"Our FIRST LOVE is that initial person we fell in love with; it can be both unexpected and sudden, carrying with it sweetness or bitterness, all dependent on how our first experiences concluded."

***

Perhaps, because it was Jimhuesh's first vacation since he started working at GMC, the week in Paris with Senthie passed surprisingly quickly. Although not much had occurred, he cherished her company. Conversations with her felt therapeutic, yet no matter how much time they spent together, she remained an enigma to him - a mystery he was eager to unravel.

The previous night, they engaged in a deep conversation about her past, particularly her father, which took Jimhuesh by surprise.

"My father works abroad, in New York. He always promised to be home on my birthday, but on my seventh birthday, he didn't come. I waited day after day, week after week, but there was no communication from him. Months turned into years, and even now, we haven't heard anything from him. It's as if he vanished from our lives; from my life."

She continued, "Relatives and even our neighbors couldn't resist gossiping about it. They believed my father had left us for another woman he met in New York; that he'd never return, and that we should just forget about him and move on. And eventually, we did, I did. It stopped bothering me."

She let out an audible sigh and added, "Yet, before I truly moved on, I felt a whirlwind of emotions: betrayal, heartbreak, anger, and loneliness. I resented myself for it. I knew my feelings were valid, but I felt like I was wallowing too much in self-pity. My mother even began treating me with a distant coldness. I'm not sure why, perhaps because I reminded her of him. That's why I decided to move out and start living the life I had always wanted."

When Jimhuesh heard her story, he found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't truly empathize with her, but he recognized the strength she must have had to endure such challenges. Listening was the most he could offer, and he was relieved when Senthie appreciated his presence.

The more time he spent with her, the stronger the connection between them grew. However, he couldn't allow himself to feel anything beyond that. Having deeper feelings for her was out of the question, and he knew he had to avoid falling for her. Thus, he began to distance himself. He stopped visiting her store and refrained from contacting her for a week, all while secretly hoping to see her name light up his phone screen. As more than a week passed without any contact from Senthie, frustration gnawed at him. Really? She can manage without contacting me? She's so cold. She didn't even bother to send me even a single text. Isn't she wondering why I haven't reached out to her?

"What's wrong? You've been staring at your phone for a while now. Are you expecting a call?" Rychie asked, his brows furrowing. They were in Jimhuesh's room, watching their favorite anime, One Piece.

Jimhuesh sighed heavily as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. He leaned back on the couch, torn about whether to confide in Rychie about Senthie. Eventually, he chose not to and simply replied, "It's just nothing."

However, he knew Jimhuesh too well, almost like he could read his thoughts. "You told me you don't have any feelings for Ms. Senthie, but I can see through that. Is she the reason for your restlessness?"

"Restlessness?" Jimhuesh scoffed. However, his voice softened as he confessed, "I think I'm falling for her." He shook his head. "Even worse, I might have already fallen for her."

Rychie began a slow, sarcastic round of applause, his poker face firmly intact. "Bravo! You've finally admitted it. I'm so proud of you, Jim! You're a big boy now!"

Jimhuesh made a face and playfully pushed Rychie, causing him to tumble off the couch.

He winced, groaned, and then burst into laughter as he regained his seat. "Seriously, Jim. I'm thrilled that you've found someone you have romantic feelings for."

Exhaling deeply, he said, "It's unexpected. Even though I know she claims she's incapable of falling in love, I still have these feelings for her. However, I don't think I'll pursue her. You know . . . she's not out of my league, yet she's somehow beyond anyone's reach. So, I won't chase after her, and I'll do my best to forget these feelings."

Rychie snorted and leaned back on the couch, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Jimhuesh could tell he was brewing something in his mind. Then, Rychie finally spoke up, "It won't be that easy, Jim. From what I'm seeing, it's clear you have strong feelings for her. It'll take time, and you might not be able to resist reaching out to her first. You'll miss her; you'll want to see her, hear her voice, and spend time with her. I mean . . . just earlier, you were hoping she'd contact you, weren't you?"

Jimhuesh nodded in reluctant agreement, prompting Rychie to chuckle and widen his eyes. "I have an idea! This could be fun!"

"What is it?"

He smirked. "Make her fall in love with you! I don't buy into the whole incapable of love thing, unless she's aromantic like me, which I think is not the case--"

"You're aromantic?"

Rychie chuckled as he nodded. "Yes, I am. So, now, let me finish first. As I was saying . . . in general, most people fall in love at some point in their lives. Ms. Senthie is not an exception. Even you, who didn't believe in love, have fallen for her. So, I think it's entirely possible for her too. Don't you agree?"

Jimhuesh nodded and smiled. "Now that you put it that way, it actually makes a lot of sense. It's not as impossible as it seems."

~

The very next morning, he reached out to Senthie, typing out a message. "How are you, Sensen? Can we meet tonight? I have something to say that can't be discussed over the phone. Please, agree. I'll pick you up at 9:30 in front of the mall."

It took a couple of hours, but he eventually received her reply, and she agreed to meet.

~

Senthie had asked the same question for the fourth time: "Where are we going?"

Curiosity was getting the best of her, but Jimhuesh remained resolute, his focus solely on the road. He was determined to surprise her, even though he knew she wasn't a fan of surprises. Yet, he figured it wouldn't be a big deal since it wasn't an extravagant affair.

He wore a knowing smile and shook his head. "I'm not revealing the destination, but I'm confident you'll enjoy it."

Upon their arrival, Senthie glanced at him with a hint of suspicion in her narrowed eyes. She giggled. "I think I know why you brought me here."

