Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

XV. Apple's Words

"What are you doing here so early?" Said Apple as she approaches Gulf, who is at the dining table, staring outside through the glass wall.

"P'Apple, you woke up so early, it's just 5 am." Gulf responded.

"I should be the one asking you why are you up so early. And what is this? I didn't see you bringing a bag last night." She said, referring to the laptop in front of Gulf.

"I borrowed it from Fluke before we went to sleep last night. I usually wake up in these hours to write, Phi." Gulf smiled, his eyes still sleepy.

"Write? You mean you still write these days despite your busy schedule?" Apple is amazed. Gulf nodded. "Wow, that's amazing and commendable. Do you want some coffee?" Gulf nodded.

Apple brought two cups of coffee with her from the kitchen.

"By the way," she took a sip, "I want to ask you something, about your thesis."

"My thesis?" Gulf asked, confusion is evident on his face.

"Yup. Actually, I saw the flashdrive you gave me before. The kids and I watched it, and Earth and Kao said they've watched it somewhere before." Apple began.

"Oh, it musy be showing on uncle's place whe  they visited." Gulf said. Apple just nodded but really didn't get what he said.

"Anyways, I'm curious, phow did you came up with the story?" Apple asked, eagerness is seen from her eyes.

"Well, actually, Phi," Gulf paused for a while, "okay, promise me to tell anyone," Apple nodded, "well, it isn't an original story." Gulf revealed.

"What? Was it plagiarised???" Apple asked without giving that much thought. Gulf laughed.

"No, Phi. What I mean is, it is not novel like it isn't something that me and my team created all by ourselves. The story is in fact based on someone's life." Gulf explained.

"Someone? Who?" Apple asked.

"Well, I really do not know. The story came from one of my groupmate's cousin." Apple gave Gulf a puzzled look. "Well, at that time we were running out of time and we haven't figured out what we want to do. It was so hard creating something that would save us time and energy. Then suddenly, the cousin visited us and told us a story about a man he met in a hospital or a clinic or a similar place." Apple nodded. "After hearing the story, we decided that we can make something out of it. It is easier for us to shoot because there's only a few characters, and the settings will just be mostly in school."

"So, you wrote the script?" Apple asked. Gulf nodded. "Really?!" Apple became excited.

"Why phi? Is there something wrong?" Gulf asked.

"I'm curious about something." Gulf nodded, signaling her to ask. "Why did you not introduce a new love interest for the main character towards the end of the story? Isn't that they usually add someone or make the main character realize that his friend is the real love of his life?"

Gulf smiled, he looked outside. "Well, I thought that for him to fully love again, he needs to heal himself. He is the only one capable of healing himself, not some else. While he needs support and encouragement, he is the only one who can forgive those who hurt him. He has to face and accept himself." Gulf looked at Apple and smiled. "If I introduce a love interest towards the end, I thought that it could hurt him, or her, or both of them."

"How is that?" Apple asked. She is now very interested to hear what he has to say.

"I thought that one day, if they both realized that he needed her to heal him, he would regret it and blam himself and his past. As for the love interest, she will get confused, was it love? Was it real?" Gulf paused for a while. "I really don't know, Phi, that's how I saw it, and that's why I wrote it that way."

Apple smiled. "And it ended well, actually. I love the ending. Of course we really do not know in real life whether that person already healed or not. But I think you're right, he has to heal himself first, learn to love himself again so he can give more love to others, love that is genuine and love that is unconditional. He will be able to accept love as well without overthinking of what could happen."

Gulf smiled.

"I just hope everyone can heal up easily." Apple let out a deep sigh. "Oh well, emotional and psychological scars are the hardest to heal. Most of the time, it take time. But for some cases, time isn't enough to heal."

The two smiled at each other.

"Oh well, I hope I get to read or watch your works someday." Said Apple with a smile.

"Soon, Phi, very soon, it will come to life." Gulf assured.

Someone is knocking at Apple's door. She took a glance at her wall clock and it's already 2 in the morning.

She was supposed to ignore it but the knocking continues. She didn't have the choice but to get up and open the door. It's Mew.

"What?" She asked, trying hard to open her eyes.

"Can we talk?" Mew asked. Apple opened her door wider as an invitation for Mew to enter.

Mew sat down on the floor, leaned on the bed. Apple, meanwhile, lie down on her bed.

"What do you want to talk about?" She said in between yawns.

"I don't know. I don't known how to say it." Mew began.

"Gulf?" Apple asked.

"Yes."

"How you feel about him?"

"Yes.

"You are confused?"

"No."

Apple opened her eyes. "Then what?"

Mew did not answer.

"You like him." Apple said. Mew bit his lower lip. "You are sure about it, a long time ago." Apple hit the bull's eye. "But life happebed?"

"You're really something." Mew blurted.

"I know." Apple confidently answered.

Silence.

"So why?" Apple asked without finishing her question because she is very sleepy.

"Why?" Mew answered back.

"Why aren't you doing anything? What's keeping you from saying it? Or at least fully  showing it?" Apple asked, she is at the verge of falling asleep.

Mew did not answer.

"You are afraid that you will hurt him like what happened to Mark? You are afraid to hurt him, and you are afraid of hurting yourself again?" Apple asked. Mew did not respond.

"Maybe?" Mew said.

"Mew, have you forgiven yourself?

"What's with that question?" Mew asked, not likinh where the conversation is going.

"Mew, you have to forgive yourself first in order to forgive others." Apple paused. "But why do you need to forgive yourself again?" She paused for a while. "Ah, forgive yourself for loving Mark? For hurting him? For amking him feel that way? You also have to forgive him for what he's done. But I think deepn within you, you wanted to known his reasons. So, until you confront him, you will not be fullu able to forgive him."

Mew just listened and did not respond.

"There is no point in dwelling to the past, especially when it keeps on hurting you. The past cannot be changed. But wounds can heal. Mistakes can be corrected,  wrongdoings can forgiven, justice can be ssrved. Try to focus on what's before you, don't miss out for you might regret it someday. If that happens, you will once again dwell in the past, and the cycle goes on."

Mew did not aswer. Apple got up to see what Mew was doing. And there he is, sleeping. Apple got a little bit irritated. She was talking and Mew wasn't listening.

Little didnshe know, he heard them all, and he agreed to all she said. But for Mew,  it has always been easier said than done.