THE ROAD OF THE HEART

The next morning, after a restless night, she made up her mind and went back to the market. This time, she kept her eyes open, searching for Kai. But as the hours passed, there was no sign of him. The market buzzed with activity, but it felt hollow, as though she was searching for something that no longer existed.

Maybe Kai was truly gone from her life, swallowed by the shadows of the forest, as he had always been. And perhaps it was better that way.

But suddenly, while walking along the village path, Anaberu caught a flash of movement from the corner of her eye. She turned her head just in time to see a figure standing at the far end of the cobbled street. She froze in place, her breath catching in her throat as recognition washed over her—Kai.

He stood by a market stall, his presence as commanding as it had been during their last meeting, though this time, his dark eyes searched the crowd in a way that felt less certain, more haunted. His black cloak fluttered lightly in the wind, and his hair caught the sunlight, casting a shadow across his strong features.

Anaberu's heart began to race, a mix of shock, happiness and confusion rushing through her veins. Without thinking, she stepped back, hiding behind the horse carriage as her pulse thundered in her ears. She peered around the corner, watching him from the shadows.

Kai paused, scanning the crowd with quiet intensity. It was almost as though he could sense her presence, his gaze lingering for a moment in her direction. Their eyes met for an instant, but he turned away, shaking his head.

"It's not her," he muttered to himself.

"Just my imagination."

Anaberu exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her heart still pounding in her chest. She felt a deep ache at the sight of him, a feeling she couldn't name, a mixture of longing and fear.

While walking slowly, suddenly Kai overheard a conversation between the villagers, their voices full of curiosity. He wasn't supposed to listen to them but somehow he did.

"Did you hear about the outsider lady?" one of the women said, her tone conspiratorial.

"I heard that she's a widow. She lost his husband."

The fat lady interrupted.

"No.. it's not true, the lady hasn't married yet...I heard her engagement was called off. I heard she was found cheating on her fiance."

Then, the eldest among them spoke.

"Ladies, don't believe in rumors please... The lady is Anaberu..she's a delicate lady..but, I don't know why her fiancé, betrayed her and went after another woman! She was the one who broke the engagement - who wants a cheater as a husband, anyway..."

They all agreed.

The other woman added sympathetically.

"Such a poor lady."

Kai froze, his thoughts racing. A mix of emotions hit him all at once—anger, frustration, and a strange sense of hope.

"Anaberu.." Kai whispered. "I have to make sure it's really her."

"..and if it's true, then..."

Takako had betrayed Anaberu, and the very thought of it made him clench his fists. How could he do that to her? Kai thought bitterly. He had seen how much Anaberu had suffered to bring him back, how she had risked everything for a man who hadn't even been grateful.

Anger surged through him as the weight of Takako's betrayal settled over him. He was furious—not just for the pain Takako had caused Anaberu, but for how easily he had let her go away.

But at the same time, there was a flicker of something else—a sense of relief. Anaberu was free. She no longer had to carry the burden of her broken engagement. She was here, in the village. The weight of it all hung in the air, and for the first time since he had left her, a part of Kai felt hopeful.

She was free. And maybe, just maybe, that meant he had a chance to make things right.

For days, Kai lingered at the edge of the village, drawn to it by the pull of his own unspoken feelings. His heart ached to see her again, to tell her everything.

Then, one evening, he saw her. Anaberu stood near the village well, her back to him as she filled her jug. The golden light of the setting sun bathed her in a warm glow, making her look even more beautiful than he remembered.

Her posture was strong, yet there was a softness to her that Kai found both familiar and heartbreaking.

Kai stepped forward, his heart thumping in his chest as he closed the distance between them. He took a deep breath and spoke her name.

"Anaberu."

She turned, her eyes wide with surprise as their gazes met. For a moment, neither of them said a word, the world around them seemed to fall away.

"Kai..." Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mix of disbelief and emotion.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Kai found his voice.

"Anaberu," he repeated, his tone softer than he had intended.

"I heard the news."

She didn't need to ask what news he meant.

"Which version did you hear?" She asked, her voice small.

"The truth." He said.

Kai eyes darkened with a mix of anger and sympathy.

"I can't believe he did that to you. After everything you did for him."

His voice cracked, the hurt evident in the way he spoke.

"He should've been grateful. And now… now I find you here, like this."

Anaberu swallowed, her throat tight with emotion.

"I'm just… trying to move on. It's not easy, but it's what I have to do."

Kai's gaze softened, and he took a step closer, his voice lowering.

"I missed you, Anaberu. I really really really miss you."

She met his eyes, the intensity of his words sinking deep into her heart.

"I never wanted to leave you behind." He said.

Anaberu hesitated. She couldn't find any words to say.

"Say something please." Kai pleaded.

"I.....I missed you too," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek.

In that moment, it felt as if the world had shifted, as though all the broken pieces between them were finally beginning to align. The past, the pain, and the silence—they all seemed to fade into the distance, replaced by something new, something they hadn't dared to believe in.

Kai reached out, gently wiping the tear from her cheek.

"Anaberu… I don't know what the future holds, but I know I don't want to let you go again."

Upon hearing that, Anaberu allowed herself to hope again, to believe that maybe, just maybe, the path ahead wasn't as uncertain as it had seemed.

As the sun set behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold, they stood there together—two souls who had walked different paths, only to find their way back to each other once more.