I’m a 23-year-old who had her first-ever boyfriend last year. Our relationship lasted 8 months, and we’ve been broken up for 10 months now. Despite all that time, there’s this strange feeling holding me back—hindi ko pa rin kayang i-delete ang mga pictures namin! I’ve always loved taking photos, and I tend to be sentimental about memories. Pero parang ang labo lang kasi I’m sure naka-move on na ako. I’ve deleted all our chats, decluttered the gifts he gave me, and yet, these photos feel like they’re glued to my gallery.

Sometimes I ask myself, “Naka-move on ka na ba talaga? Bakit di mo pa madelete ’yan?” It’s confusing because I don’t feel any longing for him anymore, just this stubborn hesitation about letting go of these images.

To be honest, I was happy during our relationship—pero kulang. I was always craving the love and attention I deserved, pero kahit bare minimum hindi niya maibigay. I broke up with him because I wasn’t getting the love I needed. Kahit ilang beses ko na siyang kinausap about my concerns, walang nangyari. So, goodbye it was

Now? I swear, I’ve moved on. Wala na talaga akong feelings for him—if anything, nakaka-ick na nga when I think about him. No contact whatsoever, except kapag nagkakasalubong kami through mutual friends.

Pero bakit ganon? What’s with these photos na parang ang bigat i-delete? Maybe it’s the sentimental part of me, or maybe it’s something else entirely. Either way, this lingering feeling leaves me wondering—what’s holding me back?