Throwing Rules to the Wind, page 18
“Dad, please don’t cry.” Zara hesitated before patting Philip’s arm.
Corinne swallowed. “We should’ve talked to you sooner. To be honest, I didn’t want our marriage to end. I didn’t want to fail in that. When your father promised that it would never happen again, I decided to trust him.”
Zara nodded as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“This wasn’t about man or woman, or wife or husband, and how a woman is supposed to act and react. We had to consider ourselves and find out if we really wanted to be together. And we do. So far, we’ve been happy, honey, except for the fact that what happened back then has traumatized you and Dexter.”
“Even Kuya?”
“Dexter’s wary in his relationships, always keeping himself at a distance. But perhaps that has to do with his profession too.” Corinne looked to her husband. “We really should talk to him about changing careers, dear.”
Philip rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at his son. “He’s earned himself a good placement though. I don’t know that I can ask him to give that up. Perhaps someday he’ll find someone who’ll make him want a change of lifestyle.”
Corinne bobbed her head, then turned back to her daughter. “So, honey, will you please forgive us? Give us the chance to make it up to you? All these years, I’ve been trying to reach out to you. Maybe we can do lunch more often? You can visit the house more?”
“That’d be nice, Mom,” Zara agreed with a smile. “When you want to go for tea next time, there’s this place I thought you might like.”
Just then Dexter and Matt came back to the table.
Dexter cleared his throat loudly. “Just so you know, I’ve got connections everywhere. If you ever, ever cross the line with Zara, I’ll make sure to be on you like a jaguar.”
“Noted.” Matt nodded. “Honestly, I wouldn’t dare. Your sister is pretty tough all by herself. Plus, aside from you, she’s got girlfriends who’d gang up on me if I crossed the line.” He chuckled and slid an arm around Zara.
All her family’s eyes shifted to Zara, their eyebrows raised. Zara gulped.
Please don’t tell them that the girls broke into your apartment.
♦ ♦ ♦
After an hour, their appetites had been more than satisfied. Philip sighed and smiled at the red wine in his hand, his cheeks already pink.
“Hey, that’s my drink,” Corinne demanded.
“It reminds me of the time we went on that cruise around Southeast Asia and drank a lot of sangria.”
“We were much younger then.” Corinne leaned back on her seat and giggled. “Dex was just two years old, and we left him with your parents.”
When Philip slid an arm around Corinne’s shoulders, Zara’s eyes widened.
“What do you think about going on another cruise?” Philip mused.
“Really?” Corinne’s eyes widened. “But aren’t you still busy at the hospital?”
“I think it’s time I pass some of my patients to Miguel. He’s ready.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. The children are settling down. I mean, Zara is anyway.”
“Dad!” Zara hissed. She turned to Matt and said, “He doesn’t mean that.”
Matt chuckled and rubbed his hand over Zara’s back.
“Dexter is happy being a renegade,” Philip continued. He glanced sideways at Zara. “And . . . Jonathan has Karen.”
Zara looked away. She still had not told her family about her trip to Jonathan’s school.
Philip declared, “We should probably go on a monthlong honeymoon.”
“That’s really . . .” Corinne grinned from ear to ear. “I would love that, honey.”
Zara exchanged looks with her brother, but Philip and Corinne did not see. They only had eyes for each other.
CHAPTER THIRTY
A Dash for Flight
Zara whizzed through the check-in area at the airport and whipped out her buzzing phone.
“Hello,” she answered, tugging her carry-on behind her and slinging her laptop bag over her shoulder.
“Okay, Zara, you need to weigh in on our intervention,” Anne ordered.
“You went through with this?” Zara shook her head.
“Zara, you knew about this?” Laine asked over the conference, then grumbled, “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“It’s not an intervention!” Jazmine insisted. “We’re just discussing your next date with Axel. Zara, Anne thinks Laine should stop seeing him. I think she can continue to date him while she’s still enjoying herself.”
Laine groaned in the background.
