Part XXVII

"Hey," Dylan whispers in my hair, holding me close as we sit on a small bench in the balcony, the cool evening breeze whispering on us, "you see that?." He points towards the sky and my smile brightens as I see the sun setting beautifully, brightly and colorfully.

The red, orange and golden hues spread across the sky, glowing up my face and my heart. I could say this is the most precious time of the day, the time when people go back home to their families after a long day at work, the time where families unite for dinner, a time when I can sit by my beloved husband and savour the quiet and cool air.

Who would've thought something this beautiful was made to welcome the dark night.

"It's beautiful." I say in response, still staring at it with my head resting on his broad shoulders and his arm around me.

Although I know this moment would soon be over and we'd have to go in, I pray for the time to stop or just tick by really slow.

"Not as beautiful as you." Dylan says with so much love and my stomach flutters. I could never get used to loving this man or being loved by him.

Never did I ever think love could be this... glorious. Just as beautiful as the sun.

"You don't have to be so cheesy just cos we're sitting under the sunset." I chuckle and he lets out a little laugh.

"But really, you're beautiful Crystal."

"I love you Dylan," I say with all sincerity and honesty, "and I can never stop loving you."

"I love you too babe." He responds and I know he means it. "I'd rather die than stop loving you."

I never thought watching the sunset would bring back painful memories, memories that I'd forever cherish even if they hurt me the most. I promised to never stop loving him. How could I make a single promise so many times and not be able to keep it the one time it was tested.

He must be disappointed in me wherever he is.

He kept his. He was strong till the end. Even when his life was threatened, he protected me. He went against his tradition and family, he gave it all up for me.

I'm sorry Dylan. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I'm still breathing. It's a privilege I don't deserve. A gift I don't desire.

I wonder where Betty is now. I'm still surprised Sean let her go when it seemed like she was bent on doing something against him. I'm still in the dark about all that happened in the cabin.

Why Jake wanted me dead and why Dylan would have to die if he didn't kill me. Why Betty pretended to be by Jake's side but in the real sense, was set out to save me.

The room, the voices, the images and every horrific thing about that cabin. I'm still confused as to why all this happened in the first place and now Sean, I don't even know who he is or what he truly wants.

I'm caught up in the middle of a drama that I know nothing about. One moment I'm making breakfast for my husband, the next I'm sticking a knife in his heart. A heart I swore to cherish.

"Still brooding?." Sean catches me off guard again and I look up from my sitting position on the bed where I watch the sun set and rise through the curtains.

"Stop sneaking up on me." I say more to myself than him, my voice low and cracked from not speaking for a long time unsure if I should have even said anything at all.

"Huh?" He says looking genuinely surprised, "you said something?"

I just stare at him this time in silence, confused if I should hate him for making me do what I did or not.

"Hmph" He rests his back on the chair frowning a little. He looks so cute I wonder how he manages to have two completely opposite personalities.

"I'm sure I misheard. How are you feeling now?"

"For how long are you going to keep mute", he grumbles and I almost smile at how his immature acts contradicts his manly body. He looks to be in his late twenties but I know he's way older than that to have known Betty long ago.

"Did you finish up the food?" He asks and look around, a smile settling on his lips when he finds the empty plate on the drawer but is soon replaced by a somewhat confused frown.

"Where's my lamp?" He asks and my eyes widen in realisation, wishing he doesn't find the broken pieces but my hope goes down the drain the moment he gets up and checks the waste bin.

"What!" He yells, sounding more frustrated than angry as he puts his left hand on his hip and his right hand pull at his shiny black hair then he turns around to look at me but I look down, avoiding his eyes, "that was my favorite lamp. It always brightened up my room and my heart, that's why I put it here hoping it'd serve the same purpose, for you." He says, his voice getting lower that I almost didn't hear the last part. Almost.

"Hold up." He says after a few seconds of awkward silence and runs to sit beside me on the bed, bringing his face so close to my neck, I push him away on impulse. What was he trying to do?!.

"Ouch!" He rubs his arm and moves few inches away from me, "I was only sniffing you to check if you've had your bath at all."

My face turns red and I look away immediately. I haven't even washed my mouth either.

"From that stench?" He scrunches up his face in disgust and I wanna slap it off but after that threat, I dare not, "I can bet you'd change the color of any pool you go into."

I glare at him and he laughs hard.

"Was that supposed to be a glare?!" He asks in-between laughs and I almost laugh too, he has a really contagious smile.

He stops laughing abruptly and looks at me with a raised eyebrow, "Is that a smile I see on your face?." He asks and that's when I realise I was actually smiling. For the first time in what seems like ages, I smiled. I thought I had forgotten how to but here I am, smiling at the person that killed my husband.

"I'm glad I made you smile." He says but still, I didn't respond.

The hate I felt towards him slowly creeping it's way back into my heart. Who does he actually think he is to think I'd just forgive him for what he did because of a meal and this plastic care he feigns.

"Well, you should take your bath and get ready." He snaps his fingers again and a short black dress appears on the bed with golden flats, "you'll be meeting with some people today."

I look at him in confusion, expecting an explanation but instead, he plants a peck on my cheek and disappears leaving his scent behind.