Belinda

"Do you know Belinda?" This has been the usual question one could hear from Luke when he's not sober. Luke is a 27-year old bachelor. Good-looking, with perfect height and body that everybody adores. He's a jolly, funny, and humorous guy when he's with his friends. He's the life of every party. Belinda is a sweet, simple girl with a beauty that everyone appreciate more after they get to know her better. Luke and Belinda are childhood friends. They basically grew up together. They went to the same school, belongs to the same circle of friends, their parents are the best of friends, etc. During their elementary days, they were inseparable, but as they approach adolescence, Luke started to put space between him and Belinda. Luke got different sets of friends. He only goes to Belinda for help on his assignments, projects and other stuffs that his friend could not do for him. Most of the times, he'll just give them to Belinda and ask her to do it for him. She was the last he would think of in everything aside from those that were mentioned. Unlike when they were young when Belinda was always on the top of his lists. When there's no other friends available, that's the time he will call Belinda because he knows she is always an available savior. Luke knows that Belinda loves him and he's too comfortable with the thought that she will never leave him no matter what. Day's gone by so fast. They finished college and got their jobs. They just say "hi's" and "hello's" through SMS. Belinda was very consistent on asking how he was. Luke, on the other hand, being so used to the messages, upon seeing that the message came from Belinda, just ignore them. Life continues that way. One day, Luke was so sad and feeling alone. Belinda crossed his mind then he realized he never received any message from her for quite sometime. He reached for his phone and found out it was more than a week since he last received one from her. He checked back some of the messages. They're quite the same everyday... "Hi", "How are you?", "Have a great day". Then he noticed one message that he was not able to open. It goes like: If one day you feel like crying... Call me. I don't promise that i will make you laugh, but I can cry with you. If one day you want to run away - - Don't be afraid to call me. I don't promise to ask you to stop... But I can run with you. If one day you don't want to listen to anyone... Call me. I promise to be there for you. And I can promise to be very quiet. But if one day you call... And there's no answer... Come fast to me. Perhaps I need you. Suddenly, Luke fell on a very deep emotional realization. He's missing Belinda. Suddenly, he was able to appreciate everything that she have done to him. He remembered one time, when they were still in college, Belinda broke up with her guy. Luke heard about it but its like he heard something that is very easy for Belinda to endure. That same day, the girl he's pursuing gave him a big "NO". He was so down that time, he called Belinda and asked her to come over because he's so sad. That time, Belinda's also grieving for the failed relationship but upon receiving that message from her friend, without any hesitation, she went to his place. She talked to him, made him feel that someone's there for him, absorbed all negativities and gave the best that she could to make him feel good. She never left him until she's sure that he's OK, and still check on him from time to time. He was terrified! It's only now that he realized how selfless Belinda was. He kept on browsing his phone. He saw 2 missed calls from Belinda. Those were 3 days ago. He dialed her number... no answer. Did it several times... no answer. He went to her house and it was the maid who greeted him. "Where's Belinda?", he asked. Instead of answering him, the maid handed him a letter. He went back home, sat on the couch and just stare at the red envelop. He remembered that that's Belinda's favorite color. Slowly he opened it and read the letter.

Hi Luke,

How are you today? I was trying to call you but to no avail. I just got my lab test result and the doctor confirmed I have blood cancer. That explains the bruises? Remember those big bruises? Well, I still feels good. I don't feel any pain or whatever so don't worry. I just want you to know about this because i might not be available anytime you needs me. i want to say sorry in advance. I'm bigger than this, right? Hahaha. I care for you a lot and I don't want to see you sad, not even a single day, even if that means sacrificing what I really want. That's how I love you!

Belinda

Tears fall on Luke's cheeks. Here's a girl who's been there for him all her life and now she in a serious stage but still asking for his forgiveness if she can't come to him if he needs her again. How could he be so damn fool. A selfish guy who only cares about what he needs and what he can get. He cannot even remember Belinda asked him something in return for all the favors he asked from her. Not even any complaint. He was thinking deeply when he heard noises coming from Belinda's place. Her Mom and Dad are crying and he saw a gold casket uploaded from a limousine. It was the hell of a moment. He felt like he's on a big twirl. He could not move.

And she's gone forever. It's over. How he wish that it was just a big misunderstanding. How he wish that any moment she'll walk through the door and ask why everybody is crying. How he wish she's come back, but she's not, ever. But he knows right now she's looking down there wishing that nothing had happened and hoping that he could get on with his life. She probably wishes she never had leukemia. Because she doesn't want to see people cry and be sad. She must have been teaching him a lesson on how short life is and he needs to live it before its gone. Learn to cherish the people who love and care because its hard to forgive yourself when its too late. When goodbyes came before you can say... I LOVE YOU.

Luke is grieving and its so painful to him that the only thing he can do now is to ask, "Do you know Belinda?", then talk about how good a girl she was.

Disclaimer: This story just a product of my productive imagination =)