2 Chapter 2 : The 'Fated' meet...

CHARACTERS : *PRESENT- Richard Wilson, Fedrick Brown ; *PAST- Richard Valentino, Fedrick Jones.

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APRIL 22, 2021:-

AT 'LOS ANGELES' - CITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA :

The day seemed pleased with the bright blue sky, clouds appeared as scattered pillows over blue-colored velvet cloth. It has been a month since the arrival of spring, a season that is all about 'rebirth and regeneration. Everyone started their day with hope. Elders were busy heading to their workplaces. Students were in a hurry to their schools and universities. Roads were filled with lots and lots of vehicles as usual. This day may turn out to be special for some, horrible for few others, a normal boring day for rest, but still they need to face each day no matter what. Though people outside are busy with their work, there is this person who is still in his lovely-dovely world. I think he doesn't want to start his day like others as he is in a good relationship with his 'nap'. Can you guess? Yes, it's our main lead and he is still in bed without realizing that it's time. Others already started but our lead is yet to.

**ALARM AT 5:30am** **ALARM AT 6am** **ALARM AT 6:30am** **ALARM AT 7am**

"Oh shit!!!, It's already 7 am. God!! I need to make it fast. I can't be late today", Richard Wilson said with a sigh of frustration.

Nothing was going right for Richard on the day and it was his second day in the university. Though he managed to make it fast, time was already past thirty minutes past seven. He took his motorcycle and was about to leave. "OMG!! I am dead. I am going to be in trouble on the second day itself", Richard said fearfully.

The road was packed with too many cars. "Ohh... Why is this happening to me always? Ahh....god..... I don't know what to do?", he whined seeing the heavy traffic.

** MENTAL BREAKDOWN **

RICHARD WILSON'S INTERNAL VOICE: "Why people are too busy today? Usually, there won't be many vehicles on the streets. It is so unusual. I need to be there at 8:30 but it's already 7:30 here. I need to find some way to reach on time. Ummmm...Ohh!! I need a solution...ahh. Think Richard...."

"YES...YES... there is a way. Yeah, now I can reach the university on time", Richard said with a smirk. He took an alternative route to reach the university on time. But he had no clue what he gonna face as a result of his decision.

The road was traffic-free with quite a few vehicles. He was entirely focused on his driving but it didn't last for long. He had breathlessness and began to lose his mind right after entering the 'ZONED AREA' of the city, 'LAKE OF THE WOODS'.

A kind of uneasiness appeared in him and his heart started to beat faster. "What is wrong with me?? Why am I sweating even?", he was puzzled.

He could not able to take his eyes off the lakeside, he was staring deeply at the lake continuously while riding his bicycle. Richard was completely hypnotized, he didn't realize what was arriving before him. He woke up to a *boom* sound. The next thing he had realized, he was laying on the road.

"Oh, crap!!, I messed up. Ouch!! it hurts.", Richard howled in pain.

"Ahh... my cycle. Thank god nothing happened", he said with relief.

"Damn it, are you drunk? Oh gosh, What have you done to my car? What is wrong with you, can't you see properly?", Fedrick Brown yelled.

"Sorry I didn't do this on purpose I am really sorry. Won't you let me pay for what I did?.. I'll pay you how much ever it is. Money is not a problem for me.", Richard began, but Fedrick interrupted...

"What do you mean by 'I'll pay? I won't leave you that easily.", Fedrick lashed out.

He proceeded, "Do you think I don't have money? First, learn how to ride a cycle before buying one.. ahh."

"How can you say that? Are you showing off that you are wealthy? Mr. Moneybags like you are worthless", Richard replied.

"Are you calling me moneybag? Mmm... then who was that person who said I will 'pay you for the damage, isn't that you?", Fedrick said in a low tone with a smirk.

Richard gasped and said, " Hmm, wait!! why should I pay you? I didn't do anything wrong, it is your fault."

All of a sudden Fedrick's eyebrows curled against each other, and his eyes widened with anger, "What?? How is that? Have you gone mad?", he whimpered.

"Well I am not mad, I think you forgot that this route is one-sided and you came in the wrong direction. So it's completely your fault.", Richard replied.

[ FACT: Fedrick took a one-sided route and came in the wrong direction. At the same time, Richard was completely immersed in his thoughts so he failed to see Fedrick's car. This caused the accident.]

FEDRICK BROWN'S INTERNAL VOICE:- "Oh!! shit, I didn't think of that. It's not just his fault, it's mine too. what to do now, should I accept my fault? But I can't. I can't give up on myself. It's not my responsibility completely. Nothing wrong would have happened if he had used his eyes properly. I have never seen a person riding a bicycle in this manner, even dogs can do better."

RICHARD WILSON'S INTERNAL VOICE:- "why is he silent without answering? He is staring at me like a hawk for the past five minutes. I think something is wrong with his mind, otherwise, he would have not driven without knowing that this is one-way. Or maybe he would have done it on purpose, who knows. I think he is thinking how to escape from me, hahaha."

"Did you get any idea on escaping from me?", Richard said with a smirk.

