze, Christine called out to someone behind her. All at once, Jazmine’s parents stepped through the door. Mariano and Rosa regarded the decorations at the front, their eyes wary. Then Rosa’s eyes landed on the little boy there. Her face softened. She glanced at Christine, who nodded. Rosa wended her way over to Liam, with Mariano right on her heels, and knelt beside him.
Laine pulled Anne back before she could take another step forward.
Rosa brushed Liam’s hair back and studied his face. Her lips thinned and trembled as Liam started crying out for his mother.
“You’re so handsome!” Rosa declared, a smile on her lips.
Jazmine walked up to her parents. “Nay?”[42]
Rosa gasped, then studied her daughter for a moment. All at once, she glared at Jazmine. “Why are you so thin now?”
Jazmine smiled, blinking back tears, and said, “I’m fine, Nay.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Zara’s phone vibrated. It was Matt calling on Viber.
She walked away from Jazmine and her reunited family, who were caught up in a rather emotional conversation. Laine and Anne had already gathered around the Abayas, looking out for when Jazmine would need them.
Zara tapped the answer button, but the call suddenly ended.
Damn you weak data signal when my boyfriend calls.
She walked around the room, searching for a spot with a stable WiFi connection, but she only got one bar everywhere she went.
Anne approached her.
“They’re still getting caught up,” Anne said, gesturing in Jazmine’s direction. “A year and a half lost, just like that.” She tsk-tsked.
“We should be glad they’ve gotten past that,” Zara replied.
Anne eyed Zara. “What are you up to?” She teased, “Hah! Are you rehearsing for one of the games? Oh, wait, wait, is this Pinoy Henyo?[43] Let me guess: who is the wifey who clings to her phone?”
Zara grumbled, “Very funny. I was just looking for better signal.”
“I figured. Miss him that much?”
“No. Yes. I mean, I’m just a little insecure right now because he’s traveling with a pretty girl.”
Anne rolled her eyes. “He wouldn’t do anything so unprofessional with a collea—” Anne made a face. “Oh shit, right, sorry about that. But he’s in a relationship now,” she reminded her.
“Ugh.” Zara sighed. “When he told me he was traveling with this girl for work, all my insecurities just came to the surface, you know. Neil and that other girl, and then Ryan never really wanting me as much as I did him. It’s like Pandora’s box was opened.”
“Well, you know the story about Pandora’s box, right?” Anne planted a hand on her hip. “A man came and squashed and killed all the bad stuff that flew out of the box.”
“No.” Zara frowned. “I’m pretty sure it didn’t go that way, Anne.”
“It did,” Anne insisted. “Then Pandora and the man lived happily ever after.”
Zara groaned and slapped a palm against her forehead. Anne slid her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “They had a son.”
Zara shuddered.
“A son who—” Anne’s eyes suddenly narrowed at something near the stage “Oh my god! Is Liam eating the soil out of that pot?”
Zara gasped as her godson brought another handful of earth to his face.
“Hey, Abaya! Abaya!” Anne yelled at Jazmine, pointing to Liam.
Jazmine looked up from the heart-to-heart she was having with her parents. She screamed and rushed over to her son.
That can’t be good.
♦ ♦ ♦
After the children’s games, the magic show, and the merienda[44] buffet, the guests had left the party, praising the program and claiming they would not have to eat for a week. The four ladies rested their heels, joining Jazmine’s family at one of the tables. Jazmine set Liam on her lap to inspect his mouth yet again.
“Anak,[45] he’s fine. You’ve already checked him three times,” Rosa said in Bikol.[46]
Jazmine exhaled. “Okay. You’re right.” She set her son down and let him play again.
Zara checked the signal on her phone again, only to scoff at the measly one bar.
“Anak, what’s wrong with Zara?”
Zara, who does not understand Bikol, glanced up at the mention of her name. “What?”
“She has a problem with her boyfriend,” Jaz replied to her mother. Then she answered her friend, “It’s nothing, Zara.”
From the corner of her eye, she watched Zara lose interest in their conversation.
“Again?” Rosa chuckled.
“Nanay,[47] don’t say that.” Jazmine eyed her friend from the side.
“What’s it about this time?”
“She worries he might be cheating on her.”
“Why?” Rosa frowned. “Is that true for all men from Manila? Is that what happened between you and Braden too?”
Jazmine shook her head.
“Hmm . . .” Rosa glanced at Zara again. The older woman had spent time with her daughter’s three friends on many occasions when she was visiting in the city and had always asked after them. She had had to host them in her home at one time, when the three girls had visited Legazpi. Was she busy then! “She’s beautiful, but there’s a sadness that stays with her.”
Jazmine scolded her mother for saying more.
“Why, I’m happy that I’m here today.” Rosa beamed as she watched Liam.
“Oh, Nay.” Jazmine looked down to her lap.
“Liam is much too adorable. Now, I know we were wrong. I can’t be sorry he ever came to be.”
Jazmine nodded, her eyes tearing. “I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
“It’s fine, honey.” Rosa laid a hand on Jazmine’s shoulder. “It just might take some time before the wagging tongues in our town cease.”
“At least you’re talking to me now.” Jazmine sniffed, wiping her eyes.
Jazmine and her mother embraced.
After Rosa stood up to look after Liam, Zara nudged Jazmine in the ribs.
“What were you talking about? I think I heard my name somewhere in there,” Zara asked Jaz.
Jaz shifted uncomfortably. “Just about forgiveness and family reunions.”
“Hmm . . . ,” was all Zara could say.
♦ ♦ ♦
That night, Zara called Matt as soon as she reached home. She threw down her handbag on the sofa and shrugged off her jacket.
“I’m mad at you,” she blurted out as soon as her headset was in place and Matt’s face came up on the screen.
“Why?” He stretched out on his bed, his laptop propped up on the side. “God, I’m pooped.”
“I couldn’t reach you earlier.” She frowned.
