Before Series #1 : Before Midnight

Prologue

Prologue

"Babe," Tawag sakin ni Sylas habang inaayos ko pa ang mga gamit ko. Sabi ko ngang teka lang pero minamadali pa din ako. "Faster, baka malate tayo sa reservation natin sa resto." Nagmadali na lang ako at kinuha ang gamit ko at inirapan muna siya bago lumabas ng kwarto.

"Are you not gonna talk to me Alli?" Sylas said while driving. This is just one of the many things I hate about him. Siya yung mag-se-set ng time ng pagkikita namin pero siya yung hindi sumusunod. Inaagahan niya pa, tulad kanina sabi niya 7 pm niya ko susunduin pero nasa bahay na siya ng 6:30 at minadali pa ko. Then he will make me think na ang bagal-bagal ko kumilos. So annoying!

"You annoyed me. You said 'I'll be there 7 pm sharp' tapos nasa bahay ka na ng 6:30, minamadali mo pa ko." I said, giving him a glare even though he can't see me. That's how annoyed I am. Hinawakan niya bigla ang kamay ko at pilit ko yun tinatanggal pero sino ba naman ako kalabanin ang isang 'to. Ang lakas-lakas.

"Sorry na nga e. Ayoko lang malate tayo alam mo naman kalaban ko sa daan ang traffic diba? Sorry na babe." He said while giving me his 'pacute' smile. Ang mature talaga Sylas Perez! Alam niyang isang ngiti lang sakin patatawarin ko na siya. Oo ganyan ko kamahal itong tukmol na 'to at oo ganyan siya kagwapo para hindi ko matiis.

"Fine! I forgive you. But please next time babe, be true to your words. Pag sinabi mong 7 pm, 7 pm okay?" I said giving him a smile now. Tumango naman siya agad at pinisil ang pisngi ko. That's how we fight, actually it's not yet a fight. Ganyan lang talaga kami, iisipin siguro ng iba ang babaw ng mga kinaiinisan namin but they don't have to deal with it naman so I don't care less anymore about them.

Today's our third anniversary, yes three years. I can't believe we last that long. I've been in love with this guy since highschool but I never did anything about it because he's my friend plus may girlfriend siya dati at ayoko naman manira ng relationship kahit sobrang bitch ng girlfriend niya sakin dahil napaka-OA magselos hinayaan ko pa din kasi kaibigan ko si Sylas. But now, we're together and he's actually my first boyfriend, pero ako second niya but it's fine, as long as ako lang mahal niya.

He reserved us a dinner in a fancy restaurant in Makati. And we're just right in time sa reservation namin napa-aga lang ng 20 minutes. See, hindi naman kami malalate kahit 7 pm niya ko sunduin e. Napaka-punctual lang talaga ni Sylas. Hinatid na muna kami sa waiting room dahil inaayos pa daw yung table namin kaya dun na muna kami dumiretso.

"Happy third anniversary babe." He greeted me with a smile and a peck on my cheeks. I smiled at his gesture and greet him too plus a peck on his lips. Nagulat naman siya sa ginawa ko which made me laugh at his reaction. He's cute when he's surprised.

"Marunong ka na magnakaw ng halik Allison Sloane ha?" Sabi niya nang maka-recover na siya sa ginawa ko kanina. I just winked at him and smirked. Well, binabalik ko lang sa kanya ang mga ginawa niya sakin dati. He used to kiss me in any random places whether in public or private, makanakaw lang siya ng halik sakin. It's now my time to do it and see his reaction.

After a long wait, tinawag na kami ng receptionist at inassist na sa table namin. Nag-order na din kami agad dahil onti na lang ata makakaramdam na ko ng pagkukulo ng sikmura. Nang maka-alis na sa harap namin ang waiter ay agad kinuha ni Sylas ang kamay ko at hinawakan.

"I have a gift for you." He said getting his gift in his suit's pocket. We've been together for three years now and we really don't buy gifts for each other unless it's someone's birthday or anniversary namin kaya this day is extra special for me kasi bukod sa birthday ay ito pa ang araw na pwede ko siyang bigyan ng regalo.

