Chapter One

Kirsten heard a series of knocks on her door. She wanted to ignore it and just went back to sleep, but it seemed like the person knocking on her door had no plans to leave.

Annoyed, she got up from the bed and did not bother to fix herself. She was wearing a loose white shirt with a Winnie the Pooh print, which was less than half of her thigh. Because it was loose, anyone could almost see her left shoulder because her clothes were slightly pulled down to the left. The hair is messy just a little over the shoulder. She took her eyeglasses from the study table and went to the door.

"Whoa!!!" The person in front of him suddenly backed away. He was surprised not only because he was too close to the door. But maybe because of her appearance as well as.

Even though she wanted to laugh at his reaction, she could not. It was as if she was drenched in cold water when she saw the man in front of her. She was even amazed, never in her wildest dream that this scene will happen.

"Kirsten?" He stared at her carefully, making sure he was right. His face came a little closer to her.

Even if she wanted to retreat, her body seemed to have hardened.

She closed her eyes tightly, calling all the Saints to wake her up. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes, hoping he was no longer there. But she was even more surprised because his face was now too close to her.

He smiled, touched her chin, and pushed it up to close her mouth.

"Good morning Kirsten!"

She must have swallowed her tongue because not a single word came out of her mouth.

She pulled her face away from him, but the distance at which she stood was still close to where he was standing.

When her shock subsided a bit, she first adjusted her eyeglasses that went down to her nose and stared intently at the one in front and then spoke.

"Gero?" still not convinced that he is now standing in front of her.

"You scared me, I thought you lost your tongue," he answered.

He looked at her from head to toe. Now she wants to regret why she did not fix herself before opening the door.

"What are you doing here?" She suddenly asked him before he could say something about her appearance. She also simply lifted the sleeve on her left shoulder.

His eyes followed the sleeve she had made. Her cheeks seemed to heat up by the way he looked at her. She also simply pulled down the hem of the t-shirt to cover her legs a little.

He stared at her lips, later took the handkerchief from his pants pocket, and wiped his mouth.

She knew her face was red at that moment.

She averted her face from its handkerchief. "Don't do that please". She said shyly and simply wiped her mouth using the back of her hand.

He sighed.

"Okay, I'll give you five minutes," he said.

She looked at him, wondering.

"I'll give you five minutes to fix yourself."

"Thirty," she said.

"Nah...Fifteen" he replied, with finality in his voice.

"Fine..." she smirked at the same time before closing the door.

After she closed the door.

"Oh my God! This is not happening!" with both hands on her cheeks.

She suddenly makes the sign of the cross.

"Please wake me up Lord, promise I won't wear make-up for two weeks! Oh no! One week Lord, one week!" While still closing her eyes.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Ten minutes Kirsten."

Annoyed she looked at the door.

What is his older brother's best friend doing in her apartment? Isn't he in Germany? Gosh the last time she saw him was like 10 years ago.

Earlier she noticed he was getting taller. Her older brother is tall but she estimates Gero is a few inches taller. If she is not mistaken, he is now 20 years old, because he and his older brother are the same age.

She smiled as she remembered what he looked like earlier.

God! He looks even more handsome!

Earlier she seemed to faint every time he smiled.

Ahhh ... she wants to cry.

She looks like an old-fashioned doll, after 10 years!

She was surprised again when he suddenly knocked again.

"Five minutes left Kirsten... I know you're just standing there."

She slowly peeked at the sides of the door if there was a hole he could see.

"Kirsten!" in an irritated voice.

She automatically walks quickly towards the bathroom.

He was really surprised by Kirsten's appearance.

Then he suddenly smiled.

Oh well, she is not Kirsten if she fixed herself first before she opens the door earlier. Knowing that she just woke up.

Oh, Kirsten...

How he missed her so much. He wanted to hug her earlier. But he knew it would only make her feel more embarrassed. When they were still young, Kirsten always makes sure that she looks pleasant whenever he is around.

As a child, she was very vocal about her feelings for him, which they just laughed at.

She always gets angry whenever they asked her to call him big brother. As she would always say, she will be his wife when she gets older. But he will just laugh at it and at the same time mess with her hair which makes her even more annoyed.

Their houses are just next to each other, so he often visits Caleb every weekend.

Most of the time they play PlayStation in their living room and whenever little Kirsten came out of her room. Her eyes will widen while looking at him with matching gape. She will then quickly go back inside and tidied up and then after an hour she will come out a new bath and looked good.

He was ten years old when his parents decided to live in Germany. His grandfather died and no one else will be able to take care of his business in Germany because his father is an only child.

He still remembers the day they left the Philippines.

He finished saying goodbye to Caleb and his parents. And while their parents were talking, he went to their car and just waited there.

He would like to say goodbye to Kirsten who was just six years old at that time. But her mother said that she did not want to be disturbed. It looks like she's doing something important. He was a little sad that he could not even say goodbye to her. He does not have any siblings, so he also seems to have a sister because of Kirsten. It is natural for Kirsten to be sweet. Every birthday she gives a present made by herself.

He straightened up as he saw little Kirsten approaching him.

"Hi Gero" with her cute perky voice, she forces a smile on her face.

"Finally our princess has come down" I joked to Kirsten because I know that she will cry anytime.

"I have something for you," she said a little shyly.

She handed me a personalized picture frame, with our picture on it last Christmas. That could be the reason why she didn't want to be bothered earlier.

"And a letter," she added. "I will read it for you, so you have to listen okay?" She took a deep breath and smiled at me before she starts reading.

I nodded. I hold back a smile because I know it will only annoy her.

"Dear Gero, there are lots of things that I want to tell you, but I know this is not the right time. Right now I want to say thank you for always making me happy and that, its really hard for me to see you go. " Her voice was a bit muffled. "But I know we will see each other again, right?" She looked at him with a worried face.

He nodded in response and that made her smile.

"You always told me that I'm still too young and that what I'm feeling right now will just fade away but I'll grow up someday Gero and I will make you fall in love with me." There is a determination in her statement, to show him that she is serious about what she is saying.

I smiled at what I heard.

"And I will wait for you then," I replied to her. I know she will forget everything that she said today. Deep inside my heart, there is a part that I hope not but I dismissed it right away.

She seemed pleased with my answer. She gave me the letter and kissed me on the cheek.

"The real one, I'll give it to you when I grow up." Then winked at him before she goes back inside the house.

And now, after 10 years.