Windows of The Heart

Chapter Twenty-Five Twist of Fate

Could this be a twist of fate, forbidding us to be together? Are we not meant for each other? Was it because I was never faithful to her that the gods forbade us to be together?

Thirty minutes later, Hwan Chul looked at his watch. He's uneasy about the meeting he and Hyun-Ki will make with Nancy. He stood up and walked back and forth in his Office, predicting the outcome of this meeting with Nancy. He was also anxious if, by talking with Nancy, he'll get some information about Mari's whereabouts, if she was still alive or dead. He didn't want to think about it, so he took it away from his thoughts. Then, he looked at his watch again and said, 'it's about time.'

Hwan Chul announced to his staff that he'd be out for an indefinite time, so they could reach him through his cellphone if something needed to taking care of that required his decision or approval. Then he left without a word, and his staff could see a mixture of nervousness and concern on his face.

Hwan Chul took a peek by the door of Hyun-Ki's Office; half his head was inside, waiting Hyun-Ki smiled in amusement, so he signaled his brother with a wave of his hand to come in, then he situated himself on the sofa facing Hyun-Ki. Hyun-Ki set aside the papers he was previously working on and stood up.

"I'll just have a few words with my EA, then we'll leave," Hyun-ki said. He went through the side glass door to speak with Rielle, and Hyun-Ki stood with his hands on Rielle's table and spoke:

"I'll be out with Hwan Chul for an hour or two, but I'll be back to get you out for lunch. Will that be okay, sweet-- Rielle?" he stammered and glanced at her secretaries. With her left hand cupped on her face, Rielle gazed at him with tantalizing eyes and nodded, which amused Hyun-Ki that he wanted to kiss her head, but he could not because the two secretaries were present in her Office. He winked at her enough to thrill her bones and veins rushing to her heart, causing her to giggle.

The two men reached the Wild Flour Café nearly by 10 am. Hyun-Ki went to the Café, leaving Hwan behind until he showed up to Nancy after 10 minutes when they were sitting in their seats.

Nancy just came in and walked to the table where Hyun-Ki was sitting. Hyun-Ki stood up to assist her to her chair, smiled, and said, "It must be difficult for you to move and about with your pregnancy, right?"

"I'm used to it, this is my second, and I hope it'll be the last," and she burst into a peal of hearty laughter.

"Nancy, my brother is joining us in this conversation about Gabrielle. I want to request if you may and hope for your understanding that I never told Hwan Chul, my younger brother, that you and Gabriel met personally. I'll explain my reason to you later, but as for now, I would like you to pretend." Nancy is a little puzzled by Hyun-Ki's request but continues to listen.

"This is what you will say. Tell Hwan that we met accidentally in a café where you and a long-time friend were relating about happy memories in high school. Your friend mentioned the name Gabriel which I overheard, so I joined your conversation and started talking about Gabrielle. And that is how we met. Do you get me, Nancy? Please, because he is coming our way now, don't turn your head; stay as you are." Quipped Hyun-Ki. Nancy seemed to understand what Hyun-Ki was proposing, so she decided to go with the flow.

Hwan Chul tapped Nancy by the shoulder and looked at her closely. "Nancy, it's a long time. And look at you, you're pregnant? How many months now? When did you get married?"

Nancy smiled at him and replied, "I'm close to giving birth. That's why I'm on maternity leave. I have been married for three years now. Yes, it's been so long. Where have you been this long? I've never heard from you since college." I looked at him, sizing him up to see if there were changes in him.

"I've been from Korea for the time being, but now I decided to come back." Hwan is thinking of the right word to say about Mari.

"By the way, how did you know my brother, and how did the two of you meet?"

"Well, my friend and I were in a café talking about the good old high school days, and my friend, Rio, remember her? she was our classmate, we were talking about Gabrielle then your brother here overheard us, joined us and listen to our stories about you and Gabrielle. Rio thinks both of you got married because you were very much into each other 'til college, right?" Nancy was staring at him closely, curious about him.

"We were supposed to elope if not by that car accident; maybe we were married now and perhaps had our children too, like you." Hwan Chul wished then his question followed:

"Any news about Gabrielle, Nancy?" Nancy glanced at Hyun-Ki at the same time and replied,

"No, I have never heard from her since that accident. I felt so sorry for her because she could not see my wedding and was supposed to be my Maid of Honor." In a sad, regretting tone.

"This is why I came back, to look for her, ask for her forgiveness." Hwan feels guilty.

"Why ask for forgiveness? Have you wronged her, Hwan Chul? Nancy asked, puzzled. Hwan is silent. He couldn't hold himself anymore, so he stood up and excused himself.

"I want to talk to you more about Gabrielle, only the two of us. When do you think is the best time we can have a longer conversation because I want to know more about Gabrielle's past?" Hyun-Ki was insistent.

"I would rather have you come to see me at my home better on weekends so my husband will come to know you also because I'm having difficulties traveling here and there," Nancy suggested.

"That's fine with me, and I'll give you a call. Please don't mention this to Gabrielle when you meet, not even Hwan Chul." Nancy recalled his request to make pretensions about their meeting at the café. "Why didn't you tell him about the truth of our encounter at the supermarket, Hyun-Ki?"

"It is not yet the right time for Chul. I want to learn more about Rielle's inability to remember her accident, their accident." Hyun-Ki added.

Hwan Chul came back, and Nancy begged off to leave. Hwan Chul gave way, so their meeting ended.

Back in the Office, he seemed not to be in himself. He cannot help but reminisce about their good days together with Mari. Then a flash of that scene of their car accident came to haunt him, asking himself with regret, 'if only my passport was with me the whole time, maybe we would have not returned home, maybe she did not learn about my cheating on her from Chun-Hei, maybe she could never learn about that wedding arrangement, that having received insults from dad, maybe, oh fuck! Why did this happen in the first place? Could this be a twist of fate, forbidding us to be together? Are we not meant for each other? Was it because I was never faithful to her, that the gods forbade us to be together?