Right Here Waiting for You #Wattys2016

Chapter 40: Please Don't Go

When she got home that night, Paix was waiting for her in the courtyard of the condo.

"What happened to your hand?"

"It's nothing serious CJ." Paix hugged her which really surprised her. He was very careful these days

and had been always on the lookout for any camera whenever they're together. They stayed like that

for a few minutes.

Paix noticed that CJ has lost weight. He knows that CJ has been bombarded with hate tweets after

that fan video was tweeted and became viral. She already lost that twinkle in her eyes. In fact, she

looked sadder than last time.

They sat on the steps of the fountain, holding hands.

CJ did not waste time in telling him about the possibility of auditioning in Toronto for Kinky Pants and

the modeling stint as well. Paix was quiet; therefore it was hard for CJ to decipher his mood. She

sometimes wonder how life has changed for both of them. They used to be so happy together

whenever they get an opportunity. Now, she's stressed out when meeting him for fear that someone

might be videotaping them again. "Was it like this for Mom and Dad in the beginning?" she asked

herself.

Then he finally said: "When are you leaving?" without looking at her.

"This Wednesday." Why does she get the feeling that Paix is holding something away from her right

now?

"It's your career CJ and you're the only one who can decide if you want to go or not,'' he said with a

stoic facial expression.

"And how about you? You fully know that it's not just about my career. It seems that you have

forgotten already...that we used to think collectively." There was so much pain in CJ's voice when

she uttered those words.

He stood in front of her and held her shoulders. "You don't need to ask me that question coz you fully

know what I want. And I'm sorry if I acted like a jealous jerk at the event" He kissed her forehead

and left. The many disagreements that they face so often these days that she stopped counting them

bothered CJ a lot. Who will ever think that they were just so happy less than a year ago?

Paix decided not to tell her about the video. "If she decides to go, I want her to be at her best. I want

to tell her that I don't want her to go. That I'm scared how my days will go when she'll be so far away

from me. That I don't want to see any guy sitting beside her because I feel so jealous that I want to

punch that person so bad. That I want to tell the whole world how much I love CJ Brett and how much

I hate being part of that Galloway enterprise. But I guess, these are just useless tirades because I

know I can't do anything in our situation right now. I don't want her to postpone these opportunities

because of me. And if in case the video comes out, she won't be here to be bashed and got hurt again

by the fans. I want her to be as far as she can go. She'll be okay if she's not here."

Garrie was burning the phone lines after 24 hours. Something big is lurking in media rooms.

CJ made all the arrangements for the days that she won't be here. She has to pass three auditions in

order to get in the broadway production. It will be tough but Raffie will be with her. She tried

to call Paix on his private cell that night which only a few people knew but he did not respond.

The following morning, Cj and Raffie left for an early morning flight to Canada.

Paix just got home and saw all the missed calls from CJ. He took the cab to go to her condo only to be

told by Nanangie that she just left with Raffie a while ago for the airport.

Paix hurriedly went back to the cab. " The airport please!''

He did not waste time when he get there. He ran to the Air Canada counter to check if she's still there.

The line up is not long and she's not there. And then he saw her going through the scanner. He called

her name repeatedly. But she wouldn't hear him. She got her Beat headphone on, listening to Sam

Smith.

She felt so heavyhearted leaving because she didn't say goodbye to Paix. She spent the whole night

trying to communicate with him but to no avail. She has no idea that Paix is there a few meters away

from her, calling her name.

Then she dropped her iPhone and glanced back to pick it up. There she

saw Paix standing among a group of people. She removed her headphone and heard him calling her

name. She can't go back anymore so she just smiled back and waved her hand at him. She felt her

tears running down her cheeks. Then she disappeared from his view.

This scene will be etched in each other's memory as they will not see each other again for a long time.