Chapter 48 - An Unexpected Visitor

(Date: July 24, 2027)

(Author's Note: Do you see the year, dear reader? 2027. Yes, you've read that right. We've finally arrived to that part of our story. 2027 - The projected year when the revolutionary game, The Server of Iris, is to be released. Thank you very much for your patience, for your support, for staying beside me in this long journey. The conclusion is at hand. Special mention to Paper Planes. Thank you very much for all the power stones you've given to me. I truly, truly appreciate it. I'm so happy that I have a loyal, supportive reader like you. UwU Now let's get back to the story!)

After more than a year of travelling in outer space, the NASA Transcender Shuttle has successfully reached its destination and safely landed on Planet Mars.

The whole world cheered and celebrated this amazing achievement of mankind's endeavor, ingenuity, and spirit.

I didn't.

Oh wait. There's another surprise.

Nikita Wardensio, one of the first female astronauts who landed on Mars and his boyfriend, Bryan Sequia, one of the first men who landed on the crimson planet, announced to the whole wide world via satellite video conference that they're getting married.

The whole media is on a firestorm. It's another first in human history - The first space lovers. The first marriage on Planet Mars The first Martian couple.

Each time I see that news on T.V., I feel a slap in my face. Or a point blank shotgun deer slug shot to my heart. I just feel so cold inside.

But that's okay.

As time goes by, I'm getting used to it.

In fact, I'm already numb.

=====================================================

(9:00 P.M.)

"Evening, son. How are you...?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Very tired though. I'm going to my room."

"Teslan, please eat your dinner first. You're so thin already."

"I'm good, Dad. I need to sleep. I have work tomorrow."

His voice became very stern.

"Make time, Teslan. Seat down and eat your meal."

When dad raises the tone of his voice, I have no other choice. I simply obeyed and ate my meal in silence.

"Teslan... I'm, sorry... About what happened between you and Nikita."

"Huh...? That's a long time ago. Where did that came from? An as far as I can remember, you did nothing wrong."

"No... I could have prevented all of this from happening if I only said it to you from the very beginning..."

"What do you mean, Dad...?"

"Remember the time I asked you her name three times?"

"Yeah...?"

"You know me. Being a retired detective, I made a background check on her. She's clean, just for the record. But there's something else about her."

"What is it...?"

"I've checked her social media account and found 1,500 pictures on her gallery."

"So...? What's wrong with that?"

"All 1,500 pictures only shows her and no one else. Nikita Wardensio is a clinical narcissist."

Silence...

My eyes started to get teary and I suddenly felt a tug on my chest.

"Y-you know I-I'm not as s-sharp like you, Dad... WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!! HOW CAN I FIGURE THAT OUT?!!"

"You already know the reason why, Teslan... We believed in the same thing..."

Silence...

"True love..."

"Yes, Teslan. true love. Just like you, I believe that true love can change a person."

"THEN WHY DIDN'T SHE CHANGED DAD?!! WHY?!!"

"Because... She only cares about herself and no one else... I've raised up many red flags, but in your blind love, you denied all of them. And I, on the other hand, believed that your true love for her will change her... Sigh... Any way you look at it, it's a recipe for disaster. But we're still alive and breathing, right?

(Teslan's thoughts: I'm more like dead inside, dad.)

"Charge to experience, son."

Silence...

"Dad... I... don't know what to do... It's like, everything I do, I get rejected or fail miserably... I don't wanna try anymore..."

He placed a hand my shoulder.

"Compared to that space girl, you have more reason and sense inside of you, Teslan. Even if you crashed and burned and get rejected and failed miserably, you still did the right thing. You gave it a try. And never stop on trying. Hey, you sincerely loved her. I can see that. You loved her enough to stop her from going there."

"How did you know...?"

"I can hear you shouting upstairs when you video-called her, son. We live under the same roof."

(Teslan's thoughts: That's just embarrassing...)

"She's blind too, you know. She didn't see your love for her. She made the wrong decision to not love you back... Give up your anger and bitterness, son. And never take vengeance."

"Dad... Seriously? How can I exact vengeance on someone whose living in Mars?"

