CHAPTER 6: FIRST LOVE NEVER DIES

THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE

By Eleventh

CHAPTER 6: FIRST LOVE NEVER DIES

“Joey is back in the city. I never thought I’d be this happy seeing him again. I guess the saying “First love never dies” is true, because 12 years later, I still get butterflies whenever he speaks to me.” - Ira P.

PRESENT

Raine dropped the cookie she was munching in her mouth when she read her mom’s ending statement in that journal entry, dumbfounded to discover such a secret.

“No way! Seriously? This can’t be the Joey that I know, right? Lord, tell me this isn’t Uncle Joey. This gotta be a different person.”

The lassie caught herself mulling over the information she uncovered and was quite in a denial stage. She closed the journal to contemplate for a moment, holding the notebook upright with her two hands and gently hitting her forehead with its spine.

Suddenly, something thin and glossy slid down from one of the pages and fell on Raine’s lap, a black and white photo. It was a photograph of a man and a woman happily paddling a kayak. Though both looked very young, Raine can tell who they were. It’s easy to recognize her mother’s smile while she’s quick to assume that the man with her was Joey.

Flipping the photo, a message is neatly written in cursive saying, “It’s you. It’s always been you.” – Joey D.

Raine felt uncomfortable with her discovery. However, she noticed. Several times she noticed that there was a significant closeness in their relationship which no one can compare, how Joey looks for Ira first whenever he visits her grandfather’s house, how he never misses giving Ira a gift every birthday, how he loves to hang out with her, and even at how he is deeply concerned when Ira gets hurt by her clumsiness. Yet in those days where she quietly observes, she was less bothered about it because she knew that they were just good friends. But with the piece of information she discovered, it would be impossible for Raine to look at them still the same. Malice will surely poke her thoughts the next time she sees them together.

Joey delos Santos. To Ira, he was her prince, a knight in shining armor, a hero… the apple of her eyes. She was thirteen years old when she met him through Ares. Joey and Ares were classmates, best of friends, and were considered inseparable buddies because they’ve been together since grade school. When Ira was in Grade 7, she attended Grayson Academy with her brothers, Ares and Eros, who had a reputation for being diligent and smart, athletic and talented, and not to mention strikingly good-looking. In other words, they were famous.

Ira was quite an introvert so she doesn’t have anyone to hang out with. Instead, she always went with Ares, Eros, and of course Joey who never ceased to hang out with the Pardilla brothers. She ate lunch with them, played around during recess, sat with them in the bleachers, and went home together.

The bitter part of hanging out with her brothers is the fact that Ira doesn’t look like her siblings. Nobody would have thought that she was their sister, nobody asked and nobody was interested to look into her. Many of her brothers’ admirers had mistaken Ira as a coquette flirting with the boys. Her presence irritated them very much so they formed a clique intended to gang up on Ira.

And during those times where she was bullied, where she was helpless, where she cries in secret, Joey was there. He was always around to protect her, to defend, to comfort, to wipe her tears, to boost her confidence, and to support her. He was always around whenever she needed him. But a woman like Ira doesn’t seem to look like she needed a man; she doesn’t. Living with all men, she has grown to be strong and independent. She can fight for herself. Her brothers think so too. But with Joey around, she realized how it feels good to have someone to depend on other than herself. She realized how emotionally gentle she is and Joey saw that.

And that’s how she fell in love.

2017 JOURNAL

You can always tell when someone is in love by the glow in their eyes whenever they look at someone precious to them. Head over heels, Ira’s eyes glistened at the sight of her first love’s comeback.

“You’re here! I-I thought you were in France.” Ira welcomed her old friend with eyes stuck on him. Meanwhile, Eros who was nosily observing his sister made a facepalm because her liking was too obvious.

“I’m back for your brother’s wedding.” Joey disclosed.

“That’s great! I’m happy you’re here.” Ira said yearningly.

“Me too. I’m very happy to see you, Ira!” Joey ruffled Ira’s head which made her blush. Her joy was uncontainable that she can’t even pocket her smile.

Catching a glimpse of Eros cringing at her, Ira pursed her lips and made a follow-up statement to cover up herself. Stepping a foot away from Joey, she said, “EVERYONE is happy that you’re here, I believe. Surely, Ares too will be glad to see you.”

