183 Dubai (1/2)

Anthon's eyes were still wet when he looked down on the runway of Dubai's International Airport,the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic and the airport that receives the highest average of passengers per flight.

Dubai is a city and an emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. It has attracted the world's attention through large construction projects and sports events,particularly,the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music.

On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm,a majestic 5 star luxury hotelin a man-made island that has captured the world's imagination with its magnificent scale and ingenuity.

Anthon'sworkplace was located in Jumeirah,a coastal residential area of Dubai. The place  mainly comprises low rise private dwellings and hotel developments. It has both expensive and large detached properties as well as more modest town houses built in a variety of architectural styles. The area is popular with expatriates working in the emirate and is familiar to many tourists visiting Dubai.

The hotel construction project that Anthon accepted would take three to five years to complete in this place. Perhaps,the span of time would be enough for him to start all over again and lead a new life. Hoping that somewhere along the way,he would find someone who could help him forget.And someone, he would learn to love by then.

Giselle,who took over in managing his businesses, was someone he could really trust to, aside from their friendship which had been tested and had been proven by time.

Back then,she received the highest honors as a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. She then took up her Master's Degree in Professional Accountancy before acquiring her license as a Certified Public Accountant.

Her employer,who gave her a job in Japan when she ran away from Anthon,and who eventually became her boyfriendwhen he rescued her from financial setbacks during her delivery, transferred a hardware business into her name when they moved later in Singapore.

Thus,managing Jian's Garden and all other businesses that Anthon had,would also be beneficial in sustaining the growth of her own business which she then transferred to Cebu.All the supplies needed in Jian's construction would all now come from her hardware depot.

Looking sadly by the streetsides which were bustling heavily with glamorous infrastructures and abundant city life,Anthon concluded that all these could not compare to the beauty of life being spent at home. However,he had to do this great sacrifice,not for himself alone,but for his own brother, as well. To see Jia everyday was alreadya torture on his part that he could no longer guarantee how long he could remain faithful as a brother.

Once he was ushered to his assignedcondo unit as his home for the next five years,the sense of loneliness became unbearable that he cried his heart out. To think,he was a typical man who would not cry easily though his heart was already breaking. He was a man who couldmask his pain like a clown before a crowd.But this new home was just so fatally quiet, drawing out his last defense of emotional strength. To him, this home would always be an emblem of heartaches and loneliness.

Yet,there was one thing he could not let go of... and that was Jia's abstract painting in his living room. It was the first thing he unwrapped and placed carefully in his bedroom.He also brought with him those photos he had with Jian and of his adorable little bunch,Jianna.