x
A few days later…
Rena stepped off the plane, her heart pounding with anticipation. It had only been a few months since she had been here, but it felt like a lifetime. As she walked through the bustling terminal, her eyes scanned the crowd until she spotted Kei waiting for her. He smiled warmly, but she could see the tension in his eyes, a reflection of the weight they both carried.
“Hey,” she said softly as she approached him, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Hey,” Kei replied, pulling her into a gentle hug. The familiar scent of him brought a sense of comfort. “How was your flight?”
“It was okay,” she said, pulling back to look at him. “Thank you for picking me up.”
“Of course,” Kei said, taking her bag with a reassuring smile. “Ready to go?”
Rena nodded, and they made their way to the car. The drive to the cemetery was quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. The landscape passed by in a blur, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and shared memories. When they arrived, Rena took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, feeling the weight of the past pressing down on her shoulders.
Kei stayed by her side as she walked to her mother’s grave. The cemetery was peaceful, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. She knelt down, placing a bouquet of flowers on the headstone. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered a few words to her mother, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. The cool breeze seemed to carry her words away, a silent promise to her mother that she would be okay.
After a while, they made their way to the lake. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water. The sky was painted with hues of orange, pink, and purple, reflecting off the calm surface of the lake. Rena stood at the edge, taking in the beauty of the scene. Kei stood a few steps behind her, giving her space to process her emotions.
As she watched the sunset over the water, she was lost in the waves reflecting the colors of the sky. It was a beautiful sunset, one of the most beautiful ones she had seen. It reminded her of that night, the night he said goodbye.
“Ree…” his soft voice split the air.
“Yes?” she answered just as delicately.
“I… I wanted to spend today with you because I’m leaving. I’ll be gone for a while,” he said, looking away, out towards the water.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He was silent for a moment, trying to move his words delicately. “I have to go somewhere. There’s something I need to do, and it’s going to take a long time. I’ll be gone for three years, but I promise to come back, right after graduation.”
“Where are you going?” she started to tear up.
“I can’t… I can’t tell you, but I promise I’ll do everything I can to come back,” he said firmly, turning back to her to see a tear sliding down her cheek.
“You promise? Promise you’ll come back?” she whispered as more tears began to fall.
“Yes, Ree. I promise. But before I go, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said as he reached her cheek to wipe a tear away with his thumb. He continued to cup her face as their gaze locked. They started to lose themselves in each other’s eyes.
“Ser-“Serena?” a voice called out to her, soft yet unmistakable, carrying a familiarity that sent shivers down her spine.
Realizing someone had called her name, Rena turned her head towards the voice. A shadow stepped out from behind a tree and into the light, the golden rays of the setting sun casting a halo around him. As their eyes met, tears began to fall uncontrollably from her eyes, her breath catching in her throat.
There he stood, hands in his pockets, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Hey,” he said gently, his voice carrying a warmth she had longed to hear, a sound she thought she would never hear again.
Rena didn’t answer. She continued to stare at him, her jaw quivering, tears streaming down her face. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the disbelief and hope swirling within her. The world around her seemed to blur, focusing only on the figure before her.
“You were always such a crybaby, Ree,” he chuckled, stepping closer, his eyes twinkling with the same mischief she remembered. His movements were slow, almost hesitant, as if he too feared this moment might shatter.
She stayed silent, her eyes wide, as if he were a mirage that might disappear at any moment. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile the image before her with the reality she had come to accept.
“Cl–Clark?” she whispered, her voice trembling as she stood up and walked towards him, each step feeling like a leap of faith. Her legs felt weak, but she was drawn to him, unable to resist the pull of the past and the promise of the present. She reached out a trembling hand, afraid to touch him, afraid he might vanish like a dream.
Kei watched from a distance, his heart aching but knowing this was the moment Rena needed. He took a deep breath and turned to leave, giving them the privacy they deserved.
“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry I’m so la–” he started to say, but was cut off as Rena grabbed Clark’s shirt and pulled him towards her, their lips met with an intensity that took both of them by surprise. The world around them seemed to blur, leaving only the sensation of their connection. Her lips were soft yet insistent, conveying all the emotions she had kept bottled up for so long—love, longing, relief, and a hint of desperation.
Clark’s initial shock melted away as he felt the warmth and urgency of her kiss. His eyes fluttered closed, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, their lips moving in perfect harmony, as if they were made for each other.
Rena’s hands moved from his shirt to his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. She poured every ounce of her feelings into the kiss, her tears mingling with their shared breath. The taste of salt from her tears added a bittersweet note to the moment, making it all the more poignant.
Clark’s hands roamed her back, holding her as if he was afraid she might disappear. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest, matching the frantic beat of his own. The kiss was both a release and a promise, a silent vow that they would never let go of each other again.
As they stumbled backward, their bodies pressed together, the kiss grew softer, more tender. It was no longer just about the urgency of their reunion but about savoring the moment, feeling every nuance of their connection. Their lips moved slowly, exploring, memorizing the feel of each other.
