One year ago...

His electric, crystal, midnight blue eyes caressed my face delicately. And when mine fell to his full rosy lips, i yearned for their touch.

We lay on the bleached beach sand that overlooked the pacific ocean itself. It was dusky. As we wordlessly looked at each other, neither of us could stop the smiles that graced both of our faces. Smiles of pure ecstasy and love.

Daniel ran a few fingers down my left cheek and i let my eye lids fall, enjoying the effects he had on me. The effects of his unadulterated love, "You are beautiful, my Adia," he whispered his favourite words into my ear.

Daniel Chamberlain had to be the lover of my life. He was my very first and i hoped, truly hoped, he would be my very last. And even if he was to go on his knee at this instance, i would shamelessly jump onto the wagon without thinking twice.

Yes i know we were about to finish our Junior year, very young and all, but that's just how serious we were. We were in love and i felt it no matter how far separated we were.

Daniel then probed himself on his elbow, his piercing eyes never leaving my face. Drawing circles with his forefinger on my upper chest he asked, "Love, may i ask?"

Is there anyone else who found such a question dreading?

I adjusted my neck so as to look at him properly, giving him a beam, "I'm all ears."

He smiled into space, probably contemplating how to voice his inquiry, "Well I've been thinking when and how i should ask my question. This seems like the right time but how i should say it is..." his voice trailed, his eyes back on my face.

I sat up with him before swatting his upper arm.

"Ouch!" he groaned though i knew it was make belief, "Man what was that for?"

"Danny how long have we been together?"

"Two years."

"Yes, and you tell me there is a question you still find hard to ask me," i accused with my lips turned down.

"It's not like that boo, i-"

"Then what?"

He sighed, running a hand through his cheek-length black hair. I know. Blue eyes plus black hair equalled a killer specimen. I knew what that gesture meant. It meant im trying my best to cope with your unnecessary difficulty.

"As i was saying, babe the question is very...touchy," he gently elaborated.

I nodded my head, "How so?"

He sighed again, looking at the orange sun that was being slowly swallowed by the vast ocean.

I took his large warm hand into mine, "Babe, you can try me."

He gave me a heart stopping smile, "Fine, lemme ask," he paused and i knew he was having a hard time, "Well, what would you do if i asked to marry? Right now."

I froze, my eyes widening to a worrying extent. What?

I think he mistook my silence for disapproval, "See, i knew better than as-"

My lips engulfed his, something I've been waiting to do since our long-ago last kiss. Like five minutes ago. At first his soft lips were startled but shortly after, they relaxed, moving in sync with mine. We escaped into our own little universe of magic and love.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" i expressed after reluctantly pulling away from him.

He laughed out, "Really?"

Grinning like a Cheshire cat i furiously nodded my head.

He gave my nose a quick peck and then pulled both of us to our feet, "Give me your back."

Knitting my brows i uttered, "Um, sure," before turning around to face the other side.

I waited a few seconds before i felt something cold touch my neck. It seemed like a silver pendent. When he was done putting it on i looked down at its beauty. It had a half-heart design in it inscribed 'you'. It also had a protruding key like feature.

Ncaww how sweeeet!!!

I smiled at it before i wrapped my arms around his neck uttering, "Oh thanks you Daniel."

He pulled back, "You like it?"

"Like it? I'm in love with it!" i took the little design in between my thump and fore finger. 

"But be careful not to fall in love with it deeper than me," he playfully warned.

I guffawed a laugh, "Looks like you have got competition Mr Chamberlain." The neck chain was very mesmerising and beautiful, i couldn't keep my eyes off it, "So where is the other half?"

"Oh," he put his hand into the neck of his black t-shirt before pulling out a duplicate silver pendant. He showed me the design, it having the other half of my heart. Unlike mine, it was written 'i love' with a depression in its midst. 

He took mine then interlinked the key on my heart into the depression in his. They were key and lock twin chains.

"Sweet," i muttered.

"I may be bad with words," Daniel sheepishly chuckled, which was insanely cute. And it was very true. One thing l loved about him, "Very very bad. But um, i love you Adia. You are the love of my life. And I'm so tempted to promise to marry but that's just too deep for our age. I really wanna marry you. So i give you this necklace as a sign that i wanna be with you for eternity. You are the key to my heart and we will never be separated, trust me."

By now my eyes were stinging with unshed tears as i looked at the blurry version of him. Oh him. Where on earth did i find such a darling him?

"I hate you Daniel Chamberlain," i uttered with a small, touched smile.

He grinned widely, "Love you too Adia Collins."

Giggling i kissed him then he engulfed me in his arms, feeding me with his unyielding love that i would never exchange for anything. 

At this point i was convinced i would ever love only him.

But then who knew?

Who knew Daniel Chamberlain wouldn't return home that very night?

Who knew he would disappear? 

Who knew he would be filed 'missing' by the police?

And lastly, who knew he would take my heart away with him, leaving me in so much distress? 

Who knew?

And after that day, i saw the reality of how truly wicked and harsh the world we lived in really was.

xxxx