Sweet Ache of Memories

The place was filled with deep silence and fresh scented flowers. I gazed the place where my beloved Arrah peacefully rested as I reminiscing the sweet ache of memories we shared together.

I arrived early for my basketball practice. I was the team captain and my team was practicing for our basketball competition. Our coach gave us a break for a minute; suddenly a pretty girl came to me and offered me bottled water and a towel.

“Oh you must be the team captain. You are a good player; by the way I’m Arrah a transferred student. Here, please accept these.” She said smiling.

As I looked at her, I felt in my heart skip a bit. I’ve never felt this feeling to any girls I’ve met before, unlike now I met Arrah.

“I’m Ryan. Yes I’m the team captain. Thanks for your concern.” I said.

Arrah lend her hand and I accepted it. I felt an indescribable sensation when our hands touched.

One day, I was heading towards the gym when I saw Arrah standing near the entrance. She was very pretty wearing the school’s uniform. Her hair was fixed in a ponytail making her face more radiant.

“Hi Ryan, I came to see your practice and I prepare your water and towel.” She said with a simple grin.

“Oh, don’t bother yourself Arrah. I’m fine thank you. You can watch our practice whenever you like.” I told her.

Every practice, Arrah was there to watch my basketball practice. She was there to cheer for me and everybody in the court presumed that she was my girlfriend.

One night, Arrah told me that she love me. I was shocked and I can’t believe that she would confess to me. She was expressive and straightforward for her feelings for me. I was speechless and honestly I felt offended.

Everyday, Arrah would gave me three red roses with chocolates on my table inside the class. I was really embarrassed and annoyed because she did the courting. I began the center of attention in the campus and it really bothered me. Everybody knew that Arrah was madly in love with me. My basketball teammates even teased me about Arrah’s wooing. I really tried my best not to entertain them and from that I began to dislike Arrah.

I did my best to stay away from her and refuse all her presents for me. Arrah was so persistent and still courted me. Until one evening after my last practice, Arrah came to see me. She looked straight into my eyes and gave me a sad smile. She gave me again three red roses and said,

“I love you Ryan, please believe that. I know that this is awkward because I’m the one who courted you but please believe me, I really do love you.” Arrah kissed me and left.

That night, Arrah occupied all the corners of my mind. She was kind, sweet and charming I thought myself. I admit that I liked her for the first time and as the days passed my feelings for her grew deeper. I felt pain whenever I stayed away from her and it turned out that I missed her a lot. So I made up my mind to confess my feelings to her.

It was my basketball competition. The school’s gym was getting packed but there was no sign of Arrah. The game was getting started but I felt that I am not ready. Until, I saw Arrah on the left bench holding a banner with the name of our team on it. She waved her hand to me and shouted, “I love you!” I felt a great mood to play the game. The game was tough and both of the teams tied. It was fifteen seconds left I saw Arrah with an encouragement in her eyes that our team would win the game. At last, my team won the game!

After the competition, I excitedly went to see Arrah, I know she was waiting for me and I was right she was indeed waiting. I immediately hugged and kissed her.

“Arrah, I love you too!” I told her. She cried for a moment and hugged me tightly. Then she gave me a cake.

“I baked this cake for you. I hope you will like it.” She said. I was touched and held her hand tightly and I wished that time would stop for both of us.

It was our first anniversary and I planned to bring Arrah out after our basketball practice. I went to our meeting place but to my disappointment, I saw Arrah laughing and giggling with another guy. They seemed so close, so sweet. All of my nerves wanted to burst out and Arrah didn’t even feel my presence. I went away immediately because I don’t want to witness the scene, the reason for my heart to break.

I never talked to Arrah after that incident. She always texted and called me but I didn’t replied. She was asking me why I’m so cold to her but I remained silent. I never saw Arrah almost a week at school and I began to worried about her.

One day, I saw the guy whom Arrah was with on our first anniversary. The guy was mad and punched me.

“You bastard! What did you do to my sister?! She loves you so much and this is how you will repay her?! Damn you! You hurted her so much and now she’s in the hospital right now battling between life and death!” The guy shouted.

I was shocked as I heard the words he said. The guy told me that he was Ben, Arrah’s brother. I was stunned from that big revelation. We hurriedly rushed to the hospital. He told me that Arrah had a serious heart disease since birth. I was horrified. He told me that Arrah has been already told by her doctors that she could not live any longer but Arrah miraculously survived from the doctor’s deadline. Ben told me that Arrah was lively, the time she met me. He never seen her sister that happy and contented before. The night of our first anniversary, he wanted to see the man who made her sister so happy but I was not there. I felt a heavy guilt inside me.

I went to Arrah’s room as fast as my legs could carry me. Arrah was lying on the bed in a terrible condition and it brought tears to my eyes. I held her hands encouraging her to live.

“Arrah, I’m so sorry…I didn’t trusted you…forgive me…please live and stay.  I’m sorry for being an idiot! Oh God! This is my fault!” I cried in vain.

Arrah slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. I saw the love in her eyes on me. I felt her hands moving and tried to utter the words of love.

 “Ryan, there’s nothing to forgive. It’s my destiny to die. I will never forget you. Thank you for making the world a wonderful place for me. I will bring the love you have given me. I love you, thank you and goodbye…” Arrah said in whisper tone and expired. Arrah died with a peaceful and happy smile on her lips.

It’s been years since Arrah’s death. I learned to move on and accepted the tragic end of our love story. I am peaceful now and hoping for another Arrah to change my life.

        

The Lost Agreement

The place was covered with white as he opened his eyes. He knew that he was in the hospital right now. He tried his best to move his head and there he saw Erica beside him sleeping. He wanted to touch her badly but his body is weak. Then he heard Erica’s mourn after a deep sleep.