When Rena finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Her eyes were still closed, savoring the lingering sensation of his lips on hers. Clark’s eyes opened slowly, filled with a mixture of awe and love as he looked at her.
He reached up, his thumb gently wiping away the tears that still clung to her cheeks. “You’re late,” she huffed, her voice a mix of relief and frustration as she took a step backwards.
He looked down, dropping his hand from her face. “I know, I’m–”
“I love you,” she interrupted, her voice firm and unwavering.
He froze, then looked up, meeting her gaze once more. He searched her eyes, tears beginning to form in his own.
“Say… say it again,” he whispered, his voice breaking.
“I love you, Clark,” she repeated, her voice filled with all the love and longing she had held back.
Tears began to fall down his face. “Those words… they sound more beautiful than I ever imagined.”
She stepped closer, closing the gap between them. Clark wrapped his arms around her slowly, as she reached up to wipe his tears away, just as he had done for her. They stared into each other’s eyes, losing themselves in the moment.
“Then I’ll never stop saying them. I love you. I love you so much, Clark.”
“I love you too, Serena, more than you could ever know.”
They slowly moved their faces together, sealing the moment with a soft, passionate kiss as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, casting a golden glow over their embrace.
As Kei watched Rena and Clark reunite, a whirlwind of emotions surged through him. He felt a deep ache in his chest, a mixture of love, loss, and acceptance. Seeing Rena so happy, so complete in Clark’s arms, was both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Kei had always known that Rena’s heart belonged to Clark, even if she had tried to move on. He had seen the way her eyes would light up when she talked about her past, the way she would get lost in memories of Clark. He had hoped that maybe, just maybe, he could be the one to heal her heart and make her forget the pain of the past.
But now, as he stood there, watching them kiss with such intensity and passion, he realized that he had been holding onto a dream. Rena’s love for Clark was undeniable, and Kei knew that he couldn’t compete with the history and depth of their connection.
Despite the pain, Kei felt a sense of peace. He had done everything he could to support Rena, to be there for her when she needed someone. He had loved her with all his heart, and he knew that his love had helped her in some way. That was enough for him.
He turned to leave, Kei took a deep breath, letting go of the hope he had held onto for so long. He knew that Rena’s happiness was what mattered most, and if being with Clark made her happy, then he would accept it. He would step back and give them the space they needed to rebuild their relationship.
Kei walked away from the lake, his heart heavy but resolute. He knew that he had made the right decision, even if it meant losing the woman he loved. He would find a way to move on, to heal his own heart, and to be happy for Rena and Clark.
As they held each other, Rena’s mind wandered to the box. She had planned to bury it again, but now that Clark was here, would it be okay to ask?
“Clark, I have something! I found it a long time ago, buried. I had forgotten I took it home. They found it in the fire. I guess now is a good chance to give it back to you,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She pulled back and walked over to her bag. Pulling out the box, she turned to hand it to Clark, her hands shaking slightly.
Clark looked at the box and started to turn red, his eyes widening with surprise. “Oh, um, actually that’s for you,” he said shyly, his voice barely above a whisper.
“For me? What… what is it?” Rena asked, her curiosity piqued, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Here, let me open it.” He reached for the box, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a shiver down her spine. He turned the number to the code, and the lock popped off. “The combination was the day we met.”
“The anniversary of my mother’s passing?” Rena’s voice was filled with a mix of surprise and emotion.
“It felt fitting for multiple reasons,” he said softly as he opened the box, pulling out a small wooden piano. “One because it was the day we met, and two because of what this is.”
He started to turn a knob, winding up a contraption. “It’s a music box. I had it made just for you.”
The small piano was exquisite, crafted from rich, dark mahogany with intricate carvings of musical notes and delicate flowers adorning its surface. The tiny piano keys were painted a pristine white, and the lid opened to reveal a beautifully detailed interior, complete with miniature sheet music.
He held the small piano in his hand, releasing the knob, and it started to play.
As Rena heard the melody, she couldn’t stop the tears from escaping. The notes were so familiar, each one wrapping around her heart like a warm embrace. The music swirled through the air, capturing them in a serene, timeless moment. It was as if the melody itself was a bridge to the past, a conduit for her mother’s love and presence. The first time she heard this melody was when her mother played it for her on stage, her fingers dancing gracefully over the piano keys. It was her song, her lasting presence, her soul pouring out through every note.
Rena looked up into Clark’s eyes, the emerald green that had always been her safe haven, shimmering with shared memories and unspoken emotions. The music enveloped them, creating a cocoon of peace and connection. In that moment, as the melody filled the room and their hearts, she realized she had found what her mother had wanted her to find. It was not just in the music, but in Clark’s unwavering gaze, in the love that had endured through time and trials. She had found her serenity.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt0MzvCqIg
