The Other Half of a Song

Chapter 9: Aika

Present

I was rummaging through Lola Regina's rosewood chest, looking for more pictures of Rafael. I was supposed to be getting ready for my date with Mark but I was more curious about what Rafael looked like than going out on a date.

Savage, I know, but I really do not want to be on a date that time. I was really planning on bailing out.

Anyway, it was not for naught though, there were so many pictures of Rafael in Lola Regina's collection of black and white photos. And in all those photos, Rafael looked exactly like the guy who helped me during the protest.

In all those photos, Miggy looked exactly like Lola Regina's first love. What are the odds!

I was still rummaging through the photos when I accidentally knocked over a stack of letters. I placed them beside me when I took the photos from the chest because it was over the photos. Anyway, as I picked them up, I saw a letter with a different name written as its addressee.

Instead of Regina Rosales, it wrote Aika.

I picked the letter up and opened it. It was from Lola Regina.

Dear Aika,

I know you're still reeling from what happened with your Mom and Dad's marriage. And what happened between you and Kyle did not help with that either. It did not help you with it at all.

But I hope you will not close your heart and mind to the chance of falling in love again. I hope you will not close your heart and mind to the possibility of a happy ever after.

I guess, that's why I'm giving you all of the things that really matter to me. I guess, that's why I'm giving you the task of completing our song. I guess, that's why I'm giving you a glimpse of the past- our past.

I know our love story is not a fairy tale. It's far from it actually. But it is a part of my past that I will never ever change. Even if I was given the chance.

I loved every minute and every second I was with him.

We may not have ended up together. We may have had an incomplete song. But I know what happened was for the best. God has a reason for not giving our story a happy ending. But God is not cruel.

I know, and I'm still hopeful, someday we'll be happy together, we'll finally be complete, and at home with each other. Though it may not be in this lifetime.

Because in this lifetime, my happy ever after began with your Mom. And was followed by you. You are part of my happy ever after in this lifetime.

Aika, love is never a fairy tale. Love isn't always as magical as it is often depicted. People coming and going is a part of love and life. And there are times that when they leave, they leave us with a broken heart.

But that doesn't mean you cannot pick up those pieces again. That doesn't mean it can't be fixed anymore like it's the endgame. That doesn't mean you can't have a happy ending.

You can still have a happy ending. And a happy ending depends on you. On how you will make it perfect.

It is not always going to be a bed of roses, yes. But love shouldn't be cruel. If anything, it should be perfectly imperfect. And it becomes perfect when you choose it to be, despite its flaws and disappointments.

So, you have to give yourself the chance to make it perfect, Aika. Don't give up on love and the chance to have a happy ever after. Don't ever give up on it.