parallel lines | ✓

11

"LAURETTE, I'VE MADE up my mind. I choose Daelan." Her decision was like music to my ears. Even though she heard every reason why Daelan isn't right for her, she still followed her heart and it led her to him. It was like a sign from above advising me that if Ramona could chase Daelan, I have every right to persuade Marven.

Ramona requested me to drop hints to Marven so he would be prepared once they have the break up conversation, and as much as I hate to hurt the one I love, I needed to hurt him if I wanted to be the one he love.

The same night, anxiously, I paced back and forth in my room, fidgeting with my hair. I closed my eyes for a brief second, trying to overlook the image of the vulnerability in his eyes when I declare the bad news. No, this is not my concern right now, I tell myself. The sooner he knows she faked her feelings for him, the sooner he'll love me. So I took a deep breath, grabbed my phone and readied myself to deliver heartbreak.

It made three rings before a boy that had a deep and sultry voice, like that of a late night talk show on the radio said hello. "I have to tell you something." I practically blurted, my bell - like voice carrying agony and frustration.

"Sure. Anything, love." He said with a little laugh, the one that caused my stomach to flutter. It enraged me, because someone as loving and pure as him did not deserve the scheme that his devious girlfriend has planned.

I opened my mouth and then closed it, unable to recite the statement I practiced in my mind. "Ramona doesn't love – love you anymore." I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks flooding with the color of pure rose. As soon as those words slipped out of my mouth, I know there was no going back. Marven would either call me a fraud, isolate his relationship from me or could spend his next few months trying to win her heart back.

My heart sank as everything remained silent, the only sounds being the mechanical fan in my room. "I'm sorry, I should have never-" he cut off my words.

"It's my fault isn't it? I had the potential to be better for her but I didn't utilize it."

"Don't say that. It's not your fault; feelings are things that we have no control over, they come and they go. But memories never go away. You guys had your moments and I doubt Ramona regrets any of them."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Marven, I want you to know that it might take you a while to get over this relationship but one day, when you find love again, you'll thank her for leaving. And I'll be with you until that day arrives."

"Thanks, I needed that." He sniffed, concealing the sound of his sorrowful water - works. "And hey, on a positive note, at least I got a friend out of this relationship. I'm grateful for you Laurette, really grateful. I hope you know that."

"I do." I spoke, unsure of how to feel. As much as I was fond of his appreciation, I was wounded for his blindness to my fountain of affection.

"Laurette, is it weird that even after knowing how she feels, I still have the urge to wrap her in my arms hoping it would change things?"

"Not at all. Because sometimes the people that hurt us, are the same people that can comfort us."