"What did you say now? If You dared to say it again, I'll make sure to break your head. Did you think I am that weak?", Fedrick said while staring deep at Richard's eyes.

Fedrick continued, "I WON'T RUN AWAY FROM YOU AND WON'T LET YOU RUN AWAY FROM ME."

Both of them were looking deep at the eyes of each other. There appeared a fluttering sensation into them. Richard kept on hearing the sentence again and again at the back of his head,

"I won't let you leave me..... I won't let you run away from me..... YOU ARE MINE.."

Both were staring at each other for long and all of a sudden a horn sound of a vehicle interrupted them.

FEDRICK'S INTERNAL VOICE:- "What did I say just now? Why am I getting this strange feeling straight away?"

RICHARD'S INTERNAL VOICE:- "Ahh.. why can't I breathe normally? What is happening? Why am I feeling weak by hearing his words? It seems like I have already heard this sentence before, uhh. Oh my god, I am going crazy, many strange things are happening today. First I started late to my University and now this, uhh...*pause* ..WAIT!!! UNIVERSITY."

"Ohh shit!!! I forgot about that. Ohh...." *crying*, Richard freaked out.

"I can't waste my time and need to be quick. Come on Richard make it fast", he said to himself.

"I need to leave now. I'll see you later ok bye. Wait!! why I need to see you?...ah whatever I am going to leave.", Richard said without making any sense as he was in a hurry.

**RUN...RUN ....RUN ..RUN..RUN....RUN**

"What?? Where...where are you going? I didn't finish yet", Fedrick asked with confusion.

Richard disappeared within a second. And Fedrick was standing with a puzzled look.

"Initially I had a doubt, but now I am hundred percent sure that he is mad.... he is insane.. ha", Fedrick said while laughing.

"Ok, then I should leave now, it's already time for the event.", Fedrick mumbled to himself and was about to move.

**PAUSE** **PAUSE**

He saw something twinkling on the ground. He took a step back and looked firmly. It was a silver-coated box and it was tied with gold strings. There was a touch of hesitation in him while taking the box. Then he gradually loosened the strings and lifted the lid up. He found a necklace piece inside. It had a golden coating and a broken pendant. It was an antique piece.

"Wow!! It looks great. It's kind of old. I think it is an antique jewel and it also looks expensive. Who would have left this on the road carelessly?", Fedrick was curious.

Fedrick widened his eyes with a smile, " Ahh!!.. I think I know the person... haha."

He took the jewel and left the spot.

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45 YEARS BACK:-

AT 'LAKE OF THE WOODS' :

It was a pleasant evening, autumn leaves were floating along with the wind. There were just a handful of visitors at the lake zone. The lake appeared peaceful and statue still. Instantly a breeze picked up at the shoreline, wrinkling the water as the waves slowly rolled toward green land in silver lines. Heaven-leaking light added a golden tint to the face of the lake and it looked like a paradise. Richard Valentino and Fedrick Jones were spending their evening together at their favorite spot close to the lake.

"I have bought a thing to give you as a present. Can I show?", Richard Valentino said to Fedrick with a smile.

"Umm.. present? Wow!! Yeah sure. You became more expressive these days. I am a bit surprised as you don't do such thing's often.. hahaha. I am happy and really curious to see that.", Fedrick Jones said excitedly.

"I was really thinking about this present. I didn't want to present you with some random thing instead I wanted to give you something special. So I thought of creating one instead of buying.", Richard said while holding Fedrick's hand.

"Create??... Did you make it?", Fedrick asked Richard by expressing his doe-eyes.

Richard answered with a warm smile, "Yes I made this especially for you. Aren't you excited to see?"

"Yes, I am. Don't make it too long and show me fast, please!!....", Fedrick melted Richard's heart by his words and his cuteness.

"Ok then, here it is.", Richard took a pair of the necklace pieces from his pocket. One necklace had a sun-shaped pendant and the other one had a half-moon-shaped pendent and both were attached together.

"Wow!! It's really nice. It looks a bit expensive, but I love this. Thank you so much.", Fedrick showed his happiness by hugging him.

Then he proceeded, "But why there are two pieces?"

"Well, this one is for you and this is mine", Richard gave the half-moon pendant necklace to Fedrick and took the necklace with a sun pendant.

He began to explain, "Fedrick... this represents you. I have said this before that you are my moon, you give me strength during my hard times and I am your 'sun', I will always be behind you and make you shine no matter what."

Fedrick hugged him and said, "What you said is true. You will always be my 'sun' and I will forever be your moon".

**PAUSE**

Richard was very happy but it didn't last long. He began to think about the negativities that were surrounding him. He knows that he is trapped in a black hole and was afraid that it might hurt his loved ones too. Gradually he lost his smile and became emotional.

Richard said with tearful eyes, "Fedrick, no matter what I will not leave you. Even if you ask me to leave I will not. I know....that it will be hard for us to live together and I know.... that.... most people won't accept us, but trust me I will even go against this world to protect you and fight others to live with you. I am promising you that we will be together like this forever."

These words froze Fedrick. He faintly placed his hand over Richard's hand and slowly he started tearing up too.

/ DO READ THE CHAPTER 1 FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING /