Chapter 52: Chapter 52
Mom was discharged and we returned home. I stayed with them for some days and had to return to St. Vincent for the excursion. I hoped to see Bella there. She would be there right?. She worked so hard for the excursion. She put in her best so that we could go on that excursion. She had sleepless nights getting things ready. She spent time convincing the board to accept and let us go for the excursion.
I was sure she wouldn't miss the excursion for anything. I was sure I will get to see her once more. I was sure I would be able to hold her hand once more. I would be able to tell her once more that I love her.
When Ethan and I got to St. Vincent, I went straight to Bella's resident. When I got there, I met Lucy. She was happy to see me. When I asked after Bella, she told me she was fine and will be returning today. I was happy. I knew it. I knew I was going to see her again. I told her to let me know when she gets back and then returns home. I waited for Lucy's call to no avail. I kept pacing around the room. Ethan tried to calm me down. He told me Bella would come and when she does, Lucy would call me. I believe and waited.
I kept waiting hoping to get the call soon.
**
"Your phone is ringing," Ethan said
I opened my eyes slowly. I was tired and needed to sleep. I had stayed awake all night hoping Lucy would call me. I must have fallen asleep in the process. "Who is calling?" I asked, yawning slightly
"It's Miss Lucy"
I jumped up quickly. "Lucy?. Maybe she has news about Bella"
Ethan passed me the phone and I picked the call. "Hello"
"Hello, Jay. I'm sorry. Bella showed but prevented me from calling you. She left for school this morning. You should head for school quickly. She will be going back to Washington, D.C. I think she's quitting her job"
I batted my lashes. She is leaving? And she doesn't want me to know about it?. "Thanks, Lucy. I will head for school now"
The call ended and I stood up to pick up my hoodie. I needed to catch up with her very quickly. "What did Miss Lucy say?" Ethan asked
I sighed. "Bella is here..."
"I told you"
"She's leaving" I announced
"What?. She's leaving?"
I nodded. "She is quitting her job. She wants to take over her father's company. She is on her way to the school to submit her resignation letter"
"I'm going with you"
"Ok". I picked my hoodie up and my car key and we drove to school.
We got to school and went straight to the board room. It was closed. We went to her office too but met it locked. I wondered where she would have been. We met with some students and they seem to know why we were in school. I was told Bella was in class. She came to say goodbye. When I asked where she is now, I was told she had left for her airport.
Why doesn't she want to see me?. Why is she trying to avoid me?. Have I done something wrong?. I called her number but she wasn't picking up. She refused to reply to my messages too. "I am going to the airport," I told Ethan and ran out of that school premises. He ran after me.
"We are in this together. I can't let you go alone"
"Ethan, you should go home. I will go after her myself"
"I can't let you go alone". He took the key from me. "I will drive. Call Miss Lucy. We need to know when her flight will take off"
I sighed. "Thanks, man"
**
Bella's flight was scheduled for 10 am. We were in luck we got there by 9:30 am. We separated ourselves to look for her. I followed the left direction while Ethan followed the right direction.
After a while, we met at a spot without seeing Bella. "Did you see her?" I asked
"No. I guess you didn't see her too"
I nodded. "Why is she doing this to me?. Why is she avoiding me?. Why?"
Ethan patted my shoulder. "We are going to see her. I know that. We will wait here until she shows up"
"Ethan, you don't understand. She doesn't want to see me. She doesn't want me anymore"
"She..." Ethan stopped talking and pointed in a direction. "That's Miss Bella"
I turned and it was her. "Bell" I called. "Bella"
She kept walking away and we had run after her. I kept calling her name. She stopped walking and turned. When she saw me, she seems surprised. "Bell" I cooed
She stared at me for a while and then turned. "Bell, you ain't leaving right?" I asked. "You won't leave me right"
She said nothing but took a few steps. She stopped and then turned to look at me for the last time. I saw tears fall down her face. I was confused about what was going on. I watched her leave and I screamed her name. "Bell. Bell..."
I made to go after her but Ethan held me back. "Let her go. She has made a difficult decision. I guess it's for the best"
I held Ethan tightly. "Bell" I cooed
My heart was broken. I was devastated. If she has to leave. She should have just told me and I will say a proper goodbye. "Bell" I cooed for the second time. She left just like my first love. It hurt to see her leave. "She's gone"
"Yes, Jay". I released my grip on Ethan and turned to leave. "You won't give up on her, right?"
"She gave up on me first. There is no point hanging around" I answered and left the airport.
**
It was time for the excursion. I told Ethan I won't be going. Bella was the reason I wanted to go in the first place. Since she would show up as I predicted, there was no need to go. I ignored all pleas by Ethan to go for the excursion. "I can't go, can't you understand. What's the point going?. Everything there will remind me of Bella. And I don't want to be reminded of her. I don't!!" I yelled
"Jay, please..."
I frowned. "I said I am not going. Can't you get it?. I don't want to be reminded about her. I don't!!"
"Jay..."
I stood up. "We are done having this conversation"
He sighed. "If you say so. But I hope you have a change of mind"
I left the room for a quiet place. I needed time for myself. I needed time to think. Bella's leaving had a great effect on me. I had to miss classes so many times. And whenever I manage to be in the class, I was always absent-minded. I was either staring at the window or the door.
I kept hoping she would show up. I thought she would walk in one day and tell us she was joking but when a new lecturer showed up instead of her, I knew she was gone and won't be coming back. I knew I had lost her completely. I knew I wasn't going to see her again.
I called her so many times, I sent her text messages too. But none was replied. I knew I had to move on. I knew it was time for me to move on. That is what I'm trying to do now. That's what I need to do now. And to do that, I will have to forfeit the excursion and focus on other things.
Focus on making her proud. Even though I want to move on and not think about her, I knew I needed to work hard. She believed I could do it. She believes I could be a better person. She believes I was going to be someone great.
I need to make that dream come through. I need to fulfill my promise to her. My promise of becoming a better person. The promise of making her proud. If that's the only thing I will be able to do for her. I promise I will do it.
Though I hope to see her someday, I hope by then I would have moved on and have gotten over her. I want to. And I will do that!!.