Destined For You

October 14, 2018 at around 3:22 in the afternoon, Stephanie was scanning her profile Facebook account when an unknown man appeared on her friend's list request. Because of curiosity, she confirmed the request. The picture of a man didn't interest her at all. Her motive was to get her mind out of all her frustrations in life.

Then, the man named Harry sent a message to her : "Hi, dear! How are you doing right now?"

Stephanie pondered for a while if she will reply or not. She looked closely at the screen of her phone with the message flashing in it.

Why is this man chatting with me now? Is he interested to make friends with me or he has an ulterior motive? Is he different from the other guys I've known? He looks like he's a good man. She thought while tapping her fingers on the table. Then she decided to reply to him.

On the other side, Harry was sitting in his office. Playing with his phone with a serious look on his face. When his phone got a message, he quickly scanned it.

The message came from the girl whom he sent a friend request. He bit his lower lips and started to ponder on how to respond to her. It has been 5 years since her wife died in an accident and from then onwards, his mind was focused on his work as an army general of the 3rd battalion division troops and to his only son which he left into his in-laws in Cyprus.

He read the message: " I feel tired. You look good, dear sir! How should I address you by the way?

Harry smiled after reading the message. He felt like his heart felt warm deep inside him. He thought that this girl must be interested in him.

He replied back. He tapped the letters on his phone screen and sent the message." Thank you for the compliment! Call me Harry."

Stephanie was getting bored while sitting in the kitchen. Then she saw a reply mail on her phone after a few minutes. She hastily opened the message and she smiled when Harry was so kind enough to respond to her message.

Her heart skipped a bit. She felt like there's something unusual with this man. Why does she feel like she is comfortable chatting with him? Her eyes glowed with excitement as she continued chatting with him.

"Okay, Harry!" She replied back.

Not knowing what will happen next, Harry responded again.

" So if you don't mind, can you send me few of your pictures so that I can see your beautiful face here?"

Without any make up on nor lipstick on her face, Stephanie tapped the camera icon on her phone and pictured herself. In her mind, if this guy continues to chat with him without complaining into her physical looks....She will probably continue having a little conversation with him. She sent her picture instantly.

After that, she sent a message to him.

"Sorry! I'm just being me. No makeups or anything. "

When Harry saw her respond, he smiled naughtily. He held his cellular phone firmly into his hands and tried to respond back to her.

"Wow! Beautiful! Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You are really beautiful! What a beautiful eyes going together with your smiles."

Upon seeing his reply, Stephanie laughed a bit. Is he bluffing! What is this guy up to? Now, I'm really interested to know more about him. She thought.

She replied back to him with a mocking face. " Really now?" She questioned him.

" Yeah!" Harry said and continued. " What's the time over there?"

"3:20 pm" Stephanie answered plainly. " How about your place?" She asked afterwards.

"Here is 10:22 am."

Suddenly, a knocking on the door caught Harry's attention. He put down his phone on his desk and his looks changed quickly into a poker face.

" Come in!" He said loudly, commanding the person outside to enter his office with his permission. A soldier entered his office formally and saluted at him.

Harry stood up and saluted as a response to the call of duty.

" Have a seat!" He said.

The soldier sat down on the chair near him. Before he was about to ask the young soldier, he quickly replied back to Stephanie.

" I'm going to chat you later. Bye for now, okay?" He smiled a bit while tapping his phone.

The young soldier remained silent while waiting for his order.

Busy preparing lunch, Stephanie looked back at her phone and saw his response. She smiled

And replied. " Lunch time!

Harry was about to ask the young soldier when his text alarm ring tone sounded. He quickly grab his phone and replied." Okay! Bye for now! I am going back to work now! Okay?"

" Okay!" she replied back.

After having lunch, Stephanie had no more work to do and she felt bored. She took her cellphone and lazily tapped the phone screen. She saw the only name listed on her account. It was Harry.

She bit her lips while wondering if she should text this man but her own feeling prevailed even if her mind was protesting not to pay attention to that account. She felt like telling all her thoughts and feelings in Harry's account.

" It's so boring when there's nothing more to do nor someone to talk to. " After she has sent the message to him. She felt like she needs to apologize the man for bothering him.

Then she started typing again on her phone." Don't mind me. Just do your work. I just feel a little bit lonely, I guess."

Harry was busy scanning the documents that his soldier gave him when his phone had received another message and it interrupted his attention. He took his phone and opened the message sent to him. He smiled a bit as he read the text. He replied back to her to comfort her.

" Don't worry. I'll be back soon. Okay?"

Not expecting any response, Stephanie got excited all of a sudden when she got a message from him. She felt relaxed afterwards.

