"Jia, do you know why I love sunsets?" Mika asked her nurse.
"Because of Alyssa, tita?" Jia replied as she pushed the wheel-chair.
"Yes. She made me love sunsets."
A ninety-two year old Mika said to her young nurse, Jia, who was attending her for more than ten years now.
"She was as beautiful as the sunset. It reminds me of how endings can be beautiful." Mika smiled.
Jia hummed in response. She's been hearing the story since she started to work for Mika and was amazed at how their love grew to a beautiful one.
"Tita, minsan po ba naisip niyo na sumunod na lang kay Alyssa dahil sa pangungulila niyo?" Jia bravely asked.
Mika just smiled. Of course there were times that she wanted to follow Alyssa as soon as she left but she has a promise to keep.
"Yes, Jia. Ilang beses ko ring naisip 'yan noon. Kapag nahihirapan na ako, kapag sobrang namimiss ko na siya, naiisip kong sundan siya pero hindi ko ginawa dahil nangako akong mabubuhay ako para sa aming dalawa." Mika replied.
Jia felt all the love the Mika expresses whenever she talks about Alyssa. After all these years, Mika has never forgotten her love for Alyssa and that's what kept her alive.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the spot where Mika would usually stay and watch the sunset. It was exactly where Alyssa lay down on her arms after she left the world.
Usually, Jia would just stay behind her just in case she would need anything from her nurse but this time she wanted to be alone.
"Just leave me here, please. Thank you." Mika whispered.
Jia was like a daughter she never had and she was grateful for the young nurse.
"Sigurado po ba kayo, tita?" Jia asked.
"Yes. I just want to watch the sunset alone now." Mika smiled lovingly.
Jia just nodded as she fixed the blanket on Mika's lap down to her feet.
The old Mika was sitting on a wheel-chair most of the time. She couldn't bear to walk far for too long, but she's still persistent about her daily sunset-watching routines.
"Sige po, maiwan ko na po kayo." Jia said.
She was about to go when Mika grabbed her hand.
"Thank you for taking care of me all through these years, Jia." Mika said.
"You're welcome po, tita. Sunduin ko na lang po kayo mamaya." Jia smiled warmly before leaving.
Mika was then again left alone at the shore, at the usual place where she watches the sunset.
It's been decades since Alyssa left her, and she kept her promise.
She lived a fruitful one, but she never loved again.
She has been in few relationships but they didn't last long, until she got tired and just stopped. She was lucky enough to have her family anyway, and she treated her siblings' children like they were her children.
She hasn't met anyone who could replace Alyssa in her heart, she tried but her love for Alyssa was just so strong.
After Alyssa died, she bought the place where they used to watch sunsets together. She loves the place and the memory of Alyssa was treasured in it.
She built a house and made sure that she witnesses the sunsets every day, like it's Alyssa she's watching from afar.
"Babe.." Mika whispered.
