Knock! Knock! “Tita hindi po ako kakain” sagot ni Kim sa kumakatok but sige pa rin ang katok and when she opened her door “Ge? Anong ginagawa mo rito?” Hindi na nagulat si Gerald na makitang mugto ang mata ni Kim pagbukas ng pinto “pack your bags you’re coming with me” sabay pasok sa loob ng room ni Kim and started removing her things sa closet. Gerald didn’t give her a chance to protest.

Kim: How did you know?

Gerald: we’ll talk later and he was quiet throughout

Kim: galit ka? Gerald didn’t say anything just touch her face “bilisan na natin”

It didn’t take a long time na matapos kasi konti lang ang gamit ni Kim, “Tita balik na lang kami to clean up, thank you po” paalam ni kim sa mag asawang kumupkop sa kanya. “Iha pasensya ka na sa nangyari ha” sagot naman ng ginang. “Naiintindihan ko po, thank you po uli” then nagpaalam na rin si Gerald and inalalayan na si Kim sa car. She was so quiet and nililington lang siya ni Gerald then she burst out crying so he stopped the car and nagkataong malapit lang sila sa park. He let her cry and and just held her hand and nung hikbi na lang ang maririnig tsaka siya nag ayang lumabas ng car. She hugged Gerald very tight without saying anything and they stayed like that for sometime then she said “thank you” and he answered “anytime”. They stayed there for another half hour without talking basta magka akap lang then he said “ready to go home?” then she just nod.

Gerald: welcome to my place, and he ushered Kim inside. Dun ka muna sa room ko tonight till maayos natin ang next room, I’ll stay dito sa couch.

Kim: ako na lang sa couch kahiya naman sa yo

Gerald: just do as your told okay then touch her face.

Kim: pero… but he silenced her by putting a finger on her lips “sshhhh”. Sino kasama mo rito?

Gerald: ako lang and once a week may naglilinis and naglalaba for me. He’s just looking at her kasi nililibot niya ang loob ng bahay.

Kim: sa yo to? And halata sa face ang puzzlement

Gerald: sa tita ko pinapatira lang sa akin, sabay talikod kasi alam niya na he just said a big lie

Kim: what can I share?

Gerald: nothing. C’mon let’s not talk about it. Let’s see anong pwedeng maihanda then he went sa kitchen.

Kim: anong nothing, habang nakasunod kay Gerald sa kitchen. Ano yan free lodging?

Gerald: o sige cook for me then para matapos na ito, anything you want to do. Case close then started looking sa fridge and sa cupboard.

Kim: ok, I’m not an expert but I’ll do my best. Sige upo ka na ron ako na bahala dito.

They shared a simple meal of corn beef and rice, nothing was mentioned about what happened this afternoon and she occupied his room for the night. Ang babaw ng tulog niya, pa gising gising till she saw the clock it’s 12am and she needs a drink. Paglabas niya may faint glow ang lampshade and she saw na gising pa si Gerald “ sabi ko sa yo ako na lang diyan e, di ka makatulog ano“ .
Gerald: I’m just thinking. Hindi ka rin makatulog?

Kim: di gaano, dami rin ako iniisip e, would you like a drink? He said no so she got herself coffee

When she came back naka upo na si Gerald sa couch and he motioned for her na tumabi sa kanya which she did and just said “sorry ha nadamay ka pa sa problema ko, pero thank you ha. Don’t worry maghahanap agad ako ng malilipatan, how did you know?”

Gerald: I went sa diner and you’re not there and Rica doesn’t know why so I asked Matt. Why did you not tell me?

Kim: biglaan kasi ang nangyari, yung kamag anak ni tita na kahit paano ay nag sustento sa kanila kailangang umuwi and need ng matutuluyan so ayun ang nangyari. Malaking tulong din naman ang nagawa nila sa akin, syempre masakit pero naintindihan ko. Tsaka ayaw na kitang abalahin pa

Gerald: mas nag worry ako sa yo kasi di ko alam kung ano na lagay mo. Bakit naman paglipat agad ang nasa isip mo kaka rating mo pa lang lang dito. Ayokong marinig uli yan ha and he just silenced her when she’s about to say something “enough talk” and they just stayed sa sofa naka hilig ang ulo ni Kim sa braso ni Gerald till both of them fell asleep.

Next day “diyan ka lang maaga pa”