“I received a message from your number, is this for real?”

“Of course. I'm in Trinidad already, so are you free? I mean, can you pick me up?”

“Sure, see you later.”

Without further ado, he ended the call and all I heard from the other line was the beeping sound.

It was almost seven o'clock when Gabriella took off from the bus. She noticed that San Miguel was like a ghost town at night. Drivers of motorcycle for hires kept on asking where was she heading and that they could take her. She told them that someone's coming to pick her up.

She was about to call Jefferson, when she saw him driving towards her. This time, his long hair was hanging free. He looked like a badass, with hair like that.

“Gabby, hop in,” Jefferson said when he stopped at the spot where she's standing.

“How about if we'll grab something to bite first? There's a burger joint over there. “Gabriella pointed the direction in which she passed the place she mentioned.

Jefferson shrugged off his shoulders and took Gabby to Angel's Burger. They ordered the buy one take one foot-long sandwich and two mountain dew. They sat side by side while waiting for their order. “I hope you don't mind, but why are you here? I mean, why didn’t you stay there for a day or two?”

“Not now, Jeff. We'll just talk about it some other time, okay?” She's hungry and discussing Jason would just make her cry.

“Fine, I get it. By the way, Lola brought Kelly to their home. She didn’t know you were coming so it's just the two of us tonight. If you would like, I could take you to Lola's house, that is, if you're not comfortable with just me. You get my point?”

“I’m just fine, Jeff. But what about you? Will you be fine as my security guard tonight?” She teased him. But he was not given the chance to counter react as their orders were being served.

As soon as they finished eating, they were on their way home. The wind was chilly as the Christmas season was fast approaching. “Jeff, do you have plans for tomorrow? Like going to church or dating someone, you know.”

“Yes, but not dating. Lola and I are going to visit my parents tomorrow.” Once a week, he would visit his parents together with Anabel and Kelly. “Why did you ask?”

“Actually, I was planning to start gardening. Maybe you could take me to the farmers market where I could buy planting materials like scallions or ginger.” She was doing her research about gardening when she was on the bus.

“I could take you in the afternoon, what do you think?” He suggested that they would go to the market in the afternoon instead.

“Hmm, but I have plans in the afternoon. How about if we'll visit Ayen now? Maybe they would go to the market tomorrow.” Gabriella couldn’t tell Jefferson that she was so excited about gardening and delaying it would have a great impact on her enthusiasm.

“All right. Let's go to Uncle Ray's house first.”

“Thanks, Jeff.” She was really grateful to him. “By the way, did Jenny comes home already?” Jenny was the daughter of Ayen and Ray, and she's a little wild and proved to be a handful.

“Not yet. Uncle was very mad at Jenny that he vowed to slap her when she comes home.”

“Really? That's harsh! But I think you know her location, right Jeff?” He didn’t reply immediately. “Anyway, do you know how to play tong-its?” It's a card game that she learned from college, and it was really popular among the younger generation. If only the electricity was already tapped, then we could some movies or dramas.” It has been months since Anabel applied at the electric company and paid whatever charges they wanted us to pay but to no avail.

“Just try to make a follow-up on Monday,” he suggested.

“Of course, I will. If the electricity won't work within the week, then they'll get what they deserved!” She must see to it personally. “By the way Jeff, is it normal that it's just us who are traveling now? I mean, it's still early and it's just too quiet.” She voiced out her observation and shivered at the thought that some evil persons would suddenly show up in front of them.

“You’re scared, aren't you?” She didn’t reply but he could feel that she moved to him closer. Jefferson adjusted his speed so that they'll arrive at their destination faster. He's not scared of humans but with ghosts or supernatural beings, that's another story. “All right, here we are. “He announced when they arrived at Ayen's house.

Gabriella went ahead and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, Ayen has opened the door for them. “Gabby! I thought that you were still in Bankal! “Ayen expressed her shock when she saw her, standing outside their home.

“It’s a long story, Ayen.”

“I see. Come inside, we're about to have dinner, come and join us. Jeff, do you know where Jenny is? Can you tell her to come home? She won't listen to us that wench!” Ayen was so worked up about her daughter who went missing for a few days.

“Aunt, she must be with her boyfriend.” Jefferson casually informed Ayen that Jenny was in her boyfriend’s house.

“All right, I'll ask her brother to go and get her before Ray could get her first!” It was a common knowledge in the family that Jenny was so stubborn, just like her father. For Ayen, they could be the cause of her death soon.

