June 1993 - first year high school. He was sitting behind me. "Excuse me, pahiram ng pamaypay." I was frowning at him, but lent him my fan nonetheless. Classes started, months passed, school year after school year came.

I got to know this guy, Marx, and I really learned to hate him. Aside from keeping the fan I lent him, he was a real pain. He talked too much, didn't pay attention, and bullied my crushes. And he always got a pinch, a punch, and a slap from me in return. I don't understand it, but he seemed to enjoy being hit. My golly, this guy was pathetic! But don't get me wrong, he did excel in class. I never really got past him in the honor roll. I just don't understand why he kept pestering me.

October 1995 - third year high school. I had my first boyfriend. Of course, Marx was at it again, telling everyone that I broke his heart.

Whaaat?

Well, I just ignored him, he was never serious anyway. But everyone in the class has been telling me that he had his eye on me since first year.

"Matagal nang in-love yan sa 'yo, di mo ba napapansin?"

Deep inside, I believed them. I believed him. But I wanted proof. I wanted him to tell me. But he never had the courage. I brushed it off, convinced that he was just joking.

Graduation day came, and we were off to college.

April 1998 - summer. I didn't take summer classes. I was too excited to go home. Marx came to visit, and he was much more serious than before. We went out, talked about life and stuff.

"May sasabihin ako sa 'yo bago ka umalis."

He looked too serious, and I already had the feeling that he was going to tell me his feelings. At long last!

Before I left, he gave me a fancy ring with a birthstone-cross on it. "Sa susunod, diamond na to ha!", I teased. He just smiled and said nothing.

He sent me a letter a few weeks after I went back to school. Finally he found the courage to tell me his feelings for me. He wrote frequently, told me he loved me and all. I believed him. I loved him back. I wrote him a letter, telling him I loved him too, that I was willing to have a long-distance relationship. I even attached the lyrics of a love song for him. I was happy.

A month has passed and I didn't get a reply from him. On the fifth week, I received a letter.

"I was wondering if your letters has reached foreign shores?" Then he went on, told me about this girl he liked, the "admirers" he had in school.

He's doing it again. He's making me look like a fool.

Obviously he never received my "letter of revelation". And he's running off with some girl. Okay then, I'll let him have his way. I vowed to forget my feelings for him.

I did. At least I thought I did.

April 2004. "Bababa kami ng Baguio. Pwede ba kita dalawin?" I texted back, "Okay, just text me, sunduin kita

". I led him to my apartment, our classmates waiting inside. They were teasing us, as usual. We went out, chatted the night away. My classmates went home at one in the morning, leaving Marx and I alone in my apartment.

"You know", I started. "You didn't receive one of my letters". Then I told him about the lost "letter of revelation".

Silence.

He just stared at me, his eyes piercing through my heart. I still love him. In a few minutes, his arms were around me, and we kissed blissfully. "Ok na sana, kaso may sabit ka na."

He just met my boyfriend earlier.

So, this unfinished business, how are we going to settle it?