PRINCESS
Three years had passed since the last time I saw CJ. Time had flown by, but the memories of our last encounter remained as vivid as ever, like a haunting melody that refused to fade. Life had taken me on an unexpected journey, one that led me to this moment—a moment that felt like both an end and a beginning. I had just been hired at a prominent company, a fresh start that I desperately needed. The excitement of this new chapter was tempered by the underlying apprehension of facing my past.
The details of my new job were fairly general—administrative tasks, project coordination, and a bit of client interfacing. It was a routine I was eager to embrace, a routine that promised stability and a chance to rebuild myself from the ground up.
The secretary, a tall woman with a warm smile and an impeccable sense of style, led me into a large, polished boardroom. The room was adorned with sleek furniture and large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Executives sat around a long, gleaming table, their focused expressions a testament to the high-stakes nature of their work. The hum of their conversation filled the room, a symphony of business jargon and corporate strategies.
As the secretary cleared her throat, the room fell silent. All eyes turned to me, and I felt the weight of their collective gaze. The room seemed to shrink, the space between me and the executives charged with an almost palpable tension.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the secretary began, her voice smooth and authoritative, “I’d like to introduce our new team member, Princess.”
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my name. I took a deep breath and scanned the room, trying to find my footing in this new environment. But the moment my eyes met a pair of dark brown eyes at the head of the table, everything else fell away. CJ.
He was sitting at the head of the table, his usually well-groomed appearance now marked by a subtle sophistication that spoke of years of success and responsibility. The shock on his face was unmistakable, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and something else—something I couldn’t quite read. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The air between us crackled with unspoken words and unresolved history. But this was neither the time nor the place for personal matters. I quickly composed myself, offering a polite nod to the room.
CJ’s expression was carefully neutral, but I could see the tumultuous emotions simmering behind his eyes. The sight of him after so long stirred something deep within me—a swirl of nostalgia, regret, and an ache I had tried so hard to ignore. But I kept my gaze steady, refusing to let the memories of our past invade this new beginning.
“Welcome aboard, Princess,” one of the executives said, breaking the silence. I turned to him, grateful for the distraction, and offered a smile.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m excited to be here.”
As I went through the introductions and formalities, I could feel CJ’s eyes lingering on me. Every time I caught his gaze, there was an intensity in his stare that spoke volumes. It was as though he was trying to read every nuance of my expression, to find answers to questions he had been holding onto for years. But there was nothing I could say or do in that moment. I had to keep my distance, both physically and emotionally, to navigate this new phase of my life.
The days that followed were a blur of new faces, tasks, and responsibilities. I threw myself into my work with a fervor that left me exhausted by the end of each day. I made it a point to avoid CJ at all costs. I never went anywhere without a colleague, ensuring there was always someone around to buffer any potential interactions. CJ, for his part, seemed to respect my unspoken boundary. He never attempted to approach me, never tried to break through the barriers I had erected. His silence was both a relief and a torment.
One evening, I found myself working late. The office was eerily quiet, the hum of computers and the rustle of papers the only sounds breaking the silence. I assumed everyone had left, and I relished the solitude. It was a brief respite from the constant barrage of new responsibilities and the ever-present shadow of the past.
As I finished up my tasks, the faintest sound broke the stillness behind me. I turned around to see CJ leaning against the doorframe, his silhouette framed by the dim light of the hallway. The sight of him sent a jolt through me, a sharp reminder of the years that had passed and the unresolved feelings that had never truly faded.
“Princess,” he said softly, his voice carrying a blend of curiosity and something deeper—something raw and vulnerable. “Where have you been these past few years? You just… disappeared off the face of the Universe.”
There was a weight to his words, a longing that seemed to seep from the very core of him. He took a step into the room, the quiet echo of his footsteps contrasting with the stillness of the office. His eyes never left mine, and I could see the depth of his feelings in that gaze—feelings that had been bottled up for too long.
