Chapter-3
2097 Words
She. Was. Gone.
But.
She. Will. Be. Back.
Because she promised...
Ivan repeats this everyday in his head. He has been repeating this same thing in his mind for the past one year. But yet, it felt as surreal as it felt to him a year ago, when he rushed home to find her gone. It was a year ago when he finally realized that the woman he has always loved, the woman he has looked around for, she was right there beside him all along. That day he could only hope one thing as he sped back home: that he was not too late. That he could be given one more chance to redeem for every pain he has inflicted on her, every wrong choice he has made.
But he was too late. And she was gone. Keeping the promise she made to him when they were forced together. The sense of despair that he has felt in that moment has surpassed any explanation. There were no words to explain the pain that he felt. His life has crumbled into a thousand pieces that day. And even after a year has gone by, he was still trying to gather the pieces. To somehow mend them together. And so far, he hasn't made much progress.
Helena's treachery has forced the foundation of Navarro family to almost crumple to the ground. He was forced to watch as years and years worth of hard work started to collapse. Shares crumbling, media spreading controversies, significant business partners pulling away. Ivan was left all alone in this and he had almost give up. On everything, on life. But eventually he stood up again with the support of a few well-wishers who still stood by him. And with the strength that her words gave him.
It's a new life, so write it the way you want. Don't let anyone dictate it anymore. I know, the coming days, weeks or even months will be extremely hard for you. But I know you can battle it. It's all for the greater good after all. Don't alienate yourself. Allow help. You have people by your side who love and care for you.
Ivan reads the letter she left everyday. Once in morning, once before going to bed. He has read it so many times that he don't think he would ever forget it in his life. It gave him hope and comfort. He could imagine her sitting on her desk and writing it down. It gave him a sense of her presence around him because other than that, he was completely alone. It was this same fear of being alone that prompted him to overlook every flaw of Helena and Dario. This fear of being alone was what brought him here in the first place. And ironically, now he was forced to live it every single day.
At first, Ivan thought he will get used to it eventually. Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months and months into a complete year but he still didn't get use to it. To her screaming absence that surrounds him. Or to the fact that the people whom he thought of as his family completely shattered his life. He has been trying his best to make amends with both but he hasn't been able to. Especially with the former.
"Ivan," Vincent's voice was that of exhaustion but also sympathy at the same time. "No...she hasn't come back. No...I haven't heard from her and no, I don't know where she is,"
Ivan knew the answer. He has been calling Vin every alternative day asking these three things : Was she back? Did you hear from her? Do you know where she is? And every time he gives him the same answer. No. No. No.
"Sorry," Ivan mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I won't do it again," He heard a sigh on the other end.
"You can call me a thousand time, Ivan," He said softly. "That's not an issue. But you really have to stop obsessing over her absence. Amber didn't leave so that you can sink further into oblivion,"
"I am not sinking into oblivion," He retorted gingerly. "I go to work everyday. I attend those stupid parties...that's not sinking into oblivion," Vincent snorted in response.
"Please...you look like a lost ghost trying to find his way out of this world," He answered. "My sister gave you a job and that is to gather your s**t together. Honestly, I shouldn't be even talking to you after the way you treated her. If she told me earlier you would have been dead. But I know you are not a bad guy. You are just dumb and you saw my sister, she is super smart. So you better grow up to her, dude. Or she will definitely reject you and find someone worth her. And I will help her if needed,"
"I miss her," Ivan answered silently and there was a long silence on the other end. He knew Vin was trying to gather himself. He was just as shocked by Amber leaving as anyone else. And annoyingly, that woman left a letter for everyone. Ivan was very curious to see what was written in Enrique's but he never showed.
"I know. Don't we all?" He answered. "But she said she will be back and Amber never breaks her promises. I guess we just have to wait a little more,"
"Yeah. Thanks for your...er pep talk," Ivan muttered and Vin laughed on the other end.
"Give me a call anytime. Gotta go now, see you later," He said. "And yeah...that was a joke. Don't dare call me again and ask the same thing. I will block you,"
"Fine," Ivan answered and his lips twitched in a small smile. Vincent, Enrique, Cecilia, Christina and the Vazquez are the ones who have kept him going all these days. He have no idea what he would have done without them. He guessed Amber wouldn't have left in the first place if it wasn't for them. She knew they will hold him.
Shaking his head, Ivan turned his eyes back to the canvas in front of him. He finally got back to the very thing that gave him peace once again. Painting. And the first thing he painted was her. The dark haired girl finally has a face. A real face. And it was beautiful by every means. She stared back at him, dark eyes watching him just the way she used to and he smiled, trying to drive happiness from it and also from imagining the time when she would finally stand in front of him. He had no idea what he will do then or whether he will be able even to face her but he was now ready to find that out. The doorbell rang and Ivan wiped his hands on the waste cloth before stumbling downstairs.
