10 years ago….
I was a city girl and a graduating student in one of the prestigious universities in Manila. It was in the middle of April when my mother received a call from my uncle in the province that my grandfather died because of complications. Since that I didn’t have class, we decided to go there directly. Our ancestral house was built near the seashore. It was quite a clean surrounding but I was not that fond of swimming. My father decided to stay in the ancestral house since it was inherited to him. Plus, it would be favor to him since that he will be handling the businesses of my grandfather. That decision irritated me because I found it very boring but I didn’t have any choice but to abide with his last word. And besides, it would be hard for me to adapt to the new environment.
It was around five o’clock in the afternoon darkness is slowly scattering around but it didn’t hinder me to take a walk to the shore. I was sitting in the sand and feel the ambience of natural noise. I might be in the midst of my relaxation when someone came and broke it.
“Hello, you’re not familiar, are you new here?”. Even in a little light, I could still see the face of the guy who approached me. He had a very cute dimple, attractive eyes and a beautiful nose. “Oh, I’m sorry to disturb you; anyway, my name is Jack. How about you? What’s your name?” He sat beside me as if I allowed him to (but deep inside, I was so “kilig”).
“I’m Denise, but my friends called me “den”, and you’re right I am new here”.
And that’s it, the start of our friendship was along the seashore. And as expected, the friendship we had turned into a more intimate relationship. I loved him so much and I also felt his strong feeling of attachment for me. We may had problems in our relationship but the love between was still stronger. And know what, our favorite dating place was of course the place where we first met. We enjoyed watching every time the sun disappeared in our site.
One day, I saw Jack sitting on the big rock. I was wondering why he looked very lonely that day. I sat beside him, held his hands and asked what his problem is. He turned to me and kissed my forehead then he looked at the setting sun again. He just said “How lucky the sun is. It disappears for a while but we know that it will rise again”. It was weird but I remained silent. “Den, you have to remember always that I love you and I will love you forever”.
After that moment, I didn’t able to talk with him again. I tried to contact him but no answers, I went to their house but the people there told me he was in the vacation. It was“bullshit” for me with the thoughts that he just took me for granted without any word that he would take a vacation. Indeed, it was an insult but what gave me a sense of curiosity is the lonely face of his mother. One day, I received a text message from him. It stated that he will wait for me in the place where we first met before the sunset. I was nervous that time because I was thinking about the closure of our relationship. But I took courage to come.
“I was once a shining sun in your life. But unluckily, I am not a sun that could rise again after it disappears”. He stood up and held my face, “Do me a favor, please don’t cry my love for I will always….”
I stopped his speech through kissing him as if it was just the last thing I could do to prove how much I love him. That time, it was clear; he chose to hide his pain and illness for me not to worry. It was quiet unfair but I kept in my mind that he did it because he didn’t want to see me crying.
For the last time, I witnessed the last setting of the sun with him. He hugged me very tight and uttered love words. His voice became smaller and smaller until he just whispered “I love you so much”. I felt the loosening grip of his hands on my waist and he fell down. He asked me not to cry but I did. I let him lie down in my lap as if he was just sleeping like the sun hoping that he will rise again.
Yes, it’s been ten years. But I’m still here consecutively watching the sunset. Indeed he is my SUN that sets FOREVER.
