Tristan trails slowly behind Bella as they walked by the seashore with only the bright moonlight illuminating their footsteps. The calm night breeze and the sound of the waves washing by the shore felt comforting for Tristan.
Its days like this that makes him feel alive.
"Tristan..." Bella says as she turned around to face him.
Tristan's heart raced as he lay eyes on Bella's beautiful face. Tristan loves everything about her, from her green, almond-shaped eyes, to the sexy mole a few millimeters down from the corner of her mouth. The way she says his name makes him feel like the luckiest man on earth.
"Remember when we were kids? We used to play by the shore a lot." Bella recalls with nostalgia.
"I do. You used to collect seashells..." Tristan replied with a smile.
Bella softly chuckled as she tucked her loose hair behind her ears. "...i love that I spent my childhood days with you." she confessed.
"...yeah?" Tristan's voice sounded more surprised than he intended.
"Uh-huh. I'm lucky that we grew up together. When my father left us, Mom was a mess. Having you with me always helped me a lot."
"I didn't know you felt that way. Especially since things were a mess when we entered middle school."
Bella's expression suddenly became forlorn. "It was indeed a mess. But I survived. Getting bullied by my girl classmates for being close to you isn't enough for me to let go."
"I know..." Tristan said as he clutches his fist. "but seeing you suffer like that frustrated me."
"But you didn't avoid me. In fact, you stuck with me even if hell looked like it may froze back then. And for that I'm happy. Sure there were times that I almost gave up and wanted to take my own life, but not having to see you felt like it was a hundred times more painful. There's no way I'm letting you go."
"Bella, let's not recall the past. Its not really a pleasant topic. I don't want to spoil my once a month date with you."
"Sorry. Its just the mood. I'm happy. Super happy that we get to continue our monthly dates."
"Yeah, me too." Tristan pocketed his right hand, feeling the small velvety box that had always been there since he graduated college three years ago.
"Should we head back? I think its getting late." Bella says oblivious of Tristan's agony.
"...yeah... We still have to travel back early to the island tomorrow to meet with the gang..."
"Yeah. They're probably in the island now, drinking like there's no tomorrow. God! I miss those monkeys!" Bella softly chuckled as she approached Tristan and laced her arm on his.
As they walked towards their hotel, Tristan looked at Bella as if she was a precious jewel. He let out a deep sigh and secretly let go of the tiny box inside his pocket. He thought to himself that its for the best if he just waited for the scheduled proposal tomorrow.
Bella and Tristan reached the hotel sooner than they expected. As they stand before Bella's room door, Tristan wondered why Bella was hesitant to enter her room.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked.
"..." Bella bit her lip."Nothing..I... I just..." Bella sharply turned to face Tristan. She took a step closer to him, diminishing their gap to nothing.
Tristan tensed inwardly. Bella's inside his personal space. He can smell the sweet scent from her hair, and her breath as she breathes in his chest. He wished that she couldn't hear the loud banging of his chest.
But Bella leaned on him. She rested her head on his chest as they stood by the hallway.
Tristan painfully closed his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. He knows that they are both undeniably attracted towards on another. They both know that they love each other so much. But they're both afraid of one thing.
The what ifs.
What if things didn't worked out the way they wanted it to happen?
What if they were only infatuated?
What if things burned out quickly?
What if it was just a temporary feeling?
What if they lose each other because things didn't work out?
Such thoughts prevented them from facing their true feelings.
"Bella, its late." Tristan stated with a firm voice.
"I don't want to part yet."
"Do you have any idea what you're about to cross?"
"..."
"Let's not do something that we're both gonna regret in the future."
"But we never did anything."
"What?"Tristan asked, confused.
"We never faced it. Our feelings." Bella declared with every bit of sincerity reflected on her face. "We were both cowering in fear, Tristan."
Bella grabbed Tristan's collar and tries pulls him down. Unknowingly, Tristan slowly reaches her face as he slowly decreases his distance. As their lips were only a few inches apart from each other, they got back to their senses when Bella's phone rang.
It kept ringing as they stare at one another. Bella's eyes pooled with tears as her phone blared its sound. She cried silently as she frustratedly let go of Tristan.
Tristan sighed, but he couldn't tell if it was from frustration or from relief.
Bella turned around as she answered her phone while wiping her tears. She inserted her keys to her door but her tears that kept streaming down her face stopped her from opening her door.
Her eyes widened in shock as soon as she felt a warm hand patting her head. It was the same pats she received from Tristan whenever she's upset.
She whimpered as the warm hands left her head as he walked away from her.
"please look back..." Bella silently wished. She has always asked for a sign ever since she realized that she's in love with him.
If Tristan looked back whenever he left her, she will confess. Bella numerously asked for this everytime Tristan left, and it was always the same.
He will always look back with a gentle smile on his face and a loving wave.
But everytime Bella tries to say anything, she feels unsure, and backs out.
"please...look back." Bella mumbled.
Unfortunately this time, Tristan didn't look back and Bella cried as she entered her room.
As soon as he heard a click, Tristan turned around with a lonely expression on his face. He cracks his neck and continued to walk towards his room.
Morning came and things are silent between Bella and Tristan. The thing they were most afraid of is now happening, and they're both at a loss on how to fix it.
Bella felt irritated as she realized that Tristan has been busying himself between with his ipad and his phone. The plane ride was short and they never got the chance to talk even as they landed in the island.
Their friends kept them busy and they couldn't find the time to be alone.
While Bella low key observes Tristan as she mingled, Tristan is busy preparing for the proposal.
He checks his watch for the time and looks around as his accomplices secretly gave him the go signal.
Tristan signaled Bella's female friends to lead her towards the butterfly garden. Bella has always been fond of butterflies.
As Tristan saw Bella being taken away, he ran around to reach the butterfly garden first.
"Man! I'm so nervous!"
"Stop that! Everything is good!"
"Oh hey... The ring."
Bella entered the garden blindfolded. Her female friends assisted her in walking.
"Girls! What are you planning? Is this some kind of prank? You know I hate pranks! Please don't leave me." Bella stated as she walked gingerly, feeling anxious about everything.
But then a familiar voice calmed her down. Tristan is singing Bella said to herself. He sounded almost melancholic.
Bella started to cry for she now realized what's going to happen.
Her footsteps become heavier while she listened to his song.
As her blindfold was slowly removed, a big, shiny ring is being offered to her by the man she thought she loves.
But before she answered, she looked at Tristan once again, looking for a reason.
As he strummed the chords, he fights his tears back.
Their eyes met.
But that was all.
Bella then gave up and answered yes.
Tristan continued to sing the couple a love song.
But they both feel broken inside.
And that was the last time they ever saw each other.
-end-
