Could It Be You? |✓

(38) Could It Be You - Part 1

2 months later

Nothing beats waking up without the alarm, then strolling down the streets on a Saturday noon. Nothing can beat that especially after closing off the deal on Friday with a huge client, so this weekend is doubly sweet. It's her much-deserved payoff.

She puts on a loose grey ombré shirt and pulls on her three-quarter length jeans. She twirls her hair into a messy bun and puts on some light makeup. Grabbing a sling bag and the keys, she leaves the house to do some sight-seeing and what she may call, "tourist-ing". It's been awhile since she has had any time for herself.

She may be alone, but she never once felt lonely. Being abroad alone gives her a new found freedom.

With a cup of coffee in her hand, she trudges down Old Town Square, enjoying the fresh air and revelling in the architectural masterpiece that this place is. She has hardly ever explored Prague although she has been here for 2 months.

The sun peeks over the red roofs and casts the buildings under its golden glow. Emma reads a pamphlet she got from a tour agency as she walks - one that describes the various tourist attractions in this locality. She stops in front of St Nicholas' Church and glances upward at the full glory of this architecture, mesmerised.

"Wow..." she lets out.

The beauty of the moment is rudely interrupted when she hears a rumble from her stomach - her body's protest. Looking around, she notices a quaint bakery tucked in the corner of the street so she decides to make a trip down that shop. As she nears the place, the smell of freshly roasted bread inundates her senses and she practically salivates when she sees the croissants lying on a silver platter. Licking her lips, she heads in.

She purchases two croissants and is way too eager to sink her teeth into those delicacies. She sits down on one of those dainty white chairs in the bakery and pulls the packaging down to reveal the golden brown crust of the bread. The heavenly smell wafts into her nose and she is all ready to bite down on it...

Her phone rings at that exact moment. Emma grunts, being peeved that her moment with the croissant is ruined, but fishes out her phone from her bag anyway, frowning at the unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Emma Ryans," the happy voice says. "Today is the day!"

"Sorry, may I know who is this speaking?" She crunches down on her croissants anyway and finally fulfills her cravings.

"You don't know who I am?" he responds, sounding rather hurt.

"Um, I'm afraid not."

"Oh dayum." Bouts of laughter sound from the other side. "I'm sorry, that wasn't really funny. I'm Collin!"

She brings the phone away from her ear and stares at the screen, somewhat disturbed by his behaviour.

"Um, okay, so what's up?" she asks.

"Today is a pivotal moment of your life. It's the day everything is going to fall into place and by the way, I just walked past your future husband. In Prague."

"What?" She lets out a laugh at his absurd claims. It cannot be. The only person she cares about, that she has come to realise she loves, is in the United States right now. Not in Prague.

"It's going to happen!"

"You're crazy."

"I'm so not."

"You so are."

"We'll see. Muahahaha!" At that, he hangs up the phone with a loud thud. Emma looks at her phone in confusion. Did she just hallucinate the whole episode? Perhaps she was so hungry she went out of her mind? She furrows her brows, then decides to forget all about it. She quickly munches on her food to satisfy her growling tummy.

On her way out of the bakery, she passes by a small newspaper stand tended by an old lady. A myriad of publications sits on the stand - from gossip magazines to the New York Times. The old lady smiles at Emma kindly, which Emma reciprocates. She peers at the materials and one particular headline catches her attention.

"Sarah and Derrick to Wed on October 1st"

Emma widens her eyes and picks up the paper, scrutinising the picture of the two models at an awards show with two wide and blissful smiles on their faces. Truthfully, she is surprised that Sarah has decided to settle down - it was completely out of the question with Ethan. Perhaps she has really found her true love this time, Emma muses. She recalls that Ethan had given her this intel way before and raises her eyebrows at the fact that it is really true. She puts the papers back down and thanks the old lady before she retraces her steps to the church, wearing her shades and a hat to shield herself from the rays.

The moment she steps into the church, she is immediately taken by the intricacies of the interior - the gold embellishments on the pillar, the colourful mural paintings that hang above, the large chandelier that lit the place.

She glances around in awe.

"Emma? Is this you?" she hears a man call.

Emma whirls around at her name, finding herself before an unexpected old friend. Well, he might not be a friend because they haven't been in contact for many, many years.

"Ma...Matthias?"

He wears a black T-shirt on the inside with a flannel outerwear and khaki berms. He looks so ordinary and holiday-bound, and he carries a camera in his hands. She does remember his blonde curls, and she stares at him in shock.

"It's you!" he exclaims, looking extremely pleased to see her. "It's been really long!"

He begins to walk her way and she glances at his fingers, then it suddenly dawns on her.

Hell no. Matthias Clark, ringless. Could it truly be him?

Him? The husband?

Collin's father?

Emma's mind races as she tries to grasp the situation.

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Dedicated to @Dinah118 for reading and supporting this story all this while (':. Thank you!