End This War

"Kajic baby," Ultear said to get her son’s attention. "Could you lend your arms to Mommy?"

Her son footed in front of the mirror as continued to observe himself while combing his hair. It seems every move he made up. It could cause a stir in his hair.

His long and straight blonde hair was above his shoulder. Sometimes, the people he encountered come to mistaken him as a little girl, when they looked at his back, exclusively whether his hair loosed or tied up.

Ultear twitched her head unbelievably. She knew her son was too excited to face Kylie and let her best friend know he was her most handsome nephew.

When they're having a video call, and her son Kajic always introduce himself like, "Hi, Aunt Kylie! I'm your cutest and handsome nephew!"

It was inevitable that Kylie would open the topic about her children’s father. She always mentioned an unfamiliar name on Kajic. The name of the man Ultear does not want to meet ever again. And she remarked as always. They had the same face, although the way they spoke and acted, was different.

Ultear was happy at her friend she was talking to, who was far from her child. A woman who will love her son surely and will never experience what she had feel with the man she loves before.

She slapped her head gently. She wanted to throw away all the things that played on her mind.

Ultear did not want to open again the topics about the man who gave her pain. But it came out again and again like a wave. She just wanted to bury it inside the casket and completely forget all the memories she has from him, except for her son.

She was tired of doing nonsense things. She cried several times, she was shedding tears because of a jerk who wouldn't even care about her feelings. Maybe next to come out on her eyes is blood.

"Will you get my phone?" she added, her pointed fingers pointed on the table.

The phone rang ends. The second time, it rings again. Kajic gives a little bit of his attention to hear her out. He turned his head to her as his lips pouted and looked into her eyes.

"I can’t, Mommy. Look at my hair. I don't have time to fix this," he answered. His finger pointed at his long hair as his lips pouted again.

"I can’t get it because I'm pinning this tightly." She was referring to the luggage in front of her.

She sighed. She cannot leave the baggage that contained clothes for the two of them, as she now secured. Because if she does not pin it down, it will explode, and as a result, she will fix it again. It loaded. She still does not know if she is capable to zip it off.

She does not want to reduce the clothes that Kajic puts on because she knew her son is the only one who will win in the end.

She will get him sad, and she does not want to make it happen. Kajic smiley face gives her motivation to face all the problems she faced off.

Kajic puts all his clothes inside the luggage. He thought they would stay in the Philippines for a year and for good, which was not. They can stay there in just less than of month. Ultear has a lot of work to do next month so they cannot stay there any longer.

Honestly, she also really does not want to attend her wedding. But that day was Kylie’s biggest dream as well as she would be the maid of honor as she promised.

Ugh! Her mind shouted, and cannot restrain to shut her eyes curtly.

She just wanted to back out from what she had promised to her best friend. The person she would be expecting will attend on that day, for Vince. Vince is her best friend’s fiancé.

She does not want to see Sting again for her sake and his sake as well.

She kept an eye on her son at every detail Kajic does. The confusion in her mind about Sting, her fucking first love, was not yet disappeared.

Because if they meet again or even have a glimpse his shadow. She is sure of it. The pains he caused may return. She does not want to hear and saw Sting’s cold stares and words of cruelty once again.

She also did not want Sting and Kajic paths to crossed. She didn’t wish Kajic to experience how painful she felt and experienced from his father.

Ultear noticed the tears ruined her makeup while looking at Kajic with a teary eyes. It was too late. Kajic saw her already.

She faced down immediately. She did not want Kajic to witness her weak spot.

Her phone continued to ring.

"I guess Ginno is calling," she said. She tried to make her voice sound cheerful.

He smiled brightly as his eyes widened. Kajic ran towards the table to picked up the phone that keeps ringing. Ginno is the only password to make him moved.

Ultear couldn’t help but smile at the ideas that entered her mind. What is wrong with those two? She couldn’t analyze the closeness they had.

She expected, Kajic to hand off the phone, and she is the one who who answer the call. But Ultear was mistaken. Kajic answered it for himself while standing up in front of her.

"Uncle Daddy, where are you?"

He stopped, and listened for the response of the person who called.

"Are you picking us?" A brighter smile stretched on his lips. "I'm excited! Hurry, Uncle Daddy, fetch us!

He stopped again without cutting off the smile on his lips.

"On Mommy? Okay."

Kajic hands over the phone.

"Hey!" she greeted.

She put the phone over her shoulder and ear, and she continued what she was going to made the clothes fitted in the luggage.

"Hey!" he greeted back. "Have you noticed my Cowichan sweater out there? I did not see it here. I already searched my luggage."

Her visions glanced at the sweater hanging on the door.

"I just left it there, I’m sure."

"Yeah." It was here, Ginno’s black sweater. She gave it to Ginno when he was turning 23 years old. Ginno was 26 years old right now, but it still looked new.

"Can you bring it with you?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Thanks."

A smile stretch on Ultear’s lips. "It is not a big deal."

"I’m almost nearby. See you!"

"I am looking forward." She turned off the call and looked at her son. Kajic full attention backed in the large mirror. "Baby, help Mommy to zip it off, and we are leaving. Do not let Uncle Daddy waits."

Kajic went near her and helped her without any pressure. He left the apartment first and went to the parking lot where Ginno was waiting for them.

Ginno snuggled down in his car, crossed his arms, plus his eyes shut for imagining something. A pretty smile curved on his lips when he and Kajic saw each other. These two guys are both excited, indeed.

She gave her full attention to Ginno in every little of his movement.

