Epilogue
Six Months Later
The warm sun bathed the garden in golden light, a soft breeze carrying the scent of blooming jasmine. I sat on a bench, my hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea, watching as Pond and Phuwin argued over the grill. Pond waved the tongs like they were a weapon, while Phuwin, laughing, swatted him away with a spatula. Their banter was loud and carefree, filling the air with a warmth I hadn't realized I'd missed until now.
"You've been staring at them for five minutes," Sky's voice teased from behind me. "Don't tell me you're thinking of joining the barbecue war."
I turned my head to look at him, his sharp dark eyes soft with amusement. He was leaning against the edge of the table, his arms crossed, looking effortlessly relaxed in a white shirt rolled up to his elbows. But I could still see it-the way he positioned himself slightly in front of me, protective even now, even here, in the safety of this place.
"Tempting," I said, smiling faintly. "But I think I've had enough excitement to last a lifetime."
Sky chuckled, his smile widening. He sat beside me, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. "You deserve some peace, baby. After everything..."
I glanced at him, tilting my head. "We deserve some peace."
He didn't reply right away, just stared at me with that intense look that always made my chest tighten. Then he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes.
---
Inside the House
Later, as the laughter from the garden carried through the open windows, I wandered into the living room, the sound of soft footsteps behind me. I turned to see Win entering with a bottle of wine, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me.
"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Win smirked. "Still getting used to the idea of you being a secret badass, that's all."
I rolled my eyes. "Are you ever going to let that go?"
"Nope," he said, popping the "p" dramatically. "Every time I look at you, all I can see is Hong lying unconscious at your feet while you casually clean a knife."
I groaned, walking past him to pour myself a drink. "You make it sound way more dramatic than it was."
"It was exactly that dramatic," Win said, leaning against the counter. "You should've seen Sky's face. I thought he was going to short-circuit."
"Sky's face?" a deeper voice chimed in. Dew appeared in the doorway, his arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You should've seen Win. He spent five minutes muttering, 'What the hell?' under his breath."
Win glared at him. "I did not."
"You did," Dew said, completely deadpan. "I was standing right there."
Their banter made me laugh, and for a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in-the normalcy of it, the lightness. It felt like a different world compared to the one we'd been living in six months ago.
---
The world move on
It hadn't been easy. The fallout from Hong's capture had shaken Sky's organization to its core. There were interrogations, betrayals uncovered, alliances strengthened. Hong's network had been dismantled piece by piece, and while Sky hadn't personally pulled the trigger, he'd ensured justice was served.
As for me, I'd gone back to the hospital. It had taken some convincing-Sky had been reluctant to let me step out of his protection-but I'd made him see that hiding wasn't an option. My life wasn't meant to be lived in the shadows. And, to his credit, he understood that.
Now, the scars of those months were fading. Slowly, but surely.
---
A Moment for Us
Later that evening, after the sun had set and the garden party had dwindled, Sky and I found ourselves alone on the balcony. The stars were scattered across the sky, bright and endless, and the city lights twinkled in the distance.
Sky leaned against the railing, his profile sharp against the night. I stood beside him, the silence between us comfortable, like an old sweater.
"You ever think about what comes next?" I asked softly.
Sky turned to me, his expression thoughtful. "What do you mean?"
I shrugged, fiddling with the edge of my sleeve. "Now that Hong's gone. Now that things are... calmer. What do we do? What do you do?"
He tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "I keep doing what I do. But this time, I don't do it alone."
I looked at him, my chest tightening. "Sky..."
He reached for my hand, his fingers lacing through mine. "Nani, I spent so much of my life building walls, keeping people out. I thought that was the only way to survive. But then you came along, and..." He paused, exhaling softly. "You showed me I could have more than this life I've built. You gave me something worth fighting for."
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. "You don't have to fight anymore, Sky. Not like before."
He smiled faintly, leaning closer. "Maybe not. But I'll fight for you. Every day, in every way that matters."
The words hit me like a punch to the chest, and I couldn't stop the tears that welled in my eyes. I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.
"I love you," I whispered.
His arms tightened around me, his lips brushing against my hair. "I love you too. Always."
---
As the night stretched on, and the world quieted around us, I realized something.
This was our life now. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't without its challenges, but it was ours. We'd been through hell, but we'd come out the other side stronger, together.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt free.