Chapter 25: Chapter 25

You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me

I was never a morning person. I always hated waking up in the morning. But if I would wake up next to Zack, with his arms embracing me while the sun rose from the sea, that's another story I would like to read every moment of every day.

"If luck is on my side tonight, my clumsy tongue will make it right and wrists that touch," he whispered right through my ears as he hugged me from behind.

I caressed his left forearm as he circled it around my neck. "It isn't much, but it's enough to form imaginary lines." Zack continued singing. I couldn't hide my smile, and the butterflies were circling my stomach.

The dawn was already fading as the skies turned into pink with a touch of golden rays. I closed my eyes upon feeling its warmth. The sound of waves was as calm as Zack's voice.

"Forget your scars, we'll forget mine, the hours change so fast...Oh God, please make this last..."

I felt his lips at the top of my head while he tightened his grip, afraid to let me go. The water slowly kissed our feet as we stood in the white sand.

"Can we just stay like this forever?" he whispered. He placed his forehead on my shoulder. I felt the warm liquid dripping from his eyes.

I let go of his embrace and turned my back to face him. His eyes were teary as he cupped them with his palm. "Let's go and run, Katie. Please?" His voice broke as he kneeled.

"I never imagine my proposal to go like this." He composed himself before lifting his head to gaze at me. He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it to say, "Please, spend the rest of your sunrise and sunset with me."

I whimpered. I bit my thumb to stop myself from crying, but I couldn't help it. God knew how I wanted to say yes. "Come on, Zacky. Don't joke around. Let's go-"

"Katie, no one is joking," he seriously replied. "I'm not going to stand up until you say yes."

"Please, Zack. Don't do this." I pleaded. "I told you I would just-"

"Spend a day with me and forget everything about us to marry a guy you don't even love," he mocked. He stared at me with pain in his eyes. "Why would you choose him over me?"

"I love you, Zack." I cried. "I do." I pulled my hand away when he tried to put the ring on it. "But, there are things that weren't meant to and-"

"Fuck that," he hissed. "Who are you to say we aren't meant to be? Who's going to decide that?"

"Zack, you know how I made a promise, and you're the one who taught me that promises shouldn't be broken." I held his hand and motioned him to stand up, but he didn't even bulge.

"There are promises meant to be broken for you to be free," he cried. I could feel the pain in his sobs. "Please...Katie. Marry me." He handed me the box, and I saw a customized semicolon silver ring.

"You don't know how much I wanted to wear that ring and spend the rest of my life with you." I pulled his free hand and tried to make him stand up, but he didn't even flinch.

"Then do it. Runaway, marry me and make a family with me. Please?" he snatched the ring from the box and grabbed my wrist. I closed my fist as he put all his strength for me to wear it.

I struggled to push him away from me, but I bent on my knees as soon as he locked me in his arms. We both cried in sorrow.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. I wiped the tears on his face. "I couldn't fight for us."

"Let me fight for you, for us," he replied. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have trusted Aae. I should have come back...if I know it's a fake wedding then..." he sighed. "Fuck Aae."

"It's too late for that Zack. We can never change the past." I smiled a little. "So, let us just make this day-"

He sealed my lips with his. I could feel the warmth of his breath as his tongue found its way inside my mouth. The world seemed to stop as our mouth danced to the rhythm of our hearts. I tasted mint until we run out of breath.

I moaned as he softly traced his lips on my chin down to my neck. His mouth found the pendant on my neck and caressed it with his lips.

He planted small kisses around my neck as I pulled him closer. His deep breath made me arched my body. I bit my lower lip as he put his left hand inside my shirt and slowly caressed my back. I was ready to give myself, but he stopped.

I groaned in frustration and heard his small chuckle. "I want to make love with you after the wedding, but I guess I won't be able to do it." He placed his forehead on mine as he gently pinched my cheeks.

"I love you, my Katie," he whispered. "You are my sunrise in every sunset and the sky I will forever reach."

I smiled. "You are the greatest song I will forever keep in my playlist, but Zack." I shook my head. "Don't be stuck with me. Find the woman that will become the moon in your darkest night."

I closed his palm with the ring on it. "Find a woman who will sing the same melody as your heart."

"I already found you, and I still be waiting for you," he replied.

