"I can't decide if you're really a writer or just plain clueless," his cousin teased, handing him a cold glass of water.
Gael's T-shirt was drenched in sweat. "I-I didn't know," he mumbled in defense.
Meissy burst into laughter and settled onto the sofa facing Gael. "That wasn't the way to get here. Poor you. The road to the barangay has been paved for ages."
Gael shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish. "Well, after seven years in Manila, I guess I've lost touch with our hometown. No wonder I didn't see a single car earlier. Damn. But it would have been worse if I kept waiting for the habal-habal driver."
Meissy laughed, shaking her head. "You never change, Gael. Always the city slicker."
Gael smirked, taking a sip of the water. "Hey, at least I made it here in one piece, right?"
Meissy nodded, still grinning. "True. But even if you almost got lost in the forest? Because you took the old road. Poor you."
He took off his sweat-soaked T-shirt. Even with the breeze from the electric fan in front of him, he still felt hot. He couldn't understand why it was so hot. He looked around and noticed the changes in his aunt Sylvia’s house, Meissy’s mom. Unlike before, when their life was very simple, now it was different. He looked outside and saw the flowers and various plants greeting him.
"Are you looking for something?" Meissy asked, curious about her cousin's actions and following his gaze.
"Yeah, maybe there are chicks here," he joked.
"Eww, Gael. I know you left a girlfriend in Manila, so my job now is to warn all the ladies here not to get attracted to you because you're a player."
Gael chuckled, wiping his forehead. "I'm innocent until proven guilty, Meissy. But seriously, a lot has changed here. Maybe later, many chicks will come out."
Meissy rolled her eyes playfully. "You never change, Gael. Always the charmer, no matter where you go."
Gael grinned. "Hey, I'm just appreciating nature's beauty, okay? I didn't mean to become a chick magnet."
Meissy couldn't contain her laughter, doubling over with giggles. "Gael, that's just your stomach growling. Mom and Dad aren't here yet. Or maybe they’re dating at the market," she said, laughing. "I'm not very good at cooking, but what do you want, Mr. Author?"
"I need carbonara, please. I've been dreaming of it for weeks," he groaned dramatically, his eyes closed. He really needed to recharge. Exhaustion was creeping up on him; what he endured earlier was no joke. And to add insult to injury, that supposed shortcut he took turned out to be the same old, unchanged road.
Meissy raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding me? Fine, I'll give you money to buy pasta in town. We don't have that here."
Meissy sighed and headed straight to the kitchen. Instead of closing his eyes and going back to sleep, he got up and went outside. He went straight to the garden. The garden was lush with vibrant flowers that almost hid his frame as he stood amidst them. He examined the beautiful plants, looking like a gardener or plant enthusiast. But then suddenly, a strange scent reached his nostrils—a mixture of rotting flesh and something metallic. It was so offensive that he almost felt sick.
Gael wrinkled his nose and scanned the surroundings, trying to locate the source of the unsettling odor. Despite covering his nose, the pungent smell lingered, growing stronger with each passing moment. Frowning, Gael muttered to himself, "What in the world is that smell?" He took cautious steps, peering into bushes and behind trees, half-expecting to find a hidden animal carcass or some bizarre plant emitting the foul odor. The air around him felt charged, as if the garden itself held secrets he wasn't meant to uncover.
Unable to find anything amiss, Gael chuckled nervously, "Maybe I'm just imagining things again." He shook his head, dismissing the strange scent as a figment of his imagination. Yet, the uneasy feeling persisted, like unseen eyes watching his every move.
Just then, Meissy's voice broke through his thoughts, calling from the house, "Gael, where are you?"
"I am here," he replied, relieved for the distraction, "just exploring the garden."
Meissy appeared at the doorway with a tray of snacks. "I made some snacks for you. Don’t tell me you study the garden and make it the next scene for your story."
He chuckled. "Well, your garden is quite ugly. Do you really expect me to feature that in my story? It might just tank my readership." He stepped under a tree, where Meissy headed with her snack. "How's Matteo? I miss him. It's been seven years, and I haven't heard a peep about him."
"Here, try this. It's delicious," Meissy offered, attempting to steer the conversation away. She detested the topic Gael had just broached.