Nine Years Later

What's a soulmate?

A question suddenly came up in Lucas's mind as he stares at the busy streets of Seoul, waiting for the coffee that he ordered earlier.

Lucas frowned at the thought. Why did he suddenly think about soulmates?

It's just nothing but a Disney fantasy.

But why is he thinking such things, him, a man that doesn't even believe in love?

What's bugging him?

He felt the device that he was holding buzz, telling him that his coffee is now ready. He shook his head, forcing the crazy thought out of his mind as he stood up and walked towards the counter where his delicious coffee is waiting.

The cashier thanked him as they gave him his coffee and politely bowed. Lucas slightly bowed and walked out of the busy cafe.

He walked down the sidewalk with a lot of busy people. He winced at the loud noise the city gave to his poor ears. 

He bumps through a lot of couples, flirting and blushing around making Lucas stare at them in disgust. Have they no shame?!

Well, Christmas is around the corner of course there are a lot of couples going on a date in Seoul. This is one of the reasons why Lucas hates Christmas. It was the couples.

It's not that Lucas is jealous or he feels lonely whenever he sees couples flirting everywhere. Lucas is never the type to feel like that.

It's just he hates them to the point that he can't even explain why.

He took a sip of his warm coffee, the taste made him feel alive after 3 days of working nonstop. He let out a sigh, his lips curve up into a smile.

Being alone with his coffee is really the best.

"Ah, Jennette! How long do I have to follow you!! You've bought enough gifts for Kiel!!" Lucas heard a whine behind him.

"Jeez, Kiel only has one gift, and the others are for you and our friends!" Another girl yelled.

Lucas just let them be as much as he wanted to glare at them because of their yelling. The moment of him and his coffee is more important than glaring at unimportant strangers.

The girls kept yelling behind him until they decided to walk ahead of Lucas realizing that he was walking slowly. 

He took another sip and choked himself as one of the girls bumped him by the shoulder. He stopped in his tracks and glared at the girl who bumped into him.

"Oh, sorry! I'm so sorry!" The girl who bumped onto him exclaimed, patting his back.

Lucas glared at the girl. What did he do to deserve this?

As dramatic as it seems, Lucas was yelling inside, cursing the girl for breaking the peaceful moment with his coffee.

"Here's money to buy another coffee!" She yelled, shoving the money on his chest before running after her friend who's oblivious about her bumping into someone.

Lucas blinked, staring at the money in his hands. He looked up to ask the girl but the girl disappeared, leaving him standing, confused.

"What?" He frowned.

He let out a sigh, shoving the money in his pockets, and continue making his way to his apartment with his half-empty coffee.

At least the girl apologized. Just hope that he won't meet her again then he'll let her off.

Well, what's the chance of them to meet again when there's a lot of people here in Seoul.

Lucas continued his walk and felt his phone buzzing. He checked to see a familiar number on his phone. He smiled and answered it immediately. "Hello?"

"Happy Birthday son!!" He heard his mother's voice, making him chuckle. Lucas checked the time to see that it is now midnight, meaning it was December 25, his birthday.

"I just noticed," Lucas muttered, blinking. "By the way, mom. Are you fine there, it's been a week since we talked?"

"Oh, I'm fine~! The nurses took good care of me and I'm slowly improving," His mother said proudly. Lucas smiled in relief, sighing. He scrunched his nose due to the cold. "That's great. I'm gonna get busy soon so I might visit you in New Year's."

"It's fine son, but remember to take care of yourself alright?" His mother reminded. "You've been alone by yourself without me for almost 10 years."

"Yeah, I will..."

"Well, I have to go, the nurse is calling me. Let's talk again sometime, son."

"Okay, bye mom."

"Bye!"

The call ended, Lucas stared at his phone for a moment before putting it back in his pocket. He shrugged, looking up. "It's cold..."

A lot has changed in nine years, and Lucas can't say that it's easy. Nine years ago, Lucas left home and never came back for three years because of the treatment his mother gave and the way she is manipulating him.

But then three years later, Lucas found out about his mother trying to look for him and attempted suicide, thinking that her one and only son left her. But thankfully, she was saved by the neighbors who just happened to visit their home.

Lucas then came back home, seeing his mother after three years in a mental hospital. It hurt Lucas seeing his mother in a place like that but he had to be strong for his mother.

His mother is still in that place, still hasn't recovered. But she is slowly healing and began to connect with him properly. Lucas can see the good future for him and his mother. And this time, he will never leave her again.

With his mother in the hospital, Lucas worked hard to graduate school and worked part-time for his needs. He did everything while his mother was out, luckily, he survived, and here he is on a holiday with his coffee with a decent life.