“I agree. He has been begging me to come home for his wedding.” Joey answered perkily.

“Sorry, Ares wasn’t able to see you, Joey!” Eros stood beside Ira to face the guest.

“No problem, bro! I know he’s busy with his hospital duties. Besides, we’ll see each other so soon.”

“How about you come over to our house for dinner? He’ll be home by now!” Eros offered.

Ira’s heart leaped with excitement hoping that Joey accepts the invitation, but it quickly sank when he instantly declined.

“Thank you but I have to decline for now. I have a video call appointment tonight.”

“What a busy man you are!” Ira remarked with admiration.

Joey responded with a smile. Checking his watch, he bid farewell to the Pardillas. “Thank you for your help today, Eros. I really got to go!”

He reached out his hand to Eros and together they did their signature handshake.

“Anytime!

“Goodbye, Ira! See you around!” he scuffled Ira’s hair once more, then he left.

Ira waved goodbye. Her smile stitched on her face.

“You’re embarrassing me you know. Do you have to make it too obvious that you like him that much?” Eros flinched when he chided.

“I am NOT obvious. Your knowledge about me liking your friend is the reason why you’re putting malice in everything I do.” Ira defended while making a face towards her brother.

“You’re giving me eerie vibes.” Eros teased.

“What’s so eerie about it?” Ira’s face crumpled in annoyance.

“I never thought it’ll be weird to see my sister who was single for 25 years look obviously head over heels with my brother’s best friend. It’s… too cringe!”

Eros's remark annoyed Ira that she slapped her brother on his belly and walked out, rolling her eyes. That made him chuckled. It’s ironic for someone who’s scared to see his sister get angry to find it fun seeing her get annoyed.

AT GRAYSON ACADEMY

“So, you’re saying that you like him since you were thirteen?” Maggie wrapping up Ira’s story, licked on her watermelon ice pop while she and Ira make their way through the canteen crowded with high school students and teachers. “If you have liked this guy for more than ten years, girl, that ain’t a normal crush anymore.”

Ira paused from walking. Pondering what Maggie just said, she turned to her with a blank face, her chocolate ice pop dangling on her mouth. She gave one lick before she confronted Maggie’s thoughts.

“Are you saying I’m…?”

“Yes, girl! I think you’re in love with this Joey guy!” Maggie concluded. She found a not-so-empty table and gently grabbed Ira to sit in it.

“You’re maybe right.” Ira sighed as she sat beside someone she didn’t notice. “I haven’t seen him nor even talked to him for the past three years since he went to France, and I thought I’d finally move on. But last night, when I saw him, it felt like I was on cloud nine. I was… awfully happy. I never thought I’d feel that kind of happiness again.”

Maggie marveled at her friend who’s finally talking stuff she never talks about – love and men.

“See? You’re not a plant after all.” Maggie remarked as she lazily rested her arm on the table and leaned her chin on her palm. Gobbling the last bits of the ice pop, she asked, “What do you like about him anyway?”

Ira smiled as she dreamily thought of Joey. “He’s very kind. He’s a gentleman. He’s sweet. And… sexy! His tan color suits him well.”

“What kind of girls fall for guys just because they’re sexy for being tan? That’s too shallow!” The guy next to Ira butted in with a disgusted face. Almond-eyes, spiky hair, heart-shaped lips, pale white-skinned, and smelled like vanilla – worth admiring if not only for his obnoxious personality.

Ira leaped in surprise to see Skye sitting next to her, wiping the sauce in his mouth with table napkins.

“Excuse me? Were we talking to you? And why are you sitting with us? Shoo! Go and find another seat, Mr. Doromal!” Maggie gawped.

Skye gulped his soda. He dropped it for a second to scrutinize Maggie with his peering eyes. “FYI! I got here first. You’re the ones sharing the table with me… without even asking!”

“You’re done with your food right? How about you leave now?” Ira boldly declared.

“Wow! Your audacity is unbelievable, Miss Pardilla!” Skye sniggered crossing his arms at her.

Just as Ira was about to retort to Mr. Twerp as she calls him, Maggie snapped her fingers on Ira’s face to catch her attention.

