She was seating on a bench where she first saw him. It became part of her daily routine. She was looking around until a man caught her attention. She’s looking at him as if it was the first time that her cheeky eyes caught his hazel brown eyes. She scanned his face and she was the same playful smile. She was staring at him remembering everything.
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Ann is a Half-Chinese girl, seating on a bench in the park. She’s there to appreciating the beauty of Nature. She was looking around until her Cheeky eyes caught a pair of Hazel Brown Eyes, she is scanning his face and he flashes a playful smile. She was staring at him for so long as if the whole world stops moving. After a minute or two, the man stands up and she watches him turn his back and leave.
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It was 10 in the morning; Ann is carrying her books she will need for her senior year. It rained that day and the tiles are still slippery. She slipped but luckily a pair of strong arms caught her. She put down the bag of book she’s carrying; she stands up and fixed herself. She is now facing her savior, and she noticed that it was the same pair of hazel brown eyes she saw the other day in the park.
“Be careful next time” he said.
“Thanks” she answered still staring at his face.
“No problem, um let me carry your books for you” he offered.
“Are you sure?” Ann said giving him her books
“Yeah, by looking at your books, I’ll say that you are also a senior this school year.” He said carrying their bag of books and accompanying her to the gate.
“Yup I am a senior, you seemed new, are you a transferee or something?” she asks. You see Ann was studying on that school since elementary that’s why she is familiar to all her batch mates.
“I’m a transferee here. I came from the province, then someone offered a job to my dad and we decided to live here in Manila. I’m James Reid by the way” he said putting down the books and offered his hands.
“Ann, Ann Li” she said as she shakes his hands. While shaking she felt something weird in her systems.
“Ann! Come on lets go.” It was her mum; she was waiting for her daughter in their car. Ann carried the bag by herself and then leaves James.
James on the other hand stayed there smiling.
“James!” a familiar voice snapped him back to reality. “Ann” he uttered her name and followed his dad in his car.
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It was the first day of school, Ann being the Prom Queen last year became popular; many boys are trying to get her attention. She was smiling and greeting them. She went to her respected classroom and seat on a vacant chair. She was staring blankly at the door until a familiar figure entered the room, it was James. He walks toward the empty chair besides her. She was staring at him the whole time and he caught her staring, made him flash a killer smile. Ann looked away blushing.
“I see we’ll be classmates on the rest of the year” James said trying to get her attention while flashing a killer smile.
“Yeah” was her only reply. ‘Why am I feeling this? What is this feeling anyway? Is this love? But we just met. I don’t even know him that much.’ Ann thought and sighed in confusion.
Before the start class, Ann always opens her locker to get her books and anything else. As usual, there are a lot of letters from her secret admirers. But there is this letter that was different from the others; it was a simple envelope with the name “James Reid” written in big fonts caught her attention. She opens the envelope and read the letter.
“Dear Ann,
I see you have a lot of admirers. I always see boys slipping letters in your locker. So I decided to write you one. You are really popular and beautiful. You must be special.
Hey expect more letters from me:P
----James Reid”
She can’t help but smile upon reading his message. ‘Maybe he likes me. No, no, no why am I blushing, why am I smiling it is just a letter, it’s just the fact that he said that I’m beautiful and special. Am I falling for him? I hope he likes me too’ Ann thought. “I hope he likes me too, why did think of that?” Ann whispered to herself.
She went to their room and sit on her chair, every time she looks at James, he always flash a killer smile. Ann can’t help but to blush, every time he does that it feels like she is melting inside.
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Months have passed and James feelings towards Ann is confirmed, he does like Ann. His feeling was well written on his letters. Most of his letters contain cheesy lines, love quotes and they were all long.
Ann opening her locker found a lot of letter from her admirers but she always search for James’. She opens it and read.
“After Dismissal just stay in the room.”
She was confused about the letter. ‘Is he going to confess his feelings personally? Am I going to accept him? Should I tell him the Truth that I love him?’ many thoughts runs to her mind. She was now sure about her feelings towards him; she was in love for the first time. But she doesn’t know what to do about this.
