15. Is Fate Playing Tricks On Me?

(Stephen’s POV)

Stephen’s happiness resonated through him, he is seeing the love of his life; the love he thought he already lost, it felt like it was almost too much happiness he deserved. He saw her walking towards him, his limb felt weak; he could not fathom how gorgeous ghosts could become.

“Keira! Keira!”

Keira heard Mr. Watson call her name, she looked in his direction; he gave her the sign that she should get ready to come up on stage.

Stephen heard his father call Tara with the name Keira; it broke his heart realizing he still hasn’t moved on, he misses Tara so much that he saw her in another person, it has been almost a year since her demise, but his feelings for her are just the same.

“Wait a minute, is she that Keira?”

He fought himself deciding if he should follow Keira to the venue, he is curious who’s captured his father’s heart after his mother passed away a few months back. He heard rumors about his father and a certain Keira, his friend who works in the company told him about it.

He just did not expect that he and his dad have the same taste when it comes to women, not to mention they are just about the same age. It was such a shame that a woman that stunning would settle for a man like his dad. His stepmom is the same age as him, that is a pretty awkward situation. When he peeked at the venue she saw Keira waiting at the bottom of the stage with his father.

They looked like a lovely couple, she looked at him sincerely and he seems so proud of her as well. He does not intend to hinder his father's happiness that's why he is decided to leave and continue his term in the military if it means he will not have to face his father and his new girlfriend.  

Stephen saw an old elegant lady was talking on stage; he decided to listen to her speech.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me make history today; also, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to my one and only granddaughter; the sole heiress of the Greene Family… Keira!”

The whole venue was so quiet you will able to hear a pin drop to the floor. Stephen was in awe; his father’s new girlfriend is the daughter of his former boss. How could his father do this to his dear friend? She saw Keira walk up the stage, he had the chance to look at her face as the spotlight was focused on her pretty face.

He felt chills run down his spine as he realizes the resemblance of Keira and Tara, he can’t help but think if they are actually siblings. The truth is he never looked for information about Tara, he did not even look for her photos online, and he wanted to only remember her the way she was when they were together.

While Keira was talking on stage she was so eloquent, poised, and glamorous, unlike his Tara who was nerdy, self-conscious, timid but equally beautiful to Keira. They are completely two different women but that uncanny resemblance is tormenting him.

As he was looking at her, their eyes met, she seemed shocked that he was there; probably did not expect the son of her lover is here. Stephen could no longer hold on to that sight, he left.

Walking outside the garden he was thinking of how he could have spent more time with Tara, probably he could have even saved her from that accident.

Both his hands are shoved in his pocket as he was kicking leaves on his way. He vividly remembers that day, the note he left on the table where he said he would just go out and get breakfast for them, but when he got back she was no longer there. One thought he can’t grasp is that when he came back to her house, she was no longer there, he tried coming back a couple of times but she never went back there. It’s like she disappeared on him all of a sudden.

He talked to his friend Stephen; the original Stephen who was supposed to meet with Tara. He asked for Tara's phone number so he can meet up with her again. He immediately tried calling her but Tara did not pick up his calls. He then decided to text her so they could meet up again, to his surprise the reply he got was not what he expected; he was rejected and was told never to contact her again.

He was devastated by her reply, he honestly thought they had good chemistry and the night they shared was more than just a one night thing. Tara did not seem to be a woman who would do that with random strangers, it was her first time... How could she just disappear on him without a word? How could she just reject him without a reason and expect him to take it well after the wonderful magical night they spent together. 

Was it a one-way thing for her? Or did she just want him to try harder since he got into her pants easily?

He decided to continue to leave for his military service; the first few days were tough, he was given a weekend pass to spend with his family. He was so excited to take his short vacation since he planned on showing up to Tara once more. But then the day he decided to meet her, she found out the worst news of his life. Tara's death; it felt surreal that he had to face Tara's grave to admit to her that he is in love with her.

It's been almost a year and still, he has not moved on; rather he decided to dwell on the feeling of being broken-hearted. This feeling gave him enough motivation to focus on work rather than the people around him. 

And today, for his second short vacation; he sees his fathers' girlfriend, and again the love he felt for Tara came rushing back to him.

“Is fate playing tricks on me? Why is my father’s girlfriend exactly like my departed love?”