Why does it feel when I lose the last molecule of loving you? That would be the time you would fall for me.~~~~~~~~Ruben~If you run a long way, your muscles need rest to recover, and the same demand comes from your exhausted mind when you want to be alone or talk to someone and seek a solution. After yesterday’s encounter with my parents, I had drifted a step further into the pit of remorse. There was everything to argue, but nothing to act on. Looking out from the glass walls, the scenic view that regularly makes me proud has lost its charm.Fishing out my second cigarette, burned the other side, and the eyes landed on the fucking wedding band. A nameless fear was restraining me, and the burden of this wedding pulled me down. How am I going to get rid of her? It seems like I have sought this question a thousand hours, but no answer shoved out. The intercom call dragged my focus back to my table, reminding me Miles would be here in a few minutes.Dad handed me his hotel chains busi
Every time you judge me, you are showing me a part of you that needs healing.~ARLET~There comes a time when pushing someone’s expectations has become difficult to execute. The evening arrived when the anticipations coming from Kathy and Michael had to be performed. Since morning I was restless, thinking, am I the right person to go with Ruben?Do we need to pretend like a happily married couple in love in front of his friends, too? Because last time I checked, their expressions on the wedding evening exported the confusion, same as Ruben’s.Looking at the blur mirage in the window, my mind sifted, and my thoughts accumulated; he might have ignored this invitation as his parents would not be there to keep us in check. But when he came to the breakfast table, he mentioned the party to Raya. Our eyes met, and his expression never betrayed like a stone-cold gaze towards me, expecting nothing, just avoidance. For a few days, it has become a habit for us to spend some time together at the
Sometimes you will get the person you need the most in your life, not the one you wanted the most.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ARLET~The Christmas evening celebration was not as I have seen so far. No Christmas carol, no talking about Christ, but a levitation of the branded clothes, heavy drinks, plus laughter. I would say it’s another reason people mingle and enjoy a healthy laugh.The clusters of people needed to be more welcoming to pull newcomers into their conversation. This is the first time I have been to these parties, and even if I was given a chance, I don’t know how I would survive.And the most awkward thing that happened was the strange encounter between Milo and Ruben.Everything was going great until Raya was wheeled away from me, and a pair of questionable eyes followed me to the pool area.“Arlet,” Milo and I never had conflicts except for this one when he used to question my choices and wanted me to explain to them. It’s hard to explain things when you yourself find being trap
How scary the feeling of drowning is in a place without water, but only your thoughts.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~RUBEN~Because people see the situations from their perspectives, their narrative of the event would come out differently. Not that I was bothered by their perception, but sometimes the people you love become the reason for you to stand in the quicksands of your choices. Confusion is when you cannot process with your conscious mind, but your subconscious knows this could become a race to lose. For a moment, Arlet seems genuine, but the way she entered my life has left me sore enough not to think anything good about her intentions.My parents were out of the city, but my mother somehow knew I was about to ditch Kathrine’s party, and to clear her doubts, she called me.“Ruben, how are you doing?”“I am good, just finishing my work,” Still engulfed in time, I didn’t realize when the evening had arrived.“Is everything ok with you?” Halted with her words, my inner turmoil churned one
I will wear your name on my heart. I just wish you knew it before it is absorbed beneath this ground.~ARELT~~~~~~~~~~`The white cirrus clouds in this chilly morning, with a pinch of sunlight, playing hide and seek. I stood, ingraining my shadow on the window rim, watching them blankly. Strange imagination pulsating my mind, watching them drift away as the sunlight entered my eyelids like expectancy.No matter if my mother had given me social culture, a big part of my life was consumed in preparing myself for this high society culture when I lived with William and Debbie. I still felt shunned. But just like these sun rays playing hide and seek, my hopes are depicted similarly. When everything was falling apart, Raya became a ray of hope.After finishing our breakfast together, Ruben left for the office while Raya got engrossed with her homeschool teacher. Sometimes I think studying without your friends wouldn’t be so exciting. I waited for her to finish her classes on time, but som
Once the heart gets too heavy with the pain, people don’t dry. They just turned silent. Completely silent.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~RUBEN~There was always a better and a worse version of losing someone. At the loss, we traveled the most painful journey. Perhaps there was something inside us wishing for their presence to hold on to and nurture our being once again.Standing beside Rafael’s coffin, I sensed I had lost him in the worst way possible. And today, watching over his picture, something nudging me to call him back from the impossibilities enveloping me.I still remember the day after the funeral. I visited Raya lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by plastic veins. Everything inside me meddled, and observing her; it splintered into uncountable pieces.That gracious smile that used to enlighten our day was gone, and that tiny angel didn’t learn what she had lost. When the Doctor rolled the wheelchair, it was so awful that I couldn’t settle there watching her perching on t
