Jimmy's Crush

EPILOGUE

Little? No, it's not little… it's too much. I feel I don't deserve it. I think it was a joke. Furthermore, I felt like I was dreaming. If that's the case, could someone please wake me up from this---

“Jim, Jim”

“Sh*t that dream again!” I cursed to myself when I realized I was dreaming of Reagan again.

Ever since we lived here in America, I have always dreamed of getting married to Reagan.

I woke up when I heard Sam's voice. It was her, waking me up. I roved my eyes around, and I realized I was in my room. My room is a bit messy. I stretched my arms while yawning. I take a few moments to examine myself in the mirror.

“Did you curse me this early morning, Jimmy? Don't try me, I didn't wake up well this morning!”

“No, I'm sorry. I was just having a freaking dream. Why are you here this early?” I said while yawning and decided to transfer to my bed and let my back rest on it.

I fell asleep making a wedding gown for the Hollywood actress who's going to get married here in America. Until now, I have never known or even seen her groom. Because the bride told me that I would only meet him once I finished making the gown. This actress became my friend too, but we weren't that close. Just an acquaintance. I need to finish this gown in a month. And thereafter, fashion week will be the next things I need to focus on.

“Look at your face, Jim! Your hair is so gross, so oily! Don't tell me you forgot to take a bath?” Sam scoffed at me.

“Yeah, just finished sketching the gown, so when she needs a sketch I have something to show.” I said to Sam, while yawning.

“Jim, why don't you eat first? You need to take care of yourself first. Look at yourself. You look like the stressed wife of a billionaire. How could you face Reagan with that face? It's like you just proven him that you weren't meant for each other!” frustrated, Sam said to me, then jumped to sit on the side of my bed.

"Reagan, hearing his name this morning was ruining my entire day! That man is going to marry someone's heart! You need to step up, girl!" Sam said, frustratedly.

What did she say? Marry? Who? Reagan?

My closed eyes widened as soon as I heard the word wedding and Reagan’s name.

“Yes! Reagan is getting married. And you're invited; they will just send us the invitation card next week.” Sam frowned, then sighed loudly.

“No way!”

“Yes, way! Are you deaf, sis? Your first love is getting married! Take it? Oh, maybe you want me to translate it, so you can understand it better.”

Wow! Just wow! I can't believe it. I have been dreaming about it for years and here it is. It is already coming true. Reagan is getting married, and I'm invited. Why?

“Oh, really? O-Okay. Who's the lucky girl?” I asked out of nowhere.

I got up from my bed, and went to my vanity table. I saw my face, and it's true. Furthermore, I can't explain how I look right now. It looks like rotting garbage.

I started to comb my hair and went to my restroom. I wash my face, and start applying my skin care routine.

My mind is not settled. I just woke up. My brain didn't seem to accept what I heard, so that's how I reacted.

“What, oh, are you really there? Aren't you going to do anything? I haven't known or seen his bride yet. I just happened to see his i********: post, announcing he's getting married. I even congratulates him, even if it's against to my will!” frustrated, Sam said, as she followed me into my restroom.

“Hello! Why are you asking me that? Shouldn't you be the one to answer that?”

“Hello there too! That's why I'm asking you because I don't have anything to answer. Maybe you? You'll be the first to answer.” I once washed my face with water.

“Look at this witch! Don't ask me back! Answer it, hurry up!”

“What the heck? I don't have anything to answer those questions of yours, my dear friend!” I frowned, then brushed my teeth.

“Really? Nothing really? So, meaning, you've already moved on?”

I just smiled at her while still brushing my teeth.

“Jim! Really?” Sam's question sounded good to me.

I shrugged in response to her while there were smiles on my lips, then finally finished brushing before leaving the bathroom.

“Yes, I am.” I smiled in response to her.

“Since when?”

“Since I dream about Reagan marrying me,”

“Oh my gosh! You're dreaming of that too?”

“Yes, since I've been here in America. At first, I was happy, but later I got annoyed because it always disturbed my deep sleep!”

“Omg, Jimmy! I'm so proud of you, baby! You've made it girl!”

“Hello? I've been moving on for a long time. You're the only ones who are really numb to see that!”

“I'm sorry. We thought you were just pretending! Who knows?”

“Hello? I dreamed Reagan earlier when you woke me up recently.”

“Oh my gosh! Is this a coincidence?”

“Yeah, I think so. At first, I thought I was just missing him, but later I got really annoyed because I always lacked sleep.”

“So, what does the bride, Reagan, look like in your dream?”

“Well, he proposed to me.” shrugged my shoulders in response.

“What? For real? The opposite of what happened today?”

“Yup. And I rejected his proposal.”

“Wow! Wow! Wow! You were extremely fortunate to avoid experiencing heartbreak again. So now that you are invited, will you come?”

“Yup. Why not?”

“Oh, such a brave girl! Let's go shopping! I will make you pretty, witch!” said Sam, then pulled me back into my bathroom and left me there.

