EPILOGUE
❝Your stars are shining bright. Everything is perfect.❞
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OF ALL THE THINGS in the world, I was proud of one thing - my honor. It was something I protected, respected and cherished with all my being.
And so when I decided to stay back in Androsia for as long as it took me to keep my promise - my word - and protect my honor, I chose the decision wholeheartedly without any regrets.
However, that never meant that I did not experience heartbreak or the act of missing someone.
I missed Taehyung with every fibre of my being and no matter how much I could possibly call him every time I did miss him, it still did not suffice.
A lot had happened after Taehyung had left. I had to leave the hospital as per what the officials had said and ended up helping Julia in her café. Chen became the head of the department and I could not possibly be happier than anyone else taking my position.
Isabelle was pregnant with her third child and I was impressed by my brother in deed. She whined about going through the entire cycle again but Isabelle was happy. The joy of motherhood she exhibited took me aback. She said, "You'll understand soon, Liv. It's a whole new magical experience."
Ben still worked in the department for foreign affairs and he was content as ever. He even got more holidays on request when Isabelle wanted him to be with her. The Friday out for him was scrapped by Isabelle herself, as she said, "It was a useless thing either way. Feel free to go when you want. Just be there when I need you, always."
Julia found solace in Jenny, a girl that ended up spilling a cup of iced tea on her accidentally on purpose. A very clichéd move. Jenny even agreed once the began dating that it was all a huge plan plotted in her head just for her to get Julia's attention. Julia was finally happy and my heart swelled with pride at her fairytale.
As for Shiza, the girl was still madly in love with Chen and the genius doctor was still stupid as ever when it came to her feelings. However, it did result in them being closer than ever. If only the stars could align themselves a bit more to let them be with each other romantically.
One of the many reasons why I stayed back - the one to whom I was bound by a word. Xavier. Recovery was what greeted him as soon as he took the step to get treatment. He was doing so much better within a year. He confided in me and so did I as he became a friend. The past was buried under layers of memories of the good times that he made sure I experienced.
Xavier, who was recovering at a remarkable rate, was promised the throne as soon as he was done with his treatment. Gabriella was proud of her son and I was proud of Xavier too. He was finally going to make Androsia see the bright sunshine again.
And that was how I was here.
Everything bright and positive around me was what eventually led me to take my decision. I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. With a smile that had already made its way on my face, I packed my clothes into my suitcase.
"You look creepy. Stop smiling like that," Julia commented. She was seated next to my suitcase, helping me with my packing. I laughed on hearing her words and Jenny, who was standing by the door, came to my support.
"Let her be, love. The girl is finally getting to see the one she's been yearning for, after all this time. She deserves to smile."
"But not this creepily. You look like you're going to jump his bones as soon as you seem him," Julia snorted.
Closing my bag shut, I asked Jenny to sit on my bag as I tried closing it. As soon as I was done with it, I turned to look at Julia and with an obvious smirk on my face, I remarked, "What if I did?"
"Ew," Julia gagged and I winked at her. Jenny laughed on seeing the entire scenario. I would miss this. The entire feeling of home - of what would once have reminded me of home - and the endless joyous occasions. I would miss the people I love - the people I'd take a bullet for. However, the entire futuristic vision of starting something new with Taehyung as we continued where we paused seemed to blanket everything else.
"You bid farewell to everyone, didn't you?" Julia enquired out of concern. I dragged my suitcase down and further away till the door. Julia and Jenny followed me and I nodded, "Yeah. You attended the farewell party yesterday, woman. You didn't seem to have this doubt when you dug into that chocolate mousse yesterday."
Jenny laughed and mumbled to her girlfriend, "Ignore her. You looked adorable."
"Ew," I gagged and stopped right before the door. Opening it, I swallowed. The reality hit me hard. I was leaving. I was actually leaving Androsia.
"Does Taehyung know of your arrival?" Jenny enquired. A smile made its way as I thought through my entire plan.
"No." It was a surprise. Taehyung had called me the previous night. He looked exhausted yet charming as ever. With his head supported on his hands, he stared at me and my heart fluttered a bit. He mumbled about how much he missed me and I had to resist the intense urge to tell him that he did not have to wait for long. A year was good and enough. It was so at least to me. Hence why I was this nervous and at the same time, excited to have this surprise, work.
"Oh Jesus," Jenny sighed. Julia shook her head, almost as if she knew I'd do something around those lines. Raising an eyebrow, she merely commented, "Pray that your said plan works out, hon."
"Hey," I whined. "It will."
