CHAPTER 34: Melancholic Goodbyes

CLAIRE’s P.O.V.

Three days to go before we leave the country, and a week before Darren and Kate’s wedding day. I shouldn’t have care less, but I can’t help myself. After what Kate had told me at Herrera Corp., I didn’t have a good night sleep.

“We are going to New York! We are going to New York!” Alexa clapped her hands out of excitement.

I didn’t told her about what happened the other day. I lied to her. I said that Darren and I saw each other but the truth is, we didn’t, cause I went home right after seeing his new fiancé.

I continued to packed my things up, forcing to kick some random thoughts about him. I grabbed my stuffs and stood up in order to put it in my luggage. But as soon as I did, I felt dizziness and I almost loose my balance. Alexa looked at me, worried.

“Are you okay, Claire?”

“Yeah I just–”

I felt something wanting to come out from my mouth. I ran towards our kitchen sink to release whatever it is. I felt like puking, but nothing came out. I washed my mouth before sighing heavily.

“Are you sick, Claire?” Alexa asked as she hugged my thigh.

“Nope. I just... I feel weird. Don’t worry.”

Before she could answer me, someone knock on our door. Alexa ran towards it, opened it wide before her face turned into frown.

“I thought it was Darren.” She pouted.

I instantly came out of the view as soon as I heard her statement. I look at the unfamiliar man, wearing a shades and a black suit while carrying a suitcase.

“Excuse me, do you need anything?” I asked curiously.

Dad is still asleep and I don’t want to bother him just to tell us who is this man. And if ever, I think he didn’t even know this person.

“Greetings, Ms. Braganza. Mr. Darren Herrera from Herrera Corp. requested me to bring this suitcase to you.”

I looked up at the tall unfamiliar man, trying to scrutinize if he’s serious or what. Why would Darren asked anyone to bring me whatever it is inside of that case?

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t accept anything from him anymore, Sir.”

“But Miss, Mr. Herrera will surely be mad at me if you didn’t take this. I’m just doing my job, Ma’am. Please understand.”

“Why is he giving me that?”

“He told me that this is his debt to you. No more details included. If you wanted to know more about that, please take this case and open it.”

When I didn’t answer, he dropped the case in front of our door and started to walk away. I tried to call him, but he didn’t listen to me anymore. He drove his car away from our house.

I picked up the case, carry it inside of my room. Alexa look at it with her curious eyes but I didn’t mind her. I let her play alone in our small living room while I got inside of my chamber. There, I lay down the suitcase on my bed before carefully opened it.

My eyes widen as soon as I saw what’s inside. The case was full of money, tons of them. I cannot believe it. Why would he gave me this much amount of money? Does he really think that I’ll accept it after what happened to us?

As I look thoroughly inside, I saw a note. It was written with a black ink and who ever did this is surely mad. I could see it on his handwriting.

“It’s your full payment. Take it and never show your face to me ever again,” the note stated.

I crumpled the paper, annoyed. I just found myself crying, again. Darren always makes me show my vulnerable side. How can he do this to me? He judged me without hearing any of my explanations. And he even shoved it to my face that I only stayed with him for his money.

I closed the case and stood up. I made up my decision. I’m going to bring this money back to him and bid my final goodbyes. If he doesn’t want to listen, that’s fine. All I ever care about right now is to release this pain inside of my chest. To let go everything about us before we leave.

“Alexa?” I called out to my little sister.

“Yes?”

“I’m just going to bring this case back to the owner of it.”

“Okay. I’ll tell Dad if he looks you.”

“Thanks.”

I rushed through outside of our house. I rented a cab, and tell him to go straight to the largest building in the city. He instantly knew where it was, and he gladly dropped me there. After about an hour of trip because of the heavy traffic, we finally reached Herrera Corp.

I paid the cab before making my way into the entrance. I was about to go inside of the elevator when someone called my name.

“Claire?” It was Mr. Herrera, Darren’s Dad.

“Mr. Herrera.”

“What are you doing here? Are you here to see my son?” he asked hopefully.

I nodded and I saw his face suddenly lit up. As if he was waiting for this day to happen his whole life.

“He’s at his office,” he stated.

