I decided to return home and to see Reina again. 5 years is too much for me not to see her, and during the past years, I was like a person lost in the desert and only the sight of her could only quench my thirst I have inside. After I got out of the plane, I went to our house, too desperate to see her again, hug her. Then I would tell her that I missed her and that I love her for a long time. This time, I am determined to let her know my true feelings for her and I could not contain any more the love I have for her. I reached their house; I saw her older sister and I approached her. I smiled at her but I noticed, she didn't smiled back. I was confused because she used to be a cheerful lady just like my dear Reina. I then asked, "Hi, Princess! I guess you're surprised that I am here? Well, I just want to visit you and I was also hoping to see Reina. I kinda missed her you know. Ummmm, by the way, have you seen her?" She said, "Come, follow me." I was confused with the way she's acting but still, I followed her. As we were walking, I was trying to indulge her in a conversation but she just answered me briefly. Then I realized that she was leading me to the direction of the lake. It was still the same as I left it, with the same big tree Reina and I used to climb up. I smiled while remembering the kiss Reina gave me when I agreed to be her partner on our JS Prom. It was one of the happiest happenings in my life. I realized, I missed Reina more than I thought. Princess stopped walking and she pointed to the big tree. She whispered, "There's Reina." I looked at where she was pointing and I saw a newly dug tomb with the name of the girl I ever loved. I could not believe at what I saw and desperately tried convincing myself that this is just a nightmare and I would soon wake up. I stared at Princess in disbelief with her eyes searching for explanations and slowly started saying, "It has been a week since she died. She died of leukemia, but even though she was sick, she never stopped thinking of you, it was even your name she uttered before she died. She asked as to bury her here, for she regards this place as a place of LOVE. She said that, this is where she had spent the happiest days and that was when she was with you. By the way, she also asked me to give you this." She handed me a box and with that, she left. I slowly opened it and saw that it contained the dried orchid from the corsage I gave her for our prom. Then at the bottom, I saw a letter. It was dated last month. I opened it with shaking hands and started reading... "I know by the time you read this letter, I'm gone. I just want to tell you that I was very lucky and thankful to God that I had a friend like you. I would also like you to know that I had left something inside, something I kept you from all this years. I love you, Bailey Thomas Cabello May. Not in a friendly way, but as one who would feel like spending the rest of my life with. I have always loved you, even from the start. I guess it just bloomed each day, that's why the happiest days of my life was when you were by my side. You just don't know how I dreamed of you at night and wake up in the morning and dream no more for you are with me. When, you are away, I can't stop crying because I'm afraid to think that you are with another girl. I just want you all to myself. I may sound selfish but that's how I feel. Each time you held me close to you was like a dream coming true, for to be close to you and feel your heart beating next to me was heaven. So many things I did, so that you will learn to love me, but NEVER had I seen a hint. I did everything to please you because I love you so much that I even tried to fool myself that you are in love with me too. So many nights I've cried, when I think of myself unloved by you. Well, you might think that what I'm saying are lies, but I tell you, my heart speaks the truth for I cannot bear telling a lie to the one I love. I know, you might be thinking of Ken, but I just did that to make you jealous, to make you see me as a young woman, capable of loving and not as the little girl you used to play with. Sometimes, I imagined that you were jealous and fooled myself that it was a sign that you feel something for me too. When Ken and I broke up, and I came crying, I just did that to know how would you react and with that, I'll know that you love me too. But I failed, for you didn't gave me any clue. When our prom night came, you just don't know how happy I was when you handed me the corsage and saying that I was the loveliest girl in the whole world. While we were dancing, I wanted so desperately to hear you say that you love me too, but you NEVER did. When Ken came and pleaded me to give him a second chance, I was scared that you might see us talking. I didn't want you to get the wrong impression, so I told him we would talk in the garden. There, I told him that it's you whom I really love. What happened next was that, I found you missing and later learned that you were searching for me. I just concluded that you saw us together. The next day, I tried to explain, but then, you never gave me a chance to do so. You continuously avoided me and never knew how much pain I've experienced that time. I felt the world crushing on me. In our graduation day, when I approached you, I wanted to tell you how much I love you, but I decided that I just couldn't do it. I could not bear to hear that all you feel for me is just brotherly hand of love. For I want you to love me as a woman and not as a girl or playmate. So, I just turned away and left. Now that saying I LOVE YOU might be too late, still, I want you to know that I will always love you and my heart has always been and will be yours alone. PS: Think of me sometimes... and always remember that loving you was the best thing that ever happened in my life. LOVE, Reina" I felt my tears falling down in my cheeks as I was folding the letter. I wanted to shout just to let her know how much I love her, if not as much, but more than she did for me. I love her more than anything else in this world. If I only told her. If I only let her explain everything. We would have been happier. I knelt touching the soil of her grave and rain started to fall. I continued crying softly and whispered, "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, REINA."
