Chapter 13

They rested for an hour before continuing their date.

Claude prepared a small space for them to watch the moon.

All kinds of snacks and foods are in front of them.

Nicole suggested they make a bonfire to warm them up.

He agreed to it and immediately gathered sticks and branches available on the shore.

After making the fire, both of them sat side by side staring at the calm waves of the beach.

"Thanks for this day, Love" she muttered.

"Everything for my favorite person"

"You're making me blush"

Both of them laugh at her statement.

"Thanks for the compliment"

"It's not even a compliment"

"I'd like to think of it as a compliment"

"Whatever," she said, her head turned to the side to avoid making eye contact with Claude.

She feels so embarrassed.

"Do you want to lie down for a while?" he asked.

"Sure, let's take a look at the stars"

Nicole starts telling Claude all of the stars she knows.

Claude just stares at her the whole time she was explaining.

He wants to treasure every moment they have.

"Creep" she said while looking at him with disgusts.

"That hurts" he replied with his hands at his chest acting he was hurt so bad.

Nicole laughs at him. This made him blush in embarrassment.

"Stop laughing"

"Okay, it's just you joking about the chest gesture was so funny"

"I will not do it again. James said that it will make you laugh so I guess it was somewhat successful?"

"Omg, don't even listen to James about those jokes"

"Noted" he muttered.

They continue their chat while munching on some snacks Claude prepared beforehand.

It was now close to midnight when they decided to start packing and head home.

Both of them are now inside the car driving home.

"Thanks for today, Love" she said.

"Anything for you" he replied.

Nicole connected her phone to the speakers and started singing.

She was singing while Claude is driving and checking on her from time to time.

When they were at the intersection Nicole noticed a truck at the side from where Claude is sitting.

It was driving fast. She thought it will eventually slow down but it wasn't.

It was as if there is no driver at all.

Claude didn't notice this as the song is still playing and didn't hear what Nicole is saying.

Nicole started panicking as the truck is closing in at their car.

Claude finally notices it but was too late to react.

The truck crashes at their car and he was ready to embrace the impact it will cause.

He shut his eyes closed waiting for it but there is no impact at all.

He opened his eyes and saw something that he wished he never saw at all.

Nicole was on top of him. She shielded Claude at the last minute.

As the one who noticed the truck first, she was ready to sacrifice herself for the one whom she loves the most.

While Claude shut his eyes closed, Nicole thought of this as an opportunity to place herself on top of him to shield him.

She knows that he will not be happy with the decision she made, but her mind is clouded and her body moves on her own.

Claude saw Nicole on top of him.

Blood can be seen on her body.

He can't speak. It was as if something is stacked on his throat preventing him from speaking.

He was crying, crying for not being able to protect her.

"D-Don't cry" she muttered.

"Claude, this is not your fault so don't blame yourself for something that cannot be avoided"

"This was my own decision. I decided to protect you"

Claude looked straight at her eyes crying.

He wants to say something but he can't speak.

"D-Don't force yourself to speak. I understand what y-you want to s-say" she said.

"Claude, I love you so much. I w-will always love you"

"I-If I can turn back t-time, I-I will still p-protect you"

Both of them are now crying.

Her eyes are starting to feel tired. She wants to stay awake for Claude but her body is not listening to what she wants to do.

"Love, I-I think it's a-about time. I really l-love you. I-I want to s-stay and b-be with y-you. I d-don't want t-to leave y-you"

"T-take care of y-yourself. T-tell to my family that I a-am sorry for l-leaving them b-behind. Tell t-them that I w-was really lucky to h-have them. Tell Frey and James that t-they need to t-take care of t-themselves. Tell them I l-love them. F-Find yourself a good woman and l-love her more than m-me" she cried.

"T-Thank you for being w-with me" she added while smiling.

Nicole's body fell limp on his body. Her body that was covered in blood is on top of his body.

He hugged her tightly as he mesmerized her beauty. She was smiling.

"I-I love y-you and t-thank you for a-all the y-years w-we spent t-together" he muttered. Trying his best to say more but it was hard.

He hugged her more while crying.

He tried to stay awake and wait for the ambulance to arrive but his eyes gave up.

After 5 minutes, the ambulance finally arrived.

They immediately rescued the couple and the truck driver.

The couple is now inside the ambulance and on their way to the hospital.

Nicole was declared dead on arrival while Claude is undergoing surgery.

The hospital contacted their families.

Nicole's family was the first to arrive. They didn't expect her to be lying on a bed and sleeping like an angel.

Kane thought it was just a dream. They all thought it was not real but the truth hurts.

All of them are crying except Kane.

Kane called Frey and James to come.

Ian asked the hospital staff about the whereabouts of Claude. He was informed that Claude is undergoing surgery.

This made his heart sank low. Today was supposed to be a happy day for the couple as it was their anniversary. He didn't expect this kind of tragedy to happen to both of them.

After a few minutes, Claude's parents finally arrived.

Jasmine, Claude's mother, asked the nurse about his whereabouts and she was told that her son is undergoing surgery.

Sean, his father, then asked about Nicole's whereabouts. The nurse led them to the annex and bowed at them "I'm sorry for your loss"

Jasmine cried more and Sean hugged her.

They then saw Nicole's family crying.

They approached them and all of them cried.

All of them didn't expect this tragedy to happen.

They were informed by Claude that both of them will be celebrating their anniversary.

They even saw how the couple looks so happy with each other while leaving the hospital.

The Zamora couple apologized for what has happened and is taking responsibility. But the Gomez family didn't want it as they understand that this was not their fault. It was an accident. They know that it was Nicole's decision for sacrificing herself for her loved ones. They don't want to blame the other party as it will be an insult to their daughter's decision.

Shortly after that, Frey and James arrived.

They didn't expect something bad will happen to the couple.

Freia cried hard as she heard what has happened to her best friend.

James asked what has happened to his best friend as he can't see him at the moment. They were informed he was undergoing surgery.

He comforted Freia. All of them are crying except Kane. He wasn't shedding a tear.

Kane was staring at her sleeping-like sister.

"Is this why you wrote a lot of letters or there is another reason for it?" he asked her.

Waiting for an answer even though he knows he will not be getting an answer.

A few weeks before their anniversary, Nicole made a lot of letters. She gave them to Kane. It was as if she knew she will die. This made Kane mad at her but she explained that it was just a countermeasure when something bad happens to her. She also added that she hopes they will not have a chance to read it.

Kane agreed to keep and hide it.

'Why did you make such letters?' he thought.

He decided to give the letters tomorrow.

A few hours have gone by and Claude's surgery is finally done.

They waited for him to wake up but sadly the doctors announced that he was in a coma.

They can't predict when or if he was even going to wake up so they asked them to be prepared for the worst.

All of them cried even Kane. He was so sad as to what had happened to the couple. It hurts him to see her sister die and her boyfriend in a coma.

It was supposed to be a happy day but it ended in a tragedy.

Nicole died on their anniversary while Claude was in a coma.

January 30, 2019 marks their very last and sad anniversary.