Chapter 7 THE BREAK UP

Paula's POV

"Is there something wrong? Is there something that's bugging your mind?" I asked Jake while we were sitting next to each other here in the school garden. He's been so quiet since the time that we went here.

He was averting his gaze from me as if he was trying not to answer my question. I heaved a sigh and looked at him again. "Jake, please tell me what is it. You know how it makes me sad whenever you don't tell me what your problem is. You can tell me everything, Jake. I'm willing to listen."

"I'm breaking up with you, Paula." He mumbled.

"You know how much-W-What?"

He looked straight into my eyes before speaking again. "I'm breaking up with you, Paula."

I shook my head while my eyes were dilated because of surprise. "Y-You're what? Wait, Jake, I just heard it wrong right? Can you tell it to me again?"

"I'm already tired, Paula. I want to end this relationship already."

That's when I knew that I really heard it right. Jake was breaking up with me. Tears started to fill my eyes as I looked at him. "Y-You're breaking up with me? B-But why? H-How? Did I do something that made you mad? Did I offend you? Did I do something that you didn't like? Tell me, Jake! I can make it right! Please... just don't do this to me, Jake..." I said as I tried to hold his hand but he quickly brushed it off.

"I was happy, Paula. I admit I became so happy when you said yes to me. I was so happy when we were together. I loved you, Paula. But then... but then as time goes by... I think you were getting so strict with me. You always want to be with me, you always want to see me, and that's not what I want, Paula. I felt like you're taking my freedom away from me..."

Tears kept streaming down my face. I tried to wipe it all away but it just won't stop. "J-Jake, I'm willing to change my attitude. Please, just don't break up with me... I'm willing to do anything that you want me to do... Jake please don't do this to me... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

"It's enough, Paula. I already had enough. I think we really are not meant for each other. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone who will love you the way you are. You will forget about me, you will find someone better than me, Paula..."

"No Jake... No... I love you, I love you so much, Jake... please don't do this to me..."

Jake stood up. "You will move on from me someday. You're a strong woman, Paula. I just don't think this would work. I will always remember and treasure everything that we had. Thank you for everything, Paula. And goodbye..."

"Jake! No Jake please come back here, Jake!!! Please..."

But he didn't go back nor gave me a second glance. He just continues walking away from me like he was already walking out of my life. I kept on crying while looking at him. I called his name again, but he didn't show up anymore.

Jake was my first boyfriend. He's my first love, my first everything. I wanted him to be the man I will marry someday, I wanted him to be the only one I could spend the rest of my life with. He promised me that he won't leave me, he promised me he will never do what my biological parents did to me but why did we end up here? Why did he change his mind?

"Jake..." I mumbled as I fell to the ground.

***

When I opened my eyes, I was already inside the infirmary and Cindy was sitting on a chair beside my bed. She quickly stood up when she saw me opened my eyes. "Oh God, Paula! You're finally awake! I was so worried about you! I just saw you lying on the ground in the school garden!"

"Cindy..." I sat up on the bed and looked at her.

"Why were you there by the way? What happened?" she worriedly asked.

Tears started to fill my eyes again when I remember what just happened. I immediately hugged Cindy while I was crying so hard. "Cindy..."

"Paula... what happened? Why are you crying?" she asked while trying to console me.

"J-Jake... he already broke up with me..."

"J-Jake...w-what?!!" she nuzzled me away to make me look at her. "Jake broke up with you?"

I nodded while preventing myself from sobbing too loud.

"Oh my God... Oh my God I'm so sorry, Paula..." she mumbled then pulled me towards her again and gave me a tight embrace. "Oh, my sweet Paula..."

I just cried and cried again while Cindy just kept on consoling me while crying with me, too. I told her everything that happened between me and Jake before he asked for a break-up.

"I still don't get it, Cindy. We were so happy... we've been telling our dreams to each other... We promised that we'll stay beside each other no matter what happens but why did he leave me?"

"Ssssh... hush now, Paula. That asshole doesn't deserve you. No matter what his reasons are, he doesn't have the right to break up with you without even telling you the real reason why he got tired. I mean, don't you get tired too? You were very supportive, you loved him so much, what else does he want?!"

"I don't know... I don't understand..."

Cindy wiped the tears from my eyes. "Everything will be alright, Paula. You just need to move on from him. I know it wouldn't be easy, but that's the only choice that you have. If he no longer needs you in his life, then you wouldn't have any choice but to forget about him too."

"But I don't know if I would be able to do that, Cindy... I love him so much..."

"You can do it... I will always be with you, Paula."