Back to December || Izana Kurokawa

Chapter Twenty-one

Unang Sayaw

(Y/n) took most of her time choosing the dress she'll wear and putting make-up on. Apparently, Izana sent their clothes to the inn they were staying in via courier yesterday. Yes, he sent their clothes beforehand without (y/n)'s knowledge. So much for surprises.

In the end, (y/n) chose a champagne ankled-length dress. (Y/n) is sure that she didn't own such a dress, but she wore it anyway. She also put a light make-up to make herself presentable. After all, it's a special dinner with Izana. It's already six-thirty in the evening when (y/n) decided to go out of her room and meet Izana at their dinner place.

It wasn't a long walk from her room to their meeting place. While heading towards their dinner place, (y/n) can't help but adore the little lamps that seemed to guide her way. Her smile grew more prominent when she saw Izana standing at the side of their table while looking at the sea's endless horizon before them.

(Y/n) slowly made her way to him. She could imagine a scenario of her walking toward Izana while wearing a white dress and holding a bouquet of flowers. An event where they will be exchanging their vows. A vow that they will forever carry until the sunset of their lives.

That is what (y/n)'s the silent wish: to be with Izana. 

"Hey," (y/n) called for Izana's attention when she got closer to their table. Red tints appeared on Izana's cheeks when he saw (y/n) as he turned around. She looks beautiful in the dress he brought for her.

"Did you wait for too long?"

"You're beautiful," Izana said unconsciously.

"That's not an answer to my question," (y/n) chuckled, making Izana more flustered.

"No waiting time is too long when it comes to you, my queen," he replied as he pulled out a chair for (y/n).

"So cheesy," (y/n) remarked. Izana snickered a bit in return. "Shall we eat, then?" Izana asked as soon as he sat down on his chair.

"Thank you for the food," they both said in unison. However, instead of eating, (y/n) unconsciously stared at Izana. He looks happy, just like what she always wanted him to be. For (y/n), Izana deserves better. He deserves the world and all the love it can give. And with that, (y/n) wanted to fix herself and become a better person for Izana.

"Wait for me, Izana," (y/n) thought to herself.

"Why are you not eating?" Izana asked when he noticed (y/n) hadn't started eating her food yet. "Izana...I'm glad to see you happy and at peace," (y/n) said before she started eating.

Izana paused before replying, "Because I am with you."

Throughout their dinner, they exchange a few words. But most of the time, they kept stealing glances from each other. Especially, Izana. He couldn't take his eyes off (y/n).

Moments later, a serene melody started playing as the lights around them lit brighter before blinking into different colors. (Y/n) looked around to see her surrounding without realizing that Izana left his seat and was currently walking toward her.

"May I have a dance?" Izana asked as he offered his hand to (y/n). The latter smiled as she accepted Izana's hand.

"Of course,"

(Y/n) snaked her arms on Izana's nape as the latter held her waist. (Y/n)'s eyes met Izana's purple orbs. Everything just stopped. Only serene sounds of the wave and the music can be heard. And just like when they were younger, she could see the whole galaxy in his eyes. It was so mesmerizing that it made (y/n) enter a trance where time is non-existent.

"(Y/n)...do you remember the first time our eyes met?" Izana asked as they slowly danced under the moonlight. "That time...it feels like the stars went down from heaven. It lit up my whole world," Izana described the first time they locked gazes. It is one of the memories he'll never forget. Why? Because the sparkle in (y/n)'s eyes ignited the fire in Izana's heart. For the first time in his life, he saw light in the tunnel he was in. She is his light in the endless tunnels in his life. (Y/n) also brought warmness to him. She is his summer in the endless winter of his life.

"I hope you still remember the first time we danced," Izana added. Of course, (y/n) remembers that. It was during their first Christmas together that they did that. They danced while it was snowing. They danced without minding how cold it was. It is very different from what is happening right now. They're now dancing under the moonlight, surrounded by the bright light. "It was the moment when I realized I will love you forever," Izana confessed as he rested his forehead on (y/n)'s forehead. The stars and the moon are the witnesses of how he fell in love with her that night. And in the present time, the same celestial bodies are the witness to how he confessed how he fell for her.

He loved her in the past, still loves her in the present, and will love her in the future and in the afterlife. And if the multiverse is real, Izana is sure that he will keep on choosing to love (y/n).

Izana slowly moves his hand to (y/n)'s back and lightly push her towards him so that he can hug her tightly. Izana wants to scream to the whole world how much he loves the lady he is with him. His heart is overwhelmed with joy because his world is in his arms. Izana wanted to stop the time and stay as they were. He's afraid of what will come next after that night. He's anxious that he might still lose the woman he loves even though she's already in his arms.

Everything is so surreal. Izana and (y/n) felt like they were in a dream. And if this is a dream, both of them don't want to wake up anymore. They couldn't imagine a reality without each other.

"Can you feel my heartbeat?" Izana asked (y/n). The latter slightly nods. Izana smiled. "It only beats for you," he added. (Y/n)'s brows arched before asking, "Why is that?"

She's the reason why he survived those fatal gunshots from the Tenjiku-Toman fight. (Y/n) was the reason he fought for his life. Even when the odds weren't in his favor. He "postponed" his death just to be with the person he considers his life.

And now that she's with him, he couldn't see himself letting her slip from his fingertips.

"Because you're the one that kept it beating. You're my life, (y/n)."