21

"I can't believe how destiny is toying with us right now..." Khittan sighs as he takes his seat next to Karin. They are still at the shrine, specifically outside the shrine after the session with the boy and the priest.

"So, you wanna blame Heaven for that?" asks Karin. Khittan looks up to the sky. He shakes his head a bit.

"I guess, this is the most treasured life experience for me," with a fainted laugh, Khittan replies to Karin.

They continue to chill in silence, watching the stars above their head. Both of them are making an effort to calm themselves after knowing the truth. It's tangled and messy everywhere.

But, at least, the truth is already out there.

"When I wake up from the accident, somehow I feel light. Although sometimes, I feel empty inside. Like, something is lacking here and there," says Karin.

"What's your point?" asks Khittan.

"If the ritual is successful, you won't get hurt as much as you were before. And, you won't feel empty like how I was," Karin glances at Khittan. "Believe me. This is all for good," she continues.

Khittan scoots closer to Karin. He softly caresses her cheek, watching her attentively.

"If you asked me, honestly I'm not ready to let it go," says Khittan. From the bottom of his heart, his love for Karin is everlasting.

"I'm afraid, you have to. My love for you is nothing but poison," Karin replies. Slowly, her eyes glistened with tears.

"I'm willing to die,"

"I can't bear seeing you in misery,"

"Although it is misery, I'm glad that I found you. I never regret loving you. You're the best thing that ever happened in my life,"

Eyes staring at each other. The night is too silent for them because they can hear each other's heartbeat. The darkest night feels illuminating with love inside their heart. A moment that is so enchanting to let it go.

"Karin..."

The lady stares at Khittan. He slowly glares at her features; something that he will miss in the future. He wants to gaze at this face for eternity.

However, right now, it's impossible to do so.

"Since this is the last time we gonna see each other, can you do me a favor?" asks Khittan. Karin replies to him with a nod.

"Can we have one last kiss?"

Karin gasps softly. She looks reluctant, but somehow, her heart draws her closer to Khittan. She feels overwhelmed all of a sudden.

With a simple nod, Karin allows Khittan to lean closer to her. The man carefully flicks her chin, takes a deep breath, and leans his luscious lips towards Karin.

At first, he wants to go straight to her lips. But, somehow he changes route. Instead of her lips, he pushes her head down and goes for her forehead. Khittan places his lips against Karin's beautiful skin and gives a deep kiss to her.

"You said-"

Before Karin can finish her words, Khittan's lips crash against her lips. Her eyes grow round, but then slowly the lid closes while their lips nibble to each other.

Amid the darkness of midnight, two people give everything that they have; inside and out, to express their emotions for one last time. When Khittan's fingers linger around Karin's waist, the closeness turns into an intimate gesture that the lady can't refuse. The sound of nature becomes the melody that resonates in the air.

At least this tragic love receives justice. Even if some part of it.

The intimacy drags them into one of the rooms inside the shrine, provided by the priest. When Khittan lays Karin down, he can still feel shaking inside. Karin is the first woman that he touches, in a serious tone. Although it's not his first time, but still, the feeling is almost the same as the first time. Karin brushes Khittan's jaw, knowing that he is stirring inside.

"No regrets. Just love," she says. Khittan finally nods. Slowly, he serves in delicate gestures, not only for her but for him as well. Every touch matters. Every kiss matters. Every body language matters.

Every second, every minute... Everything matters the most right now.

When he holds Karin so tight in his embrace, tears roll from his eyes. Knowing this is the last time they will see each other, Khittan almost blames Heaven for such a tragic ending.

"Karin... I wish I could hug you like this forever," Karin turns her body, facing Khittan. The coldness in the room draws her closer. But, she knows that's not the real reason for this intimate moment.

She just wanna be close to Khittan for one last time.

"Ironically, I still believe in destiny. Though it betrays us," Karin presents Khittan with a hopeless laugh. Softly, she wipes those tears that stain his cheek.

"I will always love you, Khit.."

"You'll always be in my heart, my wife..."

Karin silently cried in Khittan's embrace. This is the last time she will hear the word.

Wife.

She used to hate it because she never understood their feelings.

Now, it pricks her heart even deeper.

She's not his current wife. She used to be the one in the past.

And certainly not in the future.

***

"The ritual won't take a lot of time," says the priest. Karin and Khittan follow him to the backyard of the shrine. There is a small hill and they need to hike.

"Luckily, the shrine was built at the original spot where the House of Jade was placed centuries ago," the priest presents them to the area.

It is an open field in the middle of the forest, with beds of flowers on the ground. There is a huge tree that shades the area so it feels a bit cold and hidden. The boy is already there, perhaps waiting for them while preparing for the ritual as well.

There is a box in his hand.

"Lady... Your Highness... Please lay down next to each other," the priest instructs them.

Khittan watches Karin take her place before he proceeds to do the same thing as well. The two lay down on the flowery bed, with thousands of stars shining right in front of their eyes.

"Now, close your eyes. And let your mind wander loose. Let it empty," says the priest, instructing them one more time.

Karin closes her eyes. Khittan, on the other hand, glanced at her one more time.

"Karin..."

Karin turns her head towards Khittan. The man stares at her, tears dropping from his eyes. He stretches his hand towards her. Karin halts for a second. She takes some time to understand his feelings.

Later, unknowingly, she grabs his hand and smiles.

"Khit..."

The man blinks his eyes.

"Khittan, I love you..."