The Beautiful You

By: Methuselah G. De la Cerna Grade 9-E

"The Beautiful You"

Everyone has a certain special someone out there just waiting for the right time. I've believed that since the very first time I'd heard of the concept of love. I've heard of legends and myths of pure innocent love from books that had outlasted eternity itself, even their hardship most especially the heart breaking ones. But now I believe it more than before, why? Well, let's just take it slow and easy as I tell a detailed account about a story of beauty and friendship. About MY love story. About how two people got the chance to meet in an unexpected way and witness the trickery of destiny. I've been a province boy all my life, in the province of Zambales.

My name is Methuselah. Yeah , I know it's an awkward name but I can't blame my parents for naming me like that. Im the mayor's son , although I'm his son outside of his family. Meaning I have a different mother aside from my siblings. My mother always told me that, even though what she and my dad "did" when they where teenagers was wrong, she was glad that the outcome was good. She told me that she never regretted that she gave birth to a kid like me. Im the eldest of four siblings and I'm the "bread winner" of the family meaning I'm the one earning for our family, since I told my mom when I was a kid that we should never ask or bother the mayor since he's busy attending important matters regarding the provincial affairs of the government of Zambales. So that's basically how my life is right now and if I should say, it's one heck of a life but I'm still thankful for it.

I remember the first time I liked a girl. She was my classmate back then when I was still in High School. I remember the feeling of just wanting to see her and talk to her. Back then having a crush was the best feeling you could get to remove all the stress in high school. She was my crush for two straight years, starting from first year to second year. But as soon as I told her I liked her, it was an instant answer, she told me that she didn't want to ruin our friendship just because we went to a deeper relationship. As simple as that. It broke my heart so much that I was depressed and so ashamed of myself for even asking. It went on for months, I couldn't get the courage to even look her in the eye. It was a really painful experience that I would rather forget, at least that's what I thought back then. I asked my mom for advice about how to get pass this kind of emotion and what it really was. That's when she told me the most memorable words I would never forget. I remember them as clear as they where the moment she told them to me. She said "Son, loving or liking someone isn't as easy as you think. You may think that the person you like or "love" right now is the person you want to be with for the rest of your life, but you're wrong. When you go to a deeper relationship, that's when you find out each other's hidden attitudes that you didn't show each other back when you where still dating or when you where still getting to know each other. That's why at your age you should understand the deeper meaning of love and the difference between "real love" and "physical attraction."

For now you should enjoy your life while you're still young and wait till you find the right person for you. You don't need to get into a relationship as soon as possible, because a few years from now you might meet that special someone, when the moment is right. You'll never know , she might be closer than you expected. Take it from someone with experience. So for now just focus on your responsibilities as a student and as a son." Those where the words that struck me and made me realize that she was right. Taking it from someone whose had experience. She already took trial and error when she was young because no one advised her about these things. That's why I'm grateful that she told me about her experiences and taught me the right things to do. So ever since then I never tried to get into a relationship and focused on studying and graduating until I finished collage. Of course you won't be able to avoid admiring someone, but that's was JUST what it was, just admiration. After graduating collage I focused on finding a job. 

Back when I was in high school I thought that if you finished with good grades and all, finding a job would be as easy as one, two, three, but reality isn't as easy as you think. I had to spend days looking for a descent job. Never wasting any minute just to find one. Being an adult is tiring especially the part where you have to earn for your family. There where moments when I wished I could go back to the past and enjoy being a kid again. There where moments when I wanted to give up on finding a job, but what kept me holding on to hope and kept me going was the thought of my mom and my siblings. If it was for my family, I would do anything just for them to enjoy life and be happy. Their happiness is my happiness. Their smile is my strength. That was my motivation to keep on going and eventually made me decide that I should travel and go to Manila. Well it was a tough decision to make knowing that I would be living far away from home, from my family, and friends. But knowing that I could give my siblings the chance to finish collage like I did, it made the pain of going a way a lot lesser. At first it was as hard to find a job as it was back at the province but eventually I got small jobs to gain money. Of course one job wasn't enough for me and my family's expenses. Especially me, cause it's not easy to live here in Manila. One of my jobs was being a bouncer at a club, well it wasn't what I expected but , nah, can't be so picky. Like what my mom told me, as long as it isn't illegal or immoral and especially if it doesn't involve destroying people's lives, it's okay. So I thought about it and well yeah being a bouncer doesn't fit any of those categories. 

