Fate Either Makes or Breaks

Chapter Forty-One

Maybe Fate wanted you to meet and settle your issues, to be together again.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Rielle. What an opportunity!" Hyun-Ki was smiling like a sudden beam of sunlight. On the other hand, Rielle had a furrowed brow, and her upper lip curled into a scowl.

"I'm so happy to see you, and I'm wondering what brought you here?" Hyun-Ki can't keep his gladness within.

"And why also of a sudden you were here? Are you stalking me, Hyun-Ki?" asked Rielle pretentiously, having discovered by herself that they were unbeknownst to their unexpected presence in one place.

"Stalking you? Seriously Rielle? Why should I do that? I don't even know why you were here; I should—" Rielle interrupted Hyun-Ki.

"You're lying! Of course, you had all the means to stalk me; your private detective could have known my plans for a vacation, so he pried on where I am going, so here you are, Mr. Han, to follow me and ruin my vacation, huh!" rolled her eyes as she argued. Hyun-Ki was so amused, and he yelled out a burst of loud laughter.

"Oh, Rielle, my Rielle! Don't you think this is what we call Fate? Or Destiny? You told me firmly that you never want us to cross paths again. But look at us, here we are, in one place, and imagine, of all places you chose to go for a vacation, you were sent here, in my resort? Could you believe that, Rielle?

And what is more incredible was that we found each other in a ridiculous situation. Isn't that funny? I think Fate is playing us, Rielle; what do you think?" Hyun-Ki was mesmerized by her out-of-the-blue look that stared intently into his own.

Rielle was suddenly uneased with everything Hyun-Ki said. All she wanted now was to get away from him. She stepped farther and turned her back from Hyun-Ki, wishing to escape from his sight. Hyun-Ki once again got hold of her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Please stay, Rielle. Please don't run away from me again. I love you; I need you." Hyun-Ki implored and embraced her tighter.

"Stop it, Hyun. Keep your arms away from me." And having herself cut loose from his embrace, Rielle said coldly, "There's nothing else for us, Hyun. You consumed me with your pride and anger, and what was in me but nothingness. This encounter is the last time that we see each other."

Hyun-Ki cannot fathom how deeply he had hurt Rielle that she had to say those things. But if he had to feel her more profound, he did not believe her because of the way her heartbeat at that time Hyun-Ki embraced her tight, could feel her heartfelt emotions and could feel she still loved him even if she continued to deny that feeling, he knew, Rielle still loved him. Hyun-Ki would do everything he could to get her back, which he promised.

Rielle looked at her watch, and she realized it was lunchtime. Time to break away from all this chaos. She looked for a place where a single table was so she could sit alone without anyone attempting to sit with her. She found one outside the restaurant's glass door, so she asked the waiter who was serving drinks for a reserved tag for her table while she got some food at the buffet.

Hyun-Ki also came in and searched for Rielle. He saw her picking her food on a plate at the buffet and Benny standing at a corner watching the guests. Hyun-ki came and joined him where Benny stood so he could see Rielle from a distance.

"Are you just going to watch her, Hyun?" asked Benny.

"Na-a-a, I can't ruin her lunch. She liked the buffet's food, so why spoil it?" Hyun replied with an amused look. He called the waiter and told him to bring ice-cold drinks to Rielle's table.

When Rielle was beginning to eat, the waiter offered the drink to her and said, "I was asked to bring this to you, ma'am, so you don't have to stand and get one." Explained the waiter pointing to the man far from the glass wall. When Rielle looked through, Benny waved at her to let her know the drink came from him though it came from Hyun-Ki.

After her lunch, Rielle went to the lounge and got a magazine to read to while away the time before she thought of taking a nap in her room. As she was about to open the room's door, Hyun-Ki was getting out of his room. Both were again startled to find each other's space a few steps close to each other's door. Rielle's face showed a strange inquisitive look while Hyun-Ki looked at her, puzzled but at the same time amused.

