One evening while coming back late from work, Phoebe was surprised to find Christian sitting outside her apartment. He was standing with his back to his car, his hands in his pockets, gazing at the heavens absentmindedly. The view filled her with warmth in the region of her chest that she had not even known existed.“Hi, how come you are here?” she asked friendly as she stepped nearer to him.He grinned and stood up. It doesn’t really matter why I’m here, I just felt like you could use some company after a hard day at work. Hope you don’t mind."“Not at all,” she said, then opened her door. "Come on in."They entered the apartment, and as she put her belongings, he glanced around the room and saw the little details she put to the place such as warm lighting, the art on the walls, and the throw on the couch. It was very ‘her,’ that is, the kind of person she was and that he found so interesting.Phoebe prepared tea for them and they got on the couch to wait, the low sound of the city’s
Christian could tell when she was upset, and they were partaking of a delightful dinner at a romantic Italian restaurant with the scent of burning candles light and fresh baked bread lingering in the air. Christian gave her a worried look, ‘Are you okay?’“Hi,” he whispered softly and took her hand into his own, as he sat down beside her. “You seem… distant. Is something bothering you?”Phoebe frowned slightly and chose her words carefully as she replied, Though I don’t know how to say this she hesitated. She paused for a moment before answering and whispered. “I’m sorry, Christian. It’s just… I think I am still in a state of shock. In your company every moment was so great, but at the same time… at the same time I began to think if I really want to get over it.Christian smiled and his eyes looked less harsh, though there was a brief moment of suffering. “Phoebe, I understand. I think you need to know this, and it is about us. I just do not want to be a r
Seth looked at her for a few seconds, then he sighed softly. ‘I am not asking you to run away from him.’ I’m just asking you to remember who we were.” He looked at her and for the space of a heartbeat, she was back in the old days. But Christian’s face was brought to her recollection and she was brought back to reality.Several weeks later, Christian took Phoebe to his most favorite secluded area near the lake. They sat together in quiet, listening to the water flow beneath the stars.“Phoebe,” Christian started and his voice was so full of emotion that she turned to look at him, “I can’t lie anymore and tell you that I am fine with him being around.” I know you have my best interest at heart, but… It’s the same need as to know whether you are the one who wants me.”Phoebe could feel the gravity of his words as they hit her chest and she could feel the palpitations. She glanced at him with her tears swelling in her eyes. ‘Christian, forgive me for making y
Phoebe felt her heart pumping with blood as she waited for Seth’s reaction to her words. She knew that this was not just any casual utterance that flowed off his lips, but a deliberate reminder of the friendship that had characterized their relationship in the past. She drew a deep breath to calm herself down.“Seth,” she answered meekly, ”we cannot keep going back there.” Instead, she said: “My heart now is with Christian.”But Seth’s look did not soften, he kept staring at her, his eyes burning. “I know, Phoebe. But that doesn’t change what we had or the fact that… part of me never stopped loving you.”It suddenly struck Phoebe as she could understand the temptation to be drawn into the din of their past and how this could blow up everything she was setting up with Christian. She stepped aside, creating some space between them and whispered, “Then it’s time to move on.” For both of us.”She then walked off the balcony and returned to the heat of
Phoebe nodded, she was overwhelmed with guilt and frustration deep down inside her. She believed that she had shed off these aspects of her past, but they seem to follow her as if they wanted to ensure that she does not let go off the past completely. And as she thought of the things Marlin said, she knew that she must make them understand her and tell them all, once and for all, that she wants Christian and everything that they began between them.Unyielding, Phoebe made up her mind to face Marlin the following day. She met him at a local café, where he had wanted to discuss with her. But this time there was no friendly welcome as before.“Marlin,” she began, her voice harsh, “I understand what you are up to.” But I have a life with Christian now and I will not allow anyone ruin it for me.”He frowned, but the self-assurance did not leave his face. I know that you still love me, Phoebe. I know you haven’t erased what we once had.”She shook her h
She did not even pause, and when he offered her his hand, their fingers touched, and they immediately locked their fingers. It was the most charged and yet the most serene time that I felt could be lived and nothing more. They felt as if they were surrounded by a veil, which separated them from the rest of the world, and left them alone with each other.They went on hand in hand, and two of them perfectly coupled as their feet marched them further into the dark. The sea murmured, the day brightened up and only then Phoebe had the feeling that she is really somewhere without any pretense.And the more they strolled along the shore the less words were necessary, the more the silence between them was sacred. They didn’t need words. It was a relief to move their hands and lips, to speak the halting words of a start, the weight of everything they had shared their pasts, their doubts, their hopes lightened in their long, comfortable strides.Finally, they came a
When Christian met Marlin, he become very defensive and wanted to protect her. Marlin’s return and aggression left Phoebe rather shaken, but even as she felt the twinge of guilt rising again. The girl’s past was not only complicated, but still charged with feelings that she was unable to deal with.But tonight, when Phoebe was alone and sober she decided on it conclusively. She would cut off her relationship with Marlin and Seth once and for all, and do whatever it takes to get her future with Christian.The next morning, at Chroma Creative’s modern office, Seth Rivera walked through the facility with the air of a man who is in charge. It was said that he had taken back the position of the CEO and there was electricity in the air in the building. What Seth had failed to know in the past was that failure was only an option and he was back at the top, ready to take his shot.On that day, Seth had to convene a meeting with all the employees, and his words bor
His goals had become his obsession, obliterating his mission statement, but he brushed it aside as soon as it crossed his mind. He would not allow any person, especially Aidan to hinder him.Elsewhere in town, Phoebe and Christian stayed home and just had dinner together. They have planned to go out of the city to relax themselves and free from the recent pressure. As they packed their belongings, Phoebe was ready for the burden of a decision to come to place on her. Though this trip was short, it served as an allegory for moving on to the next phase of building a new life, independent from former betrayals where she can trust Christian.They got to a cabin near a lake, in the middle of the woods and under the stars. For the first time in what seemed like a really long time, Phoebe was able to breathe easily. Christian embraced her while they admired the twinkle of the stars and she found solace that here in this place, they are now free to start living a life free