“Ge!”

“Ate” He gave her a peck on her cheek and guided her towards his car.

“Ge, what’s your plan?” Lakam asked

“I don’t know ate. Alam ko malaki ang galit sa akin ng asawa ko. I don’t even know how to explain things to her para maintindihan niya ang ginawa ko. For now, hihintayin ko munang gumaling siya nang tuluyan before we could start a new life. I just pray na sana magfade na yung galit niya sa akin.”

“Don’t worry, tutulungan ka namin Ge. Whatever happens”… “Siya nga pala, saan ka natutulog or nagsstay kapag  nagbabantay ka kay Kim? It seems like wala siyang kaalam alam na ikaw ang nagbabantay at nag aalaga sa kanya 24/7.

“Remember may bench sa labas ng room ni Kim? I asked for it. Dun ako natutulog, I mean, not exactly na nakakatulog ako pero that’s where I stay sa magdamag. Paminsan minsan kasi, pag sure akong tulog na tulog si Kim, I’m watching her sleep inside. I’m the ones changing her clothes and ako rin yung nagbibigay sa kanya ng sponge bath. Kapag feeling kong magigising siya, dali dali akong magtatago.” He somewhat smiled sa kwento niya

Napailing naman si Lakam “Haayy… Sana maintindihan na ni Kim ang lahat. Bihira ang katulad mong lalake dito sa mundo. And I thank God for giving my sister a loving husband like you. Thank you Ge, thank you. Sana hindi ka mapagod sa pagpapasensya sa kanya.

“Never ate… Never…”

When he drove her at the hotel, he immediately went back to the hospital to look after Kim.

Slowly, he turned the door knob and slightly opened the door. He found out that Kim’s in deep sleep so he took his chance na makapasok.

Gently, he sponge bathed her and changed her hospital gown. When he finished all those, he sat beside her and caressed her face, tears are forming again in his eyes.

“Mahal na mahal kita Kim… Mahal na mahal… Sana you would find in your heart lahat ng reasons kung bakit nangyari sa atin ito. Sana mapatawad mo na ako. Whatever happens, I won’t give up. Hinding hindi…”

Slowly, he neared his face on hers and he kissed her forehead. Sobrang miss na miss niya na si Kim and he can’t resist na he would just kiss her like that so he kissed her nose as well then finally, his lips landed on her lips. It was like prince charming is kissing his sleeping beauty. He slightly brushed his lips on hers and with that, he went out.

******************************************************************

After two weeks, Gerald continued his routine at the hospital. Kim, on the other hand, ay ganun pa rin. She’s still like a moving statue. Tatango lang siya or iiling kapag kinakausap siya ng mga friends niya, the doctors or her family. Pero hindi niya pa rin kinakausap si Gerald. She would eat kapag nandiyan ang ate Lakam niya or her friends pero pag wala sila, hindi rin siya kumakain.

“Mr. Anderson, I have good news for you…. When we examined your wife this morning, we found out that her heart now is responding normally. Lahat ng cancer cells sa puso niya ay nawala na. I can say na she’s safe now and I could order her release.”

“Talaga po doc??? Maraming salamat po! Maraming salamat!” “Thank you Lord, thank you Lord”

On his way back to Kim’s room, he phoned her sisters and friends to let them know she’ll be ready for discharge tomorrow.

Before he opened the door, he breathed heavily. This will be the first time he’s going to show himself to Kim “Whoooah”

He walked inside, saw her staring at her left, on her window side. When she turned to see who came in, she said coldly “Anong ginagawa mo dito?”

“Kim, we need to talk.”

“Para saan pa?”

“Kim, hindi pwedeng palagi na lang tayong ganito. For two weeks long, I gave you the space you needed to think things out. I think now is the right time para pag usapan natin ito. After this, we have to move on. We need to start a new life together.”

“Sa tingin mo ba after two weeks, mapapatawad na kita sa ginawa mo? Ha? Sa tingin mo pag nag usap tayo magagawa nating maibalik ang lahat sa dati?...... Alam mo bang sa tuwing nakikita kita, nasasaktan ako? Kinasusuklaman kong makita ka!!!”

“Kim, pa---aaa—noooo na –ta-yo—oo?” Gerald was crying, his shoulders shaking

She smiled bitterly “Tama ka…. We have to move on….. Gusto kong magkaroon ng katuturan ang pagkamatay ng anak ko so I’ll be moving on. I’ll make this life worth living. But I won’t be able to move on kapag kasama ka. All I feel pag nakikita kita ay ang image kung paano namatay nang walang kalaban laban ang anak ko.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? Don’t you get it? This relationship won’t work anymore. Wala na tong pupuntahan after all these.”

“Kim, you must be kidding. Malalampasan natin tong problemang to. Basta magkasama tayo. Di ba ang mag asawa nagtutulungan?”

“Sa pagkakataong ito, mas makakatulong kung tatapusin na natin to.” The words came out from so fast

Gerald knelt beside her bed and held her hands “Kim… Please… Please wag ganito… Wag ganito please….. Sa buhay mag asawa kasama to sa mga pagsubok na dumadating… Please. Let me do everything para maghilom ang sakit na nararamdaman mo. Kim, hindi lang ikaw ang nawalan…. Sariling laman at dugo ko ang anak natin. Pero hindi ko pinagsisisihang piliin kang iligtas. Kasi mahal na mahal kita……. Parang awa mo na Kim…. Magtulungan tayo… Aayusin ko ang lahat… Magsisimula tayo ulit.. Kahit paulit ulit tayong mag umpisa hindi ako magsasawa basta mapasaya lang kita at maipakita ko sa yo na mahal na ma---ha—aal ki-ta-aaa” He cried harder

She removed her hands from his “Gerald please…. I want you to leave me alone.”

“NO… I won’t leave hanggat hindi natin naayos to. Kim, please naman, hindi ito ang solusyon para magsimula tayo ng bagong buhay.”

“Aalis ka o ako ang aalis dito?” Kim demanded strongly

He breathed heavily and went out of the room still crying. “Naguguluhan lang ang isip niya. I won’t give her up” he told himself.