When The Sun Meets The Earth

“It was us against the world, but the world somehow won”. I closed the book after I read the last line and took a deep breath.  It was another tragic story that I finished reading today. Tragedy is my favorite genre, maybe because I like hurting myself or I just like the way they tell the story and make people cry. But this time, I didn’t cry even though the ending was so painful that it made my chest hurt while reading it. I think I’ve read too much. I need to take a rest. I placed the book on my lap and felt the touch of orange light on my skin. I slowly breathe in the fresh sea air and let go a sigh of satisfaction. I looked at the waves as they crashed on the shoreline, then at the horizon as the sun was rising, sending bright orange rays on the beach. I was sitting peacefully under the coconut tree while enjoying the moment, not until I heard someone speak behind my back. “You like sunrise, too? They are beautiful, you know” he said. Yes, he’s a man. I didn’t answer, instead I continued watching the rising sun. He stood beside me. “You don’t talk?” he asked again. But instead of answering it, I answered his first question. “Yes, sunrise and sunset are beautiful indeed” I smiled and turned my head to where the man was standing. “Oh-” I said in shock, “you’re the one I met earlier, Mr. Liam?” I asked, making sure it was him whom I met at the hotel where we both checked in.  Funny story because we don’t actually know each other, but because of what happened earlier, in the lobby wherein baggage of ours was swapped, leads us to know each other’s names. Well, we didn't talk too much a while back, the reason why he asked that second question. I can’t just deal with the awkwardness. “Yes, Liam. And you are, Saya, right?” He offered his hands but instead of taking them, I grabbed his arms to stand up from sitting on the sand. He didn’t expect it, but I’m thankful that he can handle my weight and helped me get up. “Thank you, sir” I smiled genuinely without paying attention to what I just did. I immediately grabbed my book and fell on the sand. He just chuckled and that made me stare at his face. Well, from my perspective, I can say that he has a not-so-handsome-but-cute-face. Is that even a thing? I don’t know. Just think about human faces, they are all the same. “Staring is rude, Ms. Saya. But since I know that I am so handsome, I will let you stare at it whenever you like” What? Did. He. Just. Say? “Ha, ha, that's a good one” I laughed awkwardly. Why does he have to be so arrogant about his looks? “Really? So, you think I am handsome?” He looked so excited asking that question and made the handsome pose in front of me. Instead of answering, I burst out laughing at his face. He looked like an innocent child. When he noticed that I was laughing too much, he pouted and turned his back on me. He started walking away. I don’t know if he was serious about leaving me behind, but I immediately grabbed my book and ran towards him. “Hey,” I whispered to his ear, which made him look at me. “Why are you here, anyway? Vacation or what?” I curiously asked. “I am planning to have my vacation here, but if I’m lucky enough to get a job on this island, I will definitely live here,” he seriously stated. I nodded at his response, “How about you?” he added. “Well, as you have seen about my belongings earlier, I’m planning to stay a little longer here. It relaxes my mind because I am planning to write a story,” I explained. “Oh, you love books and you want to create one for yourself?” he cheerfully asked. Why does he have so much more energy than me? “Yeah, so don’t ruin my moment again, okay?” I said and pinched his ears. “Ouch– okay, okay. I won’t but let me watch the sunrise with you.” he said as he grabbed my hands. “Fine!” I agreed. Maybe watching sunrise with a stranger will not hurt? It was the first time we met. After that, we became close friends. We share each other's problems, stories, and embarrassing moments. I felt like we somehow had a connection because we understood each other. We made memories that we can keep forever. How can I not fall in love with this guy who has the same humor as mine? Who would think that a simple accident can lead two people to find their way to each other? In this the love that the characters in the stories I have read felt? How wonderful it is to fall in love.  But everytime I think about a love story, I feel a hollow inside me that it somewhat reminds me of how those love stories I read ended up tragically. I am afraid that I might end up or we might end up just like that. Thinking about those things made me shiver.  I told him everything about it. About my fear of taking the chance of falling in love, because I am afraid that I might end up being hurt. Because after that, what would happen next?  But then, he promised me that no matter what happened, he would always be there. We have accepted love for each other, at the same place, at the same spot, while the sun is rising.  We continue to build our relationship because we believe that our love is strong. We continued watching the sunrise when we met. We planned our future together. Everything was perfect. I knew we would definitely end up together. But fate is really cruel. No matter how hard we try to be together, it keeps on keeping us apart. “So, that’s it? You're gonna leave me now?” his voice cracked as he asked those questions. It’s funny that he promised not to leave me, but I am the one who’s gonna leave him now. I didn’t answer. I continue watching the sunset. The fact that we started watching the sunrise and now we end up watching the sunset as a symbol of letting him go. I felt his arms wrapped around my waist and he rested his head on my shoulders. Tears started falling on my cheeks. We both cried silently. Do I really need to do this? But we’ve been together for so many years, it is hard to let him go. If I leave now, will he wait for me? I want to ask him those questions but I am so afraid of what he’s going to say. Instead I said, “The sunset is beautiful, isn’t it?” I smiled weakly and gently removed his hands around me. I can’t look at him. I grabbed my things and left that place. It was a great adventure meeting him in that place, but I need to pursue my dreams. We planned together about our future, but I have my own ways of fulfilling it. I just wished he would wait for me. But am I too selfish if I wish that he should not love anyone else rather than me? I’ve arrived safely at my destination. I put aside all my feelings for him. This is what I’ve planned. Getting away from distractions. I didn’t say that he is one of them, but he is the only person that can help me write. Yes, I planned this. I planned to hurt myself. I planned to cut my skin in order for me to bleed. You will never understand what I am saying if you haven’t experienced it. But for me, everything is all according to plan. Ten years have passed and I achieved my dream of becoming a writer. I also have my own publishing company and I should be happy for myself, but I felt empty. It’s like all my hard work is useless. Maybe because of him?  