01. I Love You, Bri

"Hi, Del. Where are you from? I've been looking for you since yesterday. Why did you disappear, huh?"

Delmar was silent and just looked at Brisa with a sad look.

For eighteen years of friendship, Brisa can read if now Delmar is not in good condition. Even though his best friend didn't say anything.

"Wait a moment."

Brisa stopped the person who was decorating her nails. Nails that have been colored silver and will now be decorated with small white gems.

From this morning Brisa has been carrying out various preparations for her happy day which will be held in two days. In two days, Brisa will marry her lover, whom she has been in love with for a year.

"Del, is there a problem? Why do you look like a mess like this?"

Brisa smoothed Delmar's disheveled hair. Delmar doesn't usually look like that. Delmar is the type of man who really cares about his appearance.

Delmar took Brisa’s hand from her head. "Bri, do you really love Juan?"

Brisa smiled amusedly. The strange question from his best friend made him chuckle a little.

"Obviously I love him. You know he was my first boyfriend. And we've been dating for a year."

"Then me?"

"You? You are my best friend who I love the most."

Delmar's face turned even more sad. "We have to talk, it's important."

Delmar grabbed Brisa’s hand, leading her to the backyard of Brisa’s house which had a path to enter Delmar's backyard.

They are neighbors because their parents are also friends from their school days. That friendship was passed on to his children as well.

"What's this, Del? What's the real problem?"

Brisa is very curious about what happened to her best friend. It's been a few days, oh no. To be precise, from two months ago, after Juan proposed to Brisa, Delmar suddenly changed. Delmar moved away from Brisa. Almost all the time.

“This is a matter about us, Bri. About you and me," Delmar replied.

Brisa’s brows furrowed.

“Our problem? I do not know what you mean. If anyone should be angry, it should be me. Because you broke your promise to help me do my wedding preparations. What kind of friend are you?"

"That's because I don't like you getting married."

"Del, please. You know how much I love Juan. Juan was my first love and my first boyfriend. And finally, he can be my husband too. This is really my big dream that will come true.”

Delmar shook his head, "That's why I don't like him!"

"What's wrong with you? What's your problem with Juan? Why have you and Alvin always hated him?”

One thing that Brisa always confuses about is the attitude of her best friend and sister to Brisa’s future husband, which never changes. Always disliked and often told him to part with Juan.

Even though during her relationship with Juan, Brisa could feel how much her boyfriend loved her. Juan treated her just like a queen.

Caring, romantic and giving him lots of gifts for every anniversary, which Juan and Brisa always do every month. Juan also never cheated on Brisa. Then where is the problem?

"I love you." Delmar's answer made Brisa immediately shut up.

Brisa’s eyes were fixed on her best friend. And from those blue eyes Brisa could see honesty. This wasn't a joke, or a prank Delmar used to like.

"What did you say? Please, don't be weird." Brisa didn't know what to say, but she definitely wanted to avoid what she saw clearly in Delmar's eyes.

"I love you. I love you since a long time ago. But I don't know when exactly, I saw that you are no longer my friend's sister, no longer a little friend that I love and want to protect. I love you, Bri. Love you so much."

"Are you crazy?"

Delmar's long answer just now made Brisa’s head spin.

"Yeah, I'm crazy for loving you. And face the fact that you will marry someone else! I really have gone mad!”

“Del, I'm getting married in two days. And now that you're saying all this, what for?" said Brisa still not wanting to believe her friend's words.

“There are still two days to go, everything is still changing. Do you love me? If so, come elope with me.”

Brisa was surprised by Delmar's suggestion. His mouth opened very wide.

"We're friends, Del."

"But I told you. It's been a long time since I no longer consider you as my best friend. I love you, Bri."

"You're crazy, Del. Don't see me again until your mind is right again."

Delmar's last hope is only hope. Bri left him without answering his question at all.

Whereas Delmar said his heart so that he and Brisia would not have to separate. Delmar knew that when he decided to tell Brisa he loved her, and if she refused, he and Brisa would never be friends like before.

Delmar left, before looking around him. The courtyard had many fond memories of him and Brisa.

In that place, he didn't know since when, Delmar fell in love with Brisa’s blue eyes, which were the same color as his own.

In that place too, he had experienced the most beautiful years of his life with the best friend Delmar loved, but now it was all gone. The woman and his best friend, Delmar lost all of it.

***

“Del, you don't have to leave like this.”

Alvin met Delmar at the airport. It was only this morning that he received information that Delmar would leave San Sebastian for Madrid.

"I have to go, it's for the good of all of us. Me, you, our family and most importantly Bri. There I will also work to make my dreams come true.”

"You tell me that you love her, why did you go, Del?"

Alvin, who had long been suspicious of Delmar's protective attitude towards Brisa, who even surpassed himself as Brisa’s older brother, only got his answer a few days ago.

When Delmar asked him to meet and wanted to ask for advice from him. Alvin was the one who encouraged Delmar to convey his love for Brisa.

Alvin knew that Brisa also loved Delmar very much, her younger brother could even live well without her. But not without Delmar.

Brisa was even closer to Delmar than Alvin. People often say that Brisa’s brother is actually Delmar, not Alvin. Because Alvin is only always a fighting partner for Brisa, while Delmar is Brisa’s hero.

Alvin didn't know whether Brisa had the same feelings as Delmar or not, but if they didn't try, how would they know?

"Because of love, that's why I left. I would be heartbroken to see Bri marry another man. I also believe that Bri will be hurt to see me suffer because of his choice. I want Bri to be happy, Al. And with me gone, Bri can live peacefully with Juan, without being overshadowed by his guilt towards me."

Alvin scratched the back of his hair. He knew that what Delmar said was true. Brisa will not be happy if Delmar is not happy. And that was impossible, considering Delmar was heartbroken because Brisa rejected him.

"I'm leaving, Al. Say my dearest regards to Bri. I always love her, no matter what. And wherever I am, I will always pray for him to continue to be happy.”

Delmar turned around, he entered the passenger waiting room where Alvin couldn't follow him anymore.

While walking, Delmar wiped the corners of his slightly watery eyes.

'I'm leaving, Bri. I always hope you will be happy with him.’