I Will Always Love You

Note: This story is purely fictional. If there are similarities in the names of characters, places of events or stories, it is purely coincidental and not intentional.

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If someone says that regret always comes at the end, that is true. Because now, I am experiencing the biggest regret in my life. A regret that occurred due to an action I did in the past.

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April 26, 2027, in an ambulance that was passing on one of the roads in the Jakarta area.

My name is Aarav, Aarav Ravindra. I am currently in an ambulance. The reason I am in the ambulance is to accompany my wife, Nadine Xylia Levronka. Nadine and I have just had a traffic accident. I suffered minor injuries, while Nadine suffered quite severe injuries so she had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Right now, I am sitting next to the ambulance stretcher where Nadine is lying. Nadine is currently lying down being treated by the medical staff in the ambulance.

When I was sitting next to Nadine, Nadine suddenly extended her right hand towards me. I accepted her right hand and then I held her right hand with both of mine.

"Hold on, Nadine," I said.

When I was holding Nadine's hands, for some reason I felt like crying. Sure enough, not long after that, tears suddenly came out of my eyes. Even though tears had come out of my eyes, I didn't try to wipe them away and chose to keep holding Nadine's right hand. Nadine, who realized that I was shedding tears, looked confused.

"Why... are you... crying?," Nadine asked hesitantly.

Because of the injuries she suffered from the accident, Nadine had difficulty speaking fluently.

Then, after Nadine asked that, I immediately answered it.

"It's okay, maybe I cried because I was worried about you," I said.

After hearing my words, Nadine suddenly smiled and chuckled.

"Hehehe," Nadine laughed.

I was confused as to why Nadine suddenly laughed.

"Why are you laughing?," I asked.

Nadine immediately answered it.

"Even though when we.....first got married, you never cared....about me. If something happened to me, you.....didn't even worry about me. But now, finally, you're starting.... to care and worry about me. I'm happy that....you're worried about me," Nadine said.

After hearing Nadine's words, I immediately responded to them.

"I apologize for only now caring and worrying about you. When we first got married, I still couldn't accept that I would be married to you. Moreover, you should know yourself, our relationship had previously been strained and we hadn't had time to make up. But suddenly our parents arranged our marriage just because at that time we both didn't have partners," I said.

As I just said, Nadine and I were able to get married because our parents arranged and married us. My parents and Nadine's parents have a fairly close relationship. Moreover, in the past, when I was little, Nadine's parents used to live next door to my parents' house. So you could say, Nadine's parents and my parents used to be neighbors and Nadine used to be my childhood friend. Apart from being my childhood friends, Nadine and I were also friends in elementary school because we both went to the same elementary school.

At first our friendship was fine, but when it was approaching graduation day in elementary school, something happened that made us fight. That fight made my relationship with Nadine become strained. After our relationship became strained, both Nadine and I didn't talk to each other anymore. Neither of us tried to apologize to each other. Even until Nadine and her parents moved to a new house after graduating from elementary school, our relationship was still strained, our relationship hadn't improved at all. Even so, even though my relationship with Nadine was strained, our parents were still on good terms. Even though Nadine's parents had moved to a new house, my parents were still on good terms with them.

Then, after Nadine moved to her new house, I didn't meet Nadine anymore. I also didn't meet her in junior high school because Nadine didn't go to the same junior high school as me. I only met her again in high school because Nadine was in the same school as me. Not only in the same school, we were even in the same class for 3 years of schooling there. But even though we were in the same class, we still didn't talk to each other because our relationship was still strained.

After that, we graduated from high school and entered university. We both entered different universities so we didn't meet again when we were in university. We lived our respective student lives without ever meeting each other until we graduated. Likewise, after graduating and getting a job, Nadine and I still didn't meet each other.

Until finally, exactly 4 years after graduating from university, the two of us were reunited by our parents. When the two of us were reunited, our respective parents suddenly matched us. Now, thanks to that matchmaking, the two of us have been in a relationship as husband and wife for almost 1 year.

"Well, you're right. We haven't.....had time to reconcile because of that incident....and suddenly our parents matched us. It's natural...that you didn't care or worry about me when we....frst got married. You could even....say that at that time, you probably didn't....consider me as your wife," said Nadine.

Nadine's words surprised me a little. But what she said was true.

"That's true, because at that time I still hadn't accepted that I was married to you. I apologize for that," I said.

"If that's the case......then at that time you didn't.....love me?," Nadine asked.

I was silent for a moment after hearing Nadine's question. Not long after, I started to answer her question.

"Yes, at that time I didn't love you," I said.

"What about now......? Have you.....started to love me?," Nadine asked.

I answered it without hesitation.

"Yes. Right now, I've started to love you, Nadine," I said.

"Then, now.....do you consider me.....as your wife?," Nadine asked.

I answered Nadine's question again without hesitation.

"Yes. You are now my wife, Nadine. You will always be my wife," I said.

After hearing my answer, Nadine immediately smiled. But not long after, her face suddenly became sullen.

