The Initials

He sighed, trying to pump his brain to produce that memory he once treasured. Sean stood up from his bed and looked at the desk. He might find something that could jog up his mind. He swung his feet down, approached the desk. Sean glanced around, but only found those things that weren't that significant.

Sean gritted his teeth, observed the floor, trying so hard to find objects. Sean saw something underneath the bed, protruding out of the legs. He crouched down, retrieved the bracelet, and hold it out in the light. Sean furrowed his eyebrows, saying, "What is this?"

Sean held it into the light. He stood up as he saw a glimpse of the white lining on the insides. It's a bracelet, with those beads held in place by the string. Sean tilted his head to one side, trying to remember what it was. He couldn't recall the memories in his mind.

It was impossible to do so without someone who acted as a guide. Sean placed it on his palms after trying to guess where he had seen it. He looked up at the window, with the sunlight brimming down in its entirety. He held out the bracelet, saw the silver linings, and saw the letters.

He raised his eyebrows as he read, "FL?"

Sean creased his forehead afterwards. He retracted his hand from the light. He held it closer in his chest, read the same letters repeatedly. Sean grabbed the cell phone in his pockets. The only contact that Feline saved was hers. He sighed as he hesitated to call her.

"She might be busy at work," he whispered. He shook his head, forget the call that he was going to make, and slipped it inside his pockets. He held out the bracelet as he nodded.

...

"That's all for today. See you all tomorrow," she dismissed. All of her teammates smiled at her at the same time. She bowed down her head, clasped the notes on her chest. Feline picked up the empty mug and stepped down on a small platform at the center of their office.

"Bye, Miss Lazaro."

"See you tomorrow, Ms. Lazaro."

"Yeah!" she exclaimed. Everyone went out of the door at the same time. They were talking about how the nearest cuisine restaurant outside of the studios. Feline chuckled as she shook her head.

"They're kids. They know the drill now," she fixed the papers on the office. Feline rubbed the table clean. She picked up her bag, slung it over her shoulder. Until someone opened the door wide. Feline nearly bumped her head to the door.

She looked up, fixing the loose strands of her hair. Feline furrowed her eyebrows, looking up to see Louie panting. Feline widened her eyes, blurting out, "Louie."

Louie took a puff of air in his cheek. He licked his lips as he muttered, "I need to check... the upcoming segments you have to publish on Christmas Season."

Feline stood upright, asking, "Right now. Are you sure that's what you want to talk about?"

Louie sighed. He closed the door gently. Feline breathed, looked away from him. She knew why he barged in here. Louie knew the schedule of every production member. He's the overall producer of the radio shows. He must be proud of Friya's achievement.

"What do you want to talk about? Is there something that you need to confirm with Sean?" Feline retorted. It's what he came for. From the looks of it, Louie always wanted to protect Friya. But he couldn't. She's in love with somebody else, but that man right now was her boyfriend.

Louie placed his hands on his hips, rebutting, "You know the drill. You really know how my mind worked so far."

Feline stifled a gasp, chuckling in between. She shook her head as she crossed her arms. Her feisty side always showing off at all times whenever she's in front of Louie. Feline grimaced in her position. She tilted her head to the side.

"Sean. What happened to him? He got discharged, right?" Louie asked, straight to the point. Feline raised her eyebrows at his question. Louie took that time to glare at her. She breathed, unclasping her arms over her chest.

The entire office desolate in a minute. Both of them stood in front of each other. Feline spoke up, "He's alright now. The doctor discharged him earlier. Sean was in the house now."

Louie queried, "House? What house?"

He wanted to ask what house she meant. But it would be offensive if he couldn't let her speak up. Feline sighed as she darted her eyes everywhere. She couldn't say it. Louie's assumptions were right.

"Ah. I know where you delivered him. His parents must have sell the house he lived in with Friya," Louie stated. Feline stood. Her heart skipped a beat. Louie can read her body language as soon as he came. Something wasn't right, and how Feline fiddle with her fingers.

"How do you know about that? Do Friya say it to you?" she doesn't know what to say. If Friya admitted it to Louie, how can she go against it? Besides, she was a mistress before she even became the girlfriend. Feline placed her hands on the backside pockets as she bit her lip.

"Yeah. She would not chase the compensation for the house. Instead, she wanted to give it to Sean as... a token of their love that once bloomed," Louie reassured. Feline couldn't look at him. She was trying to, but how could she face the one Sean made a promise for? Louie was the witness of their love story. How it started, how it ended.

It's like a 2-hour movie that ended in a fairytale. But forever didn't exist in real life. Feline swallowed, the guilty overcoming her pride.

"Take care of him. I know Friya would be happy too, if you love him more than what she gave. She's alright now. You two are happy being together, am I right?" Louie asked that question. It made Feline's heart ache.

It must be her reason that made them destroy each other, or... it was something else? Love is like a crime. You wouldn't know how much it will kill you.