She's My Sleeping Pill

Note: Song used is "I Will" (Take You Forever) by Christopher Cross

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Monet's eyes widened in shock.

She would never mistake that voice for anyone else. She had been by his side for more than a decade. There was no way in hell she would mistake it.

"What's going on?" she asked and looked back to the man who ignored her; still focusing on their baby. Seeing how nonchalant he was, she could only wrinkle her eyebrows and listen to the animation's voice.

Thomas knew that she would surely talk to him once she hears his voice which was the reason why he continued to stay. Now that her attention was back to the animation, he finally slipped away.

And to keep her attention focused on the animation, Luna and Jillyanna approached her and engaged on a conversation.

Behind them, several staff came inside in silence while holding posters, flowers and an LED lights. They moved so quickly that in less than five minutes, everything was all set up.

Thomas sat on a chair behind the staff and started humming a song that matches the animation.

Monet's hear skipped a beat.

The tune was oh-so familiar to her that she started humming along with it.

At first, she thought that the song was still from the animation until she heard it from such a close distance.

--I was a man who always played around in love

So quick to take

But so afraid to give enough

But now I've found the one

And heaven will only know

What only my eyes can say and time can't take away--

Hearing the first part of the song, Monet sang the next part with tears in her eyes. This song was a duet -  something she told him in passing during their high school days.

I was a girl who trusted no one with my heart

And the dreams that young girls dream

were just vanishing in the dark

But now I've found the one

And heaven will only know

What only my eyes can say

They say ---

Monet's memories brought her back to the 15 year-old version of her. She was watching the football players having their practice but her eyes was actually focused on a single person on the field. She was listening to her favorite song.

She played it so many times at home that her parents have had enough of it, so she can only play it now on her phone while wearing her airpods.

The players finally took a break and Thomas walked to her. "Ten minutes more and we'll go home," he said while wiping his face with the towel that she handed him. "Will you stay over for dinner or will your grandparents arrive before dinner?"

"Stay over for dinner," Monet responded while trying her best to keep her emotions in check.

No one in this world shall know of her feelings for him. She didn't want to lose him.

"What are you listening?" Thomas asked but didn't really wait for her answer as he took the left pair of her airpods and sat next to her to listen to it. "It's a duet. Who will you sing this with?"

"No one."

"Then, what's the point?"

"It's none of your business," she said and rolled her eyes at him, but she didn't take the airpod back.

They sat in silence while waiting for the break time to be over.

Who would have thought that one day, she will sing this song with him?

--That I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else in my heart but you

And I will take you forever

And there will never be anyone else but you

Anyone else but you

Now my touch belongs to you and I will always be your best friend

Now my secrets are safe with you and the magic will never end..--
Read new adventures at m_v-l'e|m,p| y- r

At this point, Thomas finally showed himself up and walked toward Monet.

He was all she could see right now.

In the past, she often tell her friends that they were exaggerating about how everything blurred in the background until only that person remains in the middle.

But when she met Thomas, she experienced that feeling. It happened so many times that she got annoyed at herself.

Then it happened again this time.

She didn't even know that more people had come to the rooftop during their duet.

When the song ended, she was already standing in the middle of the heart-shaped LED lights with rose petals scattered all over it. The set up was, in fact, very common for people to make their proposals, but the way he executed it along with the preliminary animation, Monet wasn't expecting at all.

"Babi," Thomas spoke using his endearment that he hadn't used for so many years.

"Why'd you call me that?!" Monet exclaimed and punched him light on the chest. "I'm no longer fat!"

"Who said I'm calling you that because you're fat?"

"Hmph! Don't fool me."

"Okay. I admit. I called you that in the past because you were so chubby, but I think it's time to let you know the real meaning behind it."

On the side, Travis smirked when he heard what his friend said. The day that Thomas teased Monet with this endearment, she cried over it at first.

Thomas was such a bully when she became fat; even though it was his fault because he said he liked someone whose got more flesh than bones.

So, Travis confronted his friend about it and when he learned the reason, his eyebrow arched instantly.

"I need an acceptable reason," Monet expressed with her arms crossed over her chest. She was so emotional earlier but now it's gone because of the stupid endearment she heard.

Thomas cleared his throat and held her hand while keeping the microphone on the other.

"Babi. It means, analytical and clever. Of course, that is what I found on google. At the same time, I learned from you that pork is "baboy" in Cebuano where you lived and grew up before moving to France. Then, you became fat so I teased you "babi". In truth, babi is personally taken out from the context of "baby"."

"Baby? You called me that in high school, though."

"Yes, I did. Because I have loved you since then."

Thomas had confessed to her already as soon as she was out of danger after the accident she had a year ago. However, the fragility of their relationship prevented them to recall some of their precious memories as youth.

She didn't tell him how and when she exactly fell in love with him neither did he.

They started all over again just to keep their relationship going.

So, it was only until today that they got to really express their feelings.

It turned out, he was already in love with her but he didn't want to admit it.

Why else would he keep an album of her?

Why would he remember the things that she only said in passing?

Both of them were denying their feelings!

"I won't say we missed half a lifetime because of being in denial, but I'd rather believe that we've been together for half a lifetime and that I want to spend the rest of it with you. Babi, we started off as friends. We misunderstood each other and decided to move on from it even though there was really nothing to move on from. Now, we're back to square one. Babi, I'm not perfect.

There may come a time that I will annoy you, upset you or anger you, but I can promise to stay with you no matter what happens. You left me once. I don't want a second time. So, babi..." Thomas finally knelt down on one knee and took out a small black box with a heart-shape design on top of it which was all made of real diamonds.

The box itself was enough for ordinary people to live a few lifetimes with it. So, they were all looking forward to see the engagement ring.

"Babi, will you marry this stupid man?" Thomas asked but did not open the box yet.

[Indeed, he is stupid.] Thought the people around them while giving him eye signals to notice his mistake, but he ignored them.

Looking at him with tears pooling in her eyes again, Monet thought she would be the stupid one if she would say 'no'. She had dreamed of this so many times in her life!

"This pretty girl will give you the chance. Yes, I will."

When Thomas opened the box, there were two rings inside. One was the expensive 18kt white gold ring with a small ruby in the middle surrounded with small diamonds. The second ring was a customized engagement platinum ring with a round-cut diamond in the middle.

"The ruby is a ring that symbolizes your title as my girlfriend," he stated while putting the ring on her middle finger. "..then platinum ring is you being my fiancé," he added while putting it on her ring finger. "Now that you have agreed to marry me, you can't take it back."

Monet stared at the rings for a whole minute before finally raising her head and looked at him. "I love you," she whispered and...

boom! boom! boom!

Fireworks started blooming in the sky.