third time's a charm

15

Following the rules should be quite easy for Win since he was used to following the guidance of the monks and his astrology. He thought that was all he needed to keep his relationship with Lucas alive.

Until Madame Sukie happened.

The woman wasn't what he expected to see in a psychic. He thought he would see her dressed in a long robe in either black or purple and she would have big hair with matching false eyelashes, beaded necklaces, bracelets, and rattling rings. But Madame Sukie wasn't like that. In fact, she seemed so ordinary that at a glance, no one would guess this woman could predict anyone's future.

"Madame Sukie" as what people often called her in the village, came with many different titles. One of which was the "Soothsayer of the Modern Era", "The Seer of the 21st Century", and the last one was Win's favorite, "Self-Proclaimed Prophet" ---although the last one was highly debatable since he never heard the older lady declared herself as such. But she didn't make the effort to deny it either.

Whichever of the title suited her, she did not have a crystal ball nor did she need to use cards to foretell the fate. All she did was welcome them into her house, smoke her tobacco, close her eyes, and she began sprouting visions. At first, when he agreed to accompany Gun to see the psychic, Win partially thought it was all a gimmick. Until she suddenly looked straight into his eyes and uttered: You will only fall in love three times in this lifetime. The first one will be a complete failure that would devastate you. The second one will be a disaster that will shape the way you would become in the future. The third one...well, the third one is the charm...but if you fall in love a third time, and break your heart...you'll die.

Her reading came in arbitrary as she claimed that she only saw random images when she looked at the person's "shadow". However it was done, it was evident that she did see something the moment she looked at Win, and the thing about Madame Sukie was...she would say what she saw.

At first, he didn't pay attention to her reading though he felt an inexplicable attachment to it. She wasn't like the monks whom he followed, she never asked to be believed in either. Hence, she would shrug off any attempt from others who would try to damage her reputation. I never had a reputation to begin with---was what she would say. When as a matter of fact, she was notorious for her uncanny revelations.

It was a year before graduation and their anniversary when Win started having doubts about his relationship with Lucas. It wasn't what he expected it to be. They were compatible in everything else, but Lucas wanted to hide their relationship. Not to mention that they never actually put a label on what they shared. It was like being in an open relationship but at the same time committed to one another. Gun even asked him if it was okay that Lucas was going out with girls and he would answer that it was part of their agreement.

An "agreement".

Until he made a mistake and said those three words first.

Well, the response he received did devastate him...

"You were saying?"

They were in his house spending their usual movie night, eating pizza and beers on the side. Their conversation started focusing on their future "together", at least, that was how Win saw it. As far as he was concerned, he followed all of his rules. Lucas' rules.

"I don't know, Win...why do you have to say those things?" Lucas moved away from the sofa and started pacing back and forth in front of the television. "Things are going well. If we start putting labels on it, that's like the end of it all. Like saying to a girl "I love you"."

Win stared. "You said I love you to a girl?"

Lucas sighed deeply. He seemed exhausted when all they talked about was their feelings. It was that difficult for him. Basically, all Win wanted to know was if he was indeed his boyfriend. He knew the answer he would get from Lucas would probably shatter all of his illusions, but he always felt like he was special. Lucas did treat him special. But it wasn't the kind of special he expected... or wanted.