Ablackwing

"Let"s go."

"To where?" I asked.

"Just come with me." Black stood up from the bed. He got dressed in the same sweater and walked in front of the mirror. He waved his hand through his slightly unkempt hair, trying to settle those bangs of his hair. It was the first time I saw him caring about his looks.

"Why are you not getting ready sweetheart?" Black said while looking at the mirror.

"First tell me where you"re taking me," I complain. He turned and looked at me with an idiotic expression and wide smile. I really couldn"t understand what was going through his brainless mind. I had doubts that he really injured his head while fighting with those demons. That really worried me.

"Well, it"s not like it will matter. It"ll be alright just like this."

My Black walked towards me. He held my hand and forced me to get up.

"Okay okay. I"ll get ready." I wanted to make myself at least presentable before going out.

"It"s okay. You can"t be more beautiful than you already are." I tried to free myself from his grasp but he didn"t let go. He held me tight enough. Seeing my useless efforts, I gave up and reluctantly followed him. I was very glad I did not change to my nightdress last night because I was taking care of this idiot.

I expected him to be going somewhere out. But he walked through the hall and took me to the backyard. He opened the gla.s.s door and walked to the center of the backyard before letting go of my hand. He stood in front of me, a few steps away.

The surroundings were so quiet, aside from the rustling of leaves and the little chirps from the birds who had woken up before the sun did. The weather was chilly and cold winds repeatedly a.s.saulted my body.

"It"s cold here," I said and wrapped my hands around my body. I hoped my Black would let me go inside and wear warmer clothes or at least use his ability to make the surroundings warm.

I suddenly felt the a.s.sault of cold winds stop and I felt the warmth. But after a few seconds, that warmth disappeared.

"I am sorry. I tried but I can not keep it warm." Black apologized. I remembered how weary he gets every time he uses that ability and he had just recuperated from his injuries. I sometimes forget that he is very strong but not omnipotent.

"No worry."

Then my Black stepped back a little. He bent down and gracefully sat on both of his knees. His back was straight and his chin was up as he looked right into my eyes. His hands were behind, hiding something.

The first thought in my mind was that he was going to propose to me. My heart started fluttering all of a sudden. Those b.u.t.terflies in my stomach went on a rampage and wrecked my inside emotions in a moment. I was overwhelmed by happiness and joy. The day I was waiting for had finally come. But it was really too sudden.

"Why did you kneel down?" I asked, all fl.u.s.tered up.

"Because I"m sorry," Black replied. That was not what I was expecting to hear from him when he knelt down. He could have said that inside. Why did he need to bring me outside in cold just for an apology? I heaved in disappointment. At that moment, I realized why hope is the most poisonous thing in the world.

I did say I will wait for him forever. I didn"t regret that decision of mine.

He smiled but just a little. I guess he felt my disappointment even though I let it out only for a short second.

"I"ve something for you," Back said and from behind, he brought his right hand to the front. Though his hand were still closed.

"Um... what?"

He didn"t make me wait and opened his hand. And I saw the red necklace shining as brightly as ever in contrast to his pale skin. The chains holding the red gem were metallic black instead of silvery though. But it looked as magnificent as ever.

"I"m sorry. I made you cry. It was I who made the chain frail and weak so that it broke. It was my fault. I had promised that I won"t let tears come in your eyes but I couldn"t keep my promise. And so I seek your forgiveness."

"It"s..." I didn"t know what to say. It was I who failed to take care of his gift. Black went to another world and ended up dead tired while making it and it hurt when I saw his hard work all broken. I should be the one asking for forgiveness. My heart felt this comforting warmth as I watched his innocent apology.

"Do you know?" Back continued, "I"ve made this chain from Requidust, the hardest material known to me. Even I cannot break it easily." He held the necklace with both hands and gave it a sharp snap, using all the force be could muster. "See."

"Are you an idiot?" I quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed the necklace from his hand as his grip weakened. I was afraid he might really break it again accidentally. In my hand, I felt the necklace was a bit heavier than before and it appeared more st.u.r.dy. My eyes couldn"t tell the difference between the original one and this one.

"You"re really a magician!" I put the necklace in the pocket of my pants. Not a safe place but still safer than his hands.

"Say you forgive me."

"I"m not mad at you. It was not your fault."

"Say you forgive me."

"You"re so stubborn."

"Say you forgive me." Black kept repeating his words in the same manner.

In the end, I gave up. He was very stubborn but yet adorable and cute. We both can"t be stubborn together or there would be no end to our fights.

"I forgive you... Stand up now."

"I"ve something else too."

He brought his left hand to the front. In his left hand was a four-sided flat gem with the dazzling colour of navy blue. It was as small as the pick of a guitar.

"What"s this?" I asked curiously while taking it. I wanted to know more about it. When I looked carefully, I could see some strange black symbols, runes floating in the form of a circle inside that gem. It just looked like a mini version of the magic circle that was formed when he descended in my school.