With sorrow in my heart, I commanded, "Don't Zack. Don't wait for me."

"That's not your call, Katie." He kissed my forehead. "I hope you become happy with your decision," he smiled bitterly.

"I hope and pray for your happiness Zack even it doesn't include me." I wiped my tears and managed to make a smile, but didn't reach my eyes. It would never reach my eyes again.

My heart almost exploded when he whimpered in pain as he spoke, "I can live without you. We can live with each other. You know that, right?"

I nodded. But just like the lyrics of the song from my playlist...

"But without you Katie, without us." His lips trembled as he offered his shaking hand towards me, a sign of defeat. "I would be miserable at best."

-

"When did you learn how to bake?" I asked as he stood in front of the oven.

He smiled at me, a weak smile. "I used to bake for someone before."

"Oh?" I nodded as I tried to hide the jealousy in my face. "The girl must be lucky huh. So, did she like it? Are you even good at that?"

He chuckled, or at least he pretended he did. Our tears were still evident in our eyes as we stared at each other. "Beat me."

He wore the gloves before pulling the tray inside the oven. I sniffed the familiar smell of banana cake. It was my favorite.

"Did you like it?" He gazed at me.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow. "Let me taste it," I said looking at the banana cake.

"You already tasted it," he said that made me stopped. "Do you think my mother was the one who baked the banana cake I always gave you before?"

I blinked. My jaw dropped in surprise. I didn't know that. "Woah, wow." I wagged my head in disbelief and amazement. "What else did you do for me that I wasn't aware of?"

"There's not much. It doesn't matter." He shrugged.

"Why? Come on. Make me the luckiest girl in the universe." I urged.

He stroked his shoulder-length hair and I could sense how he carefully thought of words to say. "It's corny."

I rolled my eyes. "Would it kill you to say it?"

"It would kill you." He looked at me. His eyes started to cloud again so he turned my back on me. "I used to walk you home since seventh grade or made sure you ride the bus home."

"I didn't know that," I replied.

He rolled his eyes upon looking at me. "You're numb. You didn't even know Aae have your customized earphone and just exchanged his to get your attention." I could sense the bitterness in his voice.

"If you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

"I was confident enough Aae wouldn't have my place in your life. Guess, I was wrong, right?"

"What else?" I asked to ease the sadness surrounding us again.

"I used to go to the pool before our morning practice because you always made my day." He smiled and I could feel the happiness as he recalled those moments.

"Just that? It doesn't make me feel lucky at all," I joked, but the truth was having him by my side already made me the luckiest girl in the universe.

"I came back," he quickly replied. "My mother never knew about this but I came back to stop your wedding."

"What?" I creased my brows.

"I was there on your wedding day because I wanted to know if you are really happy." He closed his eyes as the liquid slowly dropped from it. "I was ready to run away with you. You know make you a runaway bride the moment you see me standing at the door." He laughed a little.

"But you didn't," I frowned. "Do I look happy with my wedding dress that you didn't stop the wedding? I was miserable!" I shouted in frustration.

"I know you are that I was ready to snatch you from Aae but I couldn't."

"Yeah, of course. We're both coward to fight for our love so here we are..." I sighed. I cupped my face and my heart started to ache again.

"Yeah. I was coward because why would I risk your life to be with me when you are my life." He smiled with tears as he embraced me.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, confused.

He caressed my hair and kissed me on the forehead. "They pointed a gun on you and was ready to kill you if I step inside. So, do you think-"

I kissed him. "I love you, Zack." I breathed in and out as I wiped my tears. "Let's just-" He caught me with his arms as I almost fell. I could no longer explain the emotions clouding up inside my brain. It felt like I was going to explode. I shouldn't have asked. I should have let everything in the past buried inside. Now, it just made me hate my family more than anything.

"Baka!" He pricked my forehead. "I love you more than you will ever know."

I smiled. "I would take note of that."

We stared at each other for a second until he changed the topic.

"Come on, Zeekie! Let's eat the banana cake." He cleared his throat and wiped his tears before giving me a banana cake.

I wish at the moment I had the power to stop the time.

I don't know what to say. I could no longer form words because I felt like all the words left would just hurt us. So, we ended up staring at each other.

