When everything is dark .....

After a few minutes Chaewon got out from the changing room and went to where Henry was seated, "Henry, I'm done."

"Oh..... let's get going then," and they walked together all the way back to their unit.

"I heard you like to swim."

"Uhm..... it's difficult to not like to swim since I live near the sea."

"I'd like to live in a place like that, it sounds like paradise."

"Ah..... hahaha, maybe you'll enjoy it for a couple of days but for sure you'll miss seeing tall buildings like where you're living right now."

"Maybe, maybe not."

While waiting for the elevator to open someone called out Chaewon's name, "Chaewon!"

The startled Chaewon looked in the direction from where the voice was coming from and she cried out, "Abeoji! (Father!)"

She hurriedly ran to Do Yun's direction and hugged him that left Henry standing alone by the elevator, "Abeoji, naneun Henrywa hamkke (Father, I'm with Henry)," pointing at Henry's direction.

"Oh..... good afternoon Mr. Kim," greeted Henry.

"Yunis-eulo dol-aganeun jung-ibnikka? (Are you on your way back to the unit?)" Do Yun asked Chaewon.

"Ye, uliga iss-eossjiman ije dangsin-i yeogi gyesi ni hamkke jib-e gaja abeoji. (Yes we were, but now that you're here let's go home together father)," answered Chaewon and Do Yun waited by the elevator together with them.

After a while, the elevator opened and Henry cried out, "Ma!"

The startled Amor looked in the direction from where the voice was coming from, "Henry?" But she was confused that he is together with Chaewon and Do Yun, "Uhm..... good afternoon Mr. Kim," greeted Amor.

"Ma, I was on my way home with Chaewon when Mr. Kim caught up with us," explained Henry.

"Ah..... good afternoon young master Chaewon," greeted Amor.

"Now that we're all here we can go home all together now," said Do Yun as he entered the elevator while the others followed.

Having Do Yun by her side in the same elevator where they once shared an intimate moment together but this time with their children seems awkward for Amor but somehow it makes her happy.

Standing outside unit 1203, Amor and Henry waited for Chaewon and Do Yun to get inside their unit first.

"Henry!"

"Oh..... yes Chaewon."

"Be careful on your way back to your hometown tomorrow."

"Uhm..... thank you."

"I'll wait until you come back."

"Ah..... okay, bye for now."

"Bye!"

"Oh..... bye and thank you, Mr. Kim."

"Have a safe trip tomorrow," but Do Yun was looking at Amor.

Not knowing how to respond Amor only bowed her head then Chaewon and Do Yun went inside their unit which prompted Amor and Henry to get in also.

Driiiiin. Driiiiin. Driiiiin.

Waiting for the trip bound to Daanbantayan in the North Terminal 8th of January 2023 Sunday 5:06 am, there were fewer passengers today than the usual. It has been a week ago since she went home and she is anxious since she will be going back to Theo's house to get her children's things. Seated at the 9th column 9th row on the right side of the driver Henry took the window seat thus she was seated in the aisle section. Clink clink clink. The bus inspector hits the bar handle of the door that signals the bus is now departing. Amor is wide awake for the whole trip and took notice of where they at during the travel. With a speed of 50-60kph, Amor did not even budge as the bus traveled down the cemented sometimes rugged zigzag road. Amor cringes at the thought of seeing Evelyn again when she goes to Theo's house.

For what seemed like an eternity, they finally arrived and can see Theo's house from the highway. "I used to call this home," she thought.

"Henry we'll go to your father's house to get your things first okay?"

"Yes ma," Henry replied.

Amor knocked on the door but no one is answering thus she cried out Theo's name instead, "Theo! Theo, it's me, Amor!! Theo, I'm with Henry please open up!!!"

"Amor?!" someone called out her name from behind.

The startled Amor looked in the direction from where the voice was coming from, "Riza?"

"Amor, it's really you. Don't bother calling out Theo he left since this morning, he might be back late in the afternoon or maybe at nighttime already. Don't you have a key to your own house anymore? Tsk, tsk, tsk....."

"Taleteller," she told herself. "Uhm..... I'll just come back later tonight, I'll go visit my parents first. Bye Riza....."

"Bye....."

"Henry, let's go."

"Yes ma," Henry replied.

Her parent's house is only 1 kilometer away thus she arrived there only after a few minutes of travel.

"Amor you're here, come in," greeted her father.

"I just arrived and will not be staying for long, where are the kids?"

"Come with me, your mother is preparing afternoon snacks for them."

"How have you been, pa?" worriedly ask Amor.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"Amor, Henry!" greeted her mother. "You can stay in the kitchen while I take out the afternoon snacks."

Looking at her parents peacefully living together, she hoped to age gracefully with someone also.

"Ma, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Huh? Yes," Elizabeth's startled reply.

They left the children in the kitchen with Daniel so that the 2 of them can talk in the living room.

"We went to Theo's house earlier to get their things but no one was there."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I might run into Evelyn if I go back there later tonight."

"Why are you worried? After all, you're still the wife....."

"But is she still my friend?"

"Time heals all wounds Amor and I'm sure Evelyn has a reason why she did it."

"I might ask my boss to allow me to extend a couple more days here with the children especially now that they're not with their father."

"Don't worry about your children," assured Elizabeth.

"I don't know how the children will cope especially Henry," long-withheld tears have now been freely released and are dancing on her cheeks.

"I'm really sorry Amor if we cannot be of much help but still don't hesitate to ask and we'll sort things out together, okay?"

"Thank you ma I guess I need to tell the kids now so that I can also give them the good news," before Elizabeth can respond Amor stood up because her words have now turned into cries.

Going back to the kitchen brought her to reality again, not knowing where to draw her strength from she still managed to walk toward her children.

"Uhm..... after our dinner I'll go get your things at your father's house okay?"

"Do you need help, ma?" asked Emma.

"Ah..... thanks Emma but I'll be fine."

Knowing how close her children are to their father, Amor doesn't know up until when she can hold on to her strength.

Wherever she goes, pain seems to follow her anywhere.