“What’s for dinner? I smell something delicious!” Casually, Jefferson has changed the topic and proceed to the kitchen like he also lived in Ayen's house.

“God, where are my manners? Follow me, Gabby.”

Gabby followed Ayen to their kitchen and she saw Jefferson already eating. He just winked at her when she looked at him disgustingly. She sat beside him and Ayen gave her a plate. Over dinner, she asked Ayen if they're going to the market tomorrow.

“Would it be okay for Ray if I'll join you? I asked Jeff to take me there but he's busy tomorrow.” Ray could be her husband's brother, but they're not close.

“Really Jeff? You're not available tomorrow? I'm sure that you're just going on a date, hmmm with whom? With Leah?” Ayen teased Jefferson and he seemed uncomfortable. Ayen must have guessed it correctly.

Gabriella wanted to add that there's a piglet named after Leah but she restrained herself. Jefferson was already uncomfortable that he was the flavor of their conversation over dinner. “Yen, this soup is very delicious! You should teach me how to cook it!”

“Of course. I'll give you the list of ingredients to buy, once ready, just let me know so I can visit you. Wait, Jeff, I know that you are also good at cooking, why don't you teach Gabby? After all, you live in the same house!”

“Soon.” His reply was very short and just focused on eating and didn’t listen to the women talking about him and his love life. He shifted his attention to his cousin, John, who seemed oblivious at his surroundings and just eat with gusto.

After dinner, Jeff and Gabby thanked Ayen and were on their way to the parked motorcycle. “Yen, send me a message later what time we're leaving tomorrow.” Gabriella reminded Ayen who couldn't decide the time unless Ray was home.

“Sure. You better go now, I think it's about to rain.” Ayen said while looking at the sky.

“Bye Ayen, see you tomorrow.” Gabriella waved goodbye as she was seated in the passenger’s seat of Jeff's motorcycle.

They were about five hundred meters away from Ayen's house when heavy rain poured from the sky. “Shit Jeff, do you have a raincoat?”

“Sorry, I didn’t bring any.”

“Oh no. Can you stop for a while? I'll just put my wallet and phone in your u-box.” When he stopped, she immediately secured her important things in the utility box of his motorcycle. “Okay, we can go now. “ She shivered at the cold rainwater, wetting her clothes and her body.

“Hold tight Gabby, this area is slippery.” It's a muddy road before they'll reach the highway.

Gabriella holds at his clothes but when Jefferson nearly lost his control on the motorcycle, she screamed. “Careful Jeff!”

“I told you to hold tight, didn’t I?” He clearly told her to hold tight as the muddy road was too slippery.

Gabby didn’t respond and ignore her inhibition towards Jefferson. Without thinking for any malice, she hugged him from behind. But after a few seconds, she realized that she's not comfortable in hugging him and it didn’t feel right.

“Jeff, maybe I'll just walk? Just wait for me at the highway,” she suggested.

“I thought you were scared of the dark!” How could he allow her to walk alone in the dark?

“Yeah, but I am more afraid to be in an accident!” Gabriella answered loudly.

“Just trust me, Gabby. We'll be home in one piece.” Jefferson assured her. So, he was extra careful in driving and when they arrived home safely, regardless if they were soaking wet, he grinned at Gabby. “I told you, you can trust me with a motorcycle. Do you believe in me now?”

“Whatever. I'll go ahead to get the towels. Gosh, it's too cold” She hugged herself as she ran inside to get the towels. “Here Jeff, you can use this. It's too dark inside and I don't know where's your towel is.” Using the flashlight on their phone, they were able to locate the shampoo and soap. Currently, there's no water supply in the house, so they must harvested rainwater stored in big drums.

“Go ahead, Gabby.” It would be improper if they'll bath together even if the location was just open. No, it couldn’t be.

“Common, Jeff. Don't be shy, anyway, I won't be looking, okay?” Gabriella disregards the fact that it's not proper. They're both wet and getting sick can be avoided if they will just ignore the proper decorum. And she's not that heartless to let him stay in his wet clothes while waiting for her.

“But I could see you, “he said in a slow voice.

“Just look somewhere else.” But it was Gabriella who wasn’t able to look at somewhere else when he started stripping off his clothes. Her eyes widen when she saw his toned muscles. It was effortlessly sexy, seeing him topless with a lean physique. Definitely, he exudes masculine energy. Staring at his toned, muscular arms, not too bulging and just the right size, her mouth gaped open in admiration. When he walked slowly towards her, her heartbeat was out of control.

“Close your mouth or mosquitos will get in.”