LOVE NOTES [Complete]

PROMISE ME.

A/N: My #IzaDong.

...........

"And as she promised those stars shine on her family forever....."

When Dingdong finally read the last words from the page and puts the book back on the table, Iza stroked his hands softly with her thumb,

"That was great, love. You are the best story teller I've ever seen."
He chuckled and pressed an affectionate kiss to her forehead,

"Honey, I'm the only story teller you've ever met."
"And I'd have it no other way."
"I know."

They shared a long stare, his dark eyes melting her brown orbs, and for a few minutes they allowed silence to embrace them.
He was the first one to speak,

"You're going to be just fine, Iza. The doctor said so."

She rolled her eyes even though he told her not to do that; rolling it would only make her dizzy.
Very true.

"Bullshit, Dingdong." She mumbled, calling his bluff.
He smiled, though his smile telling the world his worries. He hasn't been sleeping well for the past few days; he's been busy making sure that she stays here, both physically and mentally.

But all these late night watches were starting to take a toll on him, she could tell. She held his hand tightly, or at least as tight as she could manage. Her eyes were fixed on the love of her life, her man, her friend, her sweet, sweet lullaby.

"I'm leaving soon, Dingdong." She whispered, her eyes filling up with tears once more. She hated saying this to him, hated hurting him this way, hated the idea of having to leave.

He shook his head,

"I'm not letting you."

"The doctor said I don't have much longer to live."

"We'll prove him wrong." His voice was defiant, strong. As was his heart.

"Don't be foolish." Don't make my heart ache more than it does now.

"We're the ones who decide what happens for ourselves."
"You don't have a choice. Please. I'm sorry. I don't get another chance to live." Iza argued, her voice quivering with each syllable. Her hands were shaking, so were his.

"Sweetheart, sometimes people just… run out of chances."
"Don't say that."
"It's the truth."

"Then let's run away from the truth for a while." He wiped away his tears, and then pressed a thumb on the side of her eyes to stop hers. He cut her off when she was about to fight back,

"Shhh. You're gonna be alright, love. You're gonna be just fine."
It felt more like he was trying to convince himself.

"Mm." She played along, too tired to argue any further. Then, she sighed, "I'm sorry for leaving so soon, love... I'm so sorry if I will leave you and Enzo." Her voice broke.

"Shhh..." He reached forward to hug her and they stayed like that for a while, rocking to a slow, comfortable rhythm. They cried for a while in each other's arms.

Dingdong used to be embarrassed of crying in front of her but for the last few years they cried together almost every day that crying seemed something so natural.

It's nothing to be embarrassed about, she told him once when she saw him brushing away his tears with his back facing her. You shouldn't be embarrassed with your emotions.

"Promise you won't waste your life missing me when I'm gone, Love?....promise me na magiging masaya pa din kayo ni Enzo..."

Dingdong managed to smile through his tears. His wife has always been like that. Selfless. Too selfless. Sometimes to the point of stupidity but of course he would rather die than to tell her that.

"Sure. Promise you won't blame me when I break it?"

"Jose Sixto." She warned, but he could detect a hint of a smile. He released her from his hold and kissed her softly, remembering all the contours of her face, every angle, every side.

"You're so beautiful." He murmured, "They shouldn't take away something so gorgeous from me. It's not fair."

"No one will take me away from you." Iza reached up to cup his face for a moment before she lost her strength and had to lie still again. When she regained that big of strength she patted his chest,

"I'm always here. Just know that whenever you need me, or you miss me, I'll be right here. I'll be listening. Now and always. I love you, Dingdong. So, so much."

He kissed her lips, too overwhelmed with emotions to speak. He didn't have to, anyway. They both knew what he was going to say.

"I love you. I love you with every breath I take. Now and forever."

Iza nodded and she gave him a little weak smile.

..........

Fin
💙