Separate Lives

Para kay Susan Bal, huli man daw at magaling, nahahabol pa rin, I hope it's true, BELATED BLESSED BIRTHDAY! 

Thank u sa gifts, super appreciated :) Love you!

“Hye Jung…”

Your name, a name you hear so often, it seems like it doesn’t bear any weight anymore, but tonight, the sound of that name brings back all the burden that you so wanted to forget.

**********

Yours was a story made out of a fairytale book, not the conventional sort though, the one that many are accustomed to, yours was a bit different, a bit extraordinary.

You met at a time when both cannot afford any complication in life, when both were just fighting to stay afloat career-wise.  In a way, you met unexpectedly.  No plans, no expectations, it just happened, you met, you fell in love, the both of you were once happy… together.

It wasn’t easy, it was one hell of a roller coaster ride, the pride of Everland, the roller coaster that you once rode with him, couldn’t compare to what your relationship had gone through.  You experienced the best and the worst with him, together you defied fate, friends, loved ones, each other.

You two almost made it, that’s what you believed anyway… until, he decided that it was time to put an end in your love story.

He just finished dinner, a feast that you prepared with love, after all, it was the first time he was home, the first time he was with you, after a month of being separated, because he need to work, because he need to iron out some things with his parents.

But you weren’t primed to what he was about to say, if you knew, if you only knew, you would have used all your power to delay – the inevitable. You were blinded by then… you were madly in love.

“Buin,” he started.

You had always love the way he spoke that endearment, it was like a balm to your weary soul, your very own magic word, but the way he said it at that time seemed so somnolent, like he was trying to control his own feelings, like he was fighting his own inner battle, like he was hiding something.  Yes, that hitch in his voice gave it all away.

“I don’t know how to say this, I really don’t.  I’m not even sure if I wanted to but I know I had to, I’ve been raking my brains out these past few days, or is it weeks, hell, I am not even certain about that.”

“Shillang,” you tried to give him back his focus.

“Fuck, I hate myself! I hate being a good son, no, I hate myself for being a spineless dolt! I’m blabbering and I hate that too!  I pray that in time you’ll learn to forgive me, I pray that in the shortest possible time, you’ll learn to forget," he paused, sighed and went on, "me and what I am about to do."

You just looked on, waiting for the catchphrase, waiting for that one devastating line.

One deep breath, "let's end this, we need to end this."

You opened your mouth as if to say something, closed it, opened it, closed it again, all the while staring at him, at a loss.

"My parents," 

"I know," you cut in, "they told me."

He didn't say a word, prompting you to continue.

"But I told them that I would never give you up, come heaven or hell.  That we are in this together, that nothing, no one, can separate us.  But I guess, I was wrong, there was you, you did the job, magnificently," she ended.

It was his turn to stare... and more, he felt empty.

**********

"Hye Jung..."

You've dreaded coming to Jung Ryeo Won's birthday, a former member of Chakra like you, but as she is a dear friend, you've decided to take your chances.  And because you're such a lucky girl, your worst fear came to life... he was even talking to you.

You steel yourself, from the onslaught of emotion, from the recurring pain. You feel nothing, that's what you wish to believe and it will happen, not just yet, but someday.  Someday, you'll be okay.

You took a deep breath and walked away.  

And then it played...

You have no right to ask me how I feel 
You have no right to speak to me so kind 
We can't go on just holding on to time 
Now that we're living separate lives

Note:  Ate Sue, may continuation ito promise :) Wait lang konti...