He has left the Navarro mansion the very first thing after all the legal hassles got over. Living in that place was too much on him. To the point where he was even willing to sell it out. But he couldn't because that place also has memories. Of his father...his mother and of Amber. He locked it up, hired a caretaker and moved to one of the penthouse apartments in the newly built apartment complexes under Navarro Constructions with Christina. It was not that huge and therefore he didn't feel as alone and suffocated as he felt there. Ivan opened the door and Enrique stood in front of him along with his luggage. Ivan raised his brow at him but he didn't wait for him to ask. He walked in and stumbled down on the couch.
"I am officially moving in here for the next two months," He said before Ivan can open his mouth and he frowned in response.
"Why?" He asked and Enrique made a disgusted face.
"I can't live there. I mean I moved out for a reason, right? And it was Ci who brought me back to the hell hole and now she is the one who is making it impossible to live there," He wailed. "Even more than my shitty father. I am not going back before two months,"
"Oh...kay," Ivan nodded, sitting down in front of him. "But what did she do?"
"She can't stop rambling, Ivan," He snapped. "She's been going on and on and on ever since Vin proposed to her. These flowers...that furnishings...these dresses....that lights. Oh God! It's unbearable. If she keeps this on, I might as well not attend the wedding in the first place," Ivan stared at him wide-eyed and smiled.
"She is going to get married. Of course she will be excited," Ivan remarked and Enrique rolled his eyes. Vin finally proposed to Cecilia some two weeks ago and that was so far the only good thing that has happened in the year. It was going to be months of celebration now and Ivan, despite his inner turmoil was genuinely happy for her best friend. He has always seen Cecilia as his sister and if he thinks from a brother's point of view, he couldn't ask for anyone better than Vincent.
"Well, I get it," He grumbled. "A week of hyping up is fine but God...she doesn't seem to be in the mood to stop. And it's not only that,"
"Then?" Ivan inquired and he made a really nasty face.
"Ci's bedroom is adjoining mine," He answered. "Vin stops by at night frequently these days and honestly I don't even want to say this...I am her brother for god sake but hell are they loud! They are so freaking loud!"
"Ugh...shut it," I made a face and he scoffed.
"See? It creeps me out big time. I mean what the hell?" Enrique shuddered. "And it doesn't help with my current situation either!"
"Why don't you just...I don't know have a fling or something...I am sure you can find anyone," Ivan offered and Enrique looked away.
"I don't want to," He murmured and Ivan decided it would be better to halt the conversation right there. The thought of Enrique and Amber in any compromising situation was not something he can take with a grain of salt. The mere thought made his scalp prickle. He still felt like Amber was entitled to him. Her body, her heart, her soul...he wanted it all. But of course, he wasn't going to get it easy.
"Sorry," Enrique grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That...just escaped, and sounds wrong"
"Yeah...keep that thoughts to yourself. She might not be my wife but she was at some point," He grumbled. Ivan could still feel the smoothness of her skin if he close his eyes, the softness of her lips...that night was as clear as day in his mind and to think of Enrique in his place. That was almost pushing the boundaries.
"Yeah...so I am gonna take the guest room," Enrique mumbled and Ivan nodded his head. It will be good to have him here. Enrique stood up and dragged his stuff upstairs. Ivan watched him and the unnamed dread started to flutter in his stomach. Will it be this easy with him even when Amber comes back? He did not want to fight Enrique and destroy years and years of friendship. But he also cannot stop him from feeling whatever he felt for Amber. If she chooses Enrique over him, he have to make peace with that. But will he manage to keep their friendship intact after that? Was he capable of being so giving?
He had no idea and frankly there was no point in dwelling over that at the moment. Sighing, he stood up and was about to get back to his work when the doorbell rang again. Ivan rolled his eyes, assuming it to be Cecilia and opened the door. But instead of Cecilia, his lawyer stood at the door.
"Mr. Costa," He mumbled, surprised.
"Sorry to disturb you at this hour sir," He said. "But I have something urgent to tell you,"
"Sure. Go ahead...Oh, please...do come in," He moved aside to let the gentleman in and then took a seat opposite him, waiting.
"What is it?" He asked and Costa pulled out a file from his bag, handing it over to him. Ivan raised his brow questioningly at him.
"Helena Navarro has signed up for mercy petition, sir," He said. "Her lawyer sent me this. She wants to see you," Ivan stared blankly at the file and scoffed.
Was she kidding him?
- Writer