As the days past by, Harry and Stephanie began to have a deeper understanding towards each other. They even can tell each other's thoughts and feelings without hesitation to each other. They began to dig in into knowing more of each other.

" Harry, don't you think it's time for us to meet in person?" Stephanie sent the message to him.

Harry was laying down on his bed while tapping his fingers on his mobile phone. He smiled victoriously as if he succeeded in getting what he wanted." We have the same thoughts. Okay. How about we meet at a nearby park in Nantou county?" He texted back to her.

Feeling a bit expectant of what the man would say, she bit her lower lips. She received his reply and she smiled upon reading it to herself.

" Sure! Set the time and I'll be sure to meet you there." She replied back.

" Tomorrow at around 3 pm. That's the only time i can spare because of my hectic schedule at work." He forwarded his answer to her.

" Great! See you then! Good night!" Stephanie replied as she lay down her body on her own soft cottony bed.

" Good night! Have a sweet dream, sweetie!" Harry sent his final reply to her.

In the darkness of the night, the stars were shining brightly in the sky. The two persons laying down on bed on their own rooms where having a sweet sleep as their faces had a smile on it.

The next morning, Harry was in his military uniform when he arrived at his office. There were a lot of documents needed for his approval while Stephanie just got up from his bed and started working as well.

As a caretaker, Stephanie woke up at six in the morning and began to work. She finished cleaning the first floor and she then prepared a coffee and grabbed a bread on the fridge for breakfast. Her patient who was 86 years old was already in the living room, watching TV and taking his breakfast.

" Akong, can I go out of the house at around 3 pm? I have to meet someone very important to me." She said to her patient.

"Yes, you may! Just be here before dinner time." Akong said to her with a poker face.

" Thank you, Akong!" Stephanie said with humbleness. She bowed her head three times as a sign of respect and gratitude towards her patient.

*Akong is the name used for old man in Taiwan. It is the term used for grandfather.

After her patient finished his breakfast, Stephanie gently took the bowl and went to the kitchen to wash it together with her cup that was filled with coffee a while ago.

She felt her body was floating in the air that she never felt tired while working. She continued cleaning starting on the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. Her sweat was drifting all over her body.

After all the cleaning, she prepared the vegetables and fish for lunch. She took a small bundle of bean sprouts and sauteed it. Another dish that she made was sauteed cabbage. Lastly, she fried the fish while waiting for the rice to be cooked inside the rice cooker.

As soon as she had finished doing all her chores and had fed her patient for lunch, she went to the shower room.

The water replenished all her weariness. She felt the water rushed down from the shower to her body. She enjoyed every inch of soothing her body with body soap and put on shampoo on her long black hair.

After she had finished cleaning herself on the shower, she dried herself with a clean towel and wrapped it on her body.

She gently opened the door of the shower room and went to fetch her clothes.

Looking for a suitable clothes to wear, she decided to take a fitted cottony white long sleeved blouse partnered it with white jeans. She left the house in a rush so that she could make a good impression to the man whom she will meet up.

In the Nantou Park, A man in an army suite was standing along with some civilians. He looked so charming and vulnerable while waiting for the woman who have captured his attention.

Looking at his military watch, he had a mixed feeling of excitement and nervousness. He was observing his surroundings when his sight captured a familiar figure of a woman. The woman smiled shyly at him and approached him.

"Hi! I'm Stephanie. Are you Harry?" The woman asked hesitantly.

" Yes, I am! It's so nice to have finally meet you, Stephanie!" A bright smile was shown from him as he answered her question politely.

" Did you came here by yourself, Harry? Did you wait for a long time?" Stephanie blurted out of the blue.

The man laughed vividly. "Honey, I'm a general and a man of honour. I came here earlier so that I may not give you a bad impression. It seems I'm making you nervous just now."

" Oh! No, no, no! I'm just curious that's why. Could we sit down a bit?" Stephanie said when she felt her knees were trembling.

" Sure! Let's have a seat there on a bench or we could go in a restaurant now if you like?" Harry responded naturally. There was no hint of nervousness in his face but only his sparkling eyes full of joy was there to be seen.

Thinking of his proposal, Stephanie finally had decided on where to go." Okay! Let's go to a nearby restaurant. It's awkward for you to sitting on a bench with a woman while you are in your military uniform."

" I never thought that you're so considerate towards me. Okay then. Shall we, my lady?" Harry said honestly.

Busy as ever inside the headquarter, Harry wondered why Stephanie hadn't text him yet since they met yesterday. Maybe she is busy in her own work. He thought. His eyes was distracted by his mobile phone near him.

He felt uneasy not knowing what happened to her. The image of Stephanie kept flashing in his mind. He took his mobile phone and tapped on the screen.

" Hi!" He typed and send it to Stephanie's number.

He was expecting that Stephanie would try to communicate with him even if it was just a mere greeting.

