A Chance at Love (completed)

Chapter 1

                It was the night we broke up when things started to fall apart. I can still remember how my life was changed.

        “Hey, can you meet me outside your house right now? I have to tell you something. It’s very urgent. This can no longer wait.” I was about to sleep when he called me that night, so I quickly wore my jacket and went outside.

        “What’s wrong?” That was the first thing I asked him. His face looked sad. I began to feel worried about him. I held his face and asked him again, “Mico, what’s wrong? What happened?”

        He didn’t answer me for the second time. Instead, he hugged me very tightly. “I’m sorry.” I heard him say. He kept repeating those words again and again. I began to feel the sadness in him and I felt nervous for the very first time. I asked him why he’s saying sorry and he suddenly released me from his embraced. “I’m sorry.” He said it again and continued, “I’m sorry, Ara. I can’t love you anymore.”

        I was stunned about what he said. I faced him and looked at him straight in the eyes. “Why?” I don’t really know what to say to him. That was so sudden. I wasn’t even prepared for this. I haven’t even imagined that this day would come. I looked at him. I just wanted to know the reason. I felt numb. There was something preventing me to move and even my tears won’t come out. I heard him say ‘I’m sorry’ again. I asked him, “Why are you saying this now? I thought we’re okay. What happened? Did I do something to hurt you? We could still make this work. Please, Mico, don’t leave me. I love you.” I know I sounded desperate for asking him to stay but I have no choice. I have to do that because I really love him. I don’t think I can live without the person who has been my life for three years.

        “Ara, I know you deserve someone better. I don’t think I can love you anymore. I can no longer make you happy. Please, let’s just be friends. In that way, we’ll be able to save our relationship.”

        I looked at him and tears finally began to fall down my cheeks. “Can you tell me why? At least I deserve to know the reason why you’re doing this to me. And you said you can’t love me anymore. Does that also mean that you don’t?”

         He looked at another direction and said, “I met someone.”

        “When? I want to know everything. Please, tell me.” I didn’t really want to know the details. I just wanted to be with him a little longer before he goes far away, really far away from me.

        “I met her at the party. She was the daughter of dad’s business partner. I felt different the first time I saw her. I think it is love at first sight. I can’t stop thinking about her. Yesterday, I saw her again. I became sure about my feelings for her. I like her. So…”

        I think he wasn’t sure if he would continue or not because he looked directly at me. He saw that my tears won’t stop falling down my cheeks. When he was about to wipe my tears, I stopped him and said, “You decided to break up with me so that you can have a chance with her? Let me ask you. Am I not good enough for you? Do you want me to change? I’ll do it.”

        “No, Ara. That’s not it.”

        “Then tell me.” I said with desperation. I couldn’t understand why he’s being like this.

        “There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just that, I fell in love with her the moment I laid eyes on her.”

        “How about your promise? You promised that we’ll be together no matter what. And you’ve been saying that you love me for almost three years. Have you been lying to me? Did you even love me?” I don’t really understand why he was doing this to me. I gave him my whole heart.

        He didn’t say anything after that. He just waited for me to say anything.

        “Forget what I said. I don’t really want to know your answer. But, are you sure about this? Can’t you give us another chance and just forget about her? May be you’re just confused. May be you’re…”

        He didn’t let me finish what I was saying. He just looked at me and said, “I’m sorry, Ara. I’m really sorry. You can hate me forever. But I can’t love you anymore. I’m really sorry.”

         “You can’t love me anymore? I got it. I totally got it. Thank you for being honest, Mico. Now, I already figured that you don’t care for me anymore. I just wish that you were sincere when you were with me. I’m sorry for not making you happy. But I’m also thankful that you became part of my life…” There was silence for a minute so I said to him, “But before you go, I just wanted to give you something. So please wait for a second.”

        I ran inside the house and got my big red umbrella. I came back and gave it to him. “I think it’s going to rain really hard soon. I know that you don’t have an umbrella with you. I knew you too well, Mico. Please take it and don’t ever return it. I have no use for that anymore. Please take good care of it.”

        I handed him the umbrella. It was the umbrella that held so many memories of us. It is the same umbrella that brought him to me. But if it wasn’t for that umbrella, I wouldn’t be feeling like this. I need to get rid of it. The memories it held is no longer important. But I wish getting rid of it would also mean that I could also get rid of him from my heart.

        “Thank you. Goodbye, Ara.” He said.

        He was already three meters away from me when he suddenly stopped as if forgetting something. He turned to look at my face then ran towards me. He hugged me very tightly. For a moment there, I felt that he really did love me. And for a moment, I just wish that he would take back everything that he said. But that would be impossible.

        He released me from his embrace and looked at me. I saw tears running down his face and said, “I still love you, Ara. It’s just that…”

        “It’s just that you fell in love with someone else. And your love for her is stronger. I know.” I gave him a cold tone. “I’m sorry for making it difficult for you. I know it was also very hard for you. I’m setting you free from now on. Please be happy and please don’t regret this. You can leave me now. I will be fine. I will be fine.” I hope so.