Chapter 30: Found My Two Sons

"Yes Marco, that's the truth."

"He's in the good hands right now."

"Thank you, Marc."

"Thank you.... for you, that you gave me a son. For now, I'll leave you. Are you alone here?"

"Yes Marc, bye!"

I kissed her goodbye but my mind kept on reeling about why I had to behave like this in front of Danielle. Maybe, that's the way I treated her in my mind for the past years; as an enemy of my life or an angel from above? I wanted to finish my dream; I wanted life to be easy and reachable with my capabilities.

I went to Bank Street where Mike was working inside the mall, in a Coffee Shop, owned and operated by an American businessman, as I read in the newspaper. Businesses of this kind started to flourish in Dubai and more international fast-food chains of restaurants were mushrooming around this city.

I sat in the open dining area, ordered a cappuccino, and sliced blueberry cheesecake. Mike Luna served my order and gladly greeted me.

"Marco my friend, I'm glad you visited me...I have something special for you tonight."

"What is it, my friend Mike?"

"You see that beautiful lady sitting near the counter, she's with me tonight." Pointing his lips to the direction where the lady's sitting.

"Mike my friend, remember your wife in the Philippines."

"Owww, come on Marco, it's just a friend."

"Friend....only friend?"

"Yes, are you available tonight?"

"I have duty tomorrow, morning shift."

"Friend Marc, wait for me, we're closing the shop within an hour....wait for me."

"Okay, give me a copy of Gulf News while waiting for you."

Mike closed the shop, changed his clothes, and introduced the lady to me. I held his right hand away from Connie Cordova. "Mike, what's the brand of your perfume?"

"Why?"

"You smelled cheap!"

"Come on Marco, you're such a jerk!"

"Joke only....you boar!"

"Come, we have to be in a hurry?"

"Why Mike?"

"Of course, there's a Filipino night at Ramada Hotel."

We rode a taxi cab going to Ramada Hotel at the intersection of Bank Street, went to the third floor of the hotel, and entered the disco bar. The waiter found a table for us and seated us. Mike was very excited while holding Connie's hand and whispering into her ear. "Hey...Mike, what do like to drink?"

"Just two draught beers for us....and you?"

"Two pitchers for all, okay?"

"With free popcorn and peanuts Marco...and sliced cucumber..."

I ordered to the Filipina server, started our journey to heaven, and instantly emptied one pitcher. Mike whispered into my ear. "Marco, you like a repeat performance....just like in Intercontinental Hotel in the Philippines"

"You know what, you're a maniac!" I blurted out without hesitation.

"What can I do, if I'm a celebrity here in Dubai now?"

"Celebrity for what....camels in the desert?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha.."

"What are you doing with Connie, I saw your hand under the table..."

"You like to share huh?"

"No, just to be with you tonight...to talk something...."

"You know what, she's with me tonight and in my room...I talked to my roommates to sleep early so that....no disturbance...you know..."

"Okay, that's your life...friend. Remember on Thursday okay?"

I saw Joel Arevalo and Arnold Catillano at the other end of the bar talking to each other intimately. I wondered what the two were doing that I approached them. "Hi Joel, Arnold, how are you?"

"We're fine Marco," Joel said.

"Joel, excuse me just a minute..."

Arnold excused himself to Joel and we talked in the comfort room. "Marco, I'm very thankful for your help and I'm healed now, but you know, I felt...I'm changing...I mean...I started to like Joel Arevalo...it's just that....what happened to me before really changed me..."

"Arnold...Arnold, please listen, tonight I'm quite tipsy I can't get what you want to say. On Thursday my day off, can you come, to talk this out?"

"Okay Marco, I'm glad for your understanding."

We came back inside and left them while I was seated watching people dancing on the dance floor. I wondered what lies behind all these people in their lives, as if, there's no tomorrow, no future, as long as they were happy and contented while away from their families. Am I judging them or the system were eating us all, little by little?

I went home around three in the early morning and I slept at once when I arrived at the flat. My alarm clock rings around nine in the morning; I woke up, took a bath, and went directly to the store where I found Roger Ferrer in the kitchen. "Good morning sir."