“Save it, girl! He’s not worth it. Let’s just ignore that twerp, ‘kay?” Maggie motioned Skye with her bulging eyes not to provoke Ira. But Skye, snubbing Maggie, just grabbed the can of soda to drink it, pretending he’s off to mind his own business.

Ira chose to let go and went back to the conversation. “Where were we?”

“I finally figured it out, Ira!” Maggie reached out for Ira’s hands and clasped them with hers.

“Figured what?”

“I finally figured out why you are not into dating.”

Ira furrowed her eyebrows. “What’s your guess this time?”

“This isn’t a guess, girl. I am a hundred percent sure this is the reason.” Maggie smirked. Skye was looking at the girls from the corner of his eyes.

“You’re not into dating not because you suck at it. The truth is you’re not willing to open up your heart to other men because it’s obviously taken by Joey.”

Maggie let go of Ira’s hand and crossed her arms with confidence that she had blown Ira in the head. Meanwhile, Ira paused for a moment to contemplate what Maggie just said.

“Could be..” Ira leaned on her seat and placed her hands inside the pockets of her hoodie. “But I’m not really into strangers, Maggie! What I always dreamt of was to get married to a close friend.”

“But whyyy?” Maggie’s voice raised and her eyes bulged.

“Because why not? Compared to dating a stranger, starting a relationship with a friend doesn’t require pretending to be someone you’re not. You don’t have to try so hard to show off your best and you don’t have to be afraid to show your flaws because a friend will definitely love you and accept you for everything that you are.”

“Ira, you’re missing the point of dating. When you date, you don’t jump into the water. You’re still gonna test it if it’s hot or cold, shallow or deep.”

Ira squinted. “What? Sorry, I got lost at the water part.”

Skye secretly sniggered at Maggie’s ridiculous point which Maggie saw that made her quickly snap at him. “What are you laughing at, twerp?”

“I’m not. I’m minding my own business here.” Skye lied.

Maggie chose to ignore her colleague and went back to Ira. “My point is dating is making friends. That’s it!”

“Yeah making friends except that people who date aren’t looking for best friends but they check on you if you’re a potential lover. I don’t want that! I want a genuine friendship!”

Maggie dropped the argument and gave up convincing her friend, while Skye laughed at Ira’s obstinacy.

“Be honest! You want to be Joey’s girlfriend, aren’t you?” Ira blushed. She didn’t reply. “I knew it! There’s no sense talking to you about dating because there’s only one person you want to end up with.”

Ira sighed and gazed at the can of soda. “I can’t imagine being with someone else other than Joey. He’s the most comfortable guy I know apart from my family. He knows me well. He knows my fears and insecurities. He even sees my bad temper and my bad habits but never once he judged me. I felt like… I was accepted for who I am.”

Maggies’s eyes brightened up. “Don’t you think he likes you too?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not. But do you think so?”

“Well, base on your stories, it seemed like he does. He’s always around when you need him, he knows a lot about you, he’s kind and sweet to you… I don’t think that’s a normal friendship! Perhaps, he likes you too.”

Skye stood up from his seat catching the girls’ attention with the noise he created from dragging his chair. Before he departed, he left Ira a bit of advice.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t raise my hopes too high. Men are straightforward people. If we like someone, we tell them with no holdbacks. In other words, if that guy likes you, he should have told you a long time ago.”

Ira faced Skye lifting her chin to meet the eyes of the guy who was 10 inches taller than her. She neither flinched an eye nor look intimidated at all.

“Thank you for your unsolicited opinion, Mr. Doromal, but I quite disagree with you.”

Crossing his arms, Skye did not waver to the small tiger. “At which part, Miss Pardilla? Aaah! Let me guess! The part when I said that if your friend likes you, he should have told you a long time ago, isn’t that? Oooh! You must be desperately hoping that he likes you too. Don’t you? Tsk! Keep dreaming then!”

And he left with a snigger on his face. Turning his back on Ira, he slipped his hands on his pockets walking away like a thug who just won from a brawl.

Ira’s face flushed. Not a bit of annoyance in her face was painted but she surely felt mocked. However, she finds it undeserving to retaliate because sadly, Skye was right about what he said. Her desperate hope for reciprocated feelings is unfortunately hopeless.