Epilogue

I heaved a deep sigh and took my phone that keeps on ringing, so I answered immediately. "You know I hate waiting!" Mary whined on the other line. I just smiled and shook my head.

"I'm sorry, okay? It's still early!" I teased her, but she just kept complaining about the other line. I got used to her nagging so it's not new to me.

Six years ago, after I came back to this world, I met Mary again. Surprisingly, she's changed. She's not a bully anymore and the truth is, she asked for my forgiveness. She realized all the things she's done to me.

At first, I thought she wasn't sincere, but she proved me wrong. She tried to make friends with me, and I saw how eager she was to get close to me. So, I let her. And up until now, I can tolerate her behavior and so does she to me. She's not bad after all.

She knows everything about me. Even my power and what happened to me at Alexandria Academy. She's with me throughout those years that I'm healing. She never left and she's my best friend now. Who would have thought that we would be friends? The world is a mystery, indeed.

"I'm waiting here on the coffee shop so run your ass here right now because I hate waiting. And because you're late, it's your treat!" She said I just agreed after I turned off the call.

Right now, I'm working in a company as a secretary. It's hard to cope up for a long time, but I managed. I have to do it for myself.

And if you're going to ask me what happened to me within those years? I tried to move on. I got drunk, I tried to make friends, I tried to meet some people, but I always end up to where I was and who I love. How come after so many years, I still come back to him?

After I took a bath, I wore black pants, a white shirt, and a denim jacket on the top with a pair of rubber shoes. It's our day off and Mary and I always meet. We tried a lot of restaurants and coffee shops now. When it comes to holidays, we are out of town. It was all memorable.

I picked up my cellphone and looked at the reminder on the notification. It's the day of the year. Today is Alexandria Academy's Enchanted Ball. Every year, I receive an invitation, but I do not go. I don't know if I'm ready enough to face them. To face him.

I picked up the mails at the front door and I was not mistaken, there's an invitation again. The maroon envelope has embossed letters at the back and an invitation inside saying:

You are invited to Alexandria Academy's Enchanted Ball. Wear your most elegant dress and join us!

I sighed and squeezed it into my bag then went to Mary. When I caught up with her, she was already frowning, and I was ready to be bitten because she was waiting for me.

When we were able to order, Mary stared at me and knew immediately why I was so quiet. "You received an invitation again, right?" I nodded in response. She knows me too well and I have nothing to hide from her. That's why she knows what happened years ago.

"I want to see them again. But I'm afraid. What if he has someone else now? What if he's okay now? What if--" Mary held my hand and squeezed it.

"But what if he waits for you to come back? You know, Althea. Stop tormenting yourself already. I know there is not a day that he does not enter your mind. You still love him, and I know you want to see him so bad." She smiled and stared at me. "I'm not an expert when it comes to this kind of matter, but I know you love him. I can see it in you every day. How you long for him, how you want to be with him. Isn't its enough reason for you to come back? "

I closed my eyes and smile. "I love him enough to take the risk."

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Third Person's POV

Isaac watched the waterfall from Crystal Falls. While the people inside the Academy were having fun, here he was waiting for the woman he loves, until now he was still waiting for her to return. He holds on to the promise Althea made.

"Come inside, Isaac. Everybody's looking for you. You can't always be here every Enchanted Ball," he heard Kristian said from behind.

He folded his arms and spoke. "I'll stay here, Kristian. I'll wait for her. She'll come back to me. I know she will."

"W-What if she's not? You've been waiting for six years, Isaac. You only go back to the Academy when you rest. We're worried about you! What if something happened to you--" He cut of Kristian.

"Then, let me be sick. Maybe, she'll come back to me when something bad happens to me..." His voice was almost whispering. Kristian did not answer, but he heard him sighed and sounded surprised, but he still did not look back.

"If that happens, I'll surely scold you for being hard-headed." Isaac's eyes widened when he heard that familiar voice. Is he just dreaming or is this real? He was afraid he might be wrong and that was another dream. Because since Althea left, he has been dreaming about her every night.

He was afraid to turn around. He was afraid it was another dream and he would wake up without the girl next to him. "Althea..." He muttered. He closed his eyes when he feels hot liquid pouring out of his eyes. "... Is this a dream again?"

"No, Love. This is our reality," Althea said. He slowly turned around and his tears poured a lot more when he saw her standing a few steps away from him. She smiled and his heart skipped its beat.

After years of waiting, the girl he's waiting for is now in front of him wearing a black dress. The moon that night was shining, but Althea is shining brighter than any moon.

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Althea's POV

"Althea..." Isaac called out my name. I smiled but my tears started dripping. He was looking at me and I couldn't help but smile because I knew in myself, that I'm finally back. I have returned to the true owner of my heart.

"I guess this is my cue. See you later!" Kristian whispered and hurried back to the Academy. I turned again to Isaac who was still looking at me.

"Are you going to watch me all night, Mr. Isaac Villanueva?" I asked him with a smile. He slowly stepped closer to me as if he was still making sure he's awake.

"H-Have you forgiven me yet?" He asked. I sighed and nodded. All those years, I convinced myself why he did that and I already forgave him with my whole heart. I have forgiven them all.

The more I went through life, the stronger I became. The trials I went through strengthened me. And now? I have another path to take and a test, but this time, I will face it with him by my side.

"I miss you--" He didn't finish me yet and he closed the gap between us. It was as if a wind had passed around and I closed my eyes when I felt his lips brushing against mine. And tears started to flow from my eyes. I miss this. I miss him, badly.

