*Chapter 31: Promises

Leiro's PoV

I slowly entered Lunely's room as I was careful not to touch anything else and I might break something here- this is scary though.

I paused for a moment as I looked around. Usually, her room also has the same background on the outside. There is also an airconditioner, lighting, and even more surprisingly there are the apparatuses around Lunely's bed and then... I secretly smiled when I saw her lying on her bed as if she was sleeping peacefully... Like a cute version of sleeping beauty.

"Um... Lunely? It's me, Leiro."

I tried to smile just to hide my emotions when I gently held her hand. The softness of her hand still the same as always as I took care not to remove the dextrose that was stuck in her wrist.

"I'm here Lunely ... You're not alone anymore ... How are you? Just get well Lunely okay? Don't worry about us... We're fine now. Charlotte already woke up too so you're the only one we are waiting... "

I still continued to hold her hand as I stared into her face. "You know, our plan has been succeeded... We defeated Professor Seth. One of our problem's finally over ... We will finally be together again and we will be happy Lou..."

I gently wiped my tears from Lunely's hand as I continued to speak.

"You know Lunely... I'm grateful, because I have a girlfriend whom can protect me as much as I can protect her, and I'm lucky because you became my girlfriend... Because of you, my world is complete. Because of you... "

I could no longer speak when emotion engulfed my heart and mind. I started to cry as I tried to hug her hands ... I slowly placed her palms on my cheeks when I spoke again...

"Lunely, if you don'tknow... When you became a part of my life Lunely ... I was with you in everything- in joy, sadness, and problems. .. And I don't regret choosing you when we first met at ML Institution... That's why I love you so much Lou... I know you'll be a good person when you grow up ... "

I wanted to speak when I felt Lunely's hand moved. Seconds passed I cried even more when I saw her slowly opening his eyes.

"Lunely! Thank goodness and you're awake!" My tears and joy mixed together when I saw Lunely widely awaken. I wanted to run out of the room to call the doctor but suddenly I heard Lunely's voice ...

"L-L-Lei. D-Don't..."

I stopped for a moment when I noticed tears dripping from Lunely's eyes. I gently sat down and wiped that tear from her cheek.

"Lunely... Don't cry okay? Aren't you happy because we're finally together again?" I asked her as I also tried to wipe away my tears.

"L-Lei... I'm s-sorry..."

"Hush Lunely ... It's not your fault, okay? To hug me to protect me against Professor Seth... Actually, I should be the one to apologize, if you didn't know... I don't know what will happen to myself if anything bad will happen to you... "

"N-Not that, L-Lei ... Sor-ry Lei ... I didn't tell you ..." I could still feel the sadness in her voice even though it was just a mere whisper. "I used t-to this L-Lei. I didn't tell... t-this to you because... I knew you would be hurt..."

"Lunely... Didn't I say that whatever problem comes our way, we will overcome it together? Then, why did you hide it from me?" I asked her as she tried to touch my cheek again like I did before.

"I'm sorry Lei... But this is a problem we can't solve..." Her speech was a bit uninterrupted as she slowly caressed my cheek.

"Lunely ... There are many ways, you know? I'm sure there are many more solutions for your illness! You know, I just received a gift from the doctor earlier... It's a vaccine that can cure ESCD- and it's unexpected right? There is already a cure for my disease... And I'm sure there is also for you Lunely... Don't be like that or else... "

I tried to smile but I couldn't do that. Even though I know there is really no cure for heart failure but I have to cheer Lunely up. This is the only way I can make her feel better.

"Lei ... First of all, I want to thank you for meeting you... At first I knew you were a sensible person, and I don't really regret choosing you Lei..."

"I am also Lunely... I am also grateful to meet you... Because of you I feel hope... Hope that these problems will disappear and I can live peacefully with you..." I think this conversation was a bit painful, so I thought of another way to change the topic.

"Hey, Lunely... You know, we won the fight. We already defeated Professor Seth." Seconds passed Lunely smiled softly when she heard that.

"Are you sure Lei?"

"Yep. Although you'll excuse me if I didn't control myself a bit..." I bowed a little when he noticed I was a little sad.

"Why Lei, is there anything wrong?"

"Because I killed the man who once raised you. I couldn't make him run away after he shot you... Well, I stabbed him three times..." Lunely laughed a little that time when she heard that, which made me relieved.

"Oh Lei... Don't worry. I know you didn't do that on purpose so it's okay with me... Yes, I'm indebted to him but it looks like it disappeared when he wanted to kill me..."

Well, maybe it's time for me to say to her about that vaccine-

"Lei, I wanted to say something..."

"Lunely, I wanted to say something."

