INSANE RAINS

CHAPTER 14 - Sunset

"Yes, aunty. Everything is right and going fine." Billy was talking to Liza on the phone.

"I cannot arrive for the inauguration of the company tomorrow but I entrust to you Billy." Liza was smiling with her red-tinted lips. Billy was not interested of the company or business matters so he tuned her out, it was her who was focused of gaining wealth. He was just doing all Liza wanted because the company was his grandpa's sweat and blood as his investment to establish JBG International Furniture. And he was following all Liza wished him to work on because he had planned to unearth some clandestinities about her.

"Aunty..." Billy thought twice and - "Aunty, can you come to my wed."

"Oh, sure. When?" Liza knew who was the girl already. Without thinking, she sneered, "Do not squander time again. O, sorry. -" and paused "I meant nothing...it was a mere joke."

"On December 6." Billy was happy, and smiled - "Mark the date, aunty." Billy didn't know that Grace was on his hind.

"O, Grace, my dear." Liza talked so sweet and lovely to Grace.

Billy turned, "Grace, come." And Grace sat beside Billy and combed her hair with her fingers.

"Sorry aunty. I just woke up." Grace tied her hair.

"It's okay darling." Liza talked, "So, you're going to marry my iho." She added, "You know I liked you even before that's why when the wed was in trouble, and terrible things happened..." And she stopped. "O, sorry my iho. I had..."

Billy interceded, "No, it's okay." Billy looked at his wrist watch, "Aunty, we have to go... It's already 8." He did. He just did to stop her talking.

"But the inauguration is tomorrow." Grace uttered.

"We have to fix something, remember?" Billy off the phone. "Kempt yourself..." His pointing to Grace as he walked upstairs.

Grace just smiled and thought "might surprise me again." "Yup. Hold your jaw" and laughed following upstairs.

One hour later. Billy was on his phone again in the garden. "What were she doing these days?" Billy was in a serious face. He was staring on the Jasmin. "You'll taste the revenge of my sorrow!" He clamped his jaw.

"Whoah! Billy, easy." John spoke up on the phone. "... I mean, she!" And they chuckled.

"Seriously, what are she up-to?" Billy released an air through his nose. He pocketed his left hand.

"These last days... She was always off-home and staying until dusk at the pier." John spoke softly. "And I think she's meeting a Chinese haggard man. I just think."

Billy clasped his fist inside his pocket, "I knew it since then!" He didn't control his voice and spoke loud. "That snake and a drug lord will fall into their own ploy..."

"Uh. Uh. The evidence is not enough Billy." John talked intelligibly.

"Whom are you talking to?" Grace spoke at 2 meters behind Billy. Billy turned and was thinking of what to say, "Um. Did you hear everything?" Billy was bothering that she might know. He didn’t want to involve her in the plan. "I just came in." Grace was wondering why he asked that. "Who's on the phone?" Thinking that Billy was flirting with another girl.

"Ooah!" John whispered on the phone. "It's John." Billy uttered confidently and was thinking 'she didn't hear it'.

"John? Oh, I want to talk to him." Grace took the phone, "I've never talk this friend of yours."

"John." Grace spoke over the phone, "John." And she looked on the phone. "Your John hanged up." She stared at Billy, and browse his call logs. "There's no John on your call logs."

Billy looked bothered, "I don't save any contacts on my phone except yours." And handed off the phone after he swapped the Subscriber Identity Module card. Grace browse the contact and she only saw a 'Love' and her phone number. "But how could I know if this is really John." Grace asked doubtfully. "Love. I hate you for not believing me." Billy took his phone back, and walked away. "It's not that... I believe you. I am just asking here." Grace turned to Billy. She was thinking that he was upset.

Billy chuckled, "I know." He said it twice but for the second time, he said it in relief. He was just trying her how to handle a tempered man.

Grace drew nearer to him and held his hand, "Sorry for that."

"It's okay. Don't be sorry." And he added, "Don't worry about John. He will come on our wedding... You will meet him." Grace just upturned the corner of her mouth.

Mel called for breakfast.

"Let's have a breakfast before we travel." Billy fitted his fingers on hers, and smiled.

It was 9:25 in the morning when Luke started the motor of the Stanford car. The day was light, the sky was clear as it was the water of the ocean. The flowers bloomed in the garden.

Billy came out with his travel bag in his right hand and Grace's luggage in his left. Luke put their baggages in the luggage compartment. Grace came out 20 minutes ago. Billy looked at her toe to head, "May I gobble you up?" and bit his lower lip.

Grace smiled, "Yech, you look like a pervert." and hugged him.

"Ugh! Take care of my princess, pervert." Peter uttered it as a bade of good-bye.

Billy chuckled, "Yes dad!" and opened the car's door for Grace. He waved farewell.

Peter just smiled and Mel, who was carrying a Chihuahua, waved to them.

They departed.

