Marco

"I can't."

"Yes you can."

"No I can't, Marco."

"Please?"

"Really. As much as I want to. I still have work."

I tried thinking of a bargain.

"How about tomorrow? Friday?"

"I can't, G. Tomorrow I have work."

"Then let's schedule that by Saturday?"

"Fine."

"So be it."

He finally agreed.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Marco. Yours?"

"G."

"That's a nice name Marco." I added.

"Thanks."

"You have a nice body too."

"Thank you G. You too. But I really have not worked out for months now."

"Really? Man, I wish I could do that and not worry."

"I actually want to get fatter."

*Silence

"Seriously?" I felt he seemed ridiculous.

"Seriously."

'Haha."

"Why?"

"Because you're really boastful!"

"I'm not. ;)"

"You are."

"No, I'm not G."

"By the way, where do you work?"

"I work as a part-time teacher in Alabang. How about you?"

"I work as a Health Coach in Taguig."

"That's nice."

"Thanks. Your work is nice too!" I told him.

"Yeah. I believe that children really are the future."

"I believe so too. :) So...do you want to talk about your breakup?"

"Nah. I believe we'll leave that for Saturday."

"Alright. Looking forward."

And with that I flipped my phone and tried falling to sleep.






Part 2

Marco

"I hate you."

A random guy suddenly messaged me in Hornet.

"What did I do?"

I asked him.

"You're ignoring me."

"I wasn't trying to ignore you." I replied.

"Then why didn't you message me?" He asked.

*Silence

"Well?"

"Well, now we're talking." I said.

"Yeah. I guess."

"So what are we going to talk about?" I asked.

"I have just been from a breakup." He told me.

"I am sorry to know that. If you want to talk more about it, I'm here." I empathically said.

"Let's talk in person. Now." He insisted.

I was surprised.

"Why?" I blurted.

"I need someone to talk to."

"But I have work later. And I had just come home from work. Please understand."

"No." He answered.





Part 1

Final Words

Dear B,

I still have not figured out how to write the perfect letter for you. I could start by saying 'sorry' or 'thank you', either of the two seems appropriate. But as our emotions finally distanced, mine especially, I am finding it more and more difficult to even start composing anything meaningful for you. It is true and to the best of my intentions, I wanted to get back with you. The month of March really made it hard for some reason. The idle moments aggravated it. Weekends were hell. Heck, I had a struggle with last month too but it has somehow abated. I took a three-day off to think things through. Everyone thought I was going out of town but I was just at home.

And found my worth, again. I think I had enough.

Perhaps you have moved on earlier than I did and that is okay. That is great. And I should be happy for you. I have to be. Exes have to be happy for their ex-partners. That is the rule, the law that governs the past relationships.

In breakups, it is almost always a race to find happiness and recovery earlier.

What is the point of this writing, B?

To tell you that I am okay. And that we will be okay - in time.

And if we see each other crossing paths again for some random reason, I will give you a thumbs up and smile from afar. No drama. No scandal. No teary eyes.

Because B, you will always have a place in my heart.





"And in this loveless world it may be that it's wiser to dream than to awake." - Dr. Hawkins, The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie