Chapter 3: an enlighten story

                Snow slowly fell from the night sky. Not a star was seen in the night sky. Such beauty soothed Dewdrop sorrow. She was stranded in a small village due to the road being blocked by snow. Now, she was under the hospitality of a kind person with a warm family.

                “Dewdrop-san, come in. it’s getting cold outside,” a kindly voice was heard from behind. Dewdrop turned around and smiled at a grandmother, the mother of the owner of this house. 

                “Obaa-san, I am fine. I want to stay outside for a while. I wondered why but I suddenly feel like seeing the snow,” Dewdrop sat on a bench in the small garden.

                “Then let me accompany you.”

                Dewdrop stood up and helped Obaa-san to sit next to her. Together they sat, silently watching the snow fell. The silent was not awkward but fill with peace. The silent atmosphere will continue if Obaa-san had not spoke.

                “You remind me of a story. You seemed to fit the description of the girl in the story.”

                “What was the story about, Obaa-san?” dewdrop asked grandmother without looking at her.

                “Ah. I loved this story ever since the first time I heard about it.”

                Long ago, when this world was still not industrialized, gods roamed around the world and coexist with human. Well, most of the humans. Some tended to have wicked desire towards the gods. But that was another story.

                There was a young female fox that had lived in the black pearl mountain. My dear, let me tell you. She was a unique fox. Such beauty she possessed! And such power she had! No word can describe the beauty and the power she possessed.

                The story of her began when she met with the famous god in the three reigns. Every god from heaven was said to face a calamity in their time. When she knew that her admirer was facing his destined calamity, she ignored her position as the fox goddess and threw herself into the calamity. She took the calamity that he was supposed to bear.

                She was badly hurt but she did it willingly. Even though she knew her sacrifice may meant nothing to him, even thought she knew that he may not appreciate what she had done for him, she will not regret her decision.

                She thought her action may at least spark some feelings in his heart. But his face showed nothing but coldness. Her heart shattered and she finally knew. She knew that her love will not reach him at all. She gave up the love she had for him by asking him a request, a request that her love towards him will be sealed away. Deep down, she still hoped that he might disagree. But he unemotionally agreed. He granted her wish and since then she felt no love towards him.

                “Such a sad story,” dewdrop expressed her view with a sigh.

                “My dear, the sadder part has just begun,” said obaa-san with a sigh.

                The fox goddess did not know that he loved her. That he had always watched her from afar. His heart broke when he heard her request. How he wanted to embrace her in his arm when he saw the sadness she hold. However he was held back by the duty he had and the punishment that might bestow to both of them. He did not want to see her suffered from the harsh punishment. With no choice given, he faked his coldness and granted her wish. But, even though she forget him, he still watched her from afar, and protect her from any harm.

                “That is how the story ends,” said obaa-san.

 “This story may seemed sad but don’t you think this story give us a lesson? It tells us to grasp and treasure the love we can easily have. We humans, tend to be careless in things that we can easily obtain.”

“Yes obaa-san, I agreed.”

“Come inside. It’s getting colder and you must rest for tomorrow’s journey.” The old went inside after saying the story, leaving dewdrop alone in the garden.

Dewdrop stared at the leafless trees around her and thought of the story. She pitied the fate they both hold. They were both within reach but their love can never be recognized and be approved of.  The boundary between them was huge.

With another sigh, she went inside.

************

                At another house, not far away from where dewdrop was in, Kevin and his fiancé were in the hospitality of an old couple. They too were being told about the love story between the two gods. After hearing the story, they both thanked the couple for telling them such a story and retire for the night.

                As Kevin gazed outside, watching the snow falling, his fiancé spoke.

                “Kevin, the story that we have just heard, don’t you think it’s sad?” Helen said with sorrow.

                “It’s just a legend Helen.”

                Sensing that Kevin did not want to talk about it, she retired to her room. He let his mind drifted off after seeing Helen left the room. Yes, it was sad. But what bewildered him was the story somehow reminiscing him the girl he met at the coffee shop and at the lavender farm. Shaking off this strange thought, he immersed himself on his work. 

Chapter 2: the strange feelings

Chapter 2:  the strange feelings

                In the palace of heaven, in a certain room that belonged to the matchmaker, you will see an old man scanning a red book (the book of love) with a tiny frown. He remembered that he has not yet matched the last four people but the last couple had been matched.

                Again his eyebrow knitted together, making him look much older than he already was. He laid down the book and went to sit on the window seat, staring outside. He was trying to recall whether he had done it or not.

                Just as he was busy rewinding his brain, a sudden visitor dropped in. The visitor was one of matchmaker friend, the kitchen god.

                “Alas my old friend, what worries you?” seeing the face of matchmaker frown face, he asked with concern.

                “I tried to recall back my mind again and again and the result was the same. I am certain that I did not match the last four people in my list but…”

                “But the four were matched, am I right?” without letting the matchmaker to finish his sentence, the kitchen god intervened.

                “Yes! How do you know?” the matchmaker looked at him, shocked that the kitchen god know about it.

                “I know because I was the culprit,” the kitchen god casted a grin, which made the matchmaker boiled from anger.

                “Why you!!” without giving matchmaker the chance to speak, he cut him off.

                “This is fate, my friend.” The kitchen god suddenly became solemn.

                “Sigh. What is done is done. I can’t change for what has been done. Let’s hope they will turn out fine.” The matchmaker looked at the book forlornly.

                *Dewdrop*

                “It is said that eternal love exists in this world. It is up to you to believe it or not. If you do believe, then you will be blessed with happiness.” Those were what my grandmother told me when I was a child. At that time, I don’t understand what she meant but as I grew and when I first met him, I think I understand what my grandmother meant with those words.

