Shadows of You | Englot (GirlxGirl)

44. The Truth

POV ENGFA

"P'Fa, are you sure you didn't forget anything?" Charlotte asked, standing by the door, watching me as I did one last check around the hotel room. She was holding my duffel bag while I had my suitcase in hand.

I took one final look inside just to be sure.

"Nothing's left, Char. Let's go," I said, prompting her to close the door.

We then started walking towards the lobby to wait for Marima and Mason, who were already on their way and should be arriving any minute now.

As soon as we got into the elevator, Charlotte finally broke the silence. I could tell from the look on her face that she had been dying to ask this question since last night when she found out.

"Why did you and Pichy break up?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity.

I glanced at her through our reflection in the elevator doors.

"There were a few reasons... It was a mutual decision. We both agreed it was best not to continue the relationship," I replied, trying to close the topic as quickly as possible.

But I knew, especially after what I confessed to Charlotte last night, that she wouldn't let the topic of Pichy go so easily. At some point, we'd have to talk about it.

"I'm sorry P'Fa.. I thought you two would last," she said as the elevator doors opened.

I nodded at her, "Me too"

We walked out and headed toward the reception desk.

I checked out while Charlotte stood behind me, waiting quietly. Once everything was settled, we sat down on the sofa in the lobby. It wasn't long before Mason and Marima arrived.

As for Pichy and me, our breakup actually happened shortly after she returned from Cambodia. About four days after she got back, we had a long conversation, discussing a lot of issues we had never really talked about before.

___

Flashback

The sound of a car engine caught my attention as I was relaxing on my bedroom balcony tonight. I turned towards the source, and sure enough, a taxi pulled up right in front of the gate. My girlfriend got out of the cab quickly, with the driver helping her unload her suitcase while my house's security guard stepped in to carry it inside.

Our eyes met when she finally looked up at me, making her smile wide and call out, "Are you just gonna stand there, huh?" she teased.

I chuckled and shook my head, "Welcome home, princess, but I think you don't need my help!" I said, pointing at my security guard who was already carrying her suitcase. That made her laugh and shake her head.

A few minutes later, she walked into the room, and I immediately walked over and hugged her. I really missed her during the four days she was in Phnom Penh.

She hugged me back tightly, but something about this hug felt different. It wasn't the usual warm embrace; there was something else I could sense. There was no kiss, no extra affection, just a smile as she excused herself to the bathroom, saying she was too tired and needed to shower immediately, or she'd fall asleep in the same clothes. Of course, I let her go.

About 30 minutes later, she came out of the bathroom still in her bathrobe and went to the vanity to start drying her hair. I watched her from the bed, and when she noticed me through the mirror, she smiled.

"What are you staring at, P'Fa?" she asked while putting down the hairdryer and turning it off.

She was still sitting there as I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders from behind. Now we were both visible in the mirror's reflection.