maybe this time - chardawn. kathniel.

f o u r

Every time Vince would leave for work purposes weeks at a time Veronica would write him letters. Letters depending on how long he would be gone. The longest trip in the length of their marriage was around two and a half weeks. For that Veronica wrote him four letters. Four letters that symbolize what he would miss, what she hopes he would do, and more.

Every letter symbolizes how much they loved each other. How much she loved him. Because she did. So much it hurt.

"Dad, saan ka pupunta?" Allison was always the curious one growing up.

"Italy bunso, for two weeks lang." Vince kissed his daughter's cheek.

"Bumalik ka ok? Promise?" Allison stuck out her pinky.

"Promise." Vince did the pinky promise and hugged Allison.

"Dad don't forget th-"

"Pasalubong mo" Vince cut off Tristan and laughed. "Alam ko Tristan may list ka!"

After hugging Tristan, Vince turned to his wife. For the last few months Veronica had been nothing but supportive. She moved to work from home managing her marketing company while still being a mom. She did it for him. She always does.

"Tampuhan ka naman love," Veronica had her arms crossed. "Two weeks lang maybe shorter,"

"Corazon ha, be safe." She spoke to him.

"Of course."

"Come home,"

"Of course Mrs. Corazon I'll come home to you."

"Ang corny mo naman,"

"Mimiss mo yung cornyness ko bukas," She just shook her head and laughed lightly.

"Ito ang sulat mo, read mo sa plane" Veronica gave her husband an envelope with her cursive writing in the front that read 'my love'

"I've kept the others you know,"

"Alam ko, i saw your box" They hugged and the taxi driver honked getting impatient. "Ok umalis ka na Vincent,"

"Walang I love you or kiss?"

Veronica looked at her husband and kissed him lightly. "I love you hun, now leave so you can hurry and come back,"

"I love you Ronnie," He kissed her one last time on the cheek. With the letter in his hand and his carry on backpack over his shoulder Vince got into the taxi to the airport.

//

"Mahal ko parin ang mommy nyo." Vince told his kids. "Without a question, mahal ko parin sya."

"Then do something dad," Allison told Vince. "Pagod na si Mommy. She told me last night that she said she was tired once. Once in the fifteen years. And you let her go."

"Allison please,"

"Dad I'm not getting angry with you like how I was before. I'm now annoyed at how after years since it's happened you still pushed her away." Allison just walked away.

"She wants you to get back together dad. So do I." Tristan told Vince.

"It's not easy anak,"

//

It had been around an hour since Allison went to her room. Her storyboard half finished next to her while she heard the front door open and slam shut assuming their dad just left. It has been hard. Not just seeing their mom cry but seeing their dad not try. It was his choice to move out. Even if both Tristan and Allison saw it coming there was still hope of a change.