Not-So-Much-of-A-Love-Story Story

This is my not-so-much-of-a-love-story story.

****

One boring day, I laid eyes on something I thought I’d never see in this lifetime: Adonis, a.k.a. Prince Charming, the epitome of the highschool-heartthrob I've always dreamed about decades back. 6'2"-tall, whose tanned skin, athletic built and brushed-up hair all conspire to exude an inexplicable charm which many, save for myself, mistake for conceit or arrogance. “Handsome,” I mused and wondered “what” he was. It was only a week after he’d gone when I learned that he was a co-employee from a different branch.

“A guy like that has a girlfriend somewhere for sure. And you’re OK with your boyfriend now,” my alter-ego whispered. At that time, my almost-five-year-relationship has just gotten patched up (for the nth time) and things were doing pretty well again after a breathtaking, nerve-wracking, action-packed squaring off.

Months passed, Christmas came. I sighted Mr. Handsome, green shirt looking good on him, in our company’s nationwide event. (Our Christmas Party was held on the morning of Dec. 25th!) A thought about coming up to him, shaking his hand and greeting him came to me but it started and ended just at that: a thought.

Meanwhile, my boyfriend and I have been going through a tad too many rough times and while I struggled to save the relationship with its resounding “Ad infinitum” dictum, I found my brain involuntarily flashing images of Mr. H every-out-of-the-blue-time. And what Fate had in store, I had no clue.

And Just when he was about to slip away from my mind, H returned to work in my branch.

And just when I thought I won’t even go past anything than just having small talk with him at the employee’s lounge, he asked for my number.

I felt as if I was cheating and I felt guilty deriving “quilig” (that butterfly effect which makes you smile from ear to ear practically every nanosecond) from our text messaging while we both had our significant others: his girlfriend, my boyfriend.

Then, as if luck or Fate was on my side, (I half-expected it) H asked me out to watch a movie. I agreed. Ironically, our first "date" fell on the 9th day of the month, my “month-sary” with my 5-year flame.

I was a few minutes late but he was considerate enough and even let me choose the flick. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." H took me to casual dining at Pier One Bar (very casual indeed) where we talked the night away like long-time buddies nibbling calamares with shots of vodka currant and beer. Then he drove me home.

****

Valentine’s Day came. I went with my boyfriend to the first-ever Lovapalooza in Manila. We were listed couple # 1515 which, incidentally, was also the number for mobile network balance inquiry. At the stroke of midnight, we kissed in public with thousand many others, being part of the statistic that set up a new world record. It was an exciting event but somehow, something was amiss and we both knew exactly what it was (love balance: near 0.00).

Movie Date number 2 with H came on Feb 15th. After the movie, we stayed at San Francisco Coffee. Our tete-a-tete that night was immortalized by a cow toy I dubbed as “Moolee.” Amidst helpings of chocolate cake and sips of hot cocoa, H asked me about my father. Unbeknownst to him, he struck one of my softest spots. “I know he deserves a lot better,” I told him while suppressing my emotions and went on to tell him how much I really loved my Papa. He drove me home again that night but only after I told him I was fine. He sent me a message as soon as he got to his place.

Early morning of Feb 16th, I awoke to a start and groped for my mobile.

1 message received.

honeyee: “I’m setting you free.”

My eyes welled up in tears and for a moment I thought I was in a bad dream. I can’t recall sending a reply but I remember climbing up to my mother and crying my heart out. It didn’t matter that I haven’t been in good terms with her for quite some time. It didn’t matter that I can hardly remember the last time I embraced her. All I knew was, at that very moment, I needed her. I needed to feel loved.

I didn’t have an excuse. A part of me was telling me that “freedom” was what I wanted and there was no use to ask my boyfriend - uhm, EX-bf - to reconsider his decision. For months I’ve been sleepless, struggling to keep our relationship, fighting for love, so to speak. But I’ve also been “unfaithful” to him, dating H while we were still together and the thought of breaking up with him tugged stronger at me every minute, everyday for the past weeks.

And now it’s there. The phone’s screen was glaring at me. He has set me free. It didn’t call for celebration of course. The truth stabbed right through my heart and gave me a kind of pain I have never before encountered. It was excruciating and I knew it will take time, an awful lot of time, for the wounds to be healed. But there’s no turning back. I was set free… just as I needed.

****

The days that followed were much of a blur… I slept and woke up to tear-drenched pillows and went about my work routine as if everything’s just fine. In fact, nobody knew about what exactly I was going through. Except H. He knew. And during those days that I was trying to cope up with my break-up pains, H helped uplift my self-esteem.

Weeks passed and on March 15, H invited me to watch him play basketball. Since it coincided with my day-off and I had nothing better to do, save for my spa appointment, I obliged. It was the second time I’ll be watching his game.

H's team lost.

A thought came to my head: Lift him up. But how? Going to bed with him was entirely taboo. Perhaps we might sleep together in the future but just thinking about it made me cringe. Self-talk: "Alright, he is handsome and yes, I’m attracted to him but I’d want us to be friends more than anything. He has a girlfriend and that’s where we draw the line. I can’t subject myself to another heartache -- if ever we do become lovers and expect more of each other." We both knew “something” was there but we somehow managed not to let it get in the way of our budding friendship. R-E-A-L-L-Y.

So. Although we were in the same chamber, I made it a point to ask the attendants not to let him “see” me. I made it a point not to see him either. All went well, at least for the duration of the 1 ½-hour session. Then I dozed off.

And while I was sleeping, the spa pulled the curtains.

It was like a fairy tale, sleeping beauty waking up to Prince Charming’s kiss. Alright, so I'm not much of a beauty but I was sleeping, mind you, and I woke up to a kiss! And it was from Prince Charming.

Or so I thought... because when I opened up my eyes I saw, towering beside me, not a prince but a beaming half-naked Adonis with wired teeth and afro hair lifted and sprung in all directions. I guess I was utterly flabbergasted to see him so instead of bursting into tears to tell him what a cheat he was, I unthoughtfully blurted out, "Curly Top, ang daya mo, hindi mo naman ako love, eh!!"

And that was the beginning.