(A WAY BACK TO YOU)
WALKING inside the hospital lobby as my eyes fall straight to the only path, I wanted to take this time. The elevator opens as I step inside pressing the floor button where she is. The second I step outside walking past the room numbers, I stop in front of her room. Expecting to see them waiting for me, I look at my phone as the familiar code I made from the past life is sent directly as a message in this time to me, as a reminder that our time is dwindling and that everything should be put back to where they should be.
"Tsk!"
I smirk, for just remembering the past that took me this long to remember, makes me want to hate myself even more. Thinking of the agony they withstand and patiently waiting for the both of us, and playing along just like they promise, a risk is not an option or a word anymore. Opening the door as I found the three of them sitting in the different corners of her hospital room, the memory I forgot from the past life is rushing back like it is reminding me of both the hate and want I exchange for everything just to be with her.
"The deal that you both took in this life and against the demon who knows nothing, but winning. A demon who will do everything for the sake of taking what he wanted. Then, let us be of help."
The three I entrusted to guard her in this time, with Luna's divine protection to seal their memory and pass to their reincarnated lives now. With the boundary outside of the deal, Luna gambled a play upon with their mission to look after us up until I remember everything stirs the facts to fall in both hate and want to win the is finally here, as I finally remember everything.
"It took you quite long, You're Majesty."
Bowing down on their knees in a knight's respect and loyalty towards the king they serve in their past life and still now made me smile as I nod, commanding them to stand.
"I'm sorry for remembering everything this late now, Vince, Leo, Yuna."
Calling their name one by one as they raise their head smiling with honor, Yuna nods as she teasingly complains like what she used to back then, only that she is a grown-up woman in this life rather than her mischievous childlike appearance in the past.
"You should be. Do you know how hard it is to play along with Luna's plan? To keep Miyu safe, to manipulate the people around her as we three are hiding our real identity and knowledge about the deal all until you remember?"
"Tsk! Tell me about it."
Added by Vince, who is on the brim of scolding me and my stubbornness like an old geezer as the mentor that he is to me in our past life, but the same age as me in this life. The preparation and manipulation that took me long to have with Luna's guidance all to fight the trickster in this life fair and square up until I remember everything is the thing, he wanted to scold me off for many folds but he cannot. Knowing that it all base on Luna's written play.
"Still it all ends to where everything should be for now. Plan or not, we three knew what should we do as playing in the neutral zone supporting Miyu as the king is at Luna's wing in both hell and heaven is our mission."
Leo supported taking no one's side but hitting the fact and the root that started the game that intertwines between manipulation, knowing and not, trust and betrayal. From the two playwrights and me as the sole gambler.
With the identity of their past life that they hide away from the clutches of the common enemy we are trying to beat and the play they took assisting, guarding, and placing everything to where it all should be is finally revealed.
Snapping her finger, Yuna reminded. "For the past years, we took our role as we fulfill our mission to protect Miyu. We did what ask of us making sure that we are wearing our mask perfectly from the Trickster's cutches, but we did not expect that it will take you this long, Rafael."
Scolding me as she uses then in the past by calling my name without honorific, I only smirk admitting my mistake.
"I commend you all for that."
"Now that you remember everything, the question here is, will you be able to let go, Rafael?"
Yuna reminded me of talking about the warning, yet the truth and the path I could not run away from as what Luna is telling me about, and now that I remember the deal, I understand everything. Yet from all that warning and the thing that I should do, I could not abide by the solution they all want me to take, as I cannot let go of her just like in the past where she chooses it for the both of us.
"Is this the reason why you called me and to this place?"
Asking as they keep in silent for a while, Yuna replied.
"We know that Luna already warns you multiple times about this Rafael. The deal and the game you took will only end in the same pattern as Romeo and Juliet, as all that is left is to take the punishment for the love you both cross and a taboo. No matter what, you must let go."
Crumpling my fist as they three are pushing in me the same price Luna is asking me about ever since. I can only hate the fact as I remember Luna's word.
"Can you let go, let her go, Hiro?"
"Tsk!"
Smirking as I shake my head with disbelief as I do not know if they are on my side or not for asking the things they know that I could not do. I could only take a deep sigh indirectly telling them that I could not. Somehow reading my mind as they all knew me too well, Vince honestly said.
"The reason why we called you here is not just because we wanted to give our respect and honor for our king, but to buy Luna time to talk to Mika."
Knowing the worst and what comes inside Luna's mind, I rush out slamming the door shut leaving them as my entire being is pin towards Luna's plan of giving Mika the initial warning of our shared past. I almost leap out of my car, as I arrive at the hotel taking the VIP elevator to the penthouse running in a rush in the hall as the guards greeted me as I pass by and finally stopping in front of the door. Catching my breath as I hold the knob sliding the door open, I found her.
"Mikaella del Lionore, that's my real name as you can call me, Mika."
Hate, longing, want, and pain. The taunting emotion that swallowed me in an instant as our gazes lock into each other and her tears fall, together with the memory of her in our past that came rushing like a knocking door inside my mind.
