Fariah: “Carys, can you do something for me?”
Carys: “What is it?”
Fariah: “I want you to tell Mike to meet me at the water fountain tomorrow.”
Carys: “Do you really want to end things with him, Ria?”
Fariah: “Carys, I do want to set the two of us free from what happened. It’s only holding us back from moving forward. We need to heal ourselves. I need to heal myself. And-I cannot fall back from all the despairs of the past, it’ll be limiting me from what I truly need. And-I need to move away, Carys. I really need it.”
She just smiled at me faintly. And give me a pat in the back.
Carys: “If that’s what you want. Then do it.”
She excused herself and went out of my room just like that. I know she doesn’t like what I am about to do. But I want to do this. Because this is for the best.
Mike’s Point Of View
“She wants to talk to you tomorrow.”
Carys faint voice can be heard on the phone. I smiled from hearing her said it. Fariah wants to talk to me. She wants to see me. I cannot help myself from smiling even more. I have been waiting to get the chance to talk to her. Without any distractions. I will tell. I will be honest with her this time. I don’t want to hold myself back from saying the truth to her anymore.
Mike: “I will make up all of the pain that I caused you into something that can help you feel better, Fari.” I whispered.
“Mike, let her be free. Please, please choose to set her free.” Carys pleaded.
[Flash-forward]
“Mike.” I muttered.
“Fariah, thank you for giving me the chance to talk to you.”
Mike took a step forward which made Fariah took a few steps away from him to distance herself. Mike’s expression changed after seeing Fari’s actions.
“Mike. I am sorry for everything.”
“No-no. Fari, you don’t do anything bad. It’s all my fault.”
“I’m sorry. I am sorry for neglecting your feelings. For invalidating it. I am aware that you harbor a romantic feeling for me but I choose to not entertain it. You have your playboy tendencies. And I was afraid I will become like one of those girls who you have left because you’re done with the chase. I-I don’t want to become like one of them. And that thought it something that reminds me whenever I felt ready to give you my confession of feelings.”
“Fari. I-I am not serious with all of them. My past relationships were all fun and games. It’s a distraction for what I truly feel. I was afraid I’ll ruin you. I don’t want to hurt you that’s why I’ve settled for those relationships. I put you in a pedestal. Where the both of us have enough distance. It’s safer that way.” He explained.
“Yes. But you still hurt me, Mike. Your jokes, your actions. It made me hope that you really like me. But-after insinuating your advances you will pull yourself back and then I’ll be surprise that you’re flirting with another girl. And then- you’ll have another relationship. I was completely okay with it at first-but when my feelings started to get deeper. I am starting to hate what you’re doing. I couldn’t say anything. Because in the first place, your actions aren’t clear and it’s creating more confusion. I thought-I could handle it. That your advances won’t affect me. That I will be just fine”
“Fari, I’m sorry. I was afraid.”
“Mike, we could’ve work out. I was waiting for you to tell me the truth. I was patient.”
Mike went towards her and held her hands.
“We can make it this time, Fari. We have our chance now.”
She took her hands away and push him gently.
“No. Mike, no. A lot of things happened. And I been enduring a lot of pain from our experience. And I don’t want to go through it again.”
“But-Fari.”
“I’m okay now. I am starting to accept all of it trying to remove any unwanted feelings that are still attached. Mike, I had love you. And thank you so much for everything that you’ve done. I will take every good memory we’ve shared together with me. Don’t blame yourself. You also have your own pain to heal from what we’ve been through.”
His expression turned dazed. Eyes looked confused. His lip is about to say something- but he couldn’t mutter his response. He shakes his head and ruffled his hands to mess his hair.
“No, Fari. No. You’re leaving. You’re leaving me?” He questioned.
“This is for the best, Mike. We both need to claim our individuality.”
“But-why? You don’t need to do such thing, Fari.”
“I want to, Mike. And besides-I always wanted to go somewhere. To live like a tourist. And to enjoy every thing that a foreign place has to offer. I have been in love with the thought of living abroad. And I want to fulfill that dream now. Because I have the resources I need to go there.”
“You don’t know what will happen to you when you’re there, Fari.”
I smiled at him. I have always imagined the life I wanted to live off. Even back then when I was younger. I will be fulfilling not just the dream that the current version of Fariah wants but I am doing the younger me the greatest favor that I can give. She’s been wanting to leave and to live somewhere far away. And now that I have grown, I can give it to her. It’s time for her to wander, to embrace a sense of freeness, and she will be doing where everything’s new. Where everything is in resonance with her young soul.
“Take care of yourself, okay?”
“Fari.” His voice was drained. His face displayed sadness and exhaustion. He looked like all of his energy were flushed from his body.
I want to hugged him but I stopped myself. I don’t want to do it- it’ll break me even more. It will be harder for me to leave. I want to make my departure as light as possible. No heaviness within the conversations between me and the people I love. I don’t want to leave with a heavy heart. I want to leave with the pristine of earnest that I will be creating a whole new life for myself. This time there are willingness with that newly found optimism that is in need to be fueled with the decision of leaving everything behind in order to create something beautiful…