Meant to Collide

20. Echoes of Lost Love

The place shimmered with vibrant colors and lush greenery, yet Jules stood rooted in a shadow of sadness, lingering in the spot where Sky had left her. A heavy thought crossed her mind: Sky must have forgotten about me. But deep down, she knew he hadn't abandoned her. As she took a step, a peaceful warmth enveloped her, a sweet afterglow from their time together.

"Let's go home; it's getting late," Sky said, his eyes silently urging her to follow. Jules responded with her signature smile, a soft hum escaping her lips. "Um... and don't forget to send me the pictures," he added, brushing off the moment with a playful tone. Jules nodded, her smile growing wider, feeling a spark of joy.

"Then... I'll excuse myself," she replied softly.

"Um... go back safe," Sky said, watching her go. As soon as she disappeared from view, his phone beeped—a notification announcing the incoming photos. For the first time in years, a genuine smile crept onto Sky's face, and he couldn't help but smile even more as the realization washed over him.

The night slipped by, filled with contentment, but morning brought a weight of nostalgia. Sky and his grandmother walked toward a significant place, his heart heavy with memories. "I miss Selena," he confessed, a shadow of sorrow clouding his voice.

"Yes, it's truly a shame. She refused to choose the partner I arranged for her, and her life turned out the way it did," his grandmother replied, regret lacing her words. "Had she listened to me and followed my advice, she would have lived a happy life like yours."

A flashback flickered in Sky's mind—his grandmother standing before a mirror, her voice echoing in the air, "Where are you going? Why are you dressed so well?"

"That's not it, Grandma," Selena had responded, deflecting her grandmother's probing questions.

Sky had stepped in, protecting Selena as he asked, "I'd like to request your permission to take Selena outside for a bit." He defended her, saying, "She's writing her dissertation; she needs more books."

"If that's the case, permission granted," their grandmother had replied, arranging flowers with a knowing smile. But her follow-up had been swift, "Selena, it's been a while since you graduated. You know that the next step is to find a spouse. It's time to build your own family."

Selena had feigned acknowledgment, her heart racing. "Is there anyone at work that comes close to you?" her grandmother probed, eyes sharp with curiosity.

"There's nobody; I don't really pay attention to other people," Selena replied, attempting to conceal the truth.

"Regardless, if there is someone, you must tell me, and you must provide me with his profile. The grandchildren I raise are perfect and exceptional," her grandmother's words rang out like an order.

"I haven't thought about it," Selena grinned, trying to maintain her composure.

"You must. People need to plan their lives step by step: study, graduate, find a partner, get married, have children, and continue the lineage."

"But, Grandma—" Selena tried to interrupt, only to be silenced by her grandmother's commanding tone.

"There's no but," her grandmother insisted, her authority clear.

In a quiet corner of a restaurant, Selena assured her boyfriend, "I really want to tell Grandma about us. I'll make our relationship public soon."

"I don't mind being together like this," her boyfriend soothed her, but Selena's heart was heavy.

"It's suffocating when Grandma makes me go out with other men," she confessed, her voice breaking. "I don't care anymore; I've made my decision. When the time comes, I'll let her know about us."

Sky watched the lovebirds, happiness blooming in his chest, but the flashback took a darker turn. It transported him to Selena's 25th birthday party when she had rebelled against her grandmother's insistence on finding her an alliance. "Make this stop! Break up with him!" she had shouted in frustration.

"I'm not going to do that. Instead, let me break away from you!" Selena had cried, driving away with tears streaming down her face, determined to unite with her boyfriend. Tragically, fate intervened, and she met with an accident, losing her life on what was supposed to be a joyful celebration.

The stark reality hung heavy in the air, as Sky and his grandmother stood at Selena's memorial, tears slipping down their cheeks on her birthday—a bittersweet reminder of loss.

"Sky," his grandmother said, her voice firm, "this goes for you too. Do not disappoint me. Marry Mia. The best person for you is the one I choose."

Her stubborn traditional beliefs felt like chains around Sky's heart, amplifying his yearning to break free from the family's expectations.

"Okay, I understand," he pretended to agree, mirroring the compliance of his sisters, Selena and Silvia.

Would he find a way to change his fate, or was he destined to remain bound by his family's curse?