Enemies by Fate, Lovers by Choice

Mira sat at her desk, feeling a little lost in her new job. It had been over a month since she started working at the marketing company, and while she was excited about the new experience, she still felt a bit unsure.

 

The city was so different from the small town she came from. It was always busy, with lots of people rushing around, loud cars, and tall buildings that seemed to touch the sky. She missed her mother and the quiet evenings she used to spend at home.

 

At work, she was still learning the ropes. Everyone was nice, but she felt like she didn't quite fit in. She was familiar with this kind of feeling, but it felt different now. The work was fast-paced, and everyone used words she didn't understand. She wanted to be able to do her job well and share her ideas, but she wasn't quite there yet.

 

One day, while trying to figure out a complicated spreadsheet, her coworker Emily stopped by. Emily was always friendly and helpful. "Need some help with that?" she asked, smiling.

 

Mira felt a little embarrassed. "It's just, everything seems so confusing," she said. "I feel like I'm drowning in all this information."

 

Emily laughed, "Don't worry, we all felt that way at first. This place is a bit crazy, but we'll help you get used to it. Just ask if you need anything, okay?"

 

Mira nodded and forced herself to smile.

 

Emily smiled and stared at Mira for a moment. Then she said, "Also, you don't have to force yourself to smile, just be yourself. Smile when you feel like it, but don't force it, it's ugly, you know."

 

Mira was stunned, "But—"

 

"No but, Mira. People can tell if you're forcing yourself or not, and we'd like it if you can just be yourself and be comfortable."

 

"Thank you," This time Mira smiled comfortably.

 

Emily smiled wider, seeing Mira's beautiful smile. "By the way, we're going to play on weekends, do you want to come?"

 

"I'm sorry, but I already have plans this weekend."

 

"That's too bad."

 

"Maybe next time."

 

"Alright," Emily patted Mira's shoulder before she went back to her desk.

 

...

 

Saturday morning, Mira watched the graduation video after having breakfast. She was so bored that she kept replaying it. The main person in the video was Luna. She didn't know why her mom still went to the graduation. When she asked her mother, her mother only said it was to congratulate Luna. Mira even got nervous because Lilith was there and thought, "What if my mom gets emotional?" But after talking to her mother at that time, she realized that she might be thinking too much.

 

Mira sighed after watching it two more times. The weather forecast promised a sunny day, perfect for her planned outing, as she really needed to refresh. She grabbed her camera bag and headed out, the city's energy already buzzing around her. She walked for a while, enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling streets, but soon felt the need for a quieter space. She remembered a park she'd seen on a map, a small oasis of green amidst the concrete jungle, and decided to head there.

 

The park was peaceful. The wind blew gently, blowing her hair lightly. She found a bench under a large oak tree and settled down, taking out her camera. The park was full of people enjoying the day - families picnicking, children playing, couples strolling hand-in-hand. She captured these moments on film, the quiet joy of ordinary life. This habit came from her mother. At first, she was just curious, so her mother taught her. But by the time she became familiar with cameras, she fell in love with them.

 

She walked around taking pictures. Sometimes, people would hesitate to ask her to take a picture. She guessed that it might be because she looked indifferent and scary, but she didn't mind.

 

Mira enjoyed her time. She would sometimes laugh a little by just watching birds chasing each other. She felt more comfortable now. She didn't know that some people became interested in her and would take pictures of her, and every time Mira would look, they would blush and run.

 

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Mira decided to head back to her apartment. She was hungry, and the thought of a warm meal was comforting. She walked past a small Japanese restaurant.

 

Inside, the restaurant was cozy and intimate, filled with the aroma of soy sauce and ginger. Mira took a seat at the counter and ordered a simple bowl of ramen. As she waited, she overheard the conversation of the couple sitting next to her. They were discussing their plans for a weekend trip, their voices filled with excitement and anticipation.

 

She thought that it's indeed fun to make a trip and have fun from time to time. She ate her ramen and went home.

 

When she got home, she made a phone call to her mother. It became a routine for her to call every weekend, as her mother also had a job now.

 

"Mom?"

 

"Honey, have you eaten?"

 

"Yes, just finished."

 

"That's good. Luna just came here earlier, but only for a moment. She's been busy in her new job. You should call her too from time to time. Maybe you can give her advice on how to adjust to her workplace."

 

"Mom, why do I feel like Luna looks more like your daughter than me?"

 

"What are you talking about? Of course, Luna is like a daughter to me. You're not around, it's so lonely. I miss you so much, my treasure. But thankfully, Luna would come here from time to time, even if she's busy, so I don't feel so lonely thanks to her."

 

"Oh, she's your favorite now? You don't love me anymore?" Mira asked, pretending to be hurt, acting like a child.

 

"Of course not. You're my favorite and only treasure, the love of my life. But still, call Luna, okay?"

 

Mira chuckled, "Yes, yes, yes. I'll call her later."

 

"You're not going to sleep yet?"

 

Mira looked at her study table that had a pile of paperwork. "Not yet."

 

"Alright, don't overwork yourself, okay?"

 

"Yes, Mom. You too."

 

"Of course."

 

"I'm going to take care of some paperwork now. I'll call again later."

 

"It's your day off."

 

"Yes, this won't take long."

 

"Okay, good night, honey."

 

"Good night, Mom."