Bound by fate

June POV

Hi, I'm June. June Martinez.

I'm a writer and a university student at the same time.

I'm a person with many dreams, and I always love to achieve them.

I have so much to talk about regarding my story, so where do I even begin?

Should I start by narrating my story with my first love?

Perhaps that's the best starting point for my life's narrative, because all the truths began to emerge from there.

At Cambridge Public Library

June was wandering through the library, searching among the books for something new to catch her eye.

June was a book enthusiast and loved reading all genres: literary, poetry, detective, mystery, and every other kind of book.

June's dream was to read every book and visit every library in the world.

While searching among the books for something to read, she found a book that drew her attention. As she reached for it, another person also seemed drawn to the same book.

June's hand brushed against the man's hand, who also wanted to take the book. She looked at him in embarrassment, but the man was incredibly handsome. He was tall, with exceptionally beautiful eyes, as if their beauty was borrowed from the seas and the sky. He had sharp, well-defined eyebrows. His features were very distinctive, and June was intensely captivated by him.

Their eye contact lingered for three seconds before the man finally broke the connection, saying in his deep voice, "You take it, miss. I apologize." His accent was heavy, like a Russian one.

June continued to stare at him silently, then realized her silence and replied, embarrassed, "No, it's alright. I'm sorry, you can take it."

The man smiled at her, and his smile was incredibly beautiful. One could even exaggerate and say it was June's first time encountering a man with such handsomeness and perfectly symmetrical features. June felt her heart pound fiercely, and her composure seemed to melt as she looked at him.

As for the other... despite his stern and cold features, he completely melted because of the look in her eyes. She was indescribably beautiful. She wasn't the most beautiful, but she was unique. Unique to the extent that you wouldn't want to tear your eyes away from her delicate, beautiful features. Her eyes were the color of a forest, full of green and brown. Her lips were like an edible strawberry, not large, but pleasantly small and plump. Distinctively shaped. Her skin was fair and rosy, without imperfections... Her hair was blonde and medium-length. She was uniquely beautiful.

After a moment of continued eye contact, August finally decided to break the silence. He cleared his throat, then added in his rough, deep voice, "You already took it first, so you should take it... I can read it later somehow."

He said this while looking intently into her eyes. June then noticed that they had been staring at each other for too long for strangers and subtly moved back a bit, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He also noticed this and turned to face the other way, still relatively close but without invading her personal space.

June looked at him with a smile and added, "Thank you for your generosity; it means a lot to me."

His eyes widened, and her words had pierced his heart. Wasn't it strange for someone to feel such warmth from just a word from a stranger?

He nodded his head with a gentle smile, finding the situation between them endearing. "You're welcome. It's nothing worth being selfish over," he added, his rough voice carrying a hint of tenderness and kindness.

She smiled upon hearing his words, and her heart filled with gratitude for his endearing kindness.

After that brief conversation... August gathered his large frame and turned to leave... He walked away, subtly glancing back several times... but he tried to control himself and left without turning again. As for June... she remained in the same spot, clutching her book tightly, watching his retreating back. It was the first time she had felt such a strange sensation. She stood there for a stranger, lost in thoughts about someone whose name she didn't even know, or anything about him. But he... had caught her attention in a different way... different from anyone else.

She continued going to that library many times, always hoping to see him again. She had become addicted to seeing him from just one glance and a short conversation that lasted a few minutes or less. But it could be said that those minutes were something profound for both of them. Something deeper than their small conversation.

Every time she went there, she indeed found him, and it sent butterflies to her stomach, making them flutter and overwhelming her with happiness that she had found him in the same place again...

He, too, noticed when she arrived. He tried as much as possible to keep his gaze on the book but failed, finding himself stealing a fleeting glance with his sharp eyes to look at her face and slender body with its subtle curves.

It was a pleasant and endearing coincidence that made both parties grateful for its existence.

June consistently went there to see him and enjoy a glance... even if it was just a glance.

Days passed... The university period indeed began.

