Lorenzia leaned at JL’s door frame with arms crossed. Her pink pajamas partnering her eye mask signified that she just woke up. She is currently watching JL pack his things for some reasons. She asked, “Are you sure you really want to go?”. JL sighed, “I told you a million times, it is for the better. Besides it has been almost a month since that breakup happened” he answered. After a lot of convincing from his parents and some of his nosy relatives, he decided to take a college admission exam in a university in the city.
“Well, it does not sound bad at all. This will make you escape from Naomi’s presence here in the neighborhood” Lorenzia uttered. JL sat down in his bed and faced Lorenzia. He still has an overnight to stay in the room he usually resided from when he was young. “That doesn’t make sense at all. Mom wants to give birth in the city also. I heard, the technology in the city is quite advanced compared to the ones present here in the province” he replied. She slowly nodded, “If you say so”.
JL roamed his eyes everywhere inside the wide bedroom. The cabinets are already empty. The black dresser with a big mirror is still filled with the things he is not interested to carry along. He stepped closer and caressed the glass surface. His pricy wristwatches, the gold and silver chain bracelets, and even the perfume scents Naomi loved. Everything that conveys their memory was chosen by him to be left to completely get rid of her in his next life journey.
The bracelet coupled with Naomi’s is kept by him. The leather box perfectly held the accessory in place. Even the necklace she gave him after they are labelled as a boyfriend and as a girlfriend is also there. He opened it and caressed it one last time. When he got contented, he placed it back to the drawer compartment and locked it with a key. He kept the key with him only knowing where it is. He sighed as he explored the gray room of his. His superhero and soldier collections are left; they vowed to leave it according to what JL told them: to leave it untouched until he returns.
His pondering stopped when Dior entered the room with a helmet buckled in his head. “Care for a ride? I’m bored to ride solo” he invited. JL did not think twice, thinking it may be a last moment for a while before he could move to the city. He also buckled up his helmet and wore bag straps in his shoulders. Dior pulled down his cycling glasses and asked, “Are you sure you’ll tag along that cat?”. JL carefully placed the bubble cat bag in his back and replied, “Yeah, I’m gonna miss this pet anyway after moving”.
Mango enjoyed the bubble cat bag and played inside while Dior and JL are biking and talking. They discussed about the family legacy out of the blue. “So, we’ll see each other in a month. I am glad to be your alternative again for the third time” Dior said while chuckling. JL asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”. Dior smirked, “No, this time, it’s serious” he answered. JL replied, “That means I am entrusting you my position in our family’s legacy just in case harm chases me again”. Dior scoffed, “Nothing can chase you again, bud” he uttered.
For a moment, JL’s eyes focused on Naomi’s house. Before, it looks blue considering their family problems but now, even the flowers are in the mood. He can’t see her anywhere but he feels that she is inside. Dior looked at him when he realized that no one is following him in the path. “You know, you cannot fully move on when there are still signs of her everywhere” he said. JL looked away, “I know. And that is one of the reasons why I am convinced to take and pass the college admission exam” he answered and took the path outside the subdivision first.
Naomi looked from inside her room the moment she heard a familiar voice. At first, she thought that she is hallucinating once again but her eyes failed her. She saw JL’s well built body with him wearing a muscle tee and some gear for cycling. He looked way thinner now; his skin is radiant as it touches the early morning sunrise. He is with Dior and she heard accidentally what the two are conversing about. She leaned on her bed’s headboard as she thought of what JL said.
“He… is leaving?” she asked herself. She assumed that JL will still stay in their old school – the school where the love and the tragedy happened between the two of them. She thought that she can still hang up or encounter JL inside the campus but she is wrong. For a moment, she was saddened but the thought of they have no connections right now reigned. She cannot help but to be curious on where will JL go. After all, she still considers him as a friend while JL on the other hand, labelled her as a mere acquaintance.
