MES: Twenty

Timeless

Written by: flyhighmw

Prompt by: maywardaze

-

"You can open your eyes now."

Edward's gentle voice greeted Marydale's ears as the warmth of his hands left her eyelids. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and let out a soft gasp. She couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the sight laid out before her.

From the balcony where they both stood, the vast sea stretched out before them, and under the pinkish sunset sky, the water sparkled like jewels scattered all over the surface of the sea. As Marydale speechlessly took one step towards the object of her awe, she could hear the gentle splashes of the waves, could feel the wonder they emanate, as though they, too, understood how fascinated she felt.

"Ano 'to?" Marydale whispered, as she pointed at the wooden structure standing before her, from which a couple of photographs dangled from strings, not quite believing what she thought it was.

"Take a closer look," Edward grinned, as he wordlessly stepped beside her, patiently waiting for what her reaction would be.

Gently, Maymay reached out for one of the dangling photographs, took a closer look at that one photo, let out a chuckle, and then inspected the rows of photographs, all of which, she realized, led to this one moment with the man she knew she wouldn't be able to live without for the rest of her life.

Before she knew it, tears began to run down her cheeks. Embarrassed at the sudden outburst, she intended to wipe them away, but before she could even do so, Edward's hand was already wiping her cheeks, and when she looked up at him, he said with a smile:

"Happy sixth anniversary, love."

"Bushak ka!" Maymay said in between sobs, as she jabbed Edward on the arm. "Bakit mo ba ako pinapaiyak?"

"I wasn't intending to!" Edward laughed, amused, before pulling Maymay into his arms for a tight hug. "I just wanted you to remember all of these tonight."

Maymay peeked up at him, puzzled. "Pero bakit?"

"Take a trip down the memory lane, Maymay. Then I'll tell you why."

*

Maymay was eight when they first met. She could still vividly remember the day he showed up in her life, a brewing storm in contrast to her ball of sunshine.

"Samahan mo naman ako dun!" She had urged him in her elementary school uniform, her arms clinging onto his arm in a gesture she had never thought gave anyone discomfort.

However, much to her surprise, he pushed her back and in an angry voice, said: "Stop touching me!"

Eight-year-old Maymay had fallen on the ground, butt-first, eyes wet with tears but never emitting a sound. Her eyes pierced through him icily and from that day onward, she swore to never look at Edward as warmly as she first did.

*

"You remember that much?" Edward laughed, moments later, after Maymay had recounted her memory of the day they first met, as he lifted the photograph showing a brooding Edward in his elementary school uniform, alongside a sunny Maymay.

"Oo. Paano ko ba naman makakalimutan 'yon, eh sobrang suplado mo sakin 'non?" Maymay replied, eyebrows furrowing as she pointed at Edward's menacing face. "Tingnan mo oh, ang sungit!" She added, before bursting in laughter.

"Laugh all you want," Edward 'snapped'. "Do you want to know a secret?"

Maymay abruptly stopped. "Ano 'yon?"