Anniversary

Patrick's POV:

Finally, I can be with Miyah now. It gives me a lot of courage to go back to the Philippines. Miyah gave me that strength.

We're on our way to the restaurant where her best friend and her boyfriend are.

"Alex, Ken! Sorry, we're late!" Miyah said. The girl in front of me looks familiar. I can only see her back, but I'm already nervous.

Is it you?

"Alex, Ken, this is Patrick. Finally, you get to meet him!" Miyah happily said while holding my hand.

It is her!

It took me years before I finally moved on. Miyah is my life now. She completes the missing pieces of me.

But why does it have to be her?

Why does Alex have to be Miyah's best friend?

"Babe, this is Alex, my best friend. And this is Ken, her boyfriend!" Miyah said cheerfully. She smiles at me, and I feel guilty.

"Hi," I offered my hand for a handshake. Miyah is my life now and I don't want to betray Miyah. Maybe it's better if I act like I don't know her. "I've heard a lot of things about you. Thank you for being with Miyah all these years," I said with a smile. Her hands are the same, and it hurts me a lot.

Of all the people, why her?

"Okay! Let's sit!" Miyah interrupted. "Are you okay, sissy?" she asked Alex.

What's with her?

"Yeah! Yeah—yes, I'm okay..." I know she's lying. I can hear the pain in her voice, but I can't look at her. To be honest, I missed her.

How are you, Pumpkin?

I missed you!

Miyah is sweeter than her, a different treatment than I had when I was with Alex.

"Excuse me, Alex?" Alex asks me, but I don't use the name Alex anymore. I omitted the name Alex from my birth certificate five years ago. I'm just Patrick Vonne now.

"Are you okay? You're the only Alex here?" Ken asks her. She seems confused, and I know why. I just don't have the courage yet to talk to her like everything's okay. I was hurt. I was in pain. I was literally in pain.

"Oh! Right, Alex. He's from Cebu, and I guess you went to the same high school," Miyah said while chewing on her food.

"Really?" she asked. She acted surprised, like she didn't know me either.

"Yeah, right, baby?" Miyah asked me.

"Yes, babe," I smiled sweetly at Miyah.

She's hurting, and I'm hurting seeing her like that.

"Please excuse me." She excused herself and went to the restroom.

She stayed there for almost 30 minutes.

"Is your girlfriend okay? She's been there for the last 30 minutes?" I couldn't help but ask Ken. I know I shouldn't be concerning her anymore. We have our different lives now, but I know Alex is hurting, and I can't help but check on her.

She came out of the restroom, and her eyes were clearly swollen.

Is she crying? Why?

"What happened to you?" Miyah asked her, full of concern. She really treasures Alex, like how she used to tell me.

"Don't mind me. I just got a call from my Mom, and she's congratulating me. You know, I got emotional," she lied. My eyes caught her eyes, and I know she's faking it. She lost contact with her Mom a long time ago. I haven't seen her cry since we became a couple. It's sad. "If it's okay, Miyah, can I go home first?" she asked with concern.

"Oh, is that so? I got it, sissy. We understand." Miyah holds my hand, and I know that caused her pain again.

"Thanks! See you when I see you," she bid farewell. She smiled at Miyah, but I knew she'd break anytime sooner. I wish I could comfort her.

"Take care, Alex. It was nice meeting you again." I said, feeling so hurt once again. I know I shouldn't feel this way because this might hurt Miyah.

"Yeah! Thank you," she replied with a forced smile.

A tear fell from her eyes. I wish I could ask her why.

I escorted Miyah after we ate outside. It would have been perfect if only Alex hadn't been her best friend. I don't have any intentions of hurting her. I love her, and it's real.

Flashback

August 23, 2015

I wanted us to have a formal meal outside, so I saved up to take her to an expensive restaurant. I'm happy seeing Alex happy. I want to surprise her always. She is the apple of my eye and the reason I feel butterflies in my belly.

