Due to Destiny

A Night to Remember

After driving for half an hour, Alan and I reached an expensive pub. It was almost 9ish at night, and I didn’t know the name of the place. A bodyguard came near us as soon as we pulled up.

Bodyguard - “Good evening, Mr. Blender. Seat for two?” He asked, recognizing Alan instantly.

Alan - “Yes, and park our car,” He replied smoothly, tossing the keys to the bodyguard before getting out of his seat. I followed suit.

Alan - “So, Mr. Gomes, are you ready for your birthday party?” He turned to me with a grin.

Sebastian - “Whatever,” I sighed, already resigned to the night ahead.

We entered the pub, and a host approached us, leading us towards our VIP lounge. The interior of the pub was lavish, with dark wood accents and plush seating, but it was the music that dominated the space. The sound was deafening, and I could feel the vibration of the beats coursing through my body.

As I was busy taking in the opulence of the place, I noticed Alan whispering something to the host. She nodded, smiling at him before walking away. Suspicious, I turned to him.

Sebastian - “Alan, what did you tell her?” I questioned, wary of his mischievous nature.

Before he could respond, the music abruptly stopped, and a hush fell over the crowd. The murmuring of curious patrons filled the sudden silence.

The DJ’s voice boomed through the speakers.

DJ - “I know, guys, I stopped the music, but it’s because tonight we have a very special guest here. Please say Happy Birthday to our special guest, Mr. Gomes, and thank him for the free drinks! Cheers!”

A happy birthday tune played, and most of the crowd sang along, more thrilled by the promise of free drinks than my birthday itself. I forced a smile as the spotlight turned on me and shouted loudly.

Sebastian - “Thank you so much, guys, and especially to my friend Alan who arranged this beautiful surprise.” I glared at him, my gratitude laced with annoyance.

Sebastian - “Enjoy! Volume up, DJ!” I added, and the music resumed, louder than before. The crowd erupted in cheers.

I made my way back to our lounge, where Alan was already seated, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Alan - “Hey! Don’t get angry at me, okay? It’s your birthday,” he said, trying to placate me.

Sebastian - “Don’t worry, I’m not mad. After all, you’re the one paying for all the drinks this thirsty crowd is going to consume tonight,” I retorted.

Alan - “I know I’m stupid but not dumb. Free drinks, but only one per person.” He laughed.

Sebastian - “Smart ass you are,” I chuckled, unable to stay angry.

Alan and I shared a bond that transcended the usual friendship. He knew me better than anyone, and tonight, despite the embarrassment, he had given me a piece of joy I hadn’t realized I was missing.

The night wore on, filled with laughter, music, and camaraderie. Alan’s gesture, while extravagant, reminded me of the depth of our friendship and how much he cared. In the grand scheme of things, that was worth more than any party or free drinks.

As the clock struck midnight and the crowd began to thin, I leaned back in my seat, a satisfied smile on my face. Alan looked over at me, his own grin mirrored in my expression. It had been a night to remember, and one that I knew would stay with me for a long time.

Sebastian - “Thanks, Alan,” I said softly, my gratitude finally winning out over my irritation.

Alan - “Anytime, Sebastian. Happy birthday,” he replied, clinking his glass with mine.

The music played on, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly content.

-------------------------------------------------------------MEANWHILE--------------------------------------------------------------

After a drive of 1 hour and 45 minutes, Ava, Chris, and I reached our hotel, TownePlace Suites Clinton. We planned to stay the night here before heading to Worthington State Forest the following day.

As we pulled up to the front of the hotel, a valet approached to park the car, and a bellboy came to unload our luggage. I tossed the keys to the valet and approached the reception desk, with Ava and Chris following closely behind. Suddenly, Chris called out from behind me.

Chris - “Amara, please don’t leave me with Ava. She’s evil,” He pleaded.

Amara - “What? Why would you say that, Chris?” I asked, surprised. I suspected Ava had shown him something he wasn’t supposed to see.

Ava - “Oh, stop it, Chris. Don’t be a fuss!” She teased him, smirking.

Amara - “What did you say or do to him, Ava?” I asked, smiling.

Chris - “She said you’ll leave me here because I’m not suitable for this trip and that you don’t like me,” He said, almost in tears.

Amara - “Awww! Ava, you are so evil. Chris was right.” I hugged Chris, pretending to scold Ava.

Ava chuckled, standing behind Chris.

Chris - “So, you don’t hate me?” He asked, looking up at me with puppy eyes.

Amara - “Of course not, kiddo! Why would I? You’re my sweet kiddo, no?” I chuckled.

Chris - “I’m not a kid anymore, stop saying that!” He protested, hopping like a toddler.

Ava hugged him from behind.

Ava - “No, you’re not! Let’s go inside. My feet are killing me right now!”

I couldn’t stop smiling at this joyful moment. I wanted to cherish this time because the future might not be as joyful and could take hideous turns. I wanted to stop, but the betrayal and the pain of losing my soulmate raged through my blood. For someone like me, with heightened emotions, it was not easy to stop my desires for revenge.

We checked into our rooms, and I found mine to be lavish and calming. The soft lighting added to the serene ambiance. After locking the oracle stone in the room’s safe, I headed to the bathroom to fill the bathtub with warm water, hoping to drown my thoughts.

While the tub filled, I poured myself three pegs of Scotch on the rocks. I took the last sip of my Scotch before submerging myself in the warm water. As I lay in the tub, I drifted into a fitful sleep, experiencing flashes of visions.

This time, the visions were not from my past. Instead, I saw the same baby boy with mesmerizing, innocent eyes. His face grew clearer in my mind as the vision progressed. Just as I was about to see his face when he touched the stone in adulthood, I was jolted awake by a loud bang on the door.

I gathered myself, wrapped a bathrobe around me, and tied my hair in a towel. Peering through the peephole, I saw Ava and Chris standing outside.

Amara - “What’s the hurry, guys?” I asked, opening the door.

Chris - “We’ve been politely knocking on your door for the past 15 minutes, Amara,” He said, sounding exasperated.

Ava - “Yes, he was about to call security to open your door. I stopped him. Now you owe me one,” Ava added, glaring at me.

Amara - “Alright, alright, I’m here now. What’s so urgent?” I asked, trying to mask my unease.

Ava and Chris exchanged glances. “We need to talk about tomorrow,” Ava said, her tone serious.

Chris - “Yeah, we need to go over the plan,” He added, his earlier playful demeanor gone.

I nodded, letting them into the room. As they settled in, I couldn’t shake off the vision of the boy. There was something about those eyes that haunted me, a mystery intertwined with the oracle stone and my quest for revenge.

Amara - “Let’s get to it,” I said, focusing on the task at hand.

The future might be uncertain, but for now, we have a plan to execute.