As far as Mike was concerned, Sandra was a distant memory from his past that he wanted to forget and doesn’t want to dwell on anymore. He has moved on with his life ever since that one rainy day, 7 years ago when Sandra left him a note saying she was finally breaking up with him.
With this thought in mind, all the memories he had with Sandra which he had successfully blocked from his mind for 7 years, kept flooding back, and he just couldn’t stopped them like a dam that has suddenly been opened and freeing the waters to flow through his mind. He felt a stabbing pain in his heart, and he suddenly cursed himself for still feeling this way.
Sandra and Mike were childhood sweethearts. They were so close and have been that way up to the time they graduated from college and embark on their own career. Everybody was saying that they would end up together, Mike think so too until that one fateful day when Sandra chose her dream over him. Sandra wanted to pursue her modeling career. Mike was totally against this. He didn’t want anybody to be looking at Sandra the way men look at models. One day, Sandra received a modeling project wherein she had to travel abroad. So Mike told her to choose between him and her career. And that was the end of their relationship.
That was 7 years ago, and now, suddenly out of the blue, Mike was surprised to receive a letter from her asking him if they could please meet somewhere. She mentioned a classy restaurant they always went to back then. She said that she will not be surprised if he will not come, but she will still be there waiting for him, just in case, he took mercy on her and decided to meet her after all, even just for old time’s sake.
Mike struggled within himself not to go, for a girl like Sandra doesn’t deserve mercy. She didn’t care for his feelings 7 years ago when he left. Why should he care for her feelings now? But then curiosity and a plan to tell her right in the face how much he hated her prevail.
And so Mike found himself sitting in this restaurant that brought so many sweet memories with her. He began to sit uncomfortably, trying to stop the longing from his heart to see her once again. Then suddenly out of the blue, Mike saw Sandra walking towards him. He felt that time had frozen at that very moment when their eyes had met and locked together. Then Sandra suddenly spoke, and he suddenly snapped out of his trance. She said. “Hello, Mike. You look good.” To which he replied, “Why, do you think I will wither and die just because you left me?”
Sandra looked away, trying to hide the hurt in her eyes, afraid that her tears will reveal how much she was aching inside. Mike looked at Sandra from across the table and examines everything about her. She still looks as beautiful as ever, except that she looks thinner and paler. This is what he doesn’t like about models. They sometimes overdo their being so figure conscious.
Sandra ignores Mike’s comment, and instead said, “I’m glad you came. I really appreciate you’re being here. I am sorry if you have arrived earlier than me. Thank you for waiting for me.”
“I am always a gentleman regardless of what kind of woman is with me” came the sarcastic reply of Mike. “Now, if you please tell me why you invited me here” added Mike.
“Have you forgotten that this is our 11th-year-anniversary, if we have not parted? You officially courted me when I was 16.”
“If you have not left me” he corrected.
Sandra touched Mike’s hand, and look at Mike’s eyes and said “Mike, I will soon go back abroad once again. I just want to ask a special favor from you. Can we just pretend that we had not parted, and that everything is okay with us just like before? Can we just spend this time together and enjoy this night as if there is no tomorrow?”
Mike looked at Sandra’s pleading eyes, and soon was lost in the love and longing he saw there. He then said, “Okay, I will play your game, but I have to warn you that I am not very good in pretending like you.” He still could not stop himself from being sarcastic.
“Mike, please, just this night…”
“I’m sorry. I will try to keep my opinions to myself. Let’s make this night, a night to remember. As I said, I am always a gentleman no matter who I am with.”
