SOUNDS OF GOODBYE 1

"Everything okay?" I ask Mayleen, and she can't hide the worry in her eyes.

She nods her head slightly. "They should be leaving any minute now." She says, walking to me. "Gia, I am worried for you. Are you certain you want to do this?" She adds.

"I'm very certain, Mayleen." I say boldly. For this plan of mine to work, I need to stop thinking about myself but about the safety of everyone. That is what matters the most.

"But Gia, you and I know how dangerous this plan of yours is. It can cost you your life, for all we know. Please, Gia, I think you should listen to Deep and let them handle everything." She pleads. We have gone over this a couple of times. I thought she was okay. Then again, I can blame her.

"Mayleen, things will get messy if I don't do this. And it's not like I'm jeopardizing their plans. I'm just prepared in case their plan fails. I don't want to imagine the kind of news we might wake up to yet again tomorrow if they fail. I'm just taking precautions here. God knows how much I am hoping for their plan to be a success. But if it fails, What then? Ejay will surely take it out on my sister. You know he carries his threats. I can't bear that. I can't bear anything anymore." I explain.

"I get you, Gia. But... at least let me come with you, okay? That way, we can take him down faster. We will be each other’s company. Take me with you, please."

I hold her hands. "I would be the most selfish person in the world if I did that. Mayleen, you just got out of that horrible place. You have Paul and your beautiful family now. You have the opportunity and all the reasons to be happy. Come on, do you think I am that mean to take all that away from you and take you back to that hell again?" I implore.

"But Gia, until this battle is over, I can't also relax. He is on the lookout for me too." She says so, and she has a point. She has become a huge threat to him now.

"I trust you are in the safest hands of Paul. If he was able to protect your parents from Ejay for all that long, then I have no doubt he will protect you too. By the way, how are you two doing?" I ask.

"We are okay." She responds nonchalantly. Huh? Why?

"Just okay? You know what I am asking, Mayleen." I insist.

"Well, you see, Gia, I am no longer that pure woman he loved years ago. I feel so disgusted to even stand in front of him. I feel so dirty. I don't know why life made us meet again, but we can't just go back to how things were. I am not the right person for him." She says the load of hell she has been going through all these years weighs her down.

"Don't say that, Mayleen. You are beautiful, and you are still young. You have the chance to restart again and be happy. Besides, Paul waited for you all this while, despite knowing where exactly you were and the kind of sh*t that happens in that place.

"Exactly, Gia." She cuts me off. "Do you know how it feels to know that he knows I have slept with God? He knows how many men?" I understand her perfectly.

This is the damage that that cursed club has caused, not only to her but to all the innocent girls who fell victim to Ejay's animosity. This is how he has ruined the lives of those innocent girls. It will not be just enough to give them a chance to restart and rebuild their lives; they also need to be taught self-acceptance.

"But still, Mayleen, the guy waited. He put everything on hold just for you. He lived not for himself but for you, Mayleen. He would not have done all that were it not for his great love for you." She remains silent, contemplating something I can't really fathom, until a knock on the door disrupts us. "Think about it, Mayleen, okay? I know you still feel something for this guy. Don't let the sacrifices you two made all go to waste, okay?" She faintly nodded her head, and I doubt I have done a good job at convincing her. I hope she chooses to forget what she went through in the club and be happy, however difficult it may be. "Come in." I say to whoever is at the door, and the door opens slowly. Deep walks in.

Even in the middle of all this chaos, his richly strong demeanor still stands unshaken. He can still manage to keep a bright, straight face, and his beauty is still captivating. "Excuse me. I'll be downstairs." Mayleen says to me: "Mr. Moore, I'll leave you two." She slightly bows her head, a humble gesture of gratitude and respect, and she walks out, closing the door behind her.

"How are you?" Deep greets me, taking small strands towards me, until his adorably tall figure towers over me in front.

"I am good. Everything is set." I ask, clearing my throat first because I feel a lump forming in my throat.

I might be seeing him for the last time in an indefinite time, and that doesn't rest well with me. However, the thought that he is one of the reasons why I have to do this puts a little joy in my heart.

"Yes. I came to tell you that we are leaving. You and Mayleen should not leave the house no matter what until we come back, okay?" I nod my head because I feel bad for lying to him.

"Please be extra careful, okay? Return to this house in one piece." I say.

"I promise. I'll be careful; we all will be careful. I will keep you posted." I nod my head in agreement. He pecks my forehead and turns to leave, but I grab his hand, making him turn. I bury my head on his chest, wrapping my hands around his back tightly, and he envelopes me with his strong protective arms.

I must be so convinced that this plan of Paul will backfire, which is why this feels like a goodbye. I feel like we are separating, and the feeling is so strong, so dominating, and so scary. I promised myself that I would not cry, and before I failed on my own promise, I slowly pulled away, taking his hands in my small ones. His wound on the arm hasn't healed, and yet he is going out there to risk his life once again. For me! I wish I could stop him, but our stubbornness and determination to ruin Ejay are equally a match.

"Whatever happens after today, Deep, I want you to know that you matter to me, and I can't stand to see you get hurt. Promise me you will always be safe and that when I see you again, you will be without a scratch. Promise me, Deep." He scans my eyes with his for a moment, and when he speaks, his rich voice is filled with sadness and worry.

"I don't like the sound of that, Gia. It sounds like goodbye. Who is leaving?" He queries, his voice soft and faint.

"Just promise me, Deep. Your word is the only assurance I need to be okay." I plead.

"I promise, as long as you stay put in this house, I will return soon, safe and sound. I can't say much about not getting a scratch, but I will be safe, I assure you. So now, do you promise to not do something crazy?" I look at him for what feels like the last time.

I regret so much complicating his life like this. Maybe if we hadn't met, he would have forgotten about his revenge, and he wouldn't have to suffer like this. If only I knew, and if only I could change a thing about this, but it's too late now. The only thing I can do is prevent any more catastrophes from happening. I don't know whether he will hate me after today, but as long as my sacrifices will be worth it in the end, I will be fine with just anything.

He raises an eyebrow, reminding me that he is waiting for an answer. Instead of speaking, I put his hands on my waist and cupped his gorgeous face with mine, and I pulled him for a kiss. It's a kiss of deception, but it tastes as sweet anyway, except that it doesn't erase the guilt I'm feeling right now. The guilt of deceiving him. "Did that convince you?" I ask when we pull away, and he smiles.

"Yeah." He says this, licking his deep pink lips.

Oh, Deep! Sweet deep! If only fate can allow me...

"Alright. You better go now. I'm sure Paul and the rest are tired of waiting for you." I say.

"Alright. See you." With that, he walks out, and a few seconds later, I walk out and watch him match down the stairs, then disappear out of my sight after the door slams shut behind him. I hope I will see you again, Deep. It's too soon for us to say goodbye.