On the other side, Stephanie was indeed very busy cleaning her patient's house. Her hair looked like a mess. Her clothes was crumpled and dirty. She noticed her phone vibrating and she stopped what she was doing for a while.

She took her phone and opened her inbox.

There was a message sent by Harry. Looking at the sender's name made her smile. Her exhaustion fade away as soon as she have seen his message.

" Hello!" She replied back.

With full of anticipation, Harry instantly opened the message and he felt happier now that the girl whom he was thinking of about replied back to him immediately.

" How are you today?" Trying his best to come up with a simple conversation.

" I'm fine. I was just so busy lately that I had not yet message you for a while." Stephanie sent back as a reply to him." How about you?"

" As usual...I'm always loaded with work but my mind was preoccupied because I was thinking of you. Sorry but I can't hide my feelings for you anymore. I was wondering if I could court you?" Harry said straight forward into his reply towards her.

Stephanie was dumbfounded by what she had read. She thought for a while if she should allow herself to be courted by him. She had a very bad experience in having a relationship with her first husband. Luckily, she had overcome that event of her life.

I guess there's no harm if I let myself be courted. In that way, I may be able to know him more. She thought. She sighed deeply before replying back to him.

" If you are serious in courting me, you should prove yourself then. I don't like being courted through text. I want the real thing." She replied.

Upon reading what she has sent to him, Harry was delighted. " I understand what you mean and I'm willing to do it in my own way. " He replied back.

Stephanie didn't waited long enough for his reply. She was aware that Harry is a general army officer and that he may have less opportunity to communicate with her if he insisted on courting her. She also had learned from their first meeting that he was widowed and had a son aged 10 years old.

" If you say so...." She responded with a simple but meaningful words to him.

Harry was even more eager to showcase his ability in courting her. As they say, distance is not a hindrance in love. He is willing to do every means to get her heart and trust.

" Thank you for giving me the opportunity to court you. I may have less opportunity to communicate with you but I will do my best to show you how much I care and love you." He responded.

" Words are not enough to prove yourself to me. As they say, action speaks louder than words. Proof is what I needed." Stephanie replied back with a more meaningful message.

Harry wasn't discouraged by how she responded with sarcasm. He even liked the way how honest and straightforward she was. " I will...." He replied.

Looking at his response to her, Stephanie smiled. She was challenged to know how far this man can prove himself to her. Unfortunately she wasn't able to reply back to him when she heard a voice calling her name.

" Stephanie! Stephanie! Where are you?" An old man's voice calling her name out loud.

" Akong, I'm coming!" Stephanie shouted out loud because she was on the 2nd floor of the house cleaning the rooms there. She picked up her phone and put it on her pocket before she immediately went downstairs where her patient was.

" What can I do for you, Akong?" She said while gasping for air because she ran quickly as she could when her patient wanted her assistance.

" It's time for cooking lunch. Aren't you going to feed me?" Her patient said angrily.

Stephanie was startled by the sudden change of mood of her patient. She calmed herself before she responded to his demand.

" I will cook now, Akong. Sorry! Please wait for a minute!" She said with a feeling of being irritated on how the old man spoke to her.

" Go then!" The old man commanded her.

Rushing into the kitchen, Stephanie mumbled as she was preparing the vegetables that she will cook. Her irritability was shown all over her face as she cut, washed the vegetables until she had finally cooked the three dishes in 15 minutes time. She was perspiring as she quickly prepared all the dishes infront of her patient.

" Please help yourself, Akong. I'm going to clean the kitchen first before I join you in eating lunch. Excuse me for a bit!" She said frankly.

The old man nodded with discontent and proceeded on eating his lunch.

Meanwhile, Harry was still waiting for her respond at that moment but when it took her 30 minutes long in not responding to him. He presumed that she was working and that's the reason why she wasn't able to reply back at him.

He continued his work but his mind was still half impatient and alert, waiting for her reply.

It was already past twelve in the afternoon when Stephanie finished eating and washing the dishes. Her patient was lying down on his bed after he had eaten his lunch. That's the routine of her patient.

She can finally take a rest while sitting near the door and watching the old man on his bed. She held her phone and replied to Harry.

" Have you taken you're lunch? I'm sorry if took me too long before chatting with you again." She said apologetically.

Unfortunately, Harry didn't responded back to her because he was busy discussing some issues to his superiors.

Time flies fast like a speed of light and soon it was night time but there was still no response coming from him. Stephanie got impatient and forwarded another message to him.

" I know you are busy. Just message me back when you're free. Good night!" She said on her message. She was saddened that she wasn't able to chat with him much because of their individual work. She laid down on her bed and put her phone near her head.

