Cold Attitude

9

Charlotte and Engfa stood frozen as they saw Win in the hallway. His eyes were wide, his expression reflecting disbelief and pain. Seconds stretched into eternity before anyone broke the silence.

"Win," Charlotte began hesitantly, "I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

Win silently shook his head, as if trying to erase the scene from his memory. "Why, Charlotte? Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

Engfa placed a protective hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "Win, it wasn't easy for us," she said calmly. "We needed to be sure before we told anyone."

Win looked from Engfa to Charlotte, his gaze filled with hurt and confusion. "I don't understand. You never mentioned seeing someone, Charlotte."

Charlotte took a deep breath. "It was all so new for both of us. We wanted to figure out our feelings first before sharing it with others."

Win remained silent, staring at the floor for a while. Then he slowly lifted his gaze and nodded. "I understand," he said finally, his voice trembling. "I wish it were different, but I'll accept it."

A wave of relief washed over Charlotte. "Thank you, Win. That means a lot to me."

He nodded again and turned slowly to leave. But before he disappeared, he turned back once more. "I wish both of you all the best," he said softly. Then he walked away, his footsteps echoing through the empty hallway.

Charlotte and Engfa stood silently for a moment, both emotionally stirred by the encounter. Eventually, Engfa spoke up. "That could have ended much worse," she said softly.

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, I'm glad he accepted it. But it hurts to see him so hurt."

Engfa pulled Charlotte into a gentle hug. "He will get through this. And give him the time and space he needs."

Charlotte rested her head against Engfa's shoulder and sighed. "I'm glad we were honest with him."

Engfa smiled and kissed Charlotte's forehead. "Me too. Now, let's go back to class."

They walked slowly down the hallway, the silence between them comforting and familiar. When they reached the classroom door, Charlotte stopped and looked at Engfa. "Are you ready?"

Engfa nodded. "Yes, let's do this."

They entered the classroom, immediately drawing the attention of their classmates. Heidi and Marina, who had witnessed the scene, sent them supportive glances. Win was already seated at his desk, avoiding their gaze.

Charlotte and Engfa quietly took their seats, the final minutes before class began passing in tense silence. Yet amidst that silence, Charlotte found solace in Engfa's presence by her side.

As the lesson started and the students' attention returned to the teacher, Charlotte and Engfa exchanged a brief but meaningful glance. They knew this was only the beginning and that there would be many challenges ahead. But in that moment, all that mattered was that they were being true to themselves and to the people around them.

The day passed quietly, yet the tension lingered. During breaks, Charlotte and Engfa kept to themselves to avoid unnecessary attention. Despite everything, Charlotte felt relieved. It was liberating to finally be open about their relationship, even though it would take time to fully adjust.

At the end of the school day, as the last students left the building, Charlotte and Engfa stood together briefly. "Would you like to walk home with me?" Engfa asked softly.

Charlotte smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'd like that."

They left the school grounds hand in hand, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The future was uncertain, but in that moment, all that mattered was the two of them and the love they shared.