My Secret Identity

19| Goodbye

Once I was sure that they were okay, I felt a bit better. I had made you my mind though, I was going to leave as soon as possible but I wanted to use that day to end things on a good note. From the look of things, I wasn't going to tell Nathan anything I'd have to deal with that later. I took some snacks from the coffee shop to give Nathan.

" Thanks man. But you know I go there everyday"

" Yeah, it's my lil way of saying thank you"

" That's weird, but thanks. Anyway let's get down to the parade ground.

I had to struggle through the day's training. I hadn't left yet but I was already missing him. In an attempt to spend more time with him, I told him that Emma mentioned that she would like a walk that evening. He smiled gleefully and I couldn't blame him for being so happy.

At lunch, I was more flirty and clingy than normal. I hated myself for the decision I had made but there really wasn't much I could do.

" Will you be joining the army training?"

" Of course I will , why ? "

" Will you be joining immediately?"

" It depends. What about you ?"

" I'd love to "

" Any big plans for Stacy's birthday?"

I smiled, he remembered

" You remembered "

"Why wouldn't I ?"

" oh well I don't have much of a plan, just to be there with her and protect her. I can't loose her and I can't loose you too "

" Hey, no one is loosing anyone okay?"

"Yeah" I nodded gingerly

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After lunch I had to see general Scott and lie to him that I was pressed so he could let me run to my hostel. Luck was on my side that day, he did let me me go to the hostel. I wasn't pressed, obviously I went to pack my stuff as I had planned my escape for that night. I couldn't be seen carrying a huge bag, so I decided to forfeit a lot of things. I left them there in the wardrobe just in case Nathan wanted to use any of them. But my personal belongings, I folded them into a small bag. I could easily squeeze them into my backpack and carry them out through the gate that night. The gate keepers knew I used to leave the camo ground every night but they didn't know his I used to get back in after putting on my disguise, of course being Emma and Charlie involved a whole lot of risks. As soon as I was done packing my personal belongings, I squeezed them in my backpack. The one I always carried to the coffee shop. And I took it out of the hostel.

At dinner, I smiled a lot with  Nathan and enjoy his company, not knowing when next I would see him after leaving the camp.

" You look really happy tonight babe "

I felt so bad when I heard the word babe" I had only started enjoying the whole relationship idea but now it had to be cut short at the worst time. However I still put on a smile.

"Thank you for making me enjoy my stay here at the boot camp. And for sincerely caring about me. You're a great person and I'm glad I met you. "

" C'mon, you're making me get emotional. You're talking like someone's dying or something. "

"Noone is dying my love, I'm simply showing appreciation. "

" You've done that enough already. "

" Okay okay,.. m.. also, I'm sorry because I have been completing honest with you, about somethings . "

" Somethings like what ?"

" There's no point telling you now, you'll find out in due time.

" Charlie said you'd like to take another walk tonight? "

" Yes please "

" Okay, that's good "

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This time, I led him to a tree and we sat under it . I cleaned the thick roots if the tree , and there we sat. Talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company. When it started getting late, we continued our walk towards the gate and when he at his stop point, we parted with a long kiss and whispers of I love you. As I walked out through the gates that night, with my backpack across my back, I wasn't returning the next day. It took a while to walk down to the path where I could get a cab, but I did get one eventually. Sitting in the back  seat, I cried, why did life have to be so tough ? Why did things have to get messy when one was already very close to the finish line. I sniffled, I wondered how Nate would feel when he realized that Charlie and Emma were the same person ?. He'd feel like he had been fooled. He'll probably hate me, he'll probably not miss me, he'll probably flush his love for me down the drain. Maybe I should have told him, maybe I should have included this confession in the note I left him. Maybe.....That time had passed and now I was going home to face my mom and my seven year old kid and I'd have nothing to show for my rebellion. Such was life, karma was paying me back for going against Mom's wish. I had already started missing him and I missed general Scott and everyone else there.

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The journey back home was long and cold. I fell asleep after endlessly regretting a lot of things and with tears drying on both my cheeks.

Back at the boot camp, Nathan didn't notice Charlie at the hostel in the morning. He didn't think too much about it though because he probably just wasn't concentrating. He looked around for him all through the morning drill before breakfast but he seemed to have disappeared like he always did, after afternoon and evening training. He jogged down to the coffee shop while reminiscing on the previous night's walk with Emma. He smiled to himself as he neared the coffee shop. For some reason though, there was someone else behind the counter and that person wasn't Charlie and it wasn't Emma either. A confused fr own in his face, as he walked up to the young girl.

" Where's Emma ? "

" Emma? Sorry I don't know who that is. I just resumed here this morning "

" What the hell ! ? Where's my Emma ? Where's she ? Why are you behind the counter? that's Emma's spot "

He was pissed, he didn't understand what was going on. He wasn't getting the answers he so desired so he walked down to general Scott's house.

" Uncle? Where's she ? "

" Where's who ? "

" Where's my Emma ? Where's she? And why is someone else attending to customers at the coffee shop ? "

" She didn't tell you she was leaving ? "

" She didn't... What ?..…? Leaving???? "

Yeah, he was raging mad and that was quite expected. The young man didn't understand what was going on.

" Okay.... What about Charlie ? Why didn't you let Charlie continue at the coffee shop instead ?"

" Charlie, .. he's gone too