“Take a shower, witch! Brushing your teeth and washing your face are not enough to make you beautiful!” said Sam before finally coming out of the bathroom.

“Yeah! You're so excited than me?”

“Yeah, of course, the rest of the squad should know about this good news, ciao!”

I was just shaken, and then I just took a shower. Yes, I was crazy in love with him. Yes, I was this crazy ugly girl who used to confess to nice guys. Yes, I fantasize about him being my husband. But that's all. It ends there. Just a dream. A dream that won't come true. A dream that was just a dream. It came true, but that dream won't apply to me. It's for someone else. He won't be mine at first. And he won't be. He belongs to someone else. That was my puppy love. He was my first love, and he won't be my forever. It sucks, but that's reality. Most often, it happens in life. My forever belongs to someone else, and that's not Reagan.

On Saturday morning, I was waiting for Aika, the bride, in the coffee shop. She wants to see the actual sketch in person. I already sent it to her email, but she insists on it. She would like to see it in person. She is my friend, but she is still my client. Everything she touches is delicate, and she wants it to be perfect. Nothing should go wrong.

“Hi, I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I ended my last shoot late for this series. So, I'd better finish it first so that I can just think about the wedding and honeymoon,” said Aika, drinking my coffee at the same time.

“What the heck? How much sugar did you put in your coffee, Jim? So sweet, it's not healthy!” she complained after drinking my coffee.

“Five?”

“What? Seriously? That's suicide!”

“Chill, okay? You're not going to die, are you? Here!” I said as I showed her my sketch pad.

“Oh my gosh! This is really gorgeous, Jim! Thank you! I love you so much. But could you adjust a bit the upper part?”

“Oh, where?”

“There. Raise that chest part a little. My husband is so conservative about it.”

“Oh, okay. It's like he is the woman in your relationship, ah? He's more conservative than you.” I smiled and told her I took my sketch pad and made the adjustment, she said.

“Yeah, right? But I loved him anyway. So, I respect him very well.” Aika answered me with a feeling.

“When will I meet him? It's as if you're not going to get married. Aren't you getting along with him in your other walks of life, like this?” I asked her while drawing on the sketch pad.

“You'll meet him soon. Well, I can be with him in everything but except here.”

I would have answered her when fans approached her to take a picture and get her autograph.

“Thank you,” she said to her fans with a smile.

“I'm sorry about that,” she said. I just smiled at her.

I was about to talk when suddenly a waiter asked for her order. She said what she wanted to order.

“No sugar please” was her last word to the waiter.

“Copy ma'am Aika”

“I'm sorry about that. So, where are we?”

“Why won't he come with you here?” I asked her to take a sip of my coffee.

“Ah, he said he knew you. He wanted to surprise you. I badly want to say his name, but I won't destroy his plan for you. I'm excited when the day comes!” she said while plastering a smile to her lips.

“Oh, really? Did I know him? I didn't know about that, ah!” I awkwardly said to her before continuing to sketch.

“Yeah, according to him, you two are friends. That's all I can say. Don't ask any questions about it, I won't give you a spoiler!” frowned Aika said.

“Here's your order, ma'am Aika.”

“Thanks!”

“Are you done? Let me see”

“Yup,”

“Oh my gosh! This is it! It's perfect already, Jim. Thank you! I love you so much!” she said happily, then gave me a flying kiss.

“Well, I am Jimmy!”

“And you're the best!”

“So, how much is this? Friendly price, please,” she said while holding my hands.

“Well, I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. I won't give a friendly price when it comes to business,” I smiled to her, causing her to let go my hands.

“Yeah, I know. You already said that to all your friends,” she said.

I smiled, “Then, why did you ask?”

“Well, I'm just hoping that you will let your guard down,” she said sullenly, then sipped her coffee.

“Well, business is business.”

She was about to say anything to me when her phone rang.

“Yes, love?”

“Oh, you were there already?”

“Okay, okay, I'll be there.” she said one after another, then put down the cellphone.

“I'm sorry, Jim. My husband is outside; we're going to have breakfast. You want to come with us?”

“Hell no! I would rather not be your third wheel!” I frowned and told her.

“Okay, okay! So bitter! Don't worry, I'll find you a good guy! Byee!” she said, and left me.

I ended the whole day shopping for the clothes and other necessities for Aika's wedding gown.

One month had passed since I finished making the entire gown—every bead, every careful stitch, every fold of silk that responded to my hands the way clay responds to a sculptor. I spent countless nights hunched over my worktable, guided only by the soft glow of my desk lamp and the steady rhythm of my sewing machine.

Being a designer wasn’t just a job to me—it was my sanctuary, the one place where my mind stayed quiet and my heart stayed full. And now, after all that effort, today was the fitting day. The bride was already here, standing on the platform, fitting her wedding gown for the final time before her big day.

I watched her from afar, my hands folded in front of me, my heart swelling with something tender and bittersweet. She was stunning—radiant in a way that only women in love could be. Her long dark hair cascaded softly down her back, and the glow on her cheeks spoke louder than any words she could say.

