She And He: The Complete Series

INTRO

SHE:

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I can see nothing but darkness. Sleep has eluded me tonight. I look at the man sleeping soundly beside me, wondering if I am the one in his dreams. I swallowed a lump in my throat and blinked back the tears. How long should I endure this? How long am I willing to stay like this? How long should I keep denying that I may be in his arms but his heart is somewhere else? These thoughts, these feelings, are slowly killing me.

I slowly peeled the blankets off me and stood up. I put on my robe and went out of the room, gently closing the door behind me. I went to the balcony and looked at the stars above. And when a falling star passed by, I closed my eyes, let the tears fall and made a wish.

HE:

I lay on the bed, with one arm resting on my forehead. I cannot sleep while the woman beside me is breathing peacefully. I looked at her and I know that we cannot keep being like this. I know she was the one who pursued me and I gave in, but this has got to stop. I don't love her, hell, I don't have any feelings for her! I don't know why I suddenly gave in to her advances.

I slowly removed the blanket off me, careful not to wake her up. I felt her stir, I paused. I got up when she settled back again. I went out, feeling the cold air on my skin as I looked up at the sky. A falling star passed by. I don't believe in them but I closed my eyes and made a wish.

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VERSE 1

SHE:

I would await his return, always never knowing when. And when he does, it's only for a short time. It does excite me, though, because he's always away for a long time. But it also saddens me because when he comes over, it's only for a day or so. I am still happy because he makes time to be with me despite his busy schedule. Still, I can't shake off the feeling that I'm not the only one he visits when he comes over. This damn nagging feeling won't go away! I don't tell him and just keep it to myself.

Soon, those feelings turned to apathy. I fought so hard for it not to come to this point. I knew that when I started not to care, this relationship would go downhill. I knew that when I stopped thinking where you were, what you were doing, what time you'd be home, I knew, sooner or later, whatever remains of the relationship will die.

Please help me not to resent you.

HE:

She would always want to know where I was, who I'm with, what time I'm going home. Every single detail of my action has to be recorded, has to be reported. Should I fail to report, a fight ensued. I have never felt strangled in all my past relationships. But she doesn't understand that and I am helpless not to follow her instructions. I feel like she is choking the life out of me.

Now along comes a girl who has been flirting with me constantly. She has been trying to get my attention for the past few months and I think it's time I give in. With all the stress I have been going through, I need some sort of a stress reliever and here she is offering herself to me.

And so, the web of lies and deceit has been created.

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CHORUS

SHE:

I decided to go to a friend's place one day and it was there that I met him. He was charming, well, he still is. Of all the guys in the room, he was the one who got my attention. I would steal glances at him when he was not looking. I smiled shyly whenever he caught me staring at him. I knew I was blushing but I couldn't help it. I was acting like a High School girl with her crush.

The more we saw each other, the more I realized that there is something between us, something I can't put my finger on. We seem to always gravitate towards each other whether we are in a small group or a big one. He would automatically "take care" of me when we go out and was very attentive to my needs. I somehow felt safe when I'm with him.

I remembered the time when I was so drunk when we went out that he had to make sure I got home safely. There were other guys in the group but he took it upon himself to assist me. I remember him holding my hand and gently guiding me in the cab before getting in himself. He was such a gentleman that night and how I wished I wasn't wasted so I could enjoy his presence without being horrified the next day at how I might have looked like the night before or how disgusting I smelled. I want to relive that night sans me getting drunk.

But I am taken.

HE:

A friend introduced her to me. She was wearing a plain shirt and square pants but she looked so beautiful, especially when she smiled. She didn't know that I could see her staring at me through my peripheral vision and I secretly enjoyed it. I tried to catch her gaze and smiled inwardly whenever blushed when caught. She is so damn pretty!

Every time we see each other, this magnet between us seems to become even stronger. When she comes into the room, my face would light up and my heart would beat really fast. Then I would always find myself going in her direction and suddenly, I am beside her. It was natural for me to be with her and take care of her and her needs. I want to protect her, I want to make her mine.

One of my favorite memories with her was when she had too much to drink during one of our night outs with friends. I decided to be the one to take care of her. I held her hand most of the time, not because of the fact that she might fall over, but also because I didn't want any other guy touching her. I assisted her in the cab and dropped her off at her place. I am drunk with her scent. She doesn't smell like alcohol at all. I would have loved to kiss those lips as she leaned on me but I held back.

Because I am seeing someone else.

