Till We Meet Again

Chapter 48

Joe's POV

The smile on their faces made my heart ache.

Mom and Dad arranged the dining table, setting out the final dishes while chatting away, their laughter warm and easy. The kind of laughter that used to feel like home but now felt like an echo in an empty room.

Jia was in her element, camera in hand, capturing every detail of Mom's Thanksgiving masterpiece. She kept showing Dad the pictures with a proud grin, and he looked at her as if she had just won an Olympic gold medal. I was proud of her too, really. She had a gift, a passion for photography that she was already turning into something real.

And yet, as I watched them, I couldn't shake the bitterness rising in my chest.

Why couldn't they let me do what I wanted?

Since I was little, Dad had told me, no, decided That I would take over his business. And just like that, my future had been carved out before I even knew what I wanted. Over the years, I convinced myself that it was my dream too. But lately, I wasn't so sure anymore.

"Finally, it's done!" Mom sighed, stepping back with her hands on her hips, admiring her own work.

The table looked like something straight out of a holiday magazine. A golden-brown turkey sat in the center, glistening under the warm chandelier light, surrounded by mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and freshly baked bread. The entire house smelled of spices, warmth, and tradition.

A tradition that felt suffocating this year.

Everyone seemed so happy. But me? I felt like I was drowning in an ocean of expectations.

Last year, I was excited about Thanksgiving. I had double-checked everything, making sure every detail was perfect because Tina was coming. I had wanted the night to be special.

But this year?

This year, all I wanted was for it to be over.

The doorbell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. But unlike last year, my heart didn't race with excitement. I already knew who it was.

"I'll get it," I muttered, pushing back from the table and walking toward the door.

As soon as I opened it, Justin stood there with a grin, his arms spread wide.

"Hey, bro! Long time!"

I forced a smile and hugged him. It was brief, like muscle memory rather than genuine excitement.

Tamara was next, pulling me into a long, warm hug. It felt... safe. Like a quiet understanding.

"How are you?" she asked, pulling back slightly to look at me.

"Good," I lied.

Tamara and I had been on good terms. We talked now and then, but ever since she moved in with Justin, our paths didn't cross as often.

Behind her, Mr. and Mrs. Givens walked in, their familiar presence grounding the room.

"My dear," Mrs. Givens said, pulling me into one of her soft, motherly hugs. "How have you been?"

"I've been doing great," I said, though the words felt hollow. "How are you feeling now?"

"I've recovered well, thank God," she said with a gentle smile.

I nodded and shook hands with Mr. Givens, leading them inside. The house was now filled with voices, laughter, and the clinking of wine glasses.

And yet, despite the warmth of family around me, I felt like an outsider.

I missed Tina.

I thought about last year, how it had all ended so terribly. This year, I hadn't even asked her to come. But even if I had, it wouldn't have mattered. She had already told me about Trisha's bachelorette party before I could bring it up. It was like Thanksgiving never even existed for us this year.

"Joe, come sit beside me," Dad called out, his tone unusually cheerful.

I hesitated.

There was something about his voice. Something triumphant. Like he had won a long-fought battle.

I sat down, cautious, my eyes flicking to him as he stood up with his wine glass.

And then he said it.

"This year, I want Joe to carve the turkey."

A murmur of approval swept through the room, followed by applause.

I stiffened.

Wait. What?

Dad had always carved the turkey. It was his tradition. His role as head of the family. And now, he was just... handing it over to me?

He placed the knife in my hand, still smiling. "Soon, you'll be taking on all the family responsibilities. This is the best way to start."

Ah. So that was it.

I wasn't just carving a turkey. I was being initiated.

I swallowed hard, gripping the knife as I cut into the bird, my mind spinning.

What the hell was Dad up to?

Mom took over serving, and the dinner conversation continued, bouncing from one topic to the next.

And then.

"So," Justin said, his tone light, "how's Tina? I thought she'd be here."

The table went silent.

I saw it immediately. The way Mom and Dad exchanged glances, the way Tamara tensed, the way Mrs. Givens placed her glass down a little too carefully.

I clenched my jaw.

They all knew. Except Justin.

I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to sound casual. "They're at Trisha's bachelorette party."

Tamara blinked. "What?"

Right. I hadn't told her yet.

"Trisha's getting married in December," I said, picking up my wine glass. "She's going back after next week."

"But what about her graduation?" Mom asked.

"She's taking an early graduation," I said, taking a sip. "She won't be doing her bachelor's."

"Why?" Justin frowned.

I sighed, feeling like I was being interrogated. "Family issues." That was all I was willing to say.

Sensing the tension, Jia swooped in.

"When are you two getting married?" she asked, directing the question to Justin and Tamara.

Justin grinned, lacing his fingers with Tamara's.

"We've decided on next summer," Tamara announced.

Jia gasped. "Wait..has he already proposed?"

Tamara laughed. "Yes. And I said yes."

Mrs. Givens stood up, pulling Tamara into a hug, her eyes shining with emotion.

The room erupted into congratulations, clinking glasses, and cheerful toasts.

I was genuinely happy for them. I really was.

But a part of me felt... detached. Like I was watching someone else's life unfold while mine remained stuck in the past.

