“Kimmy…. I’m so sorry talaga about last night ahh…. I didn’t mean to disturb you….” Twinkle apologized as she took another sip of her coffee.

“Ate! You didn’t disturb anything nga ehh…” Kim blushed and was shy to open up this conversation again.

“Hmmmm…. Kimmy, wag ka na nga mahiya sa amin… Bakit kasi pinapahirapan mo pa si Ge? Mag asawa naman kayo and you should be fixing things together…” Lakam explained

“Tamaa!.... Why don’t you admit na kasi that whatever happens you’re still in love with him?” Twinkle said

Kim sighed “Alright! Alam niyo namang hindi ako nakakapagtago ng feelings ko sa inyo eh…. Ewan ko ba…. Feeling ko kasi it’s unfair for our daughter kung magiging masaya ulit kami ni Ge…”

“Whaat?!!! Kimmy naman…. Bakit naman ganyan ka mag isip?!” Lakam said

“Eh kasi… Ayokong isipin ng anak ko na pinagpalit ko siya para sa pansarili naming kaligayahan… Yung ganun…” Kim made a confused face

“Kimmy… Mali naman yang iniisip mo eh… For sure mas magiging masaya yung little angel mo sa heaven kapag nakita ka niyang masaya…. Makitang masaya kayo ng daddy niya…. Kimmy, sa buong isang buwan na lumayo ka sa asawa mo, we can see that you’re trying to move on and make yourself happy…. Pero Kimmy, aminin mo na kasi na ang magpapasaya talaga sa yo ay si Ge….. Forget mo na lahat ng nangyari sa inyo and start a new life! That’s the only way para makita mo yung true happiness mo at mawala na yang gumugulo sa utak mo.” Twinkle advised

Their conversation was interrupted by JP.

“Ate!”

“Oh anong nangyari sa yo?”

“Nanggaling kasi ako dun sa kwarto na tinutuluyan ni Kuya Ge para gisingin siya at makakain kasabay natin. Eh kaso, parang hindi yata makabangon.”

“Hala ka Kimmy! It’s your fault…. Pinagod mo yata last night eh” Twinkle teased

“Ateee!”

“Joke lang… Sige na.. Ikaw na ang bahala sa kanya. Aalis kami today ni Ate Kams. Si William and JP naman may basketball tournament daw kaya ikaw na ang bahala dito ah…”

“Ha?! Eh pano to? May usapan kami ni Sister Lourdes na bibisitahin ko ang mga bata today sa ampunan.”

But Twinkle and Lakam are already leaving the house so Kim was left with no choice.

“Byeeee” her sisters

She went upstairs with a tray of Gerald’s breakfast.

Slowly, she opened the door to check if he’s still asleep. She found him with his eyes closed and the blanket is wrapped in his entire body. Sobrang ginaw na ginaw siya.

“Ge?” Kim went closer

“Ge?,,,” She removed the blanket from him then she touched his forehead

“Oh my gosh! Ang taas ng lagnat mo!” Kim ws surprised as she continues to caress his face down to his neck. Nag aapoy sa lagnat si Gerald.

“Hmmmmm…..” Gerald groaned

“Teka.. Wait … Ahmm.. Ano ba tong gagawin ko?” Sobrang nataranta si Kim and was confused on what she’s going to do next.

She hurriedly went downstairs, got medicine, a basin with warm water and a towel. Sa sobrang pagkataranta niya, kawali ang nadala niya instead of the basin so kailangan niya pang bumalik ulit.

“Argghh… !” Magrelax ka nga lang! She told herself while she’s going back upstairs.

She got back in his room and pinunasan niya ng warm towel ang buong katawan ni Gerald. He, on the other hand is too weak to say a word and just let Kim do the rest to him.

“Oh eto, kaiangang mainitan ang pakiramdam mo, higupin mo tong soup.” She said as she blew and guided a teaspoon on his mouth.

Nakasandal lang si Gerald sa headboard ng bed, while si Kim naman ay nakaupo beside him. Her right leg was crossed while the other ay naka extend on the left side.

Habang sinusubuan ni Kim ng soup si Ge, he was just staring at her, directly into her eyes. When she turned to look in his eyes, she felt conscious.

