She caught my attention. She was silent and still. I stood up, came closer and asked her “what’s up?” She didn’t responded instead, asked me out if I could accompany her downstairs.

Mique is naïve and simple. I’ve known her for being disciplined and a responsible person. It’s quite a while when I knew her for her talents but I wasn’t aware of her unique skills.

I spent years for treating her as a classmate but time seems runs fast because now I’m busy of being a good friend. It’s quite sometime before we gave our full trust with each other. I’m tried my best to treasure her trust until she consulted a problem to me. I told her that there is nothing I could offer, except for my advises. Since then, she’s always consulting everything to me. Of all her problems, only one stuck in me so badly because I believe that only a genius can solve this. To love the person that she doesn’t want or to love the person she wanted but other people doesn’t want for her?

         I remembered the days when we often talk about her crush, Michael. He is kind, thoughtful, humorous, childish and good looking. At first, I thought, he would probably fit as a younger brother or a relative. I never think of him being a suitor because I thought he is too young for such serious relationships. I thought he’s just an ordinary schoolmate or a group friend. So I was really shocked when I found out that he’s planning to court Mique. At first, I have bad claims for Mike because I want John for her.

         Everybody wants John for her. Many say that they could be a perfect couple. They say that they are fit and deserving for each other’s care because they have lot of things in common. John is okay for Mique, but she loves someone else so she still can’t decide. Besides, John is moody. For her, he can never be the person that she longed for. To let the problem through, she flunked him. But he’s still consistent. She flunked him many times but he kept on bugging her.

         She has to make fast decisions now. It’s Mike or John? To make sure of getting the right decisions, she asked some of her friends about Mike. But she was so sad to know that they are all against him. Their concern is the age gap. Mique is older than Mike a year. But still, she would probably choose Mike, but she is afraid of the consequences.

After few weeks of sleepless nights, she finally made her decision. She realized that she found the qualities of her ideal man that she longed for from Mike. But before that, she made some conditions first; Michael, as Mique’s boyfriend should pretend that there is nothing going on between the two of them. And so as same as Mique should. By that time, they are both excited of the first few days of their relationship. They became closer as they struggle for their love. No one knows about their secret affection except for a few, who are Mique’s companions.

        We all know that there’ll be always a problem in every relationship. So few days after, Mique thought that she is beginning to lose her confidence for Mike’s love. She doesn’t feel that he cares. But it remained as a thought because it is not true.

        Until then, John and Mique’s friends are still waiting that one-day, she’ll learn to love him. What he doesn’t know is, it can never happen because she has already her secret boyfriend. He kept on waiting until he stopped because he became aware of the truth that she doesn’t have a chance for Mique’s love and affection.

         As the days pass, Michael and Mique became closer to each other. Because of this, people began to have a hint that there’s is going on between them. As rumors spread quickly and later on became an issue. Because of the asked conditions and promises they both keep on denying the fact that they are having a serious relationship. Because of the malicious-minded persons, the rumor reached Mique’s parents. They both knew that her parents found out about their relationship so they decided to stop first their young love.  For Mique’s punishment, she is prohibited to meet or talk to him and until then she never saw him again. She just found out that Mike transferred to an exclusive school for boys.

        Few years passed and both of them are ready to settle down. One day, when Mique is walking down the village, she saw Mike in a luxury car. Memories came into her mind and she can’t deny herself that she remained faithful and devoted to him. She told herself that now, there’ll be no hindrance for their love because Mike has grown to a young, matured bachelor in white. He is more responsible and disciplined now. That she can be proud of and now she doesn’t need to hide and deny him.

        Mike is just few steps away from her. She decided to come closer to make a full view of her lover’s face. But a child ran towards Mike ahead of her, so she stopped. “Papa”, the child said. That time, she was terribly shocked of what she has found out. Her first thought was true; he has a responsibility now. Instead of coming closer, she walked away with her tears flowing…

        What she can never forget is his angelic face, promising words, encouraging voice, deep warm caress and most of all…his wonderful smile that she have seen through his whole being.

His smile….his smile….his smile…. #(26)