180. Epilogue (5)
“Iana!”
Ricdorian, who was leaning on a pillar and looking at the sky, turned his head and came running. There seemed to be a long tail wagging behind him as he ran.
No. If it really existed, I think it would be shaking rapidly like a propeller. Beside him, a real beast jumped up and down to greet me.
-Human! Late! You’re late, Nyan!
Pudding is definitely a cat, but sometimes it behaves like a puppy. Is this what you call a dog-cat?
I smiled and held Pudding in one arm. Then I stretched out my hand towards Ricdorian.
“Shall we hold hands?”
His blue eyes blinked wide, then smiled broadly.
Maybe the reason I like the blue sky is because it resembles the eyes of my favorite person.
Ricdorian, who felt even more depressed on the days I was visiting Chaser, didn’t ask me anything.
That’s why I used to tell him the truth first.
“Um, Ricdorian. Sorry.”
“Which one?”
“…… That, I don’t think I could keep it at 8 seconds.”
He told me not to make eye contact for more than 8 seconds, but I felt like I couldn’t keep it. So I spoke frankly.
Ricdorian hesitated for a moment, but then he squeezed my hand tightly.
“It’s all right.”
He says it’s okay with a face that’s not okay, um……. I’m sorry to Ricdorian, but he gets angry if I say that he looks cute.
In fact, Ricdorian had gone in there with me once. After almost making a life-and-death decision, he ended up waiting in front of the door. At that time, I really thought that Chaser would die. Ricdorian is also injured that he lost consciousness halfway.
In the meantime, we entered an alleyway. The winter trees still looked bare, but I could see the white camellia flowers in full bloom between them.
White camellia, a fairly rare flower.
I stopped reflecting on the past and spoke.
“Maybe a long, long time will pass.”
In fact, I’m still not sure if my choice was right or if I had done the right thing.
In everything.
I am not perfect like God. I am insecure. I might one day regret the choices I made. Even though we are in a finite bond like this, I think we will live like this for a very long time.
“Will there ever be a day when I become dull with things?”
I didn’t put the subject nor the object, but many things can be attached to it. For example, this burning love now. It’s not that I don’t feel insecure, so I was cautious about that question.
Ricdorian stopped walking. Behind him, a white camellia flower resembling his hair came into view. If it snowed here, it would be a very magnificent view.
Ricdorian smiled warmly.
“Iana, I once had this thought.”
I didn’t ask what he had thought, but Ricdorian continued slowly.
“Your footsteps in the basement where I was, were always cautious. Like saying that you can leave anytime.”
His fingers dug between mine. He reached out and cupped my cheek with his other hand. White breath broke out like smoke.
“You said it was a relationship that would soon pass.”
Yes. I said something similar to this. Many times.
“But Iana, I always thought. If your cautious footsteps left a mark on my heart. I will never lose you in my life.”
He brought my hand to his lips.
“Should I kneel down in front of you and beg you to take me away?”
“…….”
“You could throw me away someday. If only I could stay by your side…… Until I die, I will chase after you without even stepping on a shadow.”
He lowered his eyes and smiled.
“That’s what I prayed for.”
When he slowly opened his eyes, the deep blue eyes were like the sea, then like the sky again, like a steady unchanging rock.
Why? Oddly enough, tears streamed down my cheeks.
Even though I was looking at this man whose eyes were like the color of the passing spring, I still miss him and love him. Like the season that will come back again, I love him so much.
“But being by your side at this moment, what would be scary and difficult? Now I just need to love you.”
He recited a warm, fiery confession with a red, flushed face.
“I love you. Maybe until the day my life ends. Forever.”
Ricdorian hesitated for a moment, then he looked around. It was an unusual behavior for him, who usually didn’t care about stares at all. While I tilted my head, he cleared his throat.
“I watched a program.”
“On TV.”
“Yes. There.”
Ricdorian slowly knelt down on one knee. I blinked wide. Blue skies, camellias, white hair, and a pure white smile. It was a picturesque landscape.
“…… sorry.”
“What?”
He apologized. The reason I couldn’t bear it anymore was because of his loveliness.
“I was going to do it after returning to our world……. You say you would let me only then.”
Oh, I think I know what he was going to say next. A happy smile flowed from my lips.
“Will you marry me?”
“…….”
“I will make you happy for the rest of your life.”
His voice trembled. It was a crude proposal for someone who had always said love. However, from the trembling eyes to the shaking eyes, the sincerity beams in every small part. I knew that this was his whole-hearted proposal.
“…… Oh my God. Are you serious? You couldn’t take it back.”
“What? Of, of course! Of course, there are many flowers in your garden, but…….”
“I will love you.”
“…… haha, yes I want to have a little bit of that kind of confidence.”
I reached out my hand and placed it on Ricdorian’s cheek. Then his eyes blinked several times. Showing he was very happy.
Suddenly, I felt that my fingers were itchy. When I slowly lowered my head, a bright red flower resembling him was blooming on my finger. Very small. Small enough to occupy only the fourth finger, but very covetous.
“……Is it a flower?”
“Yes. I want you to give this finger to me from now on.”
“…… Really, you’re very sly.”
We will live for many years to come.
Yet I thought. During my long life, this moment will be framed in gold and hung in my heart forever.
“But it’s romantic.”
I laughed
“I’m so happy that I wish I could stop time…….”
At the end of our story, out of prison, we lived happily ever after, although it will be full of countless stories to follow.
I know now
Written on each page would be ‘happiness’.
“My rose.”
I approached him and pulled him up and hugged him tightly. Holding the one and only ring in the world that has blossomed on my finger preciously.
“Will it be like this when we go back? I hope we can be a happy couple.”
As he says, there are many roses in my garden, but I want him to be the closest. I shyly confessed all my heart for the first time.
The wind blows and the camellia petals fall. On his shoulder, on his head, and over the hands that we linked.
“I will love you more than this moment.”
I wished that at this moment the red roses were in full bloom in the garden.
But it didn’t have to be.
“I love you.”
Because there was a rose in front of me that would bloom forever, only for me.
we have reached the end of the main story~
but don’t worry we will begin with the after story soon!
so what do you guys think of the ‘end’? it borders between closure and also not-closure?? haha.
i haven’t read much about the after story but it’s about iana’s life while she awaits the time to go back to the other roses!
so stay tuned~!
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