Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"What happened?" Rachael looked at him. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm, I am fine." Andrew hugged her back. "Thank you for staying with me."

"Silly—" She slapped his chest. "You don't have to thank me, I will always stay with you even if you don't want me to."

"I will always want you Rach, always."

Rachael smiled and rested her head on his chest.

"Let's go to the graveyard in the morning, okay?" When she nodded, he continued hugging her silently.

…..

[Vagabound Hotel]

"Are you guys moving?" Owen inquired.

"Yes," Elsa answered as she placed their folded clothes inside the suitcase.

"Where?"

"I don't know, Justin did not tell me anything," she chuckled. "He said it's a surprise."

When he did not say anything, Elsa looked at him. "What happened? Why are you silent?"

"Nothing—" Owen shook his head and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Oh come on—" She said right next to him and hooked her arms around his. "Tell me."

"It's nothing really, just—" He contemplated for a while before saying, "It's kinda weird that you are already engaged and will be getting married soon."

He tightened his grip around her hand. "It feels like yesterday when you used to ask me to help you open a candy wrapper because your fingers were tiny."

Elsa chuckled. "I know you still don't believe me but a candy wrapper is the hardest thing to open."

When she rested her head on his shoulder, he kissed the top of her head. "If mom was alive, she would be so proud of you."

"You too—" She looked at him. "She would be more proud of you."

"Would she?" Owen sighed.

"Of course," she frowned and tightened her grip on his hand. "Why are you always so hard on yourself? You have done nothing that wouldn't make her feel proud, Owen."

"Mom didn't want this, she didn't want me to be one of them," he remarked. "This is the thing she hated the most and I have become just like that man."

"What are you saying? How can you compare yourself to him?" Elsa snapped. "Our father was a monster and you are nothing like him."

Keeping quiet for a whole, Owen inquired, "Do you blame me?"

"For what? Killing that monster?" Elsa scoffed. "He got what he deserved and if you hadn't killed him, I would have done it sooner or later."

The resentment Elsa had for her father, Javier Volkov was very evident in her expression. It had been nine years since he died but the resentment and disgust she had in her heart for him remained the same.

"Hey—" She cupped his face. "I don't care what others think or say. No one better than us knows the kind of man he was. I never did or will even blame you for removing his shadow from our lives permanently. Did you understand?"

Owen sighed and nodded.

"What is wrong with you today?" Elsa frowned and lightly slapped his cheeks. "Why are you being so emotional all of a sudden?"

"I think I had too much sex last night." He pinched the space between his brows. "My hormones are all over the place today."

Elsa: " "

"I should go to the club and hook up with someone."

"Didn't you just say your hormones are all over the pace because you had too much sex last night?" she frowned.

"Yes but—How do I explain?" He thought for a while before further explaining his point. "You know how people drink more alcohol to get rid of the hangover?"

When she nodded, he exclaimed, "Sex hangover also works in a smiliar way. So basically when you have too much sex and feel weird, you gotta have more sex to get rid of the initial weird feeling."

Elsa: " "

She was speechless. She would never be able to understand Owen's weird theories even if she tried very hard.

…..

[Outside Tina's Office]

"It's quite late, let me drive you home."

"It's alright, I'll jts take a cab." Tina politely turned him down. It was indeed quite late but she didn't wanna bother anyone.

"A cab?" James glanced at his watch. "It's past midnight, will you even get one?"

She gave him a weak smile and shrugged her shoulders.

"Let me drop you home," he insisted again.

Not wanting to turn him down again, Tina was about to accept his kind offer when she saw a familiar face walk towards her.

She frowned and tried to look closely to make sure what she was seeing was right.

When Ben stopped right in front of her, she gave him a very confused look.

"I was waiting for you," Ben remarked.

"For me?" When he nodded, Tina frowned deeper. She didn't understand why he was waiting for her when she had ghosted him for a whole week.

Since their small fight outside the club a week ago, he had sent her many messages which she had ignored. He had also called her but she did not answer. After four days of continuously sending messages when he stopped, Tina assumed he was tired and had given up. She had never expected to see him outside her office late at night.

"You know him?" When she nodded, James excused himself and left. "Since your friend is here, I should leave."

After James left, Ben tried to take Tina's office bag which looked quite heavy but she stopped him.

"No need to—" But he took it anyway.

"Let's go, my car is that way." When she refused to move, he sighed. Without saying anything, he grabbed her hand and led her towards his car.

Tina wanted to protest but chose not to. She wanted to be mad at him but she couldn't. The mere thought of him waiting for her to get off work so late melted her heart and her anger started dissipating.

How did she end up feeling so attached to someone she barely knew?

Tina was afraid that her abrupt feelings would hurt her at the end.

…