The Gentle Truth

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Not all stories start in the beginning. Sometimes it starts when it's almost ending. Why? Because we only realize it's worth when it's gone. I could say, that's our story. It may have begun when we were younger, but it didn't change the fact that our relationship isn't just like before. Not when we're already on the brink of collapse.

"Ma'am pwede po kayo muna dito sa counter. Tawag lang po ako sa kitchen." I just nodded to Mimi, one of the staffs here in my Café.

Ni hindi ko na natignan ang customer noong lumapit ako sa cashier para kumuha ng order. Busy kasi ako sa pagsusulat ng inventory ng shop. Wala rin kami masyadong staffs ngayon dahil holiday. I sigh when i finally finished jotting down. I looked up wearing my smile.

"Hello, good morning. What's your-" My body froze. My smile hangs up in the air, as I realize who's standing in front of me. He smiled softly.

"Hey, uhm are you okay?" His face etched in worry. I just nodded simply. Calming down myself.

"I am fine, thanks. What's your order?" I cleared my throat trying my best to look fine, even when it's clearly not.

"Ganun parin, padoble nalang. May kasama kasi ako. Salamat." Sabi nya sa malambot na boses. Ngumiti lang ako ng tipid at tumango. Pero hindi nakalagpas sa paningin ko ang tinutukoy nyang kasama. Lalaki iyon at kilalang kilala ko kung sino.

I tried my best to present myself professionally. I'm working and he's a customer. It isn't right to mix our personal issues with what's happening right now, when it's clear that he's not bothered by it too. He probably didn't want to think about it anymore-And I should do that also. We're not just like before. There's a huge wall that keeps us from being like what we used to be. It was long forgotten, or so I've wanted to say to myself. I shouldn't dwell on that-but how couldn't i? He's everything I kept running away from. And the same reason that I kept running back to. Back when we weren't acting strangers.

"How are you?" His voice pulled me back from my thoughts. His hazel brown eyes bore into me. Natulala ako. Pero kalaunan ay mas piniling mag-iwas nalang ng tingin.

"A-ayos lang..." With my shaky hands, I slid his card back together with the receipt, across the counter. Not minding to look up to him. I just can't...

After he paid for his order, I excused myself. Mabuti nalang at bumalik si Mimi para tulungan ako. Pumunta ako sa opisina ko at nilock ang pinto. And when I locked the door, my knees hit the floor. My back was against the door, as I stared blankly at the wall. Hugging my knees as tears started pooling in the corners of my eyes. I thought I've already overcome it. I thought I had already moved on. I thought I could live my life without him. But I guess I might've been wrong.

That man was Joaquin Acacius Alcazar. My first love. My greatest love. My best friend. And my soon to be ex-husband.

Si Waki lang ang bakla na minahal ko ng ganito. At ang lalaking kasama nya naman ay ang unang lalaking minahal nya. Maybe they're together again. Who knows, right? But I can't understand why the hell I'm still crying. Hindi ko mapigil ang mga luha ko. But if i had a chance, I would still do the same. I would still choose to let him go even though I love him.

Because he is my gentle truth among the rough reality-that our relationship already fell apart. He's always been my gentleman. My gentle love. But it's not enough to fill the space in his heart, that's already occupied with the first man he loves.

Joaquin may not reciprocate my feelings, and his heart belongs to another man, but that doesn't diminish the love I have for him. He's been my best friend since childhood, and even though our paths diverged into adulthood, my love for him remains unchanged. It's a love that transcends gender preferences and societal norms. A love that is genuinely pure and true. I wouldn't trade this love for anything. It's what makes me who I am, and it's what keeps me going.

I am Alaina Hopelhia Mendez-Alcazar. And this is our story. Of how I fell in love and ended up in a marriage with my gay best friend.