The bright morning sun rays were bathing the garden with its gentle warmth. The flowers’ fragrance was like calming incense and the morning breeze was like a soothing music. But amidst all these, silent tears were falling.
Zaki’s arms were wrapped around Hinari, embracing her tightly like there was no tomorrow. His face buried into the crook of her neck as he quietly released all his pent up emotions. He just couldn’t stop himself anymore. He trembled as he squeezed her like he’d been longing to hug her all this time without holding back.
In her embrace, Zaki felt his frosty world slowly melting. It was as if the pain was starting to evaporate. The heaviness in his heart was slowly disappearing, like dark ominous clouds vanishing after a long devastating storm.
Finally, the desolate, dark and hopeless world inside him was reached by a gentle sun light making him feel more alive than he had ever felt before.
Wordlessly, the two just stood there, squeezing each other for a long time until Zaki calmed down.
Hinari couldn’t deny that she still felt the lingering tinge of pain in her heart but at this moment, she was so happy. She was so emotional. Seeing Zaki finally showing her his vulnerable side was like a power boost giving her the strength and hope to keep fighting.
She just felt as though from here on out, her heart would grow even stronger and she would make sure of that.
After another long moment, Zaki finally pulled away from her. His tears have stopped but he was still looking down, causing Hinari to wonder if he was fine now.
“Are you alright now? It’s alright, you can hug me for as long as you want,” Hinari said and Zaki raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I feel better now,” he replied and he looked away.
Hinari was about to tell him not to hold back but before her lips formed the words, her eyes widened. It was because she noticed Zaki’s ears turned so red.
“My beauty, your ears are so red, are you blushing?” she asked excitedly and when the man jolted, a mischievous grin flashed across Hinari’s face. She then jumped on him and she hugged him from behind.
“Hehe… my beauty, let me see your blushing face, please…” Hinari pleaded as she quickly moved in front of him, not giving Zaki a chance to turn away again. She held Zaki’s face and when she saw his reddened face, awe flashed across her eyes.
Zaki was embarrassed. She never once thought that he would break down like this in front of Hinari. He was actually unsure how to face her from now on. But at that moment, when he saw how happy she looked, all these unnecessary feelings, his embarrassment and his pride just disappeared into thin air.
“I’m embarrassed from crying in front of you,” he suddenly admitted, causing Hinari’s mouth to turn agape.
“I never cried before. Even when mother died, I never shed a tear. I subconsciously forbade myself to cry because I thought it would make me weak. But it seemed like I had reached my limit and I couldn’t stop myself. I even discovered that I might be a cry baby.”
As Zaki continued speaking, Hinari looked like she was watching a certain unbelievable scene. She was utterly speechless. Was her beauty finally dropping all his walls and was now opening up to her?!
“Beauty! My love!” As soon as Hinari processed her thoughts and she realized that Zaki finally gave in and was now ready to open up, Hinari couldn’t stop herself and she jumped on him with all the happiness enveloping her entire being.
“Ahh! Beauty, my love! I’m so happy! Don’t worry, even if you’re a cry baby, I will still love you to the moon back!” She declared as she smiled widely at him.
Seeing how happy she was, Zaki suddenly hugged her again, rendering the excited Hinari to halt. Zaki remembered how he kept Hinari in the dark for a long time. He never once told her anything about himself. He remembered how he purposely distanced himself and even neglected her, leaving her all alone for years. Yet, despite it all, she never left him. She just stayed there, waiting for him.
Zaki thought that if this person didn’t come to his life, he was sure that he might be out there somewhere in the world, leisurely wasting his time, waiting for nothing but his death.
“Hinari, what’s so great about me? All I did all these years was keep you in the dark and hurt you. I don’t deserve someone like you.”
As those words reached Hinari’s ears, somehow, Hinari felt a bit annoyed. Thus, the next moment, she pulled away from him and she pinched his cheeks hard.
“Beauty, I didn’t wait for years just to hear you say the words ’I don’t deserve someone like you’, you understand?! You asked me what’s so great about you?! Are you serious?! Okay, listen carefully my dearest. Your face, your abs, your body, your voice, your eyes, your lips… everything about you is just so great, do you get it? And I’m telling you, I don’t even know why myself. I cursed you so many times for running away from me all these years but I still couldn’t stop loving you. I think there’s really no answer for that. I just love you, that’s all! No more explanations, do you understand now?!”
Hinari panted after explaining fast and loud. Zaki on the other hand was surprised but he seemed like he understood every word she said.
“Beauty… we’ve been so dramatic these past few days until now, especially you. So can we take a break from all this drama for now? I miss your silly smile my love.” As she said those words, Hinari let go of Zaki’s cheek and she began to caress him with her gentle hands as she continued,
“But first… It’s time for you to confess my beauty. I want to hear it.”