"Now look here, Rielle, before you become suspicious, the hotel gave this room to me as soon as I arrived unexpectedly here, and I have nothing to do with the room given to you." Hyun-Ki was already smiling, considering it a funny, strange incident. "I was amazed as much as you are." He continued. Rielle kept quiet and started to walk away from her room, gathering her thoughts about these strange outcomes happening to both of them since last night.

Rielle went outside the hotel to breathe air and look back on the incidents that were happening since having discovered Hyun-Ki's presence and ownership of the resort; she found them strange but funny. She thought and came to a suspicious conclusion that maybe Fate was playing on them both. Was chance listening when she firmly told him she didn't want to cross paths with him? Does Fate refuse her decision? She started to wonder and took these thoughts seriously.

At that very same time, when Rielle went outside the hotel to breathe, Hyun-Ki came to the Hotel & Resort Manager, Sophia, Benny's wife, and asked about the guests' listings.

"This resort had a guest in the name of Gabriel Mari Calma. I want to know how long she was staying here. Will you look at it now, please, because I want to know soonest." Hyun-Ki asked. Sophia asked for the listings from her secretary and found that the travel agency had booked her for three days and two nights, and tomorrow was her last day.

"I want you to give her another three days and two nights as a courtesy of this hotel, Sophia." Hyun-Ki requested. Sophia gave a questionable gaze at Hyun-Ki, seeming to ask why.

"Rielle was very special to me, so I want you to treat her as my exceptional guest. Is that something to be questioned about, Sophia?" Hyun-Ki stood in front of her with his hands on her table as if challenging her if she would oppose.

"No, Hyun, of course not; you own this resort, so I don't have the right to disagree. So will I make the courtesy invitation now?" asked Sophia. Hyun-Ki nodded as he sat on an armchair with a pen and paper, writing something. When done, he asked for an envelope, sealed it, and told Sophia to attach his letter with the courtesy invitation.

When Rielle was walking toward her door, she found a chambermaid knocking, and when she identified herself, the chambermaid gave her the invitation with the letter. As soon as she came inside her room, she opened and read the courtesy invitation. She was surprised and glad, and when she read the other sealed letter, she became quiet for a longer time, weighing her decision about the courtesy and Hyun-Ki's note. The courtesy letter said:

"Dear Miss Gabrielle Calma, we wish to address the incident that happened a day ago from one of our gentleman guests who made an inappropriate behavior towards your person that somehow ruined your interest in having a relaxed and fun-filled vacation. Therefore, with our sincere apology, this hotel would like to extend your vacation for another three days and two nights in our resort, free of charge. Please feel free to see me in my Office at your most convenient time. Respectfully, Mrs. Sophia Kan." Then Hyun-Ki's letter gave weight to Rielle's reasoning. The letter read as follows:

"My dear Rielle, I have no intention to ruin your much-awaited vacation. It so happened that you came here the same day I arrived to spend some time thinking and rest my mind from all the unfortunate things. Please don't think that this was intentional to run after you or bother you because I never knew that you were also here. I don't want to ruin your vacation, so I'm giving you a courtesy invitation as a giveaway gift to have you spend more time with yourself in this resort. I promise not to stand your way. Make your stay here as pleasing and relaxing as you find fit to make a fresh start when you return home. Hyun-Ki."

Rielle was bothered and disoriented about what decision she had to make. She thought of a bit of help from a friend, so she called Nancy.

"Hello, Rielle! It was about time you called. I've been wondering about the turn-out of your life after Hyun-Ki. So, what's up, friend?"

"How did you find out about my break-up with Hyun?" Rielle wanted to know.

"Hwan Chul was depressed that he came to see us. Wilson and I felt so bad about the news. What now, Rielle?" So, Rielle told her about her vacation, the courtesy letter, and Hyun's note. Nancy felt excited hearing that news, and it helped her decide.