"So, you're assigned here in the Al Fahidi branch?"

"Yes, sir, my assignment paper's on your table."

"Okay, fine...you finish assembling the coffee machine?"

"Yes sir."

"Give me two shots of espresso coffee please Roger."

"Okay, sir."

I consumed the coffee that gave me the strength to go on with my daily activities, but I cannot concentrate fully so I took two tablets of Panadol. I resumed working until lunch when I felt sleepy. I positioned myself in the stockroom to take a nap. When one of the staff woke me up that I had a visitor; instantly went outside the dining area where I saw Roger Ferrer happily conversing with Danielle Gustilo. I slowly came nearer to them Roger was surprised when he saw me and left. I gazed into Danielle's eyes without a word, feeling jealous of Roger Ferrer. I remained standing in front of her. She knew me. "Marco, good morning...how are you today?"

"Why are you talking to him?"

"He approached me and introduced himself....and got my order, that's all."

"Refrain from talking to him, okay?"

"Okay, Marc."

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to give you these items for our agreement yesterday; new-modeled mobile phone and Emirates bank forms to be filled up by you."

"Fine....great...you like to eat something?"

"No, thanks, I'm full....filled it up and we can go together to the bank."

"Okay, thanks."

"Marc, I'm leaving now."

"Okay, take care always.."

"I will Marc."

She left when I suddenly turned back that I saw Roger Ferrer still looking at her. He eluded my stare when he saw me looking at him.

I went inside the office, assembled my new mobile phone, and also filled up the blank forms. I called Roger Ferrer and talk to him, "Roger, how are you today?"

"Fine sir....do you know that woman sir?"

"That woman....my visitor...she's my agent for recruitment. Why?"

"I'm instantly attracted to her beauty....her name is Danielle Gustilo?"

"Yes."

"Sir, do you know where I can find her?"

"Why?"

"I want to know her better."

"For what?"

"Hmmm...to be her partner."

"Then...."

"I think, love at first sight!"

"Okay, go on with your job outside."

"Sir, why she gave you a mobile phone?"

"For business."

"That's a new model abroad, but not yet introduced here in Dubai. I like to have one like that sir!"

"Then save your money; do the SEW program."

"Sir, what's the SEW program?"

"Well, SEW means sleep, eat and work....sleep after duty hours, eat noodles every day and work overtime as much as possible, so that you can purchase a new mobile like this one."

"I think it's very hard to do that here in Dubai."

"So, what you want to do?"

"Find something that I can have money all the time and to have Danielle, isn't it sir?"

"I think so."

I looked and found him very manly with his Amerisian attributes. No woman can defy his physical assets I remembered his job in Manila, as a call boy. I understood his situation and ambitions but I cannot give Danielle Gustilo to him; I cannot let him enter into our lives because I need her too, for my ambitions and dreams. After my duty hours, I called up Edward on Bantayan island with my new mobile phone.

"Hello Edward, how are you and your family!"

"We're all fine here, but something happened to the boy?"

"What....what happened?"

"Governor Gustilo came over here on the island and took the boy...I'm so frightened for him and his men. I have no choice but to release the boy, sorry Marco. As far as what I gathered and observed about him, he's your son."

"Damn it, Edward!"

"Sorry Marc, I'm so sorry."

"Okay then, I'll see what I can do, wait for my call, okay?"

"Okay, Marco."

I called up Danielle about the boy and told her what happened. She told me to come to her guest house at once. I brought the filled-up bank forms with me and hailed a taxi going to Jumeirah Beach. I entered the house at once and I found her sitting on a sofa.

"Hello Marc, have a seat."

"I am really dismayed with the news of my boy Danielle!"

"Yes Marc, me too."

"Is it your father who really done these things?"

"Marc, before, I approved with his decision but now... I won't let him do that."

"He's the one doing....even before....even during my wedding with Ayah Isabel?"

"What, I didn't have a knowledge about it, Marc."

"Can we travel going to Negros Occidental to get my two sons?"

"Yes Marco, I'll be with you. And, we have to bring them here in Dubai?"

"Yes, Danielle.....yes."

"Okay Marc, if that's what you want."

