destiny 12
Yellow. Orange. Red. Purple. A collection of colorful lights scattered through the sky, creating a stunning scene, as the sun called it a day.
When was the last time that he had properly seen this kind of view? Was it when his last girlfriend had broken up with him? No, he didn't think he had even bothered to look at his surroundings then, as all he could remember about that moment was the glum expression in the woman's face.
He found it absurd that a pretty sight like the sunset was sometimes associated with a painful stage in a relationship, that was, the breakup. It should have been something that could make people think about sweet memories, not a symbol for the love that had come to an end.
Sky's gaze drifted to the surroundings of the outdoor eating house that he had stumbled into while he was aimlessly driving, looking for a place to take a breather. He and Dr. Rhoda had just completed their third day of the seminar when he had told the dean that he would go for a short stroll before he would come back to their hotel. After a couple of minutes of riding his car, he had reached this area that seemed to be isolated from the city.
Instead of the buildings and the concrete establishments, wide rice fields surrounded the lone diner from all sides. Vehicles passed by the earth road, and there were a few cars and buses that had made a stop at the place.
Sky took a sip of the matcha tea that he had ordered, cringing as the inexplicable tartness penetrated both his nose and tongue. He could understand the appeal of its smell, but he was not a fan of its taste. It reminded him of the boiled medicinal leaves that his grandmother would pick from her backyard and make him drink every time he had caught a flu when he had been younger.
Sighing, Sky placed the cup down on the coaster. He had never really been a tea drinker, and the only reason he had requested it this time was because he had recalled his mother's advice to try drinking less coffee and more tea, as it would be more beneficial to his health and it could help reduce his stress from work. Because he had no idea what the best tea there was, he had chosen the most popular flavor, which his students often gushed about.
The assistant professor returned his gaze outside, calming himself with the refreshing scenery. He needed this change of pace, even if it was only for a short period, and he would soon go back to the busy streets of the city. Right now, all he wanted to do was relax and empty his head of any upsetting thoughts.
Yet, he knew that he could not run away from them forever.
He glanced at his hand, his expression turning grave, when he was reminded that the red string was no longer knotted to his little finger. He could not understand what had happened, but after that particular encounter with JP, the thread had disappeared as though it had never been there to begin with.
JP.
Sky curled his hand into a fist as the appearance of the Philosophy instructor the night before he had left for the seminar flashed through his mind. His broken smiles. The unshed tears. He had seen that kind of expression from his past lovers so many times before, but this was the first time he had felt so troubled about it. Since that night, guilt and regret had kept needling his chest.
He had never intended to cause him so much pain, but even he had been at a loss then, too confused to answer JP's confession. What could he have said to make it better when even he could not figure out his own chaotic feelings at that time?
The corner of his mouth lifted into a tight smile. I should stop messing with your head, you said. But aren't you the one who's actually messing with mine?
Sky was too deep in his thoughts that he didn't sense someone approaching until a shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he was greeted by an old man staring at him with gentleness in his eyes. There was a kind smile on his lips. The stranger's back was hunched, making him appear shorter than his original height might have been. Judging by his posture and the fine lines on his face, Sky guessed that he was around the same age or older than his grandmother.
Before Sky could so much say his hello, the old man asked in a gritty voice, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
The assistant professor's eyes swept the whole place. A confused frown settled on his face as he took note of the few empty tables around them. He turned back in front of him, giving the old man a quizzical look. It was then that he noticed the large, steaming cup of drink in the stranger's shaky hand. The mug was nothing like the white porcelain tableware that the eating house was using to serve their customers. It appeared like a personalized one, but its print must have faded with the years.
As Sky kept staring at the wrinkly hand, the red string around the old man's little finger grabbed his interest. The thread extended behind the stranger, crossing over the multiple tables in the eatery and reaching the counter. Following the direction, Sky realized that it was linked to the old lady who had attended to him earlier.
"Ah, that's my wife. We have been running this place together."
Sky's attention snapped back to the older man. Despite his puzzlement about the stranger's action, he decided that there was no harm in letting the owner join him at the table. The man actually reminded Sky of Dr. Rhoda and his grandmother, who liked to talk to younger people, even the ones they didn't know.
"Sorry. Of course, I don't really mind if you want to sit with me," Sky answered belatedly.
With the smile staying on his face, the old man nodded and took the seat across the assistant professor.
"Are you from around the town, young man?" the stranger asked before sipping his drink. Lowering his mug to the table, he added, "Ah, the name is Ramon."
"I'm Sky," the younger man said under his breath, "And no, sir, I'm not from here. I just attended a seminar that's being held in the city proper with my supervisor. I was looking for a place to unwind when I accidentally discovered this area."
