LAST CONFESSION

The shrine bells sing a sorrowful love story.

White pigeons flew around the blooming sakura trees as its branches sway with the gentle push of the wind. The clouds are slowly drifting in the clear blue skies, making the sun peek at the edge of the earth.

It’s morning. I found myself on my old comfortable bed in my room, here in the Brightmore Shrine. I briefly checked my body. My heart feels light. Everything about me feels so great. I don’t have to endure the pain that was stored in my heart anymore.

“...Rikkun?”

Those were the first words that went out of my mouth. I raised my body up and slowly glanced at the corners of the room. Still dreaming, my mind drifted to the last thoughts I had before going to this room. It seems that I have no recollection of what happened… and I feel empty.

My eyes locked on the laptop on my desk. I’m sure it was Rikkun’s, as he asked his best friend to deliver it back to him here in this shrine. Maybe Rikkun left this laptop intentionally on my desk.

I saw a white paper tucked on the laptop. It reads “Please open my confession video.”

I sat on my desk immediately and booted the laptop. After a few moments, I saw one and only file at the very home page of the computer, and it is titled “My Confession.” I clicked it and played the video.

There, I saw the man I loved for eternity. He is preparing to look good even though the camera is already recording. He’s wiped his golden hair and slapped his blushing cheeks. I made a giggle when I saw my boyfriend being so self-conscious.

My brief happiness continued as I watch my lover speak.

<>

Hey… Tiara…

…

The moment you’re watching this… I may no longer be there… so try your best not to cry, okay?

First of all… I wanted to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I kept a lot of secrets from you, but today is the day that I will confess. I know I’m not a sweet cheesy guy, but I still have to do this.

About your purification ritual… it failed. Asumi said that the curse on your heart is too much and the only did is to delay the inevitable. She said that at the rate we’re going right now, you’ll become a Corrupted Frozen Soul. We did all the things we had to do, but everything failed.

Jeanne said that you’re already a lost cause. Of course, she is hurt to accept it. You saved this universe after all, and this is the punishment you get for doing this. She was pained to tell it to you, that’s why they hurriedly went home.

I know that both of them were crying at that time for the hopeless situation we are in. But not me. I didn’t cry. I know that you will do it, you will fight against your curse and win. The fact that you’re watching this video right now means that we won.

I saw it from the start. I saw it from my . I’ve read it from the Akashic Records. I’ve seen it with my own very eyes. That is why I know I have to do this. I will take all the curses with me to another universe so that you will be free from them. It includes the Curse of the Brightmore Witch of course, so you can’t sing the anymore to bring me back.

I know that this is the price to pay for your salvation, so I would gladly give my life to free you from the ultimate curse.

And now that I’m gone, I want to confess another thing to you.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I know that you have heard these things a thousand times, but that is not enough. For all the seven million timelines, I have only loved nobody… nobody but you…

On the very first timeline, when we first met in the Heightsburg Riverbank to watch the fireworks, I was enchanted by your beauty. I told you that you will be calm if somebody holds your hands, but that is just an excuse for me to hold yours. I know I love you when we first met.

The same goes for the second timeline, the third timeline, the thousandth, and the millionth.

On the second and the other subsequent timelines, Amy replaced you as my childhood friend. She became my first love on that timeline, but that was just puppy love. When I saw you again, my heart raced like a horse. I knew my feelings are for you and for you only, but fate forbids us from having this love.

If you noticed, we always have this destiny of being best friends. We might not be meant to be on the other timelines, but our feelings for each other forged a path for both of us to have crossing roads. Never did once you were replaced as the most important person in my life.

Not even once.

Even during that time when you forced me to live as a severed head, I still love you. I just yelled at you because you are doing the wrong thing, but I pretty much love you more than ever.

I could go on and on to tell you how much I love you on the other timelines, but all of them will just say one message: I love you, Tiara Hikari. I will say it seven million times so that those asshole dead Alaric Eisenhowers can have their moment to confess they're true feelings.

I love you. I love you. I love you.

I love you when you smile.

I love you when you cry.

I love you when you blush.

I love you when you panic.

I love you when you jollily pump your fists.

I love you when you emit an aura full of hope.

I love you when you’re determined.

I love you when you punch me and break my nose.

I love you when you nag at me.

I love you when you chomp down all the food.

I love you when you sing.

I love you when you dance.

I love you when you tease me.

I love you when you punch things.

I love you when you embrace and cradle me.

I love you when you kiss me.

I love every fragment of your being.

I want you to live without me. I want you to keep on smiling.

...

Finally, for my last confession… I want to present to you the thing that I have been longing to give you…

Besides the laptop is this red box, which contains a ring… a pure diamond wedding ring…

I want you to keep on cherishing our moments together as you take this ring and wear it to your beautiful finger…

...as I take my final and everlasting vow to you…

…

I, Alaric Eisenhower, shall take you,

Tiara Hikari, as my lawfully wedded wife,

To have and to hold, from this day forward,

For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

To love and to cherish.

Till death do us part.

<>

“...I do…”

Tears started to fall upon my decorated ring finger. The wedding ring that I have been wearing sparkled as the morning lights reflect on it.

My heart is exploding. My stomach is melting. My lungs felt inhaling needles. My whole body is shaking. This farewell wedding proposal is too much for me. This is too much!

I don’t want to talk. I just want to lay down and cry. But I have to answer him. I have to make the same vow that we have waited for seven million timelines.

With determination… I refuse to give up...

“...I… Tiara Hikari… shall take you… Alaric Eisenhower… as my lawfully wedded husband… to have and to hold… from this day forward… for better or for worse… for richer or for poorer… in sickness and in health… to love and to cherish... till death do us part…”

My voice is all shaking and cracking as I said my everlasting vow to my love.

Coincidentally, the video ended as I said the last word of my oath. The video froze and now Rikkun’s handsome face is there, smiling, his sparkling emerald eyes looking at me with pure passion.

“...Rikkun… Rikkun… Rikkun…”

My heart couldn’t take it much longer. I hugged myself as I collapse on the floor. Not even covering my eyes would stop my tears from falling.

“...I love you too Rikkun… I love you Rikkun… Rikkun… RIKKUUUUUUN!!!”

My excruciating painful cries echoed throughout the shrine.