"Happy anniversary, Pumpkin," I greeted her happily while holding her hands. I smile and am so excited to give her my next surprise. After this dinner, we'll go to the park while musicians play. I wanted this day to be very memorable. I wanted her to be with me forever.

"Four years from now, I'll be a successful businessman. I'll be taking over Dad's company. And after that, we can go to Paris, Pumpkin. We'll explore the whole of Paris, isn't that what you want?" I happily narrated, but Alex seemed distant.

Is there a problem? She's been like this for the past three months...

"Hey, are you listening?" I asked.

"I have something to say, Alex!" she sighed. I got nervous.

Alex? She's calling me Alex?

"Alex? Isn't that unusual? You're not calling me Pumpkin anymore? That hurts." I pretended as if something pierced my heart.

"I'm serious!" she cut off my drama. Another deep breath from her made me even more nervous. "I know it's bad timing, but I don't want to prolong this, Alex. Let's end this!" she softly said.

I couldn't speak, and instead, I took a huge gulp.

Why so sudden? Without any warning? Is this a prank? I guess not; I can see the pain in her eyes.

Why?

What happened, Alex?

Did you get tired? What did I miss?

"I'm sorry, I don't deserve you!" That was the last thing she said, and then she left me. I couldn't stop the tears from falling one by one. I felt so much pain, and she didn't even explain.

Isn't it enough?

Am I too much?

Why now?

Her phone rang several times, but she didn't answer. I was outside Alex's house, and the rain was soaking me to the bone. I shouted outside, not caring about what Alex's neighbors might say. I was desperate and needed an explanation.

I called and texted her multiple times, but she wasn't responding.

What's wrong with us, Alex?

"Come on, Alex, come out! Let's talk!" I shouted outside, hoping Alex would come down and talk to me.

What happened between us?

She's online, so I chatted with her.

"Do we have a problem? Can't we talk about it? Maybe you're just confused?"

"Nothing, I just..."

Just what? What! Are you pranking me with some jokes, Alex? It's not funny anymore!

"But please hear me out... If I did something wrong, I can change... please don't do this to me, Pumpkin."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? Pumpkin?"

"I don't know."

You don't know? Why don't you know? Explain yourself, why!

"Now, of all times?"

Why now? Couldn't it be tomorrow or the day after?

"Yeah! I'm sorry."

"I love you, Pumpkin."

I love you always, Pumpkin, even if you don't love me anymore.

I can't understand what I'm feeling right now. It's too cold outside, and the rain is pouring heavily. I can hear the complaints of Alex's neighbors, but I don't care.

"But I don't love you anymore, Alex!"

It kills me; I want to die.

"Come down, I'm outside, please!"

"Just go home. It's my final decision!"

"Please!"

"Please, Alex! Talk to me!" I continued shouting outside.

"I'm sorry. Don't try to approach me; I don't want this anymore. It's over between us."

"Please answer my calls. I want to see you. We don't have any problems, right?"

I can't find the reasons why she needs to be like this.

"I just need space, Alex. Please understand."

Space? Why? Did I suffocate you? I didn't, did I? Is there someone else?

"Understand me too, Pumpkin, please! I'm begging... you know I can't live without you!"

"You can, Alex. You're just overthinking that you can't. I just wanted to sort things out, let me think, let me go... If you really love me, Alex, you'll respect my decision. I loved you before, but I love you no more. Sorry."

"Remember, I wrote you a message in the keychain I gave you? 'I know you'll get tired of loving me someday, but I promise I'll love you eternally.' That's true! Please!"

Message not sent. You cannot reply to this conversation anymore.

She blocked me. She's not answering my calls or replying to my texts, and I can't reach her on any of her social media accounts. I am blocked.

"Please! Alex, let's talk about this! Alex!" I kept shouting repeatedly.

I didn't want to go home, but the guards arrived to stop me. It's already late at night, and I know I'm disturbing everyone.

...to be continued.