"Maya, bakit mo pinayagan si Gerald na makauwi na?"

 

"I'm sorry sweetie, ayoko mang paalisin siya kanina but he recited the rights of patient to

me, got no choice but to let him go."

 

"Kelan ang follow up check up niya?"

 

"Next week and 3 weeks after that. He left a note for you"she handed her a piece of paper.

 

"Kim, thank you for everything.

I think this isn't the time to talk about us yet. Take care of yourself!

 

Gerald."

 

"Hay naku, akala ko maayos na namin ito." she shook her head.

 

"Kimmy, in time!"

 

"Maya, I will have to talk to him next week."

 

"I will try to get hold of him while you're not here, or better yet, unahan mo siya para hindi na makaalis at ma-corner!"

 

Kim laughed. "Thanks Maya, tinakbuhan na naman ako. Balik muna ako sa trabaho."

 

"Okay, I will see you later for lunch!"

 

Kim stayed with Maya the day of Gerald's follow up check up, but Gerald didn't show up. Kim attended to her scheduled operation then went back to Maya's clinic.

 

"Hindi daw talaga darating, he called my secretary. Nasa New York and can't make it kaya nirefer ko sa friend kong surgeon doon and gave instructions, he'll see me here after 3 weeks."

 

Kim sighed. "Hindi na talaga ata kami pagtatagpuin."

 

"Kim, darating daw sa next check up. We'll see! Nasa bakasyon siya, para siguro maging ready na siyang kausapin ka pagbalik niya, ganun na lang muna isipin natin ha?"

 

"Ano pa bang magagawa ko?"

 

"Come on! cheer up! As if he's not going to show up forever"

 

"I can't help to think that way. Kailan kaya matatapos ang taguan na ito?"

 

"Hey! halika na nga lang. Let's go shopping!"

 

Kim smiled. "You know how to divert my attention huh!"

 

"Syempre! Ano let's go?"

 

"Tara!"

 

3 weeks passed so quick, Kim has to

work early for a scheduled minor

operation that day. She should be done at 2pm, Gerald's appointment with Maya for a follow up check up is at 1:30pm. 

 

"Maya!"

 

"Nagulat naman ako sa iyo Kimmy."

 

"Hindi na naman ako humabol?"

 

Maya smiled. "He's waiting for you at the garden of the hospital, next to the OPD. Goodluck dear!"

 

"Thank you!" Kim went out and scanned the crowd, she saw

a familiar built sitting on a bench in a secluded shady area. She sat at the end of the bench.

 

Gerald looked at her and smiled. "hi."

 

"Kamusta ka na?"

 

"Okay ako! Parang walang operation, can hardly see the scar."

 

"That's good!"

 

"Thank you Kim."

 

"Don't mention it. Ito na naman ba tayo sa paulit ulit mong thank you?"

 

"That's what I wanted to tell you."

 

"Wala ka bang ibang sasabihin?"

 

"I'm sorry!"

 

"Saan?"

 

"Kim for everything. I know I've caused you so much heartaches

few months ago. I'm sorry."

 

"Hindi... hindi mo kasalanan lahat yun. Don't blame yourself."

 

"Pero bakit yun ang naramdaman ko

kim? Napakasakit sa akin na bumitaw ka agad. Hindi man lang ako

nabigyan ng pagkakataon para mag-explain." He started to cry.

 

"Ge!"

 

"Kim, don't worry! Naiintindihan ko

naman ang galit mo e! Kaya ako na ang mismong lumayo."

 

"Gerald, I'm sorry kung yun ang naramdaman mo."

 

"Don't say sorry, tapos na. Hindi na natin maibabalik pa ang mga nakaraan at nangyari. Gusto ko, masaya ka!"

 

"Gerald, sa tingin mo ba masaya ako

nung nawala ka sa akin? Sa tingin mo ba nandito ako ngayon dahil lang sa trabaho? I didn't sign the annulment papers! Dahil ayokong mawala ka sa akin!"

 

"Kaya nga ako lumayo para masanay ka na wala ako. Kim sa mga nangyari, narealize ko parang hindi na sapat na mahal lang natin ang isa't isa. Kung magkakabalikan tayo, ano? Kaya ba nating mabuhay na parang walang ganitong nangyari? Kaya mo ba akong pagtiyagaan? Kasi ako sa tingin ko hindi pa ulit ako handa para dun."

 

Kim is in tears. "Gerald, hindi ba natin susubukan ulit?"

 

"Kim, kung gagawin natin yan sa ngayon, masasaktan lang kita ulit. Ayokong saktan ka."

 

"Ge, ganun naman talaga sa love hindi ba? Minsan nagkakasakitan."

 

"Hindi pa siguro ito ang tamang panahon."

 

Kim nodded. "Hindi naman pwede na iisa lang ang lumalaban sa isang relasyon, naiintindihan kita. Lagi mo sanang iisipin na kapag handa ka na, nandito lang ako."

 

"Huwag mong itali ang sarili mo sa akin Kim, pag nakahanap ka na ng mas magmamahal sa iyo, okay lang sa akin yun."

 

"Mag-iingat ka Gerald. Mamimiss kita."

 

"Kim, tandaan mo. Hindi ka mawawala dito." pointed to his heart.

 

She nodded and left. 

 

The next days, weeks and months for Kim has been like hell! She focused on work, busied herself

with anything that will divert her from thinking of Gerald. She attended seminars and conferences at the nearby cities almost every week. Until she's down to her last 2 months in California.

 

"Babalik ka na ba talaga dito? Sure ka na diyan ha?"

 

She smiled. "Kara, sure na ako."

 

"E paano naman si Gerald?"

 

"Kung kami pa rin talaga, mangyayari yun. Andami kong natutunan dito. Okay na ako, handa na akong mabuhay ulit mag-isa."

 

"Haaaaaaay!"

 

"Ang haba nun ah?"

 

"Ako ata ang affected sa love story niyo ni Papa Ge."

 

Kim laughed. "Pansin ko nga, sige na. Pauwi na rin ako sa bahay. Tatawag ulit ako ha?"

 

"Sige Kim, mag-iingat ka diyan."