Sequels

Relationships are like movies. Those with vague endings would usually have sequels.

Some relationships have sequels for the hope of prolonging "way back when"s or maybe with the unconscious intention of ending things right.

Jimbelle Ha, a friend of mine, was a believer of fairy tales. In a place where 'chinitas' are praised, she had to go through a lot of frogs until finally meeting her prince who deems fit of the chinita counterpart image. 

Bon Kervee Estimada, also highly praised for his Asian eyes, arrived one day to sweep off this hybrid's feet. No more frogs to deal with. Only this hardworking, God-fearing, guitar-playing, good-looking, basketball jock-- so unrealistic you'd mistake him for a fictional character, but as cliche as this goes-- nobody's perfect.

Everyone was a witness to their bond. Her being the sweetest, hardworking, beautiful, shy-type of girl any guy would go for, pledged her loyalty to this one and only guy which we are die hard witnesses of.

It started off rough and then bloomed to something stable. She was in junior high and he our senior. It was when the school year has come to an end that we assumed, like any other relationships, that what they have was also graduating along with him which they came to prove wrong.

The relationship became stronger, unbreakable even-- or so we thought.

Another year has ended and finally they are to close the miles that are laid between them by the educational system. Of course, like any other good student with morals, Jimbelle set her priorities straight and opted for a business school instead of the med school that Bon regularly attends. 

Everything went smooth and quiet. One's existence is always accompanied by the other. You'd rarely see them without each other and if you do, you'd usually greet them with a "Nasaan si Bon?," "Nasaan si Jimbelle?" type of Qs-- it's so frequent that it's considered a norm.

Everything was doing great until a tragedy has come into being. The Ha family business went haywire and was doomed to bankruptcy. Everything was so sudden they weren't able to financially prepare for the damages it left. In order to compensate for the loss, her father decided to go back to Korea in order to start again from scrap which then skipped from bad to worst when they found out he has terminal cancer.

The Ha family was planning to migrate to Korea and planned to stay there permanently which was not good news for Bon and Jimbelle yet they managed to get through the following months with this nearby migration in tact. Bon is a reasonable person, but not close to sentimental. As Jimbelle and her mom, Tita Ramelda, tried to fix all that is needed for the migration as soon as the second semester starts the more Bon was oblivious of the possibility that this migration might pull off. Like any other Filipino, Bon knew having to migrate takes years and dismissed the thought of the possibility of her migrating.

Again, Bon is a reasonable person, but not close to sentimental.

Months came to weeks and the alleged deadline was close. Bon, confident of his theory, continued to dust-off stress through companionship with his "bros." Meanwhile, Jimbelle was pissed off at the thought of him not even pressured for the deadline coming to close. At this point, I was also convinced of Bon's theory but was not much of a fan of his chivalry. Vague or not he should have been there for her because the possibility of her leaving was present and his theory, though solid, can also fail.

I was a witness to her emotional instability. To ask Bon to not hang-out with his friends seems overly attached, but to ask of her 'possible' remaining weeks to be spent with him is not something that should be deprived by a boyfriend.

It was a rough road for both of them as their fights became frequent and almost like a routine. Attempted breakups, sleepless nights, shouts over the phones, and pillows wet from tears.

Days or weeks maybe, after the alleged deadline, a grief-stricken news, though expected, came to the Ha residence. The cancer got to her dad and soon, the residence was filled with friends and family. Bon's family was also there and soon everyone was gathered to mourn for the Ha family.

Weeks after the incident, Jimbelle has become close to our circle. She was always a part of it but was never really a casual member since she lived off the past few years with a commitment and a strict parent. It was good for us since she's starting to at least smile and finally gets to hang-out with us. Her father's death was the birth of her freedom, something any daughter would half-heartedly appreciate.

As the weeks gone by, Bon and Jimbelle's relationship has gone completely unorganized until one night, they decided to cool it off. Both of them were in each other's necks and decided that a little air would be nice.

Not much to our expectation that this 'little air' would cause a whirlwind of dramatic events.

There was an alleged third party. Jimbelle, having to hear this constantly from trusted sources and other friends jumped to a theoretical conclusion that maybe there is something going on between him and this alleged third party. Bon denied this 'something' and defended his statement with "we're just friends"

She tried to understood the situation and kept things in tact trying to not destroy the whole trust system between them but would have occasional breakdowns thinking about the 'what ifs'. He took the best years of her life and the pain that she, at that time, felt, was immeasurable.

Push came to shove until finally she gets to witness the betrayal herself and reassured the reality of the situation by slapping him so hard the third-party hyperventilated. It was bravery, we were at loss for words, we didn't know she had it in her. A shy-type girl from Panabo storming out of a half-running cab then finally slapping the man whom she entrusted her loyalty for years seemed like a teleserye scene.

A lot of friends wooed her and she somehow felt powerful, very powerful that it compensated for the pain she felt.

Most people believed that she was a changed woman-- far more powerful than she has ever been. I also wanted to believe that. That she was genuinely okay, but somehow I felt that she wasn't.

When she slapped him on the face it wasn't just Bon she was slapping, she was also slapping the three years she wasted, the trust they both established, the cage that he unconsciously put her in-- for him it was a turning point, a sudden realization of what he lacked, the possibility of her leaving him, and the pain he has put her through.

I knew she still loved him even though how many times she tried to laugh at every joke or no matter how many times she was asked. It was painful having to see her that way because it was like that for me as well. Telling people I was okay and maybe convince them and also myself that I really was.

After everything had boiled down, Jimbelle stopped telling recent happenings which she told me months after. Bon tried to win her back, to get her back, and he was very desperate. Jimbelle, with a help of a certain rebound, stood by her ideal that she was okay and Bon should leave her alone. Bon was persistent, until he was convinced that his absence would be her happiness-- so he left, but not completely.

In all desparation, Bon would contact Jimbelle's close friends, including me, for updates about her. Knowing how she was doing, telling me how he regretted all of it, how he could have stopped things and even try to play fate by knowing where she is from a recent source then go somewhere near that place and pretend as if it was a 'coincident'.

Bon, with no more hope left, finally gave up and left completely.

Jimbelle was trying to put her life back into place where she left it three years ago. She was doing good and soon she admitted of still having feelings for him which somehow I was much aware of without her having to tell me. I told her reasons to weigh into, I told her that Bon shouldn't be judged by one mistake over the things he did right through the duration of their relationship, but boy-- he sure did mess up.

The whole trust system was broken and so were they. Fear was consuming her heart.

I didn't tell her to get back with Bon because I wanted her to, nor did I tell her to move on because I wanted her to, but because I want her to make her own choices. A choice that she won't regret and a choice that would make her happy. I told her to get back with him because I though that if that's what makes her happy then we'll be okay with it. I told her to move on because if her heart can't take it anymore then maybe it's time to opt for a larger happiness. If she makes the wrong decision then fine, lesson learned, but we will never judge her for it nor do we have the right to.

Their communication's back up and both of them have priorities to fulfill, both of which are last on each other's lists, at least that's what they show each other. Both trying to fight for the upper hand.

Whatever sequel might follow your movie, always know that I'll always love you, Bellers. You never left my back even though I never asked for it. I just want you to know that you're not obligated to answer to anyone on whatever decision you make. In this journey, always know that I have your back even if you won't ask for it (VERY CHAR). I want you to be strong enough to finally stand on your own feet, which you are doing a great job by the way (MORE CHAR). I love you and always will.
-Rei, xoxo