Fragments of Us

48: Jema

Nothing will really compare to the happiness of having the person you love by your side. I mean, euphoria has become an understatement since I woke up with Ella peacefully sleeping beside me. Our bodies intertwined, touching skin to skin as we're still both naked after the night we've shared.

I took the time to intently look at her face without her looking, but she caught me. I can't contain the joy I'm feeling, but I just roll my eyes instead.

This day felt surreal. We weren't thinking of anything else apart from spending our time together with our friends, and right now, we're at MG's for some drinks and a live band.

Fuck, my knees are getting weak at the sight of Ella literally wearing my wardrobe. My shirt, my short pants, even my flip-flops.

"Baby, I just need to go to the loo."

I excused myself and kissed Ella's hand before I went, but Tots appeared out of nowhere as I was going back to our table.

"Jema, please, I need to talk to you."

Tots said this with his wounds still fresh from our last night's not-so-pleasant encounter.

"Please, I just need a minute."

He pleaded as I just blankly stared at him.

We walked towards the shore, where the music wasn't so loud, when Tots started talking.

"I suppose you didn't attack me because you were jealous of me having my arms around some other girl."

She laughed, but I just smiled at the thought.

I just gave him a crooked smile and raised one of my brows when he suddenly stopped and faced me.

"Jema, I want to apologize. Not just for hitting up on your girl, but for everything."

"Well, I want to apologize for hitting you."

We're now both laughing. Wow, so this is how forgiveness feels.

I just felt a weight lifted from my whole being.

"And I'm getting married."

Tots said as his gaze shifted back to the sea. For some reason, a tear fell from my eye.

"I'm glad you've found someone to settle in with."

I genuinely said this to him.

"And I'm glad you found yourself still capable of loving again."

Silence dominated us for a minute when he suddenly spoke again.

"The girl I'm marrying," he paused.

"Was Ella's ex-girlfriend."

I'll be honest, Ella and I never really delve into each other's past because it doesn't actually matter, but this one really shocked me, so I looked at him questioningly.

"It's not my story to tell, but you definitely got the catch. Ella is never going to break your heart."

He looked back at me and smiled.

"My fiancee must be looking for me now. I must be going. I already got into enough trouble for hitting up on my ex's girl and my girl's ex-girlfriend."

Well, what do you know?

For some reason, I wanted to formally bid goodbye to my past. I hugged Tots one last time.

"Thank you for everything. And just know that whatever happened between us in the past, you're already forgiven."

We both cried in each other's arms, but then I also saw Ella crying from a distance while looking at us.

"Fuck, I need to go after Ella."

I told Tots as I hurried off to catch up to Ella.