Since You Were Gone [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER ONE

|Gabrielle|

' Thank you Bryce. You never failed to make me happy.' I said with a smile on my face and handed me a boquet of roses.

' I will always make you smile Elle. Yan ang lagi mong tatandaan 'cause I love you. Happy anniversary love.'

' Happy anniversary and I  love you too love.'

" Elle! Mukha na akong ewan dito oy!"

I was pulled out from my reverie when I noticed that my friend's face was already crumpled and her eyebrows furrowed.

" Sorry. What is it?" I asked with a tone of guilt for not hearing what she said.

Napailing naman si Kyrie at bakas ang inis sa kanyang mukha.

She rolled her eyes until the white part of her eyeballs can only be seen for a second " Tss. Nevermind. Just stop reminiscing the memories with your boyfri-- I mean ex-boyfriend."

I turned my gaze down to my white chunky shoes as I slowly scratched the back of my head.

I don't know. It's been one year since we parted but I can't still forget the moments that I had with him. Para siyang isang malaking kabute na sulpot ng sulpot sa isip ko.

My memories with him are still vivid just like how I see my reflection on a new bought mirror.

I slowly lifted my head and gave Kyrie a bitter smile.

Alam niya na ang ibig sabihin non. She let a  heavy sigh because of the frustration that she's having from this complicated situation of mine.

" Move on na besh. Isa pa may Toff ka na. Ano nalang iisipin non kapag nalaman nyang lagi mo pa ring inaaalala yang ex mo."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako sa sinabi niya.

Oo, may boyfriend naman na ako ngayon pero iba siguro 'pag first love no? Yung kahit anong gawin mo babalik at babalik ka sa una mo. Lalo na kung napakataas mg nairecord niyang standard sayo.

Napatingin ako sa phone ko nang maramdaman kong nagvavibrate ito.

I took out my phone from the right pocket of my jeans and answered it.

" Beb. Malapit na ko. Just stay there okay. I love you." Panimula niya sa kabilang linya.

" Sure. I love you too beb." sagot ko at saka ibinalik ang cellphone sa bulsa ko.

" O una na rin ako Elle ha. Baka dumating na rin naman boyfriend mo. Tandaan mo yung paalala ko."

" Yeah yeah. Whatever."
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"Where are we goin'?" I asked confusedly. Akala ko kasi ihahatid nya lang ako pauwi sa amin pero napansin kong hindi papunta sa bahay ang ruta ng sasakyan nya.

" Basta. Just relax beb." sagot niya habang abot tenga ang mga ngiti kahit hindi siya nakatingin sa mukha ko.

Isang oras kaming nagbyahe bago kami makarating sa kung saan nya ako dinala. I was about to went off from the car but he suddenly blindfolded me.

" Hey. What are you doing?" tanong ko without any idea. Ano nanaman kayang pakulo ng boyfriend ko?

"Just wait. " simpleng sagot nya at saka ako inilalayan pababa. Naglakad pa kami ng mga ilang hakbang bago kami tumigil sa kung saan.

" Happy 1st anniversary beb." He said as he removed my blindfold.

Tumambad sa akin ang isang tent na may bilog na mesa sa gitna. It is full of beaming lights. May mga petals din na nakakalat dito —i-it's beautiful.

' Nagustuhan mo ba love?'

Napayakap ako kay Bryce at nagsimulang mangilid ang aking mga luha dahil sa sobrnag tuwa. He really knows what I love.

He managed to prepare a set like this just to surprise me. Nasa isang beach kami at may table na may mga kandila sa paligid nito.

The atmosphere is indeed romantic but it became more satisfying because I'm with the person who I really love the most.

' The best ka talaga love.' Sagot ko while I am still wrapped in his arms.

" Beb?"

" S-sorry. It's beautiful. H-happy 1st anniversary"

Sagot ko nang mapansin kong nakatingin lang sa akin ang boyfriend ko.

First anniversary nga pala namin pero nakalimutan ko naman.

" Nagustuhan mo ba?" tanong nya sakin at saka hinawakan ang kamay ko para paupuin ako.

I tried to flash a smile for me to hide the guilt and shame that I have right now. Hindi ba't dapat mas maalalahanin ang mga babae pagdating sa mga ganito.

" Yes. Nag-abala ka pa beb"

His face slowly changed into a sad one which made my guilt increased.

" I mean y-you don't need to surprise me like this beb." Bawi ko sa nauna kong sinabi.

He let a heavy sigh before answering. " I guess , nakalimutan mo"

" Geez. S-so---"

I was just about to finish my sentence when he cuts me off." No. It's okay. I know you're busy sa papalapit na midterms. Let's eat." He uttered and still managed to smile in front of me.

Napansin kong tahimik lang siya habang kumakain kami which is very unusual for him. Pag may mga dates kami siya yung mas makwento pa kaysa sakin.

Hays. Kasalanan ko to.

Our eyes met when I grabbed his hands. Mukha naman siyang nagtaka sa ginawa ko.

" Toff. I-Im really sorry. Promise babawi ako. Thank you for your effort tonight. I love you." His mood was back to usual. Yung Toff na hindi nalulungkot. Yung laging positive at masaya lang.

" I love you too Elle." And I smiled.

Mahal ko naman si Toff kaya nga naiinis ako sa sarili ko everytime na maaalala ko yung mga nangyari sa amin ni Bryce. I feel guilty everytime that I recalled our moments 'cause I know that I should already move on and focus in the present but I just can't.

Lalo na't may pagkakahawig sila ng ex-boyfriend ko.
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