Zara rushed to the terminal fee counter.
“Hold on, guys. I’m running late.” Zara pocketed her phone just after she heard Anne grunt.
She paid just as her flight’s boarding was announced. A dash through security, and she was running through the series of boarding halls.
“Zara!” a voice called out from up ahead.
“Oliver!” She sighed in relief as she made her way to him.
Oliver chuckled and gestured to the gate where only a few passengers were left.
“You okay?” he asked. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it. The next flight wouldn’t be until tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” She paused to catch her breath. “Did you wait for me?”
“Yeah. I would’ve asked the staff to wait for you, but I couldn’t get you on the phone either.” He motioned her to go ahead in the line.
“Oh shoot. I was on a call.” She checked her phone. The call had been disconnected already.
“Traffic?” he asked as they handed their passes to the airline staff.
“No,” she huffed as they entered the passageway to the plane.
Damn that dream about Matt!
Once they entered the aircraft, she waved goodbye to Oliver, whose seat was at the front. Her seat was all the way at the back. She glimpsed Rissa and Keith seated together as she trudged through the aisle.
Zara: Hey, gals. I’m boarding already.
Her phone rang in a heartbeat.
“So, Zara, what’s your verdict?” Anne demanded.
Zara sighed and rolled her eyes. “I’m cool with her dating Axel.”
“Are you serious?” Anne challenged. “But you said he was ogling her during their date?”
Laine gasped, “What? He was?”
“He wasn’t ogling.” Zara cradled the phone between her cheek and her shoulder as she struggled to get her carry-on in the overhead compartment. “Just looking at her like he was very much captivated.”
“And how are you supposed to know this?” Laine questioned.
Zara took a deep breath. “Ugh, I spied on you guys.”
Jazmine burst into laughter at the moment that Anne argued, “Zara, you’re just saying that ’cause he’s Matt’s friend.”
“What?” Laine exclaimed. “Zara! Where were you? What was I doing? Was I embarrassing myself?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Anne butted in. In a lower voice, she added, “Sorry about giving you away, Zara. Okay, but, Laine, when I asked you what the best thing about the date was, you said it was that he smelled nice.”
“He did smell nice! And I liked that.” Laine groaned, “Okay, this might be a better answer. I feel comfortable around him. He’s like a funny teddy bear.”
Anne gave a low moan. Jazmine snorted. Zara grinned from ear to ear.
Hah! I got the best girlfriends.
“Zara, please talk some sense into her,” Anne pleaded. “Nobody dates Mr. Smells Nice. Everybody smells nice on a date. I’m going to find you someone decent.”
Zara chuckled and shook her head. “You know what, gals, it’s too early in the morning for this kind of conversation. You guys have dinner reservations tonight at Ilustrado at eight. Please don’t be late for that. It’s a complimentary dinner that was given to Biyahe, which I won from the office raffle. I rarely win anything.”
“Won’t miss it, Zara,” Jazmine cheered. “Thanks for arranging that. You could’ve saved it for when you’re back.”
“Well . . . ,” Zara started and slid into her seat. She looked up and saw that a few passengers had just entered the cabin.
The dinner was only for three people.
“It’s fine, Jaz.” Zara asked, putting on her seat belt, “Anne, how’s Zack?”
“We’re talking about me now?” Anne bickered. “Fine. Just, Laine, if he ever, ever makes any indecent move toward you, just holler, okay?”
“Okay. I love you too, Anne,” Laine purred.
“Anne,” Zara demanded, “how is Zack now?”
“Oh, Zack’s finally all cool with me. Even opened up to me about a girl he’s now dating,” Anne answered. “We talked about love and letting go. Apparently, he was hung up on someone. That’s why he wasn’t dating back then. I told him why Daniel and I broke up too. Ugh, can’t believe I talked about that, but Zack kind of draws out stuff from me.”
Jazmine sighed heavily.
“Hmm,” was all Zara could utter.
