Finally, the final chapter. Have fun reading.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my constant flow of thoughts.
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38. EPILOGUE
"I'm sorry I am late," Misaki huffed as she leaned down trying to catch her breath. "Had a lot of work to catch up."
Usui, who was leaning against the wall near the school gate, smiled at her. "I already miss the days when I was your top priority."
"You mean while we constantly looked out for the dangers that may end our lives? No thank you. I don't miss those days."
Usui chuckled and extended his arm towards her, palm up. Misaki looked at him, fidgeted a little, looked around pensively and slowly slipped her hand into his. They started walking leisurely towards her house.
Being the president, she still felt afraid to confess about her love to everyone. Suddenly turning all soft and smiling a lot already left the students shocked and suspicious.
"Can we stop by the park for some time?" he asked.
"Yes…we didn't have much time to talk lately."
"We've been busy."
A month passed by so fast they had no idea what passed in each other's lives.
"The headmistress excused my absence as I showed good promise in the academics. My exams are coming up next week. I—I won't be able to spend much time," she sighed. "And you?"
"I'm planning on applying for some top medical universities. I've been preparing for those entrance exams."
They reached the park and she sat down on a swing. He leaned on the pole of the swing set, hands in his pockets and gazed at the sky shimmering with stars.
"You never look like you study. I mean, it feels like you magically know everything." Misaki kicked his shoe lightly.
A soft chuckle escaped him. "I was trained for harder tasks, Princess."
A reminiscent look appeared on her face as she said, "It feels so easy, Usui. All that studying and the works of student council, maid latte…everything. I keep comparing them to the life I had as a princess and then, this feels like a gift. A bundle of simple and friendly tasks."
Usui leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. "You are the only person who can think like that."
He held her hand and beckoned her to get up. He took her to a place with less number of people.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Just stand here," saying that, he put a hand in his pocket. Looking at her straight in the eyes, he pulled out a polished wooden box, studded with stones. It was a beautiful small box which fit perfectly in his palm.
She looked at the box; admiring it and then at Usui, quirking an eyebrow.
"I found it in one of the three rooms. And I am sure it belongs to you…made for you." He opened the box.
A gold and platinum fused ring was inside, studded with a large cut diamond. Her eyes widened. Words betrayed her as she tried to say something. Anything.
He dropped down to one knee, held the ring in his hand and grinned at her.
Her cheeks colored and after a few failed attempts at talking, she found her voice and stuttered. "B—but I'm still in high school Usui…"
"Ayuzawa," he held her hand. "I am not asking you to marry me. I know your ambitions and trust me, I won't trouble you to make haste; though I would love to make you my bride right now, right here. This," he gently held her hand and pushed the ring on her fourth finger. "This is a promise."
"Geez Takumi…" she smiled, leaned down and held his face between her palms. "A promise I will never let you break," she kissed him lightly on the lips. "You are struck with me for a long time, Prince Charming."
"I am no Prince," he snorted. "I am still the perverted alien," and he caught her lips with his in a passionate and love filled kiss.
…
(MISAKI)
They say that it is destiny that lets you meet people…and your heart that binds them to you. They say that true love will make you forget all the trouble you went through in life and prepare you to go through hell again if that is what it takes to be with them.
I didn't take that seriously. I didn't believe in true love. And no chance that I believed in soul mates. For that matter…ghosts…or souls…or afterlife. God! Seriously…I never though one man could prove me so wrong…and I will feel happy because I was wrong.
"Are you nervous?" my mother's voice made me look up. I saw her smile in the mirror first and then my nervous stricken face. But I still looked beautiful. All thanks to Chiyo and Sakura who applied the painstaking task of applying makeup which didn't make me look like a whole other person. Only made me perfect for this special day. I took a deep breath.
"A little."
"Oh my, you've got the wedding jitters! And you look so adorable!" Sakura sang.
Wedding. My wedding. Takumi and me…we are going to be married.
That made me a thousand times more nervous and I felt the blush creep onto my face. 'Get a hold of yourself, Misaki,' I yelled at myself in my head. 'You are a diplomat for god's sake! You are supposed to handle difficult situations in a tactful manner!'
"If you are thinking about handling your jitters with your diplomatic skills…that is not going to happened sis," Suzuna said with her calm voice. Ugh, that girl can read my mind!
I stood up and assessed myself in the full length mirror. I wish I could see Takumi's expression sooner. I looked really good. The wedding dress, I heard, was personally selected by my picky fiancée. He did a great job.
