Written by Ara Maniego

To my dear ex-crush,

I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand how the me from a few years back fell madly in
love, to the point of insanity, with a person such as yourself.

I was unable to comprehend how the universe set it up so that we were classmates for
four years. Four years. And what’s worse, our class numbers were arranged so that you, the oh so
damn sweet you, would be my seatmate for that long.

Did you know how many times you took my breath away when you picked up a pen I
constantly dropped? You looked like a damn prince charming every time.

Did you know how much I swooned when you repeatedly asked what the next class was?

Did you know how my heart couldn’t stop beating and my gaze wouldn’t be anywhere
else other than your direction?

Especially during Math class. Your posture, so stern yet warm. Your eyes, oh those
chinky Asian eyes that I loved, stared at the numerous equations and problems with a great
intensity. I wanted you to look at me like how you did at the board during Math class.

Hey. Do you still remember the moment I confessed to you? Probably not, but for me,
it’s engraved in my memory deep like some permanent horse stamp.

T’was bittersweet if I do say so myself.

Gathering up courage in a dim-lit room, with only two candles emitting a gentle light, I
knew I had to do it. It was during our last ever retreat, remember? I recall how the emotion was
building up inside me, overflowing like a lab experiment gone wrong.

T’was also hilarious, might I say. I realized then that everyone knew about it, except for
you. You, who unknowingly held my love in your palms, became speechless.

And at that moment, I was set free.

And now we meet again, here at a bar God knows where. I want to embrace you, but
there’s a drunk girl in your arms instead. I wonder about the emotion she feels, under all that
alcohol, yet still in your embrace. But then again, it all exists in “what could’ve been” now.

Now, please step aside the entrance. My friends and I want to drink.