"What I'm trying to say is... When you finally meet the right girl for you, don't lash out on her. Don't take it against her. Don't redirect your anger and frustrations on her, okay? I know you're angry. I know your hurt. But don't hurt anyone, okay? It won't solve anything. It won't remove the turmoil in your heart."

(Teslan's thoughts: The turmoil in my heart... Sheesh... Aren't you embarrassed with the words you're saying, dad?)

"Stay home. Stay here. And go back to your old self. I miss my son. He's been gone for a long time."

Another heart-to-heart, life lesson talk coming from Dad...

Now... Even though I'm depressed and brokenhearted, I see how blessed I am...

I wish all the guys in the world have a father-and-son moments like this.

=====================================================

I quit my job on Pho Restaurant.

I've kept on denying it to myself but, the real reason why I still stayed there for so long is because I'm living in the memories of the past. Those few good memories with Nikita. It's pathetic, I know, but I always want to relive the sweetness of that short-lived romance.

Still, my dad is right. If I didn't "move on", I will not grow as a person.

And so, just like the Visney movie "Chilled", I finally "Let it go! LET IT GO!!!"

Since then, I take everything "easy" now. You know what I'm sayin? Not so serious, not "chasing the wind", or "running in the rat race". I'm more like, "Chill, dude! Chill!", "What will be, will be!", "Come what may, man!", "Happy goes lucky, mate!".

I just throw my cares and worries out the window.

I'm spending my time reading secondhand paperback novels and soaking in the hot springs for hours. And you know what, it's so relaxing...

Yeah... I can live with this. Just a simple life. Nothing wrong with that. This is enough for me. I'll be content with this. Why exert more effort on something unattainable when you already have something good in your hands? Like, this hot spring, or fruits, vegetables for example. Nah, I'll just get tired and hurt in the end, so why bother? Why not spend my days here in this healing, soothing hot spring and live in peace with everybody? There's definitely nothing wrong with that!

I was contemplating, and seriously considering about this future plan for my life while soaking in the hot spring, when somebody unceremoniously interrupted my deep thoughts.

"Nice place you got here." The stranger said, as he slowly dipped himself in the hot spring beside me.

Sigh... Talk about the invasion of my personal space! Who the heck is this guy disturbing my peace?! I really want to say "We're closed!" because really, it's already pass 8:00 in the evening! After this bath, I'm going to my bed and sleep! But what the heck! It's a customer, maybe a regular. It's still good money.

I'll double his entrance fee.

Then again, back to my first question. Who the heck is this guy anyway? Barging in my hot spring in this late hour?

I opened my eyes and slowly turned my head to the left...

Surprise, surprise.

"Josiah Vance Gearuette... What on earth are you doing here...?"

"I've received your text message."

"That invitation was sent seven years ago."

"Sorry for the late reply."

"Very late reply."

Silence...

"I don't know why you're here. But if you came all the way into this remote place just to badmouth my Server of Iris dream again, well don't bother. I've given up on that years ago."

He looked me seriously in the eye.

"I'm very sorry to hear that. But that's not the reason why I'm here. I came here to apologize to you, Teslan."

Silence...

"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! That's something new! That's so out of your character, Josiah! You never apologize."

He never looked away.

"I was wrong. I'm sorry for all the hurtful words I've said to you, almost a decade a go, Teslan."

Silence...

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'm serious."

We just stared at each other.

"Well... That's... New... There's gotta be a catch or something!"

"None. There's no catch. I came here to apologize. I'm sorry, Teslan. Will you forgive me?"

Silence...

(Teslan's thoughts: Man, this is so awkward.)

"Yeah! Sure! Fine! I accept your apology! I forgive you! Whatever! Sheesh! Don't repeat that again you're creeping me out!"

"Thank you."

There was yet another awkward silence between us...

"Curious... What brought this sudden change, Josiah?"

"I'm grateful to you."

"Grateful? For what?"

"Because of you, I met my one true love, my wife."

First of all, cringe. And then suddenly, realization sank in.

"No freaking way..."

"Yes way."

"THE WAITRESS WEARING A FRENCH MAID COSTUME ON NYAN NYAN COFFEE SHOP IS NOW YOUR WIFE?!! DUDE!!! I GAVE YOUR NUMBER TO HER AS A PRANK!"

