Meeting again

At the Randolph hotel in Oxford, Rachel and her mother had finally stopped for the night, so they lodged in the hotel, they would continue on their journey the next day, up till this moment, her mother hadn't told her where their destination was, lying on her bed Rachel thought about her last moments with Alex although he hadn't told her he loved her she still felt that their moments together was romantic, she did not know when she fell asleep.

The next day Rachel woke up early, as they continued on their journey, four hours later they arrived at Bangor, there was a university in Bangor, so Lydia decided to enroll in the university.

She enrolled in the university there, this time around her mother was living with her, she would come home every day, naturally, Rachel was surprised that her mother had started living with her, she was very happy about it, she did not ask her mother the reason behind her stay at home, anytime her mother came home, she would teach Rachel some self-defense moves, Rachel was astonished as she didn't know that her mother knew how to fight, and was even capable of teaching her, she could help but think about Alex, she was told that he had a black belt in Kung Fu, she could only hope that it was well.

In the blink of an eye, four years had passed, Rachel stood on the balcony of the house she was staying, she stared at the snow falling peacefully, during all these years, her features had become more mature, the bit of childlessness on her face had faded away, replacing it with a bit of maturity she had also become more beautiful, her skin as white as jade, her endowed figure had also become more matured, leaving anyone who glanced at her surprised, not wanting to avert his gaze, she stared at the snow blankly, she thought in disarray, nobody knew what she was thinking.

Today was her graduation from the university, her mother had apologized saying that she won't be able to attend her graduation, but she promised to make it up to her.

She was also thinking about Alex, she wondered how he was faring, she was wondering if he would still remember her or he would have fallen for another girl, although Alex had not yet confessed the fact that he loved her before she left, she thought that she wouldn't be able to endure the pain of seeing him with another girl, she only hoped that he would not have forgotten her yet.

During all this time her life had almost become a hell on earth, she had rejected invitations from the boys on the campus, in her eyes none of them were able to hold a candle to Alex, she could see the lust in their eyes, other than Alex who had maintained his attitude towards her four years ago, before finally opening up to her due to her attitude towards him, she felt that all the remaining were not up to her standard, she also did not want anything to do with them, because of this, they had been bullying her and subjecting her to a lot of embarrassment on the campus, she had always wanted a partner to love, defend and care for her, it was only Alex that she knew he was loving and also caring.

"Rachel, Rachel, why are you still standing there, it's already time let's go," a voice said, interrupting her from her thoughts.

It was one of her friends, she had made during the long span of four years, she told her to inform her when it was time, so they could go together, "ok let's" Rachel replied turning back, leaving for the venue.

At the venue of the graduation, all those who were graduating were congratulating themselves and wishing themselves good luck in their respective futures, Rachel as well as her friends were talking and chatting happily with the others.

"Alex, Alex, come meet my crush I was talking about all this while, she's a great beauty, nobody has ever managed to woo her on this whole campus, I'm going to tell her how I feel today maybe she would accept me maybe because today is the last day we would meet, come accompany me," a voice said calling up to someone amidst the crowd of happy people.

Surprisingly the figure was talking to Alex, Alex had also become mature as well, all the childishness on his face had disappeared, replacing it with a matured look, he projected a demeanor that made people feel a sense of safety around him, at the same time his aura contained that of someone that had experienced many things in this life the institution he had gone to had done a lot of changes to him making him change a lot.

He had just graduated from the secret institution he went to, he decided to accompany one of his friends who was in this very university to his graduation this very day.

He had been disturbing Alex about his crush on the campus named Rachel, one of the most beautiful girls on the campus, his heart had always ached, whenever he heard him mention it, he had defined the looks of his crush just like the Rachel he knew, although he had been unwilling and did not want to meet the crush if his friend, nevertheless, he was still excited, he wanted to know maybe it was the Rachel he knew.

His heart beat excitedly as he followed Richard to meet this crush of his, pushing their way through the crowd, they successfully arrived at a place where the crowd was lesser, a group of female students stood with their back to them.

Immediately Alex saw them his heart started thumping more heavily, he glanced at a figure that looked familiar yet distant amongst the girls, although he was not sure maybe it was her because she had his back to him.