“Oh Richard, you’re awake! How are you feeling? Are you hurt? Do I need to call the Doctor? Erica asked.

.

Richard only smiled at her and shook his head. Erica’s face was relieved. “This is an another day with Erica”, Richard thought to himself. This will be an another memory to treasure for he was being with the girl he had long loved.

Richard run with delight as he heard the maid that Erica is coming over to his house to visit him. At the garden, he saw Erica with his parents. The three was having a very serious conversation. Richard wanted to call them but something told him not to. The three doesn’t even notice him. He doesn’t want to eavesdrop but he felt there is something wrong.

“Thank you Erica for a job well done! You made my son so happy and I hope will continue to help him get better.” His father said.

“I’ve never seen my son so happy Erica and we are grateful really.” His mother said.

“Based from our agreement, you will get what we promised. The money is fully yours Erica and…-“

Richard felt a bomb exploded inside his head. He immediately run as fast as he could away from them. “Erica why did you do this to me! It’s all a charade from the very start, how could you!” Richard told to himself. He felt a sharp knife stabbing him. “I’m so dumb and stupid! I’m such an idiot! Why did I love her?!” Nobody made him cry like this even his parents, but Erica did. Richard let his tears to fall, like a sunny day that it turned out to be a rainy day.

Erica pealed him an apple. Richard watched Erica intently with all the love his eyes.

“Hey stop that! I might melt!” Erica giggled.

Richard collected all the strength he needed. He already made a decision and he must do it.

“Erica …”he called.

“Yes, are you thirsty? I’ll get you a drink”

“It’s not that Erica”, Richard looked straight unto Erica’s eyes. He gave a deep sigh and continued.

“Stop this whole thing that you are concern about me. Stop pretending that you care for me. I don’t need your pity and stop showing me that you love me. I already knew the agreement between you and my parents. Don’t worry I’m not mad at you. I understand that you need money. I heard it all Erica so please stop this nonsense.”

“Richard no! You don’t understand,” Erica cried.

“What else that I did not understand? Erica, I told you that I understand. You want money right? I’m sure my father gave you already the reward. You don’t have to be oblige to look for me!”

“Please, Richard listen to me. You don’t know anything.” Erica begged.

“I have enough Erica. Stop this will you? Get out of this room now and get hell out of my life!” Richard exclaimed. He felt the pain on his head again. The physical and emotional pain collided, he screamed in an endless agony and every thing to him turned black.  

Years later, Richard miraculously survived his serious illness. He took over their family’s business and was able to reach the top three gainers in the country. He was famous in the business circle as well as helping less fortunate cancer patients. Richard has all the things a man could ever wish for but there was still an empty space inside of him and he knew that only Erica could fill it. He decided to fix things with her and maybe begin a new chapter of his life with her.

Richard hurriedly went to Erica’s place. He knocked on the door but no one answered. Then he noticed an old woman on the garden and she didn’t even saw him so he went to her.

“Good day ma’am…I’m here because I’m looking for Erica Vasquez”. Richard asked.

The old woman stared at him blankly and answered, “What is your name young man? I hope you don’t mind if I asked.”

“Oh my apologies, by the way I’m Richard Orteza.” Richard answered.

Richard stared at the old woman, “How can she be related to Erica? This is the first time I saw her. ” Richard thought.

The old woman told him to follow her until they stopped at Erica’s room. A wind suddenly touched Richard’s senses and he felt something different. As he entered the room, it was still he same place where he and Erica shared. The old woman gave him huge box and then she left. When Richard opens the box, there he saw some pictures of Erica and him and other things he gave her. As he scanned the pictures a letter fell on the floor and he get it. The letter was addressed to him and he read it.

            Dearest Richard,

                        I’m terribly sorry for all the things I’ve caused you pain and I won’t forgive myself for that, I’m really sorry. I hope you will find in your heart to forgive me. I regretted the days I wasn’t able to tell you the truth. It was true that your parents and I had an agreement about you, that if I make you happy for the last days of your life they will pay me a hundred thousand or more so I agreed. I never expected that being with you would be the most wonderful days of my life especially the night we shared in this place. I gladly took care of you when you were at the hospital and I did everything to make you happy. Every time I saw you hurt it hurted me more to see you like that and I wished that I could share the pain you endure. Your parents saw all the things I’ve done for you and they wanted to repay me but I declined. All those things came from the bottom of my heart and I gave it because I wanted to. I know that while you reading this letter, I am not around anymore but I have with me the memories we shared together. I never love someone else because it was always you. I love you very much and thank you for loving me.

                                                                                                     Love,

                                                                                                           Erica

The letter reached Richard’s heart. “Is this true? Why she didn’t tell me? We have the same feelings after all! I need to find her.” Richard told himself. He immediately ran outside the room and asked the old woman where Erica is.

“Where is Erica? Please tell me I need to talk to here I’m begging you!” He cried.

Then the old woman looked at him teary eyed and walked out towards the garden and Richard followed her. At the garden he saw a little boy picking some flowers. The little boy saw them and he was heading to the old woman.

“Are you finished picking some flowers?” The old woman asked the little boy.

“Yes, I’m sure mom would love this!” The little boy said joyfully. The little boy felt Richard’s presence and look at him.

“Hello sir are you going to visit mom with us? Today is her 8^th death anniversary and are you her friend?” asked the little boy.

As Richard examined the little boy’s face, it seems that he was staring at his childhood image then he felt and indescribable feeling.

“Who was your mom?” Richard curiously asked.

“My mom? Her name was Erica Vasquez.” The little boy gladly answered.