Chapter 19 - Chapter 19

Dayne

(One month later)

"Five days?! That's a long time, Brian. And you're going with Atty. Precious? You have got to be kidding me!" I erupted as soon as Brian told me he will be working out of town for the firm's big client together with Precious - the beautiful, elegant lawyer, you know. Grrrr.

"Baby, if the negotiations with the company union goes well the five-day trip could shorten. Hell, it could only be for a day or two. It's not a big deal, really," he tried to appease me as I paced like a tiger on the prowl in his living room.

"What?! You are going to be with Precious, Brian, that to me is a big deal. How can it not be when she's beautiful and smart and sexy and classy and ..."

"She's not you, baby," he cut in. "So, you don't need to worry about me being with her. It's just work, while you, you are my life," he smiled tenderly and lovingly at me and I had to smile at him, too, as my heart warmed at his words. "Never ever forget that, okay," he said with his pleading eyes focused on me.

I nodded reluctantly and said, "Okay," then hugged him as if my life depended on it.

What is happening to me? I've become so clingy. It's not like he's not coming back, Dayne. It's just for five days, he'll be here before you know it.

Alrighty then, let's not make too much of it. I finally convinced myself.

I helped him pack his bag for the trip, and the night before he was to fly out of town for work, we made love like it was the last time, and he kept telling me he was going to miss me like crazy. And I know I would, too, as we were almost inseparable since we got together.

As I think about it, this is the first time we'll be away from each other in about a month and a half.

I couldn't sleep a wink. I listened to his light snoring and watched him as he slept peacefully.

I never thought I could love as deeply and as passionately as I love this man beside me. But I do. And no daydream I've cooked up before could have prepared me for the intensity of my feelings for him.

The first time we made love, he made me feel like I was the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world. It was a night I would never ever forget, for it was for me the night of ultimate discoveries which elevated our relationship to what it is now.

It was the night we opened up our hearts to each other without holding anything back, like the big reveal. A heart to heart talk, plain and simple yet unbelievably game-changing and eye-opening.

It was also the first time he brought me to heights of pleasure I never could have imagined possible for me to experience. It was simply amazing, nerve-tingling and unlike any other experience I've ever had in my life.

And everytime he touches me, it is always with such awe and reverence, as well as love and tenderness that it still amazes me even to this day, that someone like Brian would want and love someone like me.

Before I knew it, I was already sitting on the bed with my memo pad and pen and writing down my feelings for Brian.

Have I told you that I used to write songs? Yes, I did, as a hobby. Well, of course, that was before double S happened.

But now seems a good time to revisit it as inspiration hit me. And so I started jotting down my thoughts:

"Can it be really true, that you feel for me the way I do you?

My heart wants to believe it's real. But my mind keeps telling me, "Get real."

For you belong there with the stars, while I am here, a nobody by far.

But you assure me that you truly feel, love for me and it will hold still."

I was still thinking of what to write next when I felt Brian move on the bed and heard him ask, "Dayne, baby, what are you doing?" He rubbed the sleep from his eyes then looked at his bedside desk top clock. "It's too early to be up."

"I can't sleep. I'm sorry, baby, I didn't want to wake you. Go back to sleep," I softly told him and then kissed him on his forehead.

"Are you okay? You want to talk about it?" He was already sitting on the bed as he asked.

"I'm fine, baby. I just can't sleep." Then as if in surrender, I raised my hands helplessly as I admitted, "I am just really going to miss you and so I watched you as you slept and listened to your light snoring. It's almost creepy," I shrugged as if it were nothing. But Brian knows better.

"Aww, baby, come here."

I scooted closer to him and snuggled in his chest. "I will miss you, too, so much, but I promise to call and video chat everytime I'm free. How's that, huh?," he patiently talked to me as if I were a child.

Again, how did I get so lucky?

"Okay, let's do that," I agreed as I smiled up to him and kissed him.

"Now that that's settled, let's go back to sleep, okay?," I nodded in reply and we went back to sleep. And this time, I surprisingly did.

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It was the third day of Brian's trip and he regretfully told me that the union is so adamant in their demands that they may have to actually use up the five-day negotiation period. He also mentioned that their protesters are somewhat becoming violent as the days wore on, so I told him to stay safe at all times, for me, for us.

Brian, as promised, contacted me every chance that he could. But although he called and we video chatted every morning, lunch time and night time, I still miss his presence, his hugs and kisses, our snuggles and cuddles, his smell. Jeez, even I am creeping me out already. So, for him, I tried my best to get through each day and assured him I'm doing fine but that I really miss him. All.The.Time.

Around mid-afternoon that day however, while I was photocopying some documents for my boss, I heard Steve, Atty. Severino's secretary tell Lizzie, Precious' assistant that somebody called his boss, who also happens to be Precious' father that Brian and Precious were in an accident and that Brian was in a serious condition.

That froze me to the spot as I felt numb and my knees became wobbly. Then dizziness overcame me, as I think I held my breath for far too long unconsciously, and then... blackout.

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I heard a cacophony of sounds and voices around me. So, I opened my eyes, and saw that I was in the emergency room.

What?! Why am I here?

"You fainted, Dayne," I heard Deena's voice and I turned to her.

"I spoke my thoughts again, didn't I?"

"Yeah, talk about being consistent," she snorted. "You won't be Dayne otherwise."

"Yeah, that's me, alright," I answered drily.

"So, what happened? How are you feeling now?," she asked, her concern palpable.

Then I remembered what happened before I lost consciousness. "Oh my gosh! I have to go to him, Dee!," I cried out as I tried to get up from the bed. "He needs me right now. I have to see him!"

"Hey, hey, calm down." I was already sobbing in Deena's shoulders as she held me tight and tried to calm me down and keep me from running out of the hospital. "SShhh, it's going to be alright, honey. Everything's going to be fine. Okay?," she continued to assure me and rubbed my back as I sobbed helplessly soaking her shirt with my tears.

"Why don't you tell me what happened and we'll sort it out, alright?," she collectedly urged me. "But first you have to calm down." Dee is always so cool and calm and it's like she can help me get through any situation, so I tried to collect myself.

After I was able to compose myself, I told Dee about what I heard in the office. She chastised me for being so hasty and rash in believing something without first verifying if everything I heard was true.

Now that I think about it, Dee was right, as usual. This calmed me down a bit.

Well, how can I not freak out upon hearing that something bad happened to the man I love? It just drove me over the edge. He's become everything to me.

"Thank you, Dee. You are the bestest bestfriend in the world. I love you, you know that, right?"

"Of course you love me. What would you do without my awesomeness, huh?," she said as she playfully tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to lighten the mood.

I smiled at her and hugged her tightly as once again tears ran down my face.

Fear still gripped at my heart with the uncertainties of Brian's true condition, and so I prayed to God with all my heart, "Please God, don't let anything bad happen to Brian. Please bring him back home to me safe and well. I promise to take care of him and love him, for You. So, please give me that, Oh God. Please I beg of You."

And my tears rained down again.

But I know that with Dee and God beside me, I have enough strength and hope no matter what. Brian needs me to be strong for him, for us.

And so I will be.