KIMERALD short story FF: ONE LOVE

CHAPTER 1: SWEET NOTHINGS

“Kim, sagutin mo na bilis, kanina pa tawag ng tawag yan! At tanong lang ng tanong kung saan ka!”

A harassed-sounding Ate Tata met Kim the moment she stepped into the waiting area and thrust the ringing phone into her hands. She looked at her watch and saw that it was already 2:15 AM, fifteen minutes past the time she told him earlier that she would be finished.

Kim was about to press the answer key when the phone stopped ringing and saw that the call came from Gerald. She accessed her phone log and saw that there were fifteen calls from Gerald alone in the last fifteen minutes.

“Ano kayang nangyari? Bakit ganun na lang kadami ang tawag niya?” Kim asked herself worriedly. She was about to call Gerald when her phone rang again and saw his name on the screen.

“Gerald, bakit?” Kim said when she answered his call.

“Baby, saan ka ba galing?” Gerald, sounding annoyed, said on the other line.

“Nandito syempre sa taping. Kakatapos ko lang ng last scene ko for today. Pauwi na din ako. Bakit ka pala tawag ng tawag?” Kim replied as she waited for Ate Tata to gather her things so they could go home.

“Kasi miss na miss na kita! Gusto ko marining kahit yung boses mo man lang since hindi tayo nagkita today.” Gerald replied. “I am beginning to hate our schedule kasi hindi na tayo magkasama sa taping, hindi na kita nakakasama ng buong araw.”

Kim sighed to herself. She could commiserate with Gerald but that would do both of them no good because they would only be in despair if she will do it. She also missed him so much and was looking forward to spending the next day with him when they were both free from work. So it was up to her to cheer him up for now.

“Sa dami ng tawag mo na yun, yan lang ang sasabihin mo? Na miss mo lang ako? Eh kakausap lang natin two hours ago ah. Akala ko kung anong emergency na!” Kim teased him.

“That was two hours ago. And I miss you again already. Baka kasi nakalimutan mo na ako. Baka may iba ng nagpapatawa sa iyo dyan at nag-aalaga sa iyo.” Gerald said with a hint of a pout in his voice.

“Hay, ang baby ko nagseselos na naman,” Kim said with a laugh. “Pwede ba naman na makalimutan kita? Siyempre hindi. At alam mo ba, miss na miss din kita.”

Kim uttered the last sentence in a whisper lest someone would hear her. Her heart was thumping wildly against her chest now that she was talking with him, and hearing his sweet words. All throughout the day, she was showing on a happy face but deep inside, she was feeling a little down because Gerald was not around. She was so used to always having him around at work that it felt strange without him.

“Talaga? Na-miss mo din ako?” Gerald asked in a teasing tone.

“Oo naman! Kaya wag ka ng magselos ok? How was your day by the way?” Kim asked as she moved a little farther away from the people so she could talk more freely.

“My day? Well, syempre taping lang buong araw and everything went smoothly naman. Yun nga lang, my day is incomplete because you are not around. I miss you so much baby,” Gerald answered.

“Kawawa naman ang baby ko,” Kim crooned to Gerald. “Hayaan mo ilang oras na lang magkikita na tayo. Miss na miss na miss din kita! Oh eto na si Ate Tata, aalis na kami. See you later, baby! Mwah!”

“Wait anong ilang oras? See you in a minute. I’m coming!” Gerald exclaimed.

“What? You’re coming here?” Kim asked.

She looked up when she heard the sound of a car approaching and saw Gerald’s car indeed. Kim could only watch as the car glided to a stop in front of her and Gerald came out. A wide grin spread across his face and his eyes visibly lighted up when he flashed his special smile meant only for her.

Kim found herself smiling broadly in return. Her heart was leaping inside her and she was giddy with excitement and thrill just looking at him. Lord, how could he be so magnificently handsome? Though she had been looking at him almost every day for the past three years, he never failed to make her heart go aflutter especially when he would give her that special look and special smile meant only for her.

“Kim!” Gerald called out to her. Then he walked towards her, leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Baby, I miss you so much,” Gerald whispered into her ear after kissing her.

“Bakit ka nandito?” Kim asked Gerald after he greeted the staff and crew and some of their fellow cast who had seen him.

“Sinusundo kita. I could not wait for several more hours anymore to see you.” Gerald answered in a low voice meant only for her to hear.

“Nandito na ang sasakyan Kim,” Ate Tata exclaimed from beside her. She reached for the suitcases but Gerald beat her to it. He loaded it into the van as Kim’s driver helped him too.

“Sa akin na po sasama si Kim. Kita na lang tayo mamaya sa bahay nya,” Gerald informed them.

“Kelan ko sinabi na sa iyo ako sasama? Tinanong mo ba ako?” Kim asked with raised eyebrows.

“No I’m did not ask you because I’m demanding that you go with me whether you like it or not,” Gerald replied with a grin at her. “At isa pa, sabi mo miss mo ako, kaya I know you also wanted to go with me.”

“Hindi ka naman masyadong confident no?” Kim asked but she was not able to hold back her laughter anymore. She giggled and went towards Gerald’s vehicle.

Gerald opened the door for her and assisted her up the car before he went inside. Then he instructed his driver to go to Kim’s house.

Kim could not stop her mouth from smiling and she gave into the it as she settled herself in the seat. Happiness was spreading all throughout her body and she felt like in heaven at the moment as she sat beside Gerald. When earlier she felt exhausted, now she was energized. She got lost in thought thinking about what they should do later when Kim suddenly yelped in surprise. Gerald grabbed her without any warning and deposited her on his lap.

“Gerald!” Kim exclaimed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Just keeping you so close to me. I miss you so much,” Gerald said gruffly and then he leaned and planted a sound kiss on her cheek. He enclosed her in his arms and pulled Kim towards him and kissed her on the other cheek again.

“Nakakagigil ka talaga, baby,” Gerald uttered and then tightened his arms around her. Then he pulled her face again and kissed her on the cheek again and again. Kim squinted when Gerald kept on kissing her but she just sighed in contentment and let Gerald have his fill of her.

“Ikaw din,” Kim whispered to his ear and then planted a kiss on his cheek too.

“You smell so good,” Gerald whispered as he nuzzled Kim on the neck.

Kim giggled. “Huwag…please, nakikiliti ako!” She begged.

Then Gerald turned her face towards her and just looked at her intently. “Ang ganda ganda mo talaga.” Then he tipped her head and kissed her on the temple this time.

“I’ve been so blessed to have found you,” Gerald whispered as he laid her head against his chest and played with her hair.
With Kim ensconced in Gerald’s lap, the two of them whispered sweet nothings to each other all throughout the ride from the location towards Kim’s house. An occasional giggle punctuated their fervent whisperings.

“Nandito na pala tayo,” Kim exclaimed when the car rolled to a stop some time later and realized they were already outside her house.

CHAPTER 2 TO FOLLOW: