its so sad what a love can do

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The story of Melissa and Carlo "Thank you and goodnight, Melissa." As Melissa gave Carlo a friendly kiss on the cheek, she found her lips locked with Carlo's. "No, thank you Carlo." Carlo watched as Melissa walked away. Soon, it will be all over. He brought out his list from his pocket. For the last time, he looked at the peace of paper in his hand. There was only one thing left to do. "Melissa, " Carlo shouted. Melissa turned around and looked back at Carlo. "I will never forget you!" In the dark, quiet evening, everything became bright for Carlo and everything became loud for Melissa. Carlo saw a bright light. And Melissa heard a sound of a gunshot. * * * * * At around ten in the morning, Carlo woke up from the noise of his alarm clock. After another drinking session with his friends last night, he finds himself in the solitude of his desolated room. Soiled clothes were lying as well as books and magazines were displaced everywhere. His room was pretty messed-up. Just like his life: pretty messed-up. This has been his life since Melissa told him the news. When they broke-up a year ago, Carlo didn't felt a thing, not even the slightest remorse. Not until Melissa told him the news. She was getting married to her fiancee. The past few months become the gradual destruction of Carlo's life. Drinking sessions with friends have become a nocturnal routine, as well as absence in work to nurse a nasty hangover. Unshaved and somehow disoriented, he stares hopelessly at himself in the bathroom mirror, somewhat trying to ask himself where have he been. And all he got was a stare of a complete stranger. For a few moments Carlo continue to stand infront of the bathroom mirror, then he noticed something. His reflection was holding a piece of paper. He was holding a crumpled paper and he opened it. * * * * * "Good morning everyone!" Everyone in his office stared at Carlo as he entered. As if they saw someone who was long gone. Neatly dressed, shaven and emitting an aura of freshness, he mesmerized everyone and went directly to his boss' room. "Good morning, Sir!" "Carlo! Where was the report..." "Here it is, Sir. Complete in a presentation burned in this CD ready to blow your clients off their feet, " Carlo quickly disrupted his boss. "What have gotten into you? You look normal again, " his boss replied. "I just woke up from a terrible nightmare." "Good for you. Good for me. Good for the clients. Welcome back, Carlo." Carlo smiled and left his boss' room and went straight to his cubicle. As he reached his cubicle, he dialed a number and called someone in his cel. "Hello, " Melissa answered. "Hey gorgeous! You free today, " Carlo asked. "Why?" "Nothing much. I just got some errand to do and I would like to bring you along." "Uhmmm... I still have a few things to tend, you know..." "The wedding? C'mon, it's only one day. Your fiancee shouldn't worry. For old time's sake?" "Okay. What time?" "I'll pick you up before lunch." "Okay." "Til then. Bye." Melissa seemed confused after hearing Carlo's voice in her cel. She haven't heard from him for some time and that she just changed her number a few days ago." * * * * * Just as he said, Carlo picked up Melissa at her office. They went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Melissa was staring at a man she used to love. Some old feelings still lingers in her. But she rather keep them all inside her in solitude. Then Carlo broke her silence. "So what's keeping you busy, aside from getting married, " he asked casually. "Uhmmm... nothing much. Just the usual. Clients who dream big and pay little, " Melissa replied. "Shall we?" "Where?" "I just need to tend some errands. You'll see." Carlo brought Melissa in an orphanage they used to go to during their anniversary. Carlo still remembered how Melissa loved children. For a few moments, Melissa found herself enjoying her time with the children. And then she realized something was not right. She shouldn't be there with Carlo. "Why did you bring me here?" "You forgot easily." "What?" "Nothing. I just wanna go here. This is the first time I went here since we broke up." "I remembered when we still went here together." "Happy anniversary. " Melissa stood infront of Carlo filled with confusion. She cannot understand why he brought her in the orphanage. * * * * * "You've been silent since we left the orphanage." "..." "Carlo, why are you doing this?" "What?" "..." "Okay. The orphanage wasn't intentional. It was just a spontaneous idea. When you agreed to come with me, the idea just entered my mind. And besides, today was supposedly our anniversary. It's just so funny if we went back there after all this time." "So you found it as