It’s almost christmas.

Everyone in the city of Cambion is celebrating the season with their loved ones. Music playing in the streets, a big feast at their home, hugs and kisses around the area, the city lights glowed up on that beautiful tall christmas tree. What a warm holiday indeed.

One person would beg to differ. 

Oletus Cafe

“One matcha frappe for Ms. Vera.” A man with blonde hair called across the counter. A lady with a silky brunette hair approached him happily as she took that scrumptious looking frappe and went on her merry way

“You’re working incredibly hard, Aesop.” The dark haired chef implied,“You don’t have a date on this beautiful holiday?”

“Not at all and besides I love working… or at least it’ll get my mind off of things.” 

“I see.” The chef nodded

“Head Chef! Head Chef!” Another one of the staff, his pinkish head poking inside the kitchen,“I think baguette’s become solid hard!”

“Mike, Baguette’s are supposed to be like that.” Chef Jose shook his head,“You shouldn’t yell like that otherwise, It’ll make our mistress angry at you.”

Mike smiled awkwardly and mouthed sorry. In a flash, he went inside the kitchen. The silver haired guy looked at his nameplate that is pin across his right chest and looked at the Chef beside him

“I wondered why our mistress would gave us pet names in our nameplates? For example, mine, Call Bell… and yours basil right? Doesn't she want the customers to call us by our names?” Aesop asked with his eyes still fixed at his chest

“I’m not sure but I find it intriguing though. The mistress is fond of creativity.” The chef chuckled and placed a hand on the silver hair bartender’s shoulder,“It’s almost closing time better prepare and get your things ready. Mike and I will head home and you should too.” and with that the Chef left

Two minutes before closing.

Aesop went for the door and flipped the signage to a close when all of a sudden, A man with strikingly beautiful onyx eyes, wearing a black wool coat, cotton like beanie and black pants barged inside the cafe, opening it immediately making the door hit Aesop’s face, falling butt first on the floor

THUD

“O-ow…!”

“AH! Is the cafe closed already!? I need my daily coffee! Damn this work made me late today---Huh? Where are the staff?” The black haired customer scanned the area, not minding the person he hit seconds ago

“Ugh. The staff is here…” 

“Huh?” The man narrowed his eyes, blinking as he saw this blonde bartender holding his back, sitting on the ground, while groaning painfully,“What are you doing down there? Are you sleeping on your shift?”

“No, You dimwit. You hit me when you opened the door. Are you blind? We’re close…!” Aesop retaliated

“Hm?” The man tilted his head towards the door and found nothing of what the bartender’s claiming,“There’s no close signage outside.”

“Because, airhead It’s in my hand!” Another angry response from the bartender, still has his butt on the ground

“Why didn't you put it in there so I can see.”

“Are you even listen---Ugh, nevermind. I heard you wanted coffee?” 

“Yes! Finally! My work has been killing me for days now and I haven't visited my favorite Cafe today and this is the only place available.” The man crunched his brow, probably remembering the workload and overtime he’s having during the season. Upon seeing the silver haired bartender struggling to stand up, he extended his hand to him,“Need any help?”

Aesop nodded and took the man’s hand for support and started walking behind the counter,“What coffee?”

“Black one. Thank you.” The dark haired man stands near the counter, watching as the silver haired bartender brew him some coffee,“So… uh… how come you’re still here?”

“Still… here?”

“Yes. It’s holiday right? Might as well enjoy with your loved ones”

“I dont have one.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that. How about a lover?”

“Nope”

“Uhm... friends?”

“They’re with their loved ones too. I basically live alone.”

“I see.” The man stopped asking questions, knowing that the silver haired bartender seems disinterested in the topic, he fixed his eyes on the bartender’s uniform, looking for his nameplate. At least he can call this guy by his name and to his surprise the name he found was rather odd. Call Bell, he snorted. Aesop stopped what he was doing and stared at the customer 

“What’s so funny?”

“Is that a name?”

“Oh. Call Bell? It’s a creative something… I honestly don’t know actually.”

“Is that so? What’s your name then?”

“Well… “

“Don’t tell me you don’t want to tell your name to me this time.” That statement made Aesop curious and what’s even more peculiar is what this dark haired guy said next to him,“Even if you said you trusted me.”

“I never said that. What do you me---”

Aesop’s words were cut off when the man removed his wool beanie revealing a full view of his dark tresses, the scarf around his neck to unravel those handsome burned scars from across his face to his neck and the wool overcoat that envelop around his toned body. The silver haired bartender’s eyes went agape as soon as the guy’s features lit up. He knows this man perfectly. How can he forget right?

“Norton Campbell.” The man gave him an amused look. From Aesop’s disbelief expression, the man knew what he was thinking. They have met before.

“Nor...ton…” Aesop’s voice cracked

“Found you at last, Aesop Carl.” Norton grinned at him. It’s been a long while since the two have meet once again.

Fate is drawing them closer again. Letting them meet and for what? Perhaps, It’s a scary thing to think about but everytime they do meet one of them is bound to forget the other, Why was this unification felt rather different from the past lives they have? Both of them know each other and probably are feeling the same way. Norton sure was happy he finally meet Aesop again in their new lives but fear is creeping inside Aesop’s heart which Norton had noticed. Norton let out a sigh at Aesop’s frightened expression.

“Strange huh?” Norton arched his head,“I don’t know why I remember you and from the looks of it, You also remembered me.”

“Y-yeah… but if you remember, You know what will happen, right? Aren’t you scared?” Aesop was still writing in fear. He really didn’t expect that they will meet again or rather he prayed that this new life of his, he will try and avoid Norton. Any interaction might lead to a bad ending for them or so Aesop thought

“Nah. I figured out how we can both break this dreadful curse.” 

