CHAPTER 4 - SPENDING TIME

Flynn is really happy to see his twin as they haven’t seen him for about 5 years. “Come on. Let’s get a drink.” Flynn invited him.

Enoch looked at his computer for a moment before standing up lazily. “Why are you hesitant?” Flynn asked before closing the door behind them.

At the front porch, the twins are folding their beer bottles, leisurely drinking their booze. “How are you?” Flynn asked, sitting with one leg over the other knee, “Dad thinks about you every time.” he added.

Sitting with legs wide open and elbows above his knees Enoch replied, “I know Dad is always worried and I feel terribly sorry about it, that’s why I want to spend time with him. How is he?”

Flynn took a deep breath, “He’s doing good. You can see how he maintained Mom’s garden.” then he chuckled.

“I can see that.” Enoch smiled, looking at their mini garden. “How are you?” he turned and asked his twin.

Flynn took a sip then answered, “I’m good. The clinic is fine - oh, by the way, I upgraded the clinic. I also offer grooming now, hired three certified groomers. And I met a girl, she’s one of my clients but it didn’t work out.”

Enoch laughed at him mockingly. “What the hell? Did you tell her that you haven’t had a girlfriend ever since?” he asked.

“I did.” Flynn laughed as well. “Was it wrong?” he added.

“You scared her man!” Enoch said before putting the tip of the bottle to his mouth.

Flynn looked at him seriously, “What about you? Father said you met a girl today.”

Enoch scratched his head, “Father..” he sighed. “Yeah, I met a girl today and --” he wasn’t able to finish his sentence.

“And she’s different?” Flynn finished Enoch’s words.

He chuckled, “Yeah, she’s different - I mean really different.”

Flynn lifted his right eyebrow in doubt, “How so?”

“She’s brave. She cares for the people. She’s free-spirited but she’s scared.” Enoch smiled as he described Nuala.

Flynn nodded his head, he didn’t miss the glow in his brother’s eyes. ‘Maybe she’s really different.’ he thought. “So what happened?” he asked, crossing his hands in his chest, extending his legs.

With his brother’s question, Enoch again told the story of how he met Nuala from the beginning to the end, not leaving a single detail. His face changes from serious to grin from time to time.

Flynn enjoys this because he hasn't heard his brother speak about a woman again after his last relationship. Enoch’s last relationship left him devastated but he did not show it, instead, he focused himself on serving the country.

“You know what, I missed talking to you.” said Flynn. He is such a sentimental guy, he always put his brother’s feelings first but not if a girl is involved.

Enoch scoffed, “You are such a soft man.” The two stayed like that, catching up about what happened for the past five years.

On the other side of the city, Nuala just came home. She went straight to her parents’ study when the light in their room was off.  “Mother, are you there?” she asked while knocking. She slowly opened the door and saw her mother buried in towers of documents while her father was busy signing papers.

“Hello strangers..” said Nuala then smiled. Her parents turned their heads in the direction of the voice and they both stood up upon seeing her.

“Oh, my sweet pie!”

“Huney!”

Her parents exclaimed in unison, standing from where they were sitting to hug her. From the sound of their voices, they are both relieved to see their daughter standing in front of them, unscratched.

They are already aware of what happened at the airport, since both of Nuala’s parents are widely known, news about her can easily reach her parents.

“Mother, something happened today.” She started. Her mother pulled her to a big leather couch and the three of them sat, side by side. “Sweetheart, we already know what happened.” her father said.

Her mother patted her hands to comfort her, “Huney, I have contacted my people to gather information about Gus Twali, and I promise that I will help him.” said her mother.

‘Wow! They already know everything.’ Nuala thought as she didn't expect her parents would know everything just like that. “Thank you, mother. You know, Mister Gus Twali, he was only pushed to do it because of his son’s critical condition. He had no choice.” she said, with sadness in her voice.

Her mother brushed her hair behind her ears, “Huney, he had a choice, he just chose the shortcut.” That’s the truth, Gus Twali could have asked legal assistance to see his son but instead, he chose the dangerous way.

Enya Riggs - Kawolski, Nuala’s mother wins 8 out of 10 cases, she offers Pro-Bono and free legal assistance. She’s not just smart and hardworking, she also has a heart of pure gold for the needy, and that’s what makes her a well-known lawyer.

Lindon Kawolski, an Engineer, Nuala’s father is the sole heir of the Kawolski Trades and Construction. He is known for being a face and body model when he was in his 20s but left the modeling industry to become an Engineer and handle the family business when his father passed away.

The couple dotes Nuala to the core not because she’s the only child but because she’s a miracle baby. Enya, Nuala’s mother has Endometriosis that caused her to miscarry their first two pregnancies.

But even if she’s the princess of the house, she grew up kind and nice to everyone, in fact, she tends to see good even in the worst person she met. She was exposed to her mother’s job since she could remember. Her parents often told her “Choose to be nice because we don’t know what they are going through.” and she took it to her heart.

“Oh, by the way..” she said slowly, pulling out of her parents’ hold and continued, “..I filed for an indefinite work leave. I wanted to spend more time with you guys.”

Her mother and father exchanged glances before asking her, “What? Why?” they asked respectively.

Nuala closed her eyes, took a deep breath before opening them again, “Because after the incident today, I realized that life is too short and not everyone is given a chance to spend more time with their loved ones.” she said.

Both her parents were stunned, but they just hugged her tightly. Thanking the Heavenly Father for blessing them such a good daughter.

After Nuala’s sentimental talk with her parents, she decided to go to her room to rest. As she was in her soft bed, holding her phone, she searched for a name. “Sergeant Enoch Smith..” but to her disappointment, she found nothing but the news article of the hijacking incident earlier today.

“No? Nothing? Even in social media?” she muttered, still holding her phone, browsing the photos under the name she searched for. But tired and dispirited, she turned off her phone and laid on her stomach and said, “I didn’t even have your number.”

She turned her body again and put her forearm on her forehead, “Enoch.. Enoch Smith..” then she drifted to her dreamland.