Twenty-one years ago, Josh declared his love for Claire who was then the object of his affection for three long years. They were so young then, still reeling from the remnants of their childhood that Claire was very scared she could not keep up with the demands of a teenage relationship so she readily brushed Josh aside. Josh was so hurt but despite the seeming competition with other guys in winning Claire’s heart, he pursued her just the same, but to no avail for other reasons that Claire kept only to herself.
They went on their separate ways and Josh eventually succeeded in fulfilling his ambition of becoming an engineer. Through those years that they were apart, Josh held on to his feelings for Claire. After eleven years, thinking that he was ready again to face her–now more accomplished and more mature–he sought the help of their long-time common friend Ehra to look for Claire.  Josh and Ehra figuratively moved heaven and earth just to find her. Unfortunately, they never did.Â
Until one day, Ehra gave up and told Josh to just move on, forget Claire, and get a life.  Sensing the futility of their search, he finally relented and opened his heart for another girl. In 2001, he married Jen–still hoping at the last minute, though, that somehow Claire would still show up.  But no Claire came. Ehra, who helped Josh with all the wedding preparations, decided not to attend the wedding because she was likewise hurting. She also didn’t want to hurt Josh more because somehow, everytime Josh sees her, he was being reminded of Claire. Ehra never met the new girl in Josh’s life and after the wedding, they never saw each other again.    Â
Now, after twenty years, Ehra and Claire accidentally saw each other. Ehra was taking a three-week break from her job in Hongkong when she saw Claire at a mall. Ehra told her what happened and after hearing the whole story, Claire was in tears. Why, because she was also looking for Josh at that time. After going through so much great pain, anguish, and sufferings in what could be the lowest moment in her life, only a good man who has loved her to pieces could have been the only reason then for her to believe that life is still fair.
She believed that among all the guys who were trying to enter her world ever since, Josh had the sincerest love and purest intentions. She just wanted to finally return the feelings not because she needed him but because she finally realized that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. In short, yes, she has also loved him all this time and made the resolve to take the initiative to find him because if parental disobedience was not an issue twenty years ago, Josh could have been her first and last boyfriend.
HOW SAD.
Will love lead them back to each other’s arms? Or everything is now too late for another chance? The answer may be bleak for now but who knows, things will still fall into place once the universe conspires to make their paths cross again.
To be continued.
