Life After the Loss

7

Luke was fast asleep but Darlyne is still awake. At long last, she now owns the heart of her man.

They have been through a lot before this, and she's glad to reminisce those times.

...

The young Darlyne had been simple. She was a ''stay on a corner'' type of a girl. She was friendly, but was too shy then.

Unexpectedly, during her college years, her childhood friend, Luke, courted her. ''What sorcery, Luke! Why are you courting me?''

''Because I love you. I really do.''

''Of course, you do. We've been friends since we're kids.''

''No. I mean, more than that, I love you..errr...romantically.''

She's not the first girl Luke courted. He had a couple of girlfriends before he courted her.

''Why me? I'm just a simple girl. I wear jeans and a tee, I don't even put make-up, nor comb my hair that often.''

''Why you? Because you are yourself and you bring out my inner self. I can be me when I'm with you. I don't have to always put on my best foot forward. I can never fake my attitude when I'm with you. You listen to me.. Comfort me, make me laugh, defend me... Countless reasons, Darlyne. I've got lots of explainable and unexplainable reasons... Please? Let me court you please?''

''You're being funny, y'know. Now shut the crap and get back to reality.''

''I'm serious Darlyne.''

''Then I guess you'd have to prove that everyday?''

''Even if you will not tell me to, I will.'' he held her hands, ''thanks for the opportunity.'' and kissed her on the cheek and ran away. ''How dare you steal a kiss!!'' and she ran after him.

...

(Darlyne's POV)

He courted for a long time. Well, it's short but longer than the others. Well, I admit I'm in love with him, but he had to prove himself worthy of my yes.

We were in our third year in college. I am taking up Accountancy and he, Biology. We study in different schools then.

He's persistent. He always has time for me, to greet me good morning and goodnight, to ask me if I have eaten, and even to bug me about our relationship. It's always the same story. I told myself, I would say yes after another month. And I trust in my words.

I'm now counting days. I have five days left, five days of a single life. After five days, I'll finally engage into a commitment. Hmmm. But as the ''day'' comes nearer, I noticed something different. I don't know if he is just that busy or what, but he seemed to have lost interest in courting me. I told my friends about it and they advised me to say yes now because it could be possible that he has found another. Threatened, I asked him to see me after class.

''Luke, am I being unfair to you?''

''Unfair? I don't understand you.''

''I mean, is it just okay with you...uhmm....waiting this long just for my yes?''

He was silent for a while. ''Well, it would be justifiable, considering that women in our country are conservative... But in a way, it's good. So both of us can check on our feelings.''

I don't know what else to say. He spoke of it differently, and maybe, my friends are right.

''uh... Luke Andrew... From this day forward... I will be your girl.''

Luke was shocked. But he's more of afraid-shocked than happy-shocked.

''You.... Girlfriend...'' he smiled... Bitterly. Oh why Luke?