Fate can be liken to a tortoise; cunning. It does not come along in a speed boat or a helicopter. It moves the only way in knows how–slow. Watching one's actions from its vintage point, one's mistakes and falls.
It is said to be the presumed cause, force, principle or divine will that predetermines event. Simply put, it is destiny.
William likens it to a wretched junkie of a girlfriend. Sometimes, she sticks like glue to to your side— to help you in your progress. Gives you a push on the back, urging you to get all you desire most. Smiles and claps for you like a proud mother as she unconsciously grants your success.
Sometimes though, like the wretched junkie she is, all she wants to watch. What gives her the ultimate entertainment— is to watch you crash and go up in flames. Sometimes, you can't just tell what ticks her.
One work hard, sweating buckets in persuit of the hustle, expecting the fruits of labour in earnest prayers. Fate looks upon the man's pitiful self and laughs sadistically. She has decided she only wants to see the struggles, the pain, then watch how long you can't stand again. Watch as you finally burn.
You feel stubborn and refuse to burn, keep on standing; trying to pick up the pieces of life that's broken, her high on drugs legs stretches over and smash those pieces until all that remains is sawdust.
William feels he has won over fate. At the moment, as he watch from the covers of the thick bush, fate watches with him, sobering him up with excitement. He smile might be tearing his face into two, like one who knows the winning lottery numbers.
Maybe he does, because there, in his front, some distance away is a heap that vaguely resembles human on the ground, body twisted in unnatural directions. It laid on the ground like a used tissue. One of his hands missing, the other one placed on his chest as he lays on his back. Blood streaming out from both eyes. An insane man could figure out he's long gone from this world and the insane would know that it was a painful death.
William purpose here though wasn't to see the extent of damages on the man's body, his hiding in these thick bushes surrounded by unforgiving insects, wasn't to share or empathize with this man's pain.
It was her.
His main goal was to place a face on this ray of sunshine Kaito was in a hurry to castigate. Turns out she was a young woman. Her beauty fighting the moon for prominence. Eyes hard as steel as she watches the dirt water, not the pile of death she had just caused.
Her dark lustre locs pulled in a half-do. Beige beach gown rustled by the wind. Angle boots as black as her mood. Nice wears like that shouldn't be used for such barbaric acts, William tsked.
At a beat drop, her eyes zeroed in on his location.
And the man's body forgot how to function. Her eyes lingered on for few seconds, and he thought she could hear the furious beating of his heart. A second longer, she casted it away. Her legs shaking a little as she walked out of the clearing. Making little noise.
William bent, trying to inhale as much air into his oxygen deprived system. His body heaving in deep breaths. It was hot, so hot. Beads of sweats were lined like an army of ants on his forehead. If he was seen, he was so sure he could not sweet talk his way out of it. Painful death awaited him, maybe, more painful than that man lying there. The universe will not save his smart ass— not with big soulless eyes like hers. Eyes like hers could look down on the world and it will have no choice but to tremble.
His mission though was a success. He saw her face and he certainly knows her. Hell, half the City knows her. The popular socialite, left with all her parents assets after their tragic death.
Her annual charity party held every year was the rave of the wealthy. And on the Sunday, two days from today, was the date. Almost all the elites in the city will be present there.
Last year, William remembered, was his very first time in such a gathering. There was no fiscal valve in meeting the host so he didn't bother. Now he knew he had made a mistake, how flawed his thinking was, ''everybody have value and use." She certainly has more worth than the purest of diamond. Bringing her over to his side, the world will burn before him. There will be no limit, no barrier to what he could accomplish.
This charity gathering this year will be different; she was a young woman and on that night, he will present himself as the perfect gentleman. A fucking knight on a dark horse. Or a white. Whichever.
She should get ready to swoon.
****
William parked his car at the edge of the large parking lot. He felt sort of intimidated as judging from the garage, there were like top personalities inside that huge monstrosity of a house. They would not blink twice on seeing him.
He was like a little speck of dusk, a faraway star they would never notice. This feeling he caught himself in made him agitated, made him question this existence. He's working hard to change that sordid destiny. Soon, he will be on the lips of the world.
