A few days later, I finally recovered from the injuries. I paid my hospital bill and strolled around the city for a while, as it might be the last time I can see it. I still don't feel like fighting with Kaila. Hurting her is what I fear the most, even if it's unavoidable.
I guess it's true that when we love someone, what we fear the most is not losing them but hurting them, because if we fear losing them, then that means we only love them for what they can do for us, and sometimes letting go of someone is the most important love language we can use.
We don't always have to hold on to the people we love; setting them free and seeing them happy is enough. That's the last thing I wish—that whatever happens, Kaila will find happiness, even if it's not with me. I love her, honestly, truly, and completely.
"I remember," she said. She doesn't want me to go easy on her. She wants me to go all out, to show her my real power, and she'll do the same, but if the world is ending, I'd rather choose to be next to her and die with a smile.
We have agreed to meet at the battlefield later in the afternoon. I know it's finally ending. I enjoyed the time I have left before our duel. I bought the things I like and the food I wanted to taste, like it's the end of the world. I tell people I love them. I hugged strangers. I complimented them. These little things make me feel alive.
If I ever die and go to hell for all the sins I've done, I hope that my parents won't be sad. They were very good parents—they have done their best to raise me well despite our financial struggles. I don't blame them for anything and instead thank them for all the sacrifices they have made just to give me a good life.
The time has finally arrived. Cain asked me if I'm ready. I told him that I've never been ready for this. Even though I knew a long time ago that I'm going to fight with the girl I love, I'm still not ready for this, and I guess no one else would ever be ready to kill their beloved.
We teleported to the battlefield. Kaila and Alicia were already there when we arrived. Kaila's appearance has changed a lot: her hair has grown longer, and she has become taller and more beautiful, like a rose in a garden, a red one amidst the white ones. She doesn't always blend in with the crowd, and that's what makes her so different and special. She smiled, pointing an ice sword at me.
Without saying a word, Kaila attacked me. Her movements are so fast, like lightning. I would have been wounded if I hadn't immediately turned my arms into swords and countered her attacks. Her blows, strikes, and kicks are strong. Her hair flies behind her. She could send an ordinary person flying to the North Pole.
"Are you just going to dodge my attacks?" she asked, continuing to hit me. "Show me what you've got, Lil."
"But—"
"I already told you. No hesitation." She struck me with all her strength.
I countered her sword with my sword. She was so strong that my feet made a hole in the ground; the ground itself seemed to rise up. She's obviously not holding back. I can kill her right now if I want to. I only have to say a word, but it's difficult to say it.
Her closeness makes me fall in love even more. Her beautiful golden eyes, her pinkish lips. I want to kiss her even just for the last time before we separate ways. I turned my arms back to normal and wrapped them around her waist.
"Lil, what are you doing?" she asked, her hand hanging limply beside her. She's surprised as I raised her up.
"If this is the last time I'm going to see you, would you mind if I kiss you?" I replied, gazing at her eyes intently and affectionately. I moved my face close to hers. I didn't wait for her response and claimed her lips.
Kaila suddenly pushed me away. "You—you shouldn't have done that!" She exclaimed. Her face is as red as a ripe tomato. She's avoiding looking at my eyes.
"Why can't I?" I asked. "Don't you have feelings for me?"
"It's not a very good time to talk about feelings, Lil," she said. "Feelings make us weak!"
"But it's what makes us feel alive. It's what makes us humans," I said, standing my ground as firm as a statue. "Look, I didn't mean to kiss you if you don't want me to. I just... I just want to tell you how much I love you. My soul is all yours, Kaila. We don't have to fight. We don't have to hurt each other. I can kill myself right here in front of you if that's what will make you happy."
"Ugh!" Kaila groaned. "Did you really think that'll make me happy? I admire you, Lil, a lot, and I've been training hard for this day—to finally beat you to a pulp, but look at you, you're not even fighting me."
"Call me a martyr if that's what you want, but I won't stain my hands with the blood of my beloved," I said.
"Dammit!" She let go of her ice swords, as if losing the will to fight. She leaped toward me. Her arms around my neck, pulling me close.
I held her waist, eyes locked into hers. The sun is setting down the horizon beside us. The sunset sets the skies on fire. The birds are flying freely in the skies. These simple yet magical things remind me that endings can be beautiful too.
Meeting Kaila amidst all this chaos and pain was magical. Whenever I'm with her, I feel like time moves so fast, and I do want to freeze time so that we can stay forever like this, but that would be crazy. No matter what happens, the world should keep spinning around.
Life doesn't always go as planned, and pain teaches us a lot of lessons. It teaches us to appreciate happiness. In the end, nothing truly matters more than the sacrifices we made for the things and people we love.
And with that last kiss, I died.