Kim went straight to her office, feeling groggy and numb. The event was just too crazy to handle for her, afraid to face the reality but got hit solid without any warning. She just witnesses the unimaginable. Aware that soon this moment will come but regardless she was never ready to face it. Living with secret for more than 12 years, she must be crazy to believe that she just die with it. So now is the day that she was afraid of. In deep with her thinking, sweating cold and suffering from anxiety she rush to her office and close the door behind her.

Holy gracious! You two scared the hell out of me. Bakit kayo nandito? Asking Anne and Eric who are setting waiting for her. Anne and Eric is her two childhood friend.

Wow! Good morning to you too friend. Ang saya mo talaga at nakita mo ako, obvious ka masyadong affected sa mga things things around.

Things things around ka diyan, bakit ka nga nandito?

Malay ko ba, pina summon lang ako ng new hunky boss mo. Then give Kim a big smile.

How about you? Talking to Eric. Wala ka bang trabaho at nandito ka nakipag tsismisan sa isang ito, tapos sa office ko pa.

Hoy babae! Dyosa ka! Wag ka nga mag boss-bosan diyan at obvious ka! Umutot ka nga at ng maka hinga ka! Sabay tawa and give her a meaningful smile.

Alam nyo kayong dalawa, of all the days’ ngayon pa ninyo naisipan mang buwisit. Umalis na nga kayo.

Obvious! Eric says with his finger waving right at her face.

Hoy vakla! Kapag hindi ka tumino ipag sisigawan ko sa buong department mo na patay na patay ka sa mabahong Ramon. Haliparot!  

Kimmy, alam mo ba last Saturday nag lunch kami sa Mansion kasama mga bata?

So ano ngayon?

Wala, sinasabi ko lang. hehehe hanggang dinner kami doon, grabe catch up to the max talaga kami kay Ge. And take note, for two years na pala loveless si Papa Ge. Heheheh at lahat na relationship nya hindi tumatagal.

So what else is new, kahit naman noon ganon naman talaga. Palibhasa pabling ang papa mo!

Grabe ka naman kung maka judge sa tao, hindi naman, wala lang talaga may naka patibok ng puso nya.

Hmmmmm  is all she can say, while shaking her head.

Sisterette bakit ka ba ganyan, sobrang negative mo kay Papa Ge?

Hindi naman, I just happen to see how he grows up. You know money, lifestyle, women and all.

My goodness Kimmy, everyone mature. Hindi lang naman si Ge ah, kahit nga si Stephen ganoon din. Lahat tayo may mga past na hindi maganda at pinag sisihin natin, ang importante kung paano tayo nag bago.

Alam ko, hindi naman ako judgemental….stress lang siguro dahil sa sobrang worried ako earlier.

Then both friends just listen and try to understand where she coming from.

Their conversation got interrupted by a knocked.

Hello Kimmy, can I have a word with you?

Hi Tita.

Good Morning Mrs. Anderson.

Good Morning Anne and Eric…. Just come see me after your meeting Kim.

Tita we are done….Thank you guys. See you later sa meeting.

Thank you Kim.

Tita halika pasok.

Kimmy, I am so sorry earlier, I can’t say anything. RJ insisted to keep his arrival from you. Gusto nya talaga ma surprise ka.

Tita don’t worry about it.

So, nag usap na kayo?

Yes po, na welcome ko na sya.

I mean…. About the two of you.

Ho? What about us? Wala naman kami dapat pag usapan ah…meron ho ba?

Kimmy……I know, mula pagka bata, bestfriend kayong dalawa. And I know, RJ was really hurt when one day you left without saying bye to Him. After that, he refuse to go back home ngayon lang sya ulit umuwi dito. I don’t know what happen between you two, kung bakit nagawa mo yon sa kanya, I am not going to ask you why also, but sana this time mag usap kayo and try to mend kung ano man ang nangyare sa mga nakaraan. Because I know my son, he was hurt.

Tita, I hope time heals the past at napatawad na ako ni Ge. Trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

Okay Kimmy, I’ll keep going, may appointment pa si Tito mo. Have lunch with us this Sunday, after the mass. Then kiss Kimmy and left.

Two hours later, everyone’s walking towards the boardroom again; Gerald asks for this meeting. Meeting that lasted five hours, by four o’clock Kim is so exhausted and overwhelmed with the works that Gerald wanted her to do. Being single mother overtime is something Kim tries to avoid. At most she would stay until six pm only but never will she go beyond.

At 6:15, about to leave, cleaning her desk when someone knocked on her door.

Kim, can I have the report I asked by first thing in the morning? And here’s the marketing proposal I want you to review. Give me your feedback tomorrow; I am meeting with marketing department at 10 am. Oh, and one more thing, the outside auditor is coming a day after tomorrow, prepare the staff we need to evaluate all the process in every department.

Ge, sana nag head up ka for the late hours. I have a 12 years old waiting for me at home.

Akala ko, klaro na sa lahat when my Dad ask everyone for the support company needed para sa transition. And you should know, being the core person of this company, you should be the first expected for longer hours.

Sa sobrang shocked, Kim swallowed her tongue and doesn’t know what to say.

Kim, I don’t want to sound like an inconsiderate boss, I am for “family comes first” but with the company’s situation right now, I want everything to be in order as soon as possible. We can’t waste any more time.  And besides, your husband should take part in taking care of your child also.

Hearing the last sentence he said, Kim’s blood shot up.

Okay, I’ll stay and do finish everything. Got your point, thanks for making it clear.

One more thing…. I want you to address me as Mr. Anderson or Sir if we are working.

