Three Years
Running Man One-Shots CollectionFor the last three years he had been trying to express his love for her, to win her heart, but to no avail.
Regardless of the seasons, he had queued outdoors half-an-hour a day to buy the freshly made bread and coffee for her. The daily cup of piping hot coffee and sweet-smelling bread which sat waiting on her workstation every morning had failed to move her.
Whenever it rained at the end of a working day, an umbrella would miraculously appear in his drawer so that he could lend it to her; when she often failed to return it until the next rainy day when she came to work.
Based on a casual remark from her he had spent two nights queuing for the tickets for a concert which she went with her boyfriend.
He knew he was a third wheel in her relationship with her long-time boyfriend. But he was her crying shoulder when that insensitive fellow hurt her. He could no longer count the number of times when his shirt was soaked by her tears. So many times he wished he had lost to a better man; someone who would cherish and protect her; someone who would not let the tears cloud her bright and ever-speaking eyes.
No matter what he did, he was still a colleague, still a friend.
He looked at the lady sitting opposite him. He could not help but compare her to HER. SHE was still prettier and her smile was sweeter. HER voice resonated in a more beautiful tune than hers.
He had run out of time. He agreed with his mother that he would marry at the age of the thirty-five and he was turning thirty six in one-month time. If arranged marriage worked for his parents’ generation, there was no reason for it not to work for him. Yes, he would want to marry for love. But if his love was not reciprocated, he just had to be a filial son and a responsible husband.
He took one more look at the lady walking next to him. SHE was slightly taller and HER steps were more bouncy. But he could live with her, he made himself thought so.
He sent her a message telling her that he was getting married.
He received her reply of congratulations and when.
For his response of “next month”, he got back “congratulations again”.
~~~*~~~*~~~~
She had expected this. She should know that this day would come. She was not oblivious to his affections. Was she just waiting for him to ask her? She would never know. She simply didn’t have to courage to walk away from the other man.
“Congratulations” she said one more time.
Inspiration for this story is from the song "Seven Years of Love" played in this video.
(20.10.2013)
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