This silence between us was comforting that I would gladly stay here forever.

"What was it like when you first fly, you know as a Captain?" I sipped the banana milk while he rested his head on my lap.

"I first thought of you." He smiled as he played with my hair. "I mean, I always think of you but at that moment I prayed that you were beside me."

"I used to count planes on the rooftop hoping one of them would bring you back," I confessed. "I'm really glad you're alive and you have your memories back."

"Gab helped me," he said. "And that doctor who likes to play with cubes."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sead?"

"Uh, yeah." He nodded. "We easily get along because we love the same thing."

"What is it?"

"You." He chuckled when he saw me blush. "You're beautiful when you smile, Zeekie!" He brushed my hair before he closed his eyes. "Sing for me."

"You know I'm not good at singing, Baka!" I scowled. He smiled as I scanned his face. I traced the bridge of his nose down to his lips.

"Uh, you!" I hit him when he bit my pointed finger.

He laughed. "Sing to me the song I'll forever engrave in my heart."

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want me to sing?"

He opened his right eye. "Surprise me."

"Hmm." I brushed his hair with my fingers while thinking. "And all I know is that I want it more than yesterday..." I started singing.

My voice kinda sucked but it seemed like a melody to his ears. He hummed as I sang. "If I was waiting, I was waiting for just one little spark..."

He gently pulled my hand and kissed it before placing it in his chest. I could feel his heart beating.

"You are the brightest I've seen. You are the best side of me and just for when we're apart I've got a piece of your heart..."

"But I want the whole damn thing..." He continued singing. I could see myself in his eyes when he opened it. "Say hello to all my problems for me. Tell them sorry, I can't be around anymore..."

"Zack..." I whispered. "I love you." I should have told him that before. Now, it's too late.

"The years will go on, we'll get older and then we'll die but we'll get by..." He straightened and pulled me inside his arms.

"And it goes on forever just like this. If I could go back, I would do it all over with you again..." he whispered. "I love you, my Katie. I love you..." He kept on repeating over and over again until I fell asleep in his arms.

I dreamt of Zack dying in my arms. When I woke up, panic crawled my skin. I was hugging a pillow instead of him. I quickly run towards the kitchen. He wasn't in there, so I dashed my way out.

"Zack!" I shouted. My hands were trembling as I saw blood on the front door.

I tried hard not to think and focused on my steps, even though I could name hundreds of the worst things that could happen. I wouldn't be able to handle it, especially if my family would be the reason.

I felt a bit of ease when I saw a candlelight dinner by the sea. The sky was a mixture of purple and blue as the sun hid its ray down to the turquoise sea. The waves were crashing by the sand, and I could feel the powdery and silky sand kissing my barefoot.

The lanterns formed an aisle towards the table bestowed green lights, with the pink-fern petals scattered around.

There was so much happiness and contentment in my heart. I thought of running away with Zack to live on an island. We could forget everything and start a life. I finally found the courage to marry him and defy my family.

I was supposed to until I saw him standing next to our bodyguards with a gun pointed at his temple. There were two of them holding him while the three of them were holding a gun.

"Zack!" I ran towards him, but the bodyguards were too quick to stop me.

"What did you do to him?" I shouted. "I swear I'll kill myself if he dies."

"Your mother ordered us to bring you back home." The head of the guards lowered his gun before turning to me.

"Did my mother order you to hurt Zack?" My brows furrowed at anger. "Let him go."

"We don't take orders from you," he coldly answered.

"Why do you need to do this?" I screamed.

"I told them we're going to elope." Zack laughed like it wasn't a big deal. I could sense the blood dripping from his lips. They punched him. Damn! "Let's run away, Katie, and be Romeo and Juliet."

"You're not funny, Zack." I rolled my eyes and raised my arms to surrender. "We're not going to run, so let him go."

"We don't know that." The head of the guard answered.

"Where would we go? Look around." I pointed out the whole place. "Do you expect us to swim or to kill ourselves?" I mocked.

The bodyguard sighed. "He was the one who punched us first." They all turned to Zack.

"You deserve that," Zack smirked. "Now, how about you let go of me?" He sighed. "Let's just finish our dinner."

"How do you even know we are here?" I raised an eyebrow.