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VERSE 2

SHE:

We were with friends having a casual conversation and before I knew it, he and I apparently agreed to go out for lunch one of these days, ALONE.

That was a week ago.

How the hell did that happen? I kept pacing back and forth in my room. I can't believe that happened. But wait, why am I panicking? It's not as if I'm going on a date with him. Yes, this is NOT a date! Definitely, not a date! Or is it? Oh my God! I stopped and plopped on my bed face down. What the F have I gotten myself this time?

"You can't go out with him", I told myself. I rolled onto my back and answered myself, "I know." I sighed as I continued to stare up the ceiling.

A few minutes of pondering, I got up and went to the closet. "So, what to wear?", I asked as I opened the closet. "This is not a date, this is not a date, this is not a date." I kept repeating to myself as I chose my outfit for the day. I settled on a nude colored square pants, black top and some accessories. I put on light make-up, my everyday make-up. "Again, THIS IS NOT A DATE!" I assured myself as I went out.

We met and had lunch, nothing extraordinary. We talked over coffee, got to know each other better and soon it was time to part. He brought me home and it happened.

I found myself tasting his lips on mine.

HE:

I am in a predicament.

A week ago, I had agreed to go out with her. "This can't be happening," I keep telling myself. We are not supposed to go out, we both know that. I brought my coffee outside to clear my mind. It was raining last night but now the sun has graced the sky with his presence. The smell of rain still lingered in the air. I inhaled the scent. I've always loved the smell of the earth after the rain. It calms me.

I sat on the rocking chair and placed my mug on the coffee table. I looked up at the clear blue sky, as if asking what to do. "This is not a date, is it?" I asked the sky. I rubbed my face with my hands and sighed. "We are just going out as friends, yes, that's it. It's not a date. It's just lunch and coffee.. With a friend." I reiterated to myself as I went back inside to prepare for the meeting.

I arrived a little earlier than the agreed time, so I strolled around for a bit. When I returned, I saw her standing at our meeting place, watching the people pass her by. Suddenly a gust of wind blew and played with her hair. She looked so simple and yet so beautiful. I smiled when she looked my way and walked towards her.

We had lunch and talked some more over coffee. Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary. Just 2 friends, talking. As our day ended, I decided to bring her home. We said our goodbyes but I couldn't resist.

Her lips tasted as sweet as they looked.

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BRIDGE

SHE:

That so-called date happened a month ago and I haven't seen him since then.

I looked at my phone to check the time. It was 12:43PM. "He's late again," I muttered under my breath. I inhaled and exhaled to calm myself. My boyfriend and I were to meet up at 12PM for lunch. It was the only time I can spare as I am swamped in the office. My lunch break is almost over and yet he's nowhere to be found. I scanned the area one last time and stood up and was about to leave when I spotted a man running towards me.

"I'm sorry, I'm late," he panted.

I sighed, looked at him with emotionless eyes and said, "You knew I was just on a lunch break."

"I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you. It's just that I ran into…" He wasn't able to finish his sentence.

"I said, I was just on a lunch break," I cut him mid-sentence, my voice trembling from frustration and anger. I glared at him and walked away. He never bothered to go after me.

I cried that night as I broke it off with my boyfriend over the phone. I did not want to see him as it would make it harder for me to break it off. It has always been this way, I always felt taken for granted. All I wanted was some time to spend with him because we rarely see each other and yet, he could not give it to me. Promises made and broken over and over and over again, like a broken record. My heart was getting tired, getting so used to those broken promises.

We've been together for years, and I knew it was not that easy ending our relationship. However, it was getting way too toxic. I needed to let go, while I still love him. Staying will eventually make me despise and resent him. I can already feel the hate creeping into my heart.

I hugged my pillow and looked at my phone. No messages from him. "I guess, this really is over, huh?" my last thought before my eyes succumbed to the Sandman's spell.

HE:

I haven't seen her for a month after the kiss.

"I can't do this anymore!" I shouted to my girlfriend on the other line. I threw my phone on the floor and it scattered into pieces.

That was the last straw. She saw a picture of me and a female coworker during a party in the office. My arm was around her shoulders and her arm was on my waist while our free hands were holding a glass of wine. She was new and I was trying to make her feel welcome. It was nothing but she made a big deal out of it. I was in the middle of a presentation in a meeting when she called and I kept rejecting her calls. When I called her back, she was furious at me for rejecting her calls and then she went on and on about the picture that I snapped.

