Misery Of Love

Chapter 38

Tina's POV

I waved at them as they made their way from the exit gate, my heart racing. I couldn't believe it. Tears swelled in my eyes, and for a moment, everything around me seemed to fade away. It had been more than a year since I last saw them, and now they are finally here.

Mom's eyes locked on mine, and when she spotted me, she waved back. A wave of emotion hit me, and before I knew it, I was running toward her. The moment she pulled me into her arms, I could feel the warmth of her embrace. It felt like the whole world had just stopped. My chest tightened with emotion. I had waited for this moment for what felt like forever.

Dad's hand gently tapped me on the back, and I broke away from Mom to hug him. His familiar scent enveloped me, and I rested my head against his chest, seeking comfort. He patted my head and back soothingly, as if everything was okay now that we were together again.

Then came Shawn, with that mischievous grin of his. "It's my turn," he declared, pulling me away from Dad. His arms were already around me before I could protest. He planted a soft kiss on my temple. "I missed you, my baby sister," he teased, even though we were only two years apart. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "You're always going to call me that, huh?" I laughed.

"I'm so happy to see you all finally," I said, my voice cracking with joy. "Okay, let's go," I beamed, grabbing my suitcase as if we were headed on an adventure.

We climbed into a taxi, and as the car sped off, Shawn pulled out his phone, showing me the address of the hotel he'd booked. "Hey, Tina, we were thinking of staying in a hotel since your apartment is... well, small," he said, a playful smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes, grinning. "I get it. You want space. It's fine. No worries. Thanks for booking it. You're a lifesaver."

"Yeah, yeah, don't mention it," Shawn teased, waving his phone like it was the greatest achievement of the century.

"FYI, Trisha's boyfriend gave me his bungalow keys for us to use while they're away," I added nonchalantly.

"What," dad uttered. My heart skipping a beat. "Boyfriend?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow. I glanced nervously at Dad in the rearview mirror. Oops, I shouldn't have said that.

Dad shot me a look. "Boyfriend?" he repeated, his voice lowering in a way that only a dad could manage. My stomach churned.

"Uh, well, Dad, they're getting married after graduation," I said quickly, trying to smooth things over. "So, no need to worry. It's all good." I gave a quick look to Shawn, who was barely suppressing a grin.

"Edam's a nice guy, Dad," I added, trying to keep things casual. "He's really generous, always helping people." Shawn shot me a side-eye.

"Yeah, sure," Dad muttered, but I could tell he wasn't completely convinced.

The drive was smooth, and we arrived at the bungalow in just thirty minutes. Edam's housemaid, Lia, was there to help us with the luggage, and she had a warm, friendly smile that made everything feel even more welcoming.

When we walked inside, Mom and Dad were visibly stunned. "This place is so beautiful," Mom whispered in awe.

I grinned. "Wait till you see the whole thing, Mom. Trust me." I couldn't help but brag a little. This place was amazing.

Lia went to prepare lunch, and the whole house smelled like heaven. Afterward, Dad, exhausted from the long flight, asked if he could rest. Of course, I showed him to his room and told him to take a nap.

"Your room is just over there, Dad. Go ahead and take it easy. I'll see you in a bit," I said, and he nodded gratefully.

Mom, however, was still buzzing with energy. She wanted to see every corner of the bungalow, so I happily gave her a tour. Shawn tagged along like the ever-present shadow.

"This must've cost a fortune," Mom murmured as she looked around. "Shawn! Make sure you make a house like this when you settle down," she ordered, pointing her finger at him like a drill sergeant.

We both burst into laughter. "Yeah, no pressure there, Shawn," I teased.

"I'll get right on that," Shawn replied dryly. "No problem, Mom."

As we continued the tour, we eventually made it to the poolside. Mom marveled at the landscaping, and I could tell she was impressed by the attention to detail. When she touched the water, she quickly pulled her hand back, shivering. "It's cold!"

I grabbed her arm gently. "Okay, okay, let's go back inside. It's freezing out here, and I'm starting to feel like an icicle." My body had begun to go numb from the chill, but I tried to keep it light-hearted.

We went back inside, and Mom started complaining about her back pain from the long flight. "Go soak in the jacuzzi, Mom. Trust me, it'll help," I suggested.

She looked at me skeptically but agreed. "Alright, you win. I'll go relax for a bit."

