"And then?" Lena was curious. "Did the old lady say anything else?"
"Hmm... I don"t remember. But I kept praying as she said. Even when the doctors said that I had a high chance of not conceiving again, I was still hopeful. I truly believe that my sweet baby was in a better place."
"Yeah... me too." Lena softly replied.
"It was about a year after that I got you. You were a gift. Even though the doctors said I could not get pregnant again, I did not care. One child is all I needed to have a complete family. That"s why we should go pray once a year at the shrine. To be thankful and bless your sister wherever she is."
"We should go visit it next month."
"Yes. Your dad, me and you. We will go together."
Lena stayed with her mother as they just sit and had a good time bonding more as mother and daughter. Lena was laughing at the stories her mother was telling her about how she would pee everywhere when she was young.
Lena would run around half-naked around the farm.
"Lena?" Shen Milli called her name.
"Hmm?"
"Are you seeing someone?"
Lena stopped laughing and dropped her smile. "I--- What makes you think that?" She tried to avoid the question.
Shen Milli held Lena"s hand. "Becuase.... you have been happier."
"I..." d.a.m.n... What was Lena suppose to say now?
"Don"t tell dad." She quietly replied. There was no use lying if she got found out. At least her mother doesn"t know who she was with at the moment.
"Why? We would be happy for you."
"You think? Dad would probably land a few punches and break his bones."
"Is he someone bad?" Shen Milli asked.
"No. Maybe. Not for me... He..."
Shen Milli patted her head. "You don"t have to tell me. If you love him, then we will love him too." She cleared her throat. "Just make sure you use protection."
"MOM!" Lena shyly looked down.
"What?! It is perfectly normal to be s.e.xually active your age."
"I don"t like this topic."
"Why are you so shy, Lena? I gave birth to you, I know how you are. You had to hold it so long for Andy but you"re free now."
"We are not ready!"
"You"ll never be ready for anything. You"ll get more nervous if you plan it. Just let it go and be natural. Just make sure you play it safe, aye? Do you want me to help you get some birth control pills?"
"MOM! I am going to sleep."
Shen Milli laughed. Her daughter was growing up so fast. As long as Lena was happy, safe, and healthy, Lena should have the life she wanted to have with no restrictions.
"Yes, yes. Go to sleep. I won"t tell your dad... But don"t keep him too long from us or you dad might really break his bones."
"I know..." Lena kissed her mom goodnight and head out of the library. She quickly ran upstairs and jumped on her bed.
She flipped her body so she was staring at the ceiling. She raised her hand up and looked at it.
"Shen Qian... Lena..." She whispered those names.
If Lena a.s.sumption was correct and what the old lady told Shen Milli and her, Shen Qian soul could be the sister of Lena. Shen Qian"s soul did not belong to this world but her fate was... It make sense that this may be the reason why she was put here to this world.
Could it be that after her "death and rebirth"... her soul merged with Lena"s just so she was stable enough to stay here? And because her fate was destined to be here... maybe that is why she was able to find Kris. What about Lena"s soul? or Shen Qian? Did Shen Qian really die in her sleep the same peaceful death like when she pa.s.sed in Shen Milli"s womb?
Lena would need to seek out that old lady again so she can get the answers she needed. She was never really curious about her original life as Shen Qian. However, knowing that those two souls were connected more than just fate but blood, she was more intrigued to find out more.
Lena had already accepted her ident.i.ty and her role in this world. She was meant to be here... where her fate lies.
She closed her eyes and pushed the unnatural thoughts behind her mind. She picked up her phone and called Kris. He picked up after the first ring.
"Hey." He softly answered.
"My mom knows about us." Lena spoke. "I mean she does not know about us, like specifically you, but, just that I am seeing someone."
"Ok."
"That"s it? You"re not anxious or anything?"
"No. We"re keeping on the down-low but if people know... they know. I mean... my friends know."
When Lena thought about it, Kris" friends know, but Hazel does not know. But then again, Hazel was not one who can keep it on the down-low.
"Kris?"
"Hmm?" He replied.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I believe that fate brought us together. I believe that fate had allowed me to see you and love you."
"What if... we are not fated to be together?"
"Then I would defy fate and all the G.o.dly powers of the world to just be with you."
He no longer has any small doubt that they were not going to be together. He had decided to fully trust Lena. He knew that no matter what he shows her or whatever fate decides to throw at them to test their love, they would be together forever.
"Lena?" Kris whispered.
"Hmm..."
"I lied. I would never let you leave me. Not before, not now, and not ever in the future." Kris confessed.
"I know. I would never leave you anyway, not out of my own free will that is."
"No matter what happens, I would find you, because you"re mine."
Lena laughed over the phone. "Say that again."
"You"re mine."
There was a small moment of silence. They just took the time to appreciate the presence of each other. Lena yawned and Kris knew that she was feeling tired.
"You should go to sleep." Kris said.
"But I want to stay with you longer."
"Then I"ll stay here until you go to sleep, but go to sleep now."
"Ok..."