Bound By The Ties Of Forever

"Well, I obviously don't know when they will depart," Ken responded to Porsche. Porsche simply instructed him to keep visiting the store. Ken nodded in agreement.

After a prolonged silence, Ken finally inquired, "What are you thinking about?" Porsche, lost in his own thoughts, replied with a distracted, "Huh," having missed Ken's earlier words.

Ken repeated his question, asking, "What are you thinking about, buddy?" Porsche confessed, "I just don't like to see her with that stupid guy."

Ken inquired, "Are you talking about Taylor?" Porsche nodded, then adding, "Do they seem close to you?"

Ken responded with sarcasm, "Strangers don't go on vacations together, bro." Porsche shot back, "Shut up and keep your eyes on them until they depart so we can book our flights."

Ken simply nodded, taking note of Porsche's instructions.

RING ! RING!

Anna swiftly answered. "Hello, Taylor!" she greeted.

Taylor responded eagerly, "Guess what?" Anna, puzzled, inquired, "What?" Taylor exclaimed, "My friend told me that he got only two seats left."

Anna, overjoyed, replied, "That's great, and?" Taylor continued, "We will be departing the day after tomorrow."

Anna, ecstatic, exclaimed, "Oh my God, yes! I am so happy."

Taylor then asked, "Um, I wanted to ask if I could take off tomorrow so I can pack my stuff." Anna playfully scolded, "Kindly keep your personal matters aside from business."

They both shared a laugh, and Anna relented, "You can take off tomorrow."

The call ended, and Anna, who was initially excited, suddenly grew solemn and lost in thought. She sat on her bed, her expression devoid of any emotion.

Her heart raced, and a sense of unease overcame her. Soon, tears streamed down her face, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

Cold sweat covered her, and her lips became dry. Shivers wracked her frame, leaving her weak and unable to rise from the bed.

She struggled to stand and eventually collapsed to the floor. Crawling to the kitchen with a hazy vision, she grabbed water and hastily returned to her room, still shaking.

Taking her pills, she slowly regained her composure after about five minutes.

The next morning, Anna woke up early with a long list of tasks to accomplish.

She began by tidying the house, followed by organizing her wardrobe and selecting outfits for her upcoming trip.

Next, she arranged her vanity, applying some oils and lotions to her face and hands.

As she opened her drawer, she discovered a collection of pills that gave her pause. She hesitated, then promptly discarded them in the garbage can.

After finishing her household chores, she took a refreshing shower.

By this time, it was already 2:00, and she realized she had skipped breakfast.

She quickly prepared a glass of milk and some fruits to satiate her hunger. Resolving to visit the market, she set out to purchase a few essentials before her trip.

"........"

"Let's go to the supermarket, I need to pick up a few things," Porsche suggested to Ken.

Ken nodded, grabbing the car keys. With a mischievous grin, he added, "Sure, boss, let me open the car door for you." He inquired, "By the way, what is it that you need to buy?"

Porsche shot him a playful glance, replying, "You're not my wife, okay?"

Ken laughed, responding, "I am your mother, okay?" They shared a jovial moment before reaching the market.

Ken said, "Hey, you go first. I have to make a call."

Porsche nodded and continued into the store. He headed straight to the personal hygiene section to collect some lotions and gel.

While browsing, he spotted a black scrunchie in the accessories section. He paused, considering it, then added it to his cart.

As he turned to move on, he accidentally bumped into someone.

They stood there, locked in an intense gaze as Porsche reached out to steady Anna, who was on the verge of stumbling.

Anna was taken aback, her efforts to evade Porsche's memory thwarted by this unexpected encounter.

Despite her attempts to retreat, Porsche drew her closer, leaving her flustered and disoriented. She struggled to break free, but his grip remained firm.

Whispering softly, he uttered, "See you soon," before abruptly releasing her and striding away.

Anna remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Porsche's departing figure.

In that moment, she realized how much Porsche had changed, his once boyish frame transformed into a muscular physique. Anna felt small and overwhelmed in his presence.

Porsche emerged from the store looking visibly agitated, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. Ken, waiting for him outside the car, observed his demeanor and inquired, "Are you okay?"

Porsche simply nodded, his mind still preoccupied with the unexpected encounter with Anna. "I met Anna," he eventually divulged.

Ken, understanding the weight of the situation, let out a heavy sigh. Porsche continued, "Her eyes seemed so hollow."

After a moment of silence, Ken broke the news, "We have to leave tomorrow." Porsche's worry was evident as he questioned the abruptness, to which Ken explained, "They will be departing tomorrow."

Realizing the urgency, Porsche inquired about their location, "Where are they staying?" Ken assured him, "Leave it to me, I will take care of it."

They shared a determined look, their plan set in motion.