"Here." Abot niya sakin ng isang black velvet box and I have so many guesses in my head already. I looked at him waiting him to open it and my eyes suddenly filled by tears when I saw a knot ring inside of it.

"Sylas," I called but no words came out from my mouth due to the fact that I'm really surprised by his gift. "I... I'm surprised." I said letting out a short laugh. He quickly grab my left hand and put the ring in my ring finger.

"I can't marry you yet so I'm just giving you a promise ring for now. This is a sign of my love for you Allison Sloane and I promise that I will be faithful to you for a lifetime that we will be spending together. I love you my love." He said and I saw how tears fall from his eyes. I quickly touch his face and wipe the tears off his cheeks and give him a warm smile.

"There are still no words coming out from my mouth plus I just have one thing that I really need to tell you and that is I love you. I can't imagine my life without you in it anymore so I also promise you that I will be as faithful as you and cherish this lifetime with you." I said trying not to cry. He gets off his chair and go near me so that he can give me hug. I hug him back and caressed his back before letting go. Just the right time for our dinner to get serve.

We eat quietly until we finished our dinner. Minadali ko na din siya lumabas dahil excited na kong ibigay ang regalo ko.

"Bakit ba tayo nagmamadali babe?" Tanong niya habang hila-hila ko siya sa kamay. Hindi na lang ako sumagot dahil malalaman din naman niya ang dahilan kung bakit. Onting takbo pa ay nakarating na din kami agad sa sasakyan niya. Ayaw kasi ni Sylas ang nagpapa-valet dahil ayaw niya daw na may stranger na pumapasok sa sasakyan niya kaya kinailangan pa talaga namin lakarin ang parking.

"Faster babe, open it na." I said almost shouting when I gave him my gift. Hinuhulaan pa kasi niya kahit obvious naman na yung laman. Tinignan ko siya ng masama kasi alam kong pinipikon na niya ko at agad din naman siyang natakot sa tingin ko kaya nagmadali na siyang buksan ang regalo ko. Natawa na lang ako sa reaksyon niya nang makita ko kung paano nanlaki ang mata niya. I bought him a Nintendo switch, I know this isn't as romantic as the knot ring pero alam kong kating-kati na siyang bumili nito pinipigilan ko lang kasi gusto ko ako ang bibili para sa kanya. And now he have it already.

"Oh shit! Babe! Kaya pala ayaw mong bumili ako and this is why. Thank you babe!" He said and give me a tight hug. Yun na ata ang pinaka-mahigpit na yakap niya sakin. Basta pagdating talaga sa mga laro niya, sobrang saya niya. "I... I can't wait to use this in Europe." He's still hugging me when he said that. I quickly got off his hug and face him straight.

"What... what did you just say?" I asked getting confuse now.

"I'm going to Europe babe. For my job." He answered turning his gaze from me. Parang huminto bigla yung oras pagka-rinig ko ng sinabi niya. Ano yung sa knot ring? Ano yung mga sinabi niya kanina? Is it really a sign of love or a sign of leaving me here?

"And you're just telling me this now?" I asked starting to get mad at him now.

"Sa graduation ko pa sana sasabihin babe. May three months pa naman ako after graduation bago ako umalis." I didn't know what to say or even react on that. Ang nasa isip ko lang ay yung paulit-ulit na sinabi niya kanina sa loob ng restaurant. "Are... are you okay with it Alli?" He asked when he noticed that I've been silent for awhile.

"No... yeah. I mean I'm okay with it of course. We're talking about your future here and I can't be not okay with it. Alam mo namang susuportahan kita sa lahat ng gusto mo." That's partly a lie. I can't let him go just like that. But he said, may three months pa siyang mag-s-stay dito. I might as well get that chance to make him change his mind.

Not only I can't see myself having a long distance relationship with him but also I can't just let him go. I love Sylas so much and I can't imagine losing him from me.

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