FRANCE
I woke up early in the morning and since it was my day off I plan to take a run.
In the middle of the running field I accidentally bump onto someone which made me fall to the ground.
"Miss are you okay?". Nag taas ako ng tingin at doon ay nakita ko si Michael.
Kinuha ko naman ang kamay nito at tumayo na din humingi ito ng paumanhin sa pagka banga sa akin.
"I'm sorry". Wika ni Michael.
"No, it's okay". Wika ko at akmang mag papaalam na ng pigilan ako nito.
"Can we talk for a moment?".
FEW HOURS AGO
The two arrived at a coffee shop a mile away from the park.
The air hung thick with anticipation, the scent of freshly baked cookies from the cafe mingling with the nervous flutter in Michael's stomach.
"So, I was thinking..." he began, his voice cracking slightly. "Maybe we could, you know, hang out sometime?"
Valeria smile, as radiant as ever, momentarily threw him off balance. "I'd love to, Michael," she said, her eyes sparkling. "But I have to be honest, I'm seeing someone already."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He knewn it already, but hearing it confirmed, seeing the genuine happiness in her eyes as she spoke of her lover, Lexi, was a different kind of pain.
"Oh," he managed to squeak out, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over him.
"Lexi's amazing," Valeria continued, oblivious to the turmoil she'd stirred within him. "She's funny, kind, and we just click."
Michael forced a smile, trying to mask the sudden tightness in his chest. "That's great," he said, his voice a strained whisper. "I'm happy for you."
He wanted to run, to escape the suffocating weight of his unrequited feelings. But he found himself rooted to the spot, watching as Valeria's face lit up with a story about Lexi's latest antics. He listened, nodding politely, but his mind was a jumble of thoughts.
He'd known this day would come, the day he'd have to face the possibility of rejection. He'd prepared himself for it, telling himself it wouldn't be the end of the world. But now, standing there, watching Mia's genuine joy as she spoke of Liam, he realized how wrong he'd been.
"Michael, are you alright?" Mia asked, noticing his quiet demeanor. "You seem a bit down."
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to meet her gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied, his voice barely a murmur. "Just a bit tired, that's all."
He wanted to tell her how he felt, to confess his own feelings, but the words wouldn't come. He knew it wouldn't change anything.
"Well, if you're tired, you should head home," Valeria said, her concern evident in her voice. "Get some rest."
He nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "Yeah, I think I will," he said, forcing a smile."By the way. We can be friends right?".
"Of course". Valeria said as she nods.
He turned and walked away, the weight of his unrequited feelings pressing down on him like a leaden cloak. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder what could have been.He only met Valeria a weeks from now but he'd dreamt of a future with Valeria, a future filled with laughter, shared dreams, and stolen kisses. Now, that future seemed as distant as a fading memory.
The only solace he found was in the knowledge that he'd been honest with himself, that he'd finally confessed his feelings, even if it meant facing rejection. He knew that the pain would eventually fade, leaving behind a bittersweet memory of a love that never was. And maybe, just maybe, he'd find the courage to move on, to open his heart to someone new, someone who might reciprocate his affections. But for now, he would simply have to learn to live with the ache of a love that could never be.