THREAD ONE: TRAGEDY

(1982)

IN THE DARK room, two people are hugging each other while sitting on the sofa where nothing else can be heard but their little sobs. Due to their status in life, two people are forced to separate by fate. Two people who started with oppression and belittlement. That despite their different worlds, sweet love prevailed in their hearts and minds. But nothing is permanent in this world. There are times when you must let go and sacrifice your happiness for the sake of others’ happiness.

The young man slightly distanced himself from the girl who was leaning on his shoulder and looked into the girl’s teary eyes under the bright moon.

“I love you,” the young man said passionately.

“Remember that no matter what happens, I will only love you,” he added when the young lady’s mouth was silent after he kissed her on the forehead.

The young lady’s lips trembled. “W-why do you sound like you’re about to abandon me?”

The young man remained silent.

She let go of his hug and looked at him with curiosity. “Didn’t we promise each other that we wouldn’t be separated no matter what happens? That we will face together all of our life’s challenges?”

The young man stroked her cheeks. “I know! And I will never forget it. But in this world, everything has a limit.”

The young lady shook her head. “No! I do not want! I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

“I-I know it hurts, but you have to accept the fact that we’re not meant to be. Don’t you notice that while we are happy, others are suffering?”

“I don’t give a damn about them! All I need is you!” she insisted, hugging the boy tightly.

With tears in his eyes, the young man returned her hug. They’ve been through a lot, especially him at the hands of her father. But, as he previously stated, everything in this world has a limit. That if he pursues the lady, her father will deport her, and he will never see her again. He would prefer that even if he is not with her, he can still see her from a distance.

Her father, a soldier, once told him that his daughter is already destined for his friend’s son, who’s also a soldier. When he found out about that, insecurities engulfed his entire system. He couldn’t help but look down on himself, despite the fact that the girl wasn't making him feel that way.

“Please, don’t say anything like that! Don’t abandon me; I love you! I love you so much!” the girl kept repeating.

The man exhaled. He loves the girl and God knows how much he wishes to fight for her. That’s why he gave himself one last chance to be with her.

“All right, I’m sorry! Stop sobbing. It’s just on my mind, but that doesn’t mean I’ll abandon you. I promise I will never leave your side,” he said even though he was deceiving himself as well.  

He became extremely vulnerable when it comes to her.

The door then spit out the lady’s father, who was enraged, forcing them to separate and get up from where they were sitting.

“What’s the meaning of this?” The general enragedly angry.

“D-dad?” In shock, the young lady hugged her boyfriend’s waist from the side.

“Let go of my daughter!” The General yelled as he yanked her away from the boy.

“Dad, please! Let us go! We love each other!”

The General fixed his gaze on her. “He’s just taking advantage of you! His a gold digger!”

“It isn’t true, Sir! I really love your daughter, I’m not interested on your wealth,” the boy explained.

The young lady confronts her father. “I love him, Dad! We love each other no matter what you say or do. Nobody can ever separate us! Nobody, not even you!”

The General pointed a finger at her. “You’d rather have that guy than me, huh?! He is not the right man for you! He cannot provide you with the life you deserve!”

“He is a responsible man! He changed my perspectives in life! And I’m happy with him! Please, Dad, let us go,” the girl begged.

“No! You choose! Me, your father or that jerk?” the General asked, pointing a finger at him.

But the girl’s response remained unchanged. “I’m sorry, Dad, but my answer still—” the girl couldn’t finish what she wanted to say when her father slapped her hard.

The boy immediately rose and knelt in front of the general. “It’s enough, Sir! Don’t hurt her, please! I’m begging you. I’m pleading for your forgiveness. D-don’t worry, I’m going to let her go.”

“What?! No!” the young lady objected angrily.

The girl’s face was filled of confusion and she asked her boyfriend when he did not response. “Don’t do this to me, please! You promise me,” she begged, sobbing.

But the boy remained silent.

At that time, the girl felt that her boyfriend had abandoned her, that everything he promised was untrue. That’s why she couldn’t think straight and grabbed the gun from his father’s gun belt beneath his shirt, surprising them.

She took a step back, pointing the gun at her right temple.

“Oh, God! Please, calm down! G-give that gun back to me,” the general begged.

She looked at her dad. “No! If you don’t agree to what I want. . . ” she turned to face her boyfriend. “And if you’re just going to abandon me, it’s better if I commit suicide!”

“No! Please, don’t! I’m begging you! Suicide is a henious crime. It is not the solution to this problem,” he said, trying to convince his girlfriend to calm down.

“Why? Do you think that walking away from me is the best solution to this problem?” The boy was taken aback by what she said.

“Don’t come near me!” she squealed when her father tried to approach her again.

“Please, daughter! I’m begging you! Give me that gun back,” the general pleaded, but the girl did not listen to him.

Despite what she had been through, she seemed tired. 

For the last time, she looked lovingly at her lover.

“I love you. I-I really love you,” the girl finally said as she pulled the trigger.

“No!” the men yelled at the same time.

The young man approached the lady first, who was already bleeding on the ground.

“P-please, wake up! Don’t leave me like this. . .” the boy pleaded as he tried to wake her up, knowing there was no hope.

“I’m sorry. . . I should have died because I didn’t keep my promise,” he cried as he hugged her.

He couldn't think straight after his eyes were drawn to the gun on the side. He quickly took it and placed it on his temple as well.

“I-I love you too, my love.”

After saying those words, he didn’t hesitate to take his own life too in front of his girlfriend. His mind was empty at that time, but to keep his promise. That nobody can separate them.