Sky stared at the green liquid in his cup as he thought that he should have ordered something else to come along with the beverage. A cookie might be able to offset the distinctive taste of the matcha.
He raised his head, looking Ramon in the eye. "This is a pretty nice place you have here. Somewhere people would most likely prefer to go if they need a break."
"This place is my and my wife's pride indeed." Another nod from the owner of the eating house. Another sip of his drink. And another question to Sky. "Has something been bothering you and making you feel like you need a break?"
Sky kept his mouth closed, unsure if it was okay to reveal his thoughts about the stuff that had been plaguing his head these days to a stranger.
Before the assistant professor could elect a response, Ramon said, "Ah, I apologize. That must have been too personal to ask. Don't mind me if you don't feel like telling me anything. I don't mean to probe, but I can't help but be curious." He eyed Sky. The gentle demeanor was still painted on his face, but his hard stare was starting to faze the younger man. "It's just that you look as if you're lost, young man, or perhaps, someone who has lost something very valuable to him."
Sky made a weak smile but remained quiet. There was no argument to the statement, as that was exactly what he had been feeling since he had let JP walk away from him without doing anything, without saying a word. It was as if the young instructor had taken a significant part of Sky's life with him that night, leaving a void within his soul.
And when he had woken up the next day and learned that his own string was no longer existent, that emptiness inside him had grown deeper.
"Could it be your soul mate?"
The assistant professor broke out of his thoughts, his eyes widening at old Ramon's presumption. Perplexed, he asked, "You can see the strings too?"
"Ah, I see," the owner breathed, bringing the mug to his mouth, barely hiding his pleasant expression. He let out a sigh that sounded like an appreciation of the drink, leisurely put it down as if he had all the time in the world before finally turning his head skywards. Ramon glanced at the younger man's hand. "So you also have the ability to see them. I had some doubts when I first saw you earlier, but the fact that your own string seemed to be missing got me interested enough to approach you."
Sky snatched a glimpse at the old lady at the counter. He clamped his hands together, resting them on the table, and muttered, "What did you feel the first time you learned that you have this ability to see the strings, or the day you met her?"
"That has been a long time ago. I'm too old to remember what exactly I felt then."
Unconvinced by the response, Sky furrowed his brows. His knuckles whitened, the veins appeared at the back of his hands as his connected fingers became tense. "Did you not feel anything against the situation at all? Did it not feel unfair to you that this so-called fate was forcing you to love a person who was predetermined to be with you without your consent?"
"Forcing to love, hm?" The place owner hummed thoughtfully. Behind the dark eyes that had seen so many years flash by, the glint of wisdom and experience lingered. "Is that what you think the purpose of the red string is? Could it be that you're a person who has fallen for his soul mate but is afraid to acknowledge the truth because of the doubt that the feelings you hold for your fated one are not genuine? Young man, are you perhaps thinking that the flame in your heart was the doing of the red string?"
The words came off like a bunch of arrows hitting the target. Sky's heart leapt out of his chest, as if to recognize the validity of the older man's remarks.
Was that really the case? He wasn't sure, thus, he didn't answer.
"I don't think these mysterious strings have the power to influence people's feelings," Ramon said, his voice had become more solemn. "I believe they exist only for the purpose of drawing the pair of soul mates to each other. That is to say that if you're connected with your fated one, you can never avoid meeting that person, no matter how far you've been from one another or how many years it will take for you to find each other. And once you meet them, you will find yourself often encountering them, whether you like it or not." He paused, drank from his mug, and then continued, "I'm not saying that you have to believe what I believe. Ultimately, only you can find the truth for yourself. However, it makes me wonder, now that your string is no longer at play, does that make you feel different about your fated one? Or, should we say, your ex-soulmate? Can you honestly say that the affection you used to hold for that person has disappeared along with your string, young man?"
Sky let the questions settle in as he also mused on JP's last statements before the young instructor had left him alone in his car the last time they had been together. How I wish this thing would just disappear, so you wouldn't have to force yourself to do anything for me anymore. So you wouldn't have to give me any false hopes anymore.
He had yet to confirm his true feelings for the younger educator, but if there was one thing that Sky was fairly certain about, it was that whatever he had done for JP were things he had done out of his own will. Not once had he ever forced himself to come to his aid.
Even now that there was nothing connecting them anymore, he knew that if he were given the chance, he would still be there for the young instructor in times when he needed his help. The urge to stay close and reassure JP whenever he was scared was still inside him.
Turning his head back outside, he determined that a long time had passed. The dusk had just fallen, but the moon and a few stars were already out. It had been a while since he had seen the starry night.
He wondered what JP was doing right now. It would be fascinating if he was watching the same view at the moment.
A breath of longing came out of his mouth. "I want to see him," he whispered wistfully, and the old man gave him an approving smile.
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