I Still Remain (Completed)

XIV - Day Three

Their last day was nothing but a blizzard of wistfulness for the memoirs etched in every corner of the place. Didi started being restless and anxious about executing what he had planned for the latter part of the day.

Around him, he watched nervously as the staff started to turn every furniture in every corner of the inn to ensure cleanliness, leaving no hint that a wild celebration had happened last night, since tomorrow new guests are slated to arrive and stay in.

Tomorrow. New guests. Arrive.

This seemed to have awakened him from his persistent doubts. Fuck it. He said in his head with conviction and decided to push through with his plan. He thought about how at some point a series of events shall have its culmination—like a student attending his graduation or a prisoner being freed from jail—in the same way that all those months filled with his longing, desperation, and disbelief shall also find its conclusion before today ends.

Besides, it was perfect. Today was a Saturday, and Saturdays were their day.

After having lunch and plotting everything perfectly in his room like a madman, he went straight to the kitchen and whispered something on the Mayor's ear, which prompted him to tap three of his staff to come with Didi instantly. He then directed someone to go buy some ingredients in the market, and after a few minutes, this staff got going with Yueyue—who happily joined in the market excursion under promises of being led to "golden finds" to gift her friends and family with upon their return home.

So a few minutes after 3 in the afternoon, the plan was set in motion.

***

Didi didn't understand how these people, some of whom he only had the pleasure of meeting two days ago, were more than willing to help with a plan that he deemed, as the hours went by, stupid. Everyone was so eager to provide him assistance that the thought of seeing these people being sad and disappointed saddened and stressed him out far more than the plan ending on a low note for him.

At the back of his mind though, he couldn't be more grateful to receive such warm support, because the truth is, this was it. And by it, he meant he didn't have any kind of improvisations left to pull off like this trip anymore. This was the super mega final destination, and what happens later tonight will either bring him eternal bliss, or a salient scar that will haunt him for life.

After about three hours, Yueyue finally arrived back at the inn, hands full of whatnots to surprise her loved ones with. However, her heart's fire was starting to slowly burn out upon remembering that stepping inside the inn's premises would also mean numbered hours left to spend with Didi's presence.

And as Yueyue and her companion reached the wooden walkway and passed the glass house, Didi saw how the moon's pale glow highlighted her confused face, what with all the inn's lights turned off.

But as they reached the stairs which led to the inn's entrance, glowing yellow light bulbs illuminated the area, revealing a perfectly warm atmosphere that was in deep contrast with the night's increasing frostiness. He tried to gauge her reaction while still in hiding, but with his heart's rate going abnormally fast, he lost all kinds of focus to deduce what her surprised emotion indicated.

Then, as she stepped foot inside and placed the bags she carried on a corner with careful ease, the instrumentation of a familiar folk-infused song started playing. Yue seemed to have been immortalized in her current position, looking around to find the source of the song which obviously evoked a specific sentimental yet painful memory from her, but not daring to move in fear of breaking down.