-recap-

Mang Cardo: Tiwala lang Gerald. Makikita rin natin siya.

Gerald: sana nga po Mang Cardo. Sana nga po.

-end of recap-

Gerald called Frank to inform them that Kim was missing from the prom.

Gerald: Good evening po tito.

Frank: oh Gerald. Napatawag ka ata? Kamusta ang prom?

Gerald: tito, about the prom…

From the tone Gerald was using Frank started to feel worried.

Frank: anong problema Gerald? Does it have anything involving my daughter?

Gerald: tito, please don’t panick but Kimmy went missing from the prom.

Frank: WHAT?! What do you mean missing? Chineck niyo na ba yung hotel room niya?

Gerald: Tito I looked everywhere po even her room but she is not there.

Frank: Have you asked around? Si Enchong nga pala, yung boyfriend niya asan?

Gerald: Naghahanap na din po siya pero I haven’t heard from him since I told him that Kim was missing.

Frank: Ano bang klaseng boyfriend yan!? Hindi niya inalagaan ang anak ko!

Gerald: tito wag po kayong magalit sa kanya. I’m sure he is trying his best to locate Kimmy.

Frank: Gerald please if you hear anything from Kim call me immediately ok? I will start looking for her as well.

Gerald: ok po. Tito if she calls you or if she gets home, can you call me? I really want to make sure she’s safe.

Frank: ok, I know you are worried for my daughter. Sige I have to go. Be careful ok?

Gerald: sige po, I will.

Then they ended the phone call and Gerald told Mang Cardo to go to where the both of them used to hang out.

Gerald: Mang Cardo you remember the places we went to right? Puntahan po natin isa isa. Kahit saan pa po yun basta puntahan natin.

Mang Cardo: o sige. Pero isipin mo din kung may makaligtaan tayo.

Gerald: sige po. Tara na po.

Mang Cardo started to drive from one place to the other. They have been driving for hours and still there is no sign of Kim. Gerald calls Frank every once in a while to check if he has any lead to where Kim is or if he has any news but both of them still haven’t heard from her.

Gerald is starting to become hopeless. He feels aggrevated because as Kim’s best friend he can’t think of the place that she might have gone to.

Mang Cardo: Gerald, kanina pa tayo paikot ikot. Nalibot na natin ang buong bayan pati na rin ang kabilang bayan pero hindi pa din natin nakikita si Kim. Inisa-isa na rin natin lahat ng palagi niyong pinupuntahan niyo noon pero wala talaga.

Gerald: Sigurado po ba kayong pinuntahan na natin lahat? Baka naman po may naka limutan tayong puntahan?

Mang Cardo: Sorry Gerald pero yun lang talaga lahat ng naalala kong pinupuntahan niyo eh. Baka kayo may pinuntahan na hindi ako kasama? Isipin mong maigi.

Gerald: ang pagkakaalam ko wala naman nap o kaming ibang tambayan or puntahan.

The two of them fell silent trying to find out if they left out one place to check. Gerald tried to remember all of the times he was with Kim especially when he was still courting her. Memories started to flashback, memories that he tried to erase from his mind, memories that was placed on the back of his mind trying to forget how he felt for Kim. Right then, he remembered one important detail. A place that is special for him. It’s no other than Tagaytay. But he can’t imagine how Kim can get there wearing a gown and barefoot and to think that she has no place to put her money on her gown.

Gerald: Posible kaya?

Mang Cardo: possible ang alin Gerald?

Gerald: may naalala po kasi ako, pero parang imposible naman pong pumunta siya doon.

Mang Cardo: bakit naman imposible? Saan ba yung sinasabi mo?

Gerald: sa Tagaytay po Mang Cardo. Pero hindi kop o maisip kug bakit siya pupunta doon. Ang alam ko sa akin lang espesyal ang lugar na yon. At ngayon iniiwasan ko na ang lugar na yon.

Mang Cardo: Dahil ba sa doon ka nag tapat sa kanya? Kaya ba hindi na tayo pumupunta ng Tagaytay?

Gerald: Opo. I’m avoiding everything that would make me remember of the pain I went through when she dumped me. And I never thought that I would need to return to the place where i can feel the pain most. Out of all the places to go, why there? Anong rason niya?

Mang Cardo: Siguro, may koneksyon sa relasyon niyo ang dahilang ng pagkawala niya.

Gerald: Ano po?