I may not be the best person beside you. But I make sure to hold your heart carefully and absorb the pain you are suffering alone.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ARLET~The thoughts I jotted down in my journal were not just my gooey feeling but also the emotional responsibility and accountability I wanted to share with him because it is we together standing against all odds.He was not the same arrogant man who left his imprint on us when he returned home. He was broken and shattered; I would not call myself in love with him if I couldn’t feel it. That stern mercury that was always ready to burn me alive was glossed with something unsaid. He ate in silence, but my inside was screaming to know what was the reason for being so sad. At that moment when he asked me to stay, I just wanted to hug him, and I wanted him to know, I am here for you.Should I ask him if I am the reason for his pain? What if he agrees?Those introspections made me silent, and I stood there. If he wanted my presence with my sil
What’s hardest for me isn’t losing him. It was condoning myself for being in devotion with him, knowing damn the warnings he gave and the loathing he displayed for me.~~~~~~~~~~~~Arlet~It’s been a week, and Raya’s hysteria about being in school didn’t peter out a moment. The lively aura was sufficient to surprise everybody at home whenever she was home after school. Everyone has to be present to listen to her daily endeavors and how Toby fought with Gabriel because he wanted Raya to choose the color of his painting. Now that Raya is apt, I got some time to think about my outcomes. How long am I going to sit here killing my hoards? I knew I had to work to fulfill my prerequisites. After graduation, Milo gave me the offer to join one of his event management companies, but I was more inclined to work for society. Women like me who want to seek their dream but don’t have the finances for it. How strange my dream was to help others when I, too, don’t have the finances to handle myself.
The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow in the room. Arlet slowly blinked her eyes open, her hand instinctively clenched in Ruben’s. She released a warm breath, her gaze meeting his as he looked down at her. Shyly, she lowered her eyes, but he gently lifted her chin to meet his gaze again.“What are you looking at?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.Ruben’s eyes softened, a tender smile playing on his lips. “Nothing,” he replied, his voice filled with wonder. “I was just thinking about how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life.”Arlet’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of emotions. “We’re not supposed to be like this,” she murmured, a hint of hesitation in her voice. The unexpected turn of events, from marriage to divorce and now sharing the same bed again, was not something they had anticipated. But Ruben’s unwavering gaze conveyed a different truth.“Why not?” he questioned, his voice filled with conviction.“Because... we
Not just the silence, but his touch was enough to let her feel what is.~~~~~~~The entrance of the mansion felt like a familiar embrace, as if it welcomed Arlet back with open arms. She glanced around, the memories flooding back. It had been months since she last stepped foot in this house, and now, when she was ready to leave the country, it seemed to call her back. She held Ruben’s hand over her shoulder, supporting him as they walked inside. His touch still had the same effect on her, sending a rush of warmth through her body, just like it did on their first day together.“Careful,” she muttered, looking ahead as they stepped inside.Magda’s eyes widened as she took in Arlet and Ruben’s condition. She remained silent, but her heart swelled with emotions seeing Arlet by Ruben’s side, offering her support.Once Ruben was settled on his bed, Arlet busied herself, arranging the medicines and preparing a thermometer from the drawer. She knew every corner of the room, every little detai
"Sometimes, the chaos that enters our lives also brings unexpected connections and hidden blessings."~~~~~~~~~Arlet stood at the airport, her bags packed and ready to leave. The weight of her suffering and her unresolved feelings for Ruben consumed her. As she called for an Uber to take her away, her heart felt heavy with the knowledge that she was running away from her own emotions.Every step she was taking wanted to ease itself. Everything inside her wanted to stop, turn and go back to him.“Arlet,” a familiar voice came to her voice, and when she turned, it was Milo, a friend who had always supported her through thick and thin. His voice was filled with concern.“You are running away from everything?”Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded, unable to find the words to explain her actions.“Yes, I don’t think I have anything left here,” she added.Milo’s next words struck her like lightning.“Why don’t you accept the fact that you still love him?” he asked, his voice filled wi
