AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The kitchen was now clean and orderly, mirroring the sense of calm that had settled within my heart. I stood by the window, gazing out at the world beyond, feeling hopeful for what the future had in store.
Today was a new beginning, and I was ready to take on whatever challenges life threw my way. I figured there was no better way for me to celebrate the new beginning than by getting a new novel to read.
As I stepped into the bookstore, the familiar scent of ink and paper enveloped me, instantly igniting a sense of excitement and nostalgia. There was something magical about bookstores—the sight of shelves filled with countless stories waiting to be explored, the feel of crisp pages beneath my fingertips, and the promise of escaping into different worlds. Books had always been my solace, my refuge during stressful times growing up, in college, or when charting out a new course in life.
I wandered through the aisles, my eyes darting from one cover to another, in search of a new mystery novel to delve into. The mystery section held a treasure trove of possibilities, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of anticipation as I browsed through the titles. I was particularly interested in Japanese novels—I had gotten hooked on them ever since I’d readThe Perfect Insiderby Hiroshi Mori when I was a teenager.
Just as I was about to reach for a promising book, I found myself in a serendipitous encounter. A tall, handsome man with tanned skin and messy hair seemed to be equally captivated by the same novel. Our hands reached for it simultaneously, and our fingers brushed against each other.
“Oops, sorry!” he exclaimed, flashing a warm smile.
I couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. It wasn’t just because of his good looks; there was something about his kind aura that made me feel at ease.
“No worries,” I replied with a playful grin. “You can take it if you like.”
He shook his head gently. “Oh no, I couldn’t do that. You found it first. Please, go ahead.”
I chuckled, appreciating his gentlemanly gesture. “Alright then, thank you.”
I took the book in my hands, my curiosity piqued by the cover and synopsis. It was a serendipitous find, and I felt a thrill of excitement, wondering where this mystery would lead me.
“So do you come here often?” the man asked.
“Umm, yeah actually. Books are kind of my thing.” I smiled softly.
“What a coincidence, same here!” he exclaimed with a playful gesture. “But I’m new here.”
“To this bookstore?”
“Nah, to this town itself. It’s a lovely place, very peaceful.” He nodded, staring out into the distance like some cartoon character lost in a comedic monologue.
“Well, I don’t know if anyone has officially welcomed you yet, but allow me to welcome you to the beautiful city of Philadelphia.” I bowed exaggeratedly, causing a laugh to escape the man’s face.
“Oh, I assure you, no one has.” He blushed.
“Then I’m the first,” I smirked. As we continued to browse the shelves, we struck up a conversation about books and our shared love for literature. It felt like we had known each other for years, our words flowing effortlessly as we bonded over our favorite authors and literary clichés.
“Do you often read Japanese mystery novels?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest. “The book in your hand, you went for the same one I did—The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro.”
“Yes, actually,” I replied. “I just finished one recently. It was a captivating read.”
His face lit up in excitement. “Which one was it?”
“It wasThe Tattoo Murder Case.”
“By Akimitsu Takagi?” His face lit up.
“Yes, exactly. Such a clever and suspenseful plot,” I shared.
His grin widened. “I couldn’t agree more. That was actually one of my first reads.”
We ended up choosing our books and making our way to the checkout counter together. The conversation flowed seamlessly, as if we were old friends catching up after a long time apart.
As we prepared to leave, he turned to me with a hint of wistfulness in his eyes. “I hope we’ll meet again,” he said softly.
I didn’t want the connection to end either. “Why don’t we exchange numbers then?” I suggested, eager to keep in touch.
But to my surprise, he shook his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. “I believe in the magic of serendipity. Let’s leave it to chance and fate to bring us together again. I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
