BITTER (SWEET) CHOCOLATE LOVE

BITTER (SWEET) CHOCOLATE LOVE(Asqarini) By : Asqarini

“His score has got to be “9” Tall, white, sweet, cool, kind and smart” Arun declared the type of perfect future boyfriend. “He should be cool and romantic!” and now her cheek was blushing.

“Agreed!!!...” her two friends Esti and Vany answered Arun’s statement.
After eating fast food in a Mall Restaurant, Arun, Esti and Vany finally decided to go home. Many teenagers think the Mall is the perfect place to freshen up, hang out, browsing new clothes, and watch movies at theaters.

“Everything must be done together!” That is their motto. But today at home, Arun felt less enthusiastic, because it’s empty. Her Parents were out of town, and then left her with her cousin Tia. Unfortunately, Tia also went to Campus doing some activities.

***

"Vendra is a sweetheart, a school basketball captain! So kind, likes to drive me home from school with his motorcycle, but only until the front junction, to avoid Mom". That story and the rest of others is what Arun usually told her cousin. Being the most popular girl at school has been her greatest dream ever since she was a little girl.

"Sometimes Mom is too strict!", Arun whined at her 7 years older cousin. Arun thinks she is a big girl now! feels annoyed by her Mother’s rules. “No dating before you graduate from senior High” loudly her Mom told her.

"Oh…Come on Arun, perhaps you are the one who still acts like a little girl? No wonder your Mom treated you like one? She just wants to protect you” Tia replied.

"How can it become a way to protect me? It’s odd, I think when people love each other, they will make each other happy, but I am not,” she protested.

“Hmm, so… you too… now are dating?” Tia asked about her relationship with Vendra.
"Well… Umm.. well..." answered Arun.

Tia left, with her curiosity.

***

The next day.

"So, what do you think I should wear? The red or the green one?" Puzzled, deciding which color to choose. The day before Arun went to a Beauty Salon for skin treatment, as what Vendra asked her, and as usual Vany and Esti came along. She borrowed Tia’s money but lied again with the reason the money was used for her school project.

“Okay just use the light green, you have the same color bandana,” Tia impatiently gave her cousin a fashion tip. “Wait… wait…what is the big fuss?" Where are you going exactly? Tia asked her cousin several times. She could not understood the bizarre behavior her cousin made today.

“Err….Umm...” Arun answered doubtingly. “Err…actually I want to watch movies with….hmm….with Esti and Vany“ answered Arun. Though the truth was a date with Vendra in theaters.

Before, they have a meal together, but the conversation went awkward which caused Arun to lose her appetite. “Hm… I think you are better using the blue ribbon, instead of the green” said Vendra.

“Really? But I think this green is cute too, you know?" answered Arun.

“No it’s not, blue is better, you should wear the blue one, like I told you before” said Vendra, and Ouh, Arun your skin looks weird, you didn’t go for treatment?” Vendra shows it clearly that He didn’t like it.

“I did, I just had skin treatment” answered Arun, disappointed with Vendra’s comment.

“OMG! You look not good today, I don’t like it. I want you to look perfect in front of everybody.”

Arun went speechless…

***

A few days later at the school cafe.
Arun wept badly, and Esti was already there. Vany who came a bit late, roughly mixed with the fresh news spread over at school.

"What? You mean you broke up with him?!" asked both of them curiously.

“Yes”, explained Arun. “Vendra is seeing another girl”. Arun wept loud.

"I'm ashamed…, How can I, The popular girl, bei dumped by a mediocre schoolboy? after all the things He forced me to be, and all that I changed for him? Arun went hysterical.

The two friends can not do much, they can only express sympathy.

***

It's more like a nightmare for Arun, which made her tell the story to Tia, and also make an apology to her directly.

“Everything went tumbling down and chaotic”. The look of disappointment and upset was on her face. "Bummer!!!? How could He do such things to me?" said Arun with a high tone.

Tia, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, "There… there…. girl.” stop crying and eat this brownie of mine”. Tia said.

"How come you really like chocolate anyway?" Arun asked curiously.

"You know, 'love is like chocolate'. If you've had too much love, the long bitter taste ends after a sweet first bite."

Arun listened seriously.

"Yes, like … sweets can also cause teeth damages. Eating a chocolate with style……you must do it bit by bit, little by little. That’s why I like to keep it in the fridgerator! Guess you like to eat it too, right?" accused Tia pointing directly to her cousin’s nose.

Arun shocked in a gasp, and giggled a bit. She knew her cousin’s outspoken character.

“Hehe… sorry, those chocolates are hard to resist" Arun replied spontaneously.

“But Why did He do that?“ Said Arun. “I always try to be kind to everyone. I should’ve listened to what Mom said” regrets Arun.

***

Arun learned the lesson the hard way. She knew there are so much better ways to give love to others, specially Her Parents, loveable Dad, and a caring Mother. All the words Tia mentioned, were true. Eating chocolate is like tasting a sweet love. But such an emotional and shallow love to a person, has a tendency of being disappointing! Mostly ends bitter.

“I am just tired with Drama!”

“I should have set my affection respectably by giving my pure love for others. Learned more from my witty cousin, and my faithful friends, Esti and Vany. Now I've learned that a brokenhearted episode won’t make the world stop spinning. Compassion to others is priceless. Be more grateful to God towards what He has given. I shall keep fighting to love myself, not letting others control my life, be more determined, and let God do the rest."

***


Between 2007-2009