Words Left Unspoken

“So, let’s say he loves you? What’s next? What are you going to do?”

Gayle was caught off-guard and she has no words to respond.

“ Will you move here in Prague to be with him? No! Will he move to Manila to be with you? I don’t think so. The sad truth is neither of you will commit to be with each other to make this work. So forget it, it will never work out.”

These words hit Gayle like lightning. It was blunt, yet it’s true. His friend, Andrew is right. Even if Jason feels the same way about her, there’s no assurance of being together. “Is it worth the fight?” she thought.

The next day is the gloomiest day of her life. It is the last day of her business trip.  All her previous plans of letting her feelings known to Jason is no longer an option. She needs to leave quietly, maybe just the usual goodbyes. She had to forget that the last four weeks were the best four weeks of her life. She had to act as if she’s not leaving her heart in Prague.

But it is difficult -- all of the friends that she had known there are starting to approach her one by one bidding her goodbye. Gayle knew that Jason will soon approach her and she does not know how to handle herself. 

The day is almost over but there is no sign of Jason. It is kind of odd that she have not seen him all day. She is about to ask a colleague but afraid of getting teased again. I guess everybody knew how close they have become and somehow sensed some connection between the two. Until her phone rang. When she answered, it is Jason on the other line!

“Gayle, are you free for dinner later?” He asked. 

Gayle froze for a second, and thought if this is like a date.

But before her mind goes a little further, Jason said, “The managers would like to have a dinner with you.”  And there goes her happy thoughts…

The dinner was not what she expected. By the looks of the wine and the steak, the place is expensive.  Gayle is grateful because the managers took time to take her out for dinner. It is the usual conversations, the weather, the company, stock prices. In short…boring. The only thing that keeps her awake is glancing at the far side of the table. Why is Jason seated apart from her, Gayle thought.

“You have to thank Jason for tonight” one of the managers said. “He planned this all for you, he gathered all the managers for this dinner since you will be leaving.” Her heart melted again.

When the dinner is over, Jason offered to walk her home.

He is oddly quiet that night, until he started humming a tune. Gayle is not able to recognize it at first until she realized that it is the song “How deep is your love?” by the Bee Gees.  This was the song that they sang during one of their weekend road trips. Tears are almost welling up her eyes when he started to speak.

“Ahhhh, how time flies. It was only like yesterday when you arrived… and now you’re leaving.”  Jason said.

Gayle did not say a word.

“I’m already missing you…Will I see you again?” Jason said as she turned to her.

Gayle did not say a word still.  Jason stopped walking in front of her and asked, “Are you crying?”

“No.” she said, but her eyes says otherwise. Jason embraced her and her eyes finally gave in.  She just cried and held him tight.

Then the snow started falling down on them. And he held her even more.