WHEN LOVE FAILS

Chapter 9: The Relationship Disaster

A month had passed, and now the day had come for him to return to Korea. When Wonnie told me this, I tried to keep my composure.

"Kailangan ko na balik sa Korea para sa business" he explained, looking away as if it was hard for him to say.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Kailan ka babalik dito?" I asked, trying to hide the worry in my voice.

He hesitated before replying, "Hindi ko pa alam, Jagi. Promise, babalik ako sayo" Those words echoed in my mind long after he left, filling me with an uneasy feeling I couldn't shake.

The day of Wonnie's Arrival to Korea

The days felt longer, emptier without him by my side. I'd scroll through our old photos, replaying our memories and wondering when—or if—he'd be back?

The uncertainty was eating away at me, but I told myself to be patient. I wanted to trust that Wonnie would return as soon as he could, that this was only temporary. But something didn't feel right. In the quiet moments, doubt crept in, and I'd catch myself thinking, What if he doesn't come back at all?

One evening, while scrolling through social media, I stumbled upon a photo that shattered me. There was Wonnie, standing next to a woman I didn't recognize, looking tense and uncomfortable, yet they were dressed as if for a formal occasion.

A comment underneath mentioned that it was part of his family's "arranged engagement."

My heart sank, and a wave of pain and disbelief washed over me.

"Was this why he went back?"

The idea that he could be part of something like this, that he hadn't told me, felt like a betrayal. I couldn't believe it—he'd left without saying anything.

I messaged him immediately, my fingers shaking as I typed.

"Jagi, totoo ba 'tong nakikita ko? Nasa arranged marriage ka?"

I waited, my chest tightening with every passing second.

When he finally replied, his message was short,

"Oo, Jagi. Family expectations. Hindi ko gusto ganito, pero mahirap..I'm sorry"

Reading those words, I felt a sharp ache. All the plans, dreams, and love we'd shared now felt like fragments slipping through my fingers.

"Ikaw mahal ko." He added.

I wanted to yell, to cry, to ask why he hadn't trusted me with the truth.

After that message all his social medias and numbers I can't even contact.

In the days that followed, I wrestled with the emptiness he left behind. Part of me felt foolish for believing we could make it work, for thinking that what we love had was unbreakable.

I missed him deeply, but more than that, I missed the future I had begun to imagine with him. Through the heartbreak, I knew I had to let him go—even if it meant accepting that some love stories end not because they lack love, but because life pulls us in separate directions.

After seeing that photo, I spent the entire night wide awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment we shared. My thoughts spiraled, each memory bringing a pang of hurt.

"How could he keep something so important from me?"

I wanted to believe that he had his reasons, that maybe he was protecting me or himself in some way, but that only left me with more questions. I texted him again, feeling lost.

"Wonnie, Bakit hindi mo sinabi? kung ako ang mahal mo bakit hindi mo ako ipinaglaban?"

Each word felt like a plea, a whisper into the void. Yet, silence was my only reply. I cried over and over.

Two week passed, and I kept hoping he'd explain himself, tell me it wasn't true, or that he was fighting to come back. But with each passing day of silence, reality settled in deeper.

I'd check my messages every morning, each time my heart aching a little more as I saw nothing from him. It was painful, but in that stillness, I realized that sometimes closure doesn't come from answers.

Sometimes, it's found in accepting the silence and learning to move forward on my own terms.

There were moments when I would walk past places we used to go together, and the memories would hit me like waves.

"Dito tayo uminom ng kape, at dito mo ako tinawag na Jagi."

I could almost hear his laughter in the air, the way his eyes lit up whenever he talked about his favorite spots. I can't stop my heart for hurting this much. I can't stop my eyes crying for him over and over.

I found myself longing for those simple moments—the way he would gently hold my hand, the warmth of his embrace, and the sweetness of his words.

"Kahit saan, basta kasama kita, masaya ako"

He used to say. Now, those words felt like a bittersweet echo in my heart.

Nights were the hardest. I'd lie awake, staring at the stars, imagining him somewhere out there, living a life that seemed so far removed from mine.

"Ano kaya ang ginagawa niya ngayon? Masaya kaya sya? Miss na miss ko na sya."

I missed the sound of his voice, the way he would softly call me his "darling" in Korean, and the little things that made our relationship feel special.

The void he left behind was palpable, and I struggled to fill it with anything meaningful.

"Kailan ko kaya makikita si Wonnie ulit?"

I cried and wondered if I would ever see him again, or if this longing would remain a part of me forever.

-————

After two months of waiting, as I was scrolling through my phone, I stumbled upon a message from Wonnie. My heart raced as I opened it, and the words danced before my eyes:

"Jagi, nandito na ako sa Pilipinas. I want to see you."

I couldn't believe it. After all the months of longing and wondering if I would ever see him again, he was back.

The excitement coursed through me like electricity, and a wave of hope washed over my heart.

"Totoo ba ito?" I thought, my mind racing with memories of our time together.

Without hesitation, I replied,

"Saan tayo magkikita?"

My fingers trembled as I typed, eager to finally be reunited with him. As I awaited his response, I felt a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

Would things be the same between us? Would he still feel the same spark? The thought of seeing him again after everything filled me with joy, and I couldn't help but imagine how our reunion would unfold. It felt like a new beginning, a chance to explore what we could be together once more.

A few moments later, my phone buzzed with Wonnie's response:

"Sa park tayo, sa maraming mga bulaklak. I want to reminisce everything we had there."

My heart swelled at his words. The park where we first confessed our feelings felt like the perfect backdrop for our reunion. I could already envision the vibrant flowers, the gentle breeze, and the warmth of the sun as we stepped back into each other's lives.

I quickly made my way to the park, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves. It was time to see if the love we shared was still alive, and if we could turn the page to a new chapter together.