Love and Resilience

Under the Stars

JOVANA’S POV

The rhythmic beeping of monitors filled the hospital room, blending with the soft hum of voices and the occasional sound of footsteps in the hallway. My shift was almost over, and I could feel the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me. It had been a long day rounds, patient checkups, and endless paperwork. But despite the fatigue, my mind kept drifting to Serena. Today was the last day of her gala, and I had something special planned for us.

A soft smile tugged at my lips as I finished my last task of the day, checking on a patient before heading out. My heart fluttered with excitement. Today wasn’t just any ordinary day; it was our second monthsary. I couldn’t wait to see her, to hold her in my arms and celebrate the end of her event.

I quickly wrapped up my notes and handed them off to a nurse, who gave me a knowing smile. “Big plans for tonight?” she asked.

“Yeah, you could say that,” I replied, feeling my cheeks warm a little. “I’m surprising my girlfriend after her event.”

The nurse’s smile widened. “That’s sweet. Enjoy the night, Dr. Rommer. You deserve it.”

I thanked her and made my way out of the hospital. As soon as I stepped outside, the cool evening breeze hit my face, refreshing me instantly. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, the sun setting on the horizon, and I couldn’t help but think how beautiful it all was. But nothing compared to Serena. She was probably busy wrapping up the event, but I knew she’d be tired too. I wanted to do something special for her to show her how much she meant to me, even when our lives were hectic.

I got into my car and headed home, my mind racing with ideas. I had already planned to pick her up after the gala, but I wanted to take things a step further. I would bring her favorite snacks and a blanket, and after fetching her, we’d drive to the beach to relax under the stars. I smiled to myself as I remembered Serena once telling me how much she loved sitting by the ocean, listening to the waves crash on the shore.

On my way home, I stopped by her favorite bakery to pick up some fresh pastries and sweets. Then, I made a quick detour to the flower shop and bought a bouquet of pink tulips Serena’s favorite. I remembered how her face lit up the first time I brought her tulips, how she’d cradled them gently, as if they were the most precious thing in the world. That memory made me even more eager to see her tonight.

Finally, I arrived home. I rushed inside, quickly changing out of my scrubs into something more comfortable jeans and a soft sweater that Serena loved. I grabbed a blanket, packed the snacks and pastries into a bag, and made sure the tulips were carefully placed on the passenger seat of the car.

Before I left, I took a moment to look at everything I’d prepared. The thought of surprising Serena, of spending time together at the beach, filled me with a sense of anticipation. We hadn’t been able to celebrate our monthsary properly over the last couple of days because of our busy schedules, but tonight would be different.

As I drove towards the gala venue, I thought about how lucky I was. Serena had been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. She understood me, supported me, and loved me in ways I hadn’t even realized I needed. Despite her own busy life, she always made time for me, and I wanted to do the same for her tonight.

I arrived at the venue just as the gala was winding down. People were still mingling, but the crowd had thinned considerably. I parked my car and grabbed the flowers and the bag of snacks, my heart racing with excitement as I made my way to the entrance.

I spotted Serena almost immediately. She was standing near the front entrance, talking to some of her colleagues, but I could see the tiredness in her posture. Even from a distance, she was breathtaking. The soft lights of the venue illuminated her features, and her smile, though small, was as radiant as ever.

As I approached, she looked up and our eyes met. The moment she saw me, her expression softened, and a look of surprise crossed her face.

“Jovana?” she called out, her voice filled with disbelief.

I grinned, holding up the bouquet of pink tulips as I walked towards her. “Surprise.”

She broke into a smile, her tired eyes lighting up as she rushed over to me. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I hugged her back, feeling her warmth seep into me, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

“I can’t believe na nandito ka ulit,” she murmured against my shoulder, her voice soft and full of emotion. “I thought you were too busy. How did you....?”

“I finished my shift and came straight here,” I explained, pulling back just enough to look at her.

Her eyes glistened, and she leaned in to kiss me softly on the lips. “Lagi mo nalang akong pinakikilig, Jo. ”

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I love seeing your cheeks turns red because you’re kinikilig. I brought you something.” I handed her the bouquet, watching as her eyes lit up with delight.

“Pink tulips,” she whispered, her fingers gently brushing the petals. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did,” I said, smiling as I watched her admire the flowers. "Alam ko kung gaano mo kagusto ang bulaklak na yan."

Serena looked up at me, her eyes filled with warmth. “Thank you, love. This means so much to me.”

I took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m not done yet. I brought some snacks and a blanket. How about we head to the beach and spend the rest of the night together? Just the two of us.”

Her face lit up even more, and she nodded eagerly. "That’s sounds perfect, let’s go there, Jo!"

We made our way back to the car, and as we drove to the beach, we talked about her event, how everything had gone, and how relieved she was that it was finally over. I listened to her talk, smiling to myself as she animatedly described the event, her passion for her work shining through every word.

When we arrived at the beach, the stars were already twinkling above us, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air. We found a quiet spot near the water, and I laid out the blanket while Serena took off her shoes, sinking her toes into the cool sand.

We sat down, side by side, the blanket keeping us warm as we shared the snacks I’d brought. Serena leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder, and for a while, we just sat there in comfortable silence, watching the waves and enjoying each other’s presence.

“This is perfect,” she whispered after a while, her voice soft and content.

I smiled, kissing the top of her head. “I’m glad. I wanted to make tonight special for you.”

Serena lifted her head to look at me, her eyes full of love. “You always make me feel special, love. Thank you for coming. I know you must be exhausted, but you still came. That means everything to me.”

I cupped her face gently, my thumb brushing against her cheek. “I came because I love you. I didn’t want to miss this, not for anything.”

She leaned in, kissing me softly, and in that moment, everything felt perfect. We were here, together, under the stars, and nothing else mattered.

“I love you too, love,” she whispered against my lips, her words filling me with warmth. “More than you’ll ever know.”

We spent the rest of the night on the beach, wrapped up in each other, celebrating our monthsary in the simplest but most meaningful way. Just being together, away from the world, was all we needed.