It has been almost six years since Ginno and Ultear met here in US. She was lonely, and she's crying everyday, but destiny made them meet. Ginno was a blessing given from heaven for her.

He was her knight and shining armor. And he made himself a pillow to cry on for Ultear.

Ginno helped her a lot as the year she carried Kajic inside of her. Start from what she needed up to taking good care of her son until now.

Some people they encountered assumed that Ginno was the father of her child. These people said they were cute every time they were together. And that crazy jerk Ginno, he answered yes without hesitation. So that was the great reason why everyone believed it. She could not help but hit this man every time that was happening. However, Ginno just always laughed at her and shrugged it off.

Those people they met always asked. Why aren't they just be together and get married? They will surely have a happy and perfect family.

Every time she heard these words. Ultear felt like a giant rock hit her head. She always felt that thing— always.

Sometimes, she assumed nor imagining Ginno was the man who got her pregnant and the man she loved the most. He may accept their future child without hesitation. Now that he has welcomed her son with wide arms, and Ginno treated Kajic as his flesh.

Suddenly, someone held her hand and grabbed her luggage. She just came to her senses. She looked at her side, and it was Ginno who stood next to her. Her son hugging his neck while buried his face on him.

"Let’s go? We're already late," he said and placed the luggage in the compartment.

Ginno positioned Kajic in the backseat and kissed his forehead gently. He opened the door wide for her as well. How gentleman, right?

"Thanks," she thanked him then she entered.

Ginno was a real ideal man for those girls fancying a forever. Handsome, intelligent, thoughtful, and overall responsible. All in one! And Ultear dreams guy like him.

The time has passed. The car went to the airport immediately. Their arrival was just right because there was no needed to wait any longer.

"So, what is your pretty plan?" Ginno asked, opening a topic. Kajic head leaned on his body. He played his fingers on her son’s hairs who are now sounded asleep and having some dream.

"A plan for what?" she is concerned, and her eyes looking at him. She does not have any ideas what's running on his mind.

"Your birthday is coming next week. Do you have any plans?" Ginno asked again.

Ultear shook her head also looked at the two person near them. They looked happy because the baby inside of the woman's womb kicked. A bitter smiled drawn on her lips.

Her birthday is coming up though she does not feel any excitement. Nothing has changed in the way she believed since she woke up in her dream up to now. It is her birthday and means it was also her Mother’s death anniversary.

"I do not have, but I'm planning to make a simple celebrations like we always do. With just the important people in my life," she answered livelily.

Ginno did not try to speak after his head nodded. He was looking out and breathing heavenly from time to time.

She turned her sight to the young man again and examined his face, especially his eyes. He wanted to say something, something he would be frightened to announce.

"If there are something that is bothering you, you can tell me," she asked curiously. "My ear is always open to listen to you."

Ultear raised her brow to forced him to speak. Their eyes met before he had the guts to answered.

He sighed.

She never see Ginno like this. She maybe saw it sometimes, but it was just when he's in a bad situation. And he does not even bother to tell her whatever ran through his mind.

He sighed again.

"The day after your friend’s wedding as we go back here. I wanted you to promise me right now, right here..." He stopped and looked at her eyes intently. "P-Promise me. You will accept my love for you. I’m not forcing you and hurrying you for your answer. I could wait any year longer, and I’m willing to risk my heart. But I know, Sting still has a place in your heart, would you accept—"

"Sting is not worthy of my love, Ginno," she cut him off. "My love for him was burned and turned into ashes, long time ago."

He smiled and nodded because of what he heard. No words came out on his lips. Those words that came out through Ultear’s mouth were enough for him to lighten and satisfied himself.

"I want to have a closure from him," she added though she was not sure of what she made on her mind and said that.

His smile was gone as his head puckered quickly. He did not know what he should say or ask. And Ultear caught up with his expressions.

"I'm tired of feeling this anger and resentment I had for him in so many years. No matter what I do to forget and throw away all the bad memories that happened a long time ago, I just cant't." She looked at Ginno with true-blue eyes. "It will only go away and vanish if I face him and tell him I forgive him, and we have forgiven each other."

She sighed, heavenly.

It is also the right time for her to meet him and erase all the pains Sting caused her. She wanted to forgive him so Ultear would no longer have any burden on her back and regret it, eventually. And it is the last time she would return to the country where she grew up. But her heart declined those facts.

Ultear looked at his eyes again. "But I do not need his help. Sting won’t need to provide every inch of my son’s needs. I can afford to give that. I’m already doing it with all this years, and I can still do it with the rest of my life."

"I can do that, as a father's responsibly."

She touched his cheek gently. She smiled at him. "Thank you for always being there for me. I’m grateful because I have you."

He kissed her hair as they both hugged the boy between them.

She doesn't have anymore thing to asked and prayed for. Once Ultear and Sting had settled the business between them. Ultear feels free to love again. She was waiting to make these things happened. Sting will know that she forgives him. And to be sorry for all the things she should not have done and caused.

She just wished their paths meet, and Sting can hear the words she still wants to say. The courage she had was enough to meet him.

Hopefully, Sting will found a woman that would love him, and he will love back as well. And should not hurt him like what his first love one did, because Ultear already found her Romeo, and it was Ginno. She wish him luck!

Ginno, Ultear, and her son going back to the US and live a happy and peaceful life. She dreamt of a happy family when she was a kid.

She winced at the things running in her mind.

Sting was the person in her dream and fulfilled that cloud castle. Maybe they were right. The dreams we had won't ever come true, instead it was the opposite that awaits us.