Gray Areas | Englot | GirlxGirl

26. Learning to Sail

POV CHARLOTTE

A month.

A whole month of frustration, headaches, and the inevitable mess that comes with ending things with someone arrogant and self-absorbed. It was draining-every single moment of it.

And no, I'm not talking about Engfa Waraha. I'm talking about Ryan Alistair.

But finally, today, the ties were cut.

Ever since that car ride with Engfa a month ago, it was like I'd been jolted back to reality, crashing down from this high where I'd believed she'd always be there for me, always understand me. This time, she gave me a reality check-a sharp, invisible slap that stung more than anything.

Every word she said, every action, pushed me to look at myself. I hit rock bottom, and the heartbreak, the sleepless nights spent crying-it all came down to one thing: my failure to truly understand her.

That's what cut the deepest-even more than when she first told me she loved me.

I should've felt elated finally hearing Engfa say she loved me, but instead, it was like a knife twisting into my heart, a painful reminder of how selfish I'd been.

After that, I wasted no time calling to end my PR relationship with Ryan. His team, however, did not take it well. There were threats, warnings of serious "consequences," and insinuations that I'd exploited Ryan's image to boost my own fame.

What a joke!

If I were after fame, I wouldn't have needed Ryan-Engfa alone could give me more exposure than I'd ever need.

Everyone knows Engfa Waraha's image is leagues above that of a Harry Styles wannabe.

Disaster publicity at its finest.

Determined to shake off my own naivety, I worked relentlessly to distance myself from Hollywood drama.

And today, at long last, I'm free and clear of all that mess.

Something did happen as planned. Two weeks ago, just after the premiere of The Devious Hearts, the media exploded with what's now being called "the day of heartbreak."

What had seemed unbreakable was suddenly over.

Headlines across the globe reported the shocking breakup of Hollywood's-and the world's-most adored couple, Engfa Waraha and Alycia Debnam-Carey.

Both took to Instagram, posting official statements announcing they were no longer together, citing the all-too-common "irreconcilable differences." So cliché.

Their posts immediately went viral, trending worldwide, as fans flooded social media with their own expressions of sadness and heartbreak. Some took it even further, reportedly boycotting both Engfa and Alycia.

I could never fully grasp the extent of how fiercely loyal-or perhaps even obsessive-fans could be toward their favorite artists. The depth of their devotion often seemed to blur the line between admiration and obsession, turning something as personal as a breakup into a public spectacle.

The media didn't stop there-they chased both of them like predators hunting prey, seizing every single opportunity to capture a glimpse of what really happened between the two famous ex-lovers.

Stories began to swirl, each one a fabrication crafted to deceive the public. Some tabloids went as far as claiming that Engfa's supposed drug addiction had driven Alycia away.

Others painted an equally absurd picture of Alycia's supposed jealousy over Engfa's recent spotlight. It was all utterly ridiculous.

I suppose this is the reality of the entertainment industry.