Colliding with Fate is the spin-off (sequel) of The Bet. It's already posted on Wattpad and published by Pop Fiction. Go to My Works to read it. :)

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Happy Reading! (:

Infinity

~ Sophia

After four years of studying across the country and living in a dorm, it feels good to be back home.

Home. To some, it is a place. To others, it is a person. To a few, it is a feeling. A feeling that wherever you are, whomever you are with, you are home. But remember, home is where the heart is.

Through the years, Draky is my home.

Just thinking about him makes the butterfly in my stomach flutter. We've survived college together. Draky, Andre, Driana and I went to Yale. My friends who are there for good times and in bad. . . Who would have thought we'll attend the same university? It was a great experience. We made every moment count. And we become closer than ever.

Now I'll find a job that will help me grow as an individual and as a young professional. I will finally live in their so called real world.

The ringing of my phone snaps me from my reverie. "Hello," I say, answering it.

"Let's go out," Draky responds. His voice sends electric shock through my body.

"Sure," I say breathlessly. It's exactly a week now that we came home, after graduation. And we almost spend our days together.

"I'll come by at five."

"Okay. See you!" And then we hung up.

I wonder where we will go today. Draky has a lot of secret places. I'm unfolding them one by one, but I know there are more that I haven't seen. While we were studying, we traveled to different places, finding new roads, making new memories. And yes, talking to strangers when we got lost.

While waiting for the time, I grab A Midsummer Night's Dream from my bookshelf and read. A smile forms on my lips as I remember the times when Draky and I had our tutoring session. It's been years! And look at us now, more intact than ever.

Two hours prior the appointed time, I get ready. I'm not sure what we'll do so I wear a dress. It's pale blue, with a fitted bodice. Its skirt is full, the kind that sways when you twirl.

Before the clock strikes five, there's a knock on the front door. Opening it, I see Draky. He still looks the same seventeen year old boy I fell in love with but he has matured as well. He's so handsome I can't believe I can call him mine.

"Staring at someone is rude," he says amusedly.

"There are exceptions to every rule."

He laughs, and it's the best sound in the world. "Fine, you can stare at me as long as you want."

I open my mouth to reply and he kisses me. It's soft and slow, like we're savoring every second. I'm in cloud nine again, floating happily.

We pull away after a minute, and he leans his forehead to mine. "Time to go," he murmurs.

We're both reluctant but we know we have to keep moving.

Draky takes one of my hands as I lock the door behind me. My parents aren't here. They told me that they have to go somewhere.

Hand in hand, we walk to Draky's car. He opens the door for me, and I slide in, buckling my seatbelt.

I thought now that we're together, he'll stop being gallant, but it's so natural to him, like he's born with it. And it's so nice because he engages in chivalrous behavior.

"Where are we going?" I ask curiously.

He smiles but doesn't respond.

Even with all these years, his smile still makes my heart skip a beat. I thought being in love with him was enough. But every single day, I'm falling more in love with him. It's surreal!

"Can you do something for me?" he asks.

"What is it?"

He raises a handkerchief.

"Blindfold?" I say incredulously. "Why?"

His lips twitch, forming a crooked smile. "It will ruin the surprise, don't you think?"

"Fine," I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest.

He grins. "I know you can't resist me."

I roll my eyes and stay quiet. What will I say? We both know that it's true.

Draky twists the handkerchief and ties it at the back of my head.

I sigh. I'm now enclosed with blackness, and I don't have any idea what he's up to. He doesn't run away with surprises. He always has something in mind.

We're both silent for the rest of the drive, but every now and then I ask, "Are we there yet?"

His answer is always, "Not yet."

With the way he talks, I get a feeling that he's nervous. Questions want to spill out of my mouth but I control myself.

A matter of minutes later, the car slows down and stops. If I'm right, we were on the road for an hour.

"Ready?" Draky asks. It sounded like he's asking himself.

But I answer anyway. "Yes."

He helps me unbuckle my seat belt and get out of the car.

Taking a deep breath, I smell fresh air and trees. We're probably out of town.

Draky holds my hand as we walk along the path. A distant memory wants to resurface, like, I've been here before. I can't be sure though, because my eyes are still covered.

Several steps later, Draky stops.

"We're here?"

