(Alys Prov)
"Ha-ha-ha! You're really joking!" I held his hand and stuffed my mouth with food. "Eat now!" I said while eating whatever my hand could hold.
He shook his head and then stood back comfortably. How could he?! I'm super awkward here and you thought nothing happened!
I glared at him while finishing my food. Drake Palma really! Why is he so confident in himself? Not in an absurd way, actually. It's just that... he never felt insecure, for me. He knew what he had and he's just damn confident about it. Seriously, it's crazy!
I finished eating and he was still staring at me.
"Stop staring."
"Can't help it."
I rolled my eyes inwardly. What's so funny, Drake? Give it to me, I'm prepared!
He seemed to have studied my face. "You're really thin."
Ugh! He still wouldn't let go of that topic! Why is he more concerned about my weight than me?
"Why are you more concerned about me?"
"I'm concerned about everything about you. Your weight, your height, your dreams, your aspirations. Everything."
I stood up and walked away but he was still in my earshot. "You need not stress yourself, Drake. I'm big and I could handle my own mess."
He was there still sitting and looking at me. I was comfortable with him looking at me. It was like I was used to it. When we were in high school, he was really like that. I used to call his stares scary because he was really scary to look at; it was like you wanted to just sit on the floor with the intensity. But now? It was like home. Drake staring at me was part of my normality.
"I'm sure you could but I still want to. It's part of loving, Alys. When you love someone, you'd want to help her in every way possible, to make things easier for her. That's what loving is. Seeing what you could give and not looking for what you could receive."
And that was so profound, I just got to smile. The years did him good. Drake had always been mature but he was much better now.
"Fine, suit yourself," I said and then I left him and entered the cr.
As I was bathing myself, I couldn't help but wonder if he'd do as he said. Will he really take me back after all this mess? I still love him, that's for sure, but I don't know if I deserve all the love and attention I get from Drake. It was like it was all not meant for me. With everything I did to him, I didn't deserve any of his love, much more his devotion.
But who was I kidding? He's Drake. When he wants it, he wants it. And when he wants something so bad, he'll get it. There's no exception to the rule. He gets everything. He was just like that. It was like everything he wants were bound to be his.
When I left the room, everything was cleared. Drake? He was comfortably sleeping on the sofa. He was serious about sleeping there.
I smiled at the image of him sleeping and then tiptoed my way to him.
"Good night, Drake," I said as I kissed him good night.
"Good morning."
My eyes were still blinded from all the sleep so it took me seconds to adjust from the light.
"Morning," I mumbled as I stretched my body. "What is that?" I said as I saw a tray spread in front of me.
He handled me the utensils and poured orange juice on the glass. "Breakfast in bed."
I smiled at the gesture. "Just like a newlywed, ah," I commented.
"Take this as practice."
"Huh. Confident!" I said while enjoying my breakfast! Even though I know he just ordered it, I'm still happy. Gestures like these would never fail to make a girl smile. A timeless act, in fact.
He nodded. "You fell for me, and you'll fall for me. It's inevitable."
I shook my head while smiling. "I don't know about you, Palma."
I tried to concentrate on my food when Drake suddenly got up and then put a small box in front of me.
"What is that?" I said with my brow arching up. The box was small and looked antique. He looks like a jewerly box, actually.
He opened it in front of me and I was in awe with the beauty of the jewelry!
"Oh, my god!" I just said it.
Drake smirked at my reaction. He crossed his arms and then shook his head. "Girls and their jewelry."
I pouted at him. "Boys and their toys."
He shrugged. "These are all yours," he said and then he brought the box to me. I just stared. Was he for real?!
"Are you kidding me?!" I said, my face bewildered and excited at the same freaking time!
If he's just fooling me, I'll really shoot him!
He shook his head. "I never kid," he said and then he put the ring on me. He was smiling from ear to ear while he was doing that. Since when did little things start to please him?
"What's so funny?" I asked.
Staring at my finger, he said, "It feels nice holding your hand and talking to you. You feel like home."
I was blushing too hard at his compliment. He was never this vocal about his feelings for me. It was refreshing but it felt freaking good! Having him made me thankful for breathing and waking up everyday.
"Thank you," I said. It was a due gratitude. "But what is it for?" I said, pointing at the jewelry box.
"These," he said, holding the box wide open, "were my gifts. Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, monthly gifts, sorry gifts, I love you gifts, thank you gifts. I don't know; just gifts because I'm so damn happy you're in my life."
The statement was...Fudge. I grabbed him and kissed him.
"Damn you, Palma."
He smiled at me. "Yeah, damn me."
The days passed and before we knew it, our week here was coming to an end. I didn't want this week to end. It was like this was our escape from reality. The feeling was soothing and having him here made me believe that I made the right decision.
Tripp was right. I still love Drake. I always did. I will always do.
They're right. No matter what happened, when you love a person, nothing, eh. That's where you fall. It was like your destination was long decided. And in my case, Drake's my end game. I know it's not the end yet. We'll pass through many storms, we'll argue and fight, but I trust us enough to make things work. I know we'll handle it well enough because we trust and love each other.
He took my stuff. I called my Mom and demanded that our cars be fixed. True enough, when we woke up, our cars were okay. Good. He just happened to be asking for it.
"Let's go?"
He nodded and we left the suite. Damn all these memories inside this very room.
We drove using different cars since we both had them. Inside the car, I called Tripp first, asking him to meet me. I'll tell him that Drake and I are together. He asked for it. And I'm decent enough to inform him. That's what mature people do, confronting reality rather than running from it.
("When?") he asked.
I looked at the time. I could still make it. "This afternoon?"
("Alright.")
"Thank you, Tripp."
I heard him sighing on the other line. ("Alys?")
"What?"
("Stand by your decision. People are hurting already. That's right. It's the last time,") he said with such sadness.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, Tripp."
("Sorry in person, Perez. I think I deserve it.")
"Yeah. See you later, Tripp..." and then I ended the line.
Tripp was a part of my life. I told him, he was my best friend, soulmate even. But we can't be friends anymore. I just knew we can't.
While we were driving, Drake suddenly changed direction. I thought we were going to our house together? He was the one who insisted that I introduce him to my parents!
I decided to follow him from a distance. I don't know but something felt odd... and I don't like odd.
After a while, we arrived at a hospital. He was walking really fast and his mind was somewhere far away so he didn't even notice that I was following him. I wonder what he was thinking?
He was at the nurse station and he was looking really deranged. After he asked, he left immediately. He was in a big hurry.
"Who is he looking for?" I asked the nurse.
"Marie Fier Sandoval."
Fier?
"What's wrong with her?" I asked out of curiosity. Was she sick that's why Drake went to her?
"How are you and the patient?"
Ugh, even if Fier and I lied that we were friends, I couldn't do it. The thought was impossible.
I smiled at the nurse and followed Drake instead. He was walking fast, really fast, as if Fier was about to die and he was the last one she was looking for. The thought was silly but... what the hell. I could dream.
He stopped in front of a room. There, Cristine was crying and punching Drake's body.
"Drake..." she was repeating and repeating. "Drake, I'm sorry..." she said, now crying.
I don't know but I'm scared of what she'll say. I just got my happiness back... it was too early to ruin it.
I turned back and started to walk away. I don't care if they say I'm a coward. I just can't handle the truth now. Can I just be blind? Can I just be happy for a moment?
But it was impossible to be happy. I know that after happiness comes sadness. And this was it.
"Fier... is pregnant, Drake. You and Alys can't be together anymore... I'm so sorry, Drake..."