Meant to Collide

5. Tangled Fates and Forgotten Past

Jules Parker sat at her desk, her face a canvas of perplexity, worry, and disappointment. She was lost in her thoughts, oblivious to her surroundings, until Ava gently tugged her arm, snapping her out of her daze.

"Hey, Jules, let's go home. Are you still stunned by it all?" Ava chuckled, teasing her. "I hope you'll actually show up at the office tomorrow," she added with a playful grin. Before Jules could respond, Sophie stepped in, giving Ava a light nudge. "Stop teasing her. The boss has been tough because we haven't hit the targets, and profits are slipping."

Jules nodded slowly, her voice soft. "I just feel bad for both of them. The rule isn't fair."

Sophie sighed, clearly burdened by her own responsibilities, particularly managing the turnover of employees. Despite her own concerns, she handed Jules her new ID card with a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine," she said, trying to lift Jules' spirits. Ava, Sophie, and Ryan all welcomed her into the fold, despite the lingering tension from the day's events.

"I just need to organize my desk, then I'll head out," Jules said, offering a small, appreciative smile. As the others left, Sophie lingered behind, circling back to Jules with a playful grin. "Don't forget—show up tomorrow!" she joked, lightening the mood.

Jules looked down at her new ID card, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. This was a new beginning, though it felt bittersweet.

Just as she was about to leave, she spotted Aunt Harper struggling with a box of discarded cardboard. Without hesitation, Jules rushed to help her, winning a soft spot in Harper's heart. On her way back inside, Jules paused by the office window, gazing out at the city skyline, trying to shake off the day's chaos.

Suddenly, a voice from behind startled her. "You!"

Jules spun around, startled. She lost her balance, leaning forward, but a pair of steady hands caught her before she fell. It was Sky. Her hands had landed on Sky's coat, and she quickly pulled them away, flustered. "I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, taking a step back, but in her haste, she stumbled again. Sky instinctively caught her once more, their eyes locking for a brief moment in the stillness.

The moment stretched into what felt like slow motion. The world seemed to blur around them as the background music in Jules' mind intensified, amplifying the tension between them. There was something about Jules' steady gaze, that left an unspoken emotion lingering in the air—desperation, but not in a fearful way. It was raw, pure, and unsettling.

"Are you alright?" Sky asked, his voice low and calm. "I'm good," Jules replied, pulling herself together as they both stood up. But just as they did, they realized Sky's bracelet had somehow gotten tangled in Jules' hair. Sky's expression turned to mild panic as he fumbled to free it. "This bracelet... it's worth five million."

Jules' eyes widened. "What?!"

Sky, exasperated, reached for a pair of scissors. "I'm going to have to cut it."

"What are you doing?!" Jules shrieked, horrified.

Sky glanced at her, completely serious. "Which one can grow back—your hair or my bracelet?"

Jules blinked, bewildered. "The hair, obviously!"

"Exactly," Sky said, holding the scissors poised. "So, which one should I cut?"

"My hair!" Jules repeated, her voice trembling, more terrified of damaging the bracelet than losing a few strands of hair.

They bickered for a moment, both defending their precious possessions, when suddenly, a miracle happened. The bracelet untangled itself from Jules' hair, and both were saved from the disastrous fate they had been dreading.

Sky let out a sigh of relief, yet with a slightly unsorted expression. "Dear me, you still good?" questioned his immobile property. Jules, managed a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm alright."

Without another word, Sky walked off, muttering something to her bracelet as if it were a person. Jules stood there in stunned silence, watching him go, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Later that evening, after Sky had returned home, she found Noah waiting for her outside her apartment. "Why are you out here?" Jules asked, surprised to see him.

"I wanted to hear all about your first day," Noah said, grinning as he handed her a cup of her favorite boba milk tea. He playfully pulled out a USB fan and pointed it toward her. "Just like we're on a date," he teased.

Jules rolled her eyes, laughing as she swatted him lightly on the arm. "Stop it, Noah. You know I hate that."

She pretended to storm off in mock annoyance, but Noah knew her too well. After all, he had been her best friend for years. Once inside, Jules recounted the day's bizarre series of events to her parents, leaving them both shocked—especially her mother, who had been Sky's mentor during her school days.

"Sky doesn't remember me at all," Jules said, a bit disheartened.

Her parents reassured her, reminding her of her own growth and how time could blur memories. Their words soothed her, and she felt some of the tension slip away. Her mother suggested bringing Shiro, the dog Sky had once saved as a puppy, in the hopes that it might jog his memory. But Jules refused, not wanting to force things.

"If I don't pass probation," Jules added gently, "Bangkok's waiting".

Her father nodded in agreement, though her mother's sadness was palpable. She didn't want Jules to go to Bangkok, especially because of her own history—a failed first marriage and Jules' biological father living in Thailand. Jules reassured her, promising that everything would be fine.

Later that night, Sky sat in his car, speaking to a friend on the phone. As he hung up, another call came in—this time from his grandmother. Sky hesitated, staring at the screen, his eyes reddening as an internal conflict unfolded. Something was weighing heavily on him, something yet to be revealed.