He walked out of the parking lot, the huge house at a walking distance. At night, the house was magnificent. An enormous fountain stood near the entrance to the large hall where the party was been held. At the entrance, a guard asked for his invitation card before ushering him inside.
Chattering and trays with flute-glass champagne carried on fingertips. Guest milled around in groups with essence and guarded laughs, discussing events. The guests were all dressed exquisite with expensive dresses and suits that cost a fortune. Soft orchestra played in the background and some were already partnered up dancing to the slow tune of the music. William stood by a pillar, a drink at hand, observing. So far, he hasn't seen her.
All this frivolities at this party wasn't his purpose here. He didn't come here to check out beautiful women; they were in assorted or to check out famous faces or gist about how much the buttons on their suits cost. There will be plenty of days for such. Today, he was here on a mission, the most he had ever done and so far, he hasn't seen his little goldmine. She was the host so making an appearance was a definite. In the meantime, he decided, he will have a drink or two and join in some of the socializing going on. Here hosted a lot of good network and information from the right source is power.
"These buttons were gotten in Romania..."
"Yeah?"
"in the caves where dinosaur's eggs were once hatched..."
"Mine was from Atlantis."
"You mean the lost city?"
"You know your history, hahaha! I sent divers out and they came back with them."
"Woah!"
"Woah!"
"Wooah!"
Thirty long boring minutes gone. William bore holes in his glass as he kept on counting the minutes. His mingling so far was a burst. All this rich ass talked about was well, how rich they are. There was no business talk or gossips about certain people. Only their next hanging spot and its views were great subjects for discussion. William had no time to hang or enjoy life right now. Now, was the time to achieve and reach heights but his talk about this seems to bore them. No one likes to talk about work when having fun, some had mentioned. So he left the mingling affair and sat by the bar clutching a glass of whiskey. He will just observe. The only fun that comes from observation in this type of party was watching how the average man sucks up to the super rich.
William could relate to that misery. Before this postion, he was like these men that hang onto every world that is been said by men of influence. It was part of the nightmare one has to pass through when climbing the financial ladder. You laugh at their dry jokes and make them think they are the most interesting piece in an art gallery. He still worship certain people though, soon, it will be a thing of the past. The host just have to make an appearance for that future to enter the potter's wheel.
Eyes darted to the stairs, he could only see grey heels, before he saw long legs paired with them. She walked down the stairs and Williams found out he wasn't the only one that has started to watch with rapt interest. Quite a number of men and women looked up with admiration and eyes full of lust and intense fire. Men and their eyes. Only seeing what their eyes presents in it's shortsightedness. He couldn't blame them when he was also trying to keep himself in check. Her beauty was fierce, forcing your eyes to never leave. Her walk of superiority with her short purple gown and gothic makeup. For William, there was an irony in this.
She'd already begun chatting up some of the guest. It was time for William to make his movement before a lust-led man snatch up her attention.
William looked at his wristwatch, his mind going to work, deciding to best time until he makes his approach. He doesn't want to look like a man fawning over her, so he will take his sweet time burning another hole in his glass. She would be the one fawning by the time he's done with her. No one is impervious to his charm.
Twenty more minutes. He stood up. Across the room, she leaned against a pillar alone. A drink between her brown fingers. Maybe already bored by the people here.
William approached slowly, like a hunter observing a little deer. She feels him approaching and raises her bent head. He made eye contact, held it and bursted a smile her way.
''Why do you look so bored?" Williams asked teasingly as he stood by her side. ''If you are this bored out by your own party, what does that make of us?''
''I am not bored'', she defended, a coy smile playing on her lips, ''there just nothing left to do. And no one to dance with me."
Williams placed his hand against the pillar. "A girl like you will only need to talk and men will fall on their knees."
She nodded towards him and said, "will you fall on your knees?"
"If I fall, who will dance with you?"
She smiled. "I feel the men here didn't come with their balls.''
William laughed a little at this. ''Let's put you out of your misery. Dance with me.''
And she grinned.