DANIEL

It’s Friday now and I’ve noticed that until now Kath still doesn’t come in. Did I really hurt her too much then? I didn't mean to and I'm worried because she's already behind in subjects and maybe she even fails because of what happened.

"Is there any news of her, yet?" I can't help but ask my friends. I am just making sure that maybe Kathryn communicates with them.

"Nothing, dude. She doesn't answer my calls. Maybe she's turns it off or she just doesn't want to talk to us. Besides, I forgot where they were in phase," Rick said. He turned to me, "What about you? You know their house and phase, don't you? Try to go and check."

Yeah right? Why didn't I think of that? I looked to the front and noticed that our instructor had entered.

"Can you ask the prof if she knows anything? They have a record, don't they?" Princess suggested. Why am I so stupid? Maybe the instructor knows why Kath isn't here, right?

I went to the instructor and immediately asked, "Ma'am, I just have a question. I'm just wondering and worried if you know where Kath is? She hasn't been in for five days."

He frowned at what I asked, "Is it Kathryn Silvenia? I thought you already knew, Daniel? Aren't you her boyfriend?" we were wondering what he said. Do we need to know anything?

"What's that, ma'am? She didn't tell us anything," Jessiah said, coming a little closer.

"Well, they have left with her family. They are no longer in Butuan now."

"WHAT?! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!" I can't help not raising my voice.

"I don't remember but maybe three days, maybe," because the instructor said I didn't think twice and I left the room. I need her right now, I can't lose her!

"SHIT! I can't lose her! No! She's still here. It's just that she got sick! She didn't leave!" I shouted while driving to their house and when I arrived the gate was not locked but the front door was locked.

I was knocking on the door because no one answered, "Kath? KATH! It's me, Daniel! Please ! Open the door! I'm sorry, babe! Please! Come out!" I shouted while crying and strained to open it.

"Excuse me sir, but the family left only last week. They are no longer there. Please, leave," the guard scolded but I didn't listen to him.

"NO! SHE'S JUST IN HERE!"

"Bro!" I heard Rick's voice, "Oh, sir, it's okay. We'll take care of him."

"IT'S MY FAULT! PLEASE, leave me alone!"

"Bro, you can't be left in this situation! You need us!" Earl shouted at me.

"All I need is Kath! Just her! I want her back!"

"We don't even know where she is, are you stupid?" Rick said suddenly so I cried even more. I don’t even know where he is! I need him now! It's all my fault!

Jessiah slapped Rick's shoulders, "You know, just shut up! You're not helping!"

"But Daniel, we're hurting too. Kath is also our friend," Princess said and I could see she was saddened by the news she heard.

"Just leave me for a while. I just wanted to stay."

"Okay. Let's leave him first. Just be careful and we'll go back to school. We'll take care of the instructors," Earl said and wished everyone to leave. I saw them in Earl's car.

I sat on the grass outside their gate and couldn't help but cry.

I will not give up. I'll find you too, Kath. I will trust myself and when I see you I will not let you go again, also, I will not be afraid to your siblings. Whether they like it or not.

KATH

"Are you really sure about your decision, sweetie?" mom asked with mixed concern as I arranged the things in my new room.

“I think so, mom,” I hesitated because to be honest, I don’t really know if I’m doing the right thing at this moment. I realized that I am just over-reacting but what else can I do? It's too late because we have moved here.

"Why did you choose your siblings over Daniel? He didn't do anything wrong."

"I love you guys, that's all."

"But not all the time you will be with us. Soon enough, you will have your own family and I know that it is Daniel."

"I guess not," I thought he was the one for me, but he broke his promise to me.

"Don't fool me, I'm your mother. I know you love him and I also see that he loves you too. I mean, if he doesn't love you, he will definitely leave you since when he suffered from your siblings' wrath."

"But no, mom! He still stopped and gave up."

"Don't you see? His reaction is normal, Kath. Try to imagine the scenario and put yourself in his shoe. His cousin almost died because of your five siblings, part of their house was burned down, and he was hurt too much physically. Don't you think the outcome won't be like that?"

"Well, it's too late, mom. I can't do anything, we're here now far from Butuan and why are you still telling me this just now?"

"I think you had made a wrong decision."

DANIEL

"Son?" I heard mommy knock from the door but I didn't say, "Come on, son. Let's eat."

I felt the door open but I didn’t look at my mom. I just stared at Kath's photo which framed and lying on my nightstand. As I thought about her and couldn't see her again, I didn't realize that I was crying again.

Kath, where are you? Don't you want me anymore? Because I will never stop until I find you. I will look for you anywhere in the world, I will just fix my mistakes.

Mom approached me and she could clearly see my puffy eyes again, "Son, why are you crying?" she asked worriedly and wiped away my tears and hugged me tightly, "Are you still worried about Jess? If you're worried about him, he's doing fine now. Actually, yesterday they moved to Cagayan de Oro."

