Guess where I was two months later?

I was at the airport.

Yep, the airport.

And I was eager to see Jackie girl again.

And so were Georgie and Dannie.

And yes, of course, Dean, the ever patient boyfriend.

He took Beatle with him and right now, my Collins Corporations parking lot buddy was talking to me about how he had to suffer a few rides with Dean talking on the phone with Jackie who went away somewhere in Palawan two months ago. My buddy talked to me about how Dean would ask Jackie where she was or when she was coming back and that say it was okay whenever she answered she was not sure yet and how Dean would then start getting sour the rest of the day.

In return, I told Beatle how things had been with George and Dannie; about Brian who would spend a few years in a mental institution; about my new alarm system (yep, you got that right! I got my alarm system after years and years of mileage) and a lot of other things.

We waited while our dear owners waited for Jackie girl to step out of that plane and finally be home.

****

Jackie was feeling restless as she walked toward the exit of Silay airport.

Of course, she was feeling fine--renewed as a matter of fact. But this was the day that she would finally be with Dean again after that tragic night two months ago.

That night when she decided she would leave for a getaway to be with herself and to come to terms with everything that had happened and everything that she had done due to her crazy ideas, she immediately put her plans into action and flew away to Palawan.

Dean had been supportive, but she had always got that feeling he was getting impatient as well.

For two months, she constantly had to fight the urge to go back home just because she missed her family, her friends, her job and Dean.

But every time she was about ready to leave Palawan and her modest rented nipa house, she would remember the purpose of her trip. And once she did that, she would start unpacking her things again and get out, travel around the province with her limited budget and the willingness to discover things on her own without a care in the world.

She met the nicest people, explored the hidden beauties of the place she had never seen in brochures before, and tasted more than one of the best foods in the country.

All of those things she did to enjoy life and what it could offer her and by doing so, she was able to heal and forgive herself for all those crazy things she had done. And finally, she was able to accept the fact that Brian was crazy. She learned to forgive him. But she figured she could not easily forget that traumatic night.

Maybe she would, in time, but for now it was enough that she no longer had nightmares.

And she was again ready to step right back into the life she left behind for her hibernation.

She squared her shoulders as she approached the glass doors of the airport. The moment she stepped out, she saw the group standing right in front of her, the smiles on their faces unwavering and telling her how she had been greatly missed.

And she remembered those nights she had thought and longed for them.

Jackie’s tears were blurring her vision that she didn’t see Dean, dressed in a simple blue shirt and his black baseball cap, briskly crossing the distance between them. Before she knew it, she was trapped in his arms, her cheek pressed tightly against his chest.

“Welcome home, Jackie,” he whispered.

And did he just take a lungful of air to smell her scent?

She gave off a chuckle. “I missed you too.”

“You’re wiping your tears against my shirt,” he noted, catching her in the act.

“You can have all the time in the world later, but right now we want a few moments with our friend as well,” George’s voice said behind Dean.

Dean loosened his hold on Jackie and stepped aside to let George and Dannie pass to grab the opportunity to greet Jackie.

“Your parents are waiting in the restaurant.”

Jackie frowned. “Restaurant?”

“They thought it is necessary that you get your own welcome party,” Dean explained.

“I only went away for two months!”

“You don’t know how we all spent those two months without you,” Dannie informed her, secretly motioning her head at Dean.

“I saw that,” Dean uttered.

“Well, it’s true. You have been miserable without her,” Dannie said with a smile.

Before he could protest, George butt in saying, “We better get going. The restaurant doesn’t have all day.” She then proceeded to grabbing one of Jackie’s suitcases.

Dean followed, taking one suitcase and took Jackie’s hand. “I brought Beatle.”

Jackie groaned. “But I missed Toto!”

“You’ll be riding him soon enough. Right now,” he said, looking down at her as they crossed the pedestrian lane to the parking lot, his eyes hooded by his cap against the sunlight, “I need to be with you.”

Jackie playfully jumped to his side, hooking her arm around his, “I know that, right?”

He chuckled as he reached for his cap. Removing it from his head, he said, “Take this. It is hot today,” and effortlessly placed it on top of her head.