JL and his cousin stopped by a cake and coffee shop nearby. The place is cozy; for an early morning, customers ordered for take outs. A waiter carried a box of scraps but it captured JL’s attention. He approached the waiter carrying the box. He pulled a photo paper pasted in a cork board. He looked at the photo clearly. The waiter looked at the picture after seeing JL’s face. The waiter uttered, “I see, it’s really you sir. I remember you come here regularly to fetch customized cakes”. JL gasped, “I can’t believe the photo is still here” he said.
Dior looked at it with surprise. The waiter again uttered, “I almost did not recognize you, sir. It has been a while since you drop here and fetch cakes every morning. You used to come here with a school uniform, a school bag, while wearing your glasses and your braces”. Dior chuckled, “It’s been a while since they cut ties also” he replied. The waiter gasped, “I am so sorry to hear that. Sir, do you mind if I will dispose that photograph of you two?” he asked.
“No, I’ll just take it” JL replied. He glanced at his old ID card in his wallet; the copy of the photo pasted by Naomi without his knowledge is still there. It feels like yesterday when they are still happy. Dior sipped his coffee frappe while giving his cousin a vicious look. “How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot move on unless you get rid of everything involving you and her memories?” he said. JL looked away, “This will be the last time, Dior” he answered.
JL went back home to load his baggage in the courier. DK walked to the subdivision while pulling his bicycle with a loose chain. From a distance, he saw his cousin’s ex. He didn’t give her a look and just walked past her. To his surprise, Naomi grabbed his arm and pulled him close to her. Dior looked at him, “Uhm, miss? We are really not that close” he said and forcibly removed Naomi’s hand from his arm. He turned around and was about to go when Naomi asked, “Where will JL go?”.
Dior looked back with a sarcastic smile. “You still have the guts to ask that after all the things that happened?” he asked back. Naomi’s eyebrows furrowed, “You can talk to a woman like that? That is so rude” she replied. Dior sighed, “Sadly, I talk like this to people who are aggravating. Sorry if you got offended” he said. Naomi persisted to ask, “So, where will JL go for college?”. Dior looked straightly to her eyes; he felt the curiosity, he wants to say it but he wants to save his cousin.
What if Luke chases him again? What if Naomi still loves JL and will come back to him? What if Luke is still not contented with the plans? Dior shook his head. “Sorry, I can’t tell you. It is for you and JL’s safety” he answered and went back home. Naomi disappointedly sat back on the bench. Her curiosity is being trampled. She understood the fact that JL’s business won’t be her business now that they are separated. Dior guiltily suppressed the harshness he gave Naomi – his cousin’s ex. He is in favor of their relationship and he is willing to try finding a way for them to get back together but them, themselves made a way to cut ties with each other.
Naomi went back home. She straightly proceeded to their garden where hers and Luke’s parents are having sips of tea while talking about their future partnerships in Borderless’ Media’s upcoming branch in Australia. They looked at her with smiles in their faces. Her dad asked her, “What brings you here?”. She breathed heavily and said her motive, “I am willing to go to Australia now”. The four were surprised with the sudden revelation.
Therese chuckled, “Even without your assurance, you will be automatically sent to Australia. We are so much relieved after you revealed your decision. That way, we will not take time to convince you” she said. Naomi scoffed, “It’s like I have a choice” she said and rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms and left the area. Luke’s mother chuckled, “Kids these days are so stubborn. Back in the old days, I used to be scared of my parents!” she uttered and sipped her tea. Therese agreed, “I beg not to disagree. I guess culture changed them”.
Luke’s father added, “Luke has been a good child yet he still shows some signs of disobedience which I am afraid to do before as a teenager” he said chucklingly. Naomi’s dad changed the topic, “What about the new branch now?” he asked. Luke’s mother answered, “I see Luke and Naomi has the interest in taking business management. If so, then it will be easy for them to be employed in the two companies. Luke, as the CEO of Borderless’ Media and Naomi as New Empire International’s boss”.