If you're wondering about his love life, Lucas never had the time to fall in love. Well, that's what made him like that, love for him is just an obstacle in his life.

Well, he did have one person in mind, but that was in the past. He doesn't even remember her.

Anyway, Lucas' life was going so smoothly. And he won't let anyone destroy it.

Except for work.

---

Soulmate?

Athanasia frowned, as she slouched on her seat. She stared blankly at her computer, her hands didn't move an inch when she took a seat.

Why did that word suddenly echo in her mind? Weird.

"I want a boyfriend!" She groaned, trying to shake off the random thought in her mind. She slammed her head on her table. "I'm so lonely!!"

"You never wanted to go to a mixer," Her friend chuckled, giving Athanasia a cup of coffee.

Athanasia sat up and took her coffee, she sighed in relief as she took a sip. All the stress in her body was slowly fading. "If only I didn't choose to be a teacher, then this wouldn't have happened to me... I'm so envious of you Jennette..."

"What's there to be envious about?" Jeanette frowned, confused.

"You're popular with the male teachers..." Athanasia said with a groan. "UGH! I wanna cry!!"

"Why don't you just confess to Kiel?" Jennette blurted out. Looking away as she sipped her coffee. Athanasia blushed, looking at her friend with her wide eyes.

"K-Kiel?!!" She stammered.

"Well, you have a crush on him right?"

"What do you mean?!"

"Nevermind~" Jennette hummed. She wonders why her friend is still acting like that when it's so obvious. "Why did you even choose to be a teacher anyway when you know to yourself that you won't get a boyfriend like that."

"Well..." Athanasia paused, her lips formed into a sad pout. She tried to remember the day she wanted to be a teacher.

"If you are, then if I call your name, would you come flying to save me?"

"It's because I wanted to pay for the mistake that I made..." She muttered sadly, looking away.

Jennette didn't quite hear what Athanasia said and leaned in, frowning. "What did you say? You lowered your voice just now."

"Nothing!!" Athanasia jumped, standing up. "It's almost time for my class, I have to go!"

Jennette pouted and rolled her eyes. "Wait, before you go!" She ran to her table and took an envelope.

"What's that?" Athanasia frowned, receiving the envelope.

"On the way to school, I met Kiel and he told me to give this to you. It's about our reunion next week," Jennette said, smiling excitedly. "Are you in? I know that you changed schools but everyone wants you there."

Athanasia stared at the invitation and hummed before nodding. "Is it okay for me though?"

"Of course!" Jennette nodded.

"Well, thanks for this! I really have to go for my class!"

"Yeah, no problem!"

---

"Why am I here?" Lucas muttered, standing in front of a bar. He checked at the invitation in his hand.

Cabel, his friend from high school, and his friend until now gave him that invitation to their reunion. Lucas was curious and came to the venue but now that he has arrived at the place made him want to chicken out. He never had good terms with his old classmates, so what's the point of going?

"Lucas?"

Lucas turned to see a silver-haired man. Lucas immediately knows who the man is, considering his kind smile and that wise look in his eyes. It was Ijekiel. One of the classmates that he never liked but hung out with for a while. Weird, right.

"That's me," Lucas said, rolling his eyes as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Long time no see, Whitey."

"Still not getting over that name?" Ijekiel chuckled, making a high five with Lucas.

"I don't know your name. That is why."

"You know, you made me want to punch you so bad."

"Ah! Kiel!"

The two turned their heads to see two women and Cabel behind them. Ijekiel beamed, seeing the women, and walked up to them while Lucas just stood there, confused, who is that other girl with Jennette?

"Lucas! You really came!" Cabel cheered, giving Lucas a fist bump on the chest.

Lucas just nodded. "It's free food so I guess I will come and celebrate."

"Kinda mean, but I can relate."

"It's been a while, Jennette, Athanasia!" Lucas heard Ijekiel say, he peeked from Cabel's shoulder to see the other two.

Athanasia? That's familiar... Lucas thought.

Just as Lucas set his eyes on the blonde woman, their eyes meet.

"Ah..." Lucas was surprised, blinking.

Everyone present noticed the tension and stared at Athanasia and Lucas who are staring at each other with wide eyes.

Athanasia flinched, almost taking a step back, as she recognized the raven-haired man in front of them. She started feeling nervous, the guilt in her from ten years ago came back.

She couldn't tell what was Lucas thinking but she knew that he was angry just by seeing in expression. She knew that Lucas recognize her.

"You..." Lucas broke the silence, his brows furrowed. "Why are you here?"

Yeah, it is really satisfying to meet your soulmates after years of pain and waiting.

But also, some soulmates don't want to see each other again.

Just like Lucas and Athanasia. Finally meeting after ten years.

That made Cupid regret his decision.

---I finally updated.