Hearts On The Highrise

Chapter 25 : tears and rain

Sitting on the bench, tears rolling down my cheeks after the intense argument with Mew, I felt utterly drained. The evening enveloped me slowly, but I remained lost in my turmoil, deep in thought. Despite Mew's persistent calls, I couldn't muster the strength to answer. I needed this moment alone to process the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed me.

Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of me, and I immediately recognized it as Engfa's. The window rolled down, revealing Engfa behind the wheel, her expression filled with concern as she asked me what I was doing there all alone.

"Charlotte, what are you doing here?" Engfa's voice cut through the stillness of the evening air, filled with genuine concern. I remained silent, unable to articulate the storm of emotions raging inside me. Instead, I stood up abruptly, wiping away my tears, and began to walk away.

Engfa stepped out of the car and followed me, her footsteps echoing softly on the pavement. "Charlotte, wait," she called out gently, her voice filled with concern. "What's wrong?"

I paused and turned to face her, my eyes filled with tears and frustration. "Since when do you care how I'm doing?" I retorted, my tone laced with sarcasm.

"You can't just sit out here alone, especially at this hour." Engfa replied, her voice tinged with sincerity.

"Funny how you suddenly care about my well-being," I retorted, my tone laced with bitterness.

"Here," Engfa said, still avoiding my question and handing me her phone with the taxi app open. "I'll make sure you get home safely."

"I don't need your help, Engfa," I retorted, my voice shaky but defiant. "I can take care of myself."

Engfa's words stung, hitting me like a slap to the face. "Stop acting like a child, Charlotte," she admonished, her tone firm. "It's time to grow up. I don't have time for this," she added sharply. "Just go home, I'll arrange for a taxi."

As the taxi pulled up to the curb, Engfa's words echoed in my mind, and before I could gather my composure and respond, she briskly interjected, her tone firm and final. "Take care of yourself next time," she said, her words hanging in the air like an unspoken reproach.

It felt like a slap in the face, a reminder of my own vulnerabilities and shortcomings. I wanted to confront her, to demand answers, but she didn't give me the chance. With a decisive turn, she strode back to her car, leaving me standing there, grappling with the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.

Arriving home, a knot of tension formed in my stomach as I approached the front door. I wasn't sure what to expect inside: more arguments, perhaps, or a quiet, tense atmosphere. But as soon as I crossed the doorway, Mew was there, pulling me into his arms. His arms enveloped me, bringing me comfort and reassurance as only he could. Despite my inner turmoil, I couldn't help but melt into his embrace, feeling a rush of relief wash over me. Then, in a voice laden with emotion, he whispered an apology, his words a balm for my wounded soul.

"Hey," I murmured, my voice barely audible as I snuggled into his comforting embrace. "You don't have to apologize. It's all my fault," I confessed, my words tinged with regret. "I should have handled things better," I continued, my voice slightly hesitant. "I just... I don't know what came over me," I admitted, my gaze falling to the floor as I struggled to express the agitation inside me.

As the night wore on, Mew and I talked for hours, the weight of our words mingling with the heavy silence of our shared thoughts. With each heartfelt exchange, I felt myself unraveling, laying bare the tangle of emotions that had consumed me.

And in those moments of raw vulnerability, I couldn't help but realize how lucky I was to have Mew. As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, in that quiet, sacred space between us, I knew with absolute certainty that I didn't just want him in my life... I needed him.