In an instant we were both talking about what we wanted to say to each other. We laughed a little but it slowly disappeared when we started talking.

"All right Lunely ... You first okay? Ladies first." I smiled at her but she didn't listen to me.

"No Lei, you'll be the first. I guess what you'll say is more important so you're the first okay? I can wait for my turn."

"Are you sure?" I tried to hide my burden ... Seconds now I can feel Lunely crying after I say this... I hope you are prepared for this Lunely.

"Yes Lei. Go ahead."

"Well ... It's actually about the vaccine. Yes, I can cure this vaccine, but it has side effects. Once I'm vaccinated, I'm afraid I might never meet you again... I might be having an amnesia so I might be forgotten about you... That's why, I need you to- "

Tears suddenly fell down on Lunely's eyes as she stopped me from speaking. I tried to calm down a bit when I suddenly complained.

"Lunely! Please don't scare me like that! I'm trying not to cry and then you're..." I still tried to joke but Lunely was no longer affected by it ... Seconds passed Lunely cried even more a she gently took my hand and started talking...

"Lei... Your amnesia ... It seems convenient. Actually, it has a connection to what I'm going to tell you..." Lunely cried even more when I noticed that I seemed to be crying again...

"P-Pardon me Lunely?"

"Lei... I'm sorry... But I don't know how long I will live in this world ... I also don't want to die leaving someone I love the most grieving my loss, and even more I don't want to see you as that person Lei... That's why... That's why... "

"Lei, from now on... Please, forget about me... Forget about our marriage..." I cried even more when I heard that. Lunely also didn't stop talking as I struggled to hold her hands.

Please don't be like that Lunely... You know how I loved you so much-"

I was about to burst into tears when I suddenly lay down on Lunely's legs wrapped in a blanket as she gently stroked my head.

"I want that too Lei... I love you too, and you know that. You also know that it hurts for me that we are separated but, we can't control our lives Lei. We don't know when the one who is above there will take us... But Lei, remember this... I haven't wasted the rest of my days here on earth today since you're here with me now. You gave hope to my life Lei, and I'm truly grateful for it..."

"Lunely... Please ... Don't be like that! You're not going to die Lunely, remember that! We're still going to date, right?! We're still going to take you to the places you want to go right? "Didn't I promise you that we'll look for your parents together? Lunely, don't say such things!" I begged her but instead of continuing to speak, she suddenly pulled me and let me hug her...

"Lei, here. I think I should rephrase everything. Now, remember this... If our operations are successful, I want you to find me. I'm sure we'll meet again in the near future. If we do, then I'll be glad to marry you Lei. If it won't be successful, please... Forget about me. Live your own life without me as a part of it. I want you to be happy even if I'm no longer with you Lei. I want you to enjoy your life even if I am no longer part of it. With that, you can be assured that I will be happy because there..."

"Lunely..."

I couldn't speak anymore when Lunely wiped my tears with her pinky finger as a sign of a promise.

"Now Lei, promise me. If I live, find me. If I die, forget about me. If I lost in your memories, find a way to retrieve it by yourself. And if we meet again, make me remember my promise of marrying you. Is that a deal, Lei?"

I also tried to wipe her eyes and I also gently touched her pinky with my pinky finger, and smiled at the same time.

"I promise Lunely. I promise."

We both smiled when Lunely released my pinky finger and went back to her bed. I adjusted his blanket when she suddenly smiled at me while leaving the words-

"Now Lei... I don't want to say goodbye, okay? So... Lei... Um... I'm going to sleep now okay? I'm a little tired Lei... And... Thank you for everything..." I received one last smile from Lunely when I couldn't stop crying. Although Lunely smiles at me but I know that deep inside she is crying too.

"I know Lunely... I know... So, good night now... And remember, I really, really, really... Love you, so much."

Lunely finally closed her eyes as I slowly approached her forehead and I tearfully gave her a 'goodnight kiss' like I do to her every time we sleep at night.

After we talked, I will try on forcing myself to adjust. Lunely is right, I know we'll meet again, and I'll just have to wait until that time comes ...

When I came out of Lunely's room, Lilith suddenly stood up and asked me what had happened, but I did not answer. Instead... I turned my gaze to the doctor near me, smiled a little, and left those words-

"Doc, I'm ready for my operation..."

The doctor just smiled when I suddenly followed him. I finally wiped away my tears the focus of my surgery today.

Lunely is no longer on my mind, but the day we will meet again after the operation...

Lunely, I am thankful for everything- for you and for the smiles that always make me feel better. I hope I feel that thing again when we meet again ...

I'll see you soon...

Lunely...

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