Before We Fell Apart [Before Trilogy #2]

prologue

If you lose the person who once was your home, where do you go?

That was the question I've been ignoring for the longest time. I denied to seek the answers. I didn't want to accept the pain so I did everything to avoid it. But once the distractions and priorities were gone, I was forced to face everything I've kept buried within me. All this time, I've been wandering all alone. 

I was lost since the day I lost my home. 

Everything had changed since the day I lost him.

I stared at my coffee, watching the foam create circles above the liquid. The cup seemed more amusing to me than the situation I was in. I focused my attention on everything except on the person who I refused to look at. 

I heard the faint drumming of fingers on the table. My lips curved upwards at the act. He always did as a nervous habit. It was refreshing to see him still act the same after all these years. 

I guess some things never change. 

But aside from that, I barely recognized the man sitting across from me. He was different, far from the boy I once knew back in high school. He was more mature, more quiet, like he had build up a barrier up so high that I can't reach. He was always easy to read back then. But now? I never knew what was going on in his mind. 

Who would've thought that once upon a time, I fell madly in love with the stranger in front of me?

Five years. Everything we fought so hard for, everything we went through, all the days of love and happiness suddenly went to waste. All of it was gone and forgotten like history. 

All because he gave up. I gave up. We both... gave up. 

Napagod kami at nahirapan hanggang sa isang araw, sumuko nalang kami. 

Hindi siya kumapit sa mga panahon na kinailangan ko siya. Hinayaan niya ako bumagsak at masira kahit pinangako niya na hahawakan niya ako hanggang sa dulo. Kung kailan kinailangan ko ng taong magmamahal sa'kin, dun niya pa ako iniwan. 

I guess that's the consequence of believing in people who keep making false promises. 

And here we were, years later in the same situation. Him, I, cups of coffee on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The difference? Eight years have passed since the day we let go. 

He was not the same and so was I. 

I just recognized him as a stranger that I once loved with all of my heart.

Pain changed us both. We were new people who were far from who we once were. We didn't know each other. At least not anymore. 

I couldn't help myself and gave in to the urge of looking at him. I felt my breath hitch when I was met by his intense stare. His eyes were the same: magnetic, hypnotizing, genuine. Those were the same eyes I fell madly for. It still made my heart beat miles in my chest. 

A small smile broke out on his lips. "You still act the same after all these years. You still look so alarmed when I look into your eyes." 

"You caught me off guard," I let out a small laugh. "I can say the same for you. You still drum your fingers on the table when your nervous." 

"You were so annoyed by it back then," he chuckled. 

"Nung una siguro, oo," I admitted with a grin. "But I grew fond of it. It was one of the many things I loved about you before." 

His smile slowly faded as it was replaced with a somber expression. Just like that, I couldn't read him again. My mind was clouded with all sorts of questions. Did I do something wrong? Did I say something to upset him?