All Good Things Must Come To An End

Lara: "do you want more of me, Joseph," she said while kissing me.

Joseph: "Lara, wait before we do that again. I need to tell you something.." I said with a loving look on my face. "I Love…." before I could say my words, everything around me started breaking apart and turning black while I heard an annoying sound before I knew it everything turned black.

I slowly opened my eyes and heard the alarm clock blaring annoying sounds next to me. I looked next to me and saw that the bedsheets are untouched, then I remembered two weeks have passed since Lara, and I did it in this room. I could still smell the lingering scent of Lara on this bed. I could always vividly remember our night activities two weeks ago. We never got to sleep in that one night.

I begrudgingly got up from the bed that I wanted someone to be on right now. I glared at the empty spot of my bed and just sighed. I got dressed in my traditional casual button-down black shirt and black cargo pants. I headed downstairs to get ready for work when I entered the first floor; I saw Lara happily cooking something in the kitchen.

When I saw this, I went towards her; she heard me coming toward her. Lara stopped whatever she was doing and came towards me and gave me a hot kiss on my lips. I don't know when I started accepting her advances, but I began to like her public display of affection. Without thinking much hugged her waist and started to kiss her back.

Lara: "Calm down lover boy, we need to get ready to open the cafe." she said while giving me a quick peck on the lips. She was about to go back to the kitchen and started cleaning them but stopped midway to turn her head towards me. "Oh.. I almost forgot Joseph I would be leaving earlier today I have an internship in the British Museum."

Joseph: "sure, I am not deducting this from your payment, anyways." I said jokingly at her. Lara gave me a sly smile on her face before going back to the kitchen.

I heard a buzzing sound on my phone and saw that Elena finally texted me. I was going to call her and ask why she put myself in her videos, but before I could do that, more people were coming to the cafe. I decided to call Elena later when I am free.

It was enjoyable to work with someone you love, and I felt free from worrying about the dangers of this world. I even saw Haru happily working with Lara in the kitchen. Then I remembered that Haru is about to be late to go to preschool.

Joseph: "Haru, get dressed; we need to be ready for your school." I yelled at the four-year-old girl who was happily playing with her mother.

Haru: "Yes, Papa, I will get ready; can I bring Mr. Wiggles with me to school." she said while having her iconic puppy eyes when I look at this I just sighed.

Joseph: "Fine, just make it quick." when she heard my okay sign, she happily ran upstairs to change.

I waited for just a minute before I saw Haru come downstairs and Mr. Wiggles on her head. Currently, she is wearing a blue jacket over her blue dress because it is getting cold outside. I saw Mr. Wiggles wearing paw mittens and a bow around his neck. When I saw this, I looked at Lara, who was now working in the kitchen.

Joseph: "Lara, take care of the cafe. I need to drop off Haru to preschool." I said to Lara, who was busy making food for the costumes. When Lara heard me, she looked at me and gave me an okay sign.

I went toward the garage with Haru behind me. I grabbed the keys for my truck as it is getting too cold to use my motorcycle. I opened the back door of my car and lifted Haru and put her into the children's car seat. I made sure she is safely secured in her seat before going to the driver seat to start the car.

Joseph: "Haru, make sure not to use your magic inside the school oaky." I said while driving the truck towards Kingston kindergarten.

Haru: "Yes, Papa, I know I will not use magic," she said while looking out the window. She looked at me through the rear mirrors and talked to me, "when are you going to ask mommy out Papa," she said with a curious look on her face.

When I heard her question, I stayed silent for a few seconds before I answered her question.

Joseph: "Soon, Haru, very soon.." I said while looking ahead of the road. When Haru heard of this, she just looked at me with an excited look on her eyes. After a few minutes of driving, we were already here in her school. I quickly got her off of her seat. After getting out of the car, she started running towards Ryan, who was nearby. I looked at this and just sighed at my daughter.

But before I could get in my Truck, Haru came back toward me to talk to me.

Joseph: "what is it you wanted to talk about, Haru." I said while smiling at her.

Haru: "Papa, can I go to my friend's house and have a sleepover." she said with her puppy eyes again. But this time, I didn't budge and look at her suspiciously.

Joseph: "this friend of yours is He a boy or a girl." I said while looking at Ryan, who was behind her.