He responded with a smirk, raising his eyebrows. "I'm just keeping a promise."

Jimhuesh received a warm smile from her, signaling their entry into the 5-star hotel - the same place where they had dinner once with Jennifer. He was determined to uphold his promise; he couldn't bear the thought of breaking it, especially to someone like Senthie who detested dishonesty.

As they settled into their seats, Senthie agreed to order the same dishes they had enjoyed on their previous visit, including the delectable desserts: tiramisu ice cream and carrot cake with cream cheese.

The happiness on her face was evident, even touched. Jimhuesh felt a warmth in his heart, reassured that he had made the right decision by bringing her here.

"Thank you, Jim. I'm genuinely surprised you remembered such a small detail. I applaud your sharp memory," she expressed, her smile radiant as she elegantly unfolded the lotus napkin and placed it on her lap. He mirrored her actions, returning the smile with equal warmth.

She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad I chose to wear a dress today. Otherwise, I'd feel pretty embarrassed showing up underdressed." She giggled. "And I'd be quite upset with you because I hate being unprepared for anything."

Jimhuesh chuckled. "No worries. If that had happened, I'd buy you a dress."

Shortly after, their orders arrived, leaving only the desserts to come.

"That was quick," she remarked, surprised, as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

He offered a half-smile. "I figured you'd enjoy the same dishes we had last time, so I preordered. It's more efficient this way, and I know you're tired, so I want to get you home as soon as possible."

She nodded and reached for the knife and fork. "Then let's eat. You can tell me what you have to say afterwards."

The meal passed quickly, and before long, their desserts arrived. The comfortable silence from earlier had faded, replaced by Senthie's delight in discussing the desserts.

"So, you mentioned you had something to tell me. What is it?" she inquired after gently blotting her mouth with a napkin.

Jimhuesh drew in a deep breath. Only moments ago, he'd been perfectly composed, but as the crucial moment arrived, his heart pounded furiously, racing to an unsettling rhythm. His breath felt unsteady, and he guessed his heart rate had soared to well over 120 beats per minute. He couldn't recall ever being this nervous in his entire life, not during his student years, nor in his current role as the Vice President of GMC. Panic had never been his style, but now, it consumed him, rendering him speechless.

"Are you okay?" Senthie's concerned voice cut through the tension.

He inhaled deeply once more, closed his eyes briefly, and then blurted out, "I'm in love with you." As he exhaled and opened his eyes, a vivid blush spread across his face, and he could feel his cheeks and ears burning. When he looked at Senthie, her expression was unreadable.

"Hey, Sensen," he uttered, his tone calmer now. With the confession off his chest, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. "I'm in love with you, and I'm determined to make you feel the same way."

Finally, she replied, but her expression remained unchanged. "I've already told you that I will never fall in love. If you're serious about what you just said, then I advise you to stop it. That is for your sake."

Jimhuesh was too stunned to respond, rooted to his seat as she got up and walked away, vanishing from his sight.

~

Senthie hadn't anticipated Jimhuesh's confession. Even knowing her circumstances, he had still mustered the courage to utter those words. Was he playing with my emotions, or did he genuinely mean what he said?

She left him in stunned silence, heading straight home. She was taken aback. It was hard to believe; he claimed not to believe in love, and he knew she would never fall in love. Did any of it make sense?

However, Jimhuesh's nervous expression, and his words, I'm in love with you, continued to replay in her mind. Slowly, the corners of her lips twitched, forming a smile, and her heartbeat quickened. She found herself genuinely happy with what she had heard, though it triggered a sense of déjà vu. Some of her exes, including Kenzo, had confessed their feelings to her before, and the emotions she was experiencing now seemed familiar.

She shrugged off the thought, concluding that it was a normal reaction, no different from the past. She suspected that her current feelings would fade away - just like the waning interest of a person in an activity they initially liked.

~

Senthie took more than three days to reach a decision regarding Jimhuesh. She realized she couldn't avoid him indefinitely, especially when he seemed to be everywhere, his name also frequently appearing on her phone screen.

Just before the mall closed, she requested a meeting with him at a cafe near a bookstore.

"It appears you won't cease pestering me until I give you the answer you desire," she said, her tone tinged with exasperation. "So, I've decided to . . ." She sighed heavily. ". . . give you three chances. I mean, within three dates, try to make me fall in love with you. If you fail, my answer is no. Is that clear?"

Jimhuesh's eyes lit up like a dog being offered a treat. His smile stretched from ear to ear, and he chuckled. "That sounds familiar. Three dates it is! I'll make you fall for me, then I'll become your first love, right?"

She suddenly coughed as she sipped her milk tea, hastily covering her mouth with her hand. Her face turned a shade of red due to the continuous coughing, causing other customers to cast worried glances her way.

He swiftly handed her a tissue. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, gradually regaining her composure, and said, "I'm sorry, that was just . . . so sudden. I didn't expect it. But yes, if you succeed, you'll become my first love."

He chuckled, and she blushed in embarrassment.

Jimhuesh gazed at her for a moment, leaning slightly forward from his seat opposite her, and whispered, "We'll be each other's first love, Sensen." He then sat back upright. "A man who doesn't believe in love and a woman who claims she doesn't fall in love are destined to be together, a match made in heaven, indeed. Sounds familiar?"

Senthie's laughter bubbled forth, and her cheeks burned even brighter. She experienced a fluttering sensation in her stomach, her hands grew colder, and her heartbeat quickened. It was a familiar feeling, but one that hinted at the possibility of falling for Jimhuesh even though she knew it was nearly impossible for her.