The teacher bids goodbye, the students went to their lockers to put some books and other things. After putting those things to her locker, Ann went back to their classroom and waited for James. There are no more people on the corridor, but still there is no sign from James. Ann was a little disappointed she decided to fix herself. The door opens revealing James in civilian clothes carrying Black guitar. He headed to the platform and started to strum his guitar. He started singing her favorite song which is “The Man who can’t be Moved” by The Script.
While James is singing, Ann is smiling the whole time ‘he has an amazing voice’ Ann thought. She was also staring at him, as if the whole world stops. She was staring at him and she’s not hearing anything, not the song, not his voice, nothing but the beat of her heart. She snapped back to reality when James finished the song. He put his guitar on his back.
“Ann, I know that you knew that I like you, like a lot. Ann I can’t fight this feeling anymore, Ann I love you. I don’t know why but I think I felt this ever since I catch you from falling that day. If you don’t like or love me, I’m willing to wait. If you can’t answer this question, I will wait for you make up your mind. Ann, will be my girl?” James finished his confession with a question that Ann did not prepare to answer.
‘He loves me? He loves me! He is asking me to be his girl, should I go for it’ Ann thought ‘but I love him ever since I saw him, what should I do.’ Ann just doesn’t know what to do. She was confused. She closed her eyes as if concentrating to the beating of her heart.
James was patiently waiting for her answer. He saw her close her eyes, but still waiting for the answer. ‘Is she going to answer me now that’s why it taking he so long to think or reply? Just relax James breathe in, breathe out.’ James thought.
“Ann, you-” he was cut off by the pair of lips landed on his. Now he gets her answer. She kissed him and he kissed back, they were kissing passionately for minutes until James remembered that they were still in school. James broke it, he don’t want Ann to be expelled for PDA.
“So it’s a Yes!?” James asked after breaking the kiss.
Ann kisses him as a reply for the question. She closes her eyes lately in order for hear what her heart wants. And her heart wants him that’s why she accepted him to be his man. But the kiss part, she can’t explain why she did that. Maybe because her feelings just tell her to.
“Yes, James a thousand times Yes” Ann answered then James Hugged her. He broke the hug and then reaches something in his pocket. It was a box. He opens it revealing a silver heart necklace. He was the one who put it on her neck.
“This pendant is my heart, I give this to you because you are the first one who holds my heart, please be careful with that and don’t lose it ok?” James said
“That is so cheesy James, but I promise I will take a very good care with your heart” Ann said while holding it.
“I love you, Ann” James said
“I love you too, James” said Ann and hug him.
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Months have passed and their relationship is sailing smoothly. As if, a ship sailing in a flat ocean. There are no challenges. James was so cheesy and sweet to Ann everytime. And every Monthsary, they will always have a dinner date. Most girls envy Ann for having everything, like the looks, the talent, and now the boy of her dreams. But they were never a hindrance to their relationship. Ann thought it to be perfect. He was her first love and so as his. ‘Our relationship is perfect, I hope it will last forever’ Ann thought.
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Graduation came and it was a goodbye to all, to everything. Ann was studying Fashion Designing, James was taking Business Management. The problem is they were studying on different universities. They cannot see each other every day from now on. Distance is daring and Ann might have doubts to James. I mean there a lot of pretty girls in his Universities; she just hopes that he will stay faithful to her.
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It was their Anniversary and Ann is waiting alone in a restaurant, James said the he’ll be there in an hour but he was late for 3 hours now. While waiting Ann think about what James is doing in his college life, she also noticed changes in James, he became a party animal; he must have been influence by his new friends. He misses a lot of dates but she let it just passed. Some of his friends told her that he became sweet to other girls. There are also a lot of girl that ruined their relationship. She caught James once, he was dating another girl, but she let it passed. She never heard any apologize to all the mistakes he is doing. But she just loves him that much that she is always forgiving him. She sighed and thought that maybe it was just a test of how much he loves him. She was holding the silver heart necklace while searching for him.
