The Second Encounter

Chapter 3 - Invitation

Rachel's Pov

I recently received an invitation to a grand high school reunion an event I have consciously skipped for years. Each prior occasion felt heavy with nostalgia and anxiety, filled with memories that I was not sure I was ready to confront. But this time feels different. This time, something within me stirs with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, compelling me to attend.

As I ponder the reunion, memories flood my mind, particularly of him. “Why did you come out now? You haven’t even contacted me these past few years,” I find myself whispering to the shadows of my past, my emotions catching me off guard. Tears begin to well up in my eyes, and despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to hold them back. The floodgates have opened.

“Rachel, my dear, why are you crying?” The gentle, familiar voice pulls me from my reverie, and I glance up to see Miko standing in the doorway, concern etched across his face.

“‘My dear’? Who told you to call me that?” I retort, irritation cutting through my emotional haze. The presence of Miko unexpected and unwelcome at this moment adds to my turmoil. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Don’t be mad,” Miko says, stepping further into the room, his smile unyielding against my discontent. “We will be married soon, so where’s the harm in affection? But seriously, why are you crying?” He hands me his handkerchief, a gesture both tender and intrusive.

“There’s going to be a grand reunion for my high school,” I sigh, the weight of my emotions still heavy on my chest. “I was just reminiscing the past, thinking about… him.”

After what feels like an eternity of silence, I muster the courage to ask Miko to leave me alone for a while. I need space to prepare not just for the reunion, but for something that has been pent-up within me for far too long. I intent to find something special to wear, something that reflects the person I wish to be at this reunion. But more than that, there is one person I am looking forward to reconnecting with a person I have been longing to see, perhaps for the last time before my life changes forever.

In the corners of my mind, the thought lingers: Is there still a chance for us? Will I have the courage to express my feelings to him? It feels like a pivotal moment in my life, perhaps one of the last opportunities to unburden my heart before I walk down another path. I cannot shake the notion that if I confess my love, I will finally find peace no more hiding behind the facade of what could have been.

The day of the reunion arrives, and my heart races as I anticipate seeing him again. I have made up my mind; I will tell him how I truly feel, regardless of his relationship status or any uncertainties surrounding it. This has been a secret I’ve carried for years, a love that I buried so deeply for the sake of comfort and familiarity. Now, as the time draws nearer, all that matters is the chance to speak my truth. I am ready ready to step into the past and perhaps illuminate the future, ready to embrace the vulnerability that comes with love. I believe that after I make my confession, no matter the result, I will leave no room for regrets in my lifetime.

10 years earlier

"Can I ask you a favor?" I said hesitantly, hoping my request wouldn’t come off as too burdensome.

"I will listen to you first before I can accept that," Bea replied, her brows raised in mock seriousness. This was my best friend from middle school, the one person who not only understood me but also knew when I was trying to pull something over her.

"Can you call Zion for me?" I blurted out, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me. Bea was absolutely the right person for this task; she knew how to keep things discreet, and she didn’t attend this school, which meant she wouldn’t accidentally spill my secret. In contrast, all my other friends would likely gossip about the situation, and that was the last thing I needed right now.

"Okay! But where do you want to meet him?" Bea asked, her tone shifting to a more serious, yet playful manner.

I hadn't thought that far ahead. Where could I possibly find a spot where no one would be snooping around, and where we could talk privately? Then it hit me there was a place I knew at this school. “If you find him, tell him to meet me at the Room of Beginnings. I will leave a note at his locker in case something happens and you can't find him.”

"Okay, got it," she said with a nod, and I felt a surge of relief.

I hurriedly scribbled a note, instructing Zion to meet me at the Room of Beginnings. After tucking the note securely into his locker, I made my way to the designated room, my heart racing with anticipation.

As I stepped into the Room of Beginnings, nostalgia washed over me. “This room never changes,” I thought, feeling a bittersweet mixture of happiness and sadness. Standing there, I was reminded of the countless moments spent here with Bea and others from our past. It had been three years since we had last occupied this space together, and maybe, just maybe, fate had something in store for us tonight. I smiled to myself, reveling in the warmth of good memories when suddenly, a knock on the door startled me.

To my surprise, Bea had found him earlier than I expected. My mind raced with what to do; I wasn’t at all prepared for this moment. My heart pounded so fast I thought it might burst. Should I just let him in to keep him hidden from prying eyes?

“Come in, don’t just stand there,” I called, though my voice wavered with anxiety. Turning my back to the door, I tried to compose myself, not wanting him to see how frazzled I felt.

The door creaked open slowly, and as someone stepped inside, my heart raced even faster.

