A letter to the post man

The next few days, I felt fulfilled. I had been hired by a small fashion designer. Though her company was modest, I was grateful for the opportunity and proud of how far I had come.

A year passed, yet my feelings for Nath hadn't faded. My work distracted me from thoughts of him, but he always found a way into my mind.

That evening, I left work early to make dinner before Alex and Archie came home. Alex arrived first, followed shortly by Archie. He informed us that he was expecting a very important visitor and asked me to prepare something special.

I agreed, staying home the next day to prepare. I called my boss to let her know I wouldn't be coming in, and she was understanding.

The following morning, I woke up early and got to work. I baked pies, made cookies, and prepared a variety of dishes. The house was soon filled with the enticing aroma of my cooking. After setting the table and garnishing the food, I felt satisfied with my efforts.

When I informed Alex that everything was ready, he nodded approvingly.

"They'll be here shortly," he said. "You should change into something nice."

"They're here for you, not me," I retorted. "Talk about putting on something fine."

"Hurry up! You look like a piece of shit," he teased.

"Oh, so I cook for you, and this is the thanks I get? I'm not getting dressed. What are you going to do about it?" I challenged him.

Being the younger sibling, Alex had clearly forgotten I was the eldest. That was until he lifted me up and carried me to the bathroom. He placed me in the tub, closed the door, and left me cursing after him.

Reluctantly, I bathed and changed into something comfortable—a simple shirt and trousers. I had gained some weight since leaving the northern lands, no longer on the strict diet required by my modeling career. My figure was fuller, more noticeable.

When I came downstairs, Alex smiled at me, clearly amused. I frowned, still annoyed.

Soon, the sound of cars pulling into the driveway caught my attention. Alex went to welcome the visitors and motioned for me to join him. I hesitated but eventually walked over.

What I saw stopped me in my tracks. It was Nath.

He looked different. His once-clean face now had a beard, but his presence was as commanding as ever.

I curtsied slightly, forcing myself to remain composed. His gaze locked onto mine, and I managed to greet him carefully.

"Hello, I'm Rei."

He interrupted.

"Reina."

Alex looked surprised. "Do you two know each other?" he asked.

"Yes, Alex, I know him," I replied softly.

Alex invited them to sit. I served the food and quickly excused myself, retreating to my room.

Hours passed as they discussed business matters. Then, a knock at my door startled me. I already knew who it was.

When I opened it, my suspicion was confirmed—it was Nath.

"May I come in, Reina?" he asked.

"Come in," I replied, stepping aside.

He walked in and sat across from me, his eyes filled with questions.

"Reina, why did you block us out of your life? I thought we were friends. You don't know how much Catherine has been worried about you," he said earnestly. "You know we loved you."

That last phrase made me freeze. My eyes instinctively fell to his wedding ring.

"I'm sorry, Nath," I said. "I had to. I needed to focus on myself without burdening you both."

"Burden us?" he asked, his voice heavy with emotion. "Reina, you mean so much to me—and to my wife. You could never be a burden to us."

My gaze on him intensified. He had no idea how much I loved him. I had distanced myself because I didn't want to ruin his marriage or destroy myself in the process.

Then, he reached out and held the tips of my fingers. Before I could react, he pulled me into a tight hug.

That embrace awakened something inside me—a surreal, bittersweet feeling.

I quickly broke away, stepping back. "You should leave, Nath," I said firmly.

He nodded, his eyes lingering on me. "I'll reach out to you again," he said before walking out of my room.

As the door closed behind him, I leaned against it, my heart heavy with emotions I couldn't express.

I sat quietly in my room, my thoughts a tangled mess.

A knock at the door interrupted me.

"Rei, you okay?" Alex asked from the other side.

"Come in," I said softly.

He stepped inside and leaned against the doorframe, studying me.

"So…how do you know Nath?"

"He's Catherine's husband," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. I didn't want to explain further.

Alex frowned slightly but didn't press. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Come downstairs and eat something. You haven't had lunch."

Reluctantly, I followed him. As I sat at the table, eating in silence, thoughts of Nath drifted back into my mind. His scent lingered in my memory, and I found myself wishing I had hugged him tighter.

Days turned into weeks, but Nath remained in my thoughts. I tried to forget him, to move on, but the weight of my feelings wouldn't leave me. I longed to talk to someone, but who would understand? To everyone else, I would be the villain in the story. They would criticize me, call me selfish. I couldn't bear that.

One evening, Alex mentioned that Nath was still in our hometown and hadn't returned to the southern lands yet.

The news stirred something in me. I wanted to see him one last time before he left, before I had to push these feelings deeper into the recesses of my heart.

After work one night, I decided to visit the mountains where Nath and I had first met. The air was cool, and the world felt quiet. Sitting on a hill overlooking the town, I let my thoughts wander.

I wasn't there to end my life. I just needed to think, to reflect.

"Did life bring Nath to me just so I could love him from afar?" I whispered to the night.

The stars offered no answers. I pulled out my sketchpad and began drawing the sky. The act of sketching calmed me, but a voice broke through the stillness.

"You draw too?"

Startled, I turned and froze. Nath stood there, his face illuminated by the moonlight.

"What are you doing here, Nath?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

He smiled warmly, that same disarming smile that always unsettled me.

"I was wondering if someone might be contemplating suicide again, so I came to check," he said teasingly.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not here to kill myself, Nath."

"I can see that," he said, his tone softening. "But Reina, why do I feel like you're avoiding me?"

I looked away. "I'm not avoiding you, Nath. I just don't know what to say to you anymore." My voice wavered. "You're married now."

He stepped closer, his expression earnest.

"You know Catherine has never been against us being friends, like how we were before. Please, Reina, you're killing me here. I keep wondering what I did wrong."

He gently took my hand, his touch both familiar and painful.

"Please, Reina. Let me in. Tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.

My resolve cracked. I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I love you, Nath," I blurted out, my voice trembling. "I fell for you the moment you saved me from this very hill. And I kept falling, all the way until you married Catherine." Tears streamed down my face. "I love you! But I don't want to hurt her, so I had to leave you two alone. Don't you get it now, Nath?"

My voice rose, echoing in the stillness. Nath looked stunned, unable to speak. I yanked my hand from his grasp and turned to leave, my heart pounding.

Descending the hill, I didn't look back. Nath didn't follow me this time.

When I reached home, I went straight to my room, shutting the door behind me. The emotions I had buried for so long came crashing down, and I cried until exhaustion claimed me.