Encore Amour (Englot)

Chapter 9: Crescendo of Darkness

Engfa stood in the hallway, her heart aching as the elevator doors closed, taking Charlotte away. Mr. Nawat's firm grip on her shoulder was the only thing keeping her grounded in that moment.

"Engfa, let's go back to your room," Mr. Nawat said softly, guiding her away from the elevator.

Back in their room, Engfa collapsed onto the bed, her body trembling with the force of her sobs. The room felt emptier without Charlotte's presence, the silence deafening.

Mr. Nawat sat beside her, his usually stern expression softened with concern. "Engfa, we need to talk about what happened."

Engfa shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "She hates me now. I pushed her away... I didn't mean to, but I did."

Mr. Nawat sighed deeply. "This situation is hard on both of you. The media, the fans, the pressure—it's a lot to handle. But you have to understand, Charlotte is hurting too."

"I know," Engfa whispered, her voice breaking. "I know she's hurting, but I don't know how to fix it. I just wanted to protect her, to make her feel loved, but everything I did only made it worse."

Mr. Nawat leaned forward, his gaze intense yet compassionate. "You need to give her time, Engfa. Time to process everything. You both need time to heal."

Engfa nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. "But what if she doesn't come back? What if I've lost her forever?"

Mr. Nawat gave her a reassuring smile. "Love has a way of finding its path. If it's meant to be, she'll find her way back to you. For now, focus on yourself, and on being the best version of yourself. That's all you can do."

However, the reality of the situation soon hit hard. With Charlotte gone, the concert couldn't go on as planned. The management team decided to put the concert on hold indefinitely, waiting for Charlotte's return. The news left Engfa feeling even more defeated.

Engfa spent the next few days in a daze, throwing herself into rehearsals and preparations for when the concert might eventually happen. The team noticed her change in demeanor, her usual spark dimmed by the sadness that clung to her like a shadow.

One evening, as she sat alone in the practice room, strumming her guitar absentmindedly, her friend Sun walked in. Sun, who was also her assistant, had always been a pillar of support for Engfa, and tonight was no different.

"Engfa, you can't keep doing this to yourself," Sun said gently, sitting down beside her.

"I don't know what else to do, Sun," Engfa replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "I feel like I'm losing everything. Charlotte, the fans, my sense of purpose... it's all slipping away."

Sun placed a comforting hand on Engfa's shoulder. "You're not losing everything. You're going through a rough patch, but it will pass. You have to stay strong, for yourself and for everyone who believes in you."

Engfa looked up, her eyes meeting Sun's. "How do I stay strong when everything feels so broken?"

"By remembering why you started this journey in the first place," Sun said with a small smile. "You wanted to make a difference, to share your music with the world. Don't lose sight of that. And remember, Charlotte needs time, but she also needs to see that you're still here, still fighting."

Engfa nodded, the determination slowly returning to her eyes. "You're right. I can't give up now. I have to keep going, for her and for myself."

That night, Engfa sat alone in their hotel room, staring at a photo of her and Charlotte from happier times. She sent a silent prayer into the universe, hoping that Charlotte would find her way back.