                Reminiscing at my grandmother words, I smiled. I sipped the warm cappuccino I ordered, trying to warm my body from the cold. Snow was falling outside and I was captivated by the view. Then the door bell attached to the door gave out sounds of sweet musical sound. I looked up towards the door, unconsciously doing it, and saw a young and striking man who wore sport clothes. Our eyes met; somehow I have a strange feeling that I know him for a very long period.

                I shook my head and continued staring outside. The snow was so beautiful and the people here were kind. It was indeed a good choice of coming to Japan for my holiday, if you ignored the coldness.  I started to get sleepy which was weird for coffee kept you awake, not making you drowsy. With a sigh, I paid and left.

Before turning left, I stood outside. With one of my palm stretched out, I smiled as one of the tiny cold snow slowly floated into my hand and became a drop of water. Then I slowly walked back to the hotel, feeling the cold and admiring the night scene.

Arriving to the doorstep of the hotel, I smiled to the lady who was on duty and went to my room, number 1314. Such a coincidence, in Cantonese language, the number means forever together. This was why this number was my favourite number.  Entering the room, I banished the thought of cleaning up and straightaway went to my bed.

                And I dreamt. In the dream, a young and beautiful girl, wearing ancient Chinese style garment, was dancing gracefully in a garden. The garden was quite strange, with different season of flower together in a garden. On the north were winter plants, east was fall, south was summer and west was spring. The girl danced and danced and I was captivated by her exclusive dance.

When I woke up, the sun had come out long ago. I arise from the bed and cleaned myself. My plan today was visiting a flower farm which is located not far away from my hostel. The farm was not really very famous and is located in an isolated place. If I hadn’t accidentally found the place, I might miss the beauty of the flowers. Out of the flowers planted in the farm, the one that I reminiscent was lavender.

                I greeted the owner of the farm and he let me roam his farm freely as we get to know each other. How many days have I been here? A week, I guess. I did not count the days, just let the day passed. Why counting how many days left? Why not enjoy the time I am going to have here?

                As I slowly strolled around, surrounded by the scent of lavender, I saw him. His back was what I saw at first until he turned and faced me. A look of surprise was seen on him and also on mine. He then smiled and slowly walked towards me.

                I thought that he was going to greet me, as he smiled while walking towards me. My heart kept on hammering towards my rib-cage that it was quite hard to breathe and the world seemed to move in a slow motion.

                But soon disappointment washed me down as he walked past me, not even taking a glance on me as he walked by. He was not smiling at me; neither was he gazing at me just now. I turned around and found out who he smiled for. It was a pretty girl. The girl laughed and the sound of laughter was beautiful, like the chirping sound of birds in harmony. They hugged each other tightly. I do not know why but I cannot bear to watch their figure and so I looked away.

                Strange, I never know that guy before so why do I feel like this? This weird feeling like my heart was torn because of him. Tears flowed out from my eyes and I quickly wipe it away.  Frustrated with the sudden tears and the appearance of the guy and girl, I flee from the place.

                *Kevin*

                My friend told me that love depended on you and your soul mate fate. To some people, this is nonsense but to some other it is not. At the beginning I was the one who thought it was nonsense but then, when I met her, I changed my thought.

                I do not know how to describe this feeling. It was like something inside you chimed a signal, telling you it was her, your soul mate, your other self.  I met her in Japan, in a small and warm coffee shop.

                I saw her before she saw me, on the way to a hotel that belonged to my family assets. The expression she wore on her face was what attracted me and somehow I have the feeling that I knew her. However I am certain that I have never met her before in my entire 30 years life.

 I have no intention of stopping by at the shop but unconsciously I went in. I wanted to be near her, was what in my mind at that time. Our eyes met for a second but then she turned to stare at the scenery outside the window. How I wished that she would turn and look at me again with that silver eyes of hers.

For a moment she did nothing but sipped the content from her cup. From her expression I knew that something was bothering her. Then she shook her head, sighed and left the shop after paying at the counter.

                Again, my leg seemed to move by itself. I followed her, if the cashier had not reminded me that I have not paid for the food yet, I would have left without paying. When I left the shop, she stood at the corner of the road, staring at the snow slowly falling down to the palm of her hand, lips curving up to the place where it mesmerized me.

                I followed her to the place she stayed. It was one of the hotels that belonged to my company. At watched her disappeared into room 1314. Number 1314, in the language of Cantonese, it means forever together.

Strange.

Why am I following a person who I do not know of?

Why do I feel like I have seen her before?

Why does my heart acting strangely when I saw her forlorn face?

Shaking my head, I went to my suite and slept, which took about an hour or two. And I dreamt.

I dreamt that I was hiding in a garden, staring at a girl. She was wearing ancient Chinese style garment, her back on my sight. She was alone, dancing in the garden. The garden was quite strange, with different season of flower together in a garden. On the north were winter plants, east was fall, south was summer and west was spring. Then, slowly, she turned around and I gasped.

It was her, the girl who I unconsciously followed.  I was awed by her dance, her elegance. I was captivated by her, by her dance.  Then I woke up.

I thought I will not meet her again but then I saw her, in the farm. She was standing there, on the field covered with lavender and the smell of the flower, gracefully walking in a way that she might not have noticed it. I stared at her intently and when she stirred her head up, I managed to turn around, leaving my back exposed to her.

Then urged to see her made me slowly turned around and I am surprised when I saw someone else, a girl whom I know, standing not far away from behind her. Slowly I walked towards her. Seeing the girl surprised look and her anticipation, I wanted to hug her, enclose her into my chest.

But instead, I walked past her and hugged the girl behind her, my fiancé.