You're My Destiny

"Ring... ring ... ring ..."

The alarm clock buzzed persistently, and Mary struggled to lift her feeble arm to shut off the sounds while slumbering vestiges of dreaming. Her delicately curved eyelashes fluttered, revealing dove-like ring eyes, twinkling like the night stars had fallen to the earth, lending an alluring beauty to her oval face. Her hair's soft, chestnut-tinted waves cascaded like miniature breakers against a shore of pale sand. She appeared to be a sleeping princess in her castle, awaiting her prince's arrival to awaken her.

The soothing scent of lavender wafted through her lavishly appointed room. Mary tossed aside her fluffy blanket, climbed out of bed, and flung open the window to let the morning sunlight in. Her petite, soft hand seemed even more captivating with the warm rays of the new day gleaming through it. The objects around the room seemed to awaken with her, revitalizing them after a long slumber. Her soft Teddy bear, propped against the wall, flashed a bright, cheerful smile.

She walked into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the cool water flow over her body. The droplets caressed her youthful and enticing body as if rubbing it. She hadn't taken care of herself in a while due to her busy schedule, so she indulged in a moment of pampering, smiling at her reflection in her favorite large mirror.

She let her soul wander freely, parting from her exhausted physical self, seeking a moment of serenity before stepping into the new day. The scent of lavender, diffused in every nook and cranny of her soul, seemed to remind her of something old yet unforgettable.

Today she was dressed differently than usual. She wore a white silk half-sleeve shirt, a grey skirt with a double row of buttons as a highlight, and a handbag decorated with metal studs, all combined in an exquisite ensemble. Of course, high heels were indispensable - a close companion to many modern women, which not only enhanced their femininity but also expressed their pride. The pastel pink heels, with slender, pointed stems, made her walk more graceful and agile, like a ballerina performing on a grand, dazzling stage.

"Have you had breakfast before heading to work, dear?"

Ana Madam, the housekeeper, just put down a bowl of beef pho and looked towards the stairs as Mary descended, asking gently.

"Yes, I'll eat breakfast before leaving."

She sidled up to her mother in a pretend to be coy. As an only child, she had always been pampered by her parents. Such doting might seem abnormal to outsiders, but it was the norm in this household. If one day she stopped behaving in such a manner, this place would seem devoid of life.

"Wow! Let's see, whose beautiful daughter is this? Can you twirl for me? My daughter has grown so much, hasn't she?"

Mrs. Frank, Mary's mother, admired her daughter's beauty, whom she had given birth to with incredible admiration. She always did this, even after all these years, sometimes overdoing it as if her child were a fairy.

Mr. Frank, her father, shared the sentiment. His daughter was always the best; if he had one wish, it would be for the world to revolve around his little princess.

"Come on; you're my parents. If outsiders hear this, they'll say, a cat praises its tail'. But am I pretty, Mom and Dad?"

Mary playfully chastised her parents for their over-the-top praises, but she felt genuinely happy because of

"Today, what mode of transportation do you plan to take to the publishing house? Do you need me to give you a ride?"

Mary's father looked at his daughter with a tender, affectionate gaze, full of the gentle love of a parent. Since the day she was born, she had been a gift bestowed upon him by a higher power. This gift was not measured by material possessions or monetary value; it was priceless, like a magical enchantment.

"Well, I'll take the bus, Father. I don't need your help; I can manage independently."

Mary declined her father's offer of assistance. She knew that he was always worried about her, concerned that she might get lost road, encounter dangerous individuals, or face difficulties. However, she understood that she had grown up and it was time for her to take care of herself, even for simple tasks like commuting from home to the office. She was not a little snail that could stay forever within her protective shell.

"No, my dear, it's not safe to go alone. Since you were young, have you ever taken the bus yourself?"

Her mother expressed her concern. In her eyes, Mary was forever a little child; she cradled in her arms and sang lullabies whenever she cried.

"Alright, if you say so, listen to me, Mother. I also need to allow Mary to become independent and mature."

Ass if understanding his daughter's thoughts, Mary's father gently persuaded her mother. He was indeed a psychologically understanding father whom countless children longed for. Looking into her eyes, he knew what his daughter was thinking of.

The bus stop isn't directly in front of the publishing house; it's about a three-minute walk away. She had been gone once, but it had been around four years ago. In four years, a lot has drastically changed.

The line of fortune trees that used to greet visitors at the main gate has been replaced by a regimented row of royal areca palms, standing tall and proud as if they were sentinels guarding a peaceful sky day and night. The path leading into the lobby, paved with dark stones, accentuates the smooth beauty of the meticulously cared-for green grass on both sides. Slender betel vines weave up the areca trunks, as sweet and intense as a fairytale romance.