"That's her, my crush" Richard whispered to Alex, he then pointed to the figure that looked like Rachel amongst the students standing that Alex was looking at.

Alex's heart started thumping more heavily again when he heard what Richard had said, and also at the figure he pointed to, would he be able to meet her here he thought, although he was not sure it was her, he still had some confidence that it was the Rachel he knew standing with her back to him.

For the past four years he had been unable to fall for another girl, no matter how beautiful she was, he always had Rachel on his mind, he had hoped that fate would bring them together again like she had said, although he did not believe in it, he still hoped that the fate she was talking about would bring them together.

Cough "let me call her so that you can meet her," Richard whispered to Alex disrupting his thoughts.

Alex only nodded his head in understanding, he was hoping not to be disappointed, so he stood there like he was glued to the floor.

"Rachel, I would like you to meet my friend Alex," Richard walked up to her and said pointing to Alex.

When Rachel heard what he said, her body became stiff, after processing the word he said, "his friend, Alex?" immediately she turned back.

Turning back, her eyes met with Alex who was also staring at her, she had never expected to see him here, she felt that the world was revolving around her, the world was just too small, she looked at Alex standing in her front, was this the Alex she knew, he had undergone a lot of changes that she almost did not recognize him.

Alex on his side too, similarly was in a state of shock, he stared at Rachel in his front, although he had expected it to be her, nevertheless, he was still too shocked unable to move, he wanted nothing more than to hug her, leave this crowdy place so that they would not be disturbed by anyone, he remembered the contents of her letter four years ago.

"When fate decides to let us meet again, I would tell you then, all have been longing to say, I'm sure that the fate that brought us together once before, would also bring us together once again".

Rachel was the first to recover, she pounced on him hugging him tightly in front of all the people there, she couldn't care less about her image, how could she let him go, she had firmly believed that fate would bring them together again, and it had brought them together again.

Tears were flowing down her face as she had hugged him tightly refusing to let him go, as if he would run if she left him, smiling bitterly he also hugged her tightly, there was no need for them to say anything to each other as they both knew how they felt towards each other so there was no need to say the words.

All this happened in an instant, Richard was the most shocked his crush already loved his friend, how could he believe it, he could almost not believe his eyes, he looked at the two hugging tightly and disregarding everyone present, he raised a thumb to Alex, although he did not know how they met, he knew that the dept of affection they just showed towards each other was high, if not how could they disregard the crowd and hug each other for so long.

Everyone turned to look at Rachel who was hugging Alex, their school Goddess already had someone she loved, no wonder she had rejected all their proposals all these years, but they were wondering, for four years, they have been apart, how on earth did they manage to keep their love intact.

Rachel's actions towards Alex caused many of the boys to look at him in jealousy, but how could Alex care about their opinion, he had missed her for four years, and the feeling of longing for someone was more painful than anything, how could he care about their thoughts, they were thinking that he was just so lucky, although he was handsome than most of them, nevertheless, they will not still accept the facts.

Rachel's friends as well were shocked by Rachel's actions, who was this boy she just hugged? they didn't know, could it be the boy she had always told them about, they could only look at her for an explanation.

After some time, Rachel finally left Alex's embrace as she glanced at him, asking tenderly "how have you been all these years".

"I've been well" Alex replied in a low voice, it was obvious that he did not want to talk in the crowd, he wanted them to go somewhere private.

"Let's leave here," Rachel said when she saw that Alex did not want to talk here, only to hear the coughing of her friends, turning back in embarrassment "Alex meet my friends," she said turning back to Alex.

"Ava, Emma, Alice, meet Alex," she said to her friends briefly, although she did not state to her friends that they were lovers her friends were no fool, after seeing the reaction between them they already knew what was between them, although Alex had not said anything about his love to her, his actions to her now had just spoken for him, there was no need to say the words again, as the saying goes "action speaks louder than words" so Rachel naturally understood that Alex loved her from his reaction, but she was still unwilling to admit it yet to her friends.

"We are leaving now," Rachel said dragging Alex out of the place.

Alex glanced at Richard, telling him there was no need to wait for him when he wants to go home, with that the two disappeared from the crowd, and they went to the lake nearby, sitting down to admire the beauty of nature, while Rachel sat by his side, she placed her head on Alex's shoulder, they admired the beauty of nature together.