BECAUSE they left Baguio early, before lunch they reached San Ricardo. A province in the North where Ara's remains are buried. But before that, they decided to go to a flower shop where they bought flowers and a beautiful and special white candle.
"Let's go?" minutes after they had reached the private cemetery where Ara was buried that was what she heard Jason say.
Jenny remained motionless and just sat in the car.
She felt strange at that moment. Maybe it's because she feels a lot of guilt. Because after everything she found out ten years ago, she didn't even talk to Ara.
Ara tried to call her many times but she did not answer even one of them. And now that she's here, does she still have the right to feel pain because of the treatment she did to her friend and in fact, she considered her sister?
Ara nodded then unbuckled the seat belt. She didn't speak anymore and instead just quietly got out of the car. She was even slightly taken aback when Jason put his hand on their shoulder as they walk.
She just silently felt herself as she continued to hold back her tears. But all the strength she had gathered released when they got closer to Ara's grave. When she read the name of the person she loved so much engraved on the tombstone.
The young lady knelt on the grass as her face sunk into her own palms she burst into tears.
She didn’t know which was more painful than she was feeling. Was it then that she found out that Jason had planned to court Ara?
Or now that Ara was gone and she would never see her again?
Jason left her in that order and she secretly thanked him for that. He allowed her to cry and that was what she really wanted.
It's flattering to think that despite everything that happened, the young man still really knows her. Perhaps he knew and he also felt the intense grief in her heart so he finally sat down next to her then pulled and hugged her tightly.
On Jason’s shoulder, she cries all the pain and regrets she feels. Soon she was also the first to resign from embracing the young man. Then she took the candle and lit it. She put it next to the flower and then she prayed.
"Now I totally regret everything," the young lady said turning to Jason as she ignored the warmth of the corners of her eyes again due to the looming tears.
The smile that tore Jason's lips was understandable and then he carefully grasped her hand and then squeezed it.
“It’s not your fault, I was the one who made a mistake so you have nothing to regret,” he explained to her.
That was Jenny shook her head one after the other and then quickly wiped away the tears that spontaneously flowing without her being able to stop them.
"Stop saying it's not my fault because I also did something wrong. I didn't let you explain, remember? If I hadn't done that I would have been with Ara for a long period of time. We wouldn't have separated and besides, I wouldn't have met Ryan and I wouldn't have been a mistress without my knowledge," she said, laughing sarcastically at the last thing she said.
"Do you still love him?"
At Jason's question, Jenny was quickly taken aback. She didn't notice that the young man was staring at her so that's how she reacted. And when their eyes met she was confused when she saw there what seemed to be resentment that she did not expect to see there.
"Didn't I tell you I'm okay?" she said laughing softly then caressed Ara's tombstone.
Because she was looking at the tombstone of his bereaved friend, she could not see the twinkle of happiness in Jason's eyes.
"So it means nothing can stop us anymore?"
Jenny could sense the intense happiness in the tone of Jason's voice and that made her brow knit due to confusion.
"What?"
Jason's sweet smile widened when she asked that question and then he shrugged.
"What if he comes back, will you still accept him?" the young man asked again instead.
Jenny's eyes rolled at that question.
"For what? To be his mistress again?" she replied.
"In case we didn't separate then and then you met him, is there a chance that you will break me up so that he can be your boyfriend?"
"Jason, what is this answer portion for?" Jenny replied to the young man with a question in a confused tone.
That was when Jason clicks his tongue then spoke again. "Just answer my question," he insisted.
At that point, Jenny could not contain the strange touch of emotion in her heart at the same time as she thought back to how intense the love she had before for the young man.
First love, first great love. That's how she saw and treated Jason then. And that is also what she sees as the reason why despite a long time that they have been apart, he remains in her heart.
Because he's her great love. Just like how Ara is her forever best friend. And she knew Jason was the same for Daniel.
"Jenny," the young man to her as she remained in her deep thoughts and silent after a while.
"No," she replied to Jason.
No matter how briefly she said that it seemed to be a huge thing for the young man because she saw the intense pleasure register on his face.
"Really?" it seems that Jason cannot believe what she just heard if the basis would be the tone of his voice and the emotion that gleaming in his beautiful dark eyes.
Jenny smiled then tried to control the weak giggle because of the slight thrill she was feeling.
"I'll admit that's true," she replied.
"Really what?" Jason asked again.
"I was so in love with you then. And I think if we hadn't separated Ryan wouldn't have had even a small chance with me. Because I knew then how I feel for you would be forever, just like how Ara is my forever best friend and Daniel your forever best friend and he's like your brother, isn't he?" that was her long explanation.
"Well, if that is the case, so it means it's still there?" the young man pointing her chest, near her heart afterward.
Jenny blushed when she got what Jason meant and most of all realized how by simply asking her, the young man was able to make her confess her true feeling about him, without her realizing it.