Par la rivière de l'amour (By the River of Love)

Par la rivière de l'amour
(By the River of Love)

[this is an orig. photo]

     Let's meet here again in this river, he finally said. Our love was forbidden. He came from a wealthy family, the wealthiest in our city. He loved me even though I am just a peasant. We met in this river, our river of love. That time, he was with another girl, taking pictures of each other. She was pretty and elegant. That moment, I wished I was her. She seems so happy with her life and I could see that just by looking at her. But everything changed when the guy looked in my direction. I was blinded by him. He was perfect. His eyes are like two green emeralds that no girl could resist. When he looked at me, he captured my heart.

    Everything happened so fast. The next thing I knew, he was standing in front of the river again waiting for me at the place where I usually stand. This time, the pretty girl was gone. Where is she? I don't know and I shouldn't care at all. But I was hoping it wasn't just a coincidence to see the same guy on the same place. I really hope so  because our second meeting made my heart jump.

    He's walking towards me. Is this for real? He is holding a rose behind his back. I looked behind me thinking that there might be another girl and that's not for me. I was wrong 'coz it really is for me.

    "Hi," he said. "I'm sorry if I'm freaking you out right now. First of all, I'm a stranger and second, I came to you to give this rose."

    Yeah. Shocking. Why in the world will a guy so handsome as him would give me a rose? Is this a prank? If it is, it is not funny. I don't know what to say so I just asked, "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

    He laughed. What girlfriend? he asked me back. "That was my sister the other day. Can't you see I'm a little older than him? She was the one who told me that I should I ask your name since I can't keep you out of my mind the first time I saw you."

    I blushed. I can't stop my heart from making these weird noises. I don't know if I'll believe him. Should I? Or is this just an act?

    Days have passed and John, the guy who have just confessed his love for me, continued to pursue me, a country girl who doesn't have anything but chores. Everyday, he continuously leaves a rose on my front door with a love letter in it. I'm not rich like him and I don't know what he liked about me. But I can tell now that I like him back. He is very sweet and he was determined to win my love. It was love at first sight, he said but I'm afraid to tell him that I was, too. He might think I'm too vulgar. *laughs*

    November 11. I decided to tell him what I really feel. I waited for him at the river where we first met. It was 6PM and I'm hoping that he will come soon because I'm so excited to finally be able to be with him. But hours and hours have passed yet he still hasn't appeared. I was sad. The moment I realized that it's him I want to be with, he disappeared. Maybe he thinks I'm not good for him and that I'm just a waste of time. And that really kept my hopes down. Since that day, I never saw him again.

    Two months have passed since John left me alone in my cold, dark world. Where is he? That question keeps on playing in my mind. If he doesn't want me anymore, just say it and I'll accept it. I know I'm nothing. I'm not pretty, smart and talented like any other girls but I still have a heart that cares. I hate him for making me fall in love with him so bad.

    I finally decided to forget him. As I was walking near the river, I threw all our memories aside. I should clear my mind, I thought. He is just another past that I should forget, a past that will only bring bitterness to me. I smiled. I'm happy now...even without him. But everything changed when I saw a guy who looked so much like him the next day. He was riding on a bicycle along the heart of the city. I ran to him. Is it him? I want to see him. I want to ask him so many questions. I want to know if he is just playing with my heart so I could finally move on.

    I nearly got hit by a car. The next thing I knew, he was gone. So much for another chance to talk to him. Maybe it's not meant to be, we're not meant for each other after all and our meeting is all because of Mr. Destiny who was just making a fool out of me. I sat on the nearest bench and looked at the bruise on my knees. It was awful. I haven't hurt myself since Third Grade. Just great. When I was looking around, I saw something shining on the ground where I fell and where he passed. When I came closer, I saw a beautiful ring that looks so expensive. It was silver and has a diamond at the center of the star on it. When I looked closer, I saw J&J engraved on it. I wasn't in the right mind so I thought that maybe it stands for our names. I just wished destiny will stop this lie 'coz obviously he's telling me that there might still be a little hope.

    That night, I spent most of time on the river, reminiscing. If this ring belongs to him, maybe sooner or later he will come back. Why am I still waiting for the guy who left me? If I know the answer, I wouldn't be an idiot right now.

    And just as I have thought, he showed up. He was looking for the lost ring, the ring which is on my hands right now, oh I wished it was mine. He came to me asking if I saw something. He said that it's precious to him. I just stared at him. Doesn't he recognize me? That same moment, I realized that I still love him. I love him so much that if he just apologize, I will still accept him. My tears fell at the same time that it started to rain.

  "Miss, are you alright?" he asked.

    Miss. I'm just a stranger after all. "John?" I asked. "Did you forget? We're supposed to meet here months ago but you didn't come."

    He looked surprised as if all the things I said were fallacies. What are you talking about? Who are you? he asked. I suddenly felt like my world is closing it's door for me and I can't have him anymore. Without saying a word, he turned his back and walk away.