This was one of the moments she had always dreamed about during her stay in Palawan. She dreamed of smelling his cap, of putting it on her head. She had dreamed that scenario in numerous ways and this was one of them. And yes, of course, she dreamed about his tattoo and what it would look like.

She had all the intention to find that out. As they followed George and Dannie to where Toto and Beatle were parked, with her arm hooked around Dean’s, Jackie realized she had all the time to find out.

They had all the time to find out more about each other. They just had to take one step at a time.

*****

Jackie! Jackie girl! I messed--I mean, I missed you like hell, girl! Oh, you are looking sexy!

I almost jumped on the ground on my four tires when I saw her walking toward us.

But unlike before, months and months ago, she was walking beside another man other than me. Her arm was looped around his and she had that dreamy look again.

My engines groaned, half in protest, one-fourth in denial and another quarter in acceptance.

I was happy to see her happy, but I was not so sure if I would love her absence behind my steering wheel often. Beatle would definitely be graced with her presence most of the time now that Dean seemed like he was not going anywhere.

Why so fast, girl? Why? I cried for her when she walked with Dean toward his car. I refuse to accept this. Just ride with me for now, Jackie. I missed you, you know!

And then, as if she heard me, she turned around and looked at me, her eyes twinkling.

She left Dean’s side and started walking to where I was standing. “Toto, you are looking flashy!”

I know, right? Georgie gave me a good bath just this morning. Dannie helped with the polishing. And have they told you about my new alarm? You can try it out!

“I missed you, Toto,” Jackie said, smiling at me, caressing my hood with her soft, delicate fingers.

“I’ll load these at the back,” Georgie told Jackie as she opened my trunk to throw in the suitcases.

“How about these?” Dean asked, lifting the one he had been carrying.

“Put them with Toto,” Jackie answered with a smile.

I almost cried a bucket of gas.

If I was to carry Jackie’s entire luggage, it only meant one thing: she was not going anywhere else soon.

Huh, Dean, my boy, it would take a few more years for Beatle to get the chance to carry her luggage. For now, they stay with me.

“Let’s go?” Dean asked Jackie as Georgie and Dannie climbed inside me. He held out his hand for her.

“See you later, Toto,” Jackie said before she reached for Dean’s hand and they walked toward the excited Beatle.

“I’ll lead the way to the restaurant!” Georgie shouted at them.

Jackie and Dean answered with a “Yeah!” before they climbed inside Beatle and closed the door.

*****

Tata was already parked outside along with some other vehicles outside the restaurant when we got there.

I didn’t know Troy would be here, I told Tata.

It answered that Troy had been excited about Jackie’s homecoming ever since Dannie texted him about it.

You tell that man to stay away from Dannie, I told Tata.

And while we watched Georgie and Dannie walk inside the restaurant followed by Jackie and Dean hand in hand, I noticed the black BMW again.

Jordan Ledesma.

I was not actually surprised he was around.

For the past two months, his presence no longer gave me alarm. But rather, he made me want to pee old gas all over him and put him on fire.

Oh, don’t ask me the reason for that because there were a lot. But the most ultimate one was Georgie herself.

I knew she was having a hard time because of the arrogant jerk.

He was nothing but a pain in the trunk for two months now.

He parked his black BMW right behind me but did not turn off his engine.

Tata and I didn’t know what to do so we just stayed quiet.

A good ten to fifteen minutes later, Georgie came out looking irritated and pissed like she had always been since she got that visit from Jordan Ledesma at work two months ago.

She walked directly to the BMW. Its windows rolled down and I got another glimpse of the arrogant bastard’s face again.

“What do you want?” Georgie asked him.

“We’re going somewhere later. You better prepare,” I heard him say in his deadpan voice. If all men talked like that, I didn’t know how the world could ever get more babies.

“No. You didn’t tell me beforehand. I am doing something,” Georgie said before she straightened and start walking away.

“Georgina!” he called out.

“This was not part of our agreement!” she said over her shoulder as she neared the restaurant’s entrance door. “Make an appointment next time!” she added.

*****

When all the eating and laughter finally ended, everyone went their separate ways. Jackie’s family went home after ensuring a promise from Dean that he would take their daughter to their place that weekend. Everyone agreed to come along, including Troy much to Dannie’s disappointment.

Back at the apartment, Jackie’s suitcases were put aside as they all lay on the carpet feeling full and tired.

