Foretold by Fate

Chapter 19

Addison’s POV

After that incident, I decided to rest for a little more time here. Being alone right now, makes me feel that everything is going to be alright. Just looking at those random strangers who are enjoying the moment that they are here. Meanwhile, I am retrieving the energy that was lost earlier on me. I closed my eyes, and I am feeling the heat of the golden hour. It is not very hot because of the coldness of the wind that you will feel.

The moment I opened my eyes, someone was already sitting beside me and I was shocked because of his sudden appearance. I was stunned because this guy beside me is handsome. I mean, there is this feeling of being afraid because he is a stranger and I don’t really know him at all.

‘‘O-oh hi? I thought you are still closing your eyes, that is why I didn’t talk and I don’t want to ruin your moment,’’ he said.

‘‘Have we met before?’’ I asked. ‘‘D-do you know me?’’ I added.

‘‘Of course, not yet, this is actually the first time that I saw you. I just sat beside you because I have this feeling that you need someone to accompany you?’’ he explained. ‘‘Oh by the way, I am Christian, and you are?’’ I accepted his hands as I introduced myself.

‘‘I-I am Addison,’’ I answered awkwardly. ‘‘Actually, I did this on purpose, like I want to be alone this time, since you are already seated beside me, I don’t want to be rude with you,’’ I divulged.

He just nodded and mouthed ‘thank you’. We both look at the sunset and the busy people passing by and those who are doing their own thing. I remained silent because I am speechless and a bit shy with the man beside me. If I am going to compare him with Sylvester, he can also win when it comes to physique. I automatically shifted my face to the other direction because he looked at me and he smiled. How I wish to be eaten by these grasses and disappear into the thin air.

‘‘Hmm, so you mean that you have told me earlier that you have your friends here?’’ he asked.

‘‘Y-yes, I am the one who actually told them to separate our ways because I was not feeling well earlier, I requested them that I need to retrieve the energy I lost,’’ I explained. ‘‘H-how about you, Christian?’’ I am not sure with his name though.

‘‘Yeah, its Christian, well, the same thing with you. I came here because I am not feeling well today and I need to see this beautiful scenery to retrieve the energy that I lost also.’’ He stood up and so did I did.

‘‘Actually, the reason why I came here is because today is the death anniversary of my girlfriend, and this is her best place to unleash and to distress. In this place also, I met her and it is where our love story started. Same thing happened the first day I met her with your situation . She was sitting on the spot where you were seated and she also loves looking at the sunset and closing her eyes,’’ he expounded and after that he looked at me. ‘‘I don’t know, it feels like a déjà vu,’’ he added.

I don’t know, I can feel his pain because of the way he uttered those lines to me. I think he is still in the process of healing. I can sense also that he is about to cry.

‘‘You haven’t move on yet, right?’’ I confronted him. I want to know his reason why he loves that girl so much. Why? It is pretty obvious because of his voice that longs for that girl and it feels like he is still wishing that girl still existed.

‘‘Y-yeah, i-it is really hard to let go of that woman. It is hard to let go of the memories we built for four years. He even promised me that she is going to marry me but he leave me alone and lonely,’’ he mumbled. I can sense the loneliness he felt right now. ‘‘That woman is genuine, she always makes me feel that I really exist in this world and she always make me feel that I am valuable. I don’t know how I am going to skip this kind of situation----it’s inevitable,’’ he added.

‘‘I can sense the burden you are carrying right now…but I just want to say that life must go on. There is no reason for us to quit easily, and one thing I am sure about, if you did something unethical, the woman you loved will not be happy if you really commit it.’’ From standing, I seated again. ‘‘I know moving on is not an easy phase, it takes time before you become fully healed. But the thing you can do right now, is to treasure everything you had from the past, in order for you to cope with the situation. I believe that, if you keep on thinking about that person, I think? You will probably move on, because at the end of the day, you will be accepting the truth. It is okay to feel blue sometimes, and you can feel it anytime,’’ I added.

‘‘Hmm, this would be hmm…’’ he mumbled.

‘‘W-what is it? D-don’t be shy, you already introduced yourself and so do I, you can tell it to me,’’ I said, since he is ashamed to utter what he wants to ask.