"That's good," I said but my voice was still soft.

"Do you have a problem, son?"

"It's about Kath."

Her eyes widened when she heard that, "Why? What happened to her? Is she okay now?"

"Maybe she's okay. The truth is that she broke up with me about a week ago. It's also my fault why. I shouted at her that time and I blamed her and her siblings for what happened. I know that it was just an accident but I shouted at her, and I didn't mean it."

"Poor baby," she hugged me tightly and stroked my hair, "I'm sure you can fix that too. Why don't you just talk to her?"

"That's the problem. She's not here anymore because after she broke up, she and her family left suddenly. Now, I don't know where she is."

"Just trust me, son. I know and I believe that you can find her."

I smiled at her, "Thanks, mom!"

KATH

What am I going to do? I've been here for a few weeks and I'm not ready to enter the second semester. I would have adjusted even in Butuan where I would have met my former friends. I will always miss Jessiah, Princess, Rick, and especially Daniel.

It was only now that I realized that mommy was right with her advice and instructions. I realized that I was just overreacting to what happened to us, I didn't even know or feel what Daniel was going through at that time. If I am in his situation, I will surely do the same. But what can I do? I have already made my decision and it's too late to back out.

Argh! Why is my life so very confusing?!

As I lay down and was about to fall asleep I heard a knock, "Kath? It's us, open up!" I heard Sandra call. Until now, I am kind of mad and I treated them coldly, but I still tried talk to them. After all, they are still my siblings.

"Can you please be quiet? Go to bed and I'll be early tomorrow."

"Your phone is always ringing, Kath."

My eyes opened and I wondered. As far as I know, I was so furious with Daniel that I threw away my phone. How does that it rang?

"Oh. We kind of took your phone and maybe you can use it now, just in case," I heard Jeremy's voice so I immediately got up from lying down and went to the door and opened the door.

"Hi, sis!" they greet at the same time.

I held out my hands in front of them, "Give me my phone."

"Here is your phone. Your friends don't want to stop calling so that's why you might need it," Camille said and I immediately took it and opened it. They are right, the many messages and missed calls are from Rick, Jessiah, and Princess.

I wondered if Daniel had called me too? Is he worried about me now? Is he looking for me?

"Anyway, Daniel always calls everytime. He also doesn't want to stop," Camille replied again so I just nodded and went inside. I’m still not comfortable talking to them.

When I entered, I immediately opened my phone and I saw that there were so many missed calls, "What am I going to do with this?"

As I scrolled through the contacts and history I immediately saw his name. I really really missed him! How is he doing right now?

I sighed and I no longer hesitated to press his contact and I typed a message and immediately sent it to him.

I hope soon, we will meet in God's perfect timing.

DANIEL

I woke up around twelve midnight when my phone suddenly vibrated. It means that someone texted me and even though I was so sleepy, I still took it and read it.

When I read who it was from, my eyes widened when I realized it was Kath who was texting! All my drowsiness disappeared when I saw his name so I immediately clicked and read it.

FROM: My baby, Kath

"Daniel, baby! I'm really sorry that I left without even saying goodbye to you -- to all of you, guys. I really missed you all and I know that I really made a mistake in my decision but it's too painful for me especiallywhen we last met and talked. I hope Jess is fine now and I am so sorry if he was hurt because of me and my siblings. I will always love you but please don't look for me anymore. I miss you so much but it's okay that maybe we won't meet again. I'm far away now. In God's perfect timing, if we're lucky and meant to be, probably we'll meet again."

After reading that, I also thought to myself, "What does she mean by not looking for her? Why? Where are you now?" I asked while looking at Kath's photo by my side. I felt like I was talking to her but I suddenly laughed, "Hey, Kath! I'm really crazy now and I'm talking about your photo again. I'm going to sleep and I'll make sure I find you, soon."

KATH

"Well, you enjoy in your new school, sweetie. Just be yourself and don't think about anything else. Just do well at your new school."

I nodded at what mom has said that she is now with the dean of the school and of our program which is Accountancy. We just finished spinning around Xavier University where I will be studying.

Then soon enough, they left as well and I started walking to get to my subject today. As I was walking, suddenly someone touched me from behind.

I turned around and a very beautiful woman appeared. I don't know why but she seems so familiar but I don't know where I see her. Maybe it was just here at school when my mom enrolled me or wandering around, "Hi there!"

"Hello. What can I help you with?"

"Can you help me here? I'm just new to this school and this semester. Here's my section and schedule."

"Oh, I don't know either. I'm just new here at school but I can see that we have the same schedule and section so let's go find out together."

"Ah, all right! Thank you so much. I'm Ara, by the way. That's not my real name but I'm used to that name. Everyone at our school before calls me Ara."

"Ah, okay then. I'm Kathryn Silvenia, but Kath is really fine. Kathryn is too formal and kind of long," I introduced myself and immediately pulled her, "Let's go and find our room."