The Ties of Fate

As the day wound down, Nathan, Kelvin, and Thomas left the office together. Nathan had arranged to meet Elena at the café, and Kelvin's excitement was palpable as they got into the car.

"I can't believe I'm finally going to meet her," Kelvin said, practically bouncing in his seat. "The woman who has my serious, workaholic brother all smiley and cheerful."

Nathan smirked. "Calm down, Kelvin. Don't scare her with your over-the-top energy."

Kelvin gasped dramatically. "Over-the-top? Nathan, please. I'm a delight. I'll charm her in seconds."

Thomas, sitting in the passenger seat, chuckled. "Just don't embarrass him too much, Kelvin. He's been talking about her nonstop for weeks now."

Nathan glared at Thomas, but the faint blush creeping up his neck betrayed him. "I don't talk about her nonstop."

Kelvin grinned mischievously. "Oh? Let's see: you've already told me about her smile, her laugh, her kindness, and—"

"Alright, that's enough," Nathan cut in, though he couldn't help laughing.

Kelvin leaned closer to Nathan with a playful smirk. "Nathan, you've got it bad. I can't wait to see her. She must be something special."

Nathan's expression softened. "She is."

Kelvin pretended to wipe away a tear. "Look at you, Nathan! All grown up and in love again. I'm so proud."

Nathan shook his head, chuckling. "You're impossible."

The car filled with laughter as they continued their journey, the anticipation of seeing Elena adding a lively energy to their conversation.

As they neared the café, Kelvin leaned back, grinning. "Alright, Nathan. Time to show me what all the fuss is about."

Nathan smiled, a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in his chest.

It was going to be an interesting evening.

As the evening unfolded, Nathan, Kelvin, and Thomas arrived at Elena's café. Through the window, they spotted Elena packing up her belongings, her best friend Mia helping her close up for the day. 

"Let's wait here," Nathan said, leaning casually against the car. 

Kelvin grinned mischievously. "Fine, but don't blame me if I embarrass you with my charm." 

Nathan shot him a warning look. "Behave yourself." 

They waited patiently until Elena and Mia stepped outside. Elena froze, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Nathan. 

"Mr. Nathan?" she exclaimed, quickly approaching him with Mia close behind. 

Nathan opened his arms and gave her a warm hug. "Hey, how are you? How was your day?" 

"I'm good," Elena replied with a smile, still surprised by his presence. 

Mia, standing nearby, clapped her hands together. "Wow, what a pleasant surprise! You even brought Thomas along. This is so nice!" 

Nathan gestured to Kelvin, who was standing silently, his eyes fixed on Elena. 

"By the way, Elena, meet my younger brother, Kelvin," Nathan said with a proud smile. "He's been studying in Australia for the past three years." 

Elena extended her hand with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Kelvin." 

Kelvin didn't move for a moment, his gaze locked on Elena. "Katrina…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. 

Nathan and Thomas both turned to him sharply. 

"Kelvin," Nathan said firmly, snapping him out of his daze. "Her name is Elena, not Katrina." 

Kelvin blinked and quickly composed himself. "Oh, right. Sorry! Elena, nice to meet you." He shook her hand with a sheepish grin. 

"It's nice to meet you too," Elena replied politely, though she couldn't help but notice the odd look in his eyes. 

To ease the tension, Elena introduced Mia. "And this is my best friend, Mia." 

Mia grinned. "Hi! So you're Mr. Nathan's brother. It's great to meet you!" 

Kelvin smiled, still recovering from his earlier reaction. "Likewise." 

Nathan suggested having dinner before everyone went their separate ways. The group decided to eat at a nearby restaurant, and Thomas called for another car to ensure everyone could leave comfortably. 

Inside, they arranged themselves around a large table. Kelvin sat across from Elena, while Nathan took the seat beside her. 

As the evening progressed, Nathan and Elena's conversation became lively, their connection obvious. 

Mia, watching them closely, couldn't help but tease. "You two look like a couple already." Elena's cheeks turned bright red. "Mia, stop!" she protested, her voice filled with embarrassment. 

Thomas joined in, grinning. "She's not wrong, you know." 

Nathan smirked. "Well, I'm not complaining." 

Elena rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. 

Later, Nathan turned to Elena with a serious expression. "By the way, you don't need to call me 'sir' or 'Mr.' anymore. Just call me Nathan." 

The others gasped dramatically, breaking into laughter. 

Elena smiled shyly. "Alright… Nathan." 

Nathan's face lit up with a satisfied grin. "Perfect. And I'll call you Elena from now on." 

"Deal," Elena replied, feeling a warm flutter in her chest. 

Throughout the dinner, Kelvin couldn't take his eyes off Elena. His earlier shock lingered, though he tried to mask it. Mia noticed his unusual behavior but decided to keep her thoughts to herself for now. 

After the meal, as everyone stepped outside, Kelvin approached Elena. 

"Thank you," he said sincerely. 

Elena tilted her head, confused. "For what?" 

"For making my brother happy," Kelvin explained. "I haven't seen him like this in a long time." 

Elena smiled warmly. "Nathan's been a wonderful friend. I'm happy to know him." 

Kelvin's lips curled into a teasing grin. "Just a friend? Don't you think it would be even better if you were… more than that?" 

Elena laughed nervously, brushing off the comment. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Kelvin." 

Nathan chuckled, stepping in to deflect the moment. "Ignore him, Elena. He's always like this." 

They shared a laugh before Nathan instructed one of the drivers to take Mia and Elena home. 

Before leaving, Nathan hugged Elena gently. "Take care of yourself. I'll call you tonight." 

Elena nodded, her cheeks tinged pink. "You too, Nathan." 

As soon as Nathan, Kelvin, and Thomas got into the car, Kelvin turned to his brother with a mix of curiosity and urgency. 

"Nathan, I need answers. Who is Elena? Why does she look exactly like Katrina? Is she back? Did she reincarnate? What's going on?" 

Nathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Kelvin, slow down. I don't even know where to start." 

"Start anywhere," Kelvin urged. 

Nathan took a deep breath and explained everything—how Elena had saved him from the accident, how they'd grown closer over time, and how he had started falling for her. 

Kelvin listened intently, his earlier tension easing. "So, you're in love again. After two years. That's… great, Nathan. You deserve this. You deserve to be happy." 

Nathan smiled faintly. "Thanks, Kelvin. I just want to take things slow and make sure this is real." 

Kelvin nodded, his usual playfulness returning. "Well, I'm rooting for you, big bro. And for the record, she's amazing. Don't mess this up." 

They laughed together, the weight of the earlier conversation lifting as they shared thoughts about Elena's charm and beauty. 

Meanwhile, Elena returned home, feeling both exhilarated and confused. Sitting in her favorite chair, she replayed the evening's events in her mind. 

Mia's teasing voice echoed in her head: "It seems like Nathan loves you so much." 

Then there was Kelvin's strange reaction: "Katrina…" 

Elena shook her head, brushing off the thought. "It's just a coincidence," she muttered. 

Deciding to let it go, she changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. 

True to his word, Nathan called Elena later that night. 

"Hi, Nathan," she said, her voice bright. 

"Hi, Elena. I just wanted to check on you. Did you make it home okay?" 

"I did. Thanks for asking." 

They talked for over an hour, their conversation filled with laughter and shared dreams. By the time they said goodnight, both of them were smiling, their connection deepening with each passing day.