For your love

In 2022, at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:

After the pandemic, Vietnamese people gradually returned to normal life, busy and active. Finally, the airport recovered to its previous glory. Aurora Grace was sitting upright and watching these eager people hurrying for their own flights. It seemed that only Aurora was the one who kept her calmness. Aurora planned to travel to Europe and visited Paris, the city of love and romance. This would be the first time she went there but she didn't feel nervous nor excited.

"Miss, haven't we met somewhere before?"

Amidst the crowded airport, Aurora heard a voice, neither loud nor quiet, calling her. It startled Aurora and attracted the girl's attention. Aurora could see a familiar face yet strange. She had a feeling that she knew this person but couldn't remember where and when they met. A faint smile on her lips, Aurora breathed:

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Madam, but I think you have got the wrong person."

"Sometimes we don't meet people by accident, my muse, but destiny does" The old woman laughed thinly. She didn't sit down and kept talking "The pendant on your neck, I was the one who made it."

"What? Can you…."

Frightened out of her wits, Aurora unconsciously touched her pendant. It was her most important possession. The jewelry was a key of live, symbol of longevity and happiness. Aurora had a strange feeling since she couldn't remember who had given her this valuable object. Quickly regaining her calm, Linh immediately raised her head. She wanted to ask so many questions about the pendant and she knew, on a hunch, the old woman knew the answers linking to Aurora's lost memories. But strangely enough, the old woman was nowhere to be found. Although the granny was not too old, she couldn’t leave without Aurora's notice. Trying to search for her was no hope, she only saw the keen people ready for the international flight.

"Hey…" Aurora looked around trying to find, but no one, Aurora felt disappointed, she sighed "It is truly strange."

Aurora's cellphone abruptly rang. Rose, her best friend, was calling. Her friend rarely phoned Aurora this late. This high-class girl usually ate healthily and went to bed early. Therefore, she would never call Aurora at two A.M. Not wanting to remember the unusual encounter, she answered the call and made use of the opportunity to tease the drowsy girl on the other line: "Hey, why are you still awake? You normally go to bed early, don't you? It's two A.M. already."

"I know..." Rose Valdez answered, still not fully awake "But I suddenly remember that my closest friend is sitting on her own at the airport and prepare to fly to Paris, ALONE. What were you thinking, Auli?"

"Well, I am uncertain, too."

"Then do you know who you are going to meet? His age? Job? Even the face? Just cancel your booking, come back to me. I will get you as many boyfriends as you want, hot or ripped, your choice" Rose said.

"But do you think at least I need to meet the owner of this pendant? Apparently, his name is Louis, if I recall correctly, Louis Stoll" Aurora kept happily talking "I hate the feeling that somewhere inside me is empty, so I'm trying to fill that hole."

"Louis… Stoll…? Alright, do your best to enjoy your vacation and do remember if you ever get lost or kidnapped, don't cry and ask for my help since I won't be there to rescue you."

Aurora laughed loudly; she didn't expect that her friend really cared too much about her. Rose was a strong-will girl, Aurora vaguely recalled. Despite being born in a wealthy family; Rose never thought the whole world revolved around her. If anything, she was extremely sociable. A truly friend was hard to find and Aurora had been lucky to have found Rose. Looking at the ticket, seeing that departure time was four A.M. and it was almost three o’clock, Aurora hastily said: "I had better be checking in for my flight and you should go back to your sleep. Maybe when I come to Paris, there will be a promised prince waiting for me."

"You…beep… beep… beep…"

Not letting her friend have a chance to make more objection, Aurora ended the call. Rose, on the other line, didn't phone Aurora again. She quietly went back to her table, took her unfinished coffee. Rose had never slept. She had been timely waiting to telephone her silly friend. Rose felt insecure while walking to the balcony, holding her cup of coffee. It was a cold one tonight in Ho Chi Minh City. The winter wind was blowing upon Rose's body.

"Auli, will Paris truly be where someone is waiting for your love?"

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