Just Like How the Night Falls (del Grico Series #1)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Nightfall...

Many people thought that it's always been scary and terrifying for all the chaos that usually happen at night. But it, being a precious moment is so underrated. And that's what I think of nightfall: a very special moment. Minsan ko nang naging sandalan ang takip-silim. Natutuhan kong mahalin ang dilim na dala nito... anim na taon na ang nakalilipas.

I closed my eyes in the anticipation of the cold breeze that blew on my face. Loud noises that come from the cars enveloped my ears; loud noises that used to be harmonious to me.

"Nostalgia?" I heard Drayven asked that made me open my eyes. My eyes immediately darted on a guy, wearing a blue polo shirt paired with jeans. Bakas ang kabaitan sa mga mata niya pati na sa tamis ng ngiti niya. Nanatili siyang naghihintay sa 'kin. Nginitian ko naman din siya pabalik.

"You know we don't have to do this," I stated even when my heart keeps hammering for the happiness that I am feeling right now.

"Oh come on!" Natatawa siyang lumapit sa 'kin at kinuha ang aking isang kamay. "I know that you want this. No! You love this, actually. So let's go."

He quickly planted a soft kiss on my lips and then gave me a smile. His smile seems contagious that made me do the same.

Nang hatakin niya 'ko'y humakbang na rin ako papasok sa grandstand.

Loud voices of people cheering for their own favorite race enveloped our ears plus the fast-talking host that I barely understand.

"Though this is not the race you used to do, sana magustuhan mo pa rin," bulong niya na ikinatawa ko naman.

"This is more than enough, Drayven! You don't have to worry!" I shouted so he could hear me.

My eyes darted back to the cool cars in the screen. The race has started before we could enter the grandstand and our seats are located at the starting line so we didn't able to catch a glimpse of the cars. Kahit gano'n, nakaramdam pa rin ako ng kakaibang saya habang pinanonood ang karerahan ng mga sasakyan.

This is the Monaco Grand Prix and many people are watching with us, shouting and cheering for their favorite racer. While me? I remained silent, cherishing this once-in-a-blue-moon moment.

For the first time in a long time, I got able to watch a race again. All because of Drayven.

Drayven has a CHD or coronary heart disease. He shouldn't feel extreme emotions because it could precipitate his illness. Dapat nga, hindi siya nanonood ng mga ganitong klaseng palabas.

That's one of the reason why Tita Monic, Drayven's mother, prohibits me to do such thing like drag racing and stunt riding. Masyadong mag-aalala sa 'kin si Drayven kung gagawin ko ang mga dati kong ginagawa. Isa pa... sila na ang nagbibigay sa 'kin ng pera.

I'm always been trapped in the dark so I don't mind anymore. Or is that just what I believe?

"Ria..." Someone called my name. As an instinct, I glanced behind me to see who called my name. My eyes widened when I saw Miyuki with tears keep trickling down her pink cheeks.

My heart ached for seeing her. Namuo rin ang mga luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata nang makita siya. Emosyonal akong lumapit sa kanya at kaagad niya naman akong sinunggaban ng mainit na yakap.

I can't believe it! She's here! I used to work with her in the Philippines so it is unusual that I got to see her here in Monaco.

"Y-You're alive!" hindi makapaniwalang aniya. She even caressed my face using her trembling hands. Nginitian ko lang siya nang mapait, tuluyan nang napigilan ang mga luha sa pagtulo.

"Yes I am," sa isinagot ko'y muli niya 'kong niyakap nang mahigpit.

Wala siya halos ipinagbago. She's still beautiful with her long black hair, slender body, and fair skin. She's wearing a faded jeans and a blue cropped top.

"I'm really glad to see you here! Everyone thought that you're g-gone! I was so worried about you! Lalo pa noong wala na 'kong natanggap na balita tungkol sa 'yo!" sunod-sunod na sabi niya. She then stared at me. "Ikaw ba talaga 't-to?! You changed so much. Kamuntik na kitang hindi makilala! You look so different right now!"

Napatingin din tuloy ako sa sarili ko dahil do'n.

I am wearing a simple red dress that highlighted my fair skin. My brown-dyed hair is on a messy bun right now. Ganito ang suot ko dahil ang sabi ni Drayven, kakain daw kami sa labas. Hindi ko naman alam na sa isang car racing niya pala ako dadalhin.

She's right though. I've changed. Para nga akong ibang tao.

