“What happened?” Kim hastily says.

“Ayun, okay naman, mukang si Mommy na gagawa ng paraan to make it up to Pam’s parents. Grabe, si Mommy walang taste, ang taste nya pang designer bags lang, pero sa girls. Palpak.”

Kim threw a pillow to him, “Eh baliw ka pala, sinisi mo pa mama mo. Eh bakit ka pumayag?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “By the way, dad is coming for dinner, they want you to be there.”

“Ha?”

“Syempre naman, gusto ka nila makilala!”

“Ano ‘to seryosohan?” she rolled her eyes.

“Eh take first things first. Please?”

“What should I tell them?”

“We met somewhere in Florida, and you came with me here. And then tell your real family background.” He says.

“What if I buckle?”

“Hindi yan.” He taps her shoulders. “Magbihis ka ng maganda ah” he adds.

Still in the same room, the two played UNO while waiting. Gerald felt stomach cramps.

“Aray.”

“Bakit?” Kim asked.

“Ang sakit ng tyan ko, parang hinahalukay.”

“Asus, nagda-drama para hindi matuloy ang dinner.” She tickled his ears like she used to do.

“I am not kidding.” Gerald lay down to the bed with his hands on his tummy. Kim get a glass of water and offered it to him.

“Ano ba kasing kinain mo?”

Before Gerald could speak, Kim remembered. “Naku! Yung streetfood! Hindi ka nga pala sanay sa ganun naku sorry.”

“It’s okay, tolerable naman yung pain but I cannot go down like this.”Kim bit her nails in panic. She tried to find some pain relievers in her bag but she found nothing.

Gerald’s fone rang, it is his mom.

“Ui Mommy mo tumatawag. Naku.” She gave him the fone.

“Mom, I am sorry. We cannot join you for dinner, my tummy aches.”

“What? Wait for me.” Mom headed her way up to his room.

“Mom is coming, be careful.” He says.

Mom knocked on the door, Kim opened it with a glass of water in her hands. “Hello po.” She nods.

“Hi.” Mom gave her a social kiss on the cheeks.

“Gerald, what happened?”

“Ang sakit ng tyan ko Mom but I am fine, I just can’t go down like this. Where’s dad?”

Dad came in, Kim nods “Goodevening po.”

“Goodevening iha.”

“Oh, anak.” He gave him a big hug. “What happened?”

“Nothing dad, medyo naparami yata ang kain ko kaning lunch.”

“Well I guess this dinner has to be canceled. Darling, plan the next dinner by the time Gerald felt better. We still have lots of things to discuss.” Dad says. “Iha, Kim? Kim right?” he adds.

“Yes po. “ she nods.

“We have to go, I still have meetings to attend, take good care of him please, and by the way, Ge, when are you coming home? Any plans?”

“Day after tomorrow dad, we will be checking out.”

“That’s great, I will block my appointments, let’s have dinner at home, Kim, and I will expect you be there.”

Kim smiled.

“Don’t be shy, relax.” Dad brushes her shoulders.

“Okay son, we are going. Call me. Drink your meds.” Mom hastily says kissing him on the forehead.

“Bye, Kim.”

“There! They were gone. Stop acting.” She kids.“Who says I am acting?” he utters.

“Masakit na masakit ba talaga? Gusto mo dalhin kita sa clinic?”

“No, don’t even bother, I am fine. I just need to take a rest. I feel bloated.”

Kim feels so guilty, she grabbed the bottle of White Flower from her bag. Took Gerald’s shirt slightly off, and spread the oil to his tummy down to his navel.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Usually sa headache ito, pero I think pwede rin sa tyan.”

She continued, up and down until the oil was scattered. “Much better?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“Paano ba ‘yan, hindi kita maiiwan ng ganito, ako may kasalanan kung bakit ka nagkagnayan eh, hay.”

“Edi wag mo ako iwan.” He kids.

“Loko ka ah, in love ka na sa akin ano?” she smiles.

“Sus, para yun lang in love agad, edi sige bumalik ka na sa kwarto mo, I can manage.”

“Nangonsensya ka pa. Ano na kayang susunod na mangyayari? Nag invite yung Daddy mo sa bahay nyo, ano yun proposal? Kinakabahan ako.”

“Don’t worry, hindi kita pababayaan.”

“Hindi mo nga ko pababayaan pero napapahamak pa rin ako, ganun rin yun. Come to think of it, bigla akong nagka boyfriend.” She laughs.

“At least hindi ka lugi, ang cute ko kaya.” He winked.

Gerald fell asleep, Kim still on his side, watching him, realizing how much love she could feel inside his arms, how safe she could be when they are together, but like Gerald, she just couldn’t take it for now. She thinks he still needs to prove many things before she let herself fall for him.