Jose was an ordinary man who finished high school. He worked hard to move up in life and landed a job at a supermarket near his home. He started as a cashier and eventually became an office assistant. As his rank rose, so did his salary. It was there that he met Tessa, a young woman who lived in a city far from his. As they worked together, Tessa gradually fell for Jose. Jose, however, was indifferent to romance at first because he was focused on achieving a better life. Tessa had many suitors, but she ignored them all because Jose was the only one she wanted.
Tessa found ways to get his attention, like joining him every day for lunch. Eventually, Jose began to notice her. Before he knew it, he developed an interest in Tessa. Days and months passed, and Tessa confessed her love. Jose didn’t know what to do at first, but he eventually decided to love her back. They spent happy days together—their first love, first kiss, and first dates. They were in love every minute and hour of their working day.
But the day Jose feared arrived: he was promoted and given more responsibilities. He became a goods receiver, office assistant, and supervisor all at once. Because of the heavy workload, he got caught in an unexpected situation. A small amount of money went missing from the office. Jose didn't take it, but he was the one assigned to guard it while the bosses were out. When the bosses returned, he was blamed. He was imprisoned for theft.
His parents came to find out what happened, and his mother sought help from a local official to clear his name. Inside the cell, Jose met Rommel, a young man charged with murder. Rommel claimed it was self-defense against someone he was drinking with, but the other man had a powerful "backer"—his brother was a policeman. Rommel was sentenced to life imprisonment because he had no money for a legal defense. Jose feared he would also be imprisoned for life despite his innocence. He cried, losing all hope and self-confidence.
Jose's parents didn’t give up. They went to his workplace and saw Tessa, who asked why Jose hadn't been coming to work. When she learned the truth, Jose's parents managed to negotiate with the boss to drop the charges. The boss agreed, but only if they paid back the missing money—not just the amount from that day, but all the money missing since Jose started working, even though he wasn't responsible. The boss assumed Jose had been taking money all along.
Tessa’s love for Jose began to fade after that incident. However, she still helped him get back on his feet, trying to make him happy and giving him love even though she herself was no longer happy. Jose eventually found a night job at a donut factory. Despite the difficulty, he endured it just to have a job. He told his co-workers he would endure anything for Tessa.
As days passed, Jose noticed Tessa distancing herself. Thinking he wasn't spending enough time with her because she worked days and he worked nights, he resigned from his job. Tessa didn't say how she felt; instead, she took a day off for one last date. Jose was thrilled and even borrowed money just for that day. They had a wonderful time, and every place they visited—even a simple bench or a jeepney terminal—became a precious memory for him. By evening, Jose noticed Tessa was sad. She was quiet, and when her parents arrived to pick her up, her last words were: "I wish the sun wouldn't rise; I wish time would stop." Jose took the words positively, not realizing their weight.
The next day, Tessa ghosted him. She stopped showing up at their usual meeting spot. Jose waited, but she never came. Finally, he saw her one night. Tessa confessed she no longer loved him. She said the "old Jose"—the one full of energy, the striver who never gave up and did everything to succeed—was gone. She hated that he resigned from his job. Her final words were: "I loved you once, and it was real. Don't ever think I wasn't happy with you." Then, she left.
Jose went home with a heavy heart. He cried all night, feeling a sharp pain in his chest. He attempted suicide but did not succeed. The pain was so great that he could only watch Tessa from afar. When they crossed paths, she wouldn't even look at him.
Months passed, and a friend encouraged him to go to college. Though he felt he was too old and might fail, he took the entrance exam. Out of ten friends, only Jose passed. He moved forward with his life despite the grief, focusing entirely on his studies. Having no money, he became a working student—working by day and studying by night.
Years later, he met Alecia at work. At first, he ignored her, but Alecia saw something special in him. She tried to get his attention, but Jose was too busy. Eventually, they met at their boss's birthday party. They became close—like siblings at first—but Alecia was secretly falling for him.
Eventually, Alecia confessed. Jose was confused because he still loved Tessa. However, after hearing a rumor that Tessa had married and had a child, he decided to give his love to Alecia. They were happy together, going on dates and going to work together. They even met each other's parents.
One day, Tessa suddenly reached out to Jose. He was shocked, thinking she was happy with her life. They talked and caught up, but Tessa avoided talking about her personal life until she finally broke down. She confessed she wasn't happy with her partner, Joms, and they never had children. Tessa confessed she still loved Jose. Jose didn't know what to say; in his heart, Tessa was still his first love. They began seeing each other again.
Alecia found out and gave Jose an ultimatum: choose between them. Jose was torn and wept, caught between his first love and his current partner. In the end, he chose Tessa, the woman who first made his heart beat. But as he gave Alecia one last hug, all their memories came rushing back. He felt that familiar pain in his chest again, wanting to tell Alecia not to leave. He was left in total confusion, wondering if he had made the right choice.
This is a classic "Heart vs. Logic" dilemma. If you look at it through the lens of loyalty and growth, Jose’s decision is very debatable.
Why it might be "Wrong":
Why it might be "Right" (to him):
The Verdict: In my opinion, Jose made a choice based on nostalgia rather than stability. Tessa fell in love with his potential, but Alecia fell in love with his person. Choosing the person who abandoned you during your darkest hour over the person who stood by you is a risky move. He chose his past over his future.
What do you think? Is "first love" worth the pain of hurting someone who actually stayed?
From the Author: