Hearts On The Highrise

Chapter 32 : under the stars

"Engfa?" I began tentatively, the question hanging in the air. "What are you doing here?" The words escaped my lips almost involuntarily, a mixture of surprise and curiosity coloring my tone.

I looked at her, furrowing my brows in confusion, wondering what she was doing here, in the stillness of the night, two hours away from New York City.

"Nudee invited me to join," she began, her voice calm yet tinged with a hint of hesitation. "I initially declined, but then I realized I needed to see you." Her words hung in the air, the weight of their significance settling between us.

I couldn't help injecting a note of sarcasm into my response. "Won't Faye throw a fit knowing you're here with me?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why would Faye do that?" She asked me, her expression puzzled.

I replied sarcastically, "Maybe because you're her girlfriend." Playing with the grass.

Engfa sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Faye isn't my girlfriend, Charlotte," she clarified, her gaze fixed on the shimmering surface of the lake.

I furrowed my brows, perplexed. "Then why did Faye have keys to your apartment?" I asked, a touch of frustration creeping into my voice. "This morning, she acted as if you owed her an explanation for something."

"I'm hosting Faye while she looks for an apartment in New York," Engfa explained. "You know how tough it is to find a place here." I moved unceremoniously, feeling a hint of jealousy mixed with curiosity. "Where's Faye sleeping, then?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

Engfa took a moment before responding, her sigh carrying a hint of exasperation. "Charlotte, I didn't come here to argue with you again," she said firmly. "You really need to stop with these jealous outbursts towards Faye."

I responded, my tone defensive. "I'm not having a jealous outburst." I felt Engfa's gaze pierce me, a mixture of frustration and concern evident in her eyes. "What's this about then?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation. "You need to start being an adult once in a while. You're not eighteen anymore."

The tension dissipating a bit as I stood up. "And you're the model of maturity?" I retorted, my tone laced with a hint of playful reproach.

"There's no point in me staying here if all we're going to do is argue," she stated firmly, her tone laced with resignation.

Engfa rose to her feet, her expression firm. "I'm tired of these constant arguments, Charlotte," she asserted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I came here for you, not to engage in another round of disputes."

Unable to hold back the frustration that had built up. "You never communicate, Engfa."

Engfa's brow furrowed in confusion as she looked at me. "What does that have to do with Faye?" she asked.

I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of our situation. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I just... don't know how to get you to open up."

Engfa's voice was tinged with regret as she replied, "I shouldn't have come, Charlotte. I shouldn't have listened to Nudee."

I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper, "Then why did you come, Engfa? What was the real reason for your being here?"

Engfa looked away, her voice tinged with regret. "Nudee called me," she began, "telling me you weren't doing well. That's why I came, Charlotte." She continued, her tone heavy with self-reproach. "I shouldn't have come."

Engfa turned to leave, but I stopped her in her tracks, "You have no idea how much you've hurt me with your indifference and your words and you're still doing it." I exclaimed, my voice tinged with hurt.