"Yeah," he chokes the word out as he unties the blindfold.

I blink my eyes repeatedly as they adjust. There are a lot of lights surrounding us. Christmas lights are all over the place- trees, ground, on the fountain- everywhere. They are decorated in a fascinating pattern and they change color after a few seconds.

It's almost dark, and stars are slowly showing in the sky. It's beautiful, I feel like I'm in a fairytale.

The last time I came here was almost five years ago. On my seventeenth birthday. This is the place where we first kissed. Where he gave me the necklace I am wearing right now. Where he first told me that he was falling in love with me.

Clearing my throat, I ask, "What's the occasion?" This place brings back so many memories.

Before he can answer, I hear footsteps coming towards us. Instinctively, I move and lean towards Draky and he wraps his arms around me. He's not that troubled though. And it calms my thundering heart.

Then the faces of the people come into view and I squeal in delight.

My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Swift, Andre, Driana, Aunt V, Rain, Parker, Chloe, and their three year old daughter Eunice, stops a few yards from us.

"What are you doing here?" I ask excitedly. I'm about to go to them when Andre shakes his head and starts talking.

"First day: tutoring session. Second day: Drake stayed in our house."

Frowning, I ask, "What are you talking about?"

He grins and ignores my question. "Third day: the bathroom scene."

My eyes widen as I discover what's happening. The bathroom scene. . . Andre is talking about the days revolving around the bet. Did that mean Draky was keeping tabs back then?

"Fourth day," Driana says, continuing where Andre left off, "I visited you. Fifth day: they figured out when's your birthday."

On and on it goes. Every one of them speaks about the days Draky and I shared together. Did our parents know about the bet now? I'm too overwhelmed to respond. I just stare at them and try to figure out what's going on.

I should know what's unfolding in front of me, but my muddled mind can't grasp it. To make matters difficult, I'm about to cry.

And then all of a sudden, they stop. The last day Parker said was when Draky and I reconciled.

Draky takes both of my hands, and to my surprise, he drops down on one knee.

Drops down on one knee. . .

How many times have I seen a man do this in a movie?

How many books have I read about this kind of scene?

My mouth opens in shock as I realize the meaning of this. Never in my mind had I thought I'll be in this kind of situation. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I glance at everyone around me.

All my loved ones are here, sharing this enchanted moment with Draky and me. My mom is crying and smiling at the same time. My dad's arms are wrapped around her, a look of happiness on his face. Draky's parents are smiling proudly at us. Our friends- Driana, Andre, Parker, Chloe, and Aunt V are beaming at us.

They know this will happen. And they kept it a secret. Just like what they did on my birthday. I blink my eyes to see clearly, but tears continue to spill from them.

Little Eunice runs towards us, holding Shea and Bobby, Draky's stuffed bear, on both hands.

Draky gets a small box from Bobby's little pocket. "Thank you," he tells her, balancing the box on his knee.

Eunice gives us a toothy smile and runs back to her parents.

"Sophia Taylor," Draky begins, squeezing my hands, "Meeting you was fate. I treasure every second I spent with you. They are implanted in my heart. Memories that will last a lifetime. I don't know if it sounds too quick to you but I'm not hurrying you. I just want to say what my heart needs to let out. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have family with you. I want to go home and look at you with our kids. I want to wake up and see you lying beside me. Sophia, you are my future. Will you let me take care of you, love you, for the rest of our lives? Are you willing to be Sophia Taylor Swift?"

A few years ago, this was all a dream. This was impossible. But miracles do happen.

It started as a game. And we end up falling in love with each other instead. We didn't plan it, but we can't really control our hearts.

I smile through the tears and say, "Deal."

A confused expression crosses Draky's face. "Deal?"

"I do," I say, laughing. "I mean, yes, I will marry you."

Cheers, laughter, and clapping of hands erupted from my family and friends. They say Congratulations simultaneously. If Matt is here, I'll bet he's smiling hugely at me, watching me with the man I love.

Draky stands and I make a startle sound. There are tears in his eyes, and he is glowing with happiness. I've never seen him like this before.

"I love you Pie," he says, brushing my cheek with his thumb.

"I love you Draky," I say with all my heart.

He gets a heart-shaped diamond ring from the box and slips it on my finger where it will stay for infinity.