Unwithered Love

Chapter 18: Does Time Heal?

One Sunday afternoon at the veranda, I was reading my Optometry book, when I noticed that there was a new boy next door who keeps on looking at me. He would smile every time I glance at him. I tried to ignore him and focus on my reading, but I was distracted when he moved closer to the bars between the two verandas and asked,

"You're taking Optometry? What school?"

I raised my brow wondering why he knew my course, I simply said, "Southwestern."

He smiled and said pointing to my book, "That looks interesting, but my brain could not take that."

I forced to smile and went inside my room.

The next day my roommate was teasing me when I went down for breakfast. On my plate there's a rice cake with cheese on top of it. I asked our landlady, Manang Celia, why the other plates had none. She grinned at me and said,

"That's only for you from Diovi, the new boarder next door. A small note is under your plate."

I just raised my brow and sat quietly. I read the note:

Good morning. Sorry for disturbing you yesterday. Diovi.

I rushed eating without touching the rice cake. After brushing my teeth, I told Manang Celia to eat the rice cake. I got my things, leaving the note on the table, and left for school. But on my way out, I saw Diovi at the main gate of the apartment. I just passed by not looking at him, but he walked beside me.

"Hi. Are you still mad at me?"He asked grinning at me.

I looked at him, "What? Sorry, I don't have time. I don't want to be late in my class." I continued walking and was relieved he did not follow me.

That same day from school, Diovi was outside the apartment when I passed by their door. He looked at me and asked,
"Are you still mad at me?" His voice seemed serious.
I managed to smile and said,
"Uhm..no, and by the way thanks for the rice cake."
I quickly went inside our boarding house.

Everyday Diovi would greet me at the gate, or would send a greeting card just to say "hi," "take care"or "have a nice day." Because of his persistence to befriend me, I tried to be nice to him. He would walk with me going to my school, and sometimes during his free time he would patiently wait at the gate to fetch me.

Since he was very friendly not only to me but to all my board mates, he was free to come in and out of the house. But his attention was always on me. He was always there for me to encourage and help out in doing my assignments and projects. He was always ready to listen, to give comfort, and to make me smile when I was sad. I could sense that this friendship would lead to something special.

So when Diovi started courting me, I just allowed him to express his feelings towards me. Since he was not hard to love, I caught myself having the same feeling for him.

Diovi was very expressive with his feelings. He would not leave any reservation just to show how much he loved me. He was very generous also. He enjoyed giving simple gifts to express his love for me. Everyday he would not miss saying the words I love you to me. But he never demands to hear those words from me. Once he asked me why I don't express it in words, I would simply tell him it would be better if I express it in actions. He would just hug me and repeatedly say I love you to me.

There was a time I would ask him why does he love me. He would simply shrug his shoulder and say, "My heart told me to love you. It says it's beating because of you."

I contemplated on that when I was alone. What does my heart say? Do I really love Diovi? I just could not understand why my mind says I do love him, but my heart is silent about it. Then I thought of my Michael. Do I still love him? Still my heart is quiet, but why do my tears fall every time I think of him?Why does it still hurt? How can I truly love Diovi when this heart still longs for Michael?
Why all this time I could not erase him in my heart? Who can comprehend?

Maybe this hurt inside me would somehow be replaced with the comfort of having the love of Diovi. Maybe what I need is more time for healing. Yes, this broken heart would become whole again and at peace someday, hopefully.