“Bakit ganyan ka makatingin?” She pretended that she was annoyed then she made a face. Deep inside her, kinikilig siya sa mga pamatay na titig sa kanya ni Gerald. “Naku, Geraldo ka! Kapag hindi ka tumigil baka halikan kita diyan!” she said in her mind and she bit her lower lip.

When Gerald noticed it, he smiled. And as he was staring at her, his smile grew wider.

“Pinagtatawanan mo ba ko?” Kim raised her brow at him. “Hinayupak na lalakeng to oh! Gising na gising ata nang magsabog ng kagwapuhan mula sa langit! Argghh…. Stop it Kimberly! Malaki ang atraso niyan sa yo!”

He smiled again, never letting his eyes take off hers.

“Ano?” Kim was pretending that she was really irritated

Gerald pointed the soup bowl. Kaya pala siya natatawa kasi Kim keeps on blowing a teaspoon, yun pala ubos na yung soup and wala naman siyang hinihipan. Gerald knew that she was really affected by his gaze.

When Kim looked into the bowl, “Patay na! Arrggh!!!! Pag minamalas nga naman! Nahalata na tuloy”

“Thank you ah. Nabusog ako. I’m feeling better now. Don’t worry, enough na yung soup. Wag mo lang ipakain sa kin yung kutsara” Gerald was weak but still

“Che! Diyan ka na nga!” Kim was about to stand up but he held her arm

“Ano nanaman?!”

“Ang cute mo pa rin pag kinikiig” Gerald smiled

Naconscious nanaman si Kim and just said “Whatever!!!” then she made a face then left

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

It was already one in the afternoon and Kim was about to check on Gerald whether mainit pa rin ang pakiramdam niya or he’s now feeling better. When she opened the door, she found him in deep sleep, pawis na pawis and he seemed to be having a nightmare

“No!!! NO Please! Don’t leave me Kim! Please!!! Mahal na mahal kita!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Gerald says habang paikot ikot siya sa kama.

Kim’s heart melted and she came closer to him. “Ge!.... Uy! Ge!......... Ge!!!”  she taps his face

When he opened his eyes, “KIM!!!” then he hugged her tight “Akala ko iniwan mo na ko”

“Sshh… Don’t worry.. Panaginip lang yan okay?... Dito lang ako…” she wiped the tears in his eyes and the sweat on his face.

She felt na hindi na mainit si Gerald and she sighed “Thank you Lord”

Gerald’s arm was still wrapped on hers. Her head was relaxed on his chest.

“Ahh.. Ge?” she raised her head from his chest

“Hmmm?”

“Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo?”

“Eto… I’m feeling better and better…. Kasi nandiyan ka… Salamat ah”

“Okay lang” Kim said. Suddenly, her phone rang

“Hello Sister Lourdes?”

“Hello iha? Anong oras ka ba makakarating? Kanina pa excited ang mga bata na makita ka” she said on the other line

“Ayy.. Sorry po sister! Okay lang po ba kung mamayang hapon na lang?”

“Ah.. oh sige! Mag iingat ka”

“Sige po.. Bye!”

“Ahmm.. Ge, may lakad kasi ako ngayon eh… Pwede bang si Manang Connie na lang muna ang mag alaga sa yo? Hinihintay na kasi ako nila sister eh.” Kim explained

Gerald knows very well what Kim is talking about. Alam niya that Kim made a commitment to herself that she’ll be visiting and taking care of the children in the orphanage as a sign of her love to her daughter.

“Ahmm… Pwede ba kong sumama?”

“Wag na.. baka mabinat ka pa eh”

“Don’t worry.. okay na ko… Sige na…. Please..”

“Oh sige.. Bahala ka… Teka, ipapakuha na lang kita ulit kay manang connie ng damit.”

“Wag na.. Meron akong dalang damit palagi sa kotse.. Di ba?”

“Ayy.. oo nga pala.. Sige, magreready lang ako…”

Gerald got his clothes from his car, freshened up and got ready. Kim, on the other hand did the same.

Sa living room…

“Ahmm.. Kim, yung kotse ko na lang yung gamitin natin. Ihahatid na lang kita mamaya.”

“Sigurado ka bang okay ka na?” she tried to caress his whole face and hindi na nga siya mainit

“Oo naman! Dahi sa yo yun kung bakit ako gumaling kaagad”  he cupped her face

“Ewan ko sa yo! Lika na nga!”