Did you know that you would fall in love three times in a lifetime?
The first love, commonly known as your puppy love, could be your high school sweetheart, or maybe your childhood friend. Both of you ended it because of something childish. But that's okay, you were kids. You both didn't know any better. When you look back at it, you'll doubt if it was even love. And it was. Just the kind of love you both know, love to be.
Your second love; the difficult love. An intense kind of love. The one that gave you so much pain. The one that you fought so hard for. The one when you settled for less. When you looked past all the red flags. You abused yourself for this kind of love. And you reached your limit. This love was the reason you became the person you are today. So, have no regrets.
And finally, your third love; your everlasting love. You didn't even expect this one. Out of all the loves you've felt, this is the strongest. The one you know will be your last. The love where you'll feel at home to. This is the love everyone wants to feel. And that's the kind of love I've always thought I had in every relationship I've been into. But unlucky me, it never happens.
I sigh as I lay on a king sized bed meant for two people, all alone... for the first time. I glanced at the window on my left, the sunrays peeking through the curtains, kissing my skin with its warmth. At least in that sense, I don't feel alone. Grabbing my phone from the bedside table, I opened my camera app and took a selfie. I clicked the Instagram app and uploaded the picture on my story with a caption "1st morning w/o you".
It was just last night when my boyfriend─ ex-boyfriend and I broke up after a big argument. I don't even know what the both of us were arguing about anymore. But there is one thing I know, and that is we're both exhausted from arguing. Day and night, weekdays to weekends. It never ends. And everytime, it's the same issue. All those seven years have become suffocating. And for some reason, I still couldn't let go. But every person has their own limits. So I ended it, even if it hurts. It's time I realize my worth.
Even if it hurts, the burden has lessened.
Before I knew it, tears were already falling from the sides of my face. Quickly sitting up, I wiped my face, lightly tapping my cheeks as if that would get me back to my senses. I walked to the bathroom in hopes of starting my day productively. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were puffy from crying that I could barely see my dark brown eyes. My thick curly hair was all over the place and my make-up from yesternight was all smudged.
"Gosh. I look like a ghost." I laughed at myself. There's no time grieving, after all it wasn't my loss, it was his. As I was washing my face, I heard a notification pop up from my phone. I dried my face first before opening the text. "Rayn?" I muttered, confused. Rayner "Rayn" Abad has been my friend since junior high school. People often say opposite genders can't be friends, but with me and him, I beg to differ.
I opened the message and read it. "'Morning, girl. I heard you two broke up. How are you holdin' up?" I smiled at the very thoughtful text from my friend. Even though we haven't been contacting each other for quite some time now, he still managed to check up on me despite the problems that he had with my now ex-boyfriend.
Not wanting to seem too affected by the breakup, I wrote a rather witty reply, "Doing good. A little. 'Sup with the text? You're usually not like that. Jk." I kept my phone in my hand as I walked towards the sofa, awaiting Rayn's reply.
"Wow, that hurt. I always check up on you. Anyways, I have just the right thing so you can move on from that jerk." Just as I was going to type my reply, my phone rang, the caller ID being my friend's whom I was just texting a second ago. Not wasting any time, I answered the call and asked, "Why'd you call? We were just texting a second ago?"
"Wow. What happened to 'hi'? 'Hello'?" He joked. I laughed, revealing how hoarse my voice is making Rayn question if it was due to me crying or screaming all night.
I sighed, "Can it be both?"
"Ding ding ding! I'm right. Give me my one hundred pesos, bitch." An all too familiar voice rang in the background which I recognized immediately. Brandon Roxas is another friend of mine since junior high school. Me, Rayn, and Brandon are basically a trio during our high school days. There were no days when we're not together. Our classmates used to even call us "The Holy Trinity" of our class.
"Is that Brandon?" I ask, chuckling.
"It's Bridgette, bitch! How dare you deadname me?" Brandon─ or Bridgette rather, said jokingly.
"Why am I on speaker, bro?" I ask. Not that I mind being on speaker though.
"Why not? We're all friends here, don't be finicky," Bridgette answered sassily like he always does. I rolled my eyes at his never ending attitude.
Glad that he hasn't changed a single bit.
"So, here's the news. We'll be having a reunion," Rayn didn't beat around the bush and told me the reason he called.
"Reunion? Junior high?" I ask.
"Duh, what else can we have a reunion for?" Bridgette answered.
"When?"
"Tonight."
My eyes widened in shock. "Tonight?!"
"You weren't answering your phone last night. I was supposed to tell you," Rayner said.
Obviously, I was busy arguing with a certain someone.
I look down, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. "I don't know, man... I mean, look at me, I just came from a 7-year relationship break-up. I look fucked up right now." I hesitated.
"Uh uh, girl. You're going 'cuz we're on our way to your apartment." Just as Bridgette said that, he opened the camera revealing the busy streets of Manila.
"And you're just telling me that now?!" Panic starts to rush in my body. Somehow, I'm a bit nervous over the fact that people will come visit my apartment after years consisting of only me and my ex-boyfriend.
"You better pack your most beautiful dress or else we're going shopping." And without a warning, they hang up. Minutes pass by as I sit there confused about everything that has been happening. It's only been hours since my break-up and now my friends are suddenly coming over to fetch me and drive me back to my hometown, where I have not been for years. Everything has been escalating too quickly for my liking.
"Estefania! Open up!" A muffled shout can be heard outside of my apartment. Snapping back to reality, I quickly searched for a dress last-minute before clumsily running to the door, opening it.
"I told you not to call me by my second name." I said, huffing.
"Do you have a dress?" Bridgette asked me. I lifted the first dress that I found on top of my wardrobe.
"You're wearing that? Are you going to church?" Bridgette asked disgustingly. He made sure I knew that every atom of his body was repelled at the style of my dress with how disgusted his expression was. In my opinion, the dress is pretty decent. It was just a simple puffed sleeve dress that reached my ankles.
"Why? Is there even a theme?" I ask.
To which Rayner responded, "It's a semi-formal event."
"Then this dress is just fine," I justify. Bridgette shook his head in disappointment and invited himself into my apartment. He didn't waste any time and asked where my closet was. I pointed to my right, where my bedroom was located, and without a word, Bridgette rummaged through my clothes, trying to find a single sexy dress.
"Gosh, you're from Manila and you don't own a single party dress?" Bridgette asks.
I sigh, "He... never allowed me to go to parties, okay?"
"Well, he's a jerk," Bridgette said. "Grab your essentials, we're going shopping." He added.
Seemingly, I can't do anything but follow my friends. Maybe it's the lack of functionality in my brain or maybe I just want to do something else to distract myself from the heartbreak. I grabbed my essentials and followed them to the car. We started our journey back to my hometown.
"By the way... Keanu is back."