"For someone that is hiding behind a mask and circling his life in the biggest lie. Just who are you into my life?"
I wanted to tell her everything of the truth of who am I to her as of how important she is to mine, but I could not as limitation hinders me too. With her tears falling when she passes beside me and walking away, my heart breaks into pieces as Luna, calls.
"Rafael."
Sighing my frustration rather than my anger, I look back at Luna who is standing in satisfaction with what she did without my knowledge or her asking me beforehand, as I can only crumple my fist in defeat with the urge to scold her, yet I could not.
"You should have not done this, Luna."
As I warn her while I'm easing my anger, for the scene that just curses my heart for the guilt that is shaking my entire existence now, knowing that I just hurt the only person I should not.
"You should not take your hands in this matter."
Marking her disappointment on her face as she crosses her arms, she retorted back.
"Then what should it be then, Hiro? Should I still wait until you finally dare to do so, until the last sand of your time?"
Warning me of the inevitable end of the deal I took, I can only close my eyes as I sigh in defeat. For the one who risks everything to guide me, and the one who only acted to fulfill our wishes, I cannot ask anything nor be in disappointment to the Seraphim that she is, yet,
"For someone that is hiding behind a mask and circling his life in the biggest lie. Just who are you into my life?"
Should I still not question the things she is doing and about to do because it is all for the sake of us? I wanted to scream my displease knowing that I should be the one to take that part, the time and chances to make her remember, or am I am just too naïve even though I remember everything now?
"Hate me now as you can thank me later, but your time is dwindling short, Hiro."
Reminding me of the left time we have and I have, from the deal that took everything away from the both of us. To each mistake that I did and this life's chance for the both of us, I needed to take the path where I can hold her.
"Now, what path will you choose?"
Taking the warning out of the thing that I need to do, the fear that I need to throw away, and the chance that this life brings, one thing can make everything fall into where it all should be.
"Tsk! To make her remember."
Turning back as I took the step out to chase after her, I left the last thing clear for her.
"The past that I can start with, the game that I took, and the deal that I am paying. I will never cross the line I sign as my consequence, but to make sure she remembers me in this life and where I found her then, eighteen years ago."
Closing the door as I run fast rushing to her, I swear to myself that this time I will hold her close and make her remember everything.
"Reincarnation, death and rebirth, three chances, three lives spin, three events in time, three hopes and three wishes, that's the script. Take it or leave it. You will be my actors as I am the playwright, from those chances you can choose, but remember I already warn you. In a hundred years, fifty, twenty or best be lucky for, after ten years from now, one of you will remember everything when your destiny once again meets and you realize it. Only if you realize it, but the other will not when that time met, I will only give you twenty, you heard it right twenty years to live. To that time your consequences and named price will tick and will never cease to exist. As the time will start your first chance will begin, to a mortal body in exchange equal by you in appearance and every bit of your existence now, our play will begin. After a hundred days, you both will suffer each other's loss, for months you will meet again as I can finally say, let the game begin."
With the deal, the trickster asks as the rule stating that it has to be a secret to the one who forgot as the other who remembers will have to make the other remember the past indirectly. This time, I will hold the blame as I will tell her everything that she lost in this 2nd life without defying the contract I signed and starting at that point where I can make her remember our first life.
"One of you knows, remember and forever bares your both hearts, as one of you will do everything for the other one to remember before the time runs out and if not, the one that had a deal with me will die. To make it more exciting, you cannot tell her because if you do, her life will be the price you need to give to me. All you need to do is make her remember indirectly. You can do gestures, give her presents, and words that do not revolve directly telling about the life she forgot your first life. Twenty years is the time needed? Do we have a deal?"
With that Trickster's greed, I will play along as I will set my trump card to win the game he set for the both of us, by letting her have the past she forgot in this life and soon with our first. It may be slow, but I swear to make her remember before the end of our time. I will make her directly remember who I am in her life. Not as the Rafael of our first life, nor the guardian angel she dears, but the Rafael to whom she met in this 2nd life of ours. With the same chance that I took then, the clue that I made her think and hope to remember, and to those times of eighteen years ago.
"Would you ever believe me if I tell you that in our past life, I am a king and you are,"
"You're Princess?"
The memory that we both forgot from the accident that separates the both of us will be my key to have her back to me. Catching my breath as I found her standing by the rain a mere distance from the hotel, I took a deep breath out as I walk close to her, as her voice from our past came rushing back to me.
"No matter what, you will never leave me, right?"
"Rafael."
Calling my name as the guilt of leaving her alone which I should not do, comes rushing at me together with the memory of our promise that is hitting my heart with a million needles inside.
"Can you let her go, Hiro?"
Suddenly warned by Luna's voice and the price that I should take, yet I could not. I swear to do everything to make things back to the way they use to be.
"You should not let yourself soaked like this."
Whispering enough for her to hear me as I immediately take my coat off and put it on her and just in time when the rain finally stops. I cannot help but drown in guilt for the pain that she needed to go through because of me.
"I wanted to remember. I wanted to know, just who are you in my life?"