Yes Sir, no problem. Kim reply’s sarcastically.

Good. Then turn around smiling. He knows he won on that round.

Kim stays until 1:00 am, she texted Jacob to sleep and locked up without her. Also ask Anne to mind Jacob while she needs to finish what she is doing. Stephen offer to pick her up, but she refused and assure them that she got a ride.

Staying that late, she knows very well na wala na sya masakyan. Matapang si Kim, and living in one of the safest Hacienda give her no worries. Buo ang sarili she decides to walk home, it is not that far, it’s a good 45 minutes’ walk and the road is will lighted.

It must be her lucky day today! Hindi lang sya naglalakad sa kagitnaan ng madaling araw, now lightning and thunder starts to grace her too. Naku Kimberly kapag minamalas ka talaga, sagad sagad..hindi na nag bago ang story ng life mo. While running on her feet after she took her shoes off to avoid from slipping. Few meters away, she notices a truck on the side of the road, and a man working underneath.

Jay! Jay! She screams louder against the strong rain and thunder.

Oh Kim, basang basa ka ah. Saan kaba galing?

Sa trabaho pa, nag overtime kasi ako. Sa sobrang dami ng trabaho nakalimutan ko sabihan si Mang Kolas na sunduin ako.

Naku, magkakasakit ka sa ginagawa mo. Sige akyat ka sa front seat, hatid na kita, matatapos na ako dito. Nag palit lang ako ng baterya.

While at Anderson mansion, Nicolas and Nanay Elena is still waiting for Jay. One hour later, dumating na si Jay just in time na bumaba si Gerald to get something to drink.

Oh Nanay Elena, Nicolas bakit gising pa kayo? 2 am na ah.

Kasi itong si Jay, ngayon lang dumating. Nanay Elena explain.

Ha? Bakit?

Kasi Sir Ge, namatayan ako ng baterya, ang lakas lakas pa ng ulan. Tapos nadaanan ako ni Kim, buti nga hindi pa ako naka alis. Basang basa nga galing pa daw ng trabaho nag lalakad lang pauwi.

Ano? Gerald was surprise. Umaga na ah. Hindi ba sya sinundo ng asawa nya?

Sinong asawa? Elena asks and was confused.

Asawa ni Kim.

Ano ka ba? Walang asawa si Kim. Dalagang ina yan. Bakit parang hindi mo alam?

Hindi nga.

Naku Gerald, ano ba ang nangyari at parang wala kang alam.

Nanay Elena wala nga po akong alam.

Hindi mo man lang ba kina musta si Kim?

Kinamusta but syempre hindi naman umabot sa topic na yan ang kamustahan naming dalawa.

Hay naku, kayong mga new generation ngayon, kaya magula ang mundo dahil magulo ang tao.

Nicolas just laugh, kaya natawa na rin si Gerald.

So ano ba ang nangyare kay Kim, saan ang tatay ng anak nya? Patay ba? Hiwalay? Ano ba?

Hay naku, hindi din naming alam. Hindi nag sasalita ang bata na yan. Kapag tinatanong mo hindi naman sumasagot huwag na daw mag alala at okay naman sila na mag ina. Kaya ayon, mapagud na rin ang mga tao sa kakatanong.

Ano nga ho ba ang nangyari?

Ganito kasi yon. Di ba nag college sya, hindi na  yan naka uwi dito hanggang sa nagkasakit si Elizabeth at may taning na sa cancer sa throat. Nang dumating yan dito 3 years old na si Jacob. Ang sabi sabi, ng nasa college daw nagka boyfriend ng mayaman at guapo. Nabuntis peru hindi naman pinakasalan ng lalaki. Nag working student yan at scholar pati sa La Salle ba yon, yon ata. Tapos ng natapos, suma laude pa.

Suma Laude po. Nicolas corrected.

Yon nga, tapos master pa yan, wala din bayad. Matalino na bata, malas naman sa pag-ibig. Hay… yan ata ang kinamatay ni Elizabeth, sa sobrang awa sa anak.

Nanay, cancer po yon, walang kinalaman yon sa buhay ni Ninang. Pagtatanggol ni Nicolas sa ninang Kim nya.

Hearing all of this for the first time, Gerald was shaking, feeling so guilty and sorry for Kim.

Jay, anong oras mo nahatid si Kim?

Mga 30 minutes ago.

Okay lang siya?

Siguro, kaya lang basang basa. Nanginginig nga eh, buti na lang may kumot ako sa truck lagi pang emergency.

Without saying anything Gerald went and took his car keys and look for umbrella.

Gerald saan ka pupunta? Ang lakas ng ulan.

Puntahan ko lang po si Kim, baka may sakit yon.

Sandali, gisingin ko si Nando, at ng masamahan ka.

Nay Elena huwag na, okay lang ako.

20 minutes later he found himself knocking on Kim’s house.

Just finishes taking the shower, Kim in her pajamas while her hair wrap with towels, open the door wondering. Sino naman kaya ito at umaga na nag kakatok pa. Naku Anne pag ikaw ito, makaka tikim ka sa akin.

She open the door and right away scream…ikaw talaga kahit kaylan hindi talaga maka pag hintay, tsismosa ka talaga….when look up and was shocked!

I don’t mean to be nosy, gusto ko lang maka siguro na okay ka.

Sir Gerald, ano ang ginagawa mo dito? Hindi ko dala ang mga paper works na pinagawa mo sa akin. I left it sa office but tapos ko na lahat.

Gerald felt so sorry and wanted to punch himself for being such an .

Kimmy, so sorry! Is all he can say.