NOVEL WEB Chapter 214: Foundation for One More
Foundations for One More
December 17, 2024 — 9:00 PMRockwell, Their Apartment — Kitchen
The scent of chamomile and honey hung in the air, steeping from two mugs on the counter. Angel stirred hers slowly, the ceramic handle warm beneath her fingers. She wasn't tired yet, but the habit helped her wind down. Across from her, Matthew leaned against the sink, sleeves rolled up, absentmindedly drying a plate.
They had been quiet for a while now—not the awkward kind, but the type that came when two people were deeply comfortable with each other. The kind of silence that didn't need filling.
Until Angel finally spoke.
"I emailed that pediatrician my cousin recommended."
Matthew looked up. "The one in BGC?"
She nodded. "Dr. Santiago. Her reviews are solid. She works with a lot of first-time parents."
His brows rose, impressed. "That was fast."
Angel gave a half-smile. "If I'm going to panic about it eventually, I'd rather just panic early and plan accordingly."
Matthew chuckled. "Classic Angel Cruz method."
"Control what you can. Prepare for what you can't." She took a sip from her mug. "Is that so bad?"
"Not at all," he said, setting the plate down and joining her at the counter. "That's how you built a nationwide railway in under five years."
She looked at him. "You think that means I can handle a baby?"
"I think it means the baby won't be sleeping in a crib that's missing screws."
Angel snorted. "We're not assembling it ourselves. I'm hiring someone from TaskRabbit the moment we buy it."
Matthew raised a hand in mock surrender. "Fair."
Then, gently, "So… what's the timeline you're thinking?"
Angel's fingers drummed the side of her mug. She was quiet for a moment, sorting her thoughts.
"Not tomorrow. Maybe not even in the next few months. I still want to oversee the final signal calibration for Phase 3C personally. And you've got that Central Pulse hub integration coming up in Q1."
Matthew nodded. "But?"
"But," she said slowly, "maybe… middle of next year. Maybe we start trying then."
He exhaled, a mix of surprise and quiet joy crossing his face. "So around June or July."
"Yeah." She glanced at him. "Is that… okay?"
He pulled her into a hug without answering right away, arms secure around her waist. When he finally spoke, his voice was low.
"It's more than okay."
Angel closed her eyes against his shoulder.
They weren't rushing.
But they weren't hesitating anymore either.
Just planning ahead.
Together.
—
December 22, 2024 — 3:15 PMTagaytay — Short Holiday Break
They needed the break more than they realized.
A last-minute decision, the trip had been prompted by a lull in the construction schedule and a rare clear forecast. Matthew booked a quiet hilltop Airbnb with panoramic views of Taal, just far enough from Manila to feel like escape.
Angel sat on the porch wrapped in a soft knit shawl, a steaming mug of tsokolate in her hands, watching the mist roll over the ridgelines. Matthew had just come back from the local market with a bag of fresh bread and strawberries.
He held out a warm pan de sal.
"Still no regrets?"
She took the bread and smiled. "About the trip?"
"About everything."
She leaned her head back, letting the mountain breeze cool her skin. "None."
Matthew sat beside her, a small notebook tucked under his arm. Angel glanced at it.
"You writing again?"
He hesitated. "Sort of."
Angel nudged him with her foot. "You haven't written in years."
"I know," he said. "But I've been thinking… maybe the baby should know how we got here."
Angel blinked. "You mean… like a journal?"
"Kind of." He opened the notebook, revealing a few scrawled entries. "Not polished. Just thoughts. Letters, maybe. For someday."
Angel reached for the notebook but paused.
"Can I?"
Matthew handed it over, and she read the first few lines in silence.
December 19 — Today Angel looked at stroller reviews for twenty minutes and pretended she was just 'casually browsing.' I didn't call her out. I was too busy picturing her pushing one.
She chuckled, cheeks flushing. "This is sappy."
"Don't lie. You love it."
She handed it back. "You better keep writing, then."
He smiled. "You can add your own entries, too."
"Mine will be better formatted."
He laughed. "Of course."
The mountain breeze swept past again, and they sat there watching the clouds shift, notebooks and dreams between them.
—
December 24, 2024 — 6:00 PMRockwell, Their Apartment — Christmas Eve
Angel had always loved Christmas in theory, but she never had time to fully enjoy it. This year was different.
They decorated the apartment together, stringing lights around the windows and setting up a small artificial tree beside the balcony door. Matthew had insisted on hanging a tiny wooden train ornament near the top.
"For luck," he said.
"For branding," she teased.
Dinner was simple: roast chicken, mashed potatoes, garlic rice, and a bottle of red they'd been saving since the Aurora Line's launch.
After they ate, Angel brought out a small wrapped box and placed it in Matthew's hand.
He raised an eyebrow. "We said no gifts."
"This isn't a gift," she said. "It's a conversation."
He unwrapped it slowly.
Inside was a tiny white onesie.
It read: Expected Delivery ETA: ???
Matthew stared, then barked a laugh—soft, surprised, delighted.
He looked at her. "Really?"
"Not pregnant," she clarified. "But I made the executive decision that our internal roadmap now includes a new stakeholder."
Matthew pulled her into a kiss, one hand cupping her cheek, the other still holding the onesie like it was made of gold.
When they pulled apart, she whispered, "Merry Christmas."
"Best one yet," he said.
—
December 25, 2024 — 11:30 AMRockwell Balcony
The city was quieter on Christmas morning. Fewer cars. Fewer horns. Just sunlight bouncing off rooftops and the faint sound of carols playing in someone else's living room.
Angel sat in a lounge chair, her knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs.
She wasn't thinking about project deadlines today.
Not about train schedules.
Not even about Phase 4.
Just about the future.
About names.
About notebooks filled with letters.
About a nursery, still imaginary, but feeling more and more real.
Matthew stepped outside, coffee mug in hand, and joined her.
"Mind if I sit?"
She reached for his hand and didn't let go. "I was just thinking."
"Dangerous."
She smirked. "Do you think we'll be good parents?"
Matthew took a long sip of coffee before answering. "I think we'll be real ones. Flawed. Tired. But present. And that's already better than a lot of people start with."
Angel nodded slowly. "I want to make sure our kid knows they're safe. Loved. That no matter how crazy the world gets… we're here."
He looked at her, something shining behind his eyes.
"They will," he said.
They sat there in the stillness, hand in hand, the December breeze curling softly around them.
The lights on the tree inside twinkled faintly.
Somewhere, in the quiet corners of their lives, something new had already begun.
A story not yet told.