Honey, why?

Prologue

I met the love of my life in the most normal way... well, when I met him formally, that is.

The first time I saw him, I thought it would be the end of me. I remember getting mixed emotions - looking in those eyes of his could be really tantalizing and I kinda forgot what was happening for a second there but instincts took over a quick moment later and I began to feel fear again. And I guess what I was feeling back then summarizes what everyone feels when they've met the love of their lives. You feel excited and your heart is beating like you're in a rush. Like everything's in a rush, but somehow, everything is in slow motion at the same time. It's like you're frozen in time and it happens so gradually yet before you know it, the moment is already over.

It's a surge of heat poured in your head like an ice bucket - as if waking you up from a deep slumber and you are only beginning to see the world clearly. It's like being born, all the hairs in your body sending shivers within you. Terrifying yet gratifying. You feel like it's the death of you yet you've never felt so alive. If only you could condition yourself into feeling that wonderful thing whenever you wish to. It's amazing and you never want it to end even if you don't know what will happen if it did and of course it has to fade somehow because if people fall in love every second every moment of every day, it would lose its meaning. It wouldn't feel the same way as it would. And this, right here, is my exposition on how I met the love of my life.

2010

I am a freshman in college and it's almost the end of the first quarter of the school year. I didn't think it will just all end this way. I am frozen on my bed, lying on my side with the covers reaching up to my chest. I did not dare move a muscle. I did not dare breathe too hard.

I wish my roommate was still awake. This is the only moment that I wish that her boyfriend was still here in our dorm and that they were still in the parlor watching Netflix or something. But they're probably back in her room as the electricity had obviously been out because I've left my lights on like I always do, and now it's pitch black in here.

I woke up just moments ago only to realize that I've gone completely blind and before I could do anything else, my eyes spotted a figure coming inside from my balcony. Stupid me cursed inwardly as I remember that I left it open when I took my ukulele out earlier. At least he (or she, but I'll just assume he's a he because come on, one would rarely see a girl climbing up someone else's room using the dangerous route a.k.a. the balcony or the window) had the decency to shut the doors, the rain and wind outside sounds as terrifying as his intrusion. Wait, did he just lock my balcony doors?

For a few hopeful seconds, I thought I was just having a nightmare like I often do when I wake up in almost a dream-like state but my body is paralyzed and something is blocking my air passage. Apparently, I was in a nightmare turned reality. The intruder moved through my room, crouching as he took in his surroundings. When he turned to face me, my breath hitched. My daybed was placed perpendicular on the doors to the balcony he climbed in and the lightning that strikes from time to time illuminated some parts of my room here and there. I could make out his silhouette, his shadow. Maybe he's just one of those party peeps who partied too hard and now couldn't find his way back to his room so I have nothing to be worried about. Except... it has been raining nonstop since morning and I'm pretty sure that no one would be so pumped about having a party at this weather. Cue paranoia.

Surely, it only had been seconds but it seemed like hours that the intruder had been staring at my supposedly sleeping figure. He almost turned the other way when the sound of the thunder scared the living poop out of me and the scream that I've been holding in tore out from my throat. I jumped out of my bed without thinking, slamming into the dark figure standing in the middle of my room when he tried to block me. We crashed on the wooden floors with a thud that was covered by the sound of thunder.

Eyes shut, my temples throb and my hands begin shaking. I could feel my nails, which by the way I've always kept short ever since I can remember but which are now long because I've been too lazy to trim them what with all the stress going on, digging so hard into my sweaty palms I thought I'd draw blood. There was knocking on my door, followed by the muffled voices calling out my name.

What are the chances of me getting out of here alive? If I tried to reach for the door, it will take me about four to five huge steps. Then I have to unlock the two bolts and the intruder could have caught me by then. Maybe I could escape through the balcony? I only have to reach the doors, which would only take a few seconds, and it's just at the foot of my bed so it's much closer. Still, there's the acrophobia thing so it won't be as good as being trapped here with this man, is it?

The knocking became a series of loud banging but I still can't open my eyes. Now I'm tearing up and my whole body is shaking.

"Hey."

I shook my head and the grip on my shoulders tightened. Wait, what now? My eyes shot open and for a moment, I felt dizzy. I was lying on my stomach on the hard floor.

Oh, excuse me, I mean on a boy.

The Intruder.

I looked up, staring at his face, my chin slightly brushing his stubble. I tried so hard to make out his features so I could identify him to the cartographer once the police have been notified. But first, I have to get out of here. I'm betting everything I have on that door now. The least I could do is unlock it so the person or people outside could come in and help me.

Raising my upper body, I dig my palms on the guy's chest. Then I planted both of my knees far apart in the ground so I could get into a crawling position but my butt was suddenly pulled down and I slumped back to the guy. I gasped, preparing to scream, and a rough palm covered my mouth. Panic gripped me harder as I feel imprisoned. Oh, God. Please let this man be just a thief and nothing more. Nothing more.

"Ssshhh. Be quiet."

My eyes were now streaming with tears. I whimpered in his hand and tried to push at his chest once more but his other arm was strongly branded across my back as he pulled me tighter against him.

"Look, honey. It's not what it looks like. I'm not a bad guy. This is just a misunderstanding. I'll leave you alone soon, I just need someplace to hide right now. Will you help me?" He whispered to my face. I smelled alcohol and smoke in his breath but his voice was even and he doesn't seem to be drunk. Also, I'm just now realizing how he feels... wet.

"I'm gonna unleash you, but you have to promise not to scream. Okay?"

I didn't know how I managed to nod my head when I can't think with all this darkness around me. Then, as if an angel happened to pass by and hear one of my silent pleas, the lights turned back on.