After College (Vixie & Chris Powell)

/6/ Second Chance?

I was waiting at the restaurant for Vixie...it was already 6:58 PM.

After a while, Vixie showed up at 7:05 PM.

"I'm sorry I was late, I had a surprise meeting earlier that couldn't wait. " Vixie apologized.

"It's okay. Actually, I didn't expect you'd really go, " I said, guilty.

"I want to hear your explanation," she said, simply but sternly.

"Um, excuse me, can I take your order? " the waiter asked us.

"I'll have water, " Vixie said.

"I'll have a dark coffee" I ordered.

The waiter nodded and left.

"Why did you only ordered water? You're not hungry? " I asked her,  confused.

"I lost my appetite three years ago," she said, looking away from me.

Ouch.

We stayed silent. I can feel that the air surrounding us was tense. Very tense.

Our orders were served. Vixie drank her glass of water as I broke the silence between us.

"So...... What happened to you? " I asked, smiling a little.

"Well,  I finally graduated. My job now is working as a singer in parties, special occasions, contests. I'm also writing some stories online," she said to me.

"What about you? What have you been doing for the past three years? " she asked, simply.

"Well...... Dad and I went abroad, and he showed me what his life was like when he left me, my mom, and my siblings.... " I answered.

"Was his life good?  Did he enjoy it? Even though he left his family?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It had its perks but he wasn't that happy knowing he made a mistake," I explained.

"How about you? Did it feel good? Leaving? Like he did? " She asked.

"Vixie... I.... " I said, frowning.

She looked up at me, it looked like she was gonna cry but she held it in.

"Tell me, Were you happy? Did it make you feel good? Did you even have had regrets about leaving? " she asked, coldly.

"N-no, I wasn't happy.... " I said, quietly.

"Nonsense, it wouldn't take three years for you to come back if you didn't enjoy it, " she said to me, coldly

"Dad wanted me to stay...." I replied.

"Ah, so you obeyed the man who left you and your family instead of coming back to the people who actually stayed with you? I know it's not my business to interfere but basically, you didn't care about the life you had here. Chris, we weren't mad at you because you didn't tell us, we were mostly mad because....1) You didn't tell your own mother who cried on the phone, talking to us. And AJ, your sister, who came to the house, crying and looking for you. 2) It made us very mad because you were gone for three damn years!" she said,
angrily while tears fell from her face but she ignored it.

"I'm sorry.... " I said to her as I furrowed my eyebrows when I heard that mom and AJ were very worried.

"It'll have to take more than an apology for me to forgive you.... " she said.

"I know what I did was wrong, believe me I do... But don't think that I enjoyed those three years away from you. Days and nights, I wondered how hard was it for you... And for the fact that I couldn't talk to you made it harder for me to live my life. Dad said I should move on and find another girl cause doubt that you'll still be with me when I come back but I said no cause no other girl could replace you..... I cried, Vixie, okay? I cried too at the thought of you being hurt. I know that it wasn't easy for you. Trust me, I wanted to come back but I'm afraid that you won't be happy if you saw me, " I explained.

"So, you thought I'll be happier of not seeing you? Chris, every night, I prayed for you to come back....even if you found someone new, I still wanted you to come back. I searched the whole damn city looking for you! Even if Zack and the others told me to give up...I didn't." she said

"Vixie, I----" she cut me off.

"I think we're done here, " she said as she stood up from her seat.

"Um, of course, " I replied.

She left the restaurant.

I didn't know what to say. All I wanted was to get things back to the way they were..... And I mean, me and Vixie being together like we were. I don't even know if we're still together or if she has someone new......I wanted to know. I'm not giving up that easily. I still love her.... I know I do.