WRITTEN BY: hdrmd24
PROMPT: Your memory reminiscent of sunset's golden hue, of gasps and sighs in between
PROMPT BY: tenshi_serenity
"What are you doing, Rj? Oh my god, stop taking photos, it's embarrassing."
Rj pointed his camera towards his girlfriend, Maine as he kept clicking, taking candid shots of her, with the sunset as the background.
"Stay still naman kasi, Maine. Ang likot mo oh. I want to get a good shot of my girlfriend, please."
"Fine, just one, okay?"
"These photos I take of you are what I consider as my best work."
"Oh stop it." She playfully hit him on the chest.
"Aray naman! Totoo kaya. I show these to people and they agree."
"Oo na, sige na. Para matigil na yang pambobola mo." Maine looked towards the beautiful view and sighed. "I would never get enough of this, Rj. Never."
"Of what?" Rj asked, busy looking through the photos he took.
"Of watching the sunset..with you. Well, mostly the you part." Glancing at him, she smiled.
Rj sat beside her and place his arm over her shoulder, pulling her to him.
"Me too, Maine. I would never get enough of you."
"This will be my fondest memory of you, Rj, with you all smiles and giddy, handsome as ever, watching the sunset with me."
"And I love every second of it."
"I love you, Rj."
"And I love you too, Maine. Always."
--
"Happy 3rd wedding anniversary, Maine!"
"Awww, is this for me? Happy 3rd wedding anniversary, Rj! I can't believe you cooked dinner. Buti hindi nasunog yung kitchen." Maine teased.
"Ako pa ba? Kaya ko naman magluto, ayaw mo lang ako hayaan sa kusina. Sige na, kain na tayo."
After dinner, Rj and Maine decided to lounge on the couch while sipping wine.
"Maine, love, may regalo pala ako sa'yo. Wait lang, kuhanin ko."
"Ano yan?"
Rj Handed her a large rectangular object wrapped in Japanese paper.
"Buksan mo na lang."
Maine tore the wrapper off and discovered that it was a picture frame, with a candid photo of her.
"Remember when you said that your fondest memory of me is an image of me happily watching the sunset with you? Well, this will be my fondest memory of you, too. And I'm glad I captured it. Now I have a concrete memory of you." He smiled.
"I have to hand it to you, Rj, kahit nahihiya ako sa mukha ko, ang ganda nito. Thank you!" She gave him a tight embrace. "Pero ako din may gift sa'yo."
"Really? Hmm.."
She handed him a medium sized box, tied with a yellow ribbon.
"Ano 'to? Let me guess. Hmm...Victoria's Secret lingerie?" He teased.
Maine pinched his sides. "Ikaw talaga! Ang harot mo! Buksan mo na lang yung box."
Rj happily obliged and opened the box, discovering a hundreds of folded papers.
"What are these?"
"Letters. 365 letters to be exact."
"Wow. Ang dami! You wrote all of these?"
"Yes. For the past year I wrote you a letter each day and collected it. Now, I want you to read each one, one at a time, everyday starting today."
"Thank you, Maine. I love you. Should I open one?"
"I love you too. Okay, start with day one..oh wait! The one marked '365', I want you to promise me that you'll read it the day after I die."
"What?!" Rj looked at Maine with his eyebrows furrowed. "Bakit?"
"Basta, promise me."
"Okay. Paano mo naman nasigurado na mas mauuna ka kesa sa akin?"
"Wala lang, na-feel ko lang."
"Okay fine, you weirdo."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
--
Rj and Maine's relationship grew stronger, as they took each day as if it was their last. Their small family slowly grew, with Maine getting pregnant with twins 5 years into their marriage. They fell more and more in love with each other as each day passed. They continued their tradition, of watching the sunset together everyday. They savored every moment of it, basking in each other's presence, reveling the beauty of their love.
As the years went by, the twins eventually had their own families, and Rj and Maine grew old together. Eventually, old age caught up to them and Maine became ill. She spent her last days at home, with Rj by her side.
"Rj?"
"Yes Maine?"
"Do you still have that letter I gave you years ago? The one marked '365'?"
"Yes, of course. Tinago ko yun."
"Please, can you find it?"
"Bakit?"
"Kasi..I think I.."
"Maine, hindi. Wag mong isipin yan. Magpagaling ka. You will be better."
"Rj, please. I don't think I have much time. Please find it."
"Maine.."
"Please.."
Even though Rj hesitated, he obtained the letter Maine was referring to. He went to her side just like she requested and read it out loud.
My dearest Rj,
If you're reading this letter, congratulations, you made it to letter 365.
It's not easy for me to write this simply because in a few moments, I will take my last breath and you will be by my side, witnessing it. I know it hurts, my love but it has to happen. I want you to know that it hurts me more because I'm leaving you. But please, remember that I love you, I always have and always will.
Our years together have been the happiest I've ever been in my life. Having you by my side is an exquisite privilege granted to me by fate, and I would always treasure it in my heart. You've given me more than just the life I've always wanted to have, you've given me the treasure that is yourself.
I want you to promise me that you will keep our tradition until it's your time to take your last breath. I would always picture you happy and giddy, handsome as ever watching the sunset with me. It will always be my fondest memory of you.
Please remember my dearest Rj, that even when all our yesterdays are over, the past, the memories our story beckons, yes, I will still love you then.
Always and Forever,
Maine
As Rj uttered the last word written on the letter, Maine took her last breath. With tears in his eyes, he kissed her lips for the last time and whispered, "Yes. I will love you, always and forever, Maine."