“You do? How then? So, we can end this wretched cycle. It’s frustrating.” 

“If you and I get married.”

That declaration Norton said made Aesop dropped the mug he was holding, letting it shattered to the ground thankfully he avoided being harmed by the shards that scattered from the impact. As an immediate action, Norton ran to his side

“Are you okay!?” Norton grabbed Aesop’s hand taking it in his

“Y-yes…” Aesop held Norton’s hand tightly,“Ah, we need to clean this up. Sorry, Whatever you said… made me quite confused.”

“Actually, I was baffled when I come up with that conclusion but do you remember what the goddess told us before?”

“What is?”

Both of them carefully gathered the shards from the broken mug and sweep the floors clean as they talked

“The reason why we’re being reincarnated is because of that promise. The promise we made a long time ago? Or more like our first version promised each other.”

“The promise of a lifetime, thing?”

“Bingo! That promise, I’ve done my research ever since I’ve regained all of my memories and quite frankly it was very helpful. That promise wasn’t fulfilled.”

“There are a lot of promises our past selves made, Which one of it are unfulfilled. I believed that before we ever accomplish that, we are often hinder to do so.” Aesop signed exasperatedly. It will probably end up broken again just like everything else in their relationship were. The end is always the same or he’s just being a pessimist about it. Who knows? While being preoccupied by all these thoughts Aesop was having, Norton broke the ice and spoke

“I want to ask you, Aesop.”

“What do you want to ask?”

“Will you marry me, Aesop Carl?”

Another declaration that made Aesop’s silver orbs widened. Why was Norton asking that? A flood memories starting to invade Aesop’s head. Was this the promised that was left unfulfilled. He did die back then before they ever got reunited, that wedding that will be held back in the sabbath day. They were ambushed by Norton’s clan. That promised went on a loop when he was reincarnated, that question, those words, whenever they shared those strong feelings they end up in despair. 

I want to be with Norton forever… 
But I’m so scared…
We’ll be dammed again...

Tears started to well up in his eyes. Another negative feelings swirling inside his heart but he wanted this, he wanted to be with Norton this time too, but how when he’s this afraid for being stuck in that hopeless place again. As Aesop vision’s blurred. He saw the letter appeared before his eyes. That letter that the goddess gave them, they were empty back then but now there are words forming in it now. He took hold of it and read its contents

Congratulations, Aesop Carl. 

Those words confused him. Norton leaned in to check what Aesop was reading. Aesop thought this letter was never to be filled but it’s slowly unravelling some bizarre words. 

Because of your bravery, love and genuinity you will be rewarded by your heart’s desire, this letter will break the cycle of your endless suffering. A once in a lifetime opportunity. I hope that this gift for you will bless you with happiness in your life.

“Gift?” Aesop mumbled as the last words unravel at the bottom of the letter

I want to be with Norton Campbell.

This letter gave Aesop hope. This is what he always wanted and it took centuries before he finally understood what he wanted, He had the answer all along. If only he was strong enough back then to realize then they wouldn’t have suffered anymore but that doesn’t matter, the cycle is over and he can be with Norton, they can finally be happy. Aesop looked at Norton with a confident smile

“I will marry you, Norton Campbell.”

“We’re keeping our promise this time.”

◇◇◇◇

YEARS HAD PAST
◇◇◇◇

“Look daddy! A snowflake!” A little girl with cute little silver hair with gleaming onyx eyes bounced happily around Norton, showing the miniscule snow ball in her hands

“How cute. Oh, it melted.” Norton replied poking the little silver haired girl’s palm

“Aww man!” The girl slouched and pouted as she watched the snowflake melt in her tiny palms,“It’s okay, I’ll get another one next time!”

“Norton, Trace dinner is ready.” Aesop called as he bobbed his head on the side of the door, looking at the father and daughter playing outside the backyard

“Yay! I hope it’s spaghetti this time!” Norton chuckled, tucking his daughter in his arms and walked inside the house. As soon as they set foot inside, the little girl dashed towards the kitchen, sat on the chair and grabbed her mini spoon and fork waiting for her dinner to be served.

“She’s always giddy whenever I mentioned food. A glutton like you, Norton.”

“Huh? You mean you?” Norton teased and snaked his hand around my waist,“I’m glad that we’re granted a special request. To have a daughter that came from us, flesh and blood, not to mention Trace looks like us too. I have a 100% bet you named her after that little Vampire girl from several centuries ago. That one friend of yours.”

“You noticed?” Aesop giggled as he faced Norton,“Well, she is a special friend. I want to honor her by naming our daughter, Tracy.”

“I’m happy I get to spend my happy days with you.” Norton leaned closer to Aesop’s face and gave him a sweet kiss on his lips

“I am too. We’ve been together for 12 years now. I never expected this to happen not after all of our---”

“Shh, Aesop. What matters most now is were happy. Being together and having a family of our own.” Norton cut Aesop off by hugging him tightly,“Thank you for keeping this promise with me.”

“Thank you for giving me the faith and the strength to move on” Aesop whispered

“I love you, Norton Campbell.”

“I love you too, Aesop.”

The couple shared one gentle kiss and joined Tracy at the kitchen. Aesop silently stared at the window pane, thanking his lucky stars for another second shot in life and this time, he gets to be with Norton and their daughter. He hoped that someday, he will get to meet his old friends from his past lives, So he can tell them stories about the lives he lead so far and hopefully they can tell theirs the same.

END OF EPILOGUE