“Ann!” a familiar voice called her, but it belongs to a female. It was Jenny her best friend. Jenny was always there for her when she got disappointed to James about missing James. Ann always runs into her when she is hearing rumors about James having another girl.
“Oh, Hey Jenny” Ann said. While jenny walks towards her seating on the chair across the table.
“What are you doing here? Have you ordered any food yet, this restaurant will close in an hour.” Jenny said, starting a conversation.
“I’m waiting for James, today is our Anniversary.” Ann said trying to hide her disappointment.
“I see James, Ann how many times do I have to tell you that he’s not worth the wait. You should break up with the moment you saw him seeing that girl.” Jenny said. She always suggests that Ann should break up to him because she just gets disappointed all the time.
“No Jenny, I must give him another chance” Ann said
“Another!? Ann you’ve given him a lot of chance before. You’ve give him enough. Ann broke up with him, I know you are hurting” Jenny said holding her hands.
“I’m not hurt Jenny, I’m just disappointed. That’s all” Ann said.
“Ann, come on. I know you notice that he change a lot, but that is life. I know he promise a lot of things and he broke them all. Ann suggests you to look for the better so that you will not disappoint again. He is not the James you used to know Ann, wake up” Jenny said. She was telling those things to Ann because she doesn’t want her to get hurt again. Jenny was also getting tired of telling advice that she never followed.
With Jenny’s statement, she remembered all the sleepless nights of crying. She also remembered the old James. But she knows that she is not his only priority that is why she understands him. The thing is when it comes to dates, she always waited for long and yet he won’t come, and the day after she never receive another invitation in order for him to make it up. No sorry and everything. She remembered one dinner date they had, she was worried, she called him so many times but he is not answering. And when he answered one call and he was mad, he said he was busy, he doesn’t want to be disturbed but she was hearing a loud party noise. Remembering those things make her realize that he is not worthy of the love she was giving him.
A minute or two, she received a message from James.
“I’m sorry Ann, I can’t come, the Party just started. I’m Sorry, Happy Anniversary. I love you.” ---James Reid. She sighed upon reading his message
“Is it him?” Asked Jenny
“Yes, he said he can’t come, he was enjoying their party. I’m sorry Jen I have to go.” Ann answered; the sadness is obvious in her voice. She replied to James.
“It’s ok. Happy Anniversary, I love you too” ----Ann Li
After replying to James, she went home. And when she arrives, she hurriedly went to her room, crying in disappointment again. She realized that he changed, a lot; and she can’t do a thing about it but to cry and give him another chance.
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The Night after their anniversary, Ann went to a party of her classmates, she was Sophia. They went to a bar to have a party. It just happen that it was the same bar where James and his friends always hang out. Ann was enjoying the party until she saw James kissing another girl. She was shocked, she just standing there, holding the necklace, she doesn’t what to do.
Patrick, one of James friend, saw Ann. He told James that she was there. James broke the Kiss and he found her. She started to run and James followed her.
“Ann! Ann! Wait up, let me explain” James said while running trying to chase her. Just on cue Ann stopped, turn around and walk near him.
“Ann, let me explain, it was just a dare we were playing. It just happens that I need to kiss her. Ann trusts me that was what happened. I promise” James said. He was shocked when a palm landed on his cheeks.
“Ann please don’t be angry with me. Alright tomorrow 6PM I’m going to make it up to you ok” James said while holding the part where he got slapped.
“James, I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know I f we should continue this relationship or not.” Ann said while her tears are falling from her eyes.
“Ann please don’t say that, don’t break up with me, give ma another chance. Please just don’t break up with me” James pleaded.
“Another chance, James? Another chance! I gave you a lot of Chances before. Ever since that where you got angry with because of calling you, I give you another chance after every disappointment from missing out dates, I give you another chance in every lies, another chance when I hear rumors of you and another girl, another chance when I caught you dating another girl. James I gave another chance to every mistake you make. And the thing that makes me more disappointed is when you never apologize, you did not know what the stupid things you’ve done are. James I’m tire of giving you chances, I’m tired of waiting, and I’m tired of understanding. At first I can’t dare the distance, but now I James; I don’t know who you are anymore.” Ann said while crying, James on the other hand can’t say a single word but cry upon hearing everything.
