WET substance touched her cheeks.
Hussey fluttered her eyes open, only to be greeted by Aeschylus’ crying face.
“Baby . . . you’re here. . . .”
She reached for his face to wipe away the tears that was rolling on his cheeks. “Hussey. . . .”
With the sight of him giving her a loving, sweet smile, she found him kneeling beside her.
That’s when Hussey realized. She was on the floor, just ended up crying in her sleep after so many nights of mourning to his death.
Everything that she saw in him was perfect in her eyes.
“Hussey. . . ,” he called in his forever soft voice.
Bewilderment clouded her features yet happiness prevailed because he’s real, Aeschylus was in front of her and she can touch him.
“Sky. . . .” Upon registering what’s happening, she jumped into his arms. “Sky!”
“You’re tired.” Aeschylus narrowed his eyes at her as he cupped her cheeks. “You haven’t sleeping well, do you?” He scanned her sunken eyes.
Sniffles came in between. “How can I?” she mumbled before burying her face deep to his chest, inhaling the vanilla scent that she missed dearly.
“Where was I when it happened . . .”
“Hussey,” he called to stop her for whatever she wanted to say. “It’s not your fault, I can’t just always rely on you.”
Gently, she squeezed his hands to support herself if ever she broke down in front of him. “You got hurt . . . you and your mom was in pain.”
Aeschylus sighed, peppering her feathery kisses. “You’re always beautiful, ever since that day I landed my eyes on you. You are just perfect. Been always adorable and yet very scheming.” He chuckled when she replied another snuffle. “I love you. . . .”
“I love you too, Aeschylus.”
He brushed away the lost strands of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “Hussey, can you forgive me?”
Brows bended, her eyes gave him a questioning look. “For what?”
“I let you down . . . I was so paranoid that you’re the one who’s gonna leave me. Turned out, I was the one who did that to you. . . .”
It hit her. So everything that’s happening right now isn’t true. . . ?
Tears flowed again and Aeschylus was there to catch it from falling unlike the other nights.
Hussey wrapped her arms around him. She didn’t say anything after what he said, she doesn’t want to believe it.
“Hey . . .” Hussey hummed. “Remember when you made me a cheesecake for my birthday?”
“Yeah . . . it was really bad; I didn’t even taste it first before giving it to you.” Her lips curled.
“Yeah, I can make a better cheesecake than you though.”
“Hey! You’re so bad! But I apologized to you endlessly for making you puke, right?” Her mind took her to the time when that event happened, his birthday.
His first birthday that she was included.
“Those days were so simple and yet it’s so special.” He rested his cheek on her head. “Baby? Can you promise me one thing?”
“Anything for my baby.”
“Forget me.”
Her head hurt too much, body hurt too. It seemed that everything hurt too much.
The weight of the blues was striking her soul, two words and her world was crashing. “You know I can’t do that.”
Grin formed to his lips after what she uttered. “Alright, don’t forget everything about me. Keep our memories. The dates, the kisses, and all that moments that we shared.”
She nodded which made him continue, “But forget about how you’ll be lonely now that I’m gone, forget the guiltiness that you’re carrying,”
“I know you’re thinking about the time that you were so busy with your mission but please be reminded that whenever you make time just to greet me and tell me you love me before bed make me go in seventh heaven.”
Hussey clenched her jaw, he came to see her just to say goodbye. She wished it will never end, but the world wouldn’t let it.
“I want you to be happy, continue your life without any regrets. You matter so much to me; I don’t want seeing your tears—unless it’s about the anime series that you’re watching.”
Both of them laughed at themselves. “I love you so much, but you need to move on, baby.”
“No . . .” She shook her head. “It’s hard, moving on is just—”
“I know, I know it will be hard, you’re amazing, but I know you can do it.” Aeschylus leaned to her. “I can’t save my pretty princess if the spirits want to catch you now.”
He earned a punch from her because of that. “So, promise me you’ll live happily from now on, alright?”
Not trusting her voice anymore, she nodded. Aeschylus kept wiping her tears.
He took her hands and held them against his cheek. “I cherish every moment with you.”
He pressed kisses to the back of her hand. “My love for you only deepen each seconds. I’m proud of you, you got this far. Maybe someday you’ll meet someone, someone who will love you, take care of you and maybe . . . bring you in front of the altar.”
Her lips pursed. You’re the only one that I can see waiting for me as I walk down the aisle. She wanted to say that out loud but she knew he will only oppose her.
“Will you look at me?”
“I might cry.”
Chuckling, he kissed her temple then pinched her chin, making her look at him. He brushed their lips together. “I don’t mind, you’re still lovely either way.”
“I’ll miss your warmth. . . .” They closed their eyes to feel each other’s presence.
“Let’s meet again.”
Aeschylus smiled at her widely, ready to capture her lips again for the last time.
Hussey’s eyes cracked opened. She found herself slumped against the blanket that Aeschylus used whenever the homies were sleeping over their house.
Her eyes traveled around her room, then her eyes darted to her dog, Lucky.
With her wagging tail, she slowly went near her, placing her head on top of her shoulder blade like her dog was comforting her, like she knew she was hurting.
Lucky sat down when her arms wrapped around her frame, she found herself crying again that night.
Everything that Hussey knew, saw, and realized really hurt because when it comes to him, she loves the way she falls apart.
In the span of his time with her, she dearly cherished and loved it. The way it hurt, she loves every bit of it.
That night would probably be the last time she’ll cry her heart out.
Just what she promised to Aeschylus, she’ll live her life happily, no regrets or anything.