“CHERISHED represents something or someone we hold close to our hearts intending to provide them with protection and love.”

Senthie Salvador had fallen short of doing just that for the person she had cherished the most.

***

Preparing to deliver the news to Cecilia, Senthie began, “Bes, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “I broke up with Kenzo last month.”

“Are you serious? That isn’t funny, Sen.”

Senthie sighed, her gaze dropping. “It’s the truth.”

“Sen, look at me,” she spoke softly. She shook her head, narrowing her eyes at Senthie. “This is disappointing.”

Senthie’s heart sank. Cecilia despised being kept in the dark, especially about significant developments in Senthie’s life. She expected to be promptly informed about anything important.

“I’m sorry, bes. I should have told you sooner.”

“Do you believe that’s why I’m upset with you?”

It dawned on Senthie that her anger stemmed from her breakup with Kenzo.

“I’m truly sorry, bes. But please try to understand my side. I didn’t want to keep hurting Kenzo.”

Cecilia let out an exasperated sigh, her smile carrying a hint of sarcasm. “Do you think he’s not hurting right now? I bet he didn’t want to break up with you. I bet he pleaded for another chance, hoping that time might make it work. Do you believe your decision was the right one?”

Senthie remained silent, her eyes glistening with moisture as she gazed at her.

“But you know what, Sen? I understand you didn’t want things to turn out this way. I know you’re hurting, maybe even more than anyone else. I believe you made the right decision, although I really hoped you two would end up together,” Cecilia said with a soft smile, gently clasping Senthie’s hands. “You want him to find someone who truly deserves him. Someone who is certain about her feelings and can love him without hesitation. You don’t want him to keep his heart closed, with you lingering inside, am I right?”

Senthie nodded in agreement, and Cecilia smiled, pulling her into a warm embrace. As they hugged, Cecilia gently patted her back, bringing comfort to Senthie. “Thank you, bes.”

After a few moments, a solemn silence settled between them. It was Cecilia who broke it first. “But Sen, are you sure you won’t regret it? I mean, where can you find someone like Kenzo? Objectively speaking, he’s every girl’s dream, and you’ve known each other for such a long time, over ten years, right?”

“That’s true. Time really does fly,” she said with a wistful smile.

Senthie and Kenzo had crossed paths through Walter. It happened on Walter’s birthday when he introduced Kenzo to his family. Like Senthie and Cecilia, they had been high school buddies. Senthie’s initial impression of Kenzo had been prideful and somewhat annoying, albeit milder than Walter’s, but she soon discovered he was nothing like her brother. He stood in stark contrast to Walter; he was the epitome of kindness and consideration.

“Are you absolutely certain you won’t regret your decision?” Cecilia inquired once more.

A moment of silence hung in the air before Senthie replied, “To be completely honest . . . I don’t know.”

“What?” Cecilia exclaimed in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

Senthie smiled sadly. “I don’t want to lose Kenzo.”

Cecilia’s face bore a perplexed expression, her furrowed brows and inquisitive eyes silently urging her to clarify her words.

“It’s the truth,” Senthie began. “Kenzo means a lot to me. I want him to remain a part of my life, preferably as a friend. I recognize that it’s selfish of me to ask that, and I’m uncertain if I won’t come to regret my decision.”

Senthie and Kenzo had been best friends for over a decade. He was her closest male confidant, offering his perspective on her past relationships.

Unknown to most, Senthie had five ex-boyfriends, with Kenzo being the fifth. Her first boyfriend when she was eighteen had been a persistent boy who relentlessly pursued her until she agreed to date him out of pity. Though, there was a condition: their relationship had to remain a secret. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep it to himself and shared the news with his circle of friends, leading to a quick breakup. This secret remained hers alone, even Cecilia was unaware. This was why everyone believed Senthie’s first boyfriend was the handsome college guy who had cheated on her.

Senthie had caught him in the act, or perhaps, he had intended for her to find out. When she broke up with him, he admitted that he wasn’t sure if she loved him because she never seemed jealous, even when other girls flirted with him. So, he tried to make her jealous by kissing another girl, not realizing that betrayal was the one thing she couldn’t tolerate. He begged for a second chance, but without hesitation, Senthie cut him out of her life. He had no idea how easily she could sever ties with those who betrayed her, treating them as if they had never existed.

When Kenzo learned of the breakup, he expected her to be upset, but she acted unfazed, as if it didn’t matter. But, deep within her, a twinge of guilt lingered, as if she had driven the boy to cheat, despite their brief relationship. The truth was, all her past relationships in her younger years never lasted a year.

Through each breakup, Kenzo stood by, even when his support seemed unnecessary. Initially, Senthie thought it was kindness, but she later realized his feelings ran deep.  However, she repeatedly turned down his advances. She didn’t want to hurt him, understanding all too well that her previous relationships had followed a disappointment. Still, he persisted, determined to make their connection work. Regrettably, it unfolded just as she had feared. Nothing seemed to work out, and in the end, she ended up hurting Kenzo, the person she cherished the most.