Everything was going totally normal, until one night, as I was going home from work, I was almost RAN OVER by a motorcycle. Of course I was annoyed, so I shouted "hey! Watch where you're going!" I was shocked when the motorcycle stopped. I was scared and thought maybe I went too far. What if the rider was a gangster and unfortunately had a gun. Would it be the end of my life? But still I stood straight and tried to act tough as the rider went down his motor cycle. I couldn't see his face because he was wearing a helmet and a black leather jacket. As soon as he came face-to-face with me, I started shaking. Then he took of his helmet, that was the surprising part. As soon as he took his helmet off that's when I realized he wasn't a HE , he was a SHE! The rider was a woman and a really beautiful woman to be exact. She had really long brown hair and her eyes were as brown as hazelnut. "What's your problem?" She said. For a beautiful face she had a really scary aura. Trying to act cool and tough I said " You almost ran over me so I shouted watch where your going." I think that was fair enough. "So? I didn't graze you or anything didn't I? So just get over it and go where you're heading to." She said. "What do you mean SO?! You almost ran over me with your motorcycle! What if you ran over me huh? Would you just leave me like that? You were THIS close to flattening me like paper and you expect me to leave like nothing happened? You should at least say sorry!" I said with annoyance in my voice. I mean who wouldn't be annoyed, she almost killed me. "Are you done now? Cause you're making a scene here." She said while looking at the people in our surroundings. "Oh uhh... yeah" I said, embarrassedly. " So okay...Sorry, are you happy now? Now bye bye, I have someplace better to go to." She said as if nothing happened. " Yeah, but at least keep this in mind next time don't say it sarcastically" I said, still dumbfounded about what happened. So I saw her rush to her motorcycle and went at high speed again as if she never learned from what happened. Man, for such a pretty face she has a heck of an attitude. 

So the next day, I went to work and was doing my job like I usually do. Business was as good as usual, costumers going in and out all day long. Unexpectedly I saw someone I didn't expect to see it was the girl who almost flattened me with her motorcycle last night. She looked like she didn't recognize me. So I was relaxed knowing that she wouldn't bother to remember. She was with a bunch of friends, and they all looked like party girls. But, at that moment a thought crossed my mind and I had an idea , I should probably give her a "friendly" greeting. So I asked my co-worker if he could take on my job as well and told him that I'd be back in a few minutes. I told him that I just wanted to greet a friend. So I came up to where they where sitting and asked if they where enjoying the place. The moment she saw me she recognized my face. I could tell judging by her facial expression. The look on her face was priceless. I saw her reaction I smiled at her and gave her a wink. She began to look embarrassed the moment her friends looked at her asking her if she knew me. She just shrugged and said " something like that" then looked at me with a forced smile. Her friends seemed like nice people. So I asked them if I could hang out, so they told me yeah. 

A bit later her friends decided to join the dance floor. They asked if we wanted to join but I told them I didn't want to. It was my opportunity to talk to her. So I asked her " About last night..." I said hesitating. "What about it?" she said casually. "I didn't get the chance to ask for your name." I said smiling. "Why should I tell you?" She said giving a hit that she wasn't interested to tell me. "Well for one , you almost ran over me and two, it's rude to avoid someone who's trying to make friends." I said, pointing out the obvious. "Anyways, the name's Methuselah, you could call me anyway you like." I said, trying to be friendly while extending out my hand. " Hahaha ... Methuselah? Sounds like a girl's name." She said, trying to mock me. "Well, I'm glad you find my name very amusing." I said sarcastically. She finally extended her hand as well " Aubrey, that's my name." She said, finally smiling after laughing so much. "Well, seems like you're the first one to laugh at my name." I said smiling. "Oh yeah, sorry about last night, I was wrong for shouting at you no matter how pissed I was, I shouldn't have done that." I said, genuinely trying to apologize. Cause I knew it's wrong to shout at a girl. "Nah, if anyone should have said sorry it was me, I was just having a bad day yesterday." She said, looking as if she didn't want to remember what was bothering her. "Are you okay?" I said, trying to show sympathy. "Don't mind it, it's a personal thing." She said. "Okay , so uhmm.. can I get your phone number?" I asked, hoping she would give it to me. Of course I would ask for her number, it's not like everyday you get to meet a beautiful girl like her around. 