“Oh my,” Laine remarked.
“I’m happy for him.” Anne added, “He’s straight by the way. In case I made any of you doubt that.”
A moment of silence ensued.
“Gals?” Anne cried out. “You still there?”
Zara shook her head to clear her thoughts. The flight attendants were inspecting the seats now. “Yeah, of course. Oh, Jaz, how was your trip back to Bicol?”
Jazmine cleared her throat. “A couple of aunts visited us at home, and Liam charmed them out of their socks.”
“Never doubted he can do that,” Laine chirped.
“It was nice to be home after a long time,” Jazmine continued. “I think that after they talked to me, that kind of demystified what they might’ve been thinking about single mothers and children born outside of marriage.”
“That’s great, Jaz. Liam is adorable. An angel.” Zara hastily hid her phone as an attendant approached her row.
When she could not be seen anymore, she put her phone back to her ear.
“Hey, Zara, you okay?” Anne was asking.
“Zara?” Jazmine called out.
“Did she cut us out?” Laine questioned.
“Hey, gals, sorry, the flight attendant just passed by,” Zara whispered into the phone.
“Oh, okay.” Jazmine cleared her throat again. “I was saying, on that point about family, Zara, have you talked to Jonathan?”
Zara leaned back on her seat and closed her eyes. “Not yet. But I plan to do that soon. It’s in my calendar to set up some time with him.”
Jazmine breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great to hear. Let us know if you need anything, okay?”
“Thanks, gals. Okay, I really got to go.” Zara eyed the stewardess who threw her a look and headed her way. “I don’t know about the mobile signal there, so you gals enjoy dinner!”
“We’ll try to call you for when we make a toast,” Anne added.
The girls bade her goodbye, and Zara shut her phone just before the pilot’s message.
“Ladies and gents, good morning. Welcome on board flight PR2086. Our flight to Batanes will take one hour and forty-five minutes . . .”
Zara smiled, put on her sunglasses, and stared out the window.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Home of the Winds
Batanes was a group of islands strewn over the margins of the Pacific Ocean and was the northernmost province in the country. Despite its mountainous terrain and strong winds, people still flocked in droves, and all had been enraptured by its greeneries, stone fortresses, and locals.
After landing in the capital city Basco, the Biyahe team was picked up by a hotel van. They headed to the Batan Island Nature Hotel, which boasted a breathtaking view from a hilltop and a faithfully Ivatan-inspired[63] interior design. The hotel was going to be featured by the magazine and had provided accommodations for the team.
The rest of the group checked into their rooms, while Zara spoke with the hotel manager, informing him of their arrival.
“We’re happy to have your team here,” Mr. Castro greeted her. “Please let us know if there is anything else you need during your trip.”
“We requested for a tour van through your reception last week. I hope that has been arranged?” Zara asked. “That will be paid for by our magazine of course.”
“We have. Actually the business owner would like to advertise with you, and so I think they might waive off expenses.” He handed her a brochure of the van rental company. “I’ll inform the owner that you’re here, and he can discuss the matter with you once you’ve settled in your room?”
“That’d be great!” Zara beamed.
The manager ushered her to the reception and instructed his staff about Zara’s accommodation before bidding goodbye.
After looking into her records, the receptionist looked up to Zara and announced, “Ms. Castillo, we have reserved a Superior Room for you. You will be staying with us from today until Sunday. Is this correct?”
“Yes,” Zara replied.
“Great. How many keys do you need to your room?” the receptionist asked before bending over her desk once again.
“One.”
“Can you make that two please?” a familiar voice spoke up behind Zara. “If the lady doesn’t mind.”
Zara gasped and whirled around. “Matt!” She jumped into his arms as he grinned impishly at her. “What are you doing here?” She turned back to the hotel staff and, beaming, said, “That’ll be two keys please.”
“I just wanted to surprise you. I’ll tell you more later. Hold on, babe.” Matt leaned over the counter and chatted quietly with the receptionist.
