Ruled by Heart's Law

(1) "Hands of Fortune"

💙 At around 6:30 in the evening, during a light rain in the rainy season, he heard the doorbell ring.

When he opened the door, the scent of lavender greeted him, filling the air. Then he heard a sweet, soft voice and saw beautiful pink lips moving.

"Good evening, I'm your new neighbor. I just moved into the condo this morning. My name is Maria Shriver. You can call me Maria. I hope to be your best neighbor and friend while living here. If I need help, can I come to you for assistance?" said a woman with long, brown, wavy hair and a sweet smile.

"Good evening, my name is Kyaw Thiha, but you can call me Thiha. I'm happy to be your neighbor," he replied. "Feel free to come to me for any help. I'll assist you as much as I can." They shook hands, smiling.

This was the first meeting between Maria and Kyaw Thiha, and he noticed how soft and smooth her hands were. How lucky he felt to have met her! He noticed that her breath smelled like peppermint. He couldn't take his eyes off her because she was the most beautiful and attractive girl he had ever met. For him, the girl named Maria became his next-door neighbor with the unforgettable scents of lavender and peppermint.

Later, they went to their respective rooms. After work, he always followed a routine: a short shower, a cup of coffee, and updating a spreadsheet with his court clients' information. As a lawyer, he was meticulous, often dining alone after completing his tasks, adhering to his rules even at home. As he was about to eat, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find Maria standing there, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, her hair tied up. The scent of lavender filled the air as she spoke softly, her pink, thin lips moving with a hint of peppermint in her voice.

"Ko Kyaw Thiha, the water pipes are fine, but I can't turn on the lights in my house anymore. At first, they worked, but now they won't. Could you take a look?"

He smiled. "Of course, I'll come and fix the lights. Don't worry, we're neighbors and friends. You can just call me 'Thiha.'"

They went to her room. He inspected the main light switch while she held her phone to illuminate his work. As soon as he repaired the switches, the lights came back on. Outside, the rain, which had started while he was making dinner, was now pouring heavily.

"Thank you so much, Thiha," she began, but a loud thunderclap interrupted her. She dropped her phone, sat down, and covered her ears with her hands. Trembling, she repeated, "Mom, Mom," in a quivering voice.

In that moment, he immediately hugged her, wrapping his arms tightly around her trembling body. "Maria, Maria, don't be afraid. I'm here," he said, his voice trembling with reassurance. She looked at him with tears in her eyes, took her hands from her ears, and hugged him

tightly. They held each other until the thunder ceased, though the rain continued to pour. Her lavender scent was enthralling in his arms, and he felt fortunate to breathe it in. How lucky Thiha felt!

While it was still raining, he gently pulled her up and led her to the sofa. Taking her trembling hands, he said, "Maria, I'm here for you, even in the rain. I'll be here for you as long as you need me." She looked at him with sad, dependent eyes.

"Tomorrow is Sunday, so I'll stay with you tonight if you allow," he continued.

She replied quietly, "I'm a girl and you're a boy. I don't think we should spend the night in the same room. And you need to give time to your family. You shouldn't stay with me, Thiha."

He said, "I live alone. My parents are in Mandalay. I'm here in Yangon because of my work. You don't need to worry about me spending time with my family. If you let me stay, I'll be here for you tonight." 💙
 

✨"Grateful
      for your time spent
                 on my story."✨