Haru: "NO! Papa, I'm going to my girl's house for a sleepover." When I heard this, I looked at her one last time before nodding at her.

I got on to my truck and drove off toward my cafe. It didn't take long for me to get back, but when I got there, I saw a parked black van near my cafe. I let them be because I thought they were probably here for me, so I went into my cafe. I saw Lara was cleaning up the kitchen, ready to leave for her internship.

Joseph: "ready to leave for your internship," I said towards her.

Lara: "yeah, I am ready to head out. I was going to close the cafe if you didn't come back." she said while heading up the stairs to get ready to leave. After a few minutes, she came back downstairs, prepared to go, she didn't bother looking at me and headed out. I looked at Lara's leaving figure and sighed. I went towards the entrance to close the doors for my uninvited guest, but what I saw was the van started following Lara.

I frowned at this and didn't bother closing my cafe and started slowly following Lara. I look at the slow-moving black van, which is following Lara. The van parked nearby and started following Lara on foot. I slowly crept near the two people who were following Lara and grabbed their necks and dragged them into the deserted alleyway. I killed one of them and left one for interrogation.

Joseph: "Why are you following the girl?" I said, a menacing look on my face while choking the guy I left alive.

???: "AAhh Mr. Maiava, it's good to see that you are enjoying your life." he said mockingly at me. "You must be wondering why we are following an average college girl. Well, you see the man you just killed, and I found out you were in a relationship with this girl. We usually couldn't do anything to this girl, but who knew that you were dating a Croft." he said while laughing menacingly.

When I heard him talking about her name, I was a bit confused as to why her name matters. Tighten my grip on his neck and ask a question.

Joseph: "what does her name, have to do with anything about all of this," I said, lifting him in the air with one arm. "She is just a normal girl." The man laughed at me and looked at me with pity.

???: "I do feel bad for you, Mr. Maiava, not knowing who you are in a relationship with, but all good things must come to an end." he said while smiling at me before biting his tongue and forcefully shocking himself to death.

I don't know when it started raining. I look at the two dead corps. I know that my time together with Lara must come to an end to protect her. I don't know who she is or what her origin is, but I hope she states away from all of this. I walk home under the blanket of cold rain hitting my face, mixing with my tears as I know what I have to do when I meet Lara again tomorrow.

I look at my reflection on the window of the empty building. I saw my sorry state and my look of defeat.

Joseph: "You see, Joseph, you don't deserve a happy ending." I said towards my reflection. "Your enemies are coming right after you and the one around you better to stay alone to protect everyone." I started slowly walking toward my cafe.

After reaching my cafe, I started closing things down and started drinking the leftover bourbon. I drink throughout the night, not able to get any sleep. I waited for Lara to come through the door and tell her to stay away from me. When I heard the door open, I knew my time had come to end things with Lara.

Lara: "Oh, Joseph, you are already here. Wait for me a bit. I will change out from my wet clothes and help you out the kitchen." she headed towards the stairs, but before she could do that, I called her out.

Joseph: "Lara, we need to talk about something," I said with a guilty look on my face. "We need to end this relationship." Lara looks at me with a confused look on her face.

Lara: "Why… Why Joseph. Why do we need to end this." she said, trying not to show anything on her face. "We could talk about this and think things through," she said desperately.

Joseph: "No.. Lara, there's no need to think this through." I said while looking at her figure, who was shaking in fear in front of me.

Lara: "Can you tell me the reason for all of this." she said as tears came running down on her cheeks. I looked at her with a sad smile and didn't answer her. When Lara saw that I was not answering her, she had a defeated look on her face. "So this is it our final day together."

She stared at me with dead eyes and raised her arm to hit me. I didn't bother dodging her hit as I know I deserved it but instead of a slap on my cheek. She threw a right hook at my cheek, and she threw a sidekick towards my abdomen, knocking me down on the floor. I look at her angry look on her face.

Lara: "I give up Joseph; you win, you will get what you wanted from the start." she said while giving me one last look before leaving me lying on the floor.

When I saw her leave, part of me wanted to chase after her and explain everything, but I know if I dragged her into my world, she might not be able to leave unscratched. I stood back up and wanted to go to my room, but then I got a phone call. I looked at who called me and saw Elena.

Joseph: "Elena, now is not a good time to call…" but before I could finish my words, she asked me for help.

Elena: "Joseph, I need your help." she said through the phone.