It'll Come Naturally

After hanging up the phone, Annie took a look at Rain, trying to gauge his mood. To her surprise, Rain grinned at her. "Let's go!" he said. "Let's go back home!"

It was not like he wasn't a little suspicious of Fred. He was, but he knew that Annie was right here. Right now. With him. He just learned to relax and let it go.

Annie made an appointment to meet Fred the next day. Before she got to the meeting place, she felt somewhat embarrassed. She had made this big decision all of a sudden, and everyone would be blown away if they knew.

Sitting at a table beside the window and waiting for Fred, Annie looked out the window, staring at the passers-by outside hurrying about their business. It was for the first time in her life that she felt close to this city, because from now on she could live happily here, with her family.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Sorry I'm late," Fred said as soon as he arrived. He was decked out in a formal suit and a woolen overcoat. He looked like a dapper gentleman.

"No, you're not late. I got here early," Annie said. Since she was the one who suggested they meet, she had gone out quite early. She didn't want to keep Fred waiting.

"You're in a good mood," Fred said, taking off his coat and putting it over the back of the chair. He observed her carefully this whole time.

"Really? Thank you!" Annie touched her face with her hand in embarrassment. She could feel her blush.

"Something to drink?" Fred felt dejected. Annie looked different today. She was strong and happy. It bubbled up from within her, and anyone close to her could feel it.

"I already ordered," Annie said with a faint smile. "I got you your favorite coffee," she continued. She wore a faint smile on her face, which wouldn't look offending to the eye.

"Joyce and Huey all right? I hope they weren't too pooped after the picnic the other day," Fred beat about the bush. He was uncomfortable asking why she had moved.

"They're okay. Joyce had a high fever, but she's good now," Annie kept her head low. She didn't want to look him in the eye.

"What? A fever? You must have been worried! Why didn't you call?" Fred asked. He was annoyed. He blamed himself for forgetting that the wind at the countryside was a bit too cold for the kids. All he had wanted was to make them happy.

"It was late, and I didn't want to bother you. Besides, you don't really know your way around here, huh?" Annie said, frowning. Really, she was uncomfortable as well. She was trying not to be too honest, so people didn't worry about her. But still, that was exactly what was happening.

"Bother me? I already said that I care about you, and I got your back. We are not strangers," Fred tried to wear a smile, feeling discouraged. With a heavy heart, he found that Annie had become more distant. After he had confessed his love to her, everything had changed. "I didn't treat you as a stranger, but Huey made a call to his daddy, so..." Annie didn't speak frankly, but she didn't have to say it. Fred was smart enough -- he got it.

"So you're together?" Fred asked. His gaze was fixed on the diamond ring on her finger, his eyes turning dark.

"Yeah, because we love each other. Previously we broke up because of some misunderstandings. We couldn't see eye to eye until now," Annie answered. Following Fred's glance, she knew he was looking at her ring. She tried to hide it, covering it casually with her other hand. Rain had solemnly put this ring on her finger himself yesterday after the registration. Rain was not poor, and the ring was not cheap, either.

"I won't say congratulations, but I wish you all the happiness in the world," Fred said. He felt like his heart was being sliced to ribbons again and again. He knew it was over, he knew she was with Rain, but it still hurt to admit it.

"I'm sorry! You deserve someone better," Annie raised her head to look at him. If she hadn't met Rain first, Fred would have been a good choice.

"I'm all right. There's someone out there for everyone. I just have to find her," Fred said. Despite appearances, he wasn't looking on the bright side. He knew he had lost this contest of love, and decided not to make a scene about it.

"I'm glad you're taking it so well. On the way here, I was thinking you might get angry and yell at me," Annie sighed, now relieved of a heavy load. Then the smile on her face looked brighter and more charming.

"Would that help anything? Would you leave him and get together with me if I did? No. So why bother?" Fred smiled bitterly. It was exactly because he loved her that he wouldn't put her in an awkward situation. If you truly loved someone, it didn't mean you had to be together. It was also a wonderful thing to silently watch her being happy. He cared about her happiness more than his own.

"I'll never forget you, Fred. Thank you for being in my life," Annie said. She bit her lips as she could not bear seeing that he was so sad, but what she could bear less was hurting Rain.

"If -- if you met me first, then would we be together now?" Fred asked, staring at her expectantly.

"Yes. If I didn't fall in love with him first, you'd be first on my list," Annie looked at him in all sincerity, as if she was afraid that otherwise he might not believe what she said.

"Thanks. So if I die tomorrow I can be happy." Since she was never his, he'd just back off as long as she was happy. Despite everything he did, he hadn't meant to hurt her. He was just so desperate for her love. Now that it was over, he didn't blame anybody or anything but the bad timing. Seriously, he didn't feel it was a shame to lose to an excellent man like Rain.

His love was heavy and painful. Unfortunately, among the numerous choices on the path to love, he had chosen one-sided love. In this case, nobody else could help him. He had to bear the pain alone.

When Annie got home, Rain wasn't back yet, and neither were the children. So she felt the pangs of loneliness, but only for a moment. Rain and the children were like the impetus in her life.

Burying herself in the sofa, she thought about Fred. She knew him too well. Right now he was probably at a bar, trying to drown his sorrows.

She guessed that things would be tense between them for a while. She would rather he hadn't confessed his love to her. In that case, she would not have to worry so much about trying to be his friend.

Her messy thoughts were drawn back by the rings of her cellphone. Taking a look at the number displayed on the screen, she was surprised to find that the call was from Leena.

"Hi Leena! So what's up?" Annie answered the phone. She liked Leena because she knew Rain cared about her very much.

"You at home?" Leena asked. Since Rain had asked Leena to design a wedding dress for Annie, she had to get her measurements. After all, it was winter, and everyone was all bundled up, so you couldn't just eyeball it.

"Yeah. You coming over?" Annie responded to her with open arms though she had no idea why Leena was asking all this.

"Hmm! I'll be about a half-hour." Leena sprang to her feet when she heard Annie would be home. The comfort of the sofa could wait.

"Okay, I'll be here," Annie hung up. Remembering how she had misinterpreted Rain and Leena's relationship before, she broke into giggles.

Leena appeared at Rain's villa half an hour later, just like she had said. She still looked like a sweet middle school student though she was actually a mother now.

"Leena, come in! You must be cold," Annie said. She opened the door and walked out to receive Leena as soon as she heard the sound of a car. When she came out, Leena was getting out of the car.

"Naw, wind's not too strong today," Leena jogged into the house, laughing. She got cold easily, so she was bundled up in several layers.

"Where's Richard? Why didn't you take him with you?" Annie asked out of curiosity.

"He's at home. It's too cold outside. I didn't want him to get sick," Leena answered. She came here to work. If she had taken him with her, she would be very likely to have left her work half-finished when they left. "Here... a cup of tea to warm you up," Annie poured a cup of steaming tea for the girl. She wondered why Leena came to see her.0000000000☐☐☐☐☐