“Can you tell me how you mastered the act of unloving me?” ~~~~~~~~As the days turned into weeks and the weeks stretched into months, Ruben found himself engulfed in desolate solitude. The absence of Arlet, the love he had lost, weighed heavily on his heart. Every passing moment seemed to amplify the void within him.Arlet, on the other hand, had taken small steps towards rebuilding her life. She had found solace and purpose in teaching swimming to children at a local school. It was a way for her to channel her love for the water and share her skills with others. But despite the outward appearance of strength, her heart still longed for Ruben, the one who had held such a significant place in her life. It was hard for her to keep him away from her heart, but she was struggling with that part.Every Friday, Arlet sought comfort and guidance in the peaceful embrace of the church. It became a ritual for her, a sacred refuge where she could find moments of respite from the turbulence of
“As much as it hurts me to admit it, loving you was the most agonizing experience of my life.”~~~~~~~~~~~As they walked, Ruben snuggled his hand into hers, sending the vibes of shiver. The vibrant colors of blooming flowers, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the melodic twittering of birds enveloped them in nature’s embrace. Arlet’s steps became lighter, and a hint of serenity flickered across her face as the healing power of the natural world worked its magic on her broken soul.Ruben couldn’t help but gawk at her, his heart pouring with a mix of admiration and love. Seeing her face light up with a renewed sense of joy brought a glimmer of hope to his own wounded heart. After losing everything, she is the only part he wants to hold close to himself. The weight of their shared pain momentarily lifted as they immersed themselves in the beauty and tranquility surrounding them.“Would you like to have some popsicles?” As soon as they crossed the ice stand, he added, giving a gentle squ
Take small steps forward, to navigate the path of healing together.~~~~~~~~~The morning brought a new beginning to their lives as Arlet found herself waking up to the comforting presence of Ruben, his strong hands still holding hers and her head nestled against his chest. She attempted to shift away, intending to create some distance, but the firm grip of his hands pulled her back into his embrace.“Please, don’t leave,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and longing. “Stay like this. It feels so good to have you close to my heart.”Arlet felt perplexed by his words, unsure of how to respond. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and found herself lost in those beautiful gray eyes she had always dreamed of looking into. There was a mixture of hope, affection, and a hint of apprehension in his expression.“Good morning,” he finally added, breaking the silence that hung between them. His voice carried a trace of uncertainty, as if he was unsure of how she would reac
Let me take care of you.~~~~~~~~~~The beeping of the machine reverberated in the silent room. Arlet’s eyes were closed while the nurse pushed the chart into the box. Since morning, they have kept a close look at her health.The weight of guilt bore heavily upon Ruben as he stood by her bedside, his hand firmly clasping hers. Each passing second felt like an eternity as he anxiously awaited any signs of improvement.Memories flooded his mind, each one a painful reminder of his past mistakes and the consequences they had brought upon him. He couldn’t forgive himself for the way he had treated Arlet, for the love he had failed to acknowledge until it was almost too late. Regret gnawed at his heart as he realized the magnitude of his actions and the depth of his own blindness. He had lost his brother, Raya, to his own foolishness, and now the woman who had loved him unconditionally was fighting for her own survival.The door creaked open, and the doctor walked into the room, holding a f
"In the pages of her journals, he found the unwritten chapters of their love story, revealing a truth he had been blind to: she had loved him since the dawn of her understanding of love."~~~~~~~~~~Ruben made his way out, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy to win her back. She was in complete denial, and he could feel the weight of her anger and hurt. The downpour intensified, soaking him as he stood outside, looking back at the closed door of the house. His lady was inside with their child, and he was left waiting outside, longing to be let in. She didn’t open the door, and he had no choice but to settle against his car and leave the place.Once he reached his own home, haunting memories of Raya and Arlet consumed him. He made his way to his room, where the emptiness echoed in the silence. He sat on the bed quietly, gazing out at the pouring rain, which mirrored the hurt within him. Rubbing his hand down his face, he was lost in his thoughts when his phone buzzed, displaying Reile’s nu
"I no longer yearn for the love you once held, for now, I mirror the indifference you once showed me."~~~~~~Arlet arrived at her parent’s house, a place that had remained closed for so long. However, she couldn’t think of anywhere else that could provide the solace and comfort she desperately sought. This house held a history of love and care in her life, and in her current state of despair, it seemed like the only refuge available to her.Grateful for her parents’ foresight and protection, even in their absence, she appreciated the inheritance they had left for her. The house and a substantial amount in her bank account served as a lifeline, offering a sense of security and stability amidst the turmoil of her shattered marriage.Unlocking the front door, memories flooded her mind, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She was instantly transported back to her childhood, remembering how special she had felt within the walls of this home. With her bag abandoned at the entrance, she s