    All the roses he gave me already withered, just like his love that isn't present anymore. It was a nice dream, but too bad it didn't last. I stared at the moon. Oh, how beautiful it was! If only I could look at it with him by my side telling me that he loves me till the end of time. But that thought will remain as a dream, just a dream, nothing more, nothing less.

    14th of February, to my surprise I found John's sister knocking on my door. We haven't properly met but we knew each other somehow, John told me so much about her. She still looks as pretty as she is before. She was wearing a purple gown. I wonder what the occassion is.

    "There's something I need to tell you," she said in a sweet voice. I asked what it was and she spilled it all out. The day that my brother was about to meet you, he first had a fight with Mom. She found out that he's been hanging around with you and wanted you to be his girlfriend. She hates you so much that she payed someone to stop him from seeing you, but he fought for you. He was struggling with the man who tried to stop him and later on he got into a car accident. Mom threatened me so I won't tell you the truth. But my conscience is bothering me now. The day he finally woke up in the hospital we found out that he has amnesia, Janedel. He doesn't remember you, but deep in my heart I know you're still there because he couldn't let go of the ring that he was supposed to give you. Like all the fairytales in the book, his family doesn't like me because I'm poor and he's a prince that I wouldn't be able to reach. But the ring... the ring that I haven't been able to give him, it was for me.

    "Where is he?" I asked. I was so determined to fight for him like what he did for me. I hate myself for doubting his love, a love he couldn't remember now.

    "He's at the church right now. The wedding is about to start," she replied. Ouch. He's getting married and that woman is not even me. She asked me to come with her. I did. Oh God, this time, please let me be with him.

    Minutes later, we arrived in our destination. Everything are already set. It was a grand wedding they're holding. The place is decorated with white tulips and the church was as beautiful as ever. The wedding was about to start. The guests are already marching towards the altar. Everything turned to slowmo. There he is. The guy I wanted to be with for an eternity. Nobody fought for me like that. His green, emerald-like eyes are telling me that it isn't what he wanted. Even if he doesn't remember me, does he really love me?

    There's a little doubt inside me that everything won't work out. I wish that I was the girl walking towards the altar and he is still the same guy waiting there. I wish I was the one wearing that wedding dress her soon-to-be bride is wearing. I wish that I was rich like her so his family will like me back. But no, I'm not. And that's when my little hope faded.

    I didn't expect to catch a glimpse on the bride with tears on her eyes. Maybe this isn't what she wanted. Maybe, like me, she already loves someone else. But still, everybody turned their eyes toward her, her grand entrance. They adored her beauty.

    The ceremony was already starting and I'm still frozen in this same place at the foot of the church. I don't know what I should do next. If only God would give me a sign. Something strucked me and I remembered that the ring is still on my pocket. It was supposed to be mine. I gathered all my strength and shouted: STOP THE WEDDING!

    I was expecting this moment where everybody will look at me with surprised faces. I don't care, 'coz I only see him, my love, my true prince, John. I walked towards him and showed him the ring. Without thinking about the other people looking at us and the bride who seems to be happy with what I've done, I told him: I know you don't remember me, but I'm Janedel, the woman you told me you fell for at first sight. We met by the river and at that place, we started to meet everday. You told me you wanted to have my love and so you give me a rose each day. Now I'm telling you, I love you too. I should have said that a long time ago, but I'm such a coward to face what I really feel. I love you so much that I'm willing to take all of this embarassment and be with you. I wanted to fight for you like the way you fight for me. I can't give you the world, but I can give you my everlasting love.

    There was a moment of silence inside the church. "Am I that hard to believe?" I asked with tears falling from my eyes. I looked at him, he looks so amazed with everything. He looks like he wanted to tell me that I'm such a liar. Just when I thought that like any other movies, when the girl would confess her true love, everything will turn out fine. This time, I'm certain that I am wrong. I walked away, embarassed, crying, and alone.

    If he asked me to be with him, I would. But he didn't come with me. Alone in this river, I was so lost and devastated. The rain fell once again. Maybe this rain just wanted to accompany me because there's no one else to comfort me. Just when I'm about to throw this ring, the ring that I wanted to be a part of me, someone held my hand, stopping me from my action. I looked behind me and it was him, still on his suit that makes him more bright than before. Still blinded by his image, he came closer and touched my cheeks. I could feel the warmth of his hands on my face. If this is just my imagination, please trap me inside here and never wake me up.

    I'm sorry, he said. The wedding is off. Fiona, my bride, ran away, and so i did too. We had a plan that she would go to the person he truly loves. Something tells me inside that I didn't want to tie myself with her for the rest of my life. And that's where you came in. When you stopped the wedding a while ago, I couldn't believe a thing you said. But when you left, everything flashed back from the moment I first saw you until the time of my accident. I wanted you more than anyone else in the world, not because of looks or what you have, but because of the beauty inside you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you.

    He leaned on me and kissed me on my forehead. Then, he hugged me. I enjoyed our every moment here in our river of love. So this is destiny's game. Whatever happens next is all up to us. But we are willing to fight for an eternity of love. "I love you too," I whispered. He took the ring from my hand. He knelt to the ground and asked me, Will you marry me?