Kismet [ENGLOT]

Chapter 23

Charlotte's POV:

Morning arrived, but the weight of my father's words from yesterday clung to me like a heavy fog, refusing to dissipate. My chest felt tight, my heart aching with a dull, persistent throb. Sleep had been elusive; I'd tossed and turned all night, unable to escape the thoughts swirling relentlessly in my mind.

The sunlight filtering through my curtains did little to lift my spirits as I sat up in bed, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. My head pounded, a sharp, unrelenting pain that made me wince. I leaned back against the headboard, closing my eyes as I pressed my fingers to my temples, hoping to massage away the growing ache.

But the pain only intensified, each pulse feeling like a hammer against my skull. A quiet whimper escaped my lips as I struggled to steady my breathing. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the drawer of my nightstand, fumbling for relief. My fingers closed around the small bottle of pills, and I shakily twisted the cap off.

Pouring two tablets into my palm, I popped them into my mouth and reached for the glass of water I'd left by the bedside. The cool liquid eased my dry throat as I swallowed, but it did little to touch the pounding in my head.

I leaned back again, clutching the glass in one hand while the other pressed against my forehead. Closing my eyes, I silently willed the pain to subside, to give me a moment of reprieve.

But it wasn't just the headache. It was everything—the exhaustion, the sleepless night, the weight of knowing I had to face the truth. It all crashed down on me at once, overwhelming and suffocating.

I took a deep breath, trying to find some semblance of calm amidst the chaos in my mind. But even as the pills began to dull the edges of my pain, the ache in my heart remained, heavy and unrelenting.

Today was supposed to be about moving forward—finalising projects, preparing for exams, counting down the days to graduation. But all I could feel was the shadow of the conversation that loomed over me, the one I dreaded but knew I couldn't avoid.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, unbidden and unstoppable. I wiped them away hastily, frustrated at my own weakness. "You have to keep it together," I whispered to myself, my voice shaky but resolute.

The familiar purr of Engfa's Corvette echoed through the driveway, a sound that usually brought a flutter of excitement to my chest. But today, it felt heavier—like a reminder of the weight I carried. I forced myself to move, grabbing my bag and heading toward the door.

Just as I reached for the handle, my dad's voice called out from the kitchen, stopping me mid-step. "Aren't you having breakfast before you go?"

I sighed, my hand hovering over the cold metal of the door. "I'll just grab something at the café," I replied, my voice low and distant.

There was a pause before he spoke again, his tone softer this time, tinged with something I couldn't quite place—sorrow, regret, maybe both. "Charlotte, you know I want you to be happy. But we both know that Engfa deserves to know the truth."

His words hit me like a blow, each syllable heavy with meaning. I swallowed hard, unable to look back at him. "I know," I whispered, the admission weighing on me like lead. My headache, already relentless, seemed to worsen under the strain.

"I'm going now," I said quickly, pushing the door open before he could say anything else. "Bye, Dad."

Stepping outside, the sight of Engfa waiting for me greeted me like sunlight after a storm. She leaned casually against her car, the morning light catching in her hair, making it gleam. As soon as her eyes landed on me, a radiant smile spread across her face, her expression lighting up as though I was the only thing she wanted to see in the world.