"I'm.....happy because now.....you have started to love me, but I'm.....disappointed because when we just got married.....you didn't love me yet. Even though I.....myself already.....loved you when we just.....got married. Not only when.....that, I even.....have loved you since long ago," said Nadine.

I was surprised after hearing Nadine's words.

"You've loved me since long ago?" I asked.

"Yes. Do you remember... when we first got married? At that time, I... tried to apologize... about 'that incident'... so that our relationship... could improve, especially since we were already husband and wife. But... at that time, no matter how hard I... apologized, you always... ignored me. It hurts a little... when I remember that," Nadine said.

"I'm really sorry. At that time, you could say I still hated you because of 'that incident'," I said.

"You don't need to... apologize. Besides... it was my fault... that made you... hate me. When 'that incident' happened,... you warned me first..., but I... ignored your warning. I even... scolded you and slapped you... because I didn't believe your... warning. It was clear... you would hate me... after what I did... to you at that time. But I'm grateful... because now you... don't hate me anymore," Nadine said.

After hearing Nadine's words, I spoke to her again.

"When we first got married, you not only tried to apologize for 'that incident' so that our relationship could improve, but you were also always attentive and cared for me even though at that time I always ignored you. So at that time you did love me, huh," I said.

"Yes, at that time..... I already loved you," said Nadine.

"But you said you've loved me since long ago, but why since 'that incident' have you never tried to apologize or talk to me again? You only apologized after we were married," I said.

After hearing my words, Nadine immediately responded.

"At that time, I......felt very guilty. I.....had ignored your warning........, besides that I also scolded you......and slapped you.......because I didn't believe......your warning and it turned out......your warning was true. I.....really regret.....for not believing......your warning. I also felt......guilty because besides not.....believing your warning, I.....had also scolded you and......slapped you. Because of that guilt......that's why I chose not to......talk to you again even though......I actually wanted to," said Nadine.

"Is that so," I said.

After that, Nadine suddenly started coughing.

*Cough *Cough

Seeing Nadine coughing, I became even more worried about her.

"For now, it's better if you don't talk, Nadine," I said.

"No, I still want to......talk because I feel like this......is the last time.....I can talk to you," said Nadine.

I was a little surprised and confused by what Nadine said.

"What do you mean, Nadine?," I asked.

After I asked that, Nadine did not answer my question directly and chose to say something else.

"You know? When my parents.....and also your parents decided......to matchmake us, .....at that time I was very.....happy. Thanks to that matchmaking, I......finally got the courage......to talk to you again......even though at that time you......ignored me. Even though at first you continued......ignored me, but thanks to my continued efforts.....attention and care for you, you......slowly began to......open your heart to me. You also......have started to love me,"

"I......really happy with......that matchmaking. I'm very happy.....because I can live together.....with the person I love. I......really love you, Aarav. No, I......really love you, honey," said Nadine with a smile.

After Nadine said that, I felt the tears coming out of my eyes start to flow harder than before. I really cried after hearing Nadine's words.

"I love you too, Nadine," I said while crying.

Nadine smiled again after hearing my words. While still smiling, she then said something again.

"Even though you......have started to love me. You......have also started to care and pay attention......to me. But it's very unfortunate, it seems like......I can't feel......your affection, attention, and......care for me anymore," said Nadine.

I was shocked and confused again by Nadine's words. Nadine had not answered my question about what she meant by saying that this was the last time she could talk to me but now she said something ambiguous again.

"What do you mean, Nadine?," I asked.

After I asked that, Nadine began to answer my question. She answered my question with a smile.

"I feel like..... that my time is......not long," said Nadine.

I was very shocked after hearing Nadine's words.

"What do you mean?! Please don't joke when you're like this, Nadine," I said.

"I'm not joking. I...... know best how..... my own body is. My body...... can't...... endure the accident anymore. It seems like..... the impact of the accident...... on my body is very......severe," said Nadine.

I was shocked again after hearing Nadine's words.

"This is impossible, right!? Even though your wound is quite severe, it's not that severe, right?!,"

"Am I right, sir!? Nadine can definitely be cured, right, sir?," I asked the medical officer who was treating Nadine.

There were 2 medical officers treating Nadine in the ambulance, both of whom were men. So I called the medical officer 'Sir'.

"Stay calm, sir. We are trying our best to treat your wife," said one of the medical officers.

After hearing the medical officer's words, I turned and looked back at Nadine.

"Did you hear what the medical officer said, Nadine? The medical officer will treat you as best as possible. So you can't say that your body can't take it anymore," I said.

After I said that, Nadine smiled back at me. Nadine smiled while shaking her head as a sign that what the medical officer did was in vain.

"No, Nadine. You will definitely get better, Nadine. Please be sure that you will get better!" I said, not accepting the sign that Nadine had just shown.

After I said that, Nadine started to speak again.

"I apologize....for having to leave you when you...had started...to love me. I really....sorry, honey," Nadine said.

When Nadine said that, tears started to come out of her eyes.

"No, please don't say that again, Nadine. I beg you not to say that again!" I said.

Tears came out even more from my eyes when I said that. I still couldn't accept what Nadine said.