After six years, kahit ako... hindi na rin malaman kung sino na nga ba 'ko. Isa lang ang sigurado ako. I'm not the Ria they used to know. I am not the Ria I used to be.

Wala na 'kong naisagot pa kay Miyuki kun'di ang isang pilit na ngiti.

"By the way, who's with you?" pag-iiba niya ng topic na ikinagaan naman ng loob ko. Kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas, hindi pa rin talaga ako komportable na pag-usapan ang nakaraan.

I smiled before I looked for Drayven. I was about to introduce him to her but my heart jumped when I didn't able to see him in the crowd.

"Excuse me," paalam ko kay Miyuki para hanapin sandali ang kasama ko. Bago pa man ako makalayo, hinawakan niya na ulit ako sa braso at hinatak palayo.

"You're looking for him? Let's go. I'll help you," sabi niya na ipinagtaka ko.

How did she know that I am looking for a guy?

Bago ko pa man matanong sa kanya ang nasa isipan ko, nabigla na 'ko nang hatakin niya 'ko palabas ng grandstand.

"Hey! Where are we going?!" tarantang tanong ko. Nilingon naman ako ni Miyuki at nginitian nang nakaloloko. I felt a slight nervousness because of that.

The next thing that happened was when we finally went out of the grandstand, a white van parked in front of us. A bunch of men came out and surrounded us.

Hindi ko na rin mahanap sa paligid ang mga bodyguards ko.

Oh no! D-don't tell me...

"What the hell did you do?!" pagalit na tanong ko kay Miyuki. Nang susuntukin ko na sana siya, kaagad akong pinigilan ng mga maskuladong lalaki na lumabas galing sa van.

Oh damn this!

I threw the purse that I was holding and then readied myself for defense. I don't care if I am wearing a dress right now. If they want to get me, they need to beat me first!

"Ria, 'wag ka nang lumaban! Oh my gosh! This is not what you think it is!" sigaw ni Miyuki sa gilid na mukhang natatakot na.

"Shut up!" I shouted before I attacked the nearest guy. Luckily, they don't have any weapons. I started by kicking his precious balls. It immediately made him critical.

Other guys then raised their hands, surrendering. Nangunot ang noo ko dahil do'n.

Huh?

"Oh my! Sir, are you okay?" Dinaluhan ni Miyuki ang lalaking napuruhan ko habang nanatili naman akong walang alam sa nangyayari.

Akala ko, tauhan siya n-ni... Am I wrong?

"We just want to bring you at the finish line of this game, you know! There's someone waiting for you there," naiiyak na paliwanag ng dati kong kasamahan. Napaawang naman ang labi ko dahil do'n.

Oh. I guess I'm really wrong.

"Why? Sino naman?" tanong ko.

"It's a surprise, Ria. So obviously, I can't tell you," mas mahinahon na sabi niya bago lumapit sa 'kin. "Let's go."

Hinawakan niya muli ang palapulsuhan ko nang mas mahinahon at iginiya ako papasok sa van. Mas kalmado na rin naman akong sumunod sa kanya.

"You should have told me earlier!" pagdadahilan ko. Napatawa lang siya.

"Well, I'm shocked because of what you did but then I remember na ikaw pa rin pala ang kilala kong walang inuurungang babae." Napairap na lang ako sa kawalan.

Nilipad ang utak ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

There's someone waiting for me? Is it Drayven? For sure, it's him. Ano na naman ba 'tong pakulo niya?

For some reason, I got nervous. My heart hammered so fast. Why?

Ang sinasakyan namin ay nag-shortcut kaya naman mabilis kaming nakarating sa finish line compared sa mga kalahok. When we arrived at the finish line, I saw familiar people looking at our van including Tita Monic and Tito Drake.

Balloons, flowers, and many decorative materials are all over the place. Everyone has a smile plastered on their face. It stunned me.

What the hell is this?

Suddenly, I want to run away. I have a hint on what is about to happen and I wish I am wrong. Sana hindi...

Nang tuluyan na 'kong bumaba ng sasakyan, naghiyawan ang sa lahat.

This time... I am really sure about my assumptions. Namuo ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

Tita Monic and Tito Drake walked towards me. They gave me a smile and a hug. Mas lalong natuyot ang lalamunan ko dahil do'n.

Without a word, they walked me towards the center, few meters away from the finish line. Kahit saan ako lumingon, lahat ay may hawak na cellphone at nakatutok sa 'kin. Halos mabingi ako sa halu-halong bulong galing sa kanila. Idagdag pa ang hindi magkamayaw na bilis ng t***k ng puso ko.

