moirai

asunder

Rj cupped Maine's face and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. She looked very sad. He kissed her on the forehead and asked again, "Pangga....what's wrong?"

She buried her face in her hands, took a deep breath then wiped her face, brushing her tears away with her hands. She finally spoke, softly, "...I'm leaving..."

He didn't quite hear her so he asked, "Huh? Nano siling mo?" They walked back to the bench. Maine sat down as Rj stood facing her.

"...I...have...to...leave...." she said, pausing slightly at each word.

"Leave?....for where?"

"...for.....for....work..."

"Work?"

"I'm being sent to the regional office..."

"Oh"

"...in....Bacolod...."

"Bacolod?....mapuli ka?" Rj had been looking away, distantly, but turned to her when she said "Bacolod".

"Yes....." he smiled when he heard her "Yes" but she continued, "....no....maybe". Confusion washed over his face.

"Bacolod will be my base....but they said I'll be conducting trainings for the Visayas offices...."

"Does anyone else know? I mean, aside from me...and of course, office mo..."

"No pa....Ikaw pa lang ang nahambalan ko (You're the only one I've told)....I only found out early this week..."

"Ahh...so that was why you were not yourself the last couple of days..."

She nodded. "Sorry..."

He sat down beside her again.

"I leave in 2 weeks....end of the month..."

They were quiet for a long while then, she lay her head on his shoulder again. Tears started streaming down her face once again. He didn't notice this though.

"Pangga, how long will you be gone?"

She sniffled and swallowed before answering softly, "....2....maybe...3....months...."

His heart sank when he heard the time frame.