I've been staring into space for the past few minutes or so. My attempts to distract myself are useless. My sister dropped the bomb today:

She and her boyfriend of one year and 364 days broke up. Yes, 364 days. Their 2nd anniversary is tomorrow. What a day to decide a break up. But more than that, before their two year relationship, they had something going on for two to three years. They were in a way committed to each other though it wasn't formal yet. He courted her when she was in 2nd year highschool, he was in 3rd year highschool. Now, he's in senior year of college, she in junior year. Yep, practically 5 years of being together. So you can say that aside from being her first boyfriend, he was her first love. They've been through so much together and I could tell that he really loved her.

But I guess she knew it was coming. My parents asked her to stay home today since we had no helpers. She told them she had to do something. Asked what, she replied, I have to talk to _________. With this statement, my parents also had an inkling. They asked me to try to talk to her and find out what's going on. My sister was never really the talking type. She confided everything in her journal. She never voiced out her feelings, always supressing and just taking the blows in. For this, my parents were always worried about her.

When I woke up this morning, I asked her what's the deal. I was surprised that she didn't deny that there was nothing wrong. She just said that she and her boyfriend haven't been seeing each other for so long, the time frame was just too much. Naturally, I thought, since both of them were into so much extra curricular activities at school. My dad later on asked me if they were breaking up. I was confident in saying that they weren't. After all, it was their anniversary tomorrow.

But I was wrong. When she got home, the first thing I asked was if they celebrated their anniversary tonight. She said no. Tomorrow then? No. Why? We broke up. I make a joke about choosing a more appropriate date for breaking up. She laughed. I asked if there was another person involved. None. Who broke up with whom? Was it a mutual decision? It was mutual. Was she okay? Yes. I joked that he still has my Forrest Gump DVD. She laughs and says it's not like they're not talking to each other anymore. They're still friends and they were even joking around awhile ago. I asked her if she cried when he dropped her off. Again, she stated that they've decided to be friends. I told her that she may feel okay now but the fact (of breaking up) hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, sometime next week, she'll realize it. And she'll start questioning and would want some answers and eventually she'll get mad and depressed. At this point of the conversation, she was getting ready to log on her laptop. I joked that now she has to change her civil status in her Friendster profile from "In a Relationship" to "Single." She laughed. I left it at that.

Yet, I was so affected. I texted her boyfriend and told him that I knew what happened and I was surprised and sad at the same time and that I didn't see it coming. He was such a great boyfriend to her and that we'll miss having him around. He was almost part of our family. We would even take him to our family outings. He was a good conversationalist and he had a great sense of humor. Because of my sister, he became more responsible with his studies to the point that he beat her to the dean's list! His parents loved her for the change she evoked in him. They made such a good couple. I thought that though they were young, they had it made. In fact, I couldn't picture my sister being with anyone else!

When my mom got home tonight, I told her. Immediately, tears sprung in her eyes. I told her what happened with difficulty as I tried to supress the lump in my throat from getting any bigger and my tears from spilling. My mom said that maybe they were just drifting apart. They were outgrowing each other. After all, they're still young. He hasn't visited us for awhile too.

I guess the reason why I was so affected is because, aside from my reasons stated above (see 2 paragraphs up), I know it would be so difficult to get over a person you've been with for almost five years. A person who has been your bestfriend, your partner in crime, your date. It would be quite a drastic change actually. No more good morning SMS to start your day. No sweet goodnights to end your night. No one to hug you when you can't watch a scary movie scene. No one to hold your hand when you're afraid. Don't get me wrong, my sister is one tough chick and I know she can handle it. All I'm saying is, it's gonna be hard.

In my entire lifetime, I've had two boyfriends. Three, counting my high school obsession, but he didn't know he was my boyfriend (hahaha!!!) My relationship with my first boyfriend lasted a year and a month. The day we broke up, I cried my heart out but the very next day, I was smiling already and I never looked back. I got over him just like that. Maybe it's because we never really had chemistry to begin with. I got into the relationship thinking that he has changed his ways (based on stories (not rumors) I'd hear about him and his previous relationships from mutual friends). Apparently, he hasn't. So when we broke up, I was glad.. no, relieved.. to get out of it.

So what's my point? My point now is that yes, getting out of any relationship is hard but when you've got something so beautiful for so long, it makes it even tougher.