SUNSET

An ALDUB Fanfic

Disclaimer: All fiction. Any similarities are mere coincidences. This was written for entertainment and not for financial profit.

He hesitatingly opened his eyes, unsure of what awakened him but felt a gentle summon calling him from the deep sleep he was in. Sluggishly, he looked around, temporarily disoriented by the darkness, trying to familiarize himself with the place he found himself in.

A single recessed light by the window illuminates the entire room.

He closed his eyes once again and exhaled, relieved when he finally heard his name called.

"Tisoy," said the voice quietly.

"Kanina ka pa?" he replied silently, his eyes still closed.

"Oo," the voice replied smilingly, recognizing instantly the sound of contentment in his voice, "eh, kamusta ka?"

"You already know. Kaya ka siguro nandito."

Nobody spoke for a while. Only the constant muted beep of the intensive care monitor beside the bed momentarily filled the air.

"Have you forgiven me?" she asked silently, no trace of hesitation in her voice.

He didn't answer immediately but the sudden appearance of tears that seeped from his eyes and the difficult wheezing of his breath spoke for him.

Soft hands gently grasped his cold ones, intertwining her fingers with his, squeezing it firmly when he submitted to the comfort the warmth of her hands offer.

"How can I not?" he finally whispered painfully. "It was not your fault."

One of her hands lifted and wiped the corners of his eyes. Rubbing away the traces of the sadness that usually grip him when he remembers her.

"I knew it would hurt you but I was not given a choice," she squeezed his hand again and started stroking his temple. She allowed him to soak her presence in, her touch as evidence that she's really there. "And besides," she added after a while, "I also knew you would survive—kasi nga mas mahal kita," she added teasingly, "I wouldn't have."

It had been a running joke between them, 'who loved whom more?' in effect, starting an unspoken competition to show ostentatious demonstrations of love for each other. Nobody ever understood what went on between them, no one was ever allowed inside their bubble, but everyone felt it and labeled it with different names although everyone believes, and agrees, it was a lot more than that.

He exhaled exasperatedly, opening his eyes just to glare at her, "Joke? Gawin daw bang joke?" he moaned in disbelief.

Seeing her sweet smile somehow melted the pain in his heart and quickly changed it into the familiar joy he's always felt with her. He lifted his hand purposefully and caressed her cheek. "You're beautiful," he whispered reverently, "so beautiful."

She smiled back and stroke the deep indentation on his left cheek. Her eyes tracing the whole of his handsome face comparing it to the time she last saw him. His once fleshy cheeks are now hollowed and his darkened skin bear testament to his love for the outdoors, while his now grayish eyes look tired and heavy with pain. His forehead has a permanent frown etched on it, framed by thinning gray hair matted on his head. "So are you," she whispered back lovingly, "So are you," stroking one cheek tenderly.

"I missed you," he whispered in wonderment, gazing at her thick lips, remembering the many times she boldly kisses him because, she confessed, she was just too overwhelmed by her love for him. With her, he was always secure that he was loved. She never made him beg for affection—even when she was mad. For her, just because she loves you, whether you deserved it or not, she will always make you feel you are cherished.