“I… needed to find my own path,” I said, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to sound composed. “I couldn’t stay in one place, not with everything that had happened.”
CJ’s eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and understanding. “I tried to call you,” he said quietly, his voice a fragile whisper. “I tried to reach out, but you were gone. Your number changed, your social media accounts disappeared. Your place... abandoned.”
The mention of my vanished contact details stung, a reminder of the lengths I had gone to in order to escape the past. I looked away, unable to meet the weight of his gaze. “It wasn’t that simple,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “There were things I needed to work through on my own.”
I felt a lump form in my throat. Memories of the past, of different worlds and realities, came flooding back. But I was no longer that lost, hopeless girl. I had rebuilt myself, piece by piece, in this reality.
"I’ve been... finding my way," I replied softly, meeting his gaze. "Just like everyone else."
CJ took a step closer, the space between us narrowing as his eyes searched mine with a desperation that made my heart ache. “Princess,” he began, his voice filled with a quiet intensity, “I tried… I tried to make myself better. I thought that if I worked on myself, if I became a better man, maybe one day I could deserve a chance with you. But then you just… disappeared. No one knew where you were, what had happened to you. I was left in the dark, consumed by the unanswered questions and the hope that somehow, someday, I’d get a chance to tell you everything I wanted to say. I wanted to apologize, to take it all back...”
His words were a raw confession, an outpouring of the hurt and longing that had been buried deep within him. His eyes, dark and earnest, were filled with the weight of his emotions. I could see the scars of his past attempts to move on, the pain of the years spent wondering what had gone wrong.
“Please,” he continued, his voice trembling slightly, “can we start again? Can we find a way to begin anew? I know things are complicated, but I want to try. I want to be there for you, to make things right between us if you’ll let me.”
I stood there, caught in the storm of his feelings, unable to find the right words. His plea was sincere, but I was overwhelmed by the gravity of his emotions and the weight of the past. I took a deep breath, my heart a tangled mess of emotions.
In my mind, I reflected on the journey I had undertaken since I had left everything behind. I had worked hard to find my own path, to build a life for myself that was separate from the past. The Universe had guided me to this point, and I had come to accept that the paths of our lives might not align as they once did.
Let the Universe guide its way, I thought to myself. I don’t care anymore. I am not that lost girl anymore. I am here now, and that is enough for me.
I looked at CJ, my heart aching with a mix of empathy and resolve. I could see the longing in his eyes, the hope that maybe things could be different now.
"I..." I began, but the words caught in my throat. I couldn’t offer him false hope or rekindle the past. Instead, I chose silence, letting the weight of our shared history speak for itself.
We stood there in a fragile silence, the weight of our shared past hanging between us like a delicate thread. The air was charged with unspoken words and unresolved feelings, but I could not offer him more than what I had already said.
Finally, I broke the silence, my voice steady but soft. “Goodnight, CJ,” I said, turning back to my desk to gather my things.
“Goodnight, Princess,” CJ replied, his voice a mix of relief and resignation. I could see the way his shoulders slumped slightly, as if the weight of his hopes and fears had been momentarily lifted but not entirely resolved.
As I gathered my belongings, the quiet of the office seemed to wrap around me, a cocoon of solitude in the midst of the city’s hum. I took one last glance at CJ, seeing the pain and hope etched into his features, and then turned away.
Walking out of the office, I felt a sense of closure settle over me. The past was a part of who I was, but it no longer defined me. I was ready to move forward, to embrace the present and the future that lay ahead.
The cool evening air greeted me as I stepped out into the bustling streets of the city. The lights of the city glimmered like distant stars, a vast expanse of possibilities waiting to be explored. I took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill my lungs.
The Universe has its own plans, I thought to myself. I will let it guide me. I am ready for whatever comes next.
I walked down the street, the echoes of our conversation lingering in my mind. It was a moment of closure, but also a step forward. The past was behind me, and the future was waiting, filled with new opportunities and challenges. I was ready to face them, one step at a time, in this reality.
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