Senthie averted her gaze from Cecilia and proceeded, “I understand that once he finds the right person for him . . . gradually . . . he’ll drift away from my life, and there won’t be much I can do about it. But if I hadn’t ended our relationship . . .” She sighed. “Yes . . . we might have stayed together for a considerable time, perhaps even considered marriage. Yet, it wouldn’t have been fair to him, because, on my side, the concept of romantic love simply doesn’t exist.”

“It’s a complex situation,” she added. “If I were to say I want him all to myself and can’t stand the thought of losing him to someone else, that would be selfish, wouldn’t it? I’m not sure if I’m making any sense right now, but Kenzo means the world to me. He’s the most understanding, selfless, and kind-hearted man I’ve ever known. . . . He doesn’t deserve someone like me. It’s best for him to find genuine happiness . . . happiness he’ll never discover with me.”

Such were Senthie’s current sentiments. Yet, she possessed the understanding that even if Kenzo, or anyone else dear to her, were to depart one day, she wouldn’t be devastated by it. She would embrace it. She didn’t fear solitude, for she firmly held the belief that people would naturally drift in and out of everyone’s life, and that happiness shouldn’t be dependent on someone else.

 ~

“How long do you think it’ll take to find a part-timer?” Senthie inquired, her gaze fixed on the job hiring poster they’d affixed to the glass wall of Fashion Sen’s.

“Hmm, maybe about a month?” Cecilia replied with a casual shrug.

The previous night, their conversation had shifted to this topic after their heartfelt discussion about Kenzo. Cecilia had been the one to suggest hiring a part-timer, emphasizing that it would enable them to both take a half-day off on the same day.

“That’s way too long!”

Cecilia playfully flashed her palm at her. “Hold on, hold on. What’s this? Are you more eager than me? I thought . . .” She suddenly trailed off, her focus drifting elsewhere, but her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her mouth hung slightly open.

“Hey, bes? Hello? Are you there?” Senthie waved a hand in front of Cecilia’s face, but her friend remained unresponsive. She tried a different approach. “Hey, bes, what are you drooling for?”

Cecilia finally reacted, nodding subtly, as if encouraging her to look behind her. Senthie followed her gaze until she turned around and spotted the man who had captured Cecilia’s attention.

“Is he coming our way?” Senthie murmured.

Indeed, Jimhuesh was heading in their direction, causing Senthie’s heart to quicken its pace. His striking appearance still made her nervous, but she understood that with time, she could grow accustomed to his charisma, much like how she had become comfortable with Kenzo’s handsome visage.

“What brings you out here?” Jimhuesh inquired as soon as he reached the two ladies.

“Hi, sir! Good morning! We’ve just posted a job hiring poster here. You see, we are in need of a part-timer,” Cecilia said, her voice taking on a charming, almost flirtatious tone as she casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

He arched an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from the poster to Senthie. “Oh, really?”

Senthie nodded, offering an awkward smile. Meanwhile, Cecilia lingered behind her, whispering, “Ugh, bes, he’s so hot! I’ve never seen someone who looks so sexy as him in a suit!”

Senthie discreetly pinched her best friend, silently urging her to maintain some decorum.

“Can I apply?” Jimhuesh leaned forward, his one-sided smile adding to Cecilia’s fluster, to the point where she started slapping Senthie’s back.

Senthie struggled to maintain her composure, both from the proximity to the attractive man before her and Cecilia’s antics. Eventually, she couldn’t endure Cecilia’s playful hits any longer, so she feigned a cough into her hand to conceal her frustration, simultaneously taking a step back to create some distance from Jimhuesh.

As Jimhuesh straightened up, Senthie forced a laugh. “I know you’re just joking, sir, but actually, we’re specifically looking for a female.”

“Oh, I see. Too bad I’m a man,” he responded with a smile. “Okay, I’ll be on my way now.”

He leaned forward once more to whisper something in Senthie’s ear. What he said left her stunned, and she remained frozen even after he had vanished from her view. He walked past her and halted in front of Cecilia, who stood a few feet behind Senthie.

“Have a nice day, Ms. Salvador and Ms. Ramos,” Jimhuesh bid them farewell before departing.

“You too, Sir Jim!” Cecilia replied cheerfully.

Once he had moved a sufficient distance away, Cecilia tugged Senthie’s arm, and asked, “Bes! What did he whisper to you?”

 Cecilia forced her to turn around. This abrupt movement brought Senthie back to the present, snapping her out of her trance.

“Hey, Sen! What did he whisper to you?” she repeated. “Why are you spacing out?”

Senthie raised her eyebrows and gasped, feigning ignorance. “Oh, that? It’s nothing. I didn’t hear him clearly.”

Cecilia rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Why didn’t you ask him to repeat it?”

She shook her head. “Never mind that. Anyway, how do you know him?”

“He visited our store the other day when you were busy with Kassandra’s gown,” Cecilia replied, her eyes rolling once again when she mentioned the customer’s name.

“Ah, I see,” Senthie uttered, a sense of unease settling within as her mind filled with thoughts of Jimhuesh. Is he planning to make regular visits? What is his true intention? She was convinced there was more to his actions, especially that whispered message. How did he know that? How did he know that name?  He had whispered a name she didn’t want to hear: Rinana.