“Because not everyone wanted to be a part of the messed up social media. I myself don’t want to video chat nor voice chat with him.” She was a bit shy because she knew she froze whenever she talks to the men she likes. She doesn’t want to embarrass herself or say the wrong things to him. “Besides, do you really need to see each other first before you could say that you love that person? Whether just you talk over the internet or meet in person, we are still both real people. Whatever we feel, we let each other know about it. And that was enough for me.”
The friend's expression turned sour. “I will reserve my judgment. I want to meet him first.”
“Why do we need that much requirements to know if it is true love or not? There was mature and immature love? What for? The problem with you is that you’re always analyzing everything. Always basing on books. How about living a normal life like everybody else? Wasn’t my feelings not enough to know that it’s real love?”
"Because love and relationships are not as simple as they seem."
"Have you experienced falling in love yet for you to be able to say that?” Cheska held out her palms. “Why don’t you try using your heart once in a while? Using your feelings. Let’s see if you would still be able to psychology once you go crazy in love. No one is in their right mind when they’re in love. Logic does not exist, but at least you’re happy. Because you always use your brain, you tend to not be able to feel real happiness.”
Her friend gave out a sarcastic laugh. “Che, I'm not your enemy. I was just worried about you. And this is not about me. This is about you. As your friend, I will be the first to be happy for both of you if that is really true.”
Cheska gave out a sigh. He blew air. “Sorry. I just don't like negative vibes right now. I just want to be happy. You understand me, right? If it's true that Doc Darryl likes me too and we both have a chance to be together, then I need to plan for our future.”
It was silly. But she could feel that they were meant for each other. That’s why she already planned their lives. She would go to South Korea when she passed her board exam and a full-pledged CPA. They will get married in the Philippines and in Korea. They will have two children.
But for their immediate future, Doc Darryl told her that he would help her get to South Korea. He said he would take to Jeju Island, his favorite place in the world, and tour her around. Their itinerary was already in place, where they would go and what they would do there. While she promised to take him on a trip around the Philippines with his cousin Jaimee. It was her semester break so didn’t have school. Instead of going home to their province, she planned to spend her vacation with Darryl.
This is it! This is the beginning of their forever.
"Whatever. I still want to talk to that Darryl one of these days," Mikha said, still skeptical about the man. “Tita Medy put you in my care while you’re here in Manila. They want to make sure you’re okay. Just remember that you still don’t know much about that Darryl. Your parents don't even know that Jaimee girl. Is he coming soon? I want to talk to him.”
"Yes. He will fetch me up here. They just left Bataan.” Cheska took out her cellphone. Darryl's flight was still a few hours more before he reached the Philippines. The last chat they had was when he was on his way to Jeju International Airport. Five hours more before he arrived in the country. She was just too excited.
"Unnie." Unnie was the Korean term for older sister in Korean.
“Oh, Jammie! I'm all ready. Where are you now? Are you about to arrive?”
"Oppa Darryl…"
“Why? Was his flight delayed? Oh, it’s fine. Nothing to worry about--”
"H-He couldn’t come anymore."
"Oh!" she mumbled sadly. "Is there an emergency?"
“The car he was driving to the airport had an accident. He crashed into another car. Oppa was dead on the spot. He's gone, Ate. Oppa Darryl is dead. Y-you won't be able to see him anymore.”
Darryl is dead? The man she dreamed of is dead. She would never see him again. She would never be able to be with him.
“It can't be. H-he’s not dead. He couldn’t be. We still haven’t seen each other. I haven’t told him I love him yet. We're still gonna travel together. We have a lot of plans…”
She heard Jaimmie sob on the other line sobbed. "I'm sorry."
"No! Darryl!" she shouted and sat down on the floor. Everything around her has lost its colors. Joy disappeared and sadness enveloped her heart. Her world collapsed. Her heart seemed to stop beating.
Cheska’s whole world faded into darkness.