Chapter 5

Three years ago...

The sky is dimmed. The sign that winter is taking over. She walks slowly in the paved street of England.

There are so many people around her. They were busy in shopping for winter season. Others are hurrying to get a cab. So many people sharing laughter on what they were gossiping.

The other side of the street that is line up with stores were all on sale. There are teenagers giggling and chatting on the things they bought. How it will be fun to wear their new winter coats at school. Some are happily planning on what they will do this winter.

But even though her surrounding is full of happy people, she still pities herself for being alone. She'd been back in England for a week. She had plans on what they will be doing and where they'll be going. But she was left alone.

When she arrived in England she immediately start finding a new apartment. Though still tired from her flight, it didn't stop her to do it. She doesn't want to stay in 'his house' that they shared together.

She was glad that it didn't take long that she had found one. It's small but it will do. After all, she's the only one that will be living in it.

She immediately called a mover truck to get all the things that was still in his place. It takes a whole day until she settled in her new home.

That day she fell asleep from exhaustion. It was good though because it was a dreamless sleep.

Now, after a week here she is, walking till her feet tires from it.

'He is happy now with his new found love while she, the idiot was still mending her broken heart.' she thought as she sighs. If she weren't in a public place she might have smack herself for thinking about him again.

'How can she move on if she's still thinking about him?' she shook her head, disappointed with herself.

She sits in the nearby café and ordered green tea.

The air was filled with the scent of coffee, tea, and freshly baked breads. She contented herself watching people passing in her table.

She also sees that there's a photo shoot on a nearby park just over the fountain.

"Oh great!" Michael blurted out, frustrated.

Michael Kings. A designer, painter, and photographer. Who doesn't know the name? He was renowned for his great designs. He even produced the top models in the fashion industry. He is known for his keen ability to choose someone to put on the spot light. Not just someone but the right one. Almost all of the famous models had been in one of his shows or one of his photo exhibits. He is known worldwide.

He had a blond shoulder length hair, blue eyes, a good physique that can pass as a model if it weren't for a fact that he's gay and he doesn't want to be one.

As of the moment Michael loses his composure because his model just called in sick. How was he supposed to finish this photo shoot if his model isn't here?

He paced around the set. His crew were keeping out of his way. Waiting of what Michael will do now that the main model isn't coming.

Michael look around then a smile broke on his face.

"Pack up." he shouted. "We'll do this tomorrow."

His crew do as he said. Many were wondering how on earth they will do the photo shoot tomorrow. The model called in sick and it's impossible that she will get well in a day unless miracle happens. But their boss is Michael and if he said tomorrow he means it very well. He might have a new model in mind for the photo shoot and that's a big possibility.

The crew immediately pack up and ride to their van waiting for their boss's signal to leave.

"Go ahead. And be here tomorrow at the same time." Michael said.

When his crew had gone he walks in the direction of the nearby café.

There sitting in a corner watching people passing by her table and occasionally sips her tea is the woman he spotted earlier when he looked around.

She looks perfect for the theme of his photo shoot. It is titled 'mysterious soul'.

The woman's long auburn hair, which is a great contrast to the white surrounding and the way she held herself. She holds the aura of great mystery. And it's her eyes that seem to have an endless thought that really gathered his attention towards this woman. He can see another success for his exhibit.

Michael slowly makes his way towards the woman. As he stopped in front of the table the woman's eyes looks up to him.

"Can I help you sir?" Kaho asks.

" Hmmm... You see..." he started cursing inside himself when he can't formulate the words he needed to say. 'For goodness sake he's a well known person and he can't start a conversation to recruit this woman as his model.'

He straightened out his thoughts and form a plan in his head to make this woman agree to the proposition he'll ask.

The woman is still looking at him expectantly.

"May I sit before I explain my purpose?" Michael asks tentatively as he prayed that this woman won't think he's insane then freak out and left him.

The woman looks sceptical but nods her head and utters a 'Sure.' at him.

Michael takes his seat opposite her and started the conversation.

"By the way, I'm Michael Kings. What's your name?"

"I'm Kaho Mizuki, nice to meet you Mr. Kings."

"You don't need to be formal Miss Mizuki." Michael said whimsically to ease the tension in the air. "You can call me Michael."

"If that's the case then call me Kaho."

"So Kaho, I'm wondering if I can talk to you about business?" the man named Michael asks.

Kaho thought to herself that 'why on earth is this man talking to her and of all things to talk about, he's talking to her about business? Is he a salesman? But the way he dressed up makes him look otherwise.'

Since she doesn't know how to answer she said the first thought that comes to mind.

"Uhhmm sorry but I think you're talking to the wrong person, because I'm not a businesswoman."

Michael chuckles at her reply. She raises one delicate brow to his actions.

"Well I think I have to explain that part. What I meant when I said business is that I want to offer you a job." he starts.

Kaho just frowns at what Michael was saying. She manages to nod to indicate that she's listening.

Michael continued talking.

"You see I'm a photographer and designer and as you have seen at the nearby park we're doing a photo shoot. But we had a problem earlier because our model had called in sick and I need someone to take her place. Then I saw you sitting here and you're perfect for the role. I wish to offer you a modeling job." Michael looks at Kaho expectantly for a reaction.

Kaho's expression is unreadable.

Michael sighs and says hopefully.

"Perhaps you should think about it?"

Kaho nodded.

"Very well. I hope you will consider my offer." Michael stands up and takes a business card from his wallet. He slides it through the table in front of Kaho. 'I know seeing you here is not just a coincidence, it's fate.' Michael whispers to himself.

Kaho heard it. "Excuse me?" she asks to make sure she heard it right.

"Hmmm?"

"What did you just said a moment ago?"

"Oh don't worry about it Dear. It's just me talking to myself." Michael smiled to reassure Kaho. "I will still be waiting for you at the nearby park for the photo shoot if you decided to do it. Please call me if you have decided. I will leave you, for now. See you soon."

Michael then leaves. Kaho is left sitting in the café thinking.

She's sure she heard the word fate. Did she dare trust 'Fate' again? She shakes her head and stands up. She needs to take a long walk to think this over.

Fate.

The word that still linger on her every thought. Maybe she needs to take a redirection to learn where 'fate' will lead her. With that in mind she finally form a small smile.

All she need is a 'redirection'. Right. That's her fate.

The flashes of her memories rolled like a movie.

The day she showed up at the photo shoot and accepted the offer. It is doing something new and it takes awhile to learn it. Michael helps her to adjust and bit by bit she finally learned to do it perfectly like she is born to do it.

It didn't take that long to love what she is doing.

She had promised to herself that she will never cry over him again. Their history together was in the past now.

Having all her memories again gives her a feeling to renew herself.

It's time for her to begin her life without him. A task that, she should've done long ago. But there's no time for regrets now. What's more important is that she can finally be herself again. As in the one before the heartbreak and the one who had learnt to forgive and start again.

She pulls herself together, wiping her tear streak face. Brushing off the dirt and straightening her kimono.

As she looks up at the sky a small smile forms in her lips as she gazes at the full moon.

"Maybe what they say is true." she thought. "Time can heal all wounds."

Tomorrow she will face the day without the hatred she had in her heart before. She'll start again and maybe she'll learn to love again. But she needs to do something first. Closure. No more running away. That's what she really needs.

She walks back through the path going to her cottage. She has a call to make.

A new day has…. Come