"Here's my filled-up bank forms, complete the transaction tomorrow. Prepare everything for our travel, I will ask permission for a week's leave. But keep this as a secret for my staff and the company."

"Okay Marc, fine I will."

I kissed her goodbye and she responded with vigor deep down in her soul. I released her slowly while I looked into her eyes. Did I see the beauty of her soul entwined with mine, but until when?

I went home, called Edward again, and told him to go to Bacolod City. "You have to wait for my final call Edward, okay?"

"Okay, Marco."

I went to the main office in Sharjah to talk to our Area Manager, Mr. Gamal Abdulrahman, for a possible emergency leave of one week. I had a positive response that I called Danielle about and asked her to have our lunch at Sheraton Hotel near Dubai Creek. She replied to me positively.

"Okay, Marc I'm here at the Emirates Bank finalizing the opening of your bank account. Please wait for me there at the hotel lobby."

"I'll go there now, thank you."

I went directly to the Sheraton Hotel lobby, seated, and waited for Danielle. After five minutes, she arrived with an attaché case in her right hand and a present in her left hand which she gave to me at once.

"Marc, here are the documents for the bank, plane tickets, and my gift for you!"

"Danielle, not my birthday today, what's the occasion?"

"I bought that special gift....just for you as a peace offering between us."

"I don't have a gift for you now?"

"Open it, Marc, go on!"

I opened the box," Wow...a Rolex watch encrusted with diamonds all over it!"

"Yes, I like that for you to wear."

"Remember, we're on our initial agreement....thank you, Danielle."

"It's okay Marc, come to the restaurant, we'll eat I'm hungry."

We ate and enjoyed our time together when we roamed around Dubai and Sharjah.

"Marc, be ready for our flight tomorrow morning, ten o'clock, bye!"

"Bye, see you tomorrow at the airport."

I assigned Roger Ferrer to be the OIC while I'm away, updated all the backlogs of my office job, and slept early for my travel. Nobody knows where I was going and why. It's just an emergency leave.

I went early to Dubai International Airport, called all my friends about my absence that I lied to, called Edward to process his travel, and seated at the departure lounge chewing caramel candies. The sweetness inside my mouth made me contemplate the situation for its pros and cons. The things that I observed with my recent decisions conformed to my wants and likes. All I needed was to control my anger as much as possible, patience, and strategies on my terms.

This travel was the beginning of my ploy in spearheading my strategic plan for both women in two different places. The children must not be affected by the way I drove my life to the future, but they were the driving force of my goals and the love of my being. I had to process my plans together with Danielle, Ayah Isabel, and the children.

"Hello Marc, good morning, how's your night?" Danielle greeted me at the back of my seat, and I instantly stood and faced her.

"Hi, you're ready Danielle?"

"Yes Marc, you eat your breakfast?"

"Yes, just a strong coffee to energize."

"You like to buy a present to your father and our sons?"

"Yes, Dubai duty free shops are the best in the world."

"By the way, what's the name of our son?"

"He's your junior, Marco Fernando Jr.."

"You named it after me?"

"Yes, that's the way I felt about you. He's your son, that's why."

We bought some gifts for the Gustilo Family, went inside the plane cabin, and waited for the flight while we chatted with each other. "You fired Ryan Mallari in your workforce?" I asked with vengeance deep inside.

"Yes, I hired another one."

"Good."

"Marc, what can we do with my father?"

"What about?"

"If he wanted his grandson so much?"

"We'll see and analyze it later."

"Okay Marc, I trust you on this matter."

"Okay, want to take a rest?" I slipped my left hand to her nape with my palm touched her soft skin, and kept closer to her body and she slept for almost an hour. Sleep was not an important thing to me at that moment. She woke up when it was time to serve the in-flight food.

We arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and hired a private plane to go to Bacolod City. We hailed a taxi cab going to Governor Gustilo's house and the boy greeted us when we arrived.

"Mommy, welcome home; welcome to you, sir!" Marco Junior greeted us and I bear-hugged him for a minute. We went inside our room, took a bath, and dressed casually. Danielle toured me inside the house where I observed every inch of it; truly awesome to be a rich man! I am proud of it...I have to capture it!

XXX