One early winter, young Felicidad decided to meet young Alejandro in their usual meeting place , only to bid her farewell.
"Alejandro, I need to say my goodbye. I need to go back were my mother is . Will you be able to wait for me?"
"I understand, Felicidad. She is your mother and she needs you, indeed. I will wait for you, for as long as I can."
They embraced each other as if there's no tomorrow. Young Alejandro, reluctantly let go of her hand as he watched her waltz away from him. She looked back in a distance as she wave her hand.
He smiled and waved back.
"I'll wait for you, so please, don't break our promise."- he stated to himself after she disappeared from his line of sight.
************
Time had passed, and Alejandro grew up into a fine looking man. Tall and fair skinned, those beautiful cerulean eyes that captivate every woman's heart, lips that always carries an elegant smile that warms up everyone. A lot of women swoon over him, long for him, yet he just ignored them because he already have someone special in his heart.
Time had passed, yet there's still no Felicidad. They did not have any communication, as if something's blocking their connection. Still, he waited and waited in their usual place. He never once doubted that she will never come back.
Another year have passed. Alejandro's patience of waiting were never put in vain. She came back, Felicidad came back. And indeed, she grew up into a beautiful lady. Those bright and shining hazelnut eyes, plump and cherry lips, a healthy complexion, and a silk-like hair that sways in the air. A breathtaking beauty, carries the innocence of daisy.
They reunited in their usual meeting place, on the big oak tree on top of the hill. However, Alejandro's atmosphere matches with the darkness of the sky, slowly swallowing the remaining light of the day. An expression that supposed to be filled with joy, were now corrupted by a fierce and cold air that can make your knees tremble and break down. She's not too dense to not able to read the situation, she is aware of the sin that she have done. Though, no one could tell if it is grave or light. But one thing is for sure, she wants to breakdown in tears and make an enchantment of apology, yet she remained calm and collected. She matched the gaze that Alejadro giving her. No hint of guilt, no hint of sympathy.
No one dared to let out a single voice. The only sound of the night to be heard, and a faint whistle of the air passing by.
"It's been a while , dear Felicidad."- Alejandro spoke who decided to break the silence.
"You have no idea how overwhelmed I am to see you."
"But, you don't seem so glad, Alejandro"- It may seem unnoticeable, but she's trembling. She's trembling to the point that her knees are about to give up. But stood still, not minding the heart pounding situation they are in, and holding her tears from falling.
Alejandro shaked his head. "No, dear Felicidad. I am so glad, so glad to the point that I want to jump in bliss and run into you and crash you with a warm hug." - he stated with emphasis. His eyes remained indifferent.
"Yet too bad, I can't —"
His voice started to shake and crackle down as his eyes were now conquered with pain and longingness and tears swarming down his cheeks.
"You're not mine. Not anymore."
That's right, she's now married. Married as if she long forgotten their promise. Guilt swallowed her conscience. She did not expect him to be waiting for the last 15 years. She wants, to apologize, she wants to cry. But because of her pride, she did not gave in. She did not give any piece of sympathy.
It was tough for her too. The thoughts of him having someone else did not leave her mind, she doubted him, it's been so long, what if he already found someone else better than her. She also felt loneliness and longingness. But it was Rafael, her husband, filled the void inside her. Him and Rafael have alot in common so it is not hard for her to love him back. Even though their marriage is just arranged and was a last wish of her mother, Rafael accepted her and loved her with all his heart.
She scoffed. "We're just 10 years old back then. We're just kids playing some silly and childish games. And of course, that includes the promise we made back then. Hah!What promise? What marriage? Those are nothing but a silly game"- Her heart tightened ,She did not want to say those words. But she have no choice, it is for the best, for him to give up on her.
After hearing those. Alejandro bursted into laughter, making Felicidad confused.
"Silly game you say? I'm too naive, then. Haha! I've waited for you, everyday I come back here hoping to see you waiting for me too. I've waited without even knowing that I'm making a fool of myself. Because you know, I hate breaking promises. Tell me,Felicidad. When did I ever break a promise?"