Luke’s father added, “As for the Australia branch, we will make sure that the two will be partnered in managing when they get married”. Therese and her husband agreed. It sounded really dreamy for them especially that their kids’ future is laid to the line. On the other hand, Naomi felt regret after revealing her decision. She did not think of it clearly as she still thought of JL leaving, she thinks that she can leave too. She sat down in her bed while hugging her knees. Her mom is right, even without her approval, she will still be sent to Australia to continue the success of their family business.
She hates herself for being hostile, acting all tough and taking Luke’s side even when her heart says she shouldn’t. No tears are left for her to cry. She is only filled with regret, anger, and longing. Now, she cannot rant and vent out to someone because Lorenzia pulled off the knot between them. She doesn’t know where to get a proper advice. She is all alone now with her thoughts playing inside her mind.
Time passed; JL is now facing the window pane; his reflection shows himself looking someone they never seen before. His new style remained constant; his huge backpack carries all the things he will be needing to start a new life ahead. Forgetting Naomi will be a drastic achievement for him and that will only happen if everything they had will stay only as a memory. Juliana tapped his shoulder, “Should we go now?” she asked. He slowly nodded and rode inside the car. It is filled with their stuff and it really gave him the vibe of change.
Someone knocked to the tinted rear door glass. He opened it to see Lorenzia, Dior, and Fonsi outside. Dior asked for the nth time, “You sure you really have to go?”. JL just chuckled and answered, “I’ll just see you in Prideus”. Lorenzia felt like tearing but Fonsi teased her, “You still have the guts to tear up after advising that it’s what JL needs. Besides, he is not even dead” he said. Lorenzia smacked his arm and rolled her eyes. Mango – who is carried by Dior meowed as it saw its owner about to go. For the last time, JL caressed the cat’s fur. Mango will now be taken care of by them.
JL looked at them, “How about, see you later?”. Fonsi replied, “Yeah, you’re making it easy for us. Go now, the traffic might cause you delay”. JL nodded and signaled his dad to proceed to driving. Before they could ever exit the subdivision, JL saw Naomi being aloof of him. She saw their car passed with JL visible from the open car window. JL greeted her stare but eventually looked away. He closed the car window and leaned back.
He sighed after feeling the ache she caused once again. Juliana looked at him from the rear view mirror. He is just looking afar but is not enjoying the view. His eyes are so cold that anyone would not dare to stare back at him. He kept convincing himself to stop thinking about her but a piece of him feels happiness whenever he reminisces. He plugged his earphones and played an indie tune perfectly lyricized to his situation. He closed his eyes and felt the adrenaline as they take the way to the city.
Naomi gasped when she saw JL. He looked at her as if he despises her the most. She cannot accept that JL can give her an emotion she never had. She is nervous and at the same time scared of what might happen. JL left her and their memories behind. She whispered to the air, “Good for him, he easily left the things between us in just a snap. While I… I am still here, trapped with the memories we shared”. JL already knew how to start his moving on process unlike Naomi who is still pressured by her family and Luke’s family.
As she looks at the road, she can sense the two of them enjoying the night’s serenity while kissing under the lamp post light. She can still remember how he walks their dog every weekend morning and give her a smile she can see from her bedroom’s window. She can still remember how she crazily rack off her clothes just to presentably impress JL whenever they conduct a date. Luke from behind grabbed her waist; his face is on her nape. She can’t feel anything, she just wished that it was JL doing what Luke is doing. She fell hard for JL that she cannot pull herself up in just a snap.
“I bet you are overthinking again” Luke’s deep voice was heard by Naomi. She removed Luke’s hands from her waist upon realizing what he is doing. She faced him with eyes looking away. “Please don’t do that without my permission” she said and left Luke standing alone outside. He chuckled, “Finally, JL Tiueco is gone. Things are getting effective according to what is planned” he said in his mind.