Chapter 11: Destiny

Third Person's POV

~Tuesday morning~

*Ring! Ring! *

"mmph." Astra stirred as her alarm clock pierced the silence of her room. With a soft yawn, she rubbed her eyes and stretched, feeling the remnants of sleep lingering.

Sitting up in bed, she gazed into the distance, her mind still foggy from the remnants of dreams. Despite her efforts, the details slipped away like sand through her fingers.

"Tss." Astra shook off the remnants of sleep and began to prepare for the day ahead.

~

As Astra sat in the classroom, awaiting the start of the lecture, two unfamiliar faces entered the room. The girl exuded a captivating beauty, while the shy boy wore glasses and seemed reserved.

Her classmates clustered around the newcomers, eager to welcome them. Astra averted her gaze, choosing instead to admire the serene beauty of the sky outside the window, its expanse painted with wisps of clouds.

The tranquil scene stirred a longing within her, contrasting with the turmoil in her own life. She felt as unsettled as the shifting clouds, her past shrouded in uncertainty.

"Good afternoon, class. Today's lecture will be brief," announced the professor, his hurried demeanor evident as he entered the room.

"Sir, we have new students," one of Astra's classmates interjected, drawing the professor's attention to the newcomers.

Curious, the professor turned to address them. "Is this your first class with us?" he inquired, his gaze shifting towards the unfamiliar faces.

"Yes, sir!" replied by the new girl, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, while the man nodded quietly beside her.

Seated towards the back of the room, Astra observed the exchange with interest. She sensed a familiarity in the newcomers, a feeling akin to déjà vu that eluded her grasp.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Lucy, and I'm turning 21. We just moved here from Scotland. I hope we can all get along," Lucy introduced herself cheerfully, her confidence shining through.

"Hi, I'm Max," he offered simply, his demeanor mirroring Astra's own reticence when she first joined the class.

As the introductions concluded, the professor delved into the day's topic, and Astra's thoughts drifted, pondering the enigmatic connection she felt with the newcomers.

The day's class had passed without event, and Astra returned home to unwind before her evening shift. As usual, she found herself alone during this time, a familiar solitude that had become part of her routine. By 7 pm, she began preparing for her shift, knowing that Auntie Morph wouldn't be home until later.

With a sigh, Astra opened the refrigerator, the clinking of bottles breaking the silence of the empty house. Surveying the ingredients, she decided on beef, opting to cook a Filipino favorite, beef steak, for her aunt.

Gathering the necessary ingredients, Astra meticulously sliced the beef and marinated it, the familiar routine providing a comforting distraction. As the meat absorbed the flavors, she deftly prepared the garlic, onion, and lemon, each slice a deliberate gesture of care.

Once the beef had been lightly fried and set aside, Astra sautéed the garlic and half of the onion, the aroma filling the kitchen with warmth. Adding the beef back into the pan, she seasoned it with salt and pepper, allowing the flavors to meld as it simmered in a savory broth.

As the beef softened to perfection, Astra added a flour mixture and the remaining onion, the dish coming together with practiced ease. With the meal prepared, she served herself a plate, the scent of the savory dish filling the air.

Yet, as Astra sat alone at the dining table, the solitude weighed heavier than usual. Despite the warmth of the food and the cozy ambiance, a sense of loneliness enveloped her. The spacious house felt emptier than ever, and though she didn't feel the urge to cry, she couldn't shake the feeling of isolation that lingered in the air.

"Tss. What am I doing?" Astra snapped herself out of her daze and began clearing the table without eating any, though her heart wasn't in it today. As she washed the dishes, she left the food she had prepared on the table for Aunt Morph before heading upstairs to prepare for work. By the time she left, it was already 8:30 pm, and she followed her usual route to the store.

Upon arrival, Astra made her way straight to the locker room to remove her jacket. With only one staff member on duty for the evening, their shift change went smoothly, devoid of any unnecessary conversation. Astra didn't mind; she preferred to keep her interactions minimal. After all, people always leave eventually.

"Good evening, welcome," Astra greeted her first customer of the shift, a tall man who returned the greeting with a warm smile.

Continuing her tasks, she watched as he browsed the store, assisting him when he placed his item on the counter. Despite her subdued mood, the transaction went smoothly.

As more people filtered in and out of the store, Astra anticipated a quiet evening, typical for a Tuesday. However, her stomach had other plans, growling loudly and reminding her of its emptiness since she hadn't eaten before work. Pressing a hand against her abdomen, she muttered,

"Ugh, I'm hungry." Having skipped dinner earlier, hunger pangs struck earlier than usual.

Stepping away from the counter, she glanced outside. It was around 11 pm, with only a few passersby on the street. "I think I could eat now," she thought to herself.

With no customers inside, Astra seized the opportunity to grab a quick bite. She selected some bread and noodles, swiping the products before preparing it.

Sitting near the glass door, she kept an eye out for any incoming customers while waiting for the noodles to cook. Her stomach growled again, prompting a complaint under her breath. Opting for the bread first, she eagerly tore into it.

