Author's Note:

Hi guys! I'm happy to share this one shot story that depicts the bittersweet tale of romance and second chances.

This story was created on behalf of Hershey's Kisses and Wattpad as an early Valentine's Day gift for you! I hope you guys will enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed creating it!

You can use #ShareTheLove to share your feels! May you receive and share the most genuine love!

Sincerely,
April

***

Part 1

They say what's meant to be will always find a way. But what if you've passed the moment when you were meant for each other and you're only two people who had memories together? What if, just like manufactured products, there's an expiration date to the phrase "meant to be"? Will they still find a way back to you no matter how far they stray?

Ito ang pumasok sa isip ko nang muling makita ang pamilyar na paper strip na nakaipit sa paborito kung libro habang naglilinis ng apartment. It was one of my favorite books in college that I brought to the apartment with me. Tucked between the pages was a tiny strip of paper called plume from Hershey's kisses.

Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig at kinuha ang aking phone na nakapatong sa mesa. I video called my younger sister, hoping that the thing I remember was still kept safely in my room in the family home.

After my sister answered the call, I asked her to search for something in my old room. After checking several drawers, isang pamilyar na bagay ang pinakita niya sa screen. A small clear jar full of paper plumes from Hershey's kisses.

"Why are you collecting these?"

Bakit nga ba? Saan nga ba ito nagsimula? Isang tao ang pumasok sa aking isipan.

I met him in college during the times when I was having a hard time in the course I took. I wasn't completely passionate about it. I was a pushover who only did what my parents wanted me to. I didn't know who I was and what I wanted. I didn't know who Amari Salazar was at that time.

But there he was, sauntering in the school corridors as if he owned the place with no care in the world. Gio Montecillo. His carefree disposition was something I used to find intimidating. I was pretty sure he was the last person I could get along with.

But destiny proved me wrong.

During the second semester of our freshmen year, a group project forced the two of us to rely on each other for months to survive a demanding subject. Since then, I started to admire his attitude and perspective in life. Tama nga ang sabi nila, may mga taong hindi mo aasahang magiging malapit sa'yo hanggang hindi mo sila binibigyan ng pagkakataon para makilala.

Since that project, we've been each other's confidant and rant buddy. We've become close friends while trying to survive our courses. We've told each other anything and everything. About people's expectations of us, the pressure from family members, our views of the world, and our unending search for our passions.

Hindi ko alam kung paano siya nakatagal na kasama ako. I was the type of person who would rumble, rant, and talk for hours about topics that interest me. While he was the type of person who would only listen and nod and smile at me as if what I was saying to him were the most interesting things in the world.

Maybe he was aware that I needed someone to listen because, for the longest time, no one around me did. But the one thing I would never forget about Gio... whenever something comes up that can potentially stress me out, he would hand or slide me Hershey's kisses while grinning.

"Para 'di ka ma-stress."

And being the sentimental person that I am, I've kept most, if not all, of these little plumes from the chocolates because they reminded me of the little happiness he gave me, especially during those times I was so close to giving up on myself.

Ang nag-iisang piraso na naka-ipit sa libro- it was from the last piece of chocolate he gave me. Back then, I had no idea it would be the last. Tandang tanda ko ang araw na 'yon. I brought the same book with me in the coffee shop where we planned to meet. Ang pahina kung saan nakaipit ang paper strip, 'yon ang pahinang binabasa ko noong dumating si Gio sa coffee shop.

I thought it was one of our usual Saturday afternoon hang-out. I remembered how he slid a strawberry-filled kiss across the table because it was my favorite. Nakabungisngis pa ako nang magpasalamat sa kanya.

"You really know what I'm craving for."

But as minutes passed by, I slowly noticed how anxious he was. Dumating ang order naming inumin at pagkain pero hindi niya ito ginalaw.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked him, worried.

"I need to tell you something."

[Dapat mayroong isang GIF o video rito. I-update na ang app ngayon upang makita ito.]