IS
TRUE LOVE WORTH WAITING?
By
Jay-R5 B. Sibonga
Can love really wait for
that long? Can love conquer all? Can love really last for years?
In a typical park where all
innocent children used to play, a 10 year old boy is searching someone to play
with. He’s Daniel, a boy from a prominent and good family. Even though at his
age he has the potential to be a “star” because of his good looks. Actually,
many offered him to be an artist but he refused to it because all he wants is a
simple and normal life. He wants to enjoy his childhood: playing games and
hanging out with friends.
Suddenly while walking on
the busy park, she saw a girl… playing alone. She caught the attention of
Daniel because every children in the park has their friends with them. That
girl is alone playing in the slide. Daniel approached the girl.
“Hi! I’m Daniel, and you?”
The girl stared at Daniel,
without saying or uttering anything.
“Can we be friends?” Daniel
asked again.
But he didn’t receive any
response from the girl.
The girl is about nine years
of age. She is cute and pretty. Daniel is wondering why the girl doesn’t give
any response to him.
Daniel asked again: “Why
don’t you talk to me. Are you deaf and can’t talk?”
The girl looked at Daniel
and said: “My mom told me not to talk to strangers.”
The girl ran away from him.
Daniel wondered why the girl does that thing. He kept walking and walking in
the park. He wanders in the whole perimeter of the park and at dawn, finally
went home.
Few days passed, Daniel goes
back to the park, hoping to see that girl again. After walking on the ground,
he was surprised on what he saw.
He saw the girl who refused
his friendship offering last time. She was wounded and crying. Daniel walked in
the direction of the girl and come near her.
Daniel asked: “Are you
alright? What happened to you?”
“While I am on my way here,
I saw a dog and I was scared because the dog barked at me. I ran as fast as I
could but it follows and ran after me. I stumbled and when the dog is near me,
good thing that the owner called the dog. I got this wound on my knees and it
hurts.” the girl stated.
“Oh, you’re so unlucky but
good thing the dog didn’t bite you.” Daniel said.
“But I can’t walk. The wound
is still bleeding. I think my mom is waiting for me and maybe by this time she’s
worrying why I’m still not at home.” the girl stated.
“Maybe I can help you.”
“How?”
The boy bends his body and
said: “Come, ride on my back. I will take you home.”
The girl rides on the back
of Daniel. On their way to the girl’s house, Daniel asked the girl: “I think
maybe we can be friends now, right?”
“Err… yes!”
“By the way, I’m Daniel and
you?”
The girl looked at the boy’s
eyes and there was a great interest in his eyes.
Daniel looked at the girl.
He noticed her beautiful eyes and long wavy hair. He can feel her smooth skin
on his hands. Daniel’s heart beats faster than normal.
Daniel said to himself:
“What am I feeling? Is this what they call love?”
The innocent boy didn’t know
what exactly he is feeling right now. When they are getting near to the girl’s
house, he asked the girl again:
“Before we get into your
house, can I know your name?”
“Oh yes, now that we are
friends.” the girl replied.
“By the way, I live in the
street next to you.” he said.
“Ahh good! We can meet again
next time! By the way my name is Althea.”
Daniel kept her name in his
mind and heart.
Althea comes from an
ordinary family. Her mother and father both work for the needs of their family.
She has an older brother and younger sister. She is intelligent and she is the
first honors of the third grade. Althea has this “shy personality” and she has
only few friends: her classmate who resides beside their house, who is also her
best friend, her friend since first grade, and now, Daniel.
The friendship of Daniel and
Althea grows. They play in the park near them, go to malls, and every Sunday,
attend the celebration of the Holy Mass. They also decided to attend the same
high school even though Daniel is a year ahead of Althea. They grew-up together
until their feelings for each other developed and their relationship reached
being “more than friends”.
Daniel expressed his
feelings to Althea and also, Althea feels the same to Daniel.
When they reached 3rd
and 4th year, they engaged in a loving relationship. They are the
perfect couple. They respect, trust, and love each other.
On their school’s
commencement exercises, Althea was also there to receive her medal as First
Honors of the Third Year. They were both happy on that celebration.
After the commencement
program, Daniel approached Althea.
Daniel looked at Althea with
tears in his eyes.
“Why are you crying?” Althea
said.
Daniel, suddenly turned his
back on Althea.
“What is happening Daniel?
Is there a problem? Maybe I must know it because I’m your girlfriend.”
Daniel cannot speak. He
can’t imagine what will happen next. He is afraid of what Althea will react on what
he is going to say.
“Althea, I want to say
something to you.”
“What is that?” Althea said
nervously.
“Didn’t you notice that my
mom is not here in my graduation?”
“Is she not around? Why?”
“She is sick. She has too
stay at the hospital and go to the States for her medication.”
“Aww.. so sad.”
“Yes, and I am going with
her there in the States. I am also going to pursue my college studies there.”
“But… how about us?”
“I love you Althea... but my
mom needs me. I hope you understand.”
Althea, after hearing those
words, ran away from Daniel, crying.
Daniel remembered the first
day they met, in the park. He also remembered when that little girl ran away
from him because she doesn’t want to speak to Daniel. Now, that girl, whom he
loves very much, ran away because she doesn’t want to lose him.
