Here All Along

chapter - 23

A/n: i think i did mention before that this story is going to have complicated  arcs but I'd like to say it again. Bright and Win will be dating different people in this story (only for some time, obviously). So if you do not like it or something, kindly suit yourselves.

Also, coming for you some fluff and sweet stuff in the last part of the chapter to give you a break from the angst ＼(^o^)／

....

The discussion we had in the park that day brought the clarity we both needed - Win did not have to force himself for reciprocating my feelings. And i did not have to feed my romantic fantasies anymore. Win and Kavin started dating. At first, he would hardly bring Kavin up in our conversations and i figured that he was cautious of hurting me. Sometimes, he was just too cautious. In fact, he never even asked me to meet Kavin even after two months of their dating. When i asked him why, he told me because he was afraid I'd be upset to see them together. I told him i would be but that shouldn't be a reason why I don't meet his boyfriend.

The three of us sometimes hung out together but not much. I was busy with my job. He was busy preparing for upcoming nationals. Once, he asked me if i ever felt like he was leading me on because he was always clinging to me and i told him that it would have been my fault to think he led me on, not his. He was not satisfied and asked the same again when i hushed him, saying friends don't ask such things and so he should stop thinking about it altogether. I can say that it took him time and assurance from my side to realise that no matter how much you love people, you can't save them from the hurt they're supposed to go through. I knew he still felt bad but gradually, he accepted it like i accepted that Kavin was not another Luke. He liked Win, i could see it. And Win liked him equally, if not more. To my relief, we were back to being how we were before my confession that night. It was exceptionally rare (and it still surprises me) how nothing changed between us. And it was a lucky thing, for how often people get a second chance at a friendship like that?

It was also during these times when I experienced a rather dramatic and strange incident in my life. One day as i was returning from office, my eyes landed on a large poster pinned to a hoarding board in front of what it looked like a five star hotel. I applied the brakes abruptly as i saw the poster from close.

It had the picture of the same man i had met in the park the day Kavin arrived at academy cafetaria, except his features looked a lot softer than they did that day. He was smiling and beside his picture, there were words written,

It's bright on the other side! Join the free councelling session by famous American life coach Mr. Adam Kenith.

I was gaping. I had heard the name one time or two from some colleagues. Apparently, he was also a budding writer of children fables and inspirational non fictions. I couldn't have guessed which was justified, given than no good life coach would smoke in a public park filled with children. I immediately disliked him or may be i wanted to but the fact that the session was free and so was my time, i drove my car to the parking.

The session was held in an auditorium on the ground floor itself. It was fairly crowded with respect to the total space inside the auditorium. I sneaked from the back gate and occupied an empty chair in the last row while the park man who was now Mr. Adam Kenith was standing behind the podium, speaking as I sat. Apparently, the session was at its end and he was closing it off now. He spoke the same way he did in the park - with a mesmerizing poise that was hard not to appreciate. He had a mysterious disposition but a rather simple smile. Judging from his looks, i guessed he was in his late thirtees. I noticed after a minute that people were getting up from their seats and so did i but to my surprise, they were gathering around for a group photo. I turned back to escape from the back exit but one of the volunteers politely requested that i joined the others too. Perhaps it was one of those sponsored events where you have to show proofs so to get paid or may be it was just for a memory. I begrudgingly saunterd to where everyone was standing while also making sure I was well hidden from his eyes. After the photos, people started dispersing, some thanking the park man, a few taking selfies with him, while others leaving. I observed most of them were young like me or may be even younger. I was about to walk away when i heard a voice from behind.