"Tita, what's happening?" I nervously asked. But instead of answering my question, Tita Monic kissed my left cheek as she faced me to the finish line. After that, they left me alone in the middle. My hands fought with each other while facing the finish line, waiting for someone.

A romantic song then played, enveloping our ears. Pero hindi 'yon naging sapat para tapatan ang lakas ng pagtibok ng puso ko na siyang bumabalot sa buo kong teinga.

Maybe for others, they might find this moment a very romantic one. But for me? I know... this will be one of the most painful moments of my life.

Minutes have passed and the crowd screamed when we finally saw a blue sports car arriving at the finish line. It's not driving fast, as if the racer maneuvering the car has no competitors to beat. My tears started falling while silently wishing that this is all a dream.

Lahat ay naghihintay na makaabot sa finish line ang asul na kotse kaya naman hindi namin inasahan ang pagharurot ng isang pulang kotse sa finish line. I even thought that the red sports car would hit me. Fortunately, it made a drift. Everyone was stunned because of that. But later on, they started screaming again.

Oh! I thought, Drayven's inside the blue sports car?

Napalunok ako habang hinahanda ang sarili sa paglabas ng pamilyar na tao sa loob ng pulang kotse. Pero nang tuluyan na ngang lumabas ang nagpatakbo no'n, lahat ay natahimik.

I was stunned while staring at the guy from the red sports car. He's wearing red protective gear with a helmet. I didn't expect that! I thought Drayven is the one who was driving the red car! Obviously, that's not Drayven. Asul na polo shirt ang suot niya kanina! Kung gano'n... sino 'tong galing sa pulang kotse?

My questions in my head immediately got answers when the guy removed his helmet. My jaw literally dropped when I saw a familiar face in my past.

W-why is he here?

Napansin ko ang pagkatigil nina Tita Monic at Tito Drake. Pati na rin ang mga mahahalagang tao sa buhay ko na sina Ate Eve, Kuya Danny and Cecil nang siguro ay makita na hindi si Drayven ang laman ng pulang sports car.

Hindi pa man naka-re-recover ang lahat nang tuluyan na ring nakaabot sa finish line ang asul na kotse. Mabilis bumaba ro'n ang si Drayven na mukhang inis sa lalaking nauna sa finish line. Mula sa distansya ko sa kanila, malinaw kong narinig ang usapan nila.

"Are you dumb? Can't you understand a simple instruction?!" asik ni Drayven. The guy just shrugged his shoulder, never minding Drayven's madness. I guess his arrogant and unruly attitude didn't change a bit.

Nagtagis lang ang bagang ni Drayven bago tumingin sa direksyon ko at muli akong binigyan ng ngiti.

My eyes darted at the guy who was wearing red gear. Then my heart beats faster when our eyes met, when I saw the familiar amber-colored eyes I used to loathe and to admire at the same time.

Why is he here? Bakit ngayon kung kailan may ganitong okasyon pa?!

There's no way I could ever forget him. How could I forget about the person who gave me strange and extreme feelings? How could I ever forget Zanrellius del Grico?

Dahil sa pakikipagtitigan ko kay Zanrell, hindi ko na napansin pa ang paglapit ni Drayven.

"I'm sorry about that. I hope it didn't ruin our moment," he said shyly. The crowd started screaming again. I just gave him a fake smile, couldn't find any words to say.

Then, just what I'd expected, he knelt to the ground. Fireworks started exploding right above us. Everyone's gone wild while watching us.

My tears started falling like a damaged faucet while my hands flew on my mouth. Though I expected this already, this still made me so shock.

"Azria Sei Texon... the lady that I've been madly in love with, for years..." Drayven started. "Will you marry me?"

As he said those words, a bunch of balloons flew, carrying words like "Will you marry me?"

Do'n na 'ko na pahagulhol. My heart arched for an extreme pain that I felt. Mas lalo pang nadagdagan 'yon nang lumipad ang tingin ko sa lalaking nananatiling nakatayo sa gilid ng pulang sports car at pinanonood kami gamit ang malamig na tingin habang nagtatagis ang bagang.

Zanrellius del Grico... the guy I left behind; the guy... who used to be my main competitor against the race that I built in the dark; the guy... who also lightened my life, six years ago.

I always love nightfall. I'm always used to it. But when he joined me with the fatal race that I built in my dark life, I learned to love the light he used to bring. That's why... just like how the night falls, darkness enveloped me again when I left him. But I think, my life will be even darker if he comes back.