Chapter 23: When That Time Comes

Eduard was not her editor only but he was also her lover.

He was her ex fiance.

Three months after they found about her illness, the two of them sat down in the living room.

Whenever she has her treatment, she can see how much in pain he was as well.

And that is why she decided to end it with him.

Because as she sees him getting hurt for her she too gets hurt for hurting him.

They are just hurting each other if they continue their relationship.

(Flashback)

"Let us not hurt each other more," Scarlet told him.

Eduard didn't answer.

She smiled, "I will never get better, despite how advance treatment is, my sickness was already too late to be cured."

Eduard's tears came as he couldn't even shake his head.

"I love you, and taht is why I want for us to not hold each other back by our relationship. We are not as strong as the others who were in our condition. You are getting hurt every time you see me in pain and I get hurt every time I see you getting hurt. Are we going to give pain to each other as our last memories?"

He finally looked up at her and even she was in tears.

"I don't know, I cannot but I understand what you are saying. I don't want to hurt you Scarlet," he placed a hand on her cheek.

"I don't want too as well. And that is why we have to end this now, Ed."

The two of them cried.

Eduard couldn't say he didn't want to because he was hurting her the longer he stays with her. And he too was hurting every time he was with her.

"We are just not meant to be the ones who spent their time together until they grow old. I will have to go ahead, far ahead than you. Even though I didn't want to."

"I love you," he said with tears.

The pain was there, the pain both of them are currently feeling.

But right now, their love have developed t the point of being able to understand each other.

They understood that they can no longer be together no matter how much they want or they will only suffer and end up having memories of pain whenever they think about their past.

He held her hands tightly, "It's painful."

"Yes," she nodded her head.

"It was painful, very very painful. I want to be with you far longer. I want to grow old with you but our time was cut short."

She pulled her hands from his grip and laced them instead on his cheeks, "I love you and I'm letting you go for you to find your happiness sooner."

Eduard placed his hands on top of hers, "Will I be able to?"

She nodded her head with a sad smile behind all the tears, "Yes, I am very sure you will be able to find it. And if I am still there, please tell me as well. I don't need to meet her because I know if you choose, you will choose the right person."

"That's why I chose you right? Too bad, fate does not think we should spend time longer," he answered with a chuckle.

"I'll be fine Ed, I will surely be fine. So..."

She started pulling the ring off her finger but Eduard stopped her.

"That ring is only meant for you, take it to wherever you go, even if that means you will take it to your grave. I want you to have it until the end. Because that ring only has one owner and that is you."

He went close to her and kissed her on her lips, "I love you so much."

"I love you as much," she replied before watching him leave the room.

Both of them cried after separating, they both cried their hearts out.

(End Of Flashback)

After that, it took another three months before they were able to speak with one another normally again and now, they have returned to being friends.

The feelings became subtle but they are cherishing these subtle feelings and Eduard will cherish it for the rest of his life.

"I really am genuinely happy for him," she added.

"Yes, I can hear it in your voice," Slate replied.

He was there when Eduard left, he saw how pained he was as he was leaving and he saw how pained Scarlet was when she was left behind.

"Maybe letting him go earlier is better for the two of us because I was able to see him smile the way he did in the past," she commented.

"I will make sure to know how he will grow old," he said making her laugh.

"He is not your younger brother, he is older than you are," she then said before pulling out a necklace from inside her gown and the engagement ring he gave her was the one in there.

"I did that when you two just went your separate ways," he retorted.

She once again laughed before sighing.

"Find your own happiness Slate, as my phone and only beloved younger brother, that is currently my greatest wish. I don't think I would be able to tell you this up front but don't suffer too much because of my death."

Slate's hand turned into fists, "I will, I will surely find my own happiness. So you really don't need to worry."

"And Amethyst..."

He listened.

"Take care of her as well, I might add another wound to her once I die. You can see it too right? How wounded she was."

He didn't reply but because he was on Bluetooth he opened the image he had taken of her back in Northern Blossom.

"Slate?" Scarlet called out when he kept silent for a while.

"Hmmm?"

"Will you? She is a wonderful person," she once again said.

"I... We'll see when that time comes," he instead answered.

He was not so free as to watch over a person who will end up dying due to depression and sadness.

Scarlet smiled, she knew what was going on in his mind and that is why she can trust that he will be fine after she was gone.

"My medicine is here, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," Scarlet said when the nurse came in.

"Okay, goodbight."

After ending the call, he once again looked down at the picture in his phone.

Up to now he was still wondering what pushed him to take this picture and why he wasn't deleting it yet.

His phone was only with the selfies of his sister and a few of his stolen shots.

She didn't want him to delete any of it and so she left it on its own.

Even his wallpaper was a picture she took with him and she was the one who changed it into his wallpaper.

This was the first picture he took with his phone for the past two years that he was using it.

Wuth a shake of his head he closed his phone and went ahead to rest, they will be going quite early tomorrow and then he will have a night duty.

It would be a bit of a hectic schedule but it was fine as long as it was for his sister he will do what he needs to do.