"Olivia?" Julia called out. I turned. She took big strides towards me before wrapping her arms tightly around me and pulling me close. My eyes watered and my throat dried up. I was about to cry a long while back however, I held it back. But now? With Julia showing me how much she'd miss me, the tears started falling, staining my face and slowly smearing my makeup.
"Argh," I pulled away and fanned myself, trying to avoid crying any further. "Stop making me cry."
Julia merely gazed at me and shaking her head slightly, she said, "I'll miss you."
"Don't get me started," I wagged my finger at her and shook my head firmly. "I'll miss you too, Jules."
Julia and Jenny rushed to hug me again and I let myself be wrapped completely by their being. I would miss this and so much more as I leave Androsia. Was it all worth it?
I hope so.
Leaving Androsia was painful. It was everything I was and everything I owed to. I grew with the Kingdom, in the Kingdom amongst the lovely people here. I became what I am today and Androsia saw it happening.
However, Rossa was everything different than what I had imagined it to be. On reaching Rossa and entering the city, I was left to marvel, occasionally gaping, leaving the taxi driver laughing at me and commenting, "You've never been here before, have you?"
I nodded and smiled, embarrassed. The taxi driver merely chuckled and remarked, "Don't let the Kingdom of Rossa steal your heart. Trust me, it will make you never want to go back."
"It is beautiful."
"Indeed. Where do you want me to take you to?"
"The palace," I answered, unsure.
"Ah, to see the great palace, I see," the taxi driver accelerated and I bit my lip.
"No. I want to see the prince."
The taxi driver coughed and I could see from the mirror how he had raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure this is your first time here?"
"Yes," I smiled.
"Oh, okay," he decided not to press on the topic further and merely drive me to the place. I looked outside and I realised what he meant when he told that Rossa would steal my heart.
The kingdom was beautiful. The city changes every few minutes on the journey home; the downtown flicking between affluence and poverty. There were streets of up-market stores, smooth black and glass exteriors, fancy names in fancier lettering. The kind of places with perfumed atmospheres made all the more inviting by music and well groomed subservient staff; exchanging their tokens of the upper class life for the swipe of a credit card. In moments were passing the run-down pawn shops, the liquor stores and dingy supermarkets that are about as wide as two bowling lanes at Lucky Strike. These human off-casts are clad in everything from skimpy summer ware to thick wintry jackets, either freezing or roasting in the cool but sunny fall day. On the sidewalk are spaced out women with wild tangles of hair and more than one person with a cart of aluminium cans. A few moments more and we were in suburbia, rows of uniform houses and neatly moved lawns, each wide avenue draped in the seasonal reds and golds and then there was the endless greenery till before me stood a magnificent palace with guards lining up and the rich smell of divinity all around.
I paid the driver in the few Rossian Sors I had and mumbled a quick thanks. The driver nodded and drove back with a pleasant smile on his face. The people here are kind, I thought and walked ahead.
The guards looked intimidating yet not as intimidating as the huge infrastructure of the palace was. I gaped and took small steps carefully as I marvelled at the wonder it was. As I presumed, the guards stopped me at the gates.
"I'm here to see the prince," I explained.
"No," the guards responded, almost robot-like.
"What?"
"No," this time, another guard responded.
"But I want to see your prince," I raised my voice slightly as the agitation kicked in.
"No."
"Oh my god," I sighed in agitation. "Can you at least tell your prince that there is someone who is here to see him?"
"We are not allowed to send anyone in without a prior appointment booked," the guarded informed. I realised that it seemed very unreasonable of me to get mad at the guards for merely doing their jobs. However, I came all the way here to see Taehyung - to be with Taehyung.
"I-"
"Olivia?" A husky, deep voice that sounded awfully familiar called out from behind me. My eyebrows quirked up and I looked at the guards who were now bowing respectfully.
I turned around and my eyes watered. My heart did an entire somersault and my legs wobbled. He looked magnificent as ever, with an exuberant glorious aura.
The guards could have at least told me he wasn't in the palace at that moment.
"You're here," he said, almost as if he was trying to convince himself of the reality before him. He takes big strides quickly towards me and I almost ran to him.
"You're finally here," he repeated as he hugged me tightly. His built arms wrapping around my waist, almost lifting me up slightly, as he pulled me close to him. My face nuzzled into his chest after gazing at his beautiful face.
I kissed him, slowly, trying to engrain in my head and remind me of everything he was - of everything I had missed and everything I craved. Pulling apart, he cupped my face, still staring at me, trying to accept reality. I let out a chuckle and said,
"I know it's been long and this is sudden but-"
"You're here. That's all that matters."
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le fin.
-; and it's finally done.
thank you for everything.
much love, ruth x