It was also Jeremiah who came with me last family day, after Demi’s best friend reported that she was being bullied for not having a father. I didn’t even know that because my daughter never said anything. Since then, he had been constantly dropping and fetching Demi from school.
I tried to stop him because I knew he was busy at work but he was stubborn. He would always insist that no child deserved to be bullied.
‘Feel free to bother me anytime, Ali. I won’t mind if it’s you,’ Jeremiah even told me once. ‘The same thing goes for you, too, little pumpkin. Whenever you need Uncle Rem, you know my number. Just call me and I’ll make myself available.’
Despite that, I never thought that Jeremiah would have feelings for me. I mean he had always been that considerate ever since we were kids. I even thought Greta only misinterpreted the situation between me and my best friend.
I was aware that Jeremiah stopped dating about three years ago because he said he had grown tired of it. And I believed him. Not to mention that he was busy with his company.
He had been tagged as one of the most sought-after bachelors in their country that’s why I know that there were women chasing after him. Dating used to be his hobby although he never dated any of them for a long time.
I had always thought that my best friend was just being picky, and he had every right to be, anyway.
“The guard told me that his workaholic boss is still here that’s why I invited myself in hoping that I could lure you out of here. It’s a little late, Ali. Why are you still here?”
I cleared my throat when I heard Jeremiah’s voice. I couldn’t explain the awkwardness that I suddenly feel. A part of me felt happy, overwhelmed, and thankful. Because it was Jeremiah Villarino we are talking about here.
Many women would do anything to have my best friend’s attention but here he was, wasting his time and love on a woman like me. He had never given up on me even if I had almost given up on myself. He accepted my past. He also loved my daughter and my family.
He was simply the perfect man to love. “I, uh-“
“So, you finally discovered my secret, huh? That explains why you’re suddenly stammering.”
Jeremiah took a step closer and sat on my table. He picked up the photo I dropped. He put it back in the scrapbook. “Come to think of it, you and I have really come a long way together.”
“Excuse me, I didn’t stammer. I was just surprised because I heard your voice all of a sudden,” I said in a defensive voice after a while. I evaded his eyes. “You wrote that eight years ago. For sure, things are different now and-“
“Many things may have changed… but I’m still in love with you, Ali. I know I wasn’t supposed to say this because it might complicate things between us. But since the cat’s out of the bag then here it goes. You know me. I don’t hold back when it comes to important matters. Yet, I’ve always held back when it comes to you… to us.
“But tonight, just once, I want to try saying it out loud. Ali, I’ve always loved you. And honestly, I don’t know how you keep making it possible for me to fall for you more each time I see you, because you were right. It had been so long since I wrote that note that’s why I’m in love with you more now compared to that time.”
Jeremiah let out those words as simple as possible. But I could feel his sincere heart. This man had always been sincere when it came to me and my family. He didn’t blame me for not knowing his feelings even if I was his best friend. Instead, I heard the gratitude in his voice as if he was just plain relieved that was able to finally speak his heart.
I suddenly felt so small. I had been hurting Jeremiah for so long. He was there as I fell in love with another man. He was the first person I talked to regarding Alexandros. And when we became a couple, Jeremiah was also the first to know.
He supported my love life and all the things that made me happy. He was also the one who cheered me up each time I would feel frustrated about Alexandros.
He was also there when Alexandros proposed to me. Aside from my parents, Jeremiah was the first to embrace and congratulate me with a big smile on his lips.
Jeremiah was with me in the happiest moment of my life and even in the most embarrassing, most painful, and most heartbreaking hour of my life.
Jeremiah saw me fell apart so many times before. He knows enough about me that when I said I wanted three scoops of ice cream to make me feel better, he knew that I actually meant four.
But after a while, I felt confused. I turned to face him.
“I don’t get you. I mean, why would you settle for a broken woman like me, Rem? I’m no longer the woman I was before. And I already have a daughter. With your status, you could easily find-“
“Silly girl.” He shook his head. “If it was so easy to fall for someone else, I would have done that a long time ago. But only the mind is willing. The heart isn’t. I tried to fool myself for the past years. But I couldn’t really try to make it work with other women while my hearts beats for you.” He stared at me. “I told myself that once I see you happy with another man, I wouldn’t fight for my feelings anymore because that’s what matters to me. Your happiness."