#5 - Fated Encounter Part One

Words: Fate (ribbon, equinox, representative, cooperation)

Genre: Slice of Life Romance

She always felt comfortable being alone. Almost every night, especially during autumn, she was climbing up to the hill across their house to feel fresh air in her lungs. There was a skinny tree struggling to live on a barren windly hill. Local people used to tie ribbons on it troughout the spring festival. Many were looking for a bright future and hoping to meet with their precious wishes, while some were just hanging them as a commemorative for their lost loved ones.

Her petty self-appointed role on this was ending the cycle by picking up the ones which had fullfiled their job during autumn equinox. For her, she was like the autumn wind. Not granting wishes, but lets you know that everything was fine.

It was one of nights. She was enjoying dearly the silence except the cold wind on her ears and her own heartbeat. Living with two younger siblings and a needy grandmother was always so noisy if not tiresome. So she picked up the habit not so long after her parents died. It was her hiding place. And thats why she felt little bitter when she realised a boy was now standing still under the tree, peacefully observing. He stood almost as he belonged there more than anyone else. The picture was too perfect.

A little ashamed of herself, she decided greet him after a long silent hesitation. After all she always knew that she could not keep this moment of serenity just for herself. Even thought it was not easy not to feel downhearted. Even if she wasn't the owner of the place, she at least would have liked to see herself as a representative of the wishing tree.

"It is lovely, isn't it?". Her voice barely reached to boy's attention.

He looked back to see the origin of the voice. He saw a dreamy figure climbing up towards him almost like a winter fairy, feathery curly hair, warm smile, a worn jacked and mudy shoes. She saw two cloudy eyes, deep as ocean.

"You okay?" she empathized with the boy without knowing with just a look in his eyes.

"Um. Yeah. It is really lovely here." He pull himself togather without a rush. "I am sorry, was it your spot? I never meant to invade"

'Why he said that' she thought. Made her regret even more for her earlier feelings. However she did not want to burden him about it.

"Not at all." With a smile. "Actually i never understood why no one comes back here after the spring festival."

"Spring festival? This doesn't look like a place to attract people much"

She laughed.

"It is more vivid during spring. You wouldn't believe how colorful this tree could become, haha."