Ever Summer

Chapter Eleven

Weeks past and still Gerard never failed to hound Soraya’s School and dormitory whenever he was free , hoping and praying to catch a glimpse of her, or even Aida. He waited for long hours inside his car parked nearby these areas. He couldn’t believe Soraya would just vanished just like that. She was a scholar. There must be a reason. An explanation. She had to come back someday.

Three times he drove to Soraya’s hometown in Nueva Ecija, praying he would find her there. Only to be met with her father’s worried face. He too, was wondering what happened to her only daughter. Soraya hadn’t visited him for months. He was as bewildered as Gerard, as anxious as he was. He said it wasn’t like her to just disappear like that without letting him know.

“Please find her for me, bring my daughter back safe to me. I wanted so much to see her.” Was his pitiful pleading. Gerard couldn’t bear to see Soraya’s father’s agonized face.

Then one day, just as the summer sun was setting. Gerard was parked at his usual place near Soraya’s dorm. He just came from her school.

He waited....and waited..and waited. Until it was dark. He was about to leave, having revved up his car engine, when somebody tapped at his car window. He opened it to see a middle-aged woman.

“Gerard Montesser?” The woman asked. Her voice tentative.

Gerard just nodded. His heart pounding. A sense for foreboding gripped him.

The woman handed him a piece of paper and then left quickly just before Gerard could say something.

In the faint light of his car, Gerard read the letter over and over again, his whole body tightening . Tears welling in his eyes. He felt as if the inside of him has been voided. Numb and hurt at the same time if that was possible.

Gard,

Please forgive me.

Raya.

--------------------------------