The Proposal (One Shot)

I woke up to the sound of my cellphone and with eyes half opened, I got my phone that resting on the bedside table and checked who called. It was Damon, my boyfriend.

It's 12AM for Pete's sake. I turned around and saw that he's not on the other side of the bed. He was right next to me when I I fell asleep. Where is he?

We bought a condo and decided to move in together on our second anniversary. It was a mutual decision. No one manipulated the other. I prepare his breakfast before he goes to work. He also never fails to surprise me with flowers every time he comes home. We are indeed in love like we can't keep our hands off each other.

My cellphone rang again, and I picked it up this time, "Where are you?"

He didn't say anything. He just chuckled. Damn, he still got it. Three years and I'm still turned on with the way he laughs. It all started from a single DM in Instagram to late night talks, to coffee dates, and now here we are.

He always updates me during the early stage of our relationship. He calls every morning just to ask if I slept soundly. He also loves to send me pictures of the best views he gets when he runs, prolly to loop me in his activity. He sends flowers on random days. He is the best boyfriend ever!

Did I also say I love his voice? Damn girl, he sends shiver down my spine every time he speaks. I can listen to him all day.

Falling in love with someone you only met through social media is bizarre, but it's the realest thing I ever felt.

"Babe? Are you there?" Damon asked. "I need you in the kitchen. Can you come here for a second?" He continued.

Damon loves to pull a prank on me so I was hesitant to do what he said, but ended up leaving the room anyway. Half-asleep, I walked out of the room barefooted. My phone is still on my left ear, listening to the sound of his breath. I didn't bother to switch the light on because a light from the moon shines through the window. Finally, I reached the kitchen.

"Okay, I'm here. Where are you?" I asked because I didn't see any sign of him. If this is another prank I swear I'm not going to talk to him for 24 hours.

He didn't answer my question, but told me to calm down and not to worry. I swear I'm gonna break up with him if this is another way of him pulling my leg.

"This is not funny, Damon. If you're pulling a prank on me again I swear to God I'm gonna-"

I wasn't able to finish what I was saying because someone grabbed me from behind and held me close. I struggled to get free from this person's arms until the person spoke.

"It's me. It's me, babe."

It was Damon. I turned to him, and punched his chest multiple times. He scared the hell out of me. I almost felt my heart was ready to jump out of my throat! He held my arms and hugged me to calm me down.

"I hate you! I fucking hate you right now!" I still tried to get free from his arms. The last thing I want right now is to be on the same space with him. I almost died of a heart attack. I don't want to see him right now.

The more I struggle, the more he held me closer so I gave up. I was tired and sleepy enough to fight it.

"I'm sorry, babe.." He cupped my cheeks and pressed his forehead unto mine, "I just wanted to surprise you. Happy Third Anniversary, babe."

I was dumbfounded.

He kissed me on the lips and hugged me again.

It didn't cross my mind that it's our anniversary. It didn't even cross my mind that we would last this long. It started with a simple hi and ended to this.

It's been three years and six whole months
Since I saw your face that night
It took five seconds to fall in love
And two more to make you mine

Now it's four in the morning, sunset and
Seven minutes with you and it's heaven
Ain't an hour that rolls by
I love you 24/7, 365

I never thought that I would love this much and be loved by this person equally. How could a relationship that started online had come to this? I thought our relationship will just remain an online relationship. He's from the North and I'm from South. He's popular and I'm the girl who was never noticed. Boys at school never looked at me, until he found me.

Give you my name, if you wanted to
Key to my heart if you want it too
And I hope and pray that you'll stay right here
'Til we're old and gray in our last few

I remember the first time we met after a year of long distance relationship. I didn't sleep the whole night by the thought of finally seeing him in flesh for the first time after 365 days of exchanging text messages and phone calls. I was excited for the next day because finally, I would see him, hold him, kiss him and God knows what else. I felt like I missed him even before I met him.

"Babe.." he whispered.

"Hmm?" I responded while leaning on his chest.

"Thank you for putting up with me."

"It's nothing." I craned my neck to see him, "I love you, that's why."

He kissed my forehead as a response, "I just felt like I don't deserve your love."

My eyebrows furrowed, questioning him. He doesn't reek of alcohol, but his words are of a drunk person. What is he up to?

I was about to say something when he rested his forefinger on my lips to interject.

"Just.. let me finish."

I chuckled, "Okay, drama king."

"I just realized that you are nothing, but good to me. God, you are so good that I keep on questioning myself what have I done to deserve you?"

My eyes started to well up.

"I am one lucky bastard to have a girl like you." He cupped my cheeks, and looked at me straight in the eyes, "I love you so much, Micaela Emm Sandoval."

I laughed in between tears and told him that I love him too.

He kissed me and stepped an inch away from me. He got something in his pocket, a red velvet casket. He opened it and a ring flashed before my eyes.

I cupped my mouth in dismay. I could not believe what I am seeing. It's an engagement ring. With my teary eyes, I looked back up at him.

"Babe.." he trailed off, "will you marry me?"

The tears that I have been holding started to fall. My heart is so full I could not contain it. It was ineffable.

Then I said no.

It was not the answer that he was expecting. His eyes started to well up, and bit his lip out of humiliation, "O- okay.." he said.

He stepped backward, and turned his back on me to walk away. I ran into him, and hugged him from behind. He tried to let go of my arms, but I held him closer.

"You were there when I needed someone to talk to. You were just a phone call away and everything seemed better. You woke up at 4:00 in the morning just to call me when I was an intern so I could not be late. You did that everyday and I am grateful for that, always. We were miles away from each other but you were with me since day one."

".. you always see to it that I see my worth. You always lift me up whenever I am down. You make me laugh whenever you can. You never left me when you saw my insecurities, and for that I am forever thankful so no, I will NOT JUST MARRY YOU."

"..I will be by your side always. Even if I see the best of the world, I will still choose you. I will always go back to you. It's always gonna be you."

-END-