"We tracked all the private islands owned by his family."

"I should have brought you overseas, don't you think?" Zack asked as soon as they let go of him.

He wiped the blood on his lips, and I ran to hug him. "I'm fine, Katie. Come on, let's eat dinner." He held my hand.

"Give us an hour," I ordered them. "By the way, I want him to fly the copter."

"We can't allow him to do-"

"You will allow him," I commanded. "You've been with me since, and you know what I've been through. It's my only request, please?"

They all looked at each other before bowing their heads. "We'll be waiting at the runway."

"Why are you staring at me?" I smiled. "I thought we're going to finish this." I gestured my hand to the food in front of us.

"I'm memorizing your features," he seriously replied.

"We can take pictures," I offered him. "Where is your phone?"

He shook his head. "No need."

"You suck at memorizing." I scowled. "Come on. I look beautiful in my ash gray hair. Don't you think?"

He licked his lips as he stroked his hair. I remembered the scrunchies at my side pocket. "This is my favorite scrunchies. Use this to tie your hair. Okay? Don't lose it."

"Sure." I watched him tied his hair in a messy bun. "How do I look?" he winked.

I chuckled. "Baka! You're ugly." I lied. He looked like a masterpiece. His thick brows, pointed nose, chiseled jawline were still something to fall for. He was still the same Zack I fell in love with.

"So what? You still love me even if I'm ugly." He teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Zacky!"

He parted his lips, but just like me, he no longer knew what to say. What else should we say? All I wanted was to stay with him, more than an hour. But time was never on our side nor destiny.

Our story finally ended here, but our love will last forever.

"Look, that's Polaris." I pointed at the sky to stop my tears from flowing. Crying was the only thing I was good at. "It's beautiful."

"You are beautiful, Katie." He stood up from his seat and opened the stainless plate cover revealing a heart-shaped banana cake. "It's an advance Happy Birthday." He kissed my forehead.

I paused. I forgot about my birthday. It only registered to me that tomorrow, the same date as my wedding was my birthday. For the record, I stopped celebrating birthdays.

"Let's make a wish." He lit up the three candles at the center of the cake.

"What's your wish?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip before blowing the candles. I closed my eyes and lifted my hand to pray, "Please don't be miserable without me." I opened my eyes and gazed at him.

He covered his eyes with his palm as his lips were trembling. "How?"

"How?" I shook my head. "I don't know. But promise me,"

"No."

"Promise me, Zack." I held his hand.

"I can't."

"You can, and you will." I hugged him. "So promise me?" I faked a smile upon looking at him.

"Promise me you'll open your heart to someone again."

He gulped. I could feel how he had a hard time saying yes to my request. "I don't make promises I can't keep."

"Just try."

"Tell that to me again if you already forget about me." He scoffed and eventually turned into a smile. He looked proud knowing no one could replace him in my heart.

He handed me the banana milk he got from the table. "At least, let's be friends. I will be staying at-"

I cut him off. I don't like to know where he would be going because that would make me go crazy knowing I could not go see him.

"Come on. Let's go." I intertwined our hands. "Let's fly, Captain."

He nodded in hesitation.

I was quiet the entire flight. He was singing my favorite song while I looked up at the clouds. I prayed countless times for God to make the seconds longer than usual. I would trade anything to get back our lost times.

We stared blankly in front of us when we reached the roof deck of the hospital. It took us minutes before we finally stared at each other.

"Thank you for a safe flight, Captain." I smiled, sincerely. "I look forward to seeing you again," I said as soon as I got out of the copter.

He held my hand. "Ask me where I'm going." He urged.

I shook my head. "No. But, I'm always here at the hospital."

He didn't let go of his gaze until I broke it. My heart started to crumble as he spoke, "I love you." He caressed my face before kissing me.

I closed my eyes and felt every bit of his tongue inside mine until we gasped for air.

"Are you sure about your decision?" he whispered. "If I turn my back, you won't be able to see me again."

"Have a...safe flight...Zacky!" I closed my eyes. I don't want to see him go.

This hurts more than the pain I've felt when he left for college. This time, it's unbearable. Dying would only be the remedy for this pain.

"Katie," he whispered. "You will always be the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

I lost him the moment I opened my eyes.