Then after that, Nadine suddenly asked me something.

"Hey, honey, what...after this are you...will you still love me?" Nadine asked.

Without hesitation, I immediately answered the question.

"Yes, after this and forever I will always love you. So please be sure that you will recover, Nadine. Please be sure that you will continue to accompany me, Nadine," I said.

After I said that, Nadine smiled again.

"I'm happy.....if you say you will always.....love me," Nadine said with a smile.

Nadine's tears continued to flow out of her eyes as she said that. Just like Nadine's tears, my tears also continued to flow out of my eyes.

After Nadine said that, Nadine who was previously looking at me suddenly turned her head and looked up.

"It seems like it's time.....for me to go. Even though I wanted.....to talk to you a little.....longer, but.....it seems like my body....can't....hold it anymore," Nadine said.

I was shocked again after hearing Nadine's words.

"No!! Please don't say that again, Nadine. I beg you!," I said.

My tears flowed even harder as I said that. After that, with her face still facing upwards, Nadine then glanced at me who was beside her.

"Take care of yourself....., honey. I......love you," said Nadine.

Nadine said that with a smile. After that, her two eyes that were previously open now began to close slowly.

"No!!! This is a joke, right!? You're joking, right, Nadine!? Please don't joke at a time like this!," I said.

Nadine did not respond to my words. Her two eyes that had slowly begun to close now began to close completely. Nadine closed her eyes while smiling. After that, Nadine's body was no longer moving.

I, who saw Nadine's body no longer moving, became very anxious and worried. I then asked Nadine to wake up because I thought Nadine was joking.

"Nadine, wake up, Nadine!. You're joking, right? Your joke is really not funny, Nadine!," I said.

Even though I had asked Nadine to wake up, Nadine didn't wake up. Her body was really not moving anymore.

After that, the ECG machine in the ambulance that was used to check Nadine's heart condition started to display a flat line continuously. When I saw the ECG machine displaying the flat line, I immediately said something to the medical officer who was treating Nadine.

"Sir, what does this mean?! This machine is broken, right?! It's impossible for my wife's heartbeat to have stopped?!," I asked.

The medical officer then immediately answered my question.

"Sir, stay calm. Your wife's heart is indeed no longer beating, but we will try to restore it with a heart rate machine," said the medical officer.

After that, I immediately fell silent after hearing the medical officer's words. I didn't expect Nadine's heartbeat to have really stopped.

Then, while I was still silent, the two medical officers started trying to restore Nadine's heartbeat using a shock device.

1 attempt failed. 2 attempts also failed. Even though the medical officers tried to restore Nadine's heartbeat 5 times, Nadine's heartbeat still did not return.

After 5 failed attempts, the medical officer then said something to me.

"We apologize, sir. It seems like your wife can no longer be saved. Your wife has passed away," said the medical officer.

After hearing the medical officer's words, I, who had previously been silent, was immediately shocked and did not believe it.

"No, this is impossible. This must be a lie, right? My wife can't have died! Even if it was true that my wife's heart had stopped, you two would have been able to revive it, right? Please try again, sir!" I said.

"We apologize, sir. We have helped revive it with a shock device 5 times. But your wife's heartbeat still hasn't returned. No matter how much we try to revive your wife's heartbeat, your wife's heart will not beat again. Your wife can no longer be saved, sir,"

"Once again, we apologize, sir. Your wife has passed away, you must be strong and accept this," said the medical officer.

After hearing the medical officer's words, I still couldn't believe it. In disbelief, tears continued to flow from my eyes.

"No, this is impossible!!!," I said.

After saying that, I immediately hugged Nadine's body which was still lying on the stretcher.

"Nadine, please wake up, Nadine!. You're joking right now, right? You're pretending to sleep, right?," I asked while moving Nadine's body which I was hugging.

Seeing me moving Nadine's body, the two medical officers immediately stopped me.

"I beg you not to do this, sir. Your wife has passed away, you must be strong and sincere," said the medical officer.

I ignored the medical officer's words and continued to move Nadine's body while shouting her name.

"Nadine, please wake up, Nadine!. Don't leave me, Nadine!,"

"NADINE!!!!!!," I shouted.

In the midst of my screams, the sound of the ambulance siren that was carrying us suddenly changed into a long siren sound.

-To be continued

After that, the ambulance we were riding in went to one of the hospitals in Jakarta to conduct a more detailed examination of Nadine. However, even though a detailed examination had been carried out, the results were still the same. Nadine was still declared dead.

When Nadine was declared dead by the hospital, I just kept quiet. I kept quiet with my mind blank. I still couldn't believe that Nadine had left me when I had started to love her.

Then, after Nadine was declared dead by the hospital, the hospital immediately prepared to deliver Nadine's body. The hospital then asked me where Nadine's body would be delivered. Hearing the hospital's question, I immediately answered it tiredly.

"Wait a minute, sir. Wait for my wife's parents to come here," I said.

Previously, right after Nadine was declared dead by the hospital, I, who still couldn't believe Nadine's death, immediately contacted Nadine's parents and my parents. I told them that we had both just had an