Love Beyond Borders [ON-GOING]

CHAPTER 13 ARE YOU?

Hello, I hope you understand me. I hope you give me a chance to explain. I did that because I love you... I lied because I love you

EILEEN'S POV

I'm heading to the address my dad gave me, nerves fluttering in my stomach. I'm about to meet a guy he insists is someone I've been searching for since childhood, a boy who promised to marry me if I was still single. A boy who actually liked me for me.

Should I tell the story?

FLASHBACK

"You are so ugly." The taunts came from Amanda, the leader of the kids at my dad's party, piercing my heart like a knife.

I was awkward back then, dressed in an oversized black dress, my big glasses slipping down my nose, and my chubby frame feeling like a target. The ridicule felt endless.

"Stop it, Amanda! You're supposed to behave! This is her dad's party," a boy suddenly interjected. His voice was firm, and he stepped between us. He introduced himself, but before we could really connect, his parents whisked him away.

That moment stayed with me. My dad told me I'd see him again, but when I learned he moved to another country, my heart sank. My dad wouldn't share his contact information; he insisted I forget about him and move on.

And I did, mostly. I focused on myself, but deep down, I often wondered about that boy. What was he doing now? Did he have a girlfriend? Why was I still single at 23, holding out for someone I hadn't seen in 16 years?

END OF FLASHBACK

Now, I'm finally about to meet him. My heart races as I approach the park near the coffee shop where Draven used to work. What will he look like? What if he's just like Draven?

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Just then, I spot a tall figure standing near a tree, the only person in the park. There's something familiar about him.

I step closer, each footfall echoing my anxious thoughts.

"Who are you?" I whisper to myself, inhaling sharply before calling out, "Hey, are you...?"

The man turns around, and my breath catches.

"Noah!!??"

NOAH'S POV

My parents just called. They told me the girl I met from Los Angeles was here in Australia. The girl I'd promised to marry when we were kids. It felt surreal just a childhood memory, but I can't shake the feeling of obligation.

But that was so long ago. I like someone else now—someone who's mad at me for reasons I can't quite articulate. I just hope she doesn't bring up our childhood promise.

I'm standing near a tree, gazing at the moon, trying to gather my thoughts. It's freezing out; Christmas in Australia is a different kind of cold. I'm not sure how to approach Eileen. Friendship seems like the safest route.

"Hey, are you...?" A familiar voice pierces the chilly air.

I turn around, and my heart skips a beat.

"Eileen??"

"What are you doing here, Noah? Don't tell me that—"

"Are you that girl from the past??" I blurt out, astonished.

"So you are that boy who saved me from those monkey girls," she replies, disbelief evident in her voice.

"I guess? I mean, I wasn't expecting you," I admit, still reeling from the sudden reunion.

"I wasn't expecting you at all either. I mean, it's been a long time," she says, her eyes wide.

"It really has. I can hardly believe we're standing here. You look... different," I say, fumbling over my words. The girl I once knew has blossomed into someone beautiful and confident, a stark contrast to the chubby, glasses-wearing girl I remembered.

"Thanks," she replies, a shy smile breaking through her initial nervousness. "I worked hard on myself. I just... I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"I know what you mean. I thought about you sometimes, you know? I was curious about what happened to you."

"Really? I thought you forgot about me," she says, her expression shifting from surprise to something softer.

"I could never forget. You were kind of a big deal to me," I say, trying to gauge her reaction. "But now... I mean, we're not kids anymore. What do you want out of this?"

Eileen's gaze drops for a moment, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. "Honestly? I just want to understand how we went from that moment at the party to standing here. It feels unfinished."

A silence hangs between us, heavy with unspoken words.

"Maybe we can figure it out together," I suggest.

"Let's start fresh. I'm here to be your friend, if that's what you want."

Eileen looks up, her eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and apprehension. "Yeah, I'd like that. A lot."

I smile, feeling a warmth spreading through me. Maybe this was the start of something new, something real, not bound by promises made in childhood but by the people we've become.

As we begin to walk together, I can't shake the feeling that our story is just beginning.

To be continued...