(Alys Prov)
My eyes blinked three times. I had no reaction but I was flushed... internally at that. The fact that the afternoon wind was blowing against me added to the blissful effect.
"H-ha?" I just had to repeat what he said. I felt like I was deaf for a moment.
He was still looking down and both hands were still in his pocket. I noticed that he had lost weight. Is he so stressed out about me? No, I'm assuming if I think about it. Maybe it was Fier's doing. Last time I saw her with Drake. Maybe she was the reason Drake was stressed out.
He looked at me then. This was the Drake I knew, the one with no insecurities, no second thoughts. What you see is what you get. When he loves you, he will say it. That's why it took us months before I heard him say he loved me. But isn't that more okay? Love should take time, not the sudden one. Love built on foundation is meant to pass through storm.
"Can we?" he asked again.
Before I even knew that the words escaped my mouth, I said, "okay."
And then, he offered his hand to me and we walked hand in hand.
We were quiet, no one even bothered talking. Maybe because we hadn't been together for a long time. It's been years, right? After all, Drake's just some fond high school memory. How long have we been together? 2 years? How long have we not talked? 4 years. The hate was longer than the fun. But that's how it really is. There are people who are exceptions to the rules. No time, no combination. Once they made their mark on your life, they will be permanently etched. No matter how bad they are, no matter how bad they do things, still, when they come back, you'll still accept them, eh.
"So..." I said. The silence was suffocating. I can't take it anymore. I'd rather suffer in awkward conversation than to live in deafening silence. "How was life?"
"Boring."
"Huh? Why?"
He looked at me and smiled a little. "You're not here."
Maybe if I had been drinking something, I would have choked. God, Drake Palma! There wasn't even a warning .
"W-what?"
He, then, chuckled. Damn you, Palma!
"Nothing," he said and then he started walking again. Since he was holding my hand, he pulled me. I almost fell over again but since I was holding onto him, I just fell into his arm. Damn, he must be working out.
Why am I thinking like this? Shh!
"Where are we going?" I asked him.
He shrugged. He didn't say anything again. He was still really quiet.
"I'm hungry..." I uttered. I haven't eaten since I left our house. It's almost dark. Maybe we should have dinner. Is there anything to eat here or what?
He stopped and looked at me. "Let's go on a date."
"HA?"
And that was it. I couldn't help but scream. He really knew how to surprise me! I thought after all these years, that TDPW would be gone! It's still there!
He smiled, just a little. "I wasn't able to ask you formally before so... yeah. Will you go on a date with me?"
how is it? Before going here, I made it my resolve that I would choose Tripp. But being with Drake like this? I don't know how to say no. It was because there's something about Drake that I can't avoid. He's like a magnet. And I was damn attracted.
"But--" I tried reasoning.
"Tonight and the next days will be me living my dream, Alys. After that, you can go back to your reality."
"How about your reality?"
He smiled again. "My reality sucks."
"Why? Cristine is there..." And Fier.
He cocked his head sideways. It turned out he was wearing a piercing. Why? he used to say that things like that were bad. Time could really change people and their beliefs.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean nothing! Nevermind."
I started walking but he suddenly grabbed my arm. "Don't make me say this."
"Ha?"
What the hell! All I could say was 'ha'! Where did my other vocabulary go?!
He sighed and closed his eyes. After a few seconds and after my heart stopped beating momentarily, he looked at me. "My reality sucks because I can't have you. So will you shut up and let me indulge myself just for this week?"
I didn't know but I suddenly spoke. "Tripp."
Two words but it could change everything. I really did care about Tripp. Unlike what he believed in, he was my priority. I think about him before I make decisions, most of the time.
"Just one week."
"Wouldn't it be selfish?" I asked.
He took a deep breath and looked at the orange sky. "I've been selfless most on my life. Now, I'd like to be selfish," he said and then turned his gaze at me. "Let's go?"
I said nothing more. This was Drake talking to me. And he was practically begging. Who am I to not do what he asked?
"Drake! Drake!" I tried to sound as perky as possible. Was I this high pitched in high school?
Drake arched his eyebrow. He must have been annoyed by the high pitch of my voice. I guess I was too!
"What?"
I smiled at him and held his hand. "I'll be your fairy godmother." I stood up and strategically waved my hand up and down. "Let's go back to the year 2013. Boom! We're in high school!" I said and then closed my eyes for a bit and then opened it. Upon seeing him, I smiled. "Drakey baby!"
He smiled. God, he smiled! Not a small and timid smile. He freaking smiled!
"Noob."
I bit my lip and smiled at him. "Meanie."
He messed my hair and intertwined our hand.
"Date?"
I nodded, a little too enthusiastically at that. "Free, huh!"
A few steps later, we found ourselves lost. Who told us to just walk around in the void?
"Hala! We're lost!"
The matured me would have panicked by now but since I was Alys before, I put my whole trust in Drake. He wouldn't let me go.
"Shit."
I heard Drake curse. Hala! What happened there?
I quickly went to him and saw a broken twig on his feet, his toe was still bleeding a little.
"What happened?"
"Stupid twig."
There was blood! Lots of blood! Ugh I'm sick!
I ran away from his wound and sickened. Sheez! I really don't like seeing blood. Before in Paris, my partner cut me with a knife and I don't know how strong he was to cut so he almost took off his finger. After that, I feel dizzy and nauseous when I see blood. Disgusting. Disgusting. Ugh.
After pacifying myself, I went back. Drake? He's serious again.
"Are you okay?" I asked him, avoiding the blood.
He nodded. He stood up and started walking away.
"Hey!" I said, then I chased after him. He was still walking a little but he was fast. He was almost running. What's wrong with him?
"Drake!" I shouted.
He didn't hear me, or rather he didn't stop even after hearing me.
I stopped on my tracks.
"Drake."
My voice was cold. I don't like this. Why is he avoiding me again? Did I think it was a truce? Ceasefire?
He stopped but he didn't face me.
"What the hell is your problem again? We were just fine a while ago!" I couldn't help but shout. He's maddening and frustrating! He still didn't speak so I grabbed some sand and threw it at him. "What! Aren't you going to answer?!"
Before my very eyes, he was already in front of me and he grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Are you pregnant?"
"What?!"
His stare was icy and scary. After asking me that dumbing question, he turned his back on me. What the hell?! He's going to ask me that question and then turn his back on me?! Is he crazy?!
"Drake Sebastian Jimenez Palma!"
"What?" He answered, tired.
"What if I'm pregnant?"
"Don't ask me questions you're not prepared for the answer."
It was like I was challenging the devil. The thrill was enveloping my very soul. It was like playing with fire. You knew it was dangerous but you still wanted it.
I cocked my head. "What's your answer?"
He went near me and pulled me. "I don't care about the baby's father as long as you're the mother. Damn it Alys I don't care about anything else. Just you. I just want you and everything else is just fucking bonus."