She looked… fulfilled. As if life had placed her exactly where she was meant to be. I knew, just by looking at her, that she was going to be a wonderful wife and an even more wonderful mother someday. And her husband—well, her husband was lucky. Extremely lucky.

“Jim!” Aika’s voice cut through the room, warm and musical. I looked up to see her waving at me with a wide smile, her eyes glistening with a hint of tears. Joyful tears. Emotional tears. Beautiful tears that made her glow even more.

I couldn’t help but return her smile. I hurried toward her and promptly wrapped her in a hug. We weren’t best friends, not in the traditional sense. We started merely as acquaintances—clients, to be specific. But over time, through late-night fittings, fabric discussions, and swapping stories while I pinned her hem, we turned into friends. Quietly, naturally, beautifully.

“Congratulations, Ai! You deserve this! Your husband is so lucky to have you!” I whispered between our embrace.

She chuckled, her voice shaky. “Thanks, Jim. No… I’m lucky with him,” she said, her words trembling with sincerity.

Then she pulled me in for another hug, this one tighter, softer, as if she was about to say something she was unsure about. And then she whispered, “You will meet him today.”

“Who?” I asked, confused.

“Him,” she said, and slowly pulled away.

Before I could ask again, Aika shifted her focus behind me. She sucked in a breath, her eyes shining. I turned around—and my world, for a moment, tilted.

There he was.

A man dressed in a crisp white long-sleeved polo, tucked neatly into dark blue slacks. He wore eyeglasses that made him look calm and mature, the kind of man who carried quiet confidence. His hair was trimmed into a subtle faded cut, fresh and neat. And when his eyes met mine—they were painfully familiar.

“Hi, how are you, Jim?” he said.

I froze.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. My body betrayed me.

And so, Aika stepped forward and filled the silence.

“Jim, this is Reagan. Your friend. And I’m finally introducing you to my husband.”

My breath snagged in my throat. Friend. Husband. Reagan. The words spun around, slow but heavy. I didn’t cry—but a strange pull twisted inside my chest. Surprise. Disbelief. And somehow… happiness.

Because I didn’t know. I didn’t know that her husband was *him*.

Yes, Aika was lucky to have this man. And yes, this man was lucky to have her. They were made for each other—the kind of pair stories were built on. And I knew, deep in my heart, that their love would last.

“Hi… what’s up?” I managed to say once my voice finally returned.

“I’m good. I’m getting married, as you can see!” he laughed lightly. He smiled at me—God, the same smile I remembered from years ago. And just like that, I felt something warm pour into my chest. Familiar. Unfamiliar. Both.

Aika moved to stand beside him, and my smile faltered for a split second. But I quickly recovered, not wanting to cast any awkward air between us.

“Yeah, I see. Congratulations to the both of you.”

He smiled—first at me, then at Aika. He didn’t say anything. But Aika, always quick to read a room, chuckled.

“What kind of awkwardness is this? You two should talk. I’ll excuse myself then.” She leaned in and gave her fiancé a quick kiss.

“I’ll follow you later, love,” he replied softly.

“Take your time, love,” she said, patting my shoulder before walking away.

Reagan turned back to me. “Hi… how are you?” he asked again once Aika was out of sight.

“I’m good. I was doing what I liked. As you can rem—” I stopped. And then I laughed softly. He didn’t remember anything about me except that, once upon a time, I had liked him in silence. He didn’t know the details. The small stories. The little pieces of me.

And that was okay.

“Do you have a boyfriend? Oh, I’m sure you have!” he said, grinning as he lightly nudged my arm. “You look stunning. I’m certain men are after you.”

“Nope,” I said, lifting my chin with mock pride. “I’m married.”

His smile dropped. Just a little.

His posture changed too—his once-relaxed shoulders tensed, and the sparkle in his eyes shifted into something I couldn’t label. Surprise? Disbelief? Something else? I couldn’t tell.

But I didn’t clarify.

“I’m married,” I repeated politely. And I watched him attempt to make sense of that.

“Oh… really? Aika didn’t mention it,” he replied.

Before he could say more, Aika called from across the room. “Love! Our parents are in the lobby!”

“O-Oh, yeah! Coming, love!” he answered.

Then he turned to me again. “I’m sorry, Jim. We need to see our parents. See you at the wedding.”

He didn’t wait for my reply. But it was fine. More than fine.

Because the truth was—years ago, I had let go of him. My feelings for him, once overwhelming, had faded gracefully, the way sunsets give way to night. I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t bitter. I wasn’t even sad.

I simply… remembered.

And when I told him I was married—well, I was. Just not to a person. But to my passion. To my craft. To the work that gave me purpose and happiness and sleepless nights that still felt worth it.

Maybe he understood that. Maybe he didn’t. But either way, it didn’t matter.

Reagan was my first love.

But my forever?

My forever was my passion.

And that, I realized, was also love—raw, endless, infinite.