Zara looked back and forth the two, relaxing only when the lady smiled and nodded.
When Matt faced her, he announced, “I’ll get us upgraded. It won’t be in their marketing paperwork. It’ll be on me, okay?”
Zara blushed. “Okay. I really don’t mind what room it is.” Suddenly her face fell. She stared at her carry-on bag at the foot of the counter. “Oh, Matt.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, moving close to her.
“Babe, I didn’t bring any nice lingerie,” she moaned, then covered her face with her hands.
Matt laughed and pulled her in for a hug.
That day, the Biyahe team rode to the boulder-packed Valugan Beach and the Basco Lighthouse. Atop the Naidi Hills, their last stop for the day, Oliver and Keith were still snapping pictures long after Zara had gotten the shots she wanted for the feature. The spot afforded views of the town proper, a bay, and a volcano.
Zara and Rissa shook their heads amusedly as they watched their colleagues from a distance, but they understood. With its crisp air, immense mountains, and novel stone houses, Batanes was enchanting, and the views were exquisite. Suddenly a black Toyota rolled up behind their van. Out walked Matt.
“Is that Matt?” Rissa gasped. “He’s looking mighty handsome today.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oops, sorry, boss.”
“Really?” Zara spun round. “How did he know we were here?”
Matt strode through the grassy expanse toward them. Zara’s breath caught in her throat. He donned a black long-sleeved Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark denims. Men in black always made her bite her lip—and him particularly more so. A slight glint near his ear hinted at a stud.
“Hey,” she greeted him as soon as he reached her.
“Hey, babe.” He wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her head. “How are you guys doing?” He looked behind her and nodded. “Hey, Rissa! How are you?”
“Hi, Matt. I’m good,” Rissa said huskily. She then cleared her throat and tried for a lighter tone. “I’m good, I’m good. Nice to see you.”
“We’re just finishing up,” Zara answered, gesturing to Oliver and Keith. “We seem to have lost our men to the hills.”
Matt chuckled. “Are you guys going somewhere for dinner tonight?”
“No!” Rissa cut in. “No, no. We don’t have any plans for tonight.” She grinned at the two.
“Yeah, we’re visiting restaurants only tomorrow night and Saturday. Did you have something in mind?” Zara asked Matt.
“Yeah, there was a place I wanted to take you.” He glanced at the two photographers by the edge of the viewpoint. “Let me say hi to the guys.”
Zara nodded and watched as Matt sauntered over to his friends. Oliver and Matt hugged each other, while Keith and Matt shook hands. The men began chatting as Oliver showed Matt some of the photos he had taken.
“Hmm . . .” Zara turned to Rissa. “I can assure you that he’s not here to get ideas about content from us.”
Rissa raised her eyebrows. “Oh, I’m not worried about that.”
Matt walked back to the ladies, with Oliver and Keith right behind him.
“So where are you two lovebirds heading tonight?” Rissa chirped.
Matt slid a hand around Zara’s shoulders. “I was planning to take Zara to Casa Abad.”
Zara looked around her team to see if anyone would be bothered by his presence during their fieldwork, but to her relief they smiled and nodded at Matt, with Rissa even asking if Matt had already made reservations.
“Oh, that’s the restaurant of the new resort, isn’t it?” Rissa turned to Oliver and Keith. “We must see that place before we leave too.”
“Uh, do you guys mind if I leave now with Matt?” Zara started. “We don’t have any appointments left tonight anyway.”
“No, of course not.” Rissa waved a hand in the air. “You sweethearts enjoy.”
“See you around, man.” Keith shook hands with Matt.
“Yeah, see you. Take care with the driving.” Oliver patted Matt on the back. “Call any of us if you run into any problems.”
Zara took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll see you guys tomorrow morning at six then.”
Matt pulled her closer to him, and they walked to the car he had rented for the night. After going back to the hotel for Zara to shower and change, they headed out into the balmy, starry night of the quaint island.
