PROMISES

CHAPTER 2- PROMISES

I smiled as I remembered the glimpse of yesterday.

I remembered her smile. I hope she remembers mine too.

I hurriedly walked over to where the tricycles are and I immediately got one.

"Valenciano Street," I told the driver, and then I went inside to sit.

The driver then let the engine start causing it to move.

I can't wait to see my happiness again. I can't wait to hold her hand and kiss it.

The tricycle I was in passed by a church.

A memory then popped through my head.

It was a Sunday morning. 6:00 am to be exact. Everyone was inside the church listening to what the priest is preaching.

Inside the crowded church, I look over and tried to find the girl I met in the park. There were so many people so maybe it is impossible to find her here.

Maybe she and her family didn't attend the mass today.

I was about to lose hope when a girl in a yellow dress looked at me. I can see her perfect curls from where I was standing.

When she saw me, her lips started to stretch forming a smile.

Heather...

I smiled at her. She smiled back too before she turned in front to listen to the priest. It's as if she was looking for me even before the mass has started and when she did, she's pleased to see me.

I waited for the mass to end so that I can go to her.

When the mass ended, I immediately looked all around to find her again. Of course the church is crowded with people in their best dresses so it is very difficult to find her.

A soft touch on my arm made me look at the right direction.

"You are here," in a soft voice she exclaimed. "I thought you don't go to church every Sunday," she added.

I smiled at her. I don't know why but she would always make me smile.

"I am here now. Who are you with?" I asked.

"Mom, Dad, and Nicole," she answered shyly. She's looking at the ground while playing with her hands.

"Oh,"

"How are you, Jersom?" she asked, making me feel flattered.

I don't know, but no one asks me that, and it feels so good to have someone ask you if you are okay everytime.

"I.. I'm fine." She smiled. "You?" I added.

"I am! Now that I saw you here!" she said happily. "It's like the two of us are destined to be together!"

I chuckled. She watched too many fairytales. It's amusing.

"What's that chuckle for? Don't you believe in destiny, and true love?"

I smirked. "I'm sorry to burst your bubble, princess, but those aren't real. True love only exist in fairytales, and fairytales are in fiction. And fiction are imaginary events."

"You are too bitter," she said as she rolled her eyes.

"Nah. Just trying to wake you up from your dream world. This is reality where you'll always end up alone. Everything from this world isn't permanent. That true love you are saying will only fade..."

"How do you say so?" she said challenging me.

I sighed. I never told anyone this since it's not something to brag about.

"If I put it up in a story, there's this man who really loves the woman of his dreams. He confessed and then got lucky because the woman likes him too. Both of them were so in love in years, like those fairytales you are talking about."

"And then?" she asked, starting to get curious.

She sat on a bench near her and I followed.

"Both of them got married and later on, had a child."

"Aww cute." Her face showed her happiness and amusement, and I bet those will turn upside down when she hears the end of the story.

"As time goes by, the man who loved the woman, got tired." I saw how her smile fell, but I still continued the story. "He eventually cheated with other girls, and of course the woman never thought the man would do that. Until one day, she found out and woke up from her perfect dream."

Heather was now facing me. It's as if she's observing me deeply. She is trying to see through my soul.

Her innocent eyes mirrored my sadness and sorrows.

"You see, Heather, no matter how much you love someone there will be a time where one of you gets tired, and then everything will eventually gets toxic. Those vows and promises he shared during their wedding, only ended broken and forgotten."

"I.." she breathe. "I am sorry."

I held her hand and smiled at her, "no need to say sorry, silly. I'm just trying to wake you up early."

We were in silence for a few minutes and I am thankful for that because it kind of calmed me down.

"You know, Jersom." I was surprised when Heather spoke beside me. "True love do exists but it will only exist when you are with the right person."

She looked at me and smiled, "maybe that woman was not for that man. Maybe she thought he is already the one because she didn't see through him."

My heart hurt. The words she was giving me we're like knives that's stabbing my heart.

"Or maybe that man is really that woman's true love, but is blinded by desires and affection for other women." She intertwined our hands. "Everything is a choice, Jersom. If you want to stay, it's your choice. If you want to leave, it's still your choice."

I didn't know what to say. For an innocent girl like her, she got me speechless.

"Promises are meant to be broken, you say, but it's still your choice if you want to break it or to fulfill it."

She held my hand tight, "it's fine to let it out."

She didn't say another word and just looked at the entrance of the church.

The wind swayed her curly hair a little bit. She's just too beautiful.

I held her hand and squeezed it. As we both looked in front of the church, I told her the words I wanted her to hear.

"I promise you when both of us are ready and old enough, I'll take you here again. You will be wearing a white dress that will make you look so beautiful. You will be walking down the aisle while holding some fresh daisies. And when I get to hold you, I will officially let the world know that you are mine. But when that time comes, I'll surely fulfill those promises my dad failed to fulfill for my mom."