Finally, after a minute, the noodles were ready. Excitedly opening the container, steam billowed out, carrying the comforting aroma of cup noodles that filled the air around her.

As Astra sat down to eat, she was startled by a knock on the glass door. Turning her gaze towards the sound, she saw a man in a pink sweater and black pants, smiling and waving at her. Her surprise grew as he entered the store, the bell ringing behind him.

"Hello," he greeted, his smile unwavering as he approached and took a seat beside her. "Isn't it still too early for you to eat?" His tone was casual, as though they were old acquaintances. Glancing at her food, he adjusted his chair, leaning back against the table facing the store's interior.

"What are you doing here?" Astra inquired, her confusion evident in her voice.

"I felt hungry in the middle of the night. My house is nearby, so I decided to pay a visit and buy some food," he replied nonchalantly, resting his head on the table.

"Ahh. What do you want?" Astra responded, her tone clear and straightforward.

"Hmm," he murmured, rising from his seat. Turning to Astra, he instructed, "Just stay there. I'll let you know when I've found what I want to eat."

Astra simply nodded, continuing her meal as he began to browse the store. She observed him from afar, letting him roam freely as he was already familiar with the layout.

It took him some time to make a decision. By the time Astra had finished her cup of noodles, he still hadn't settled on an item. Catching each other's gaze, he appeared surprised before announcing, "Found it."

Astra got up, walking over to the cashier to ring up his purchase. After handing him his change, she returned to her seat. To her surprise, he followed and sat beside her, both facing the road outside.

"You're not going home?" she inquired, noting the late hour.

"Nope. Maybe later. There's no one at home anyway," he replied casually, reaching for a bag of chips. He offered some to Astra, who politely declined with a shake of her head.

"Ah," she acknowledged, her gaze fixed on the passing cars outside.

A moment of silence enveloped them before he resumed speaking. "My mom and dad were always arguing when I was younger. Eventually, they got divorced, and my mom took me. We lived with my grandmother after that. Sometimes, I miss my dad, so I used to sneak out to try to fill that void." He paused, taking a few sips from his soda.

"I met a girl who helped me feel whole again. We played together, and she often shared her dreams and stories of encounters with bad guys. But one day, she vanished. I never found out what happened to her or her family. And then, the emptiness inside me resurfaced. It was like my old wounds had reopened, and this time, it was deeper. I could feel the void inside me growing more profound," he continued, his voice tinged with emotion.

Listening to his story, Astra experienced a stirring within her. It was as if she had forgotten something crucial, yet it remained elusive. She searched within herself, trying to decipher her emotions. Was it sadness for his plight? Pity? She couldn't quite discern. Choosing to remain silent, she reached for her orange juice and sip it thoughtfully.

*slurp*

Astra froze momentarily when she made a sound, the sound of a gulp escaping her lips.

"Pfft. Don't feel nervous about me," he reassured her. Feeling uneasy about her own actions, she quickly adjusted her posture and sat properly.

"Why are you saying this to me? We're not even friends!" she blurted out, her voice betraying her discomfort.

"Well, maybe for now, but we will be soon," he replied, looking at her with a genuine smile that caught her off guard. She hadn't expected him to be so friendly, especially considering they had only met the night before.

"So..."

"What?" Astra asked, puzzled by his sudden question.

"Are you not going to tell your story as well?" he inquired, his confusion mirroring hers.

"Why would I?" Astra took another sip of her drink, avoiding his gaze as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Hey, don't be mean. I shared mine. You should share yours too!" he exclaimed, a mixture of mock anger and sincerity in his tone.

Before Astra could respond, she noticed a man wearing a black overcoat and a hat standing on the other side of the road. Ignoring Bryan's attempts to get her attention, she reached out and grabbed his hand, directing his gaze towards the mysterious figure outside.

"That's him! Yeah, I'm sure it's him," Astra exclaimed, pointing her finger at the spot where the mysterious man had been standing.

"Where? Who?" Bryan turned to face Astra, his expression one of confusion.

"There!" Astra pointed again, but when they looked back, the man had vanished, disappearing into the flow of passing cars just like the night before.

"Where did he go?" Astra wondered aloud, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Who did you see?" Bryan adjusted his chair and sat back down.

"The man from last time. The one who suddenly disappeared," Astra explained. "I saw a man wearing black standing on the opposite side of the road."

"Really? But I didn't see anyone," Bryan remarked, scanning the street again.

"Exactly!" Astra insisted. "He disappeared, just like last time."

"Let's not focus on him. Even if it's true, what's going on then? Did he hurt you?" Bryan asked, trying to redirect the conversation. "Don't dwell too much on him."

"No," Astra admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by her own reaction. Bryan was right; as long as the man didn't pose a threat, she shouldn't let him consume her thoughts. She took another sip of her drink, sinking back into her seat with a pout.

"Hey! Don't change the topic. I almost forgot where we were," Bryan teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Eh!? No!" Astra protested, shaking her head vehemently.

"Come on," Bryan urged, a playful glint in his eyes.

~ To be Continued ~