' Hmmm, lemme try again.' She scrolled down through her contacts and stopped at Carl's number. After heaving a deep sigh, she shut her eyes and decided to try her luck again.
' please pick, please pick.' She prayed as the phone started ringing and miraculously, he instantly picked up from the other end.
Her heart thumped rapidly and she quickly sat down on the bed and bit her lips. " Carl?" she uttered softly after hearing silence from the other end. After some seconds, she looked down and sighed then continued knowing that he was listening to her.
" Carl, . . .I want you to believe me, nothing had happened between us that night. and those hospital records were faked... I believe someone was behind it. please I want you to sort things out. until then. . ., L..let's breakup." she muttered softly while wiping the tears that had already stained her face then patiently listened to his soft breathing.
Carl sighed from the other end while listening silently to her tiny sobs, he wanted to believe her but couldn't control the image of that day, that kept flashing in his mind. he gazed down at the tiny frame in his hand and finally replied after some minutes. " Mm. . . let's break up"
After hearing his words, she shut her eyes tightly and whispered, " I love you." then finally cut off the call.
______
Carl put down his phone and stroke the picture inside the frame with an indescribable emotion. If she was telling the truth, then he needed to find out. But the fact that she spent a night inside a hotel room with another man, still hurt him deeply.
______
__ The Next Day __
Clara dragged the bags out of her apartment then locked the door. She glanced toward Lara's apartment whose door was shut and sighed with a small smile. ' I wish I could see my babies before going. ' Hmmm.'
" Hello miss, mind if I help you." A man suddenly appeared in front of her and she frowned, wondering where she had met him before. Oh, she had once bumped into him when she was rushing down the stairs several weeks ago.
" Hehe, Remember me now?" the man chuckled and bent down to pick two of the heavy luggage.
Clara nodded with a small smile, still feeling the same bad vibe coming from him. She also picked up the remaining bag and followed behind him as they descended the stairs.
" Thank you, " she said after they hailed a taxi and he helped her put both luggage in the car's trunk.
" The name's Matt. . . and you're welcome... have a safe journey, " he waved and quickly went back inside the apartment building.
Clara stared at his back perplexedly and finally shook her head then entered the taxi which took her directly to the airport. She looked down at her wristwatch and wondered if Maya's flight had landed.
When they arrived at the airport, she hastily left the car and told the driver to wait, after receiving her friend's call.
She excitedly skipped inside the airport while looking around to sight her. ' where is she?' her brows knitted, after finding no trace of her at the arrivals area.
" Strange, " she murmured then took out her phone and was about to dial her number when an ear-piercing scream made her jump.
" MAYA!" she also squealed happily and ran toward the girl who was running to her with a guy dragging a luggage behind.
" I miss you sooo much my baby. can't believe I'm finally seeing you. I suddenly feel like__"
" Don't cry now, Maya. I miss you too." Clara sighed at her overdramatic friend and hugged her back with a chuckle.
" hehehe, I'm so happy__ you can't believe how lonely I was in city X... muah muah muah."
" Ahhh" Clara pushed her away and wiped her cheeks with a pout while glancing at the people who had stopped to stare at them. She couldn't believe Maya would dare to kiss her in public.
Maya laughed at her expression and grabbed her again. " come here, I'm not done yet." she attempted to kiss her other cheek again.
" Maya! you're crazy... how can you embarra__" she was still struggling out of her grip when her eyes darted to the man who was staring at them awkwardly and coughing to make his presence known.
" Oh, I'm so sorry." Maya turned to the guy apologetically then took the luggage from his hand. " Thank you so much, " she said cheerfully with a wink.
Clara stared between her friend and the uniformed man helplessly. " Maya, who is he?" she leaned in closer and asked.
" Oh, he's. . ." Maya trailed off. they had sat together on the plane but she didn't even know his name.
" The name's Drake." The guy extended his hands which Clara took with a smile after giving her friend a menacing look.
She also introduced herself and the guy bid them goodbye and left to meet his families who were waving at a distance.
" Maya, do you want to land yourself in trouble? see, he obviously has a wife, " Clara whispered while her eyes were fixed on the young woman who the man had suddenly pecked on the cheek.
" Duh, I'm not flirting with him. besides, he offered to help, " she replied nonchalantly and dragged the luggage away while Clara followed behind her with a chuckle.
When they reached the taxi, the driver got out and complained about how long she took. and Clara sighed then tried to apologize to the furious man.
" Wait Clara, leave it to me, " Maya whispered in her ears with a chuckle then faced the man and Clara sighed exasperatedly while watching what her friend was about to do.
" Hehe, can you please help us unload the bags?" Maya said sweetly and the man's eyes widened.
" B..But, " he stammered. are they planning to leave his taxi.
" Oh, I forgot. you also have to answer to those two men there." She pointed in a direction where two men in uniform were approaching.