I drove to her place with the intent of ending the relationship. She did not take it well and we were arguing and shouting and screaming at each other. She did not want to let me go. As I was going to my car, she was running behind me, crying and begging me to come back. But I hurriedly walked to my car, got on and sped off.

I drove aimlessly and I ended up at a restaurant on a hill overlooking the city lights. I stared blankly at the lights, drinking my beer. I was reliving the fight in my head and wondered why there was no call or message from her. I remembered I smashed my phone before storming off to her place.

"So this is it, huh?," I asked myself. "I guess, it really is over."

I finished my drink and drove straight home.

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OUTRO

SHE:

I never heard from him again.

Days, weeks, months passed by and still no sign of him. I sighed.

"Girl, you gotta get up your ass and move on. He's not coming for you, ok, Sweetie? You can't wait forever and hope that one day, he will call you or send you a message." I scolded my reflection in the mirror. I have been standing in front of my full length mirror for about an hour now, just looking at myself, wondering what went wrong, what should I have done, and all the whats and whys that I could ever think of.

I plopped down to the floor and leaned my forehead on the mirror and let the tears fall. It's been like this for months and it never got better, I never got better. Why is it so effin hard to move on? It was just a Goddamn kiss! A freaking kiss! But a kiss was all it took to break me like this.

My phone's ringtone woke me from my reverie. I wiped my tears with my hands before looking for the stupid phone. The caller ID did not register any name, just a number but I immediately rejected the call. I knew who it was from. It was my persistent ex-boyfriend trying to get back together. I threw the phone on my bed and decided that I should go out.

I tried to find the prettiest outfit that I could find. "At least I'd look stunning even if my heart is breaking into a million pieces." I told myself as I rummage through my closet. I pulled out a simple flowy off-shoulder dress that reaches about 2 inches above the knee. I paired it with platform sandals and put on light makeup to ensure that it would stop me from crying unless I wanted to look like a raccoon.

I took one last look at my reflection and tried to smile. My face may be smiling, but my eyes cannot lie. They don't sparkle like they used to. Now, they're filled with sorrow. I took a deep breath and headed out.

I ended up in a bar later that evening, having my fourth (or was it fifth?) glass of wine. I chose to be at the bar counter so I can be with my thoughts. I was playing with my glass, lost in thoughts when the bartender gave me another glass. I was perplexed, looked at him and said, "I didn't ask for another glass."

But the man beside me answered, "I did."

I recognize that voice! I turned to face him and my eyes widened in disbelief. I smiled at him despite the tears welling up in my eyes.

HE:

I never tried to contact her.

How long has it been? Weeks? Months? I didn't have the guts to call, much less, message her.

After the breakup with my ex-girlfriend, I was a recluse for a while. I avoided any social contact. I cut myself off from any social media, from anything. I didn't want to deal with people. But I realized, the world doesn't stop just because I stopped trying to live.

"Get your act together, man. You can try to contact her again. You have her number, you know where she lives. If you really want her, you gotta make a move," I told myself one day as I was lying down and staring at the stars.

So I have decided to go to her place and ask her if we can talk. But the moment that she is within my reach, I freeze. I am so fucking scared to go see her. How should I approach her? Will she talk to me after all this time? I never tried to reach out to her and now I will be standing at her doorstep and just casually say, "Hi! Remember me?" I'd probably get slapped right there and then! I rubbed my hands on my face, trying to assess the situation.

"C'mon, man! You better do something or you might regret not doing anything at all," said that tiny voice inside of me. I got into my car and decided to just deal with it.

I drove to her place and saw her leave the house. She looked gorgeous. I decided to follow her secretly, trying to find a chance to talk to her. But every time I do, my body would not move. It's as if I am glued to the spot and just content to watch her. So I followed her the whole time to see what she would do.

Finally, it seems like she's going to cap the night off by going to a bar. I followed suit. I wanted to grab her and show to everyone that she's mine. I could feel my blood boil as most of the men in the bar couldn't take their eyes off her the second she went inside.

I stayed at a safe distance. She sat by the bar, ordered wine, quickly downed the first glass and asked for another. She was on her fifth glass when I decided to sit beside her. She didn't notice me. Her glass was almost empty and she was playing with it when I called the bartender to give her another glass. She was surprised because she didn't order another glass.

"I did," I said.

And when she turned around to look at me, I knew she was glad to see me amidst her tears. I smiled at her and gathered her in my arms.

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A/N: This series is posted in the Blog section but in parts. I decided to transfer it to the Story section for ease of reading.