The Fake Rose (one-shot)

He met her at a bar. That night it seemed to him that she was the most outstanding girl he had met. He wanted to come closer, but he remembered that he was just an average joe and nobody would dare to pay attention to him.

He stared on his glass of martini for a long time, thinking how he could remove the image of this girl from his mind. He had found how, but suddenly this girl drew near him that made him forgot what he was thinking.

“Hey.” All of a sudden he felt very edgy.

“Uhm, hey.”

“The name’s Jesse. You are?”

“I-I’m Jake.”

Jesse looked around as if there was someone watching them before she continued. “Sorry if I had to do this. My friend and I are having a bet.”

Jake felt sad on what he heard. The idea of him just being a typical man came back into his gloomy mind.

“Please, help me. She’s drunk. If I won’t do this, she might eat me alive.” Jesse broke the diminutive silence. “Promise, I would do any of your favor.”

 “S-sure. No problem.”

Jesse and Jake went to the counter where Suzy was sitting. With a bottle of Rosẻ in her left hand, she spoke.

“Looks like you’ve won, eh? It’s your first time here yet you’ve already got a catch.” she hiccupped.

“Yeah, yeah. You happy? Now let’s go home.” Jesse offered her hand to her friend. Suzy stared at it for a while, and then suddenly she fell asleep.

“Geez! I shouldn’t have accompanied her here! Come on Jake.” Irritated, Jesse pulled Jake out of the bar and walked down the street.

“Sorry about that.” she sighed before she continued. “I know she needs me, but… it’s too much! She always asks for help but she always ends up drinking! I’m so tired of catching her when she’s into trouble!” she said in a high-pitched voice.

That made him more cheerless. The reason why he went at that bar was because he had been a burden to his friends, especially his family. At all times he always messed up.

Nevertheless, Jake escorted Jesse on her way home. They became friends. And after that night, they had always been talking on the phone. Jake slowly fell in love with Jesse though he knew that she wouldn’t feel the same way, but the truth is Jesse felt the same way about him.

One cold night, they agreed to see each other. Without them knowing, they both have the same thing in mind – it is to admit that they love each other.

 Jake was very perturbed. He walked around the cafe, head down, hands were rubbing each other. Few minutes later, he saw Jesse standing at the front door. They waved at each other, and he went outside to meet her.

“You hungry?” the tone of his voice made it obvious that he’s in tense.

“No, no. It’s okay. I uhm, uhh. I just w-want to tell you something.”

“Go on. I’m listening.”

“I.. I like you. Good heavens! I know it sounds crazy but, yeah. That’s it!” she paused for a while to breathe. “Uhm.. it’s okay if you don’t feel the same w—-“

Jake placed her pointing finger into her lips that made her stopped talking. Little by little, he brought out a dozen of red roses. 11 real, one fake. He put the fake one in the center so that Jesse won’t notice. He smiled and said “I will love you, until the last flower dies.”

That was the best day of their lives. Their friendship shifted onto the next level. They were happy with one another, until their love was put into a test.

It was past midnight. Jake pushed himself to tell Jesse what he needs to. He’s terrified, but he knows it’s the right thing to do.

The fog made him shiver as he drove downtown to see her. When he got in front of her house, he lost the courage to speak to her personally. He couldn’t make it. He was too afraid.

He decided to call her. Fortunately, after three phone rings, she answered.

“Hello?”

He noticed the light turned on at the upper left window of the house. “Sorry for bothering you.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m still awake anyway.” She told that so that he won’t feel sorry anymore. “Why are you still up? Are you going to say anything?”

He zipped his lips, forcing himself not to cry. “Jake? Are you still there?”

“Yes, I am. Jesse,” he heaved a sigh. “I’m leaving.”

There was no response from her for a long time. He took the chance to cry his heart out.

“It’s okay. You’re still coming back, right?” he heard a sobbing from the phone.

“I.. I don’t think I will. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this before. I’m afraid you wouldn’t accept my feelings for you. I hope you'll forgive me. I love you.”

Jesse ended the call. She cannot take it. She was mad at him for lying. She was profoundly hurt.

He was her first boyfriend, and knows that he was also the last. After what had happened to them, she didn’t bother herself to open her heart for another. She kept on waiting for Jake though she knew that he would not come back. She went on blaming herself for ignoring all his phone calls and not opening her door when he visited her before he would leave.

She made up his mind.

She went on their rooftop.

“I guess roses only live for a short time. Goodbye, Jake. You are my life. I love you and I will never stop.”

Twenty years had passed. The trees grew old, people became busy, and even the bar where they first met each other had gone out of the business. Almost all changed, only one thing didn’t - Jake was still hopelessly waiting for her.

He made up his mind.

He wrote his last letter for Jesse.

My dear Jesse,

                It’s been a long time, but I still love you. You really had no clue how much I am missing you right now. I missed my flight because I had to see you for the last time. But I guess you’re not in your house after all. I don’t know where you are, but if you had read this, I am still waiting for you. I hope you still feel the same way. Thank you for being there for me though I had always been a burden. Thank you for accepting who I am. It was too hard to let you go. I love you Jesse, until the last flower dies.

Love,

Jake

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Ang corny. HAHA. Pinost ko lang dito yung story ko para sa English namen. Wala lang. Para masaya.