"Well, the jokes on you, Teslan. :)"

(Teslan's thoughts: Darn... How lucky can this guy get?!)

"The word 'persistent' is not enough to describe her. She kept on sending me text messages three times a day, everyday, for two years."

"Whoa..."

(Teslan's thoughts: I mean seriously, how blessed can this guy get?!)

"And even when I got fired at Oogle, lost my prestigious title, lost my sports cars, lost my designer clothes, lost my condominium, and obviously lost a lot of money, despite all of that, she still kept on sending me text messages like, 'How's your day?', 'Eat well and stay hydrated!'. Great heavens, she's so stubborn... and awfully sweet..."

(Teslan's thought: Man... I envy this guy... Whoa! Wait a minute!)

"Hold up, Josiah. Two things. First and foremost, you got fired?"

"Yup. Oogle doesn't care even if I've been loyal to them and always worked overtime for over five years."

"I don't understand."

"They found someone who can do my work and accept half my salary grade."

"Darn, that's rough... Second question: Not that I'm raining on your parade but, could it be that your just overthinking about her... thoughtfulness? I mean, she couldn't possibly know that you've lost your job."

"She knows. We always saw each other at the train... Many times... I just bowed my head in shame and ignored her..."

(Teslan's thoughts: I can hear the chorus of "Rude" by Magic playin in my head.)

"Jobless, and with nothing else better to do, I've read all her text messages. Great Scott, my inbox became her digital diary, writing everything that happened throughout her day, everyday. And at the end of every message, she asks, 'So... How was your day?"

"Whoa..."

"Double whoa, Teslan. Remi, that's her name, is decisive. Once she made up her mind on something, and in this case, choosing me. No matter what happens, unless she did everything in her power, she will never give up. I've never seen someone so headstrong and resolute."

"So... What happened next...?"

"I... finally gave up... I frantically rushed at the café she's working on, fearing that I may be to late. That maybe she finally got tired of waiting for me and found somebody else..."

"And then...? This is getting interesting. Please continue."

(Teslan's thoughts: I'm such a sucker for love stories.)

"And then, tired and breathing heavily, I got there... There are no customers at that time in the afternoon. She's the only person in there. And only me. It's like, we're on a world of our own. Our eyes met, and at that moment, I wondered, and beat myself up inside... Why have I failed to see, TO REALLY SEE, how beautiful and wonderful this woman in front of me really is."

(Teslan's thoughts: Pride. That's why. Pride. "You're a snob, you know? Like get down on your high horse so you can SEE her, will ya?" is what I wanted to say, but he's having his moment here so I let him continue.)

"I let down all my walls, all my defenses, all my preconceived notions, and asked her one thing."

"And that is...?"

"What do you want?"

(Teslan's thoughts: I almost did a facepalm, but I stopped myself. It took every inch of my willpower to stop myself. I mean, seriously, Josiah? Are you for real? Isn't it obvious?)

"And what did she said?"

"You."

"Ha...?"

"'You. I want you'. That's what she said. The rest is history."

(Teslan's thoughts: Some guys just have it all, huh? I can't stop myself from ranting.)

"With all due respect, Josiah, what on earth did she ever found in you?"

"Apparently, all the guy friends who knows her are wary of her because she's a black belter in Jiu Jitsu. That's what's sad about power, she said. It scares people. But she's super sweet and kind. Just don't get on her bad side."

"Huh..."

(Teslan's thoughts: I really don't know the right words to say in this kind of situation so... I improvised.)

"Congratulations. I'm... Very happy for you. Thanks... For sharing that to me."

"Thank you very much for listening too. But that's not the only reason why I'm here."

"?"

He slowly stood up and stepped out of the hot spring.

"When Oogle fired me, I've set up my own business, a consulting firm. Teslan, I owe you big time. I've given some thought about your Server of Iris Project and took it into serious reconsideration. I'm now more than willing to offer my services and expertise to you, Teslan."

Silence...

"PFFT!!! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!!!"

I shook my head.

"Nah, thanks, but no thanks, Josiah."

I looked him directly in the eyes.

"I can't afford your rate."

He smiled.

"You got me wrong, Teslan. I'm giving it for free."