A Way To My Dream

Chapter 23: Love will find a way

"Love will find a way."

"I'm sorry, you can come back tomorrow. We don't accept visitor during other day, it's always Friday."

A monk said, holding the door close. Ashley panic and stop him.

"I'm here for something. Wait. I have a letter." He frantically rummage his black cardigan's pocket.

"Here," The monk held out his hand to accept the letter. "I was told to come here." He nervously said.

"Come here. She's in the temple." The monk led him inside. The yard was spacious and wide. It was free from cars, benches and tall buildings. There are tall and gigantic trees of different kind. He saw monks seating on the ground, meditating. Usual monks doing their routine of meditation.

"She? What do mean? I came for something important."

"Yes, I know. She will give it you."

He looked around him. The place is cold due to its geographic location. The temple screams with ancient civilization. Buddha's teaching was incripted on the walls. Buddha's statues everywhere his eyes has anded to.

"You go straight that way. You'll the long stairs. It will lead you to her. She's cleaning there."

Ashley thanked the monk. He took a straight way as what instructed. He saw the long stairs-- probably fifty steps. It was rough and old sement floor. It wasn't dusty as he expected it to be. Either sides of the stairs were full of green trees creating a peaceful ambience. The tranquility of the place calm his unsteady nerves.

With every step, his heart pounded. It was unusual for him to feel this way, he's not nervous or anxious-- surprisingly. His heart feels giddy and euphoric, the way he feels everytime Leona was around.

"Leona..."

He fastened his steps and reached the top in no time. There, a long black wavy haired woman wearing her white dress, wiping clean the Buddha statue. His heart pounced. Tears started to form on his eyes.

'If it's something important for you'

He subtly walk towards her, with unsteady and wavy step. As he gets closer and closer to the door, his heartbeat beats quicker. He clenched his eyes and hands to control her surging emotion.

'It's now or never!'

He gather all his strength, he step closer to the door. His eyes were fixated to her, he didn't noticed the flower pot. He fell face flat on the unpolished floor. It created a thug that disrupted the girl.

"H-hey..." He groaned in pain. He couldn't feel his nose anymore. For a second, he forget he was before her. Not until he felt a warm hand on his face.

"Let me help you, come on." Leona held his arm and helped him stand.

He was tranced by her beauty. Her feature has matures. His lips became red, not the pinkish lips she had. Her soft jawline has sharpened. Her brows become cleaner and defined. Her face has this adorable tinge of red. Her beautiful hair seemed to frowns longer, it's glowing.

"Please, don't stare at me. Come on. Let's get you clean."

His eyes still couldn't leave her, it's fixated to her alone. He was afraid to even blink thinking she would disappear and leave him again.

"You can sit down, I'm gonna get us water." He grabbed her arms and shook his head. He doesn't want her to leave.

"No. Don't leave." He choked up. He couldn't wait for her anymore.  He hugged her tightly. Leona gasped and was stilled. She doesn't know to either push him or hug him back, she opted to let him.