CHAPTER 33

After almost three months of living together, Engfa and Charlotte's lives became more organized and very happy because they felt that their lives complemented each other. Sometimes they would go to work together where Engfa would send Charlotte to her workplace first and then she would go to her workplace since the distance between their companies was only 20 minutes. When they got home from work, they would stop by anywhere to spend time together and relieve work stress.

Charlotte felt that the time spent with Engfa was very meaningful to her. If possible, she wanted Engfa to always be by her side because she was too obsessed with the woman.

However, lately, they rarely went to work together and always went to work separately because Engfa had to visit sites outside the district so she had to bring her own car there. Once Charlotte asked her to use the company car but Engfa gave the reason that she was not comfortable using the company car and preferred to use her own car. Charlotte finally couldn't argue with this anymore.

What made Charlotte even more unhappy was that Engfa now always came home late, sometimes late at night and this worried her because Engfa rarely had time to be with her, especially since she got a new project in New Jersey. Even on weekends, she sometimes worked until Charlotte felt neglected.

Tonight, Engfa had promised to come home early to have dinner together. Charlotte looked at the wall clock that showed 8 PM, but Engfa's figure was still nowhere to be seen. She tried to open her mobile phone to check if there were any calls and messages from Engfa but there were none.

She sighed a long time and tried to dial her lover's phone number, after a few seconds, the call was answered but it was not Engfa who answered the call but Nudee who picked up the call. This made Charlotte confused, why Nudee had picked up her call.

" Hello Charlotte, this is Nudee "

" Hello Nudee, hmm why did you pick up ? Where is Engfa ? "

Ask Charlotte who was still confused

" Oh Engfa is taking a shower Char, that's why I picked up. Her phone is in the living room "

" Taking a shower ? Where are you exactly ? Engfa said she's having a site visit in New Jersey today "

Charlotte asked again, trying to control her angry voice as best she could so it wouldn't be heard there.

" Oh now we're in New York, Char. When we get back here, Engfa said she wanted to stop by her house, she said she wanted to rest first before going back to Brooklyn. I'm waiting for my lover to come and pick me up here "

When hearing all that, Charlotte's heart swelled with anger. She looked at the food that had been served on the table. The anger in her chest was burning even more. Engfa didn't remember their dinner tonight at all, she really didn't remember !

" Oh... okay Nudee, see you later "

Charlotte immediately hung up the call and continued to take all the food she had cooked and threw it in the trash. Her thoughts began to flash back to her relationship with Mew. Mew used to be like this too, Mew used to be like this, Mew used to be like this, putting work before herself until she finally had to hide everything she felt. Charlotte didn't want the same thing to happen again. Her tears quickly flowed down her cheeks, worried and afraid that her relationship with Engfa would have the same ending.

-

-

Charlotte was still trying to wait, the clock on the wall was already showing 10.30 PM. Engfa still hadn't come home. Charlotte tried to distract herself from wondering where she was but with every passing hour, the question kept creeping back, where was Engfa now ?

Finally, she decided to call it a night. She went through her nightly routine, changed into her pajamas. She lay down and pulled the blanket over her. But after tossing and turning for what felt like ages, her mind kept racing back to one person. Charlotte sighed in disappointment, she didn't understand why Engfa could forget their dinner tonight even though she had promised to go home early.

And why did Engfa suddenly want to stop by her house first when she could have dropped Nudee off at her house and gone straight back to Brooklyn. Did Engfa not like living with her ? The question lingered in her mind. Realizing that she had been thinking negatively about her lover all this time, she quickly shook her head, not wanting to think about it anymore, so she closed her eyes tightly and finally fell asleep in a dream.

-

-

The next morning, Charlotte woke up with her head still thinking about last night. She noticed Engfa lying next to her, her arms wrapped around her waist. Engfa's hair was messy in her face so Charlotte gently pushed her away.

Suddenly Engfa slowly opened her eyes, pulled Charlotte close and hugged her tightly.

" Good morning, baby "

When she remembered the events of last night, Charlotte loosened her grip, she threw the blanket and got up and sat on the edge of the bed while watching Engfa.

" Hmm what are you doing here ? "

Charlotte asked with a raised eyebrow. Engfa got up and sat next to her lover with a smile, she slowly took Charlotte's hand from her hip and replaced it with both of her hands.

" Hmm what's wrong baby ? "

Engfa asked softly as she leaned in to kiss Charlotte's cheek. Charlotte maintained her serious attitude.

" I asked why you were here ? I thought you forgot you had a home and a girlfriend waiting for you ? "

Engfa wrapped her arms around Charlotte,

" Hmm are you mad about last night babe ? I'm sorry okay, I'm sorry for coming back late. My site visit ended late yesterday, I forgot to tell you "

" Oh ended late ? "

Charlotte asked again, her tone still serious

" What do you mean Charlotte ? I don't understand "

Charlotte let go of Engfa's hand

" I heard your site visit ended in the evening. Now tell me, after the site visit, where did you go ? "

Engfa swallowed hard, caught off the guard by accusation. Silence hung between them and Charlotte's piercing gaze made it clear she could read her like a book.

Charlotte nodded slowly, ready for Engfa's answer.

" I'm serious Engfa, you seem to enjoy testing my patience "

" Char, I didn't go anywhere after coming back from the site visit, I just stopped by my house for a while to rest. At the same time, I'm waiting for Nudee's lover to come pick her up "

Engfa explained while her eyes were still looking at Charlotte who was losing her patience. She took a deep breath and said again.

" I know I didn't have time to join our dinner last night, I admit my mistake, please forgive me okay ? "

" And then ? "

Charlotte insisted, her expression still unwavering

" Babe... I'm really sorry. I promise I won't do it again okay ? "

" You promised ? Are you sure ? you didn't even send me a message to let me know you were okay or not, why ? Or are you annoyed because I always bother you, huh ? "

Engfa sighed while stroking her hair.

" Oh gosh Charlotte, of course not ! please don't think that way. I'm just tired that I don't have time to look at my phone. It's not that I don't want to call or text you "

" Okay ! If you're tired, I don't have to bother you anymore. I'll just let you do whatever you want from now on. Go ahead  ! "

With that, Charlotte turned to leave but Engfa sighed heavily and followed her. Engfa pleaded.

" Baby.... Don't be like that, I'm sorry, okay ? "

Engfa stepped closer, gently cupping Charlotte's face.

" Please don't be mad at me again. It's true that my site visit ended late in the evening. But I was very tired so that's why I stopped by my house to rest first. I only intended to rest for a while, but after Nudee came back, I didn't realize I slept until late last night "

" That's the worst excuse I've ever heard "

Charlotte said, her tone very low. Engfa was getting more and more stressed by Charlotte's refusal to compromise.

" Come on Charlotte, I'm not giving any excuses. Besides, the project is very important to me, I can't just leave it like that, please understand "

" It's up to you then Engfa ! "

Not wanting to hear any more excuses from her lover, Charlotte quickly left the room leaving Engfa who didn't know how to persuade her anymore.