"It"s a summoning gemstone. You can summon me anytime, anywhere. And it"ll forcefully summon me if it breaks. It"ll repair itself later though."

"I think there is no need for this one." Even though I was denying, it was very tempting. How wonderful it will be when I can make my dear Black come to me whenever I miss him. And I could play a lot of pranks on him too.

"The coming days might be dangerous. I don"t want anything to happen to you."

"Then I"ll take it." Yep. I offered no denial this time. I held that small blue gem and put it in my pocket.

"So. Do you forgive me?" he said.

"Why are you saying it now?"

"For dragging you in a mess and bringing you trouble. Say you forgive me."

"I"m not saying it." He was just too much. The only thing he brought me was love and happiness. Excitement too but it never was trouble.

"Say you forgive me." I didn"t say the words he wanted me to say. And we both stayed silent for a while.

"Will you stay like this forever?" I said and stepped back a little. I didn"t want to be outside fighting him for little things. Mum always said that stepping back is better than arguing.

"No! Wait!" Black exclaimed. "I"ve one more thing for you."

I stopped.

"Give me your hand." I walked towards him and did as he said. He held my hand in his right hand as if he was asking me for a dance while kneeling. He looked right into my eyes as if he was peeking into my very soul.

"I still remember that day when I first saw you. You were... so beautiful. You were still small back then but there was this charm you had that my eyes couldn"t deny. You were more beautiful than the most amazing sight I"ve ever seen. There was this strange attraction I felt towards you. From that moment, my heart didn"t belong to me."

"I was very young at that time. I did not understand what weird thing happened to me. Before I could understand about it, we were separated. Our time together was very short. After that day, I yearned for you all the time, regretting that I never got a chance to express my feelings."

I knew what was coming and this made the b.u.t.terflies in me bring disaster in my inside world. Adrenaline rushed in my body and my heart went on a roller-coaster ride with my mind. But I kept listening to him patiently. I didn"t want to stop him midway.

"As time pa.s.sed, I realized I didn"t deserve you. I tried hard. I tried harder every time to be someone worthy of you and your care but I couldn"t be. But I failed... When we met again, I was so scared... of the person I had become."

"It was my blessing to be in your presence, yet I wanted more. I gave nothing and yet I wanted everything. It was overwhelming. It kept all of my feelings inside my heart, never being able to say them... But do you know... I heard you last night. I heard you when you told me how much you love me and how you"ll follow me in the afterlife. Your voice broke that emotional dam holding my feelings. I can not hold back anymore after listening to your words. Even though I am not worthy still, I will try my best in the future."

"Eve Riza, I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul. I love you with everything I have. I have fallen in love you ever since I laid my eyes on you and I swear to my life I will never stop falling deeper."

As he said it, the first rays of the sun fell on us. Behind him, I saw a beautiful scene of the sunrise. But this guy in front of me appeared even more breathtaking under the sunshine. His words reverberated inside my mind as if they were echoing through the colossal mountains.

"Perhaps one day this sun stop rising but I will never stop worshipping you. This moon up there, perhaps it will refuse to let out moonlight but I will never refuse any of your wishes. I will love you so much that you"ll say it"s too much."

A ring appeared in his hands. A very simple looking silvery ring. But it was the most priceless thing for me.

"The lifestream is the witness as I confess. All my word are true to the core. I vow that I will tell you every day how much I love you. I vow to always listen to you and your wishes will be my command. I vow to never let you go. Even if it"s fate trying to drive us apart, I"ll destroy it. I vow to forever be your friend, companion, family and lover. I vow to not be stubborn and not go for thirty-three..."

He opened up his heart bare in front of me. He was being so truthful and honest and he made his promises. A wide smile made its way on my lips. No one could love me more than he did. That moment was beyond beautiful. I felt like crying as his words echoed again and again into my mind. And I did cry with the tears of happiness.

Without waiting for me to say anything, he simply placed that ring in my right hand"s ring finger. I wanted to speak something but I couldn"t. I was too overwhelmed by everything that was happening. My legs gave up and I fell on my knees too. I hugged him tight, as hard as I could, fearing it was all a dream and it might disappear if I didn"t hold it tight enough. But it was all true. He patted on my back as my tears fell on his shoulder.

"You"re such an idiot. Who says about not being "stubborn and not trying for thirty-three" kids while making such promises."

"I do," Black replied innocently. "It"ll be your call. But I want at least three, okay? Not a single less than that."

"I love you too Black! I love you so much."

"I love you too, honey."

"I love you more."

"I love you more than most."

And just like that, we begin one more sweet fight of whispering "I love you more" while hugging each other. This time it was Black who stepped back in defeat.

"Oh. I forgot to tell you. My world belongs to you now."