Freeze Me, My Dear Love: The Last Frosted Bloom

Chapter 2: Beginning After The End of Everything

The reason we met so late is pretty silly. It's kind of nonsense in today's reality. Still, this nonsensical reason makes sense as to why few things were never written in my destiny.

"God moves in ways beyond our understanding.
No matter how clever we think we are,
He'll give hope when He wills it,
And if He chooses to take something away,
Nothing can stop Him.
In the end, His plan for us will always unfold as intended."

January 22, 2024—a day marked in history. The Ram Mandir was inaugurated, and the city hummed with a quiet but powerful energy. There was something about that day, something in the air that felt different like the world was holding its breath.

I hadn't expected anything out of the ordinary. Life was supposed to be predictable, and routine. But I found myself standing on the platform at Sector 15, waiting for the metro, feeling like I was already running late—not just for the train, but for something I couldn't quite name.

The train rolled in, doors sliding open with a mechanical sigh as I stepped forward, a voice called from behind me.

"Stop! Do not board that train!"

I turned, startled, and found myself face-to-face with an old woman. Her eyes were sharper than they had any right to be—piercing like she could see straight into my core.

"I see something in your future," she said, her tone cryptic.

I laughed awkwardly. "Uh, I'm in a bit of a rush..."

But she didn't let go of my arm, her grip firm, unshakable. "Beware of missed connections," she whispered, her voice almost a hiss.

A shiver ran down my spine. Missed connections?...?...? I didn't have time for this.

(As a normal individual Shen ignored it due to running late)

I shook her off and stepped into the metro just before the doors closed. The train sped off, and I tried to push the strange encounter out of my mind. But as the train rattled on, a sense of unease lingered, like a thread pulled too tight.

(Soon, the metro reached my destination and that thread kept getting tighter)

Rajiv Chowk station was as chaotic as ever, with people spilling in every direction, moving with purpose.

I wasn't sure if it was just my overthinking or if I was actually searching for that missed connection

I instinctively scanned the crowd, my heart thudding in my chest, unsure of what—or who—I was looking for. Then I spotted her.

Diona.

She was standing by the flower shop, her attention caught on something I couldn't see, a small bunch of marigolds in her hand. My breath caught. I hadn't seen her in years—since school, back when we both existed in different worlds. And yet, there she was, as if fate had pulled her from the past and set her down in front of me.

Shen pushed through the thick crowd, unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him. The closer he got, the more familiar she seemed. But as he neared, a sudden jolt knocked him off course.

"Whoa!" Shen stumbled backwards, catching himself just in time before bumping into a sea of rushing people.

"Shen!" A voice called out.

He turned, and to his surprise, there stood Damian, his friend from school. For a moment, they both froze and then recognition hit like a flood.

"Damian!" Shen exclaimed as they embraced with a brotherly hug. "It's been forever!"