33 Epilogue
Four months later...
Nikka is unboxing some of their things in their new house. They have just moved into their new house in Hyde Park, New York where their new ranch stood.
Although it was quite a move for them since it was far from the city, they have never regretted it. For Nikka, it was the best decision they ever made especially now with a growing family.
Marcus still works with the firm but doesn't travel often as before. She, on the other hand, stays at home and is planning to be an online English teacher instead.
She held her belly as she felt a slight kick inside it and smiled. This was really the most wonderful thing that ever happened in her life. Her dreams were finally coming true. It seemed like a fairytale except she did not live in a castle. She lives in a ranch, with her father's design and memories of her childhood...
She took out an album among her things and sat on the bed. She looked at her old pictures and smiled. She had great memories with her family and that would stay with her forever.. the values... the culture.. the love. Unconditional love.. If they were alive, surely they would be excited to know about her baby...
She placed the album in the bookshelf in the pink room. Then, she was about to take a frame when she stopped. She saw a picture of two teenagers, a boy and a girl, standing beside each other and behind them was the sea. The boy was wearing a blue striped polo shirt and jeans, and the girl was wearing a white dress. On her neck, she was wearing a heart necklace, almost the same as hers. She turned the picture over.
Bold letters written at the back that read:
August 13, 2001 Marcus and Christine
She turned it again and looked at the necklace closely. Narrowing her eyes, she held her necklace around her neck. She set the picture back on the nightstand. Unclasping her necklace, she held it in her hand, and examined it. Her finger felt a little indention and she was surprised to see that it was an inscription.
Why did she not notice it before?
It wad so small that one would have difficulty seeing it. She had always thought it was just part of the design but now that she thought of it, it could mean something more.
It was a symbol. A character she did not recognize.
She took her phone from the bedside table and searched through. Several symbols came through her as she browsed and soon found what it was.
It was a Japanese symbol for Promise.
'A promise,' she thought. She soon realized that Marcus probably had given a promise to her and Christine. Two women that she loved dearly... a promise of friendship and love.
She placed her phone back on the bedside table. Smiling, she picked up the picture again.
"Hello, wifey!" Marcus greeted. "How's it going over here?"
She turned to him, and Marcus smiled as he saw what she was holding. She gave the picture to him and he took it.
"The necklace was from my father. He used to work in Japan before as a contractor. My father came from a very poor family and that time the only way to earn big is to go to a different country. So when he got a job in Japan, he took it but he didn't know how to tell my mom since they just became a couple that time. So while working in Japan, my father send this to my mom on their first anniversary as a promise that they will get married someday.
"Mom then passed it on to me when he died. She told me to give it to a special girl someday. Someone I can promise to protect and love forever. So I gave it to Christine. Christine was an orphan and my uncle Dan adopted her. Her father was a fisherman and died in the sea one stormy day while her mother passed away giving birth to her. She was the only child and nowhere to go, so since Uncle Dan and her father were friends, he took her in.
"We became very good friends. When I gave this to her I told her I promise to always be there for her... and to marry her someday. But when she got married to David, she send it back to me. She told me that she doesn't deserve it since she was the one who let go first.."
Marcus placed it around her neck and she smiled.
"When I gave this to you on your birthday, I wasn't thinking of marrying you but instead I promised myself to always protect you. It's a symbol of friendship for me.. our friendship reminded me so much of Christine.. But I knew you are the one for me though I won't admit it at first. I just knew you are special and I need to give this to you to remember me always... to let you know I will be there no matter what."
"So, what about your promise to my father?"
He chuckled and said, "I am not sure how your father somehow coincide with what I promised myself but I guess it was never a coincidence. Maybe somehow, it was meant to remind me of what you really mean to me that time... and we will never understand how destiny works."
She smiled and looked up at him. He bent down and kissed her.
"I love you, Nikka and.." he held her belly. "This little one. I promise to cherish both of you for the rest of my life."
"I love you, too, Marcus. Thank you for keeping your promise," she said and kissed him again.
They said that true love comes to those who wait. Though it took heartaches before they realized they are meant for each other, she felt like it was still worth the risk.
First love never dies, and truly for her, this is true. Her first love, her first heartbreak never did die in her. It actually helped her to be more alive. To open herself up... to forgive despite of the pain that she went through. Yes, she finally let go of the bitter memory that she thought Philip made a mark on her forever. It took only one person... one great promise for her to be renewed as a person... as a woman. A strong promise to protect her... to take care of her... to love her no matter what. And now, as she faced a new journey of life with him, with another person inside of her, she also made a promise to herself that she will continue to believe in love. The love that can heal... the love that can forgive... the love that will always live... forever...#
*********The End of Part 1***********