It was a pure white, all-over lace gown with a trumpet skirt. It had a satin waistband making me look more stylish and the sweetheart neckline was not too deep. A modest gown…perfectly comfortable for me. He knew me too well.
I picked up the bouquet from the table. It was a mix of white roses and stephanotis. A lavender ribbon tied them together and the rest flowed down. Everything was so beautiful and perfect. Just like we wanted. We waited for so long.
I looked at the ring on my hand, the platinum and gold fused diamond ring…a promise ten years ago. A memory still fresh in my mind because I keep recalling it every single day.
"Shall I…?" the voice made me cringe. I looked up. It was my dad. He stood there in a neatly ironed navy blue suit. I eyed him sceptically.
"An old man can dream, can't he?" he smiled nervously. "I want to walk my daughter to the altar…"
I struggled to keep a straight face. He showed up three years back. He gave me many reasons…and if it wasn't for the time I spent with Takumi…I never would've forgiven him. It still took me a whole year to look at him. And I still don't talk to him, unless absolutely necessary.
"It was your fault for missing your younger daughter's wedding…" I grumbled.
He looked down, his shoulders stooping. A resigned sigh escaped me. I walked towards him and locked my arm with his.
He looked at me with a dumb expression, his mouth half open.
"Misaki…"
"As a daughter, I should fulfil my old man's dream," I smiled. It was heartfelt. It felt nice to have my father back. His eyes watered and he gulped a few times.
"Hey, now stop crying. You should be proud…you are getting one of the world's famous heart surgeon as your son-in-law," I said and urged him forward.
…..
(TAKUMI)
"You are not supposed be having wedding jitters. It's a girl thing," Tora smirked at me. I tried not to roll my eyes.
"I am not having wedding jitters."
"Your pacing says the opposite," his smirk grew.
Alright, I was nervous. Who won't be? Finally, after ten years, the day I waited for so long. The day I will be married to my love of lives. I was waiting for the right time…I didn't want to disturb her career which was moving smoothly.
Three months back, she barged into my house and dragged me into my room.
"What the hell do you think you are doing, Idiot!?" she yelled, her face red hot.
I replayed all the events of the past week. It wasn't anything out of normal…we talked like usual…texted like always.
"Ayuzawa…" I began. She tackled me onto the floor and looked at me fiercely.
"Don't Ayuzawa me! I want to be a Usui!" she shouted at my face. I am sure she could see the evident shock on my face. She groaned and dropped her flushed face on my chest.
That was the gorgeous and dangerous diplomat's marriage proposal to me.
"Tora!" Hinata's voice dragged me out of my sweet memory. "Don't say that. It is okay to be nervous."
"Yes, you would say that. Suzuna was so cool and confident in your wedding. What you did was only fidget."
When Hinata opened his mouth to continue the argument, I warned him with a look and shook my head at Tora. He simply raised his hands in surrender.
I walked with them to the altar. I could feel the piercing looks and admiring smiles of people from the wedding hall. I adjusted my black tie and waited patiently.
And then the time came…when the time stops. I thought it was pure exaggeration when men say the world pauses when you look at your bride walking towards you in her wedding dress. I was wrong. It did stop. Everything else faded. It didn't matter. My bride did. Misaki did.
She looked like an angel. The dress hugged her figure perfectly and I wanted to sweep her off her feet and take her away from all the people who are surely ogling at her. I saw the glint in her eyes and the smile she gave me tempted me to capture it with my own.
I blinked once to let the world into my site. And I was amazed. She was walking with her father. My father-in-law. A proud smile crossed my face. She accepted him. I could see how much it meant for him in his watery eyes.
I offered my hand as she came closer. She gently accepted it and I walked her to the priest. We stood facing each other. We said our vows with heartfelt sincerity and exchanged rings.
The look in her eyes as she looked up at me will stay with me for the rest of my life. So much love I was petrified.
"You may kiss the bride now," the priest's voice sounded distant.
Misaki chuckled. "I thought you were waiting for this moment," she teased.
"That I did," I said and I put a hand around her waist and pulled her closer to me. She placed her hand on my cheek and I kissed her. A cheer ran through the hall.
A whole new story began as Misaki Ayuzawa became Misaki Usui; my wife. My life.
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So, this is the end of our journey!
I loved writing this story. I loved the way you guys encouraged me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You gave me the confidence that this story was as good as I planned it to be.
Hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did.
Until next time.
Have a day you would love to treasure for the rest of your lives. *smiiiile*