I am using the following code to split a string and retrieve them:
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
Handles Button1.Click
It is not clear from your question, but if you want only the first word in your array of strings then no need to loop over it
Dim firstWord = parts(0)
Console.WriteLine(firstWord) ' Should print `a` from your text sample
' or simply
Console.WriteLine(parts(0))
' and the second word is
Console.WriteLine(parts(1)) ' prints `bc`