Bittersweet
Drazen A. Evilla
Art was looking outside the window of the car he was riding; a vast stretch of pineapple plantation can be seen as far as his eyes could see. The place he was travelling was so memorable, for it was a romantic place for him. At one moment, those memories he had with someone at the very place quickly came rushing back in his mind…
Art, a city boy, went with his close friend in college at a certain Camp in Bukidnon, where he was invited by his friend in a certain family occasion one summer. It was there that he saw his first love, Jenny, his friend’s cousin. And that was the beginning. Art kept on going back to his friend’s place, where he could have the chance to see Jenny again. For a very short time, Art and Jenny got to know each other more and more. Together, they used to go out to the pineapple plantations to breathe some fresh air and see the splendor of the surrounding mountains. They became close to each other. Until one day, Art felt like he was finally falling in love with Jenny. However, Jenny was already taken, so Art didn’t have the chance to court her. Still, both of them kept in touch through text messages.
A month later, Art learned that Jenny broke up with his boyfriend. At those times, Jenny was feeling so broken, so Art decided to give Jenny her space. Then, once again, school came. Jenny was studying in Malaybalay City
During their first months their relationship was getting good. Although at some time, they get to be very busy with their studies, they could still manage to follow-up each other’s situation. One day, they called each other through phone, and Jenny asked half-kiddingly, “I supposed you would be looking for someone else their in your school, or have you finally found someone else there?”
Art replied, “Of course I won’t, I promise! Why have you thought about that anyway?”
“Nothing. Of course, there is still that possibility, right?” Jenny said.
“Well, yeah. But I tell you I won’t try looking for someone else, trust me!” Art said with an assurance.
“Okay, I trust in you. I love you!” Jenny said softly. Art replied, “I love you too.”
“But let’s promise each other Art, that if ever one of us will find someone else, we’ll tell one another, so that no one’s going to be hurt, promise?” Jenny told Art.
“Okay, that’s a promise!” Art finished.
It was at the end of their first semester that they met each other once again, in CDO, and they had their first date, which was quite short since it was actually unplanned. But at least, they got their chance to talk personally, to know how they missed each other so bad, and to know how they were doing with their life in each other’s locations.
After their encounter, another few months had passed, and things were somehow changing fast. It was the first month of a new year. Art continued to text Jenny almost everyday. But he realized that Jenny seldom text him this time. Art thought that maybe she was kind of busy, so he didn’t bother much. Then one time, Jenny texted him that she was a bit busy this time in her projects. Art said that he was starting to get busy with his projects too, and that he’s glad that at least he could still find time to keep in touch. It was his way to remind Jenny that he was making his efforts to connect to her amidst their busy life.
February came. One day Art texted Jenny and asked how she was doing. Jenny replied that she’s fine. Then, it was followed with a message saying, “I’m sorry.” Art asked why she had to be sorry. Jenny said “Nothing…uhmm, maybe for not keeping in touch more often.” But Art said he’d understand, for whatever reason it was. Yet still, Art felt that there was something different with the way Jenny said the words…..I’m sorry.
Until one day, fate twisted everything. Art tried to check on Jenny’s Friendster profile to give her a comment. However, he found out that some of Jenny’s latest comments came from a familiar guy he knew to be Jenny’s ex-boyfriend. Moreover, as he read the personal comments, they meant something different. He called Jenny through the phone later at night, and without any hesitation, he asked, “Are you and your ex-boyfriend back together again?”
Jenny was kind of hesitant to answer. Then, she said impatiently, “I’m so sorry Art...I’m supposed to...”
“You should’ve told me earlier that you wanted to reunite with him…I thought we promised to tell each other if ever we find someone else? And yet in the first place, you were the one who’s suspicious about me having someone else…how could you do that to me?” Art said, with tears slowly falling down his face.
“I’m so sorry….I know I was...” Jenny tried to explain, but Art felt so bad, he ended the call.
All through the night, he spent drowning himself with tears, with a deep cut through his chest, with an excruciating pain. He just couldn’t accept the fact that Jenny had done that kind of thing, when all he ever did was to love, and love her more. Several days later, Art decided to break up with Jenny, but she didn’t want to, she tried to apologize to Art. She said she realized what she had done and that she just broke up again with her ex. After that, they met each other personally, and tried to fix everything. In the end, Art decided to have a cool-off, instead of a break-up, since he is still in love with Jenny. Jenny accepted it. For three months, everyday it had been a feeling of emptiness for Art. After those three cold months, they texted each other again, and decided to end their cool-off. They started to make a new beginning, or at least that was what Art was thinking. Few weeks after, they celebrated their first year anniversary. Nevertheless, it was so simple. They haven’t planned for a date or even just to meet. But of course, they had their regular classes on that day, so it was difficult to see each other. Instead they just talked to each other through phone for more than an hour during the night. Yet somehow, Art was happy they have spent a whole year together. But at the back of his mind, and from what he actually felt inside, he didn’t sense a spark of real happiness that very day and he never really knew why.
Six days after, Art was feeling so happy at the start of his day. He went to class feeling active. It was the end of his class for the day, when his phone beeped and a text message was received. It read...
Gud morning Art. Honestly, I dnt want 2 hurt u, but I want us 2 finally break up. I am so sorry. Goodbye.
Sender: Jenny
And it was as easy and as sudden as it ended. It was the end of everything. Art cannot believe the words he had actually read from his phone. He went home directly, when he was supposed to go out with his friends after school. When he arrived home, he immediately went to his room and lied down, tears beginning to fall from his eyes, and all alone, he cried. So hard that he couldn’t almost breath because of the excruciating pain that’s growing inside his heart. That was the end of Art and Jenny. There’s nothing he could do any more. He doesn’t want to fight. There’s no sense in doing so. For he knows that the one Jenny truly loved was that other guy who came before him. He was the one who lost, he was used, and he must accept it.
***
He snapped back to reality. It had been a memory he still cannot erase in his mind. But of course, as what they say, first love never dies, and maybe it is true. Art realized what he had finally become, after that bittersweet love story he had gone through, he got over from all the torment that love had first set upon him. While he was still looking outside the car’s window, Art realized that he and Jenny never even had the chance to make endearments for each other, for one year of relationship; somehow, he managed to smile. And now, it dawned on him, that he had finally become better and stronger.
-papaRAZzi-
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