Kim dialled Gerald's cell number, but it's unavailable.

 

She dialled JM's instead.

 

"Kimmy! napatawag ka?"

 

"JM, pumasok ba sa trabaho si Ge today? Hindi ko kasi matawagan."

 

"Kim, hindi e!"

 

"Nagbago ba siya ng number?"

 

"Hindi naman, sa pagkakaalam ko yun pa ring dati, hindi ba ikaw ang nagbago ng number para iwasan siya?"

 

Kim felt guilty. "Oo, pero gusto ko sana siyang makausap."

 

"Hindi nagpaparamdam simula nung nagfile ng indefinite leave."

 

"Indefinite leave?"

 

"Oo, magpapakalayo muna daw para makapag-isip isip."

 

"hindi ba niya nabanggit kung saan siya pupunta?"

 

"Hindi e!"

 

"Sige salamat JM, balitaan mo naman ako pag kinontak ka."

 

"Of course!"

 

Kim waited for a week, but has no news about Gerald.  She decided and thought maybe he needs alone time yet. She decided to take a week vacation alone. She went to Batangas and stayed at her friend's place. She set aside everything that's bothering her and just relax. Everyday she would walk by the beach and feel the  cold breeze in the evening and would watch the sun to rise in the morning. That made her miss Gerald more. They'd both love to watch sun set and sun rise together.

In whatever she does, she still remembers and thinks of him. 

 

She went home and decided to stay with her parents temporarily, refreshed and with renewed positive spirit.

 

"Ma!" she hugged her mom.

 

"Baby, how's your week-vacation?"

 

"Okay naman po Ma, si dad?"

 

"Naku anak, hindi ka na naantay. May business trip sa Hongkong for a month."

 

"Di sakto po pala ang pag-uwi ko muna dito, may kasama kayo."

 

"Anak, kahit naman andito ang daddy mo, gusto pa rin naman namin na makasama ka dito. Hindi ako mapakali kapag alam kong mag-isa ka lang sa condo mo."

 

"Mommy, malaki na ako o!"

 

"Oo nga anak, malaki ka na. Pinagdadaanan mo na ang mga trials experienced usually by married young adults." she hugged Kim tighter.

 

"Ma, kakausapin ko na po si Gerald."

 

"Hindi pa ba kayo nag-uusap?"

 

"Hindi pa po."

 

Mommy Elena led Kim in her room and got an envelope from the drawer.

 

"Ma, ano po ito?"

 

"Anak, bigay yan ni Gerald. The day after you left for Batangas, nagpunta siya dito."

 

Kim opened the long brown envelope.

 

"Inayos na niya yan bago daw siya umalis."

 

"Ma, annulment papers ito."

 

Mommy Elena nodded. "May iniwan din siyang sulat para sa'yo." she handed her the letter.

 

"Anak, binilin ka niya samin ng daddy mo. Huwag daw naming hahayaang malungkot o masaktan ka. Napakabait na bata. He's still after your happiness."

 

Kim's already in tears while reading his letter.

 

"Kim,

 

I know I've caused you so much pain. I hope one day you'll find time to forgive me. I fixed the annulment papers before I left. I know you're happy with Andrew. Kung maisipan niyong magpakasal one day, atleast hindi ako ang magiging dahilan ng hindi pagkatuloy ng kasalang iyon. Pirma mo na lang ang kulang at mawawalan na ng bisa ang kasal natin. Believe it or not, this is the hardest decision I made. But most of all, I wanted to make you happy so I'm letting you go. I will always and forever love you Kim.

 

                                                                                                                                                        Gerald"

 

"Ma! iniwan na ako ni Gerald."

 

Mommy Elena hugged her.

 

"Hindi sana ako nagpadala sa emosyon ko noon, this won't happen to us now. Ma, I love Gerald! I can't imagine my life without him."

 

"Baby, hindi pa huli ang lahat."

 

"Pero lumayo na siya, siya na mismo ang lumayo."

 

"Kim, alam kong alam mo ang dapat na gawin, kahit saang part man siya ng mundo kakayanin mong hanapin."

 

Kim nodded. "You are right Mommy, I won't give him up just that!" she tore the annulment papers and put  it in the trashcan.

 

The next day she tried calling Gerald's cell again, but still the number is unavailable. Kim then decided to visit the Anderson's residence. 

 

She was greeted by Mommy Vangie at the gate.

 

"Kimmy!" she hugged and kissed Kim. "Oh how I missed you hija."

 

"Mom, I missed you too."

 

"Come inside anak, ate Marie's here with Lyra. Your dad is on a trip with Marie's husband."

 

Kim smiled. "How about Gerald?" she thought.

 

When the four girls are in the garden for a merienda. Kim told them about her main purpose of visiting.

 

"Mom, ate do you know where Gerald is right now?"

 

"Anak, we really do not know. He came here 3 days ago to bid his goodbye."

 

"Ate, wala bang nabanggit sa'yo si Ge?"

 

"Kimmy, madalas kaming mag-usap ni Gerald pero nitong mga nakaraan parang mas naging malihim siya sa amin."

 

"Anak, nagbilin siya sa amin, puntahan ka raw and make sure you're doing fine. Akala ko kinausap ka niya bago siya umalis."

 

Kim is again on tears. "Mom, he never talked to me after our last encounter at the hospital, was trying to call him but his number is always unavailable."

 

"Kimmy, I know this is not the right time to talk about it but he also told us about the annulment papers."

 

"Binigay nga po sa akin ni Mama."

 

"Kimmy, if that's what's going to make you happy, hindi kami makikialam. Basta kahit hindi na kayo ng anak ko, dadalawin mo pa rin ang Mommy dito ha?"

 

"Mom, I know I'm a little too late, pero hindi po ito ang gusto kong mangyari. Gusto ko pong makausap si gerald."

 

"Hayaan mo anak, I will let him know if he calls."

 

"Thanks MOm and ate."