That's when the moment, every memory flushed to her mind like a cinema record. Back when they were little kids, the moment when they first met. Everyone bullies her, but only him stayed by her side and promised he'll protect her at all cost and that he will never leave. Every big and little things that he promised, he never failed to fulfill those. Even the promise that he will wait for her return, he never failed to fulfill it.
Everyone says that "Promise are made to be broken." But only him who can prove it wrong. Because everything is possible, if you hold into it.
Tears finally escaped from her eyes, as she looks away. She realized what she did, she should have not doubted him, she should have fight for him , she should have put a faith in him more. But what's the use of thinking of what she should have done when everything's already over. Something that already happened cannot be undone. And she already love someone else. She also loved Alejandro, but that was before.
"And I know you more that anyone else, I know you best. I watched you closely. But that was before. I no longer know who you are. I don't know you anymore"
Sobbing and crying, she can no longer hold it in. Her feelings that the she's been concealing, bursted like a bomb inside her heart. She ran into him and embraced him, so tight as she cries withe regrets. But it did not budge him in a slightest bit, his empty eyes gazed upon distance, ignoring the woman whose now kneeling infront of him.
"I'm sorry, Alejandro. I am sorry. I was too tempted with my loneliness, doubted your faith, drowned with my own selfishness that I forgot what we've been through, and forgot the precious memories we shared together, and forgot our promise."- she uttered in her sobs.
Alejandro knelt down, matching her level. He embraced her, showing much affection as if he's pouring all of his love in just a simple hug. It was his true feelings that he kept in those 15 years of them being apart.
Felicidad was surprised, as she bawled in cries. He loosened his grip, placing his left hand on her shoulder while the other is in the back of her head. He let his lip close to hers, but when it is about to touch, he averted it and placed it in her forehead instead.
Those lips are no longer his, but someone else's property , he's no longer in place to touch it. A tear escaped from his eyes as he genuinely smiled at her like he used to.
"I forgive you, Felicidad. What can I do? You're always been like that, so I'm no longer surprised. I already expected it to happen. . .. But still. . .it hurts, being slapped with this reality."
"If you knew, then why?"
"Because, it is a promise. Like what I said , I hate it when I break a promise."- he smiled bitterly
"I love you, I really love you. I guess I can still say it even if this is no longer the right time. And knowing that there will never have a right time." He solemnly smiled as he peck another gentle kiss in her forehead.
"But then again, Felicidad. Whoever break the promise will perish while the other will vanish. It's inevitable, I guess you did not believe me back then, because as you said, those are nothing but a silly game." - when he finished telling those words, she did not understand it until she saw countless of cyan sphere of lights flowing away from his body, looking as if tiny firefly lights glowing out of his skin, slowly taking away his figure.
"Goodbye, Felicidad"- his final words. He embraced her as his figure completely shattered in the air along with those sphere of lights that flew softly away upward.
What placid way to vanish.
Felicidad ,on the other hand , was petrified in her spot, stunned with the sudden turn out of the event, her face full of despair, her eyes swollen with continuously overflowing tears and her lips trembles. Mixed emotions rose up to her head. Regret, madness and fear.
She regretted her neglectness,breaking the promise, loosing faith, and doubting. She is mournful of Alejandro who slowly vanished infront of her. She's mad, she's mad at Alejandro, mad at herself, she's mad at Alejandro for putting and binding themselves at such unbreakable curse, if not for that, he would have not vanished and find someone else better, she's mad at herself for being doubtful, naive, lacking confidence and for being foolish. And fear, like any other people, she's afraid of death, perish in dreadful way. After seeing Alejandro vanish infront of her, she now fears of what will gonna happen to her.
Curse marks started to emerge from her both arms and legs. Rapidly climbing to her chest, up to her troat. She trembled when she saw those thick nerve-like black lines emerging from her skin. She screamed in agony and pain as if her skin were being shredded by hundreds of knives. She continued to scream until her voice become hoarse, her complexion started to turn pale, when the marks reached her cheeks, her skin turned into coal black color. Her scream stopped when she was now petrified in place. A strong wind blew, taking along her crumbled ashes.
~~~~THE END~~~~
This is a work of fiction. The Author's pure imagination, and an original work.
PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME.