BOOK OF FATE
BOOK OF FATE
A frown crawls onto my face. And it deepens quickly as I let my eyes drift from the artist while grabbing Shawna’s wrist.
“Please excuse us,” I say, putting harsh emphasis on each consonant sound.
I pull Shawna outside the restaurant. The girl, totally confused, wiggles her hand from my grip and pauses in her track. I leave her and head to the roadside anyway.
“Book another cab,” I grumble, “we’re leaving.”
“Do tell why?” Shawna asks in a sort of rude manner.
Instead, of dwelling on the tone of her voice, I sigh in frustration. “I know everything about Blank, but how the hell did I miss that he’s signed under a company? I thought he was a freelancer.”
As I turn to Shawna, I discover she’s even more confused now. “Wait. That was him?”
“Yes!”
“Well, he probably signed with them recently.” She shrugs. “You’re leaving because of that?”
“Yes!”
“Nectar, calm down. I know you’re disappointed that the man could be among those who like your aunt Mellow, and would probably compare you to her, but remember he’s Blank, your favorite artist. You should be freaking out in a good way.”
“But I’m not! I’m not, Shawna, and it’s a bad sign! I just want to leave!” I yell, one mind urging me to toss my bag aside, while the other encourages me to compose myself. I wish it were easier to listen to the former.
“You may regret this, Nectar,” Shawna warns, walking up to my side. “Did you see the amount you will be paid? Millions. That’s more than what any one of us in the art field could ask to gain at once. That is what some artists earn after striving for years.”
“But my little heart can’t take it,” I whine. And that’s true. Living in the same house with Blank and watching him fawn over Aunt Mellow will end me.
“What are you scared of, Nectar, have you fallen deeply in-love with the man? This is a life changing opportunity for god’s sake.”
I’m still at the part where she asked if I’ve fallen for the man.
Yes, yes, I have fallen for him. And I can’t help but consider the facts of him being in-love with my aunt. What would people say if that gets out? If it were another woman, I won’t mind. But my aunt—the same woman whose shadow I’ve been living under for years!
Working with Blank would only complicate things for me. I may end up going to bed every night in tears. But I need the money so bad. Dad has frozen my accounts on mom’s order, and it’s not a kind of life I’m looking forward to living.
I want to be able to afford my needs and wants with my own money. I want to be able to voice out my opinions to mom without the fear of getting my accounts frozen.
I want liberty. I want to be free. So why jeopardize such a fantastic opportunity to get that just because of a feeling that may fade with time?
But isn’t fate so cruel to even pair me with Blank as my destiny helper?
After much contemplation, I let Shawna lead me back into the restaurant, and I sign the contract before leaving immediately.
Blank doesn’t say a word to me. He merely stares at me, and I return home with many questions.
If he’s truly Christopher, what happened twenty-two years ago when the news of his death spread like wildfire, how did he survive the plane crash, and why has he hidden himself from even aunt Mellow all these years?
>>>>>>>>
“You don’t have to run away just to spite me, Nectar,” mom says calmly while standing at the door and watching me run around to pack my bag.
I pause for a while to look at her, my eyes shooting daggers. “I’m not running away, mom, and I’m not spiting you.”
“Then what are you doing right now? Because the last vacation you went to, you came back crying.”
I knew from when I woke up this morning that I won’t hear the end of this matter. Mom would keep chastising me with it, reminding me every moment about the sad end of the vacation I insisted on attending.
But I won’t let her cut me down with her words.
“I have a job offer,” I tell her, pointing to one of Blank’s picture frames on the wall. “I’ll paint with him for seven days.”
“Painting, again,” mom groans disapprovingly.
I nod in affirmation. “Yes, mom. Maybe this time can you actually have the face to tell your friends that your daughter will be doing a job worth millions with the most popular painter in Country P.”
“That man painted Mellow, Tar. Do you know what the news articles would be like once it gets out that you’re working with him?”
Yes, I do. They’ll say I’m trying to emulate my father’s wife. They would say I’m pulling attention to myself by working with Blank just days after he revealed an artwork with aunt Mellow’s face on it.
However, what mom doesn’t know is that this is more than she sees it. She hasn’t figured out that Blank is actually aunt Mellow’s long-dead friend, Christopher. And the world hasn’t known his true identity yet. They are all just basing the artwork reveal on the fact that it’s probably a snippet of what’s going on behind cameras—Mellow and Blank dating.
“It’s none of your business, mom,” I simply reply while resuming my packing.
I know she wants to say more; some probably hurtful. But she holds back and just watches me from her position.
I agreed to start work tomorrow so as to escape from mom. So, she’s right—I’m indeed running away.
It’s not like I’m so eager to face Blank again. I only hope I would be strengthened in his presence; that these feelings would be nothing but a crush and fade the moment I see him.
>>>>>>>>
Hazmat agreed to foot my transportation bill. Of course, they will also take care of my feeding, since I’ll be staying in the accommodation provided by them.
They pick me up from the airport with a black sedan, bringing me to a bungalow building in an estate.
Coming out of the car and the garage, I close my eyes and take in a deep breath of the scented air that envelops the compound.
The scents are from the flowers planted around the building. Especially the ones flanking the brick pathway that leads from the gate to the garage.
Opening my eyes and looking ahead of me, I find the black gates closing on their own. Then I trail my eyes along the low brick fence to the left, turning around until I’m facing the bungalow building for the first time.
Something about the roof of the building reminds me of old cartoon movies, whether it’s because of how the roof is shaped like a mushroom cap, or because it’s thatched. Anyhow, the vibe matches that of the building’s brick walls, as well as its wooden windows. And it certainly clicks with the man standing at one of the pathways that branches from the main brick walkway.
My feet move without my knowledge, taking me toward the man, shrinking the huge space between us with every step.
When I’m on the same lane as him, but still a bit far from him, I halt. From fear. From excitement. From curiosity. From every feeling that swirls within me.
Since hours ago, after Blank revealed his artwork, I refused to believe my suspicion, even though my glimpse of his facials convinced me he was Christopher. However, now that I’m seeing him in all his glory, I can’t help but be more convinced that he’s the man.
But then I’m scared. Scared that this man would only see me as another version of his lover. Scared that he would compare me with her to the point I’ll be much less than a strand of feather in his eyes.
I’m also excited to see his real face, and I’m curious as to how fate crafted this moment. How did the judges of destiny spice up the actions that led to this scene, what kind of thoughts did they have in mind when they decided that aunt Mellow’s lover should meet the daughter of aunt Mellow’s old love rivalry?
Most importantly, did they approve of another love story growing between these two despite the age difference, did they write it in their books that the words or actions of others would not prevail in the couple’s union?