Prologue

Prologue:

 

"Love, can you drop me off at Heavenly Memorial Garden?" I asked Yvo. 

We just had our lunch date as a mini celebration for our graduation today and now we're heading home.

"You'll visit Tito Lauro and Tita Elaine?" he queried while carefully maneuvering his car.

I felt a pang in my chest the moment I heard my parents’ name. It always stings whenever I recall my memories with them.

"Yes. I want to show them my diploma," I almost whispered.

All of a sudden, my heart felt heavy and I can feel my eyes tearing up.

"I’ll come—"

"No need, Love," I cut him off. "I promise you, I’ll be fine,” I assured him to ease his worry.

"Alright." He deeply sighed. "If that's what you want. Just be careful.”

I nodded. "I love you, Yvo," I sweetly uttered and gave him a peck on the lips.

“I love you more, Eli," he mumbled, planting a gentle kiss at the back of my hand that's intertwined with his.

I lost track of time and fall asleep, crying my heart out while talking to my parents. So, it was getting dark when I got home. I just took a quick shower because any minute from now Yvo will fetch me.

I wore a sheer long sleeve velvet sheath dress for his graduation party tonight which I paired with a silver stiletto. And as for my waist-length hair, I just laid it down freely. Then, I put powder on my face and pink lip balm for my lips so that I don't look pale.  

I still have fifteen minutes left before the clock strikes at six but I decided to go downstairs.

Minutes passed . . . until it became an hour. But no one came to fetch me. Yvor didn’t show up. 

My chest began to throb. I couldn't help but be nervous because he usually informed me ahead of time if ever something came up and that he can't make it on our date. But right now, he didn’t even beep me.

I picked up my phone and tried to call him but his number is out of reach! My breathing hitched. I'm worriedly sick. Negative thoughts keep flashing in my head.

I was about to stand up when I touched something and broke it. It was as if I had lost blood in my body and gasped for air when I looked at our picture that’s already on the floor and surrounded by shards of glasses.

My knees trembled at the same time as my heart was pounding so fast. Fear welled up in my chest because of the possibility that something bad might have happened to him. 

I mentally shook my head. N-no! It can't be—

I was startled when my cell phone suddenly rang. I quickly answered the call and didn't even pay attention to who it was.

"Hello?" I almost whispered, worried that my voice might break.

"L-lura..."

My heart pounded erratically the moment I heard his mom's voice on the line.

"Yes, Tita? Why did you call?"

My chest throbbed, even more, when I heard Tita Yna's weak sobs. She then took a deep breath as if she's struggling to speak up. 

"It's a-about my s-son," she hardly uttered which made my heart pounded triple this time.

"What about him, Tita? Is he still there? Is he okay?" I asked in succession, panicking. "I've been waiting for him for an hour now. I tried calling him but I can't reach his number.” 

The other line became eerily quiet and as the seconds passed by, my heart is slowly squeezing. 

"T-tita, answer me plea—"

Her sudden outburst cut me off.

"W-what's wrong, Tita? W-why are you crying?" I stuttered. Fear is starting to consume me. "Where's Y-yvor Sebastian?" My voice broke as I mumbled his name and my world shattered on what she declared.

"H-he's no longer with u-us, hija. H-he got into an accident. He . . . he’s g-gone."

I feel like my heart is tearing apart every time I go back to that night—the night I lose the man I loved so much. If I only knew that was the last time we can be together, I wouldn't have left his side. If only I had been given a sign that he would be taken away from me, I would have had shown him more how much I loved him. 

It's been a week and tomorrow is his funeral. But everything was still fresh to me. I can't accept the fact that he left me despite the promise he made.

He's all that I have. He is my only remaining strength. And now, he’s gone. He left me too. 

I covered my mouth when I couldn’t stop my sobs anymore, dropping the wine glass I was holding and it shattered on the floor. The tears that I had been holding back keep on flowing. 

I stumbled on the floor when my knees wobbled. I couldn’t feel the pain of the wound I’ve got from the shards that pierce through my skin. Because nothing hurts more than what I am feeling right now.

Why . . . am I alone again?

I’m damn tired. I want this pain to stop.

I stood up, trembling as drops of blood leaked from my arms and thighs as well as to my knees. Then, I slowly walked out of the house. With a blurry vision, I made my way to the Lastra's Mansion—where he lays. 

For the last time, I want to be with him. I want him to be the last person I’ll see when I doze off to sleep.

W-wait for me, my love . . . 

"What the fuck, woman?! Are you insane?!”

A cold baritone voice echoed in my ears but I couldn’t recognize who it was. I was too tired to even open my eyes.

“Hey! Are you alright?"

No, I'm not. I badly want to rest . . .

. . . in peace.