"Hmm... Promise me you won't say anything stupid okay." She said, doubting me but afterwards gave me her number."I wont, I promise." I said, genuinely happy about getting her number. After a few days of texting and meeting each other we got to know more about each other. At first it was just to make friends, I wasn't really thinking of other stuff. After almost a year of getting to know each other we became best friends. But to be honest , I was starting to fall for her , but I didn't want to experience the same thing that happened back when I was in high school. Everything was going perfectly until one time I got a text from my brother about mom. He told me that they rushed her to a hospital after seeing her unconsciously lying on the floor. The doctors said she had a heart attack. Luckily, I saved up money and it was enough for me to travel going back to Zambales. I texted Aubrey and told her all about it, and when she heard about it she told me she wanted to go to Zambales and help me take care of my mom. At first I asked her if she was sure about it. She told me that she wanted to be there for me as my friend and also to comfort me. So I agreed, and after I took my leave on the job we flew going back to Zambales as soon as we could. At first my siblings thought that Aubrey was my girlfriend but after thoroughly explaining that we were just friends and told them all about it they finally believed me. It was embarrassing how they where teasing me in front of her and when I looked at her she seemed kind of amused of how I looked at the moment. "How's mom?" I asked also trying to change the subject , but I was really concerned about mom. 

"She's okay, the doctor told as that it was good that we found her immediately and rushed her as soon as possible or else it would have been too late." My sister said showing a hint of relief. After three weeks of visiting and taking care of my mom she was finally able to get out of the hospital. I was thankful to Aubrey cause if it wasn't for her help I couldn't have survived the pain of seeing my mom lying in the hospital bed. So I told her that, as a token of my gratitude I would show her something really amazing. I was planning to tell her I loved her after I showed her the place. The next day we went to Mount Pinatubo where I showed her the lake. "It's beautiful!" She said with amazement of what she was seeing. "This place means a lot to me. I used to come her often when I was little, this place always calmed me down whenever something would go wrong, or when I wanted to relax." I said, explaining how this place meant to me. After we had a picnic, I just watched her as she was enjoying the place, in the end I still couldn't tell her I loved her because of the fact that I was scared that it might ruin our friendship. 

Later that day I tried drinking because I hated myself for being a coward. The moment she saw me, I was already drunk. So She immediately approached me and helped me get to my room. She laid me down on my bed , then as she was about to leave I held her hand and pulled her and whispered I love you then blacked out. The next day she told me she wanted to talk to me alone. She waited until we were alone then told me what I did the night before. I was so embarrassed and explained that I was drunk and didn't mean a word I said. But then she kissed me just to shut me up and said I love you too. " You know I was waiting for you to tell me that. I was beginning to think you wouldn't say it. What took you so long to say it?" She said while smiling at me. "I thought you wouldn't respond to my feelings and tell me you just want to be friends, well I can see I was wrong." I said embarrassed about what she did. That was the start of our relationship, and in the end I courted her formally and got to know her parents. They were really nice but they were really awkward to be around with. Our relationship lasted for about seven years. After each of my siblings finished collage we finally decided to get married at the age of 30 and had two kids. That is how our love story was, cliché as it may seem that's how my love story began, and I'm not embarrassed to tell it to my kids and even my grand kids. Because love is such a wonderful experience as long as it's pure and innocent. Today I'm already eighty years old and still counting. I believe that there is a forever when it comes to love. Always remember that true love never fades now matter what happens, whether they have wrinkles on their face, whether they have an incurable disease or what may come to challenge how strong your love for each other is, if you truly love each other you can endure until the end.