“James, I think my friend is right I deserve someone better, better than you, someone who is worth everything.” Ann said. She turned her back and leave.
James followed her. He hugged her from her back.
“Ann, I’m sorry. I love you.” James said while hugging her.
“I’m Sorry James, I’m hurt enough. Goodbye” Ann said while trying to free her from his hug, and when she succeeded she runs so fast leaving James with tears. She ran and ran and ran, until she reached the park, she sat on the bench where she sitting when she first saw him. She was seating there, holding the silver heart necklace. She was crying, because she was broken, she was crying because she gave up on love so easily, she was crying because she loves him.
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It’s been 2 years and seating on the same bench became part of her daily routine. She always seat there, hoping to see him again, she was always seating there holding the silver heart necklace. She was looking around until a man caught her attention. She’s looking at him as if it was the first time that her cheeky eyes caught his hazel brown eyes. She scanned his face and she was the same playful smile. She was staring at him remembering everything. She was staring at him until she plucks up the courage to stand up and go near him.
She was walking towards him hoping that he will take her back. But she notices a girl seating beside him. She stops. She wants to turn around as if she didn’t see a thing, as if she does not know him.
“Ann!” his voice stops her for doing.
“Hey, Ann I hope you still know me, wow looking good as ever.” James said. Ann was surprise that he was already in front of her.
“Of course I remember you, James, so how are you” she said trying to catch up.
“Doing well, I’m a successful businessman now.” James said while smiling.
“Wow, you must have change a lot” Ann said.
“Yup, and by the way this is Yi Shuan my fiancé” James said. Ann, upon hearing those words, makes her whole world crash down.
“So you’re Ann, he talks about you one day saying that your break up changes him to a better person” Yi Shuan said
“Really, I can see that he is a better person now” she said, holding the silver heart necklace.
“Ann , I’m sorry, but as much as I want to catch up with you, I need to go now, we are look for cakes for our wedding, um Ann, If you are not busy, I would like you to be the designer for her wedding gown, if it is ok for you” James said.
“It's ok James” she said, but she is hurt. Really hurt.
“Thanks Ann, we have to go now. Bye” James said turning their back and heading to his car.
Ann just watches the cute couple leave. She can’t control her tears as they started to fall. She was holding again the silver heart necklace, remembering the cheesiness thing he said about it.
*Flashback*
“This pendant is my heart, I give this to you because you are the first one who holds my heart, please be careful with that and don’t lose it ok?” James said
“That is so cheesy James, but I promise I will take a very good care with your heart” Ann said while holding it.
*End of Flashback*
She was crying, as she remembered the last thing she said before she said goodbye.
*Flashback*
“James, I think my friend is right I deserve someone better, better than you, someone who is worth everything.” Ann said. She turned her back and leave.
James followed her. He hugged her from her back.
“Ann, I’m sorry. I love you.” James said while hugging her.
“I’m Sorry James, I’m hurt enough. Goodbye” Ann said while trying to free her from his hug, and when she succeeded she runs so fast leaving James with tears. She ran and ran and ran, until she reached the park, she sat on the bench where she sitting when she first saw him. She was seating there, holding the silver heart necklace. She was crying, because she was broken, she was crying because she gave up on love so easily, she was crying because she loves him.
*End of Flashback*
‘All these years James, I always seat there at that bench. I was hoping for you to comeback, hoping that I’ll be yours again. All these years James, I never looked for the better one, all these years, I’ve waited for the better you, the better you James’ she thought
“But I guess it’s too late, it’s too late for us.” she said crying harder holding the necklace. She was crying until the rain pours down. But she never moved she just standing there crying, hoping that the rain will wash away all the pain. ‘I guess this pain is an enough payment for me giving up on love so easily’ Ann thought crying harder and harder.
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The End