I stared at my latest published book.  Of course, it is inspired by him. My Liam, my love. I missed him. Did he miss me, too? It’s been ten years, maybe he found another woman to love. The thought of it makes me sick. I can accept the fact that he will find another woman to love, but what can I do? I left him. I deserve this heartbreak.  I’ve finished all my work and decided to go on a vacation. I want to come back to my home country, to that place where I met him. I am not expecting to meet him there. I just want to take my tour. If he ever married someone, then I should congratulate him. I should thank him for everything. I should have told him what I hadn’t said before. I should- I stop thinking and let my tears fall. It hurts to think that after ten years, it is still him that I’ve been waiting for. Will I ever move on from this heartbreak? From this love story that hasn’t ended yet or has it already ended at the time I left? I fixed myself to sleep because I booked my flight tomorrow. I am hoping that everything will be okay as I step on that island again. It’s 1AM and I have arranged everything that I will bring with me. It’s a one-month vacation. I need to relax my mind.  After a 5 hour flight, I finally arrived. I booked the hotel but not the same as the hotel I booked before. Everything changed. There are more buildings and infrastructure that are not familiar to me, but it doesn’t matter. I immediately changed my clothes and decided to go to that same spot I went before. I didn’t get enough sleep because I was so excited about going back home. I looked out the window, and the sun wasn't rising yet. I immediately looked for my book and rushed outside and ran to the same spot as the coconut tree. I felt relieved when I saw that it was still there. It looks old because it’s been years since I got here. I sat quietly. I take a deep breath before I open the book.  “Eclipse”, I whispered the title. It is the latest book I’ve published. I tried everything I could to make this a happy ending. It’s like the alternate universe of my first book. I closed my eyes and started to reminisce. The memories of the first time we met, on how we watched the sunrise and sunset and the time that I said goodbye. I opened the book on the last page and carefully read the ending. I was bothered when I felt someone had put a book in my lap. It was familiar to me. “When The Sun Meets The Earth by C. Hyacinth” I read carefully, then it hit me. It was the first book that I published. It is about the story of a man and a woman who symbolize the sun and earth. The title simply means the sunrise or the sunset wherein the sun touches the earth in the eyes of people. Their story ended tragically because the sun didn't have enough time to stay and left the earth in darkness. The book contains all of my thoughts when I left Liam.  I was smiling while holding the book, then I remembered that someone had given it to me.  “Do you still love sunsets and sunrises?” that familiar voice. I immediately looked at where it came from and I saw him. He looks more mature. His beard had grown a little bit but he is the same person I met before. I want to hug him so badly because I missed him, but I am afraid that when I do that, I will not let him go. Maybe he’s already married. I looked at his hand but there was no wedding ring. Is he single or in a relationship? “Uhm-” I opened my mouth but there were no words coming out. I bit my lips and tears started falling onto my cheeks. I looked away, I didn't want him to see me crying. I wiped my tears with my hands but I couldn’t stop it, it kept on falling.  I felt him sitting beside me. “I’m sorry”, he said, and didn’t hesitate to hug me. “I’m sorry that I didn’t keep my promise that I would stay by your side.” “No-” I shook my head. “I am the one who should apologize. I left you” “Shhh, Don’t worry. I’m here now. I didn’t say it but I waited for you. All these years, I have had no intention of meeting someone new because I promised to myself that you are the only woman that I will love for the rest of my life” Hearing those words has driven away the pain I’ve felt for years. My fear of losing him forever is gone. He waited for me and I should be thankful, but I couldn’t even say a word. I just cried, I’m such a crybaby. He wiped away my tears and I calmed myself. I have to say something. I have to apologize–no, I have to tell him everything that happened.  “Liam,” I said his name, “I–” no, I can’t say a word. I closed my eyes and sighed. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you. I have watched the sunrises and sunsets alone, imagining that you are there, sitting beside me. You love books, right? I started reading it too. I got bored the first time I tried, but as time passed by, whenever I read books I felt like I was one of the characters. Then one time, I went to a bookstore. I saw a book with a familiar name, your name. I didn’t hesitate to buy it. But–” he stopped telling the story and looked at me. He sat straight and placed his hand onto mine. “But the moment I read the title, I remembered every moment I had with you and as I read the contents, I was not mistaken. It is a book with our memories together. I got a little bit sad because it ended without them saying proper goodbyes to each other. Then I decided to continue the story”, he said while smiling at me. I got confused about the last sentence he said.  “How will you–” I was interrupted when he lifted my hand and looked directly into my eyes. He stated my full name and we both stared at each other. Looking into our souls. “It’s been years since we met but, can I ask you– will you watch the sunset and sunrise with me again, for the rest of your life?” I let out a chuckle.  Is he proposing? How can I not accept it? He’s the one I’ve been longing for. My love. My life. My soul mate.   I genuinely smiled and answered, “Yes. Yes, I will” He was so happy that he grabbed my waist and lifted me. I hugged him tight.  This was the ending I'd been hoping for. “I love you, Liam”, I whispered, and closed my eyes as our lips pressed together.