I turned to Shawn, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. "So... you want to drink something? I promise, Dad's not going to barge in on us."

Shawn raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching. "What are you up to now?"

"Nothing, just offering some hospitality," I replied with a wink.

"Fine, I'll take one," he said, finally giving in.

I poured him a glass of whiskey, and we both settled down on the couch. The quiet was almost too much, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

"So, how's Joe?" Shawn asked, breaking the silence. "Is he going to come home for Christmas?"

I sighed, leaning back against the couch. "No, he can't make it. He's working, and I'm not sure when I'll get to see him again. I was really looking forward to you two meeting, but I guess it's not the right time."

Shawn's expression softened. "It's okay. There's always next time," he said, trying to comfort me.

I nodded, but inside, the emptiness remained.

After a few minutes, Shawn excused himself. "I'm going to take a nap. I'll see you later."

I watched him leave and then went to the kitchen to check on Lia. She was sitting at the table, scrolling on her phone, but she quickly stood up when she saw me.

"Is there anything you need, Miss Tina?" she asked nervously.

I smiled, feeling a warmth towards her. "No, but I just wanted to say thank you. You've been a huge help. I really appreciate it. And the food was marvelous."

Lia looked taken aback, but she smiled. "It's my job, Miss Tina. You don't have to thank me."

"Still, I want you to know it doesn't go unnoticed," I said sincerely. "You've made everything so much easier."

She nodded and went back to her room. I was grateful for her support.

Later, when I finally found a moment of solitude in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, the silence settling around me. I went to the window and looked outside. The snow had begun to fall, covering everything in a pristine white blanket.

I found Joe's t-shirt in my bag, the one he'd left behind. I pressed it to my face, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne. It felt like he was still with me, even though he was miles away.

Tears welled up as memories of our time together flooded my mind. I missed him. I missed the way his arms felt around me, the sound of his laugh, the way he made everything feel right.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. My heart ached, the emptiness growing with each passing second.

Instead, I opened the gallery app, watching one of the videos we had made together. There he was, smiling at me with that smile that could melt my heart.

Just as I was lost in the moment, my phone vibrated. It was Edam.

"Hey, Tina. How's everything? Is everyone okay back at the bungalow?" he asked.

I smiled, trying to mask the sadness in my voice. "Yeah, everything's great. Thanks again for everything. I really appreciate it."

"No problem. Just making sure everything's alright. If you need anything, Lia's there to help," Edam said warmly.

"I'll let you know if anything comes up. You enjoy your holiday with your family," I said before hanging up.

As I sat there, staring at Joe's t-shirt in my hands, I couldn't help but think about the amazing friends I had in my life. Friends who always had my back, no matter the situation. But nothing could fill the void Joe had left.

Joe's POV

The whole city was lit up with Christmas lights, turning the streets into a wonderland of colors. People dragged Christmas trees home, kids built snowmen with scarves that were way too big for them, and last-minute shoppers dashed in and out of stores like it was an Olympic sport.

I should've been home, wrapped in a blanket, pretending I enjoyed my dad's annual speech about the importance of family traditions. Instead, I was driving to a bar to meet Calvin, my best friend, my brother from another mother.

The neon sign flickering against the night sky. The place wasn't particularly busy. Just a few scattered groups of people, their laughter and low conversations blending with the faint hum of music spilling from inside.

It had been so long since I last saw Calvin. Last summer, to be exact. Back then, things were different. Simpler. But life had a way of shifting beneath my feet, and when he heard about my situation, he didn't hesitate to reach out. That was just the kind of person Calvin was. Steady, reliable, the kind of friend who showed up when it mattered.

He had booked a lodge nearby, insisting on being close in case I needed anything. And now, here I was, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly, hesitating before stepping out. A part of me was relieved to see him again. Another part wasn't sure how much of myself had changed since the last time we spoke.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the car door and stepped into the warm night air. The sound of ice clinking against glass drifted from inside the bar, mingling with the scent of whiskey and something fried. I scanned the room, searching for the familiar face I hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime.

And then, there he was.

Calvin sat at a corner table, a relaxed smile playing on his lips as he lifted a hand in greeting. The sight of him was both a comfort and a reminder of how much had changed.

I squared my shoulders and walked toward him, ready to face whatever this night would bring.

"Calvin!" I called out.

He turned, grinned, and got up from his stool. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!"

We exchanged a solid, brotherly hug the kind that said, I missed you, but I won't say it out loud.