After a travel of land from Baguio City to Manila, they had to fly through Cebu City at AirAsia. It was 5 hours after. The plane landed in Cebu City. A Cebuano old man, Mang Tencio, fetched them from the airport. They passed by a signage "Welcome to Tambalan, Cebu City", means almost there.

"Manong, head to Bintan Cabana." Billy tapped the shoulder of the driver and spoke softly, while Grace was sleeping on his shoulder.

"Grace. We're here." Billy woke her. She tied her hair back. "Wow! So beautiful, Love." She was awed by the sunset in the seashore. She embraced him. "Thank you."

"No. I love you." Billy replied. "Let's indulged by its naturality." Then they stood on the shore casting a lovely shadow on the sand. The landscape was so indescribable quality that exalts the mind and spirit. The crimson sun perfected their silhouette. A romantic sunset could describe Grace thought.

Grace could not take off her eyes on the sunset. "I thought before, the life we had had set like the sun, but now... There are more to life. There are more beauties to life as it sets." Billy just listened to her and smiled. He wrapped his arms around her. Grace spread her hand freely and closed her eyes. She drew her face near to his, and had a caress with their lips.

They stayed there until the sun set completely. They sat on the sand as the breeze gently whipped them. It was 10 minutes later to 6:30 P.M.

The high beam headlight of the car served as their light until 7:00 in the evening. Then, 30 minutes later, they leave.

In 30-minute time, before they went in the condominium. Billy ordered a meal for three at Mang Sugba Restaurant and dined in.

"Waiter... Two meals for to go, please." Billy ordered after they dined, and gave it to Mang Tencio, "Bring this home, Manong."

Mang Tencio was so grateful to Billy. "Pagpalain ka ng Diyos, sir...sa iyong kabaitan..." Billy tapped his shoulder.

In the condominium, Grace asked Billy, "When did you buy this?"

"Actually, Liz... Aunty Liza bought this for her staycation."

"Ah! I see. How..."

"Sorry Love, I need a shower."

"Uh. Okay."

Billy went in the shower room.

Grace stood and had a vista of the town through the window. She crossed her arm across her breast, and walked around, and sat idly on the couch. "So tiring trip."

Half an hour, Billy went out in the shower room. He saw Grace on the couch in sound sleep. "She's so tired." He was about to carry her when she got awakened. "Oh, sorry. Uhm." Wiped her face with his palms. "Get in the bed." Billy was standing in front of her. "No. I have to, uh, wash." Grace headed to the shower room, then came back. "I forgot my towel and cloths." And smiled. "Love, are you okay?" "Yea. I just stink." Billy smiled, and picked the magazine up. He sat and crossed his legs, and leaned back.

After almost an hour, Grace came out. "Are you not stink now?" and he laughed. "Just kidding." Grace laughed sarcastically.

Billy off the light and they had a peaceful night.

In the morning, Billy woke up early to prepare a breakfast. While in the kitchen, he played the music and sang along. An hour after, he finished cooking. He put them on a tray. "Fried sausage, sunny-side up, boulevard rice and a cup of tea." Billy uttered while he was wiping his hands. The sun shine so bright. The rays passed through the window.

Billy went to the bedroom carrying a tray of breakfast. He dragged the door with his elbow and placed the tray on the table. He awoken her, "Love. Love. Wake up. Breakfast is here." Grace gaped and stretched her both hands and feet. She stared at him and covered her mouth. "I need to gargle." And chuckled. Billy smiled and kissed her.

Grace sat on the bed, and fixed her hair. Billy carried the tray and set it on the lap of Grace, and sat beside her. "Let's gobbled it up." Grace muttered.

At 7:00 A.M., Billy groomed himself. As usual, he wore a blue long-sleeve and a trouser. He wore like nothing special. He sat on the sofa in the living room as he waited for Grace. After a half of an hour, Grace came out. She didn’t usually wear a dress, a pink dress. Billy just looked at her as she walked towards him. "You are impeccably beautiful in pink." Billy was awed. He was mesmerized with her grandiosity. "Thank you, Love." Grace posed and just upturned the corner of her mouth. They went down to the ground floor. They walked hand in hand along the hallway.

At 8 sharp, they leave Tibolli Condominium. Twenty minutes of travel to JBG International Furniture. Billy looked through the window, and saw press, the pastor, business partners and some other people who will take advantage of the low cost opening sale. Billy stepped out from the car and chaperoned Grace. Billy greeted all of them.

Before Billy cut the ribbon, the pastor blessed the company and prayed. He cut the ribbon and have his small talk. They entered in the newly opened furniture company. Before they will totally open, the partners and Billy and Grace had a small party and had a meeting. While they were having a meeting, the stuffs were busy for the opening sale.

The day was successful and the opening sale was satisfactory. Everything planned had done successfully.

Billy, with Grace in his right, smiled as he looked up and read, "JBG International Furniture" with a gesture of success in his hand.

"This is the start of everything." Billy said underneath his breath.