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.