It is Friday! Gerald’s mom is busy preparing everything for lunch when suddenly Pamela’s father called. “Hello? Theresa? I want to see you, now! I do not like this, you disappoint us very much.”

“Oh, Roger. I am very sorry about what happened. I have explained everything to your wife. I am sorry I cannot control my son.”

“I do not care whether your son likes my daughter or not. If their wedding will be cancelled I will pull my shares in our business!” Roger says with conviction.

“Fine! Have it your way! I will not make my son’s life miserable just for business!” and she dropped the conversation.

“Honey what is going on?” Antonio asks.

“Nothing sweetheart. It was Roger, asking me to talk to him. I told him I could not force Gerald to do what he does not like. Roger even told me that he will pull all of his shares in our business.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him it is fine with me. Honey, I love my son very much, I want him to be happy. I hope you could understand.”

“Of course I do.”

“All his life he obeyed us, do what we say. Now it is his heart’s turn to think for his mind. His old and I trust him.”

“I know sweetie, do not worry, everything is going to be fine.” He hugs her tightly.

“Mom?” Gerald interrupts.

“Oh son, goodmorning. How’s your sleep?”

“Fine mom.”

“That’s good. I am preparing the dishes for lunch. I am excited to see Kim. Honestly, I like her. She is very pretty. I hope she is nice too.”

“She is. Hey dad, I have talked to Uncle Nick last night and he told me I‘d be having a tour in the company. I am excited. I miss doing business.”

“Yah son, I know. I will be with you. I told him to fix everything that you will need.”

After that, Gerald went to his bedroom and called Kim. “Kim?”

Kim answered in low tone, “Hello?”

“Goodmorning. Did I wake you?”

“Yes. But it is alright.”

“I am sorry. I will just remind you about our lunch later.”

“! I almost forgotten.” She looks in the wall clock. “I still have three hours. Can you pick me up here? I need a briefing.”

“Yah sure. I will be there in an hour. What is your condo’s name again?”

“Millenia Towers dito sa Ortigas. Call me when you arrived.”

“Yaya? Pakihanda naman po ng merienda. Kahit po yung ice cream na lang po dyan. May darating po akong bisita. Salamat po.”

“Sige ilan ba?”

“Isa lang po.”

“Oh sige. Tumawag nga pala ang mommy mo, tinatanong kung dumating ka na ba. At sabi puntahan mo ang Lolo mo ASAP. Nasa Davao lang pala sila, may convention daw.”

“Ah…. Ganoon ho ba. Bakit hindi na lang sya sakin tumawag.” Kim paused for a while.

“Nasa Davao lang pala sila sana sumunod na lang ako kung sinabi nila kaagad.”

“Hayaan mo na. Hindi ka naman maasikaso doon.”

“Sige po maliligo lang ako.”

Kim dipped into her bathtub thinking about her parents. She thought she could do nothing about it. Whether she likes it or not, that’s it!

After taking a bath, she opens her closet. “God! I miss you! My paradise.”

She picked out a knee high purple dress with haltered straps that fits the brown belt and a 3-inches brown sandals and a Louis Vuitton  handbag.

Put on her light make up and voila! She is ready.

Her fone rings, “I am approaching the main entrance.” Gerald says.

“Okay, 16^th floor, I already told them your name.”

“Hello.” Kim greeted him cheek to cheek and recalled their kiss.

“Nice blush.” Gerald teases.

Kim ignored him and told him to get in. “Have a seat.” She says.

“Thanks. So, are you ready?”

“I look ready but I don’t feel ready.”

“You look beautiful!”

“Thank you. Pero kinakabahan ako eh.”

“Don’t worry. Mom is very excited to see you again. She told me she likes you.”

“Hello! Okay ka lang. As if namang totohanan ito.”

“Eh pansamantala ngang totoo di ba. Narinig ko nga si mommy kanina kausap yung Daddy ni Pamela, sabi nya tatanggalin nya yung shares nya sa kumpanya namin. Pero sabi ng mommy ko okay lang basta masaya ako.”

“Ang sweet naman ng mommy mo, buti ka pa. Eh masaya ka naman kaya? To think na niloloko natin sila. Ha? Ano masaya ka ba!?” she asks.

“Oo naman.” She stares at Kim’s eyes and tried to hold her hand but Yaya Elvie came in with the ice creams.

“Ah… Thanks Ya! Kain ka muna.”

“Ano to pampawala ng tense?” he asks.

“Pwede rin. Ano bang sasabihin ko sa kanila?”

“Nothing. Kung anong mayroon ka. The lie is, we met in America year ago.”

“Hay kaya ko to!”

He held her hands, “Ang lamig ah.” And taps it.

She smiled back.

“So iha, what did you finish?”

“Tourism po tita.” Kim says while taking a spoonful of soup.

“Oh I see, from what school?”

“Sa Ateneo de Manila po.” She smiles.

“And where are your parents? What do they do?”

“They are in Davao right now for a business convention. We own farms from different places in the Philippines.”

“Oh, a farm. That’s good. I love nature.”

“What about you? What do you do?” Antonio asks.

Gerald answered for her instead, “Dad, she is about to enroll for her master’s degree. That’s why she is not working.”

“Oh, going back to school huh.”

Kim kicked Gerald under the table and letting him be aware that she do not like what he just said.

After an hour of dining and interrogation, “Hay! Finally nakalanghap rin ng fresh air.” Kim says swinging her feet beside the bay.

“Salamat ah.” Gerald says.

“Okay lang yun, nakaya ko naman eh. Akala ko hindi na hihinto yung mama mo kakatanong eh. Para akong suspect. Buti na lang naalala ng daddy mo yung appointment nila.” Sighed.

“Oo nga eh. Ang galing mo pala sa ganyan.”

Kim pick out a coin from her purse and tossed it to the ocean, “Sana maging masaya na tayong lahat!!!” she screams. “Oh, magwish ka na rin dalian mo!”

“Ayoko nga, hindi naman totoo iyan. Nagwish wish ka pa. Sana sinabi mo sana next time mas magaling ang acting mo at makalusot ka ulit.”

Hindi noh! Sana wala nang susunod, kasi baka hindi ko na talaga kayanin.”

Gerald looked at her, “Sa tingin ko, wala ng susunod.”

“Buti naman Mr. Anderson!” she grins.

“Kasi sa susunod, ayoko na magpanggap.”

Kim looked at him curiously. “Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”

“Mahal na yata kita.”

Kim laughs aloud. “Kakaiba ka rin humirit ano? Alam mo yan ang pinakanakakatawang joke na narinig ko sa iyo.”

Gerald blushed. “I am not kidding Kim, I think I love you.”

He cupped her face, neared it to his, and kissed her. Kim closed her eyes and gently allowed Gerald’s invasion.