Crumpling my fist as I ease the urge to tell her everything from that first life of ours, knowing that it will only give the both of us the utmost tragedy and pain the Trickster set. I firmly close my eyes as I look back at her smiling with my words.
"Then will you come with me?"
With her tears that are still falling, but slowly into my eyes, I reach unto her face as I wipe those away with the promise.
"I will definitely make you remember everything."
Nodding slowly as her reply and with a hum, I crouch down on my knee asking her to ride on my back with the assurance that I will let her have the thing she ever wanted the most, her memory.
"Let us head back to the hotel first." commanding rather by suggesting.
She weakly obliges and slowly hops onto my back as she locks her arms to my chest in rest as I felt her head nod twice.
"This feels like the same time that you save me then, yet I know that this is not the very first that you carry me like this, or in that time, right?"
Talking about the time when we are lost, but not in the familiar forest where our childhood memories are kept, yet no one of us remembers, I draw a smile on my face as I nodded, confirming her thoughts.
With my armed men tailing not far away from us securing the area, my safety and hers from the imminent danger and enemy I drew my life into. I started to walk back, taking the now empty pavement with the dark sky that paves its clouds away giving us the painted lights of a starry one.
"When?"
She suddenly asks whispering. Knowing what she is thinking and asking for I told her.
"Eighteen years ago, April 2008, you carelessly went into the forest to look for me, for you cannot wait any longer until I return at dawn from the marketplace. Thinking that tracking inside the forest is the easiest route, you got lost because you are too naïve and got hurt badly, as you stumble down a hill breaking,"
"My ankle."
Transfix for a moment as my heart jumps for that second, holding everything close as my mind is screaming that she might remember. I almost fall out with my senses as she replies.
"The day that I woke up from that tragic accident fifteen years ago, I had a deep scar on my right ankle. No one knew how I got it as I cannot remember it neither myself, but I always believe that it will lead me back to the things I lost and maybe towards the person that dears to me."
Holding her closer and tighter than before, I look away swallowing my excitement as it was just a false alarm. I continue my steps slower than before, as I wanted to have this moment last even for a while. Though knowing that the purpose is to make her remember even a little. To be this close with her right now is a heaven's gift I wanted to call it to be.
"Aren't you thinking and having a doubt right now, if what I'm saying to you is all just a facade, a mask that I dig to lure you in?" Regretting those words and quick as I said it, with my brain screaming that I should not have told her that, yet I cannot help myself, but ask and hope that she can find it into her heart to trust me after everything that happened.
"At first, when I still did not have a single clue, yet to the person who told me that simple tale. I believe you."
Smiling as we both took a temporary silence, I glance at the tainted black window of a cafe when we pass by, and seeing her smile my heart finally became at ease as everything is starting to turn to what I want it to be.
Seeing the hotel for just a few steps near, I signal my men to back off and head straight back, as she asks.
"I do not know if I can trust someone fully after being betrayed once, but I will to you. Though, you are the biggest mystery not just around my life, but the rest. I am willing to take the blame and the price of believing you."
Left with nostalgia as it hit me, I cannot find anything of any way to hide something and run an excuse from her, as I am once more defeated by her words.
"Yet." she stops asking, "Why it has to be just now? Why did you just came now and after all those times where I am seeking and non-stop, why just now?"
Crumpling my fist as I held my tears back and her warm breath echoes in a fair pain and crying in a silent tone, her agony and the things that are in a jumble to her mind is the payment that I should have and only mine to suffer about. If I was not too greedy for an act of revenge, security, power, and playing the ultimate ruler. If I ask immediately to take me back to that place, and if I was not too afraid to learn the truth and grasp the inevitable pain that is hunting me from the shadows, as I am too naïve to accept. If I listen to Luna and force myself to face the facts, restrain myself for being too boastful and proud. I may have remembered soon and eventually find her immediately and have her like this now.
"Destiny is cruel, isn't it? For, giving the both of the most painful punishment of forgetting each other."
Taking a deep breath as I stop my tears, I smirk and nod gesturing unto her that everything will be alright that she should be at ease, as I would not want her to take the blame unto herself, for the fault from the deal I started myself.
"Would you resent me if everything of what you said is the truth?"
"Whatever it may be, I will not besides I still want to remember everything. You said it yourself that you will make me remember everything. Though I do not know why, there is a part of me that is scared, scared to remember everything, for if I did maybe, just maybe I will fall in regret for forgetting about you."
To my tears that I hide away from her, I assure her.
"Then, for now, take only the things that fall not into that pain."
Nodding as her sob subsides, she finally asks, "Tell me, just why did I not wait for you then and decided to go after you instead?"
Smiling back as everything was placed picture perfectly to my mind, the red pouch bag that I kept a dear hold though I cannot remember why from all those years finally became clear.
"It's all because you wanted me to have a sweet licorice."
"Peppermint, licorice, gummy bears, chocolates, caramel ones, and sugar candies, all for it is just for you and only for you!"
"Okay, okay, I get it, but thank you,
"Mika."