She was about to go to sleep when she got a message from him. She smiled happily knowing that he responded to her immediately before she could go to sleep.

" I'm sorry if I haven't message you sooner. I had a meeting with my superiors and there was a lot of things that needed my full attention in my work a while ago but now, I'm free to be with you. I miss you, Honey! Can I please call you on video?" Harry replied.

As soon as she read his message, Stephanie hurriedly open the light on her room and fixed herself. He made her feel anxious on how she looks that's why she looked herself in the mirror before replying back to him.

She was thrilled when he saw a message coming from him and excited to see him on video.

" You don't have to apologize because I know how busy you are. But to be honest, I'm really grateful that you made an effort to contact me. Yes, you may call me on video." She responded and waited for him to call.

When her phone rang, she patted her cheeks first to calm herself. Her eyes were glowing as she eagerly answered his call.

An image of a handsome man appeared on her phone screen. He was wearing a charming smiled that any woman would easily be enchanted by it.

" Hi, honey! I miss you! How was your day?" Harry asked with a husky voice.

Looking at the man on the video, Stephanie felt shy but she pursued on what they started. Her cheeks were blushing as she looked at him.

" It was fine. How about you? Aren't you supposed to be resting now since you were too busy today. I wouldn't mind if you rest for a while. I quite understand the circumstances of your work. " She said.

" No! I don't want to sleep yet. I want to talk to you more, sweetheart. A minute of not communicating with you makes me lonely inside. Don't you want to talk to me? Don't you miss me?" He asked randomly.

Confused on what to tell him, Stephanie followed what her heart was dictating her to say even if her mind is contradicting it.

"Of course, I want to talk to you and I do miss you too but I am just worried about your health. " Stephanie said in a sweet loving tone.

Hearing her answer, Harry already had idea that the girl had already a special place in her heart. He was glad to know that she missed him too. Her simplicity, being honest and God fearing was one of the qualities he has known to like about her.

" So, tell me. What is your favourite song?" Harry asked. He wanted to know more about her as well.

" Well... My favourite song is Dreaming about you and The warrior is a child." She answered briefly. " How about you?"

" I love to hear any kind of love songs." He answered back. " What's your favourite flower?"

" I like white roses and red roses very much. Why did you ask?" She commented out of the blue. It triggered something on her mind.

" I was just curious. Now, I know what are your favourite flowers. When is your birthday again?" He responded with honesty.

" It's on July 24. How about you?" She answered briefly again.

" Mine is on the 27th day of October. " He said urgently.

When she learned that his birthday was on the 27th day, Stephanie glanced at the calendar on the wall. Today is already 17th day of October. Meaning there is only almost less than two weeks more to go before his birthday. She pondered for a while before reacting to his answer.

" That's almost near already. Advance happy birthday!" Stephanie reacted with a sweet smile on her face.

" Thank you! I was hoping for a more

" Thank you! I was hoping for a more special gift coming from you though." Harry said in a teasing way. His eyes were filled with anticipation.

Not knowing what he meant just now, Stephanie changed their topic. Her face turned serious and Harry felt that she has something on her mind.

" Harry, can I ask you something. And please answer me honestly and don't ever lie to me." Stephanie said seriously

" Go ahead. I'll be completely honest with you, Stephanie. " He answered courageously.

" Why me?" She said with a furrowed brows.

Unexpectedly, Harry was not ready for this kind of questioning but he thought to himself on how should he answer her without any complications on what his answer would be. After a few minutes, he found his answer.

" I like you for being honest and trustworthy and God fearing as well. It's a rare opportunity to find such qualities in a woman in this present time. I like your simplicity and straightforwardness too." He answered bravely with a pure intention.

" I see." Stephanie didn't expect that coming from his mouth. But she always wanted proof on how he could surpass her expectations from him. " I wish we could talk more to each other but time is running so fast. We both need some energy to carry out our work tomorrow so I hope you won't mind if I will go to sleep now."

Harry looked at his wrist watch and it was really late at night already. He felt a little bit upset knowing that the time was the reason for them to stop having a sweet moment together.

" I understand. Have a sweet dream, honey! " He said with dismay.

" Good night!" Stephanie said unwillingly. She really wanted to talk to him more and savour the enchanting moment of how he made her feel like a giggling teenager again. They both switched off their phone and went to bed.

Time went by so fast that it was already near Harry's birthday. Stephanie thought of how to make a special gift for him. She thought of sharing her talent in singing and telling him how special he is into her life.

She sat down on the sofa and started recording herself on video while singing her favourite songs. She chose to sing Dreaming of you and then she compiled all his pictures that he sent to her before. Then she also added some sweet birthday wishes. She edited it all and made it into one video clip. She felt satisfied with what she did.

This was the first time she made an effort in pleasing someone near to her heart.