[April 15th, 2024]
In the park, James and Rey were seated on a bench. James was about to read the letter when he paused, scanning the surroundings as if searching for someone.
"Hey, what are you doing? Shouldn't we be reading the letter Evan left for us?" Rey asked, pulling him down forcefully to sit beside him.
"I'm checking to see if anyone is watching us," James replied, attempting to mimic a secret agent.
"What are we doing that's so secretive? We're just reading a letter. You're the one drawing attention with all that suspicious looking around," Rey pointed out, prompting a look of realization from James. (:o)
"Alright, I'm going to read now, so don't interrupt me," James said, beginning to focus on the letter's contents.
__
Hello guys, I hope you are the one reading it so please if aunt Rossy is reading close this right now.
.....
Okay then if you both are reading this then sorry guys, I am already away from you all with a huge distance because I have found my real parents who call me after getting my number from the orphanage I live before coming here named, <The Heaven's Garden>. I was also shocked at first and thought that some fake one is here like last time but this time they all told me the things even I didn't share with me like they told me my secret mole in a secret part of my body and many more things and the way I was left in the orphanage and I double check it with the director but it was true and I am very happy that I can reunite with them.
My sole sorrow is that they wish for me to depart in secrecy. Should I reveal this to everyone, it might prevent me from joining them, and they cannot stay here with me, as our entire family resides in a distant kingdom. Please do not anticipate me disclosing the name, as I do not wish for you to seek me out.
I promise both of you that I will find you, and we, the best trio, will reunite just like old times to play games and enjoy ourselves. Just give me some time to settle down and get cozy. It may take a while, but even if ten years pass, I won't forget you both. Don't worry, I'll call you both when I can.
James, please don't tease Rey too much; he doesn't appreciate it as much. And Rey, please take care of our buddy; he can be quite clumsy, as you've seen in the game, like those times we had to mop up the water he spilled.
(A/N: He is referring to the problems James created which they both had to solve.)
So, please don't miss me too much, and James, try not to cry too much, okay? And don't forget to throw a party for Rey.
Lastly, thank you for everything you've done for me. I hope everyone finds friends like you. I am truly blessed to have you both in my life. Goodbye for now, and I hope we meet again soon. Your friend and nerd, Evan, over and out.
__
Rey set down the letter with a heavy heart, knowing that Evan was no longer in this world. The uncertainty of his return loomed over him, and the final words of the letter all but confirmed the slim chances of it happening.
"Hey, are you okay, bro? Why is your head down?" Rey inquired, noticing James sitting silently, his head bowed.
"Just thinking about something," James replied, his voice carrying a different tone.
"Can you lift your head up?" Rey asked, though James resisted. But Rey wasn't one to take no for an answer.
He grasped James's nape and gently lifted his head, surprising James with his strength. James had been determined to resist but found himself unable to.
"Now, let's see if you're crying," Rey said, observing James's face flushed red and his eyes glistening with moisture.
"It's just some dust," James retorted, pushing Rey's hand away and wiping his eyes.
"Alright, now that we know he's fine, let's party and celebrate our friend's reunion with his family," James declared, pulling Rey along to join the festivities somewhere.
Firstly, they entered a cafe and ordered various food items such as burgers, pizza, soft drinks, and a small cake to conclude their meal. James wished to visit a game center, but Rey dissuaded him, reminding him of the enemies he had made there recently who were ready to catch him should he return.
Thus, they agreed to visit a gaming cafe instead, where they played some games before heading home, as visiting a karaoke bar wasn't an option for the two of them.
At the cafe, they began a ranked match and, fortunately, both managed to level up their characters to Lv. 78 and 86, respectively.
Engrossed in their game, time flew by, and it was already past five o'clock when they decided to call it a day.
They logged out of their accounts, shut down the PC, and left the cafe.
"So, it's goodbye then. Let's meet on the exam day," James said as he started to leave.
"Okay, today is March 20th, and the exam is on April 21st. I hope you won't forget about it, and don't forget to study this time," Rey called out to James, who responded with a thumbs-up as he disappeared into the distance.
{Author's Note: Apologies, I am starting with the date and month from this point as I can't locate the previous date mentioned in my earlier chapters. Please bear with me.}
"I know I may forget about it," Rey thought and planned to remind him in a few days.
"Let's go home and rest for today," he said as he started walking towards his home.
"Hey, don't you think the way Evan left the letter and got teleported is quite connecting itself?" Aiden, who appeared beside him, said as Rey nodded, understanding that Evan leaving the letter and getting kidnapped couldn't be a coincidence.
"So, are you saying it's his carefully planned work?" Rey asked to which Aiden simply nodded.
"Yes, I think, kid, his story is quite puzzling, and even his fate value is nearly meeting the requirements for the Destined One," Aiden said as he continued walking, but Rey stopped in his tracks.
"What happened to you?" Aiden asked, feeling a pull backward as if Rey was pulling him, and saw him standing a little distance away.
"What did you say, 'Destined One'?" Rey asked, recalling he had read about this in his novel.
"Oh man, why did I mention it? Now I have to explain it too," Aiden said as he slapped his forehead.
"Let's go home, then I'll explain it to you, as this isn't the place to tell the whole story," he said, looking around and noticing many people staring at Rey, who was looking at him intently.
-- To be continued --