“Thanks. I’m here to bid my goodbyes to your son, Mr. Herrera. And to you as well, since I already saw you here.”

“What?!”

His hopeful eyes was suddenly replaced by frustration. I can feel the intense shock that I’ve caused to him.

“W-what do y-you mean, Claire?”

“My family will be leaving this country after three days, Mr. Herrera.”

“Why? I mean... Why would you leave?”

“Personal reasons... And... I think it’s for the best, since Darren and Kate will be married after a week.”

He looked down, looking apologetic. He turned his gaze back at me before saying anything again.

“I’m sorry, child. I didn’t know that after what happened, Darren will pursue his marriage with Kate. If only I was the one who will make the decision, I’ll choose you over Armando’s daughter. You’re the only one who can make him change...”

“You don’t need to apologize, Mr. Herrera. This is partially my fault. I did this to myself. I chose this. Now I just have to suffer from the consequences of my actions.”

He didn’t answer, he just sighed. When I realized that he wasn’t going to say any more words, I smiled at him before pushing the elevator’s button.

“Good bye, Mr. Herrera,” I said as I went inside.

The doors closed, and I finally made up my way to Darren’s office. When I got there, I stood bravely while getting myself ready to face him. I took a deep breath before knocking on his doors several times. After a minute, he finally opened up.

“You.”

Shocked was written all over his face. He looked at me from head to toe, trying to observe why am I here. Until his eyes finally landed on the suitcase, his brows started to furrowed.

“What do you think your doing here?” he asked coldly. “I already paid you, Ms. Braganza. What more do you want?”

I swallowed a lump, biting my lower lip. I thought I was ready to face him, but I wasn’t. I miss his caring voice. I miss how he calls me wife every time that he’s talking to me. I miss everything about him. But now, all of that was already gone. We are over.

“I... I’m h-here to...” I trailed off.

“Is that money wasn’t enough for you?”

I instantly shook my head. How could he think of me that way?

“No, Darren. I’m here to give this back to you. I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you.”

I put down the case on his office desk with my trembling hands. He chuckled to himself before answering me.

“I’m glad you know.” He turned around and walk away from me. “Now you can leave.”

“Would you mind listening to me first?”

“Go ahead, but please keep it in mind that I don’t give a single damn about your words anymore,” he stated, not bothering to turned around and face me.

I nodded to myself as tears started to fall down from my eyes. With a heavy heart, I tried to bid my farewells to him without sobbing uncontrollably.

“My family and I are leaving the country.” I bit my lower lip. “I’m here to bid my final goodbyes... I’m not going to tell you where because I know, you probably don’t care about it, anyway. I just want you know that everything I showed to you before was real... Every words... I love you, Darren. And I’ll never regret saying those words to you... It’s worth the pain, I guess.”

He didn’t even move. He just stood there, like I was some kind of an empty air. He pretended that I wasn’t here, that I wasn’t talking to him.

“I’m really sorry about that photo, Darren. It’s not what it looks like. The day we fought at the park, Gabriel saw me and offered me a ride. The day after that, he invited me to spend a day with him... He said that he wanted it to be his final goodbye... I didn’t know that he’ll kiss me. And that’s it... Kate took a photo and humiliated me in front of everyone.” I sobbed.

“You’re lying...”

He finally face me and took a closer step forward. We are now standing face to face with each other.

“Believe what you want to believe.” I smiled melancholically before wiping my tears away. “I’m not hoping for your trust anymore... What matters to me right now is that I knew to myself who am I, and that’s enough for me. I just wanted to go and explain my side, that’s all.”

He blinked several times, staring deep into my eyes. I looked away, ashamed of myself for apparently no reason. Maybe this is it. This is our final meeting. After this, maybe I couldn’t see him ever again for the rest of my life. So I’ll make sure that this moment counts. Cause this is the last time.

“I love you.” I tiptoed to reach him and gave him a peck of a quick kiss on his right cheek. “Good bye, Darren. I’ll grant your wish. You’ll never going to see my face ever again.”

I left him there, looking stunned at what I did. As I walk outside of his office, tears started to stream down on my cheeks endlessly. I did it. I finally let him go. Or did I?