CHAPTER 7: Crossings

"Are you sure you have all your things with you? You didn't forget anything back at the house?" Sergio asked Raquel worriedly.

They were standing outside the entrance of the Busuanga Airport in Coron. It was 10:30 in the morning and Raquel's bags were piled beside her feet. In over an hour, Raquel would be boarding a plane back to Manila where she would take an international flight back to Spain. Berlin accompanied them to the airport and was now standing beside Sergio surveying their surroundings closely.

"Yes Sergio, I'm sure. You've asked me that the third time already!" answered Raquel looking exasperated.

"Excuse my little brother, Raquel. He's just nervous being here at the airport," butted in Berlin with a smile.

Sergio looked uneasy. "It's just that I haven't been to any airport since the end of the heist. Someone might spot us here."

"Stop being paranoid, Sergio! No one knows about us here. Just act normal and no one will suspect anything," hissed Berlin. "Now come on, let's get these bags inside." He picked up two of Raquel's bags.

"Let's go," said Raquel while pulling the handle of her brown handbag closer to her exposed shoulder. She proceeded to walk towards the entrance. Without a word, Sergio pulled Raquel's wheeled luggage towards the entrance.

Half an hour later, Raquel was ready to get through the boarding gate.

"Well, this is it for me. I'll see you two again soon," said Raquel taking a deep breath while facing both brothers. They were standing near the final security checkpoint.

Berlin hugged her warmly. "Be careful, okay? And stay safe," he said to her before pulling back. She nodded with a smile.

Sergio stepped closer and held her tight for a few minutes.

"I'll be here waiting for you – as always," he whispered in her ear.

"I'll be back soon," she responded softly. He gave her a long, sweet kiss.

An elderly Filipino woman behind them interrupted their kiss. "Miss, are you boarding or not?" said the woman impatiently.

Raquel and Sergio ignored her. "You know how to contact me if you encounter any problem at all," Sergio reminded her.

"Relax, Sergio. I know what to do," she answered, squeezing his hands reassuringly. She gave him one last kiss then turned and went through the security checkpoint while Sergio and Berlin looked on.

Sergio blew her a kiss when she looked back at them on the other side of the checkpoint. Berlin waved at her. With that, Raquel headed for the boarding gate.

Berlin turned away and suddenly winced, clutching his right hand.

"What's wrong?" asked Sergio looking at him.

"My hand. It suddenly grew stiff."

"Does it hurt?"

"A little. It's probably just cramps. Raquel's bags were quite heavy."

"Come on, let's get out of here," said Sergio, walking towards the exit doors of the airport.

Berlin followed him without a word, wriggling his right hand and shaking it to rid of the stiffness.

Walking ahead, Sergio didn't notice the worried look on Berlin's face.

Raquel made it safely back to Spain without any incident. A day after coming back home, she told her mother about her visit to Palawan.

"I thought you went to Hawaii for a long-overdue vacation?! Didn't you say you were going with a friend?" asked her mother Marivi. They were sitting on the edge of Raquel's bed.

"I'm sorry, Mama. I lied about that."

Raquel finally told her about the postcards and about her time with Sergio in Palawan.

"My goodness! So he was hiding there the whole time," Marivi exclaimed, clutching her heart.

"I didn't want to tell you at first because I wasn't sure I was going to find him there. And I didn't want to raise suspicions. But Mama, there's more to it than that. And I hope you will consider it."

Raquel told her about their plan to live on the island with her and Paula.

After a while, Marivi stood up without a word and stared out the window.

"Leave Spain and live in Palawan?" she whispered, looking troubled.

Raquel looked at her pleadingly.

"Mama, I love him and I want to start a new life with him there. My career here is over. Prieto has tainted my reputation. And I don't want to go back to law enforcement. I don't trust the system anymore."

"But you can still look for another job here! Try a new career! Or maybe… start a business of your own," stammered Marivi.

"What about Paula, Mama? I admit I've been neglecting her because I was always working! And it will probably be the same again if I start a new career. But if we live in Palawan, I have the chance to look after her properly. I can start focusing on her – and you," she reasoned.

"Are you sure that's what you want? Remember, you will be living with the most wanted man in Spain. How will your friends and colleagues at the police force take that? You will lose them. And think about Paula's future, Raquel!"

"I have thought about, Mama! Long and hard. And I've made my decision. Sergio will support me every step of the way. He has agreed to take care of Paula, too. Yes, I will lose some friends in the process but I'm prepared to face that. Besides, majority of the public sympathizes with the Professor and his band. And Sergio has his reasons for what he did. He told me."

Marivi shook her head. "I just hope you will not regret what you're about to do. I like Sergio but… I'm not sure if it's ever going to work out between you two considering the circumstances."

"It will, Mama," Raquel answered with conviction.

Marivi was silent.

"You still haven't given me an answer about whether you're coming with us or not," Raquel reminded her mother.

"I don't know, Raquel. What you're asking me to do is a lot to take in."

Raquel proceeded to tell her about the security measures that she and Sergio thought of when she travels back to Palawan with Marivi and Paula.

"Think about it for a few days, Mama. Just let me know when you're ready."

With that, Raquel stood up from the bed and went out of the room, leaving Marivi to mull over the plan.

It took Marivi three nights before agreeing to live with Raquel and Sergio in Palawan. The following days, Raquel busied herself preparing for the move. She also told Marivi about Berlin and assured her that he's a well-meaning friend.

With the help of Sergio's Serbian friends, she obtained passage for her mother and Paula to Belgrade. She also obtained fake passports for the three of them.

"Why did you have to cut and dye your hair, mommy?" asked Paula as Raquel helped her daughter board a small private plane in Barcelona.

Raquel touched her freshly dyed hair self-consciously. Her hair now fell just above her shoulders.

"I told you, sweetheart. I wanted to try a new hairstyle."

Behind her, Marivi shook her head. "I don't like it, Raquel. Blond hair doesn't suit you."

"You know I had to do it, Mama. I'll wash it off when we get to Palawan, okay?"

Marivi just shrugged her shoulders and hauled her bag inside the plane. The plane was a little outdated and wasn't at all luxurious but it was comfortable enough for them.

Hours later, the three of them arrived in Belgrade where they spent the night at a safe hideout provided by the Serbians. Raquel would have preferred jumping to another plane bound for Manila as soon as they arrive but thought Paula and her mother needed to rest before boarding another plane.

Early the next morning, the three of them settled themselves inside another private plane which would finally take them to Manila. It was a long flight and Raquel made sure Paula had enough distraction and entertainment so her daughter wouldn't be bored.

It was late evening when the plane landed on a private strip in Manila. The lateness of the hour provided Raquel enough coverage for their stop at a small lodging house. After enough hours of rest and sleep, they headed for the airport where they took a commercial flight to Palawan.

"How long 'til we get there, mommy? I'm getting tired of boarding planes!" complained Paula as they made their way through the aisle of the plane.

"Not long, sweetheart. Only a few more hours and we're there," answered Raquel anxiously. She, too, was getting tired of traveling. All she wanted was to finally settle in with Sergio and get a proper rest.

She helped her mother put their bags inside the cabin and let Paula sit beside the window. Marivi took the aisle seat while Raquel took the middle seat. Once the three of them were sitting comfortably in their seats, Raquel laid her head back and looked out the window.

It won't be long now. See you soon, Sergio. She smiled to herself as the plane began to move.

UP NEXT: What tragedy awaits Berlin on the island? Stay tuned to find out!