Between Us

Chapter 56 : Falling Apart, Together

Several weeks had passed, and I was determined to keep Engfa out of my life. I ignored her calls, her texts, even her attempts to show up unannounced. Every time I saw her name flash on my screen, I deleted the message without reading it. The worst part was finding out that Pichy had been in on everything from the beginning—that she had helped Engfa fake her death. The betrayal burned in ways I couldn't even put into words.

But I was done. Done with the lies, done with the pain.

Thankfully, something positive had finally happened. I had landed a job at a small gallery in the city—a place that felt like a breath of fresh air. The gallery specialized in contemporary art, showcasing rising artists and helping them get their work out into the world. It was Davika, an old friend, who had helped me get the position. She'd vouched for me even when I doubted myself, and I couldn't thank her enough. Working there gave me a sense of purpose again. It kept my mind busy, surrounded by colors and canvases that told stories far removed from my own mess.

On top of that, I'd made another big change. I'd moved in with Nudee. She'd practically become my anchor through everything. Living with her felt like having a built-in support system, someone to share the weight of the silence in my head. Heidi and Tina were a constant presence too, always checking in, visiting, and making me laugh when I needed it most.

Tonight, the four of us sat around the small dining table in our apartment. The smell of Nudee's cooking filled the air—something spicy and rich with garlic that made my mouth water even before the plates hit the table. Nudee bustled around, serving everyone while I sipped my water and listened to Heidi and Tina complain about their jobs.

"I swear," Tina groaned, stabbing at her plate, "if I have to explain one more time why the company can't just 'make the budget numbers look better' without actually doing anything, I'm going to lose it."

Heidi snorted, pouring herself a glass of wine. "Try being asked to stay overtime because your boss doesn't understand the difference between a spreadsheet and a word document. I had to teach him how to copy and paste last week, Tina. Copy. And. Paste."

I chuckled, swirling the sauce on my plate with my fork. "You're both making finance sound like such a dream career."

"Don't you start," Heidi said, pointing her fork at me. "You get to spend your day surrounded by beautiful paintings and sculptures. We're over here fighting wars with Excel sheets and clueless clients."

Tina nodded dramatically. "Exactly. You're living the dream, Char."

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "The dream doesn't pay much, trust me. But at least I get to breathe in the smell of oil paints and varnish every day instead of printer toner."

Nudee set down a steaming bowl of soup in front of Heidi, then leaned back to take her own seat. "You're all overthinking it," she said, popping a piece of bread into her mouth. "The solution is simple—find rich partners to fund your early retirement."

Tina burst out laughing, nearly choking on her food. "Oh, of course. Why didn't we think of that?"

We all laughed, the sound filling the small apartment. For a brief moment, everything felt lighter, easier.

As the laughter settled, Nudee glanced at me. "How's the gallery going, by the way?" she asked, nudging me with her elbow.

I shrugged, finishing a bite of pasta. "Good, actually. I helped set up a new exhibition yesterday. There's this artist who uses recycled materials to make these incredible abstract pieces. It's messy but brilliant."

Tina and Heidi nodded, clearly impressed. Nudee leaned closer, grinning. "See? That's why we don't need rich partners. We've got you, Miss Art Curator Extraordinaire."