The Murderer's Love Story

Phase 4

PHASE 4

THE BITTER-SWEET REVEALATION

"Hey, princess, I am back now. No need to be sad", Kirby said abruptly.

I suddenly woke up from a long reminiscence of the past. I couldn't believe it. After seven long years, Kirby was back and we were embracing each other; so tight that sufficed the long years that had wasted when we were apart. I was so happy I was home finally. We were home finally. In each other's arms.

Three days ago, my younger sister handed me a letter addressed from the U.S. It was from Kirby, informing me that he would be coming back. It was the second letter I received from him since the day he left. I tried not to believe and expect but the excitement I had inside seemed to burst out.

Wondering why I had a younger sister? Well, my mother remarried a year Kirby left. She never dared asked for my blessing. I just arrived from school when the two of them (my mother and her new husband) were celebrating. As if I cared. If that was what she wanted, so be it. I was sick and tired of  dealing with her.

Kirby's homecoming made my life back to normal. What we usually did before were back again; biking, fishing, flying kites, watching movies and of course hanging out at the tree-house. The only difference was that we were living in the same roof. He decided to stay at Victoria Mansion for Hacienda Luis was no more theirs. That made us closer that before. It was him who always initiated every activity we would engage to for the day. He became sweeter to me. Many times he kissed me on the cheeks that he seldom did before. He became more caring too. He would cook for me, serve my plate during meal time and many other thoughtful things.  Yes, he was very thoughtful before but I could sense something different of his homecoming. Perhaps he was just regaining the lost time spending our lives together. But my inner self kept on telling that there was something he didn't tell me. It seemed he was bothered by something. And it made me feel nervous. I was nervous of what Kirby was showing to me. I wanted to ask him about it but I could not afford to spoil his happy face when we were together.

One Saturday morning, while Kirby was cooking for our breakfast, I volunteered to clean his room. I vacuumed the floor, wiped the wall and arranged his clothes in the closet. When I was about to change the bed sheets my sight laid down at the brown envelop under his pillow. I began to get curious when I read the heading on the upper left part of the envelop. "Johns Hopkins Hospital". I opened the envelop abruptly. It was a medical record dated one year ago. I was bewildered when I saw Kirby's name printed on the upper part of the record. My tears began to shed when the readings sunk into my mind.

Kirby had a brain cancer!

"Oh, no! This couldn't be true. How come he has?" I muttered inside. Kirby showed no sign that he was physically ill. Then the door suddenly opened. It was Kirby who came in.

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked him.

A worried expression plastered on his face but replaced immediately with an energetic smile. "No, princess, don't mind it. It's nothing", he answered.

"Nothing? Do you think this is nothing? Kirby you are sick and you will just sat it's nothing? And you didn't tell me about this", I raised a tone, cried so hard, catching my breath.

A moment of silence.

Then he cried too.

"Karah, I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you again. It hurts me more to see you get hurt. I don't want to leave you again but I guess my time is almost over."

"What do you mean?" I asked again, bewildered.

"I'm terribly sick, Princess. Last year, the doctor told me I only have two remaining years to wait."

"No, it's not true. Tell me you're joking me."

He smiled wearily. “If only I have the power to change the situation, I would choose to be with you until we get old. You are the best part of me, Karah. And all I wanted now is to spend the remaining days of my life with you by my side. I choose to come back here because of you. My memories with you always remind me to be strong, keep going and fight this illness. I love you, Karah. I have always love you since the very first day I met you."

I was stunned by the confession. I couldn’t say a word.

"Please tell me you love me too."

My tears never ceased to shed. I ran to him and hugged him. Then, whispered the words, "I love you. I will always love you."

He embraced me back. That day, we became lovers officially.

The next day, Kirby brought me to the tree-house. The sun was already setting. Its reddish color that scattered replaced tha azure sky. It was an awesome sight, indeed. So romantic. He embraced me tightly and whispered,

"I love you."

"I love you too", I replied softly.

He loosened his embrace and stared at me intently. Then, he got a velvet box from his pocket and knelt on one knee. "Karah, my princess, will you marry me?"

And what about the laughter

The happy ever after?

Like voices of sweet angels

Calling out our names

And it's not just wishful thinking

Or only me who's dreaming

I know what these are symptoms of

We could be in love

All my life, I have dreamed of this

But I could not see your face

Don't ask why to such distant stars

Can fall right into place

My heart began to pump faster. A tear of joy, blissfulness and heavenly feeling shed from my eye. I never thought I could be that happy. Kirby was asking me to marry him. I love him. And so without a doubt I said,

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

To my surprise, he kissed me. So gentle yet powerful that it chilled my veins down to my marrow.