‘‘Hmm, since we already knew each other, can I ask you to come with me and we’re going to eat?’’ he requested.

‘‘Yeah sure, but you have to choose which food stool we’re going to eat?’’ I spoke. ‘‘Oh God, I almost forgot, I have to call my friends first. They might be looking for me,’’ I added.

He nodded and I immediately got my phone from my sling bag and called David's number.

"Hello David? Are you guys okay there?" I asked when he accepted the call.

"Hello Addie, we're all fine here, how about you? Are you already fine?" he asked.

"Yes, I am already fine and the energy that was lost is already back too. I just want to inform you that you haven't looked after me yet, okay? I am still looking for some reason, I'll just call you later where to pick me up okay? Please tell Grandma also about it and the kids okay?" I explained.

"Yeah sure, but please take care of yourself okay?"

After that moment, I put back my phone inside and I looked at Christian.

"Let's go?" I nodded and I just followed him since I am not really familiar with Baguio anymore since a lot of changes have already happened here.

It's kinda weird since people are looking at us. I feel shy, though those eyes looking at us aren't judging us. Well, people are now open to any relationship like in the third community. Though not all because there are still people who are embedded in their tradition and they're not accepting what changes happened in the world as it also changes.

"What restaurant are we heading to?" I broke the silence that was happening between us.

"Ah, my favorite restaurant here—Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant," he answered.

"Really? I heard about it but I haven't seen it yet," I said.

"Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant is the oldest and perhaps the most popular restaurant among Baguio locals, Good Taste Café and Restaurant’s sumptuous legacy speaks for itself. The 24-hour Chinese-Filipino restaurant serves staple fusions like beef chopsuey (stir-fried vegetables), crispy pata (pork knuckles), shanghai rolls, sweet and sour tilapia, fish shrimp tofu, and many more. Servings are generous too, so you can share the feast with friends and family," he explained. "What do you think? Do you like Chinese food?"

"Yeah, don't worry I have no problem when it comes to food—I am not picky," I answered.

"Good…" I smiled at him and we continued walking towards that restaurant.

The moment we arrived at the parking area we looked for his car. He opened the door for me so I went inside and thanked him for being a gentleman.

"The reason why I chose Good taste cafe and restaurant is that, when it comes to delicious and affordable food that restaurant has it all. At almost any given hour, you will find an influx of hungry customers walking into the establishment—locals call it the “food factory” for this very reason!" I was just listening to him while he was driving.

"Tables fill up so fast that you may have to queue at peak hours like during lunch or dinner.One of the unique selling points of Good Taste is how it does not skimp on quality in spite of the low prices. What's the most exciting thing in that restaurant?" I asked him what.

"While you wait for your food, you can avail of the unlimited free soup," he answered and was amazed since I haven't heard about it.

After that incident, there's this question that suddenly popped up in my mind.

"Hmm? Christian…? If you don't mind, can I ask you something?" I uttered.

"What is it?" he asked without looking at me since he is driving the car.

"What's the reason why your girlfriend left you?"

He took a deep breath and looked at me for a while.

"It happened during our wedding day." The moment he said those words I was stunned. I can't imagine myself that you are already witnessing the best moment of your life yet your bride died. What a tragic love story!

"Everyone was already happy that time that she was already walking in the aisle towards me while someone was singing our favorite song out there together. I-I am already crying that time b-because I never thought that I am marrying the woman I really loved." I can feel the sadness he felt right now while reminiscing about what happened before during that tragic wedding story.

"The moment she was about to accept my hand, a sudden 'bang' made the crowd inside the church panic. The moment I turned my attention to her, her chest was already bleeding. I panicked and I was speechless that time b-because I don't know what to do." This time, he already let his tears come out. He is already crying, well even me though—it feels like a tragic story.

"S-someone killed her…" he mumbled.

"B-but before she died she told me that I should not stop loving a person, I should have to let her go—that was the saddest part of my life, she even told me that starting that day, I should have let her go." We're already here and before we went out of his car he wiped his tears first.

The moment I went outside his car those hazel brown eyes again.

"S-sir…?"