"I miss you so damn much, Althea," he whispered to me after he broke the kiss. He hugged me, tightly and I did the same to him. The longing started to vanish and all I could feel is his warm hug.

"Do you rove me now, Isaac?" I asked. He was not even surprised by my question as if he already knew I was going to ask it and he already knew the answer there. "I left because I knew you could not choose me before. And I chose to stay away. That was wrong. But that was the only way I thought. For when I return, you will be whole again. When I return, you will be able to love me not because I look like Rhian. I want you to love me as Althea Genovie. I may not be the first one you loved, but I hope I will be the last. Is it okay if I'll be possessive and mark you as mine, Isaac?"

"Damn, Love. You don't have to ask." He smiled a genuine smile that I was longing to see. "I knew I already fell hard the moment the pain keeps on hurting me. Ever since you left, I've been hurting every night and hoping you'll come back. And I realized why the pain won't stop. Because I love you and losing you. kills me... "

He caressed my cheeks and wiped away my tears before it falls down. "... S your face right now, I missed you. I missed your voice, your lips, I missed it. I missed all of you so much. You owned me, Althea. You might not believe me, but I love you with all of me. It was always you. It will be you for all eternity."

"I believe you, Isaac. Because I love you." Our lips touched again. It was dark at night, but I could see the him because of the light coming from the moon.

We heard the music coming from Alexandria Academy. Isaac looked at me in the eyes. "Can I dance with you?" He asked. When I nodded, he folded our hands and pulled me closer to him.

He's a grown-up man now. He grew taller and his body was shaped from his black tuxedo. His green eyes are glowing along with the moonlight, his hair is well-brushed up, his lips are naturally red, and his face is shouting perfection. He is more handsome and undeniably more dominant.

I put one hand on his shoulder, and we started dancing along with the music.

When I look into your eyes, is like watching the night sky Or a beautiful sunrise. Well, there's so much they hold Before, I didn't know what love is nor what is the feeling of being loved. So, when I met him and my emotions began to dominate when I saw him, I was scared. I was scared to fall for him. But I did. I was hurt so much when I found out the truth about Rhian, the truth about them lying to me so I ran away from them.

But there's a bond between both of us that I couldn't avoid. I keep coming back and going back to him no matter what I do because my heart belongs to him.

And just like them old stars. I see that you've come so far To be right where you are. How old is your soul?

I walked away because that was what we needed. He needed to grow up tat hat time. He needed to be a man who will be responsible. A man who will never lie to his girl. And he changed. My Isaac became a man.

Well, I won't give up on us, even if the sky gets rough I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up And when you're needing your space. To do some navigating I'll be here patiently waiting. To see what you got "Isaac?" I whispered.

"Hmm?" He growled. I could barely hug him while looking up at the sky.

"I want to dance with you under the rain." He was stunned by what I said and frowned at me. "Kristian told me before, you have a bad memory when it comes to rain. And now, I want you to be happy even when it rains. I don't intend you to forget about Rhian. She will always be a part of your life and your past, but I want you to be happy."

He nodded and kissed my forehead. "Alright, Althea." He raised his hand and released water that served as rain in the part where we were standing. Even though it was only raining, I cried with joy, so I hugged him tightly.

Cause even the stars they burn, some even fall to the earth We've got a lot to learn. God knows we're worth it No, I won't give up He kissed me on the lips again and all the pain of the past disappeared, completely.

Isaac Villanueva. He's no prince charming. He may not be a perfect man, he may piss you off, he may hurt you emotionally, he has a lot of flaws in life, but still, I will never get tired of choosing him. I will never get tired of loving every piece that makes up who he is.

I pressed our foreheads together and stared into his eyes. I love him. And I have no doubts. I'm no princess, I'm a hardheaded girl, but I will do everything to deserve him.

"Welcome back, Althea!" I almost jumped in shock as the people around us shouted at the same time. I smiled, even more, when I saw Kristian, Lydia, Kurt, and Cath.

Mrs. Zecharia, Mr. Genesis, Mr. Hawkins, Mrs. Athena, Mr. and Mrs. Scott was there too wearing their elegant suits and dresses. They smiled at me as if they were happy, I came back again. I looked at the group approaching me. Cath and Lydia suddenly hugged me. They're so beautiful with their dresses.

"We missed you, 'Thea!" They said together. Kurt and Kristian teased me about Isaac, so I just laughed at them. That exact moment, all I could feel was contentment.

"Group hug!" They simultaneously approached me and hugged me. This family, I missed them. And I'm happy because we're complete again.

In this world, there is no certainty who you will trust and who will destroy the trust you have given. There may be wrong people, there may be unworthy. At first, I chose to trust people. I wrecked the walls between me and Isaac. Between me and the group. But all of that was worth it.

I have been through a lot. I fell from the Crystal Falls, I met Kurt who can make you smile even with his simple jokes, Cath who will not leave you no matter what happens, Kristian, who you will take seriously but later he will make you laugh too, Lydia who was always there, and Isaac, strict, hardheaded, short-tempered, but I love him. All of them.

We fought in the Tournament, a lot happened inside the Realm of Monsters, but we were able to fight as a group and family. Now, we are whole again.

"Hey, come here!" I was surprised when Isaac suddenly pulled me, and he kissed me again.

"Isaac?" He looked at me when I called his name.

"Yes, Love?"

I kissed him on the lips. "You're the greatest thing that ever happened to me."

The End