Sweet Surrender (Book 2)

Leave

  "The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward." 
― , Steve Maraboli

Stacey

I've been like this for days. Flipping and turning from my bed in this cheap hotel room. I've shut myself out from the world. I keep on dismissing Jasmine's calls and text messages. I just sent her an email that i might not be available for some time. I know i need to explain to her what happened, maybe soon. But not now. I'm too vulnerable still. Jonathan has been back and forth in here, checking out on me. Making sure I eat and have enough supplies. The guy has been really good to me, and I'm really grateful beyond explanation.

"Hey, I talked to Tyler today. You wanna hear about it?" He asks as he sits on my bed while I bury my face in the pillow. I've been crying for days and I know I look like sh*t. But there's no use to be ashamed anymore, not with Jonathan who has seen me break down the moment we stepped into this room a week ago.

"Did he ask about me?" I say calmly. Silly! Why would he ask about you? You saw it in his eyes. He's done with you. He even doesn't want you to be in the same zip code!

"He did actually." He answers while he grabs the tray with my lunch, maybe dinner in it. I don't know. I lost track of time.

"He did? What did he say?" I sit up straight in bed.

"He just asked if you're back in Corona." He looks at me warily. Of course. He wants to make sure that he wont see me anymore.

"Oh. Okay. So did he give your job back?" I look at him, hopeful that Tyler would have a heart to give this poor guy his job back. That's the last favor that I asked from him.

"Yeah. But I'll be transferred to the Taiwan branch. Starting next week." What? He lowers his head. I know he needs the job.

"Why in Taiwan?" He just shrugs his shoulders.

"At least I'm not jobless. I'll just get a nurse to help my mother. He promised to assign me back here in Singapore once you're back in Corona." He sighs.

"Wow. I don't know where he got the idea that we're together. I don't get it." I smile faintly. Jonathan and I have tried to figure out where he got the idea about us, but we really cant figure it out. Tyler knows that only Jonathan is the person that I'm close to next to him here in Singapore.

"I tried to explain it to him earlier, but the guy wont hear me out. He made me promise not to hear your name or anything about you from me. I'm sorry Stace. I tried." He grips my hand that I keep on fidgeting in my lap.

"That's fine. You'll be back here in no time, I'll be out of here in a week or two. There's no need for me to stay here Jon. I cant keep on ruining my life for him. If he doesn't want me, I'm done with him." Yeah, keep telling yourself that Stacey.

"Are you going back to Corona?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I haven't made up my mind yet." I cant go back to Corona. I'm just not sure where to go yet.

"Stacey, tell me where you decide to go okay?"

"Maybe I'll just keep it to myself Jon. It would be better that way. thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it." I smile genuinely at him. I see Jonas in him. He's already like a brother to me. He never left my side. Not even once. Now, I have to do this for him. Get away from Tyler so he doesn't have to leave for Taiwan.

There's one thing that I can do to make sure of that, and I have to gather all my guts for me to do it.

I check my reflection from a car window parked in front of his building the following morning. I have to get my laptop and tell him about Jonathan. My heart beats like crazy. I decided to wear just a casual jeans and shirt today. No make-up.

"Miss Stacey." Samantha greets me when I pass by her in the lobby.

"Is your boss already in?" I check my watch. It's past nine oclock in the morning. Tyler never comes in late. I made sure to be here early so I will get the chance to speak to him.

"Yeah. He's in the office. Do you want me to...." She signals me to the office.

"No. That's fine. I'll take it from here." I smile at her and walk to the door. I knock three times.

"Come in." His low voice sends shivers to my skin. Its been a week since I saw Tyler.

"Can I come in?" I ask as I slowly open the door. His eyes widen when he realizes who's his early morning visitor. 

"Stacey." He stands from his chair and points to a chair in front of his desk for me to sit down. Wow. The way he treats me, its like he doesn't know me at all. it hurts to see the change in his demeanor towards me.

"I'm sorry. I promised that you wont see me again, I just need to talk to you and get my laptop." I point to the desk across him. 

"Yeah. Your laptop. And what do you want to talk about?" He crosses his arms in front of his chest. 

"Jonathan...." His eyes fill with anger the moment I mentioned Jon's name.

"Seriously? I thought you came to apologize. Do you want to chit-chat about your boy toy? No. Thank you very much, I have a lot of more important things to do." He stands and moves to my desk and grabs the laptop sending a couple of things from my desk to crash on the floor. My heart aches to see our picture broken on the tiled floor. Just like us. Broken. 

"Tyler. Jonathan didn't do anything. How many times do I have to..." He didn't let me finish. He shoves the laptop in front of me.

"Leave." One word. That's enough for me to understand.

"I am. You wont be seeing me anymore. You can count on that. You don't need to send Jonathan to Taiwan. His mother needs him here. I'm sure you know that." I clutch the ends of my laptop tightly against my chest. 

I leave the building without a second glance. What a way to start my day. I have to finish packing and book a flight to Canada. I cant go back to Corona. Not with a broken Stacey. I have to find a way to gather my thoughts and put back the broken pieces of me. 

Until when? I'm not sure yet.