The focal point is a water fountain shaped like a spinning globe, where playful water jets operate according to some immutable law. The white water sprays shoot high into the air before falling, forming bubbles that vanish in a few fleeting seconds. But even in that brief moment, we can appreciate the beauty of those fragile droplets. Thus, despite the brevity of life, we should live fully, with passion because somewhere in the vast world, there's a corner dedicated to such spirited souls.

The expansive yard in front of the main hall is as vast as the sky in her heart, growing wider with each passing day, open and infinite. She slowly navigates as though cautiously taking her first steps in life.

"That's Mary - one of the new hires from the recent recruitment drive. She graduated from the theory, criticism, and composition department at the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. So young, I doubt she'll last long here." Standing near the coffee machine, a group of older colleagues watched her with a cold gaze and a sneering smile.

"But she possesses the passion and faith of youth," another colleague added, her smile somewhat cryptic. The two then walked away, leaving a perceptible emptiness as though something unnecessary had just been cleared.

Mary looked around at the fruits of her father's passion, feeling an uncanny sense of emptiness and estrangement. Perhaps her worries were rooted in whether she could shoulder the hopes and dreams of her beloved father.

"Hello! Welcome to the Young World family. You are the youngest member here, so if you have any questions or doubts about your work, feel free to ask your colleagues. Don't be shy; we are like one big family here."

A woman's voice around forty echoed in her ears, as crisp and refreshing as the sound of a cool stream on a sweltering summer's day – Selina Jeffrey, the head of the editorial department. She is middle-aged, with thick glasses perched on her bright eyes and long dark eyebrows stretching to the corners, highlighting the elegance of her full, round face.

Despite artfully made up, signs of time were subtly etched on her face, notably the tiny black spots and minute creases visible on her cheeks when she laughed. Only those standing close and paying attention would notice these marks; otherwise, her poised, polished demeanor would overshadow them.

"Hello, everyone! My name is Mary, and I'm twenty-three. I graduated not too long ago and am inexperienced since I'm new.

I look forward to your support," she spoke, her eyes scanning her colleagues, her lips curved in a friendly smile as she introduced herself confidently.

Everyone warmly welcomed her to their shared home. Some colleagues gave her kind looks, some offered cordial smiles, and a few seemed indifferent. People's lives were filled with daily concerns, and gaining or losing a colleague was a minor deal. The atmosphere appeared friendly initially, but a more extended story could lurk behind it.

"Alright, everyone, back to work." Selina signaled everyone to disperse and kick off a new workday. Everyone quickly took their positions, as every second was being paid for; wasting work time in any situation would be unfair. Work, work, and more work were the mantra every employee had to commit to heart.

"You've graduated already? I thought you were still an intern. You look so young and pretty." Johny – a young, good-natured colleague – was the first to converse with her.

"Yes, I graduated nearly a year ago. I haven't worked anywhere else; this is the first place I've come to." She gently responded to her senior, a friendly smile appearing.

"So what have you been doing in that time? Don't tell me you were eating and playing?" Johny was curious about his new, young colleague. Most of the staff had worked for many years, and the profession posed many challenges for more youthful individuals.

Only the experienced could stand firm, and it was rare to have such a young colleague. He was eager to chit-chat.

"Well, I... I..." As she hesitated about how to explain to her humorous colleague, Johny chimed in.

"Nothing in life is more interesting than not working and still having money to eat and play. I admire people who live like that. They must have done a lot of good deeds in their past lives to enjoy this one." He chuckled, implying that everything in life was under his control. His mischievous grin became even more endearing.

"Stop it, you joker. You see a newcomer and start bluffing about this and that. Be careful, Mary, or you'll get tricked. He's famously known as Hydrogen Johny (*) around here."

Lani, seated next to them, interjected. Johny was taken aback and didn't know what to say, choosing instead to quietly and obediently resume his work.

The office window was firmly shut, but she could still glimpse the bustling life outside through the glass pane. Stepping out of the house filled with love, she felt an intense emptiness inside. But no matter how vacant or cold it felt, there would come a day when she would have to get accustomed to and even find comfort in this feeling.

She couldn't live her whole life within the limited confines of just one house. Her world was set to expand, the sky in front of her to soar higher, and she would have to look into it, gaze intently to find herself amidst the vibrant colors of this world.

Young World Publishing House would one day be her inheritance, as she could only fill that role. Was it right to place such immense responsibility on a girl's shoulders?

She stared into the vastness in front of her. Everything nearby was as clear as day, but the further away it got, the more faint it became. Her life was the same. The past years and the radiant present were vivid, but the future still held many uncertainties.

(*) Johny - Hydrogen: Hydrogen is a chemical molecule that is oxygen-seeking. Hence, it rarely stands alone and seeks oxygen molecules to bond, forming a water molecule (H2O). Once it finds a new oxygen molecule, it will immediately leave and bond with the new oxygen molecule to form a new water molecule. Therefore, this phrase denotes men who change girlfriends as often as they change clothes.