“Let’s go get a cup of coffee,” Jackie invited them, sitting up with renewed energy.

“Let’s just stay here,” Dannie said without energy, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Yeah, I am tired,” George agreed, turning to her side and closing her eyes.

Jackie turned to Dean who was about to open his mouth, probably to say the same thing, but he sighed and said, “Fine. But no other activities like shopping or stabbing other people’s tires.”

Jackie gasped as she stared at him looking at her in a meaningful way.

She shot Dannie an accusing glare and her friend rolled her eyes at her. “You know I can never sleep with my conscience bothering me. And I made sure he was okay with the whole thing before I told him.”

Jackie groaned. She warily looked at Dean. “I’m sorry,” she said with a grimace.

Dean smirked. “If you will do the driving and if you treat me to a cup of coffee, I will forgive you.”

She shot to her feet. “Deal. Come on, up!” she said, holding out her hand to help him to his feet. “You guys sure you’re not coming?”

“Yes,” her friends answered. “See you later for dinner,” Dannie added.

“We can get dinner at Art later,” Dean suggested.

“Good idea. I need a bottle of beer,” George said, turning on her back.

“See you then,” Dean told them before they walked out the door.

*****

Ah, so Jackie girl couldn’t keep her hands off me after all!

Oh, how I missed her hands gripping my steering wheel and though I hate to admit it, I missed those heels, girl! It was way far different from Georgie’s combat and hiking shoes and Dannie’s soft flats.

She drove me to Bob’s café along Lacson Street. They picked an outdoor table with a huge umbrella right beside me. Jackie ordered fraps and baked ensaimada for the both of them.

When they both settled down, Dean and I listened to her adventures in Palawan she had not mentioned during her phone calls. She animatedly talked about the people she met and the things she did.

My oils almost leaked out of my headlight sockets as I stood there against the gentle heat of the sun, witnessing Jackie and Dean’s moment. They talked and laughed like nothing happened two months ago and I bet that incident would no longer be a part of their future as much as it was a part of the past.

And though a big part of me still couldn’t accept it, I was certain Jackie finally found the right guy. It might have been one hell of a crazy ride, but she did find him. She got him. And she was happy.

That’s what really matters, right?

Finding happiness within yourself despite your imperfections and wrong decisions could definitely make any simple day a special moment, especially if you have people around who accept the whole you.

*****

I was happily talking to Tata outside Art District later that night, the faint sound of Anon’s music in the air, when Georgie walked out looking like a warrior ready for battle.

Hey, what’s up, Georgie?

Of course, she didn’t answer. She just stood there leaning against my passenger side.

Are you waiting for someone?

And to answer my question, Jordan Ledesma’s BMW was rolling toward us. It stopped right before Georgie.

He rolled down the window and his face, though not undesirable, was already frowning at George. He was not as handsome or cool-looking as Dean, I tell you. His nose was okay, his eyes were okay, his face clean, his hair had the right haircut, but the way he wore the whole thing was not making him any way attractive.

“I thought you said you’re busy.”

“I am. With friends. They are my business,” George told him. “What do you want this time?” she asked. “You’ve been calling for like every damn hour. You are not acting according to our agreement.”

Oh lord, that agreement again.

Jordan Ledesma’s BMW snorted like its arrogant owner. I didn’t know its name and I didn’t even want to find out.

“I told you we need to go somewhere important. You have to be there.”

Georgie frowned. “If it is another family dinner, just tell them I am sick.”

Irritation flashed across Jordan Ledesma’s face. “I don’t have time for this. You know I won’t even bother calling you unless this is important.”

“Then tell me where we’re going.”

The man just sighed impatiently. “Just get in the car.”

George leaned further away from him. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Just tell me.”

Jordan Ledesma stared at Georgie, his face bare of any emotion. “Our parents want to talk to us.”

“They already did that. The folks settled the matter, right? And why does my presence matter anyway? It’s not like my words would be heard.”

Jordan looked at her for a long while, his face giving a hint of apprehension and stress though he was fast to cover it with that pathetic flat mask of his.

“They want to set our wedding date before the year ends.”

My headlights almost jumped out of their sockets.

I heard Tata gasp beside me.

Georgie jumped away from me in surprise. “What?!”