Mang Cardo: Ang alam ko kasi, yun ang lugar na pinakang espesyal sa pagsasama niyo. Doon niya nalaman ang totoo mong buhay at ang tunay mong nararamdaman para sa kanya. Doon ka din pumunta pagkatapos ka niyang tanggihan. Para sa akin at siguro sa kanya, yun ang lugar niyong dalawa.

Gerald: Pero, bakit doon? Ano po bang ginawa ko na kailangan niyang pumunta doon?

Mang Cardo: Hindi ako ang makakasagot diyan Gerald. Tanongin mo ang sarili mo. Ano ba ang ginawa mo para umalis siya? Isipin mong maigi habang nag mamaneho ako papuntang Tagaytay. Sana pagkarating natin doon eh alam mo na ang sagot.

Gerald: Sige po Mang Cardo. Tara na sa Tagaytay.

They started their journey to Tagaytay and Gerald did just what Mang Cardo told him to do which is to think.

Gerald: (thinking) Of all places why did she went to Tagaytay? Is Mang Cardo right about me being the reason for her disappearance? But why? What did I do to make her leave?

As they were heading off to Tagaytay Gerald just kept thinking. But until they got to their destination his question is still left unanswered.

Mang Cardo: Gerald, nasa Tagaytay na tayo. Ano ang plano mo?

Gerald: Punta po tayo sa lugar ko. Nararamdaman kong makikita na natin si Kimmy doon.

After 10 minutes they arrived at Gerald’s spot.

Mang Cardo: Intayin na kita ditto.

Gerald: Wag po Mang Cardo. Umalis nap o muna kayo. Baka po matagalan ang pag-uusap naming ni Kimmy.

Mang Cardo: Pero paano kung wala siya diyan? Maigi ng naandito ako para antayin ka.

Gerald: Wag po kayong mag-alala. Ramdam kong andito lang siya. Tatawagan ko na lang po kayo pag ok na.

Mang Cardo: O sha, sige. Kung yan ang gusto mo. Maiwan na kita. Mag-iingat ka.

Gerald: Salamat po Mang Cardo. Mag-ingat din po kayo.

Mang Cardo: Gerald, sana sa pag-uusap niyo malinawan ka na, malinawan na sana kayong dalawa.

Gerald: Sana nga po Mang Cardo. Yan din po ang panalangin ko.

As soon as Mang Cardo was out of sight, Gerald started the walk to his spot. The place where he would need to face the pain that is with the memories they had there.

When he reached the place, he started looking for Kim. As he was scanning the area, he saw the most familiar figure sitting down on the ground near the cliff looking afar with her arms wrapped around her knees.

He was getting nearer but when he was a feet away from her he heard her talking.

Kim: 3 years na sana tayo kung naging matapang lang sana ako. Kung hindi lang sana ako natakot na isugal ang friendship natin. Kung ditto pa lang sinabi ko na. Kung ditto pa lang inamin ko na eh di sana masaya ako, sana masaya tayo.

When Gerald heard Kim’s sobs he was about to hug her and comfort her but then she continued talking.

Kim: How I wish I was able to show you and tell you how much I love you. But it’s too late. Mukhang hindi na ako ang mahal mo. Pero what the heck! Isisigaw ko na lang, baka mas gumaan pakiramdam ko. Baka sakaling marinig mo. Kaya eto na.

As Kim stood up Gerald backed away a little and then Kim started shouting.

Kim: GERALD RANDOLPH OPSIMA ANDERSON JR. MAHAL KITA! MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA! SOBRA SOBRANG MAHAL KITA! SANA MARINIG MO! SANA MARAMDAMAN MO! SANA…

Kim sunk to the ground and cried harder.

Kim: sana ako pa rin yung mahal mo. Sana ako na lang. Kasi ako ikaw lang. Ikaw lang…

Hearing what Kim shouted and said Gerald was dumbfounded. He felt confusion, pain, regret and happiness all at the same time. With all the emotions building up inside him, all he could muster out of his mouth is her name.

Gerald: K-kim…

Kim heard her name and realized who it came from. She was shocked so she stopped crying and slowly stood up. It was like her world stopped spinning.

Gerald on the other hand found the strength to speak up.

Gerald: Kimmy.

Kim heard her name once again and so she tried to turn around and prove to herself that it really is him calling her name.

When she had fully turned around to see who called her, tears streamed down her face.

Kim: G-Gerald w-what are you doing here?

…