I’d never been in one of those rounds before. You know, the one where they climb on those enormous plastic candy-colored amazingly elaborately fantasy painted horses with swirly poles sticking out from one end and another, saddles shiny and teeth white pearls tails fluffy and pink or cerulean sparkling eyes feet bucking and mirrors glimmering with laughing kids smiles running playing cotton candy… Nope, never been in one of those rounds before. The platform turns in a funny way while the horses bounce jauntily, never getting anywhere really. I’ve come here knowing that she wouldn’t care whether or not I enjoyed it, so long as I had my wallet. Her teeth gleamed under the lights as she looked carelessly in my direction. I inhaled a sharp cold breath, allowing the din of screams, laughing, chattering, and music transcend above me as my feet remained glued to the curving asphalt.

“Chee!”

My head snapped up.

“Chee! You should have called me if you were coming too. Oohh, here with a bf?”

A loud laugh, “Of course! You?”

“I’m with the rest of them…”

Bf. Right. Saying that meant the same as calling me father. Father suited my role much more actually.

“This park was fun, wasn’t it?”

I nodded.

“I’m hungry, wouldn’t you like some cotton candy? Let’s have a soda pop to go with it, your favorite.” Giggle.

I reminded her that soda pop wasn’t my favorite but hers.

“Right. But since you like me, isn’t it your favorite too?”

Couldn’t try denying that. What else was I doing here if not for myself.

I handed her a generous amount and she quickly twittered away. I sat on a bench and lit up a cigarette reticently, taking another careful glance up at the nearly invisible black sky as a thousand blinding lights from rides polluted the darkness. Roller coaster tracks roaring screaming riders food stands soda cans balloons… I noticed a queer and inconspicuous stand near the gloomy and quiet corner, no lights there. I walked to the stand, reading the shabby sign.

Fortune Tel ing.

I stood there for a while, puffing at a cigarette and pondering over what sort of boy she was flirting with now.

“You look like you don’t know your future. One of those men.” An eerie voice crept out of the dark flaps of the stand. Out peered a frail face.

“What the hell…” I frowned, annoyed and surprised but not willing to admit the latter.

“Scared you, did I.” The ghostly white face appeared to be floating bodiless before a dark canvas.

Letting out a puff, I studied her warily. Her somber face bony and framed with a dark mat of hair, I glanced at my watch hesitatingly as she asked if I wanted any fortune telling. I entered the dingy stand, pressing the flaps aside against the wooden doorway and seating myself on a stool cotton stuffing falling oozing out of the sides and before a wooden table. She was seated already. Prepared. Her thin, frail hand ready to touch the lines of my palm and foretell my future.

“Is this free service?”

A small line twisted on her face, “Of course not.”

“I’ll give you a minute for fifty cents.”

“Five minutes for a dollar.”

“Deal.”

The moment her hands touched mine, I felt a cold tingle wriggle through my entire body, electrifying my body with shadows and darkness.

“I want to puke.”

“Shut up and let me do my work.” She pressed on my wrist harder, attempting to concentrate on a certain ‘vague’ line as she called it.

“You’re chasing after a woman who has no eyes for you.” She said plainly, then added, “She’ll eventually dump you. But you won’t be sad.”

“This isn’t fortune telling, it’s common sense.”

“No. Listen. Do you believe in fate?” She asked urgently, her eyes suddenly on me.

Twenty-two years. Make it twenty-three by tomorrow. I’d never seen the eyes of a girl so serious. Her eyes the color of desperation and determination. How those two even mix I have no idea but that’s what I’m seeing.

“I-I…no. Not really. No interest whatsoever.”

“I see.” Dull eyes again, nod, back to my palm. Tracing lines. Adding in that I should be wary about crossing traffic. Oh yes, the money. Stand up. Leave. Gone. Never see her again in my life, thank you.

Chee found me outside.

“Where were you? I was looking all over for you. Look, I got a soda pop. Oh, I totally forgot yours, wanna go buy another one? It’s sooo good…”

“No I really rather not.”

“Hurry up, we’re going.” She insisted, pulling me into a brightly colored shop.

A guy suddenly walked over, a brightly colored hat and revealing shirt rushed over, a dish in one hand and a finished glass in the other.

“Chee, was it? Hi, I thought I wouldn’t see you again.” He flashed a brilliant smile.

How disgusting.

“Oh, I, I mean, me me too!” She smiled just as brilliantly.

Disgusting. Why am I here.

He looked at me, his smile and twinkly eyes dropping immediately, “Who’s this? Boyfriend?”

“Oh, a, um, yes I mean no of course not just a regular friend yup we’re just friends of course that’s it aren’t we?” She emitted a shrilly chuckle, releasing her linked arm from mine.

“No.” I asked for the rest of my cash from her and stalked out, not waiting long to hear the arpeggios of nervous laughs and lovey-dovey batting eyes or…

I didn’t even say goodbye.

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He's lived his life as a simple man. Right before losing his flirtatious and artificial girlfriend, he meets a fortune teller who just might teach him how to believe. to believe in fate. and love.

Do you believe in Fate

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a/n: summary and title at the very bottom, just to clear confusion.