FORTY- SEVEN

I was talking to the two girls closest to me on my laptop, then Olivia's mom called her and she said,"I've gotta go, but talk to you later."

"Sure."

She hung up and Lucille asked,"Is that her?"

"Is that who?"

"The girl of your dreams? The one you can't live without?"

"What? No! Maybe."

"Eeek! I'm gonna tell my mom!"

"No! Don't tell...any...one."

She had already hung up.

I sighed.

Girls, typical.

I went to Mark's study and saw him reading some papers. I sat on the rotating leather chair in front of his desk and without a word, he pushed an invitation card towards me.

It was an invite to an expensive gala in about a month and he was allowed to bring a plus one.

I looked at him, wondering what that meant and he said,"I want you to be my plus one."

"Really?"

"Really."

I started jumping in my seat and tried my best to keep my mouth shut, but my efforts weren't enough as I began to mumble.

He took his tuxedo shirt from the clothes hanger and said,"Now let's go for a helicopter ride."

I lost it and jumped on the desk and started tap dancing, jumping and frolicking.

We were walking into the helicopter with its rotating blades and Mark lowered his head before entering, so I did too.

I asked him why, since the blades were well over his head and he replied,"Irono, they just always do that in the movies."

The helicopter ascended into the air and I looked out of the window at the diminishing buildings.

Mark was just looking at me till he got a call, it was an unknown number.

Mark's face turned dark when he heard the caller speak.

"What do you want?"Mark asked coldly.

"Mark, just hear me out. I'm sorry for leaving and I miss you...I have regretted my decision every second I have been away."

"So? Why should I care?"

"...I know you are angry and I want to comfort you, I want you back."

"All you want is my money."

"No I don't, I want you. Please, give me a second chance."

"A second chance?! You abandoned me! Right when I needed you most!"

"Yes I did and you have every right to be angry, I just want to talk."

Mark knew he should have hung up but he couldn't. He hated himself for still having feelings for her.

"Fine, we'll meet at The Island Paradise, 9am, tomorrow."

The Island Paradise was a five star hotel built on an artificial delta on the river. It was bordered by a wall of dense jungles of temperate- tropical plants and guards.

It was very beautiful and specialized in African and South American food.

"Thank you Mark."

When he hung up, I asked,"Who was that?"

He was quiet for a few seconds before saying,"Cathy."

"What did she want?"

"To talk to me."

"And are you going?"

"Yes, just to tell her that there's nothing which exists between us any more."

He didn't believe a word he said.

The helicopter landed and we got off, Mark was holding my hand, not tightly like when he met Ms Lucy but gently.

And I realized that his lips edged up into a smile.

Mark left late the next day, by the time my second lesson was about halfway through. At 8:39, and went to his car.

Mark arrived at the bridge and met Ms Gonzalez.

He payed the fee for both of them and got out of the car.

He walked closer to Ms Gonzalez with his hands behind his back and she smiled. She came closer for a hug but he brought his right hand forward to stop her, then said coldly,"Get in the car."

She smiled wider then nodded and got in.

He also got in and they drove to the restaurant.

At the best table, they looked at each other and simultaneously said,"I wanted to tell you..."

"You speak first."Ms Gonzalez said.

"Ladies first."

"...okay, I just wanted to thank you for giving me some of your time."

"But that time is limited so you'd better cut to the chase."

"...right, well I wanted to ask you to take me back."

"You really have the guts to ask me that? Why don't you move on from me and live your life? That's what you wanted to do isn't it? To live?"

"I have now realized that living without you is worse than death...and I'm sorry."

"I told you to do me a favour."

"Well sadly, I've never been that good at keeping my word...I can't live without you Mark, I lied, that spark didn't diminish, it rather grew brighter, even when we were apart."

"I'm not sorry that I can't say the same..."

Let me see what she does...

"Oh, right..."

Wait, is she crying?!

No!

Don't cry!

I didn't mean for that to happen!

He wanted to beat himself up for making her cry and to just squeeze her but he composed himself.

"Are you crying?"He asked, already knowing the answer.

"If it's that's what you want, for me to beg, then I'll do it, I'll beg you."

She went on her knees, attracting the attention of everyone and he was just about to accept her apology till...

I can't keep the child...

Her intention to abort the baby hurt him, he looked at her but saw her sorrow and sincerity, he began to tear uncontrollably and realized something...

"Cathy, I still love you."

"Y- you do?"

"Yes, very much but that's exactly why I can't take you back."

"What?"

"We aren't compatible, yet are in love, you would have aborted the twins, yet I wanted to father them...this isn't right, we can't be together again."

She also realized the same thing but didn't want to accept it, she couldn't. She burst into tears and he gently hugged her and rubbed her hair saying,"It's okay."

She looked at him and said,"You're right, but, I still don't want to leave you."

"Neither I you, but we can stay in touch."

"Really?"

He nodded.

He kissed her lips for the last time and said,"Goodbye."

He left.