Chapter 2
Recap
"Inside the temple lie two antique chests, one for boys and one for girls. Inside them are symbols engraved on woods. A symbol from the boy chest matches a symbol from the girl chest. When the boy and the girl have the same symbol, it means that they are fated to each other and no one else." Carol smiled as Gabriella listened intently.
"Did you and daddy get the same one?" Gabriella asked curiously.
"As a matter of fact, we did." Carol answered, smiling at her husband who was looking at her in the rear mirror.
As the story ended, the car came into a halt.
"We're here!" Carol announced and Gabriella jumped out of the car excitedly as a van parked beside them.
"Where are we?" Gabriella asked.
"Welcome to Miracle Forest!" Jack exclaimed with a huge smile. Gabriella turned to face the familiar voice and a huge smile immediately spread across her face when she spotted her two best friends jumping out of the van.
End of recap
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"I'm so glad you guys are here too!" Gabriella said in delight.
"We'll have so much fun!" she continued.
A huge smile spread across Troy's face as soon as he heard Gabriella's sweet little voice.
"How did you find the trip here, Gabi?" inquired Brandon.
"It was great and the weather is wonderful." she replied while looking up at the bright blue sky.
The three children chatted away while their parents prepared the picnic area for the day.
"This place brings great memories, doesn't it?" Carol reminisced.
"It sure does, and I hope it will do the same for our children." Daniel commented while looking at his best friend Jack who gave him a nod and a gentle smile.
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"Wow, this place is magnificent; everywhere you look there are flowers and tall trees. Just like those gardens in my dreams." Gabriella remarked.
"Who's up for the game hide and seek?" Troy suggested letting his head wondered around the place already looking for a good place to hide.
"Alright! Let's play scissors, paper, rock to decide who's going to be in." Brandon stated with enthusiasm.
"No fair!" Gabriella whined. "I always lose at this part."
"Fine, I'll be in first before this game turns into a great long drama." Troy announced as he tried to look away from Gabi's thankful eyes. However, it was too late for him to dodge Gabriella's hug of excitement.
"Thanks Troy! You're the best" she exclaimed. Troy turned into bright red while trying to escape from Gabi's tight embrace.
The game began. Not even five minutes past, Troy had already spotted Gabi's hiding place because of her loud giggling.
"Found ya!" Troy announced.
"Gabi, if you're going to hide, at least be a little bit quieter. Even a blind man will be able to find you just by tracing you're loud giggling!" Troy stated with a sigh.
"I can't help it; this cute little rabbit is tickling me." Gabi informed while showing the white cuddly rabbit for Troy to see.
"Come on let's go find Brandon." Troy said.
Not a moment longer, they found Brandon behind a nearby tree.
"Ohhh… does that mean I'm 'in' this time, now that we found everyone?" Gabi noticed.
"Yes.. don't worry we won't hide somewhere far, so that you can easily find us" Brandon encouraged.
"Plus, you'll get lost if we do." Troy added.
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"I wonder what those kids are up to." Carol said, as she organised the fruit basket.
"Don't worry about them… I'm sure they're having the time of their lives." Jack assured.
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"Alright then, I'll start to count in. One, two, three…." Gabi started. Both boys hurried and hide in the nearest bushes possible.
"Ready or not here I come!" Gabriella announced excitedly. As she was walking, she tripped over her own shoe and fell.
"Ahh.." she screamed. Out from the bushes came Troy and Brandon both looking worried and pale.
"Gabi are you okay??" they exclaimed in unison.
Gabi's eyes filled with tears but still managed to pull out a smile.
"I'm alright guys… nothing to worry about" Gabi reassured as blood dripped out of her bruised knee.
"Alright?! Look at you, you're bleeding!" Troy snapped. Without second thoughts, Troy immediately ran to their van to get the first aid kit and returned just as quick.
Brandon helped Troy address Gabi's cut. While the awkward silence, Gabriella tried to apologise for her clumsiness.
"I'm really sorry to make you guys worried, but truly I'm fine!" She apologised.
"Next time… just try to be more careful." Brandon suggested. Troy remained silent while thinking of saying the same thing.
"Ok… I promise." Gabi said.
To make the atmosphere cheerful again, she told the story about the Fate temple to her two best friends.
"Have you guys ever heard of the 'Fate temple'?" Gabriella asked. "My mom said the temple has two chests, one for boys and one for girls. They have magical symbols in them. If you get the same one, it means you'll be together someday." Gabriella continued as the two boys listened intently.
"It's true! 'Cause my mom and dad picked out the same symbol." She confirmed.
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"So where is this Fate temple you're talking about?" asked the curious Troy, still steaming down from all the commotion.
"I' m sure it's near by..(scanning through the forest) there it is!!" exclaimed the excited Gabi.
"You mean those old looking buildings up in the hill?" announced Brandon.
"Bingo!" exclaimed Gabi in delight.
As soon as they finished addressing her wounds, Gabi was back to normal, now eager to visit the fate temple.
All three kids made their way to the Fate temple, both boys looking anxious to find out, which one of them is destined with Gabi, while Gabi skipped along looking very naïve of what was awaiting her.
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"Here we are!!" Gabi announced, as they reached the top of the temple where they were welcomed by the whistling wind that was encouraging them to come in.
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Ohh my goodness… I'm sorry for the big delay.. I've been so occupied because of all the exams which I have still more to come… --"
I'm really sorry .. I hope you continue to stay tuned.. I'll try my best to update!
Thanks for the reviews, favs and alerts.. it is very much appreciated.. .v