"Long time, man," he said, clapping my back.

"Yeah, long time," I admitted, sliding onto the stool next to him.

We ordered our drinks. I took a sip of my scotch, feeling the familiar burn slide down my throat. Calvin, on the other hand, downed his whiskey like it was apple juice.

I placed my glass down and cleared my throat. "So, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be at your family's Christmas gathering?"

Calvin let out a sharp exhale and stared at his drink, twirling the glass in his hands. "Dad arranged my wedding."

I nearly choked on my drink. "What the fuck, man?"

"Yeah," he scoffed, shaking his head. "Some girl named Alice. He says we met at a seminar, but I don't even remember her. Apparently, she likes me." He made air quotes, looking as if someone had just stolen his dog.

I smirked. "And you don't?"

"How can I? I haven't even met her properly! I'm only twenty-four, dude. I still have four or five years of freedom left!" He took another sip, shaking his head. "I am not ready for marriage."

I chuckled and took his phone when he offered it. "Let me see her."

He handed it over, and I looked at the picture. "Well...she's beautiful. Smart-looking too."

Calvin groaned. "Don't start with that. My mom already said, 'sweetie, she's so cultured. She even speaks three languages!' Like, good for her, Mom. I still don't wanna get married!"

I laughed. "Look, why don't you meet her first? Who knows, you might actually like her. And if you don't, at least you'll know for sure instead of fighting an invisible battle."

He sighed. "I guess."

The waiter served another round, and we both gulped our drinks down in one go. "Ahhh," we said together, setting the glasses down with satisfied smacks.

Calvin signaled for another round, but I held up my hand. "Not for me. I'm driving."

He ordered for himself, then leaned back. "What about you and Tina? How's this long-distance thing going?"

I exhaled, rubbing my temple. "It's been nearly three weeks since we saw each other. I was hoping to visit her for Christmas, but Dad asked me to stay back and learn more about the business. I feel like I'm caught between family and love."

Calvin let out a dry laugh. "Dude, everything is going to shit. You're stuck between love and family, I'm being auctioned off to marriage, and Eric straight-up ran away to France!"

I nearly dropped my glass. "Wait, what? Eric's in France?"

Calvin nodded, smirking. "Yeah. His dad was against his relationship with Claire, so they eloped. He texted me when he landed."

I shook my head in disbelief. "At least someone is getting their happy ending. Me? I love Tina, but I don't think our relationship is gonna work out. She'll go back to her country after graduation, and I'll be traveling constantly to establish my business."

Calvin sighed dramatically. "I swear, life was so much easier when we were kids. No responsibilities, no heartbreak, just cartoons and snacks."

I laughed. "Alright, enough of this depressing talk. Let's call it a night. You should rest, and I'll pick you up tomorrow. Alex is throwing his Christmas party, and you're coming with me."

He smirked. "Fine, but only if there's lots of booze."

"Of course."

We stepped out into the cold, and I dropped him off at his lodge before heading home.

I stepped inside the Klein mansion and immediately noticed something was off. There was a movement near Mr. Kline's study. Maids rushing in and out, their faces tense. I considered checking it out but decided against it. Tonight, I didn't have the energy to deal with anything.

I changed into my pajamas and snuggled under my comforter. But no matter how warm I was, there was a chill inside me. I missed Tina.

Badly.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. It rang. And rang. And rang. No answer.

I tried again. Still nothing.

My stomach twisted with guilt. The last time she called, I ignored it because I was in a meeting. I didn't even bother to text her back.

Is she mad at me?

My phone dinged. I scrambled to check it.

"With family."

That was all she sent. No emojis. No warmth. Just two cold, distant words.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Shit.

I sent her a heart emoji. No reply.

I checked my phone a hundred times, hoping for a response. Nothing.

Desperate, I opened Instagram and checked her profile. She had just uploaded a story playing Monopoly with her family, laughing, making Christmas toast. She looked... happy. And I wasn't in the picture.

I hesitated before messaging her: Merry Christmas. Then, I attached a photo of us from last winter and wrote, I miss you.

Still nothing.

I exhaled, sinking deeper into my pillow. My eyes felt heavy, my heart even heavier.

And as I finally drifted off to sleep, the only thing on my mind was the scent of her shampoo the one thing that always reminded me of home.

_______________________________

"The deepest misery in love is not its end, but the lingering echoes of what once was."