Lock Up ⏐Charles Leclerc

Epilogue

Warning: There's a long author's note at the end and this chapter will be done in Charles' POV :)

Are you guys ready for this? Because I'm not 🥲

Enjoy!

*****

I don't know what to do.

I went out to get some supplies since I've already finished the stock I had ever since I flew here from the time the season finished off. There was one convenience store in town which was enough for a few days. The cashier was scanning my things when my phone rang, flashing Chiara's name. "Mi scusi." [Excuse me.] I told him before picking up the call.

"What the fuck, Charles?" I flinched at her loud voice and I could already feel a headache coming before she spoke again. I glanced around me in case someone heard her voice because of how high the volume was and my eyes landed on the next customer. I haven't seen her around and she didn't look Italian to me. Like me, she was shopping for supplies but I couldn't help but chuckle when her eyes widened after realizing she had an entire shelf filled with condoms, a blush forming on her cheeks.

Cute.

I was brought back to Chiara when she called my name again, switching to Italian which only meant she was beyond furious. I couldn't help but run a hand through my hair, wanting the conversation to end. She kept ranting on and on about how could I just break up with her like that and I admit I've had better moments. But now, I realize that my mother was right. Chiara was not the one for me and I can't deal with fixing a relationship right now with everything going on in my life. I just repeated the words I said in my letter, not wanting to lengthen the conversation and hanging up before she could even utter another word.

That night, I slept so long since I just arrived back from Monaco yesterday after celebrating the new year with my family. It was nice to be able to see them again after Abu Dhabi but once the celebrations ended, we were once again pulled back into the reality we live in. Mum's been trying to show us that she's okay but I know she's not because I saw her crying in front of the wedding photo of her papa that was placed in their room.

It's been difficult, to say the least. I know she meant to give me this time to recover, but I have no idea how I can survive the silence I'm surrounded with. I've been spending so much of my time watching movies to distract myself but I don't have it in me to continuously have a movie marathon. I haven't had the strength to get on the simulator again because every time I see myself on the track, a wave of memories would come flooding back.

My day would usually start with a workout which I'd do in my backyard where I've set up a small space for my equipment. Andrea sends me a weekly workout plan which I have to follow strictly even though it's off-season, but there are days where he lets me off the hook. I had just finished when I heard a knock come from my right where the fence separating me from the other house was. When I didn't talk for a few minutes, another knock came and a voice called my name.

I walked forward to see Aurora peeking through the gaps of the fence, smiling once she saw me. I dropped by her cafe during my first day here and her company was nice to be around since she didn't delve into my professional life.

"Good morning." She grinned and I showed her a small smile. "Got any plans for today?" I shook my head and her eyes brightened before she clapped her hands. "Fantastic! Get dressed because you're coming with us for brunch." She said before telling me the name of a restaurant which I could just pin in the GPS.

I was about to open my mouth and ask her what us meant when she turned around and waved goodbye at me. Knowing I had nothing else planned but to watch a Harry Potter movie today, I decided going out for brunch wouldn't be a bad idea. I didn't know who Aurora was bringing with her but when I arrived at the restaurant, I couldn't help but smile once I saw the familiar face.