a joke?" "No. I found it heartwarming. " "...uhmmm, where are you bringing me anyway?" "You'll see." * * * * * "I haven't been here for a while, " Melissa said. "I know you'll be surprised. I haven't also been here for a while, " Carlo answered. They arrived at Carlo's home in Antipolo at around five in the afternoon. Carlo's mother was surprised to saw both of them. They still don't know that the two of them had broken up. "Hi Mama, " Carlo greeted her mother. "Carlo, " Mrs. Gomez replied. "You still remember Melissa?" "Good afternoon Ma'am, " Melissa greeted Mrs. Gomez. "How could I forget your beautiful fiancee? So when's the wedding? C'mon here child and give me a hug, " Mrs. Gomez answered. Both women hugged each other. Melissa suddenly became uneasy with the fact that Mrs. Gomez doesn't know what had happened between her and Carlo. She found herself starting to get mad at Carlo. "So what have brought you two here?" "We're just visiting you Mama." "You should have called before you arrived, so that I have prepared a special dinner." "No Mama. We won't be long. Melissa's busy with her wedding." "You naughty boy. I haven't met Melissa's parents. And now you two are getting married? Why are you putting all the burden to Melissa in preparing for the wedding?" Melissa blushed in embarrassment. She doesn't know what to feel, whether to get mad at Carlo for not telling her Mom, or to feel sorry that the two of them broke up. She really liked Mrs. Gomez. "You don't understand, Mama. Well, I'm quite busy tending a lot of errands." "Okay, let's just talked about the wedding later. Wait here and I'll just prepare dinner." As Mrs. Gomez was about to go to the kitchen, Carlo spoke. "Mama, I love you." When Mrs. Gomez reached the kitchen, Carlo whispered to Melissa. "That's our cue. Let's go." "Carlo, what do you think you're doing? We have just arrived here and you're mother's preparing dinner." "I still have some errands to do, remember?" "Oh great. At least let's say goodbye to your mom." "That would be impossible. She won't let us leave until after dinner." "..." And the two of them sneaked to the front driveway straight to Carlo's car. * * * * * "I can't understand why you are doing all this, Carlo, " Melissa said. "You hungry?" "First the orphanage. Next your mom. What's all of these? Are you trying to win me back?" "No." "So why all these special places? You know this is not easy for the two of us." "I forgot something in my office. We'll grab dinner there." "You're not hearing me. You're shutting me out..." And tears started to form in the corners of Melissa's eyes. "You know I always understood you. When you left me, it was your decision. I just set you free because I felt you really wanted out. Now that I'm asking just for a day with you, you judge me of not hearing you out?" "So what's this all about? I'm really confused." "Sometimes, the greatest questions don't need answers. Please take my word for it." "I'm still not buying it." "Okay. I'm leaving. I'm going somewhere. I just wanna do the things I won't be able to do after I leave." "..." "Satisfied?" "I'm hungry, " Melissa answered with a smile. * * * * * When they arrived at Carlo's office somewhere in Makati at around 10 in the evening, Carlo's office was closed. A guard recognized Carlo and let them in. City lights have somehow illuminated the dark corridors of Carlo's office. All cubicles were deserted. "What are we gonna do here, " Melissa asked. "You'll see, Carlo answered." "No tricks, Carlo." "Trust me." And all Melissa was able to do was smile back at Carlo. Melissa followed Carlo to the elevator. Inside, Carlo pressed "P" for penthouse. The light indicating the building floors rose from the ground floor to the penthouse. The darkness and the uncertainty of what lies ahead of them scared Melissa. The elevator reached the top floor of Carlo's office and its doors opened. What Melissa saw at the penthouse left her breathless. Amidst the darkness of the hallway glowed numerous candles that seemed like stars the lit the whole floor. A string quartet played songs that they used to loved when their still together. And in the middle of the spacious penthouse stood a candlelight dinner for two. "I don't know what to say, " Melissa uttered to Carlo. "Just say you enjoy everything that's happening right now, " Carlo replied. Melissa knew that she enjoyed every moment that's happening before her eyes but she decided to keep it to herself. But her eyes gave herself away; glitters of tears lingered in the corners of her eyes. Even though she didn't say it, Carlo saw it in her eyes and he knew she enjoyed everything that he prepared for her. And for him, that's what matters most. * * * * * After dinner, Carlo brought Melissa to her house.