AMA-Con: The Compilation

The Sum of Love: Return

7:25pm

October 8, 2016

Novaliches, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Maine sighed. She gingerly sat on top of her bed before reaching for her feet. She removed her black heels and lied on top of the bed with her arms spread wide. It had been a long day. She just came back from the court to testify again. The trials for Jose Espinosa, the three senators and the former President of the Philippines started about a month ago. Maine knew that the case will take several months and even years for the case to finish but she was already mentally and physically exhausted.

The court ordered restriction on the press but the media hounded the juries, the witnesses, and the lawyers outside the court. They kept asking her questions that she didn't want to answer nor was allowed to. She left her job to avoid this. Maine resigned from her job right after getting out of the hospital three months ago. She wanted to take a long break from being a reporter and reflect on the life that she has now. Her parents wanted her to move back to their family residence but she refused. She wanted to be alone. She doesn't want to be with anyone but Richard.

At the thought of him, Maine began to cry. It doesn't matter when, it doesn't matter how but whenever she remembers him and the day that he died she couldn't help but cry. Her yearning for him will never subside. Her dreams were filled of him and his impossible return to her. Today was much worse. Zedrick was at the trial. He smiled at her before taking the stand and testifying against Espinosa and the politicians. She wanted to talk to him but before she can, he disappeared.

To say that the past three months was a whirlwind is a complete understatement. After the exchange, she and her father were rushed to the hospital. She was unconscious for about a week. Zedrick and the other NBI agents went to the place set by Espinosa where he was supposed to meet Richard, and arrested him. Only a few days later, the senators were arrested shocking the country. As their crimes were slowly revealed, the people thought it would not get any worse but it did. When Maine woke up, she submitted her findings and the information of her whistleblowers. The four individuals were offered utmost security and safely delivered their statements. It led the arrest of the president taking not only the country in surprise but also the whole world.

Maine turned to her side and clutched the pillow between his head and arm tightly. Her cries have turned into sobs. A few seconds later, her body began to shake as she racked in screams. She bit the pillow to try to calm her self down but the image of Richard lying in the pool of his blood replayed again and again inside her mind. She couldn't help it. When she thought every thing would finally turn for the better, it actually turned for the worst. She lost Richard, the love of her life.

Maine was so deep into her despair that she didn't notice that her front door was opened and her alarm system is again disabled. It was only when she heard shuffling movement behind the master's bedroom door that she stood up. She opened her bag quickly and grabbed the revolver Richard gave her. She hid behind the door and watched as it slowly opened. It was already dark. The shadows showed a figure of man. He entered the room. He was tall, built, and has a handsome profile. She squinted in the dark trying to figure out why he was so familiar. He has one of his arms in a sling.

"Maine?"

She gasped, dropping the revolver to the floor. Fortunately, it didn't fire and hit anyone in the room. The man turned around at the sound of her voice and even in the dark Maine knew that smile. It was the smile that made her fall in love. It was the smile that she terribly missed. It was the smile she thought she would never be able to see again. She slowly walked towards him. Her arms open to reach out for him. When she was only two feet away, she touched his cheeks and tears began to flow again from her eyes.

"Am I dreaming?" She asked the man and begged. "God, please tell me I'm not dreaming."

"You're not. I'm back, my love." Richard tilted her chin and touched her lips with his fingers. He then pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes savoring the moment. When he opened them, his unshed tears began to flow.

"Hello, Maine."