After that scene, Daniel
decided to go home and pass by Althea’s house, trying to talk with her but
Althea didn’t even approach him. Daniel texted Althea, but he didn’t received
any response from her. The next day, Daniel looked at his phone and he saw a
message from Althea.
“When I first saw you, I was
afraid to meet you. When first met you, I was afraid to hold you. When I first
held you, I was afraid to kiss you. When I first kissed you, I was afraid to
love you. Now that I loved you, I am afraid to lose you! I love you Daniel!
It’s hard for me, but I understand that your mom needs you! I’m sorry for being
so selfish and childish last night. I hope you can forgive me. Do what you
heart desires and I’m here to support you.”
Daniel didn’t noticed the
tears falliing in his eyes. He heard someone knocking at the door of his room.
“Daniel, Althea is in the living room. She wants to talk with you.”
Daniel, after hearing those
words, quickly dresses-up and approached Althea at the living room. He slowly
walks to the direction of Althea. Daniel was surprised because Althea hugs him,
crying. Daniel said: “Don’t cry Althea, I’ll be back”
The two of them spend the
whole day with each other. They enjoy the company of both. Tomorrow will be the
day of Daniel’s flight.
Althea decided to come with
Daniel to the airport. Before Daniel’s flight, Althea talked to Daniel.
“I will wait for you Daniel.
Promise me you’ll wait for me too.”
“I promise. I will call you
more often.”
“I love you Daniel.”
“I love you Althea. Promise
me you won’t shed a teardrop for me. I’m not worth it.”
“Yes, I promise.”
Daniel walked in to the
airport. Althea didn’t show Daniel she is crying, as she promised. “I will be
strong for Daniel. I will wait for him.”
Few months later, they still
have communications with each other. They make sure they’re in tact with each
other and keep the other updated.
Four years passed, Althea is
going to graduate in her baccalaureate course. She is trying to contact Daniel
to attend her graduation. She wants Daniel to be there. But when Althea is
trying to contact Daniel, his mobile number is not in use. Althea wants to cry
but she remembered what she promised Daniel, not to cry for him.
James, Althea’s best friend,
saw Althea in the park where Althea and Daniel first met. James sit beside
Althea.
“Althea, I have something to
tell you.”
“What is that?”
“Althea, it’s been 5 years
since Daniel left you. Are you not going to find another man to love?”
“I promised Daniel to wait
for him.”
“But Althea, Daniel fails to
have a communication with you for almost 2 years, and you’re still hoping for
him? He promised you he’ll be back after 5 years, but where is he now? Althea,
stop being a martyr! Maybe Daniel has another girl there in the States, but
you? He forgot you!”
“Stop what you’re saying!
You don’t have the right to say that to Daniel! Why are you saying that to me?
You’re just my best friend!”
“Yes… I’m your best friend!
So I think I have the right to say this to you!”
“No! I know Daniel loves me!
And I’ll wait for him!”
“Oh c’mon Althea, go find
another guy who will love you, will treat you like a queen and will never leave
you!”
“And who is that guy?”
“Me! I love you Althea!”
“What?”
“I said I love you! I’ve
been hiding this for more than 10 years. I was afraid that if I will tell this
to you, I will lose my best friend.”
“But James… you know that I
love Daniel and I promised him to wait for him.”
James, with a broken heart,
left Althea running away from her.
Althea was surprised with
what happened. She isn’t expecting that her best friend has feelings for her.
She couldn’t imagine that she broke her best friend’s heart.
Another two years passed,
Althea is still waiting for Daniel. Three years passed, all of their high
school friends have their own family. Her classmates tease her because she’s
still single. Althea just ignores them. She’s still waiting for Daniel. She
became strong for him. Hoping Daniel will be strong for her too. Many have
offered Althea their love but she refuses. She’s still waiting for Daniel.
Althea walked to the park
where they first met. She sat on the exact place where Daniel found her wounded.
She reminisce the sweet memories they had. Althea is still in love with Daniel.
While she is cherishing their sweet memories, she cried.
“Excuse me, can I sit beside
you miss?” said a man.
“There are so many places
here for you to sit. Not just here beside me. Are you crazy?” Althea said
angrily facing the opposite direction of the guy.
“No,
It’s just that I want to sit beside the girl I want to be with me for the rest
of my life. And that’s you Althea.”
Althea, slowly faced to the
guy behind her. She was shocked on what she saw.
“It’s you… Daniel!” Althea
hugged Daniel and cries.
“I told you never cry for
me.” Daniel said.
“Why it took for you for so
long to come back? I’ve waited for so long. You told me you’ll be back after 5
years! You also said you’ll call me more often.”
“I had an accident. I was
bumped by a taxi while I was off to the airport to come back here in the
Philippines. I got amnesia. My
medication took so long because I need to undergo certain therapies. We sold
all our possession there in the States for my medication. I’m really sorry
Althea.”
“Ok, I understand but…”
“Shhh… I’m here now, nothing
to worry.”
“Do you still love me
Daniel?”
Daniel just smiled, hold her
hands and said:
“I already told you I want
to spend my whole life with you, Althea.”
TIME is really powerful. It
runs too fast when we are enjoying things around us, and runs very slow when we
are waiting for something to happen. What matters most is the patience and
perseverance to wait for that time to come. Althea became strong for Daniel
even though it takes very long time for Daniel to come back. Althea waits even
there is less possibility for Daniel to come back. I hope this story tells us a
very important lesson that we might use at the right time...
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