Fate finds Destiny

Chapter 3| FATE

I need to find myself between my parents' dreams for me and my own. I don't know how it happened, but after a game of "pin the donkey's tail" on the big Asian map on my bedroom wall- I found Kyoto, Japan talking to me.

I searched online about Kyoto. The more I read about it, the more I got interested. It always fascinated me with anything that says places to find genuine love, a matchmaking shrine, love god, etc. At that moment, there was no better place for me than Kyoto- to be exact, at the Jishu Shrine.

I can't waste any time. I need to be somewhere. And trying my luck at the Jishu shrine might be the answer.

And here I am with just a map, my backpack, and my cellphone at the famous Kiyomizu-Dera temple grounds. I was standing before Okuninushi- the god of love and matchmaking. The first thing I did was pray in the main hall.

Please, love god, shower me with your divine blessings. I traveled thousands of miles to be here because I have heard that this is the best place to pray for and find genuine love! So please have mercy on me!

My prayer didn't stop there. I followed the flow of people and asked one of those rushing where the flock of tourists was going. 

"Excuse me, where are these people going? What are they doing?"

One tourist told me that those are the people who came in search of relationship help. And they are rushing to be in the best spot. Hearing about it, I ran as fast as I could. There is no way they will leave me behind. If someone direly needs help right now, it is none other than me. I checked my map. My eyeballs almost popped out as I read the description on the map.

"If you are searching for a relationship help, the best spot for you is the "relationship power spot" of the love fortune rock."

I have to be in that spot. I felt like I was in the Amazing Race. The need to be there will either make me live or give me death. I reached the spot. Placed 18m apart are two love stones.

(Source: sharing-kyoto.com)

I kept on reading the description on the map I was holding. My heart was pounding. I can't believe what I am reading.

"If you can find your way to make it from one stone to the other while your eyes are closed, all your love wishes will come true."

I have to do it! No, I need to do it. It's now or never. It's the only chance I can get. I'd rather believe in the love stones' power than be married to a "prince" who does not have a single drop of royalty in his blood. There is no way that I can marry a kingdom-less and nameless prince. With all my eagerness and desperation, I slowly closed my eyes and prayed.

Please let me find true love. I am not asking for a prince, but someone who will love me like me. I want my soulmate, someone who can be my best friend, someone whose heart will flutter just like mine whenever we see each other. Someone who will complete me as I complete him. Someone who will hold me in his heart forever.

And without hesitation, I started walking with my eyes closed from one stone to the next, not minding the crowd of people walking back and forth in the same spot. Determined to finish the remaining 10-meter journey between stones, I didn't mind what the surrounding people were saying. I shouldn't care since nobody knew me. My focus is to reach the other stone without opening my eyes.

I felt my success as I reached for the other stone and touched it. I finished the journey safely and with my eyes closed. Before I could open my eyes, I felt someone's body to mine. As an automatic reaction to protect myself, I raised both hands to cover my chest. But instead, I touched the chest of whoever was in front of me. It felt warm, sculpted, hard, well-defined, chiseled, and toned in seconds of touching it. All the positive words a dictionary can give to describe a man's chest. 

My hands and feet fixated on the ground. 

"Um. I am sorry if I hit you..."

A sensual and confident voice awakened me. I realized I was feeling the man's chest with my hands, so I stepped backward without opening my eyes. I was planning to run away without looking at his face. But as fate would have it, someone strongly hit me from behind, pushing me towards the same man. And this time, it wasn't just our bodies that collided; we looked eye to eye as our lips brushed each other. Although it was accidental, it was soft and just long enough that we could inhale each other's breath. I felt his skin's warmth, and his lips' taste lingered even after our lips parted.

I didn't know what to say; I was speechless. But it was like the moment caught both of us. We just stood in front of each other, looking at each other's faces. It seemed like we were in a staring contest. It felt like the world stopped at that moment. Everything around us seemed nothing. I can't hear anything except my heartbeat and his. Only two questions are on my mind- Should I run away or stay? How long are we going to stare at each other?