Encore Amour (Englot)

Chapter 2: Bridges Burned, Walls Built

As Engfa and Charlotte boarded the plane bound for the United States, a sense of unease settled over Engfa like a heavy cloak. The prospect of spending hours in close proximity to Charlotte filled her with a sense of dread, the memories of their fractured bond still fresh in her mind.

To Engfa's dismay, their seats had been changed at the last minute, forcing them to sit together for the duration of the flight. The proximity only served to heighten Engfa's discomfort, each passing moment punctuated by awkward silences and forced pleasantries.

As Engfa and Charlotte settled into their seats on the plane, Charlotte sensed the tension radiating from Engfa like a palpable force. Determined to lighten the mood, she turned to Engfa with a bright smile.

"Hey, Engfa! Isn't this exciting?" Charlotte exclaimed, her voice filled with forced cheerfulness.

Engfa glanced at her, her expression guarded. "Sure, I guess," she replied, her tone flat.

Undeterred, Charlotte forged ahead, determined to break through Engfa's defenses. "Come on, let's make the most of this flight! We can watch some movies, maybe even play a game or two."

Engfa's response was lukewarm at best, her reluctance to engage evident in her demeanor. "I think I'll just stick to reading," she muttered, her gaze fixed firmly on the book in her lap.

Charlotte's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of hurt crossing her features before she quickly masked it with a forced grin. "Okay, suit yourself," she said brightly, though the enthusiasm in her voice had dimmed considerably.

As the hours passed, the divide between them only seemed to widen, each attempt at conversation met with icy resistance from Engfa. Charlotte's efforts to lighten the mood fell flat, her cheerful facade crumbling in the face of Engfa's indifference.

By the time they landed in New York, the tension between them was palpable, a thick veil of discomfort hanging over their heads. And as they made their way to the hotel, Charlotte couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at the realization that no matter how hard she tried, Engfa remained steadfast in her resolve to keep her at arm's length.

When they finally arrived in the bustling city of New York, Engfa hoped for a reprieve from the tension that had hung between them. But as fate would have it, another twist awaited them.

As the team gathered in the lobby of the hotel, they were met with the news that there had been a mix-up with the room bookings. There weren't enough rooms for everyone, and the team had no choice but to double up.

Engfa's heart sank as Mr. Nawat announced that she and Charlotte would be sharing a room, albeit with separate beds. She opened her mouth to protest, but Mr. Nawat's authoritative tone silenced her before she could voice her objections.

"Engfa, Charlotte, I understand this is unexpected, but it's necessary given the circumstances," Mr. Nawat said, his tone firm yet understanding.

Engfa bit her lip, a sense of frustration bubbling within her. "But... couldn't we find another solution?" she asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.

Charlotte shifted uncomfortably beside her, her gaze fixed on the floor. "It's fine, Engfa," she said softly. "We can make it work."

Engfa hesitated, torn between her desire to maintain her distance from Charlotte and the realization that she had no choice in the matter. With a resigned sigh, she nodded, knowing that there was no point in arguing further.

"Fine," she replied, her voice resigned. "Let's just get this over with."

As they made their way to their shared room, Engfa couldn't shake the feeling that the universe was conspiring to keep her and Charlotte together, whether they liked it or not.