“Ra—”

“Wait right there, don’t move! Let me catch my breath,” I blurted out, halting his words before they could escape. I needed a moment to gather myself. Zion, you i***t, just give me a second to calm down!

“Are you nervous?” he asked, his voice genuine and surprisingly soothing, even amidst my overwhelming anxiety.

“Of course! Just stay put and obey m-” I started, but then I hesitated. His voice didn’t sound quite right; there was something off about him.

I turned around and realized to my horror that the figure before me was not Zion, but a stranger I had never seen before.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” I snapped, my nerves rapidly shifting to annoyance as I tried to regain my composure. The pounding of my heart reminded me of the urgency of my original mission.

“Sorry for the late introduction,” he said smoothly, a small smirk playing on his lips. “My name is Prince Vigor of the Vigor Group of Companies.”

“Vigor?” I echoed, confusion evident in my voice.

“Yeah, I’m the one and only son of the CEO of Vigor Company,” he proclaimed, as if the name itself was meant to impress me.

“So what are you doing here?” I countered abruptly, not interested in his family ties. Vigor? I didn’t have time for this.

“I saw you entering this room a while ago, so I followed you, and here I am,” he stated casually, as if his presence were perfectly justified.

“And what can I do for you, Mr. Vigor?” I asked, eager to steer this conversation away from me.

“Rejoice! The truth is, I like you, and I would like to offer you the privilege of being my girlfriend,” he declared dramatically, an arrogant grin plastered on his face.

I blinked at him in disbelief, a mixture of shock and irritation bubbling inside me. How could someone be so pompous, thinking he could just waltz in and declare his affections?

“I’m really sorry, but I’m in love with someone else,” I replied firmly. His name is Zion, and he is a hundred times better than you.

“Is he really that great for you to fall for him?” Prince Vigor questioned, a dismissive tone threading through his words.

“Yes, I think so. He was my ideal guy. He’s a CEO of a significant company in Asia, he’s smarter than me, kind, and he has good looks,” I found myself saying, feeling a swell of pride as I defended Zion.

“Are you delusional? A CEO of a big company? Only three companies in Asia can call themselves big, and not even our Vigor Company can lay claim to that. Are you a gold digger? All three of those big companies have CEOs in their sixties,” he shot back, disdain thickening his voice.

I felt myself getting frustrated; there was no way to compare Zion to those ancient tycoons. Shaking my head, I realized I needed to end this conversation quickly. I couldn’t afford to waste any more time arguing with Mr. Vigor, especially with Zion potentially on his way. If he walked in and found me bickering with someone like him, it would ruin the entire mood and taint my carefully planned confession.

So, I waited. I waited and waited and waited, but he didn’t show up. After what felt like an eternity, I received a call from Bea. “I saw Zion running super fast out of the school gate! It looked like an emergency!” she exclaimed.

An emergency? My heart dropped, a knot forming in my stomach. “Yeah, for sure it was an emergency,” I murmured under my breath, filled with worry for Zion and frustrated that my moment had slipped through my fingers.

10 years later

After that, I didn’t get the chance to see him again. He even changed his number, disappearing as if he had never been a part of my life. Time has flown by so quickly, and now I find myself standing on the threshold of adulthood. With every passing day, my father’s worries about my future seem to grow more pronounced. In light of this, he has arranged for my marriage to someone I hardly know someone picked for me rather than by me.

Throughout all these tumultuous changes, I kept hoping to find him. I searched for him in every corner of my mind and heart, clinging to memories of our time together. I often wondered where he was and what he was doing, wishing that I could reconnect and perhaps pick up where we had left off. But despite my efforts, he remained elusive, slipping further away from my grasp with each passing year.

Then, today, everything changed. I was minding my own business when my butler entered the room, a formal air about him. “Miss Rachel, there is an invitation card for you,” he announced, handing me a beautifully designed envelope that bore an unfamiliar crest.

Initially, I was ready to toss it aside, uninterested in what it might contain. But as I glanced at the name embossed on the front, my heart skipped a beat. There it was a name that had haunted my thoughts for years. For all this time, I had searched for him in vain, and now he had reappeared in the most unexpected way.

Confusion and anger welled up inside me. “Why did you come out now?” I asked the empty room, my mind racing. “Why didn’t you contact me these past few years?” The questions hung heavy in the air, unanswered. I couldn't help but feel a mix of hope and frustration as I held that invitation, uncertain of what it truly meant for both of us. Would this be my chance to finally understand why he left, or was it too late for us? The prospect of seeing him again sent my heart pounding, and I realized that beneath the layers of hurt and longing was a flicker of hope still ignited.