June started attending Harvard Medical School. She met her friends there and enjoyed her time more than ever before... but this time, thoughts weighed heavily on her. Thinking about this man she had met previously in the library... and it would be difficult for her to go to the library with the start of her studies... The library was indeed far for her to be able to go there. But she was determined. She wanted to go there no matter the cost.

June was on campus, sitting with her friends... lost in her thoughts, pondering how she could go to the library without being late for university.

She looked at the girls after she had a chance to speak...

"I have something... an idea to share with you girls."

She said, looking at them with sparkling eyes. The girls felt curious about what she wanted to share and indeed allowed her to speak.

She looked at them with a smile, ready to speak soon... then added in a quiet, excited tone: "I found a library whose atmosphere I really liked... I've been going there recently, and I've gotten used to it... So I'm thinking of going there every day with you during the break between classes. What do you think?"

The girls looked at her and liked the idea, but one of her friends quickly, though not completely, objected to the idea... then she said in a questioning tone, "Shouldn't we know the location of the library before we decide whether to agree or not?" Georgina asked, her tone sharp.

June chuckled softly because she knew Georgina was right. It was her mistake from the beginning not to tell them about the place she was talking about.

June looked at the side where Georgina was sitting with a gentle, apologetic smile and tone. "Indeed, it's my fault, girls... I should have told you about the place first. Do you know Harvard University in Cambridge? It's 5 kilometers from here, so we can be there in 15 or 20 minutes, and the library is very close to it."

The girls liked the idea and agreed without hesitation, but Georgina always liked to have neutral opinions for them.

Georgina added in a tone of shock and annoyance, "Girls, are you really serious about something like this?! We already have libraries here. Why do we have to go there when we only have 50 minutes for a break? It's not even a full hour! What will we gain from that? We won't even be able to settle down there anyway because we'll have to return to the university after just 10 minutes of entering the library. Do we always have to act crazy and reckless, even after we've finally started studying at medical school? Do we have to lose our place and get expelled just for this? Just to enjoy for ten minutes? We can go during the holidays; why do we have to go during a break that isn't even a full hour?"

The girls looked at her, but the excitement of going there still simmered within them.

June placed her hand on Georgina's with a reassuring smile, "Girl, this will never be a reason for us to get expelled from university, please... We'll just enjoy ourselves a little, then come back. We have to break the rules a little sometimes to enjoy our short lives, which we only live once... Besides, I'll have Christoph drive us... You know Christoph always knows shortcuts to get in, and that will help us get there and enjoy our time before we're even late."

The girls confidently agreed with June's words, but Georgina remained unconvinced by their idea. However, she was forced to agree because she was sure they would do it whether she liked it or not.

"Fast forward"

"The Next Day"

The girls were indeed planning their trip to the designated place, and Georgina was still hesitant about the matter. Georgina was always cautious about such things that might cause problems for them when they were unaware, but the girls were always stubborn, loving to enjoy themselves and break rules, completely unlike her.

After the first classes ended, just before the break... the girls set off and found Christoph waiting to take them. They eagerly got in, and Christoph indeed drove off.

While driving, Christoph noticed the worried expressions on Georgina's face and stared at her for a moment before smiling and adding in a reassuring tone, "Georgina, don't worry about being late when I'm driving you... I'll make sure you get back to the university before the break ends after you've had your fun. Trust me before you trust your gut, okay?"

Georgina looked at him and smiled, nodding her head. His words calmed her heart somewhat... at least a small part trusted his words.

"Minutes later"

They indeed arrived at the familiar place and got out of the car excitedly. Christoph looked at them with a smile filled with warmth and told them he would wait for them in the same spot.

The girls went inside eagerly, exploring the new place.

As for June, she had a specific destination in mind that she intended to visit.

Her feet led her to a particular set of shelves she had in mind to check. She searched for something specific that was on her mind, and indeed, she found a book as if she had been waiting to see it... Her eyes widened in happiness upon seeing it, as if she had found something more than just a book...