A Piece of Forever

Chapter 7: Fire Back

Today's our 17th month anniversary. Sweet! ----

----- not. How could it be when it's a disaster like this?

0 text messages, 0 phone calls, I didn't see him for over a week and I haven't got any call from him. I'm starting to panic here. This man will drive me crazy.

What had happened? Everything was fine after our 16th month anniversary, or so I thought...

After our date, he started to drift away. He became distant. For a few weeks, the time we spent together diminished ad soon faded. He won't answer my calls, he won't reply on my txt messages. He won't pick me up to take me to a date or tour in some beautiful places like what we usually do.

Did he found someone new? Did he got sick or worse? Or... he's not in love with me any more/ was this a sign for me to back off? Oh my... I didn't expect this. I had fallen madly in love with him, hard. I had to clear things up. I'm going to t...

Ring... Ugh, back off cell phone, I'm not in the mood to answer any calls!

Ring... ugh.

I didn't even bother to see the caller i.d. and just pushed the answer button.

"Hello?!" it came as a shout than a polite answer.

"Trisha..." Rio's voice sounded sad on the other line.

"Rio! You called! I'm worried sick! What have you been up to?! I missed you..." I babbled on and on. He called! But why don't I feel relieved? What's t...

"Come here in our beach, I have to tell you something..." then he hung up just like that.

Wait! Now? as in now? Its already eight in the evening. Oh well, if it is for Rio I think its okay. But my heart keeps shouting disturbing thoughts in my head. I don't know, but something tells me that this talk won't be good.

I hurried down the stairs, glad that I'm still all dressed up for the formal dinner with my mom just an hour ago.

"Mom, I'm going to Rio's, I'll be back later!" I shouted knowing that she would hear me. I grabbed my purse and started my way towards the beach to see my angel.

---

Finally, after weeks of not seeing my angel, he's right there, staring at the dark sea, his back facing me. He's wearing sweater and sweatpants, not his usual style.

I noticed that the sky has no stars tonight, the horizon was pitch black. The moon was hidden behind dark heavy clouds. Seems like its going to rain any time this night. The ocean waves are fierce, violent. The view looks so dead and scary, but it didn't care, my angel was there, standing so still like a Greek statue. I've decide to surprise him.

Kicking my heels off and letting my purse fall from my hands, I sneaked-ran to hug him from behind. When I finally reached him, I mean almost, before I got the chance to wrap my arms around him, he said my name deadly and I stopped in my tracks.

"Trisha?" then he spun around to face me. That's when I saw him clearly.

He has dark bags under his eyes, eyes that look so dull, there's no sparkle in them unlike before. His red lips look so pale. His good body built crumpled, he's skinnier than before. He looks so weak. Is he sick?

"Rio, oh my! What happened to you?! Are you sick?" I stuttered as I scanned him with my frantic eyes. I touched his cheeks, it's clammy.

"Rio? Are you..."