Evanesce

Prologue

Savouring the slightly cold November breeze on the balcony of their hotel suite, Al was reading the first ever book he recommended to his first ever friend back in the city, All The Bright Places. Sitting on the floor in front of him was Reese — with her head tilted and was leaning on Al's left thigh. She thought it was comfortable.

"Hey, Al?" she called out softly and glanced at him, afraid her annoying voice might disturb his peaceful reading.

The lad finished the current paragraph he was reading first then replied, "Hmm?" His eyes were still on the words written on the page of the book but they both know his attention was on her now.

Maraming tanong ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Reese sa tuwing tahimik ang kapaligiran kaya naman ay palagi siyang nagtatanong ng weird na questions kay Al at nasanay naman na rito ang binata. "You trust me, right..?" panimula ni Reese. "Did it ever occur to you that I might murder you in your sleep? Or like.. right now?"

Al sighed, amused. Hinarang niya ang hawak na libro sa mukha para matago ang ngiti kahit 'di naman talaga kita ng dalaga. "Yes, Reese. I trust you and no."

Her forehead creased in confusion then asked, "Why the fuck not?" She slapped her forehead before he could. Ayaw ni Al ng pagmumura. "Sorry, I meant duck."

"Because you love me too much."

"I do not!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes."

"No!" Reese pinched Al's thigh.

"No."

"Yes!"

"See? You love me," he said then turned to the next page of his book just after he peeked to see her huff in annoyance, getting ready for the next question.

"Is it still murder if I give them a warning of some sort?" she asked.

"Reese, that would be called a threat."

"Huh, that's disappointing," sabi ni Reese habang ini-stretch ang kanyang paa. She asked a ton more questions and Al patiently answered them all, still with his nose stuck in the book he's reading.

"If I were a color, what color would I be?"

Al answered in a heartbeat because he definitely knows what color she is, "Yellow."

Tinitigan ni Reese ang kasama niyang lalaki bago nagtanong, "What is one thing you refuse to share with others?" Natigilan si Al sa pagbabasa pero hindi pa rin niya tinitignan si Reese. "My time."

"Huh? But we're always together." She was confused because of his answers.

He cleared his dry throat because of embarrassment, hid his whole tomato face with his book. "I meant my time with you, Hermione. Our 11:11's." 

"Hmm," she hummed in response. It was Reese's goal to make Al look at her with a question and so she did. "Alistair, did you ever think about leaving me?" The question came out of her mouth so smoothly that it seemed like she practiced it for a long time.

Napaisip si Al, slowly closing the book and then he studied Reese na nakaupo na pala sa harap niya. Was her question serious or does she have something up her sleeve? He never really got her.

And so, he answered the question safely, "I'm a student of BS Psychology and I never understood you and your questions, Reese."

She smiled at his response. Pinatong niya ang ulo niya sa niyayakap niyang tuhod niya, "Did you?" He hated her face right now. It was the face she makes when she doesn't want him to know her current emotions.

Al finally placed the book on the table beside him, placed his elbows on his knees and meeting Reese's stare at eye level, he said, "I never did." He stood up and walked towards the door leading back to their suite. "But I might," he whispered to himself but Reese heard it and it stung a bit but still smiled.

"Okay," she replied to Al softly, making him turn around with a confused face. Reese responded with a pleasant expression on her face and a small genuine smile saying as if she's okay with him leaving her. That's all he needed.

"Okay."