"You know what, Rielle? I am sure what happened to you and Hyun-Ki was meant to be. It was Fate that made you meet again in an extraordinary situation. Take that courtesy as an opportunity for you to assess your feelings toward Hyun, Rielle. And what Hyun-Ki said was somehow true and intriguing, however. Maybe Fate wanted you to meet and settle your issues, to be together again. Misunderstanding and pride, Rielle, caused your separation. If I were you, I'd give a second chance to both yourself and Hyun-Ki. He loved you so much; I believe you feel that way too. Think about it well and consider it. That's all I can give you as a piece of advice. And don't worry, no one will know about this conversation and where you are now. Give it a try, Rielle, for your good and Hyun-Ki's." After weighing her feeling and Nancy's advice, she took the courtesy letter with her and headed to Mrs. Sophia Kan's Office. At that moment, Hyun-Ki was chatting with Benny and Sophia when Sophia's secretary knocked and informed her that Miss Gabrielle Calma was here to see her. Hyun-Ki immediately moved away and hid in the Office's Restroom. Benny was happy to see her and introduced his wife, Sophia, to Rielle.

"I thank you for this courtesy letter you sent, and I decided to accept it. You indicated that there are no extra charges. But I am worried about my plane ticket ---" Sophia quickly responded to her worry. "My Office already fixed that, Miss Calma, and your ticket will follow as early tomorrow because I await your decision. Since you accepted our courtesy, my Office shall resolve your plane ticket, and we'll send it to your room tomorrow. Please feel free to use all our amenities available and enjoy your vacation, Miss Gabrielle." Explained Sophia.

As soon as Rielle left Sophia's Office, Benny and Hyun-Ki rejoiced to give a high-five. At last, Rielle willed to stay on. "So, what's on your mind, Hyun? What's the plan that maybe I can be of help?" suggested Benny with a teasing tone.

"Nothing at the moment. I promised not to stand her way. I'd be there watching her at a distance." Making firm his decision.

That night at the restaurant, Rielle showed up dressed in a casual printed backless dress and wearing open-heeled sandals. Every man in that restaurant turned their head as she walked in, admiring her beauty and sexiness. Hyun-Ki was already there, sitting at a table distant from her sight, watching her graceful movements as she looked for a table. Two men hurriedly offered her a seat, but she refused to be seated and chose a single table where she wanted to sit alone. Hyun-Ki was watching, amused as ever. Rielle was listening to the singer, accompanied by her band when a waiter came to her table and offered her food.

"This is on-the-house ma'am and your red wine. These came from the gentleman over there," pointing at Hyun-Ki. Hyun-Ki raised his wine glass at Rielle, and she did the same. Then the singer announced the song "I Will Be Here" to the lady in a floral dress over the microphone.

"This song is for my one and only Rielle," the singer added, "this dedication came from Mr. Han Hyun-Ki. Miss Rielle, please let us see you if you are here," requested the singer. Rielle timidly raised her hand, and everyone was applauding.

After a few sips of the red wine, while listening to the songs rendered by the singer with her band, she stood up and walked towards the garden. Hyun-Ki followed her, wandering far from her, careful not to distract her aloneness. When Rielle appeared to be chilling from the cold breeze, Hyun-Ki put his sweater on Rielle, which made her flinch, and after seeing Hyun-Ki behind her, she glanced at him with a timid smile to thank him. Hyun-ki looked at her gently and smiled. Rielle walked a little further from Hyun-Ki, and he followed behind, trying to be careful not to annoy her. Hyun-Ki and Rielle were making a hint of conveying indirectly how they felt at that moment and when they faced each other, Rielle sweetly smiled at Hyun-Ki as she was returning his sweater to him and said goodnight. Hyun-Ki returned a gentle stare at her with a sweet smile and said goodnight.

Rielle and Hyun-Ki were both sleepless, tossing and turning, imagining that moment of quiet aloneness making them both restless.