Epilogue: The End of The Game
Weddings always did this to me. They were reminders of dreams Ash and I had once shared-dreams that life had cruelly torn apart.
The memories pressed down on me, and for a moment, I felt like I couldn't breathe. Even though the wounds had healed, the scars were still there, and I missed Ash with an ache that never seemed to fade. I reached into my wallet and pulled out a check. "Here's my gift. I didn't know it was your wedding, so-"
Before I could finish, a bouquet of purple flowers came flying toward me. I caught it instinctively, startled by the unexpected gesture.
"Nice catch!" Luna cheered, clapping with delight, but I barely registered her excitement.
"What am I going to do here-" I was about to ask, but my words halted as I saw someone walking in my direction.
I froze as I saw him.
Walking toward me in a suit that matched the wedding's purple and white theme was the man I had longed to see for what felt like an eternity.
"Ash..." I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Sapphire," he murmured as he stopped in front of me. His hand reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek before his lips pressed gently against my forehead. "I'm back."
I couldn't stop the tears.
"Ash!" I cried, throwing my arms around his waist, clinging to him as if he might vanish again.noveldrama
He hesitated for a moment, clearly surprised by my embrace, but then his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close.
I rested my head against his chest, his heartbeat a steady rhythm that matched my own.
"Am I dreaming?" I asked, my voice muffled against him. "This is real, right?"
"It's real, baby," he said, his voice soft and filled with emotion as he cupped my face, his thumb brushing away my tears. "I'm so sorry I didn't reach out last year. I wanted to, but-" I shook my head, silencing him. "You're here now. That's all that matters."
For so long, I had dreamed of moments like this-walking hand in hand, sharing laughter, or simply being together without the shadow of the past hanging over us.
"I love you," he whispered, his voice trembling.
I looked up into his eyes, seeing the depth of his love reflected back at me. It mirrored everything I felt for him.
"I love you too," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
He leaned down, and as his lips met mine, the world around us seemed to fade. The kiss was tender, filled with all the longing and love we had kept buried for so long. When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my skin.
"I missed you so much," he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"I missed you too," I replied, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "You have no idea how much."
Behind us, someone cleared their throat loudly.
"Hey, we're the ones getting married here!" Luna called out teasingly, but her laughter gave away her delight at seeing us reunited.
"Stop it," I heard Evangeline scold Luna.
"You're so grumpy, Rose," she replied, calling Evangeline by her second name.
Evangeline crossed her arms. "It's Evangeline for you, woman. We're not that close."
"But you sponsored my wedding? Wow, so nice," Luna replied before clinging her arm around Evangeline. "Sapphire, can I have this cousin of yours? She's so generous!" "Hey, don't touch me!" Evangeline shouted, looking disgusted before she stepped back and sprayed alcohol on herself.
Instead of being offended, Luna just laughed. Looks like another friendship is forming, huh?
***
Soon enough, the wedding began. Luna and Rain weren't sentimental people, but seeing their tears fall as they looked at each other lovingly made my heart feel something. Even though I was just watching them, I could feel their love for one another.
To think that they only knew each other recently felt strange to me, but then I realized something.
Love isn't all about how long you've been with someone; it's about how the timing is right. It was the perfect time for them, and as their former leader, I'm so happy for both of them. I couldn't even hold back my tears.
"Here," Ash said, handing me a handkerchief with a gentle smile.
"Thank you," I whispered, wiping my eyes.
I would love to experience this with Ash-the peaceful feeling I have right now-Went out the drain when I heard Haze and Evangeline fighting.
"Why are you so grumpy? Do you want me to marry you, too?" Haze asked, his lips curved into a smirk.
"Fuck off, bastard. I swear, I'll kill you," Evangeline replied as she was losing her composure.
"Sshh. They're having mass," I scolded them as I shook my head.
Jeez. Just when will these two grow up?
***
When the wedding ended, we were at the wedding after-party.
People were drinking too much alcohol, and who else would start that? None other than Haze and Evangeline, the two alcohol lovers just like me. Mason had left because he had somewhere else to go. Under the starlit sky, I and Ash stood together, away from the crowd. The cold breeze wrapped around us, but with Ash by my side, I felt nothing but warmth.
"The stars are beautiful tonight," I said, my voice soft.
"Yeah." He nodded. "But not as beautiful as you."
My cheeks flushed at his answer, but I didn't speak. Ash, on the other hand, let me read my head on his shoulder.
Suddenly, Ash went in front of me and kneeled.
"Marry me, Sapphire..." With that, I felt a ring onto my ring finger. "Let me make up for the time we lost."
It was a silver ring with a heart design in the middle. Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy.
"Yes," I said, my voice firm despite the lump in my throat. "It will always be yes, Ash."
He smiled, his relief and happiness shining through as he pulled me into another kiss, one filled with promises of a future we would build together.
"I love you," he said as he parted our lips and gave me a peck on my forehead.
I smiled. "I love you, too."
I love being here with him, watching the stars shine as the cold breeze blows on us.
It felt like we were back in time.
"What if... we didn't break up before?" I didn't even look at him after I asked that. "What if you showed up after you and your team attacked Azrael?" There are times when I regret how long we were apart.
But Ash felt the opposite when he answered me.
"Then... our wounds would never heal, Sapphire."
I lifted my head and looked at him. "Hmm?"
He held my hand and intertwined it with his. "We will continue to remember the horrible past as if it happened yesterday."
And that's when I realized... that he was right.
If we had tried to push it, we could've just ruined our relationship more... and we both know that things are harder to fix once they're completely ruined. "Now that you're here again with me, do you have no regrets?"
"No regrets," he said before holding my cheek and gently stroking it. "Now, I want to be with you for our lifetime... Only you, and not with anyone else."
His voice was full of sincerity. Every pain we had experienced before was worth it. I knew that this time, we wouldn't let anything tear us apart.
"I thought I could play with your heart, but in the end, it was mine that couldn't keep up," Ash said with a smile, his voice soft and gentle. Then, he kissed me on the lip.
"Now, I'm surrendering completely. No more games, no more walls-just me, offering every part of myself to you, forever."