"I can’t believe the weather has already cleared," Serena muttered to herself as she walked along the cobbled path of Sancity’s famous fashion street. It was almost unbelievable that just a few hours ago, the city had been drenched by a heavy thunderstorm that had lasted all night long. Now, the sky was clear, the sun was shining brightly, and a gentle, refreshing breeze was in the air.
The vibrant and colorful fashion displays all around her were captivating, and she found herself unable to look away from the array of styles and designs.Although she had been quite pleased with the dresses and other items that had been purchased for her recently, she was even more impressed by the unique and stylish clothing she was seeing now.
As she noticed a particularly charming and colorful little dress in a shop window, she couldn’t resist moving quickly toward it. In her excitement, she failed to see a man stepping out from the opposite side and ended up walking straight into him.
As Serena stumbled forward from the impact, the man quickly reached out to steady her, his hands gently grasping her arms. "Careful there," he said with a smile while she sent him an embarrassed look," I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Sorry."
She stepped back hurriedly, eager to continue on her way, and had barely taken a few steps when the man called out, "Serena? Are you going to ignore me?"
Her eyes widened in shock. She turned to face him fully, and asked," You know me?"
"Of course I know you. What kind of a question is that? Come on and give me a hug. Why are you behaving like a stranger?"
The man stepped forward then, his arms extended as if to hug her and she stepped back. She watched as his face fell and then his arms moved to the side," Do you not remember me?"
He gave her a disappointed look then and Serena felt bad as he shrugged and turned back with a simple comment," I guess I was not worthy."
Serena felt a pang of guilt at the hurt in his eyes. She hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I’m really sorry, but I don’t have my memory right now. I don’t remember you."
The man’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You don’t have your memory?"
Serena nodded, looking apologetic. "No, I don’t. It’s been difficult trying to piece things together."
He looked at her with renewed interest, his disappointment mingling with curiosity. After a moment, he offered a small, understanding smile. "Well, that explains a lot. How about we grab a coffee? It might help you remember."
Serena’s face softened. "I’d like that."
The man extended his hand then and introduced it, "I’m Owen. It’s nice to meet you again, even if you don’t remember me."
Serena nodded and as she placed her hand in his, felt a jolt. It was unexpected to say the least. This man knew her. He might have answers to her questions that she’d been looking for. And yet, as she followed him to the near by cafe, she felt her heart beat faster.
The waiter arrived then and she was shocked as Owen did not ask or her opinion and ordered directly, a coffee for himself and a warm tea for her.
"Did we know each other well? You even ordered without consulting me", she asked curiously. When he’d mentioned that she didnt rememeber him, she’d thought that maybe it was because they were acquaintances.
Owen looked at her in surprise before colouring a bit," I am sorry. Uhhh. We dated for a while and you mentioned that you did not like coffee. So... Would you like to order something else?"
"No. Its okay. I’ll try the tea. So, tell me, Owen. What do you know about me?"
Owen looked into her clear, inquisitive eyes and hesitated, feeling a pang of disorientation. The Serena sitting across from him was strikingly different from the person he remembered, from his Rena. Everything about her—her mannerisms, her way of speaking, her openness—seemed to be a stark contrast to the woman he had known.
The Serena he remembered had been reserved, often keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself. She preferred to stay in the background, rarely initiating conversations or questioning others. Her demeanor had been that of a lady who, despite her inner struggles, maintained a graceful and silent composure. This new Serena, however, was curious and direct.
It was disconcerting to see such a transformation. The warmth and openness she displayed now were at odds with the shy, reticent figure he had known. And that made him wonder. She’d said something once, just before they eloped. That she had never been happy in her home. Was that why she’d been like that.
And if she was this happy person because of the lack of influence of her past, then he would rather she be happy than return to her old self. Even if she didn’t remember him. He could try and make her fall in love with him. He’d been observing her since the morning and her husband was nowhere to be found. So maybe they were not really together.
Her smile helped him come to a decision, finally," Serena, you and I... we only went out on a couple of casual dates. So, I don’t know much about you. You were here last year, for a few months. You said you were a student on a holiday. I can take you to all the places that we explored when you were here. Maybe that might help jog your memory."
Serena nodded thoughtfully, her instincts telling her that he seemed to be hiding something from her. But then she shrugged. Why would this man lie to her? He had no reason to.
As she was about to ask him more, the waitress brought over their order, and Serena looked at the tea in anticipation. She was a tea drinker and not coffee lover. That knowledge shocked her. But maybe the taste of tea would help her regain her memories.