XXXVII. The other Jess
I felt devastated. I have no reason to stay anymore. I got a plane ticket for the morning.
I got a cab and it made a U-turn so we passed by the building of Jess’ apartment. Then I saw her walking. I stopped the car and asked the driver to wait for me. I got out and approached her.
Jess’: Hey Jess!
Jess: Oh. Hi. What’s up?
Jess’: Could I get that ring again?
Jess: Want it back? You gave it to me, stupidhead. Fine, it’s yours.
Jess: I want it to give to the one I love the most.
Jess: What?
Jess’: I didn’t get engaged.
Jess: What? I thought you proposed to Angel already and you just used another ring.
Jess’: I did. She said yes. I said I couldn’t.
Jess: You’re not making any sense.
Jess’: Last time, I let the girl of my dreams leave me for my best friend. Then I got her back through you. You taught me one thing through that experience. You taught me to go after the girl I love and to make a complete fool of myself just to prove to her how much I love her.
Jess: Where is this going?
Jess’: I love you. I can’t marry her because I do love you. I drove to your house after I proposed to Angel. I realized how the girl I wanted to marry was you all along. I was late. You already left. I got the first ticket of the next flight available. I got here in front of your building. But then I saw you with him. He kissed you. I chickened out again. I waited for the right time. There, across your apartment. Every single day. I wait for you to come by alone to talk to you. Yesterday, you did. But I wasn’t able to tell you how I feel because you seemed so happy and loved. I hate how I could ruin everything again. But you told me about this perfect timing—
Jess: Jess, no—
Jess’: Wait. Let me finish. There is no perfect timing. I just have to have the courage to face the fact that I have to risk everything… Because if I couldn’t, I would just lose. And now, I have lost. And now, I want to know if I have the chance because I don’t have anything to lose. I have lost you.
I knelt down.
Jess’: Will you marry me?
XXXIII. The other Jess
She kicked me at the groin, again.
Jess: Curse you! What the! You’re insane.
This time, the pain from the kick was mixed with the pain in my heart that I couldn’t get up from the ground.
Jess: I moved on, Jess. I moved on. I stopped hurting! I loved you. So much. More than I should. I left nothing for myself. I hated you. I still hate you for making me love you that bad. Stop hurting me anymore! I don’t want to see you again. I said that before. And you just kept on showing up, ruining my life. Get a life! Stop disturbing others, please. If you want me to have a little ounce of respect for you, leave me alone.
She left me.
The cab driver, Barney Roxas, helped me out. I got to the airport and continued to live.