As the dinner carried on, the conversation shifted to wedding plans, dress styles, and venue choices.

Hours passed before the night finally came to an end.

The house grew quiet as everyone left.

And then, just as I thought I was free.

"Joe," Dad called. "Come join me in the lounge."

I knew this conversation was coming.

And ever since that night... my days have become a nightmare.

Dad's words haunted me.

I wanted to tell Tina. She deserved to know.

But she was already dealing with too much. Trisha leaving, assignments, exams.

The weight of my secret pressed down on me.

I knew keeping it from her wasn't right.

But I also knew that telling her could break her.

And I couldn't take that risk.

Not yet.

Not until the time was right.

Trisha's POV

As we packed the last bag, I gave a final look around the apartment. My home. The place that had held me through my best and worst days.

And it hurts.

Veronica carried her bags down to the lobby . She was moving in with Noah. He was sharing a flat with Asher, and since only a few months were left, he had offered her a place to stay. It made sense. It was practical. My hands trembled as I ran my fingers along the doorframe, tracing invisible memories imprinted on the walls. The first time I walked in, I felt so lost. And today, as I stood here one last time, I felt the same.

"How did we get here?" I whispered to myself.

The laughter, the fights, the long nights of pouring our hearts out over cheap wine and whispered secrets. This apartment had been more than just a place. It had been ours.

A lump formed in my throat as I turned back. The walls had heard my silent sobs. The pillows had absorbed my tears. The kitchen had held the bottles that numbed my pain. And then there were Tina and Veronica. My anchors, my safe place, my family.

"I can't believe this is happening," Tina murmured, breaking the silence.

Veronica forced a small smile, though her eyes betrayed her sadness. "I thought we had more time."

So did I.

"Are you sure we can't come to your wedding?" Tina asked, her voice cracking.

I closed my eyes. I had gone over this decision a thousand times, yet it never got easier. I loved them too much. Seeing their faces at my wedding would break me. I needed to isolate myself, to detach, to survive this.

"If I see you there, I won't be able to do it," I admitted, barely above a whisper.

"But you don't have to do it," Veronica said, gripping my hand tightly. "You don't have to marry him."

Tears blurred my vision. My heart begged me to listen, to run, to stay.

"It's already decided," I whispered.

Tina let out a shaky breath. "But do you want this?"

Silence.

I wanted to say no. To beg them to take me away, to help me escape this future I was walking into. But I had made my choice, and backing out now would only bring pain to everyone.

"I have to," I said finally.

Tina shook her head, tears falling freely now. "That's not the same as wanting to."

Veronica wiped her cheek and took a deep breath. "If this is what you want, we'll support you. But if you ever change your mind. Ever. Just call us. We'll be there. No matter what."

My heart clenched. I didn't deserve them.

"I love you both," I said, my voice breaking. "I don't know how I'm going to survive without you."

Tina let out a teary chuckle. "You won't. You'll call us every day. And if you don't, we'll show up at your doorstep and drag you back."

Veronica wrapped her arms around me, and I sank into the embrace, holding on as tightly as I could. "This isn't goodbye," she whispered. "This is just... till we meet again."

I nodded against her shoulder. Till we meet again.

With trembling hands, I grabbed my handbag. My feet felt like lead as I walked to the door. With one last glance, I closed it behind me. Locking away a piece of my heart with it.

We carried my luggage to the taxi. The moment I turned to face them, I saw it. The raw pain in their eyes, the silent plea for me to stay.

"I'm sorry for not keeping my promise and leaving halfway like this. I never imagined a day like this would come, but I have no other choice", I apologized.

" Shh", they calmed me down.

"Are you sure you don't want us to come to the airport?" Veronica asked, her voice thick with unshed tears.

I forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "You have classes. Exams are just around the corner."

Lies. We all knew it.

But they nodded, respecting my decision even when it broke them.

"I have to go," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Or I'll miss my flight."

Tina let out a quiet sob, covering her mouth. Veronica turned away, wiping her tears.

And then, our last group hug.

I felt my body tremble, my breath hitching. If I stayed a second longer, I would never leave.

With one final deep breath, I climbed into the taxi.

As it pulled away, I looked back. Two figures standing there, holding onto each other, crying. My best friends. My family.

"Till we meet again," I whispered one last time, hoping that somehow, someday, those words would come true.

And as the city faded behind me, so did the life I once knew.

Tina's POV

The exam was much harder than we expected. Ever since Trisha left, Vero and I had been studying non-stop. Mrs. Pitterson made sure no chapter was left untouched. She almost gave us the questionnaire which, to our shock, actually appeared on the exam. Luckily, Joe had sent me some questions, and I had a quick glance at them. Maybe that helped. Maybe it didn't.

I wasn't even sure anymore.

The second I got home, I threw my bag onto the sofa and walked straight to bed. My body ached from exhaustion, my mind buzzing with all the information I had crammed over the past weeks. Tonight, all I wanted was to relax and, most importantly, sleep. I had so many sleepless nights, running on caffeine and stress, hoping I wouldn't crash before the exams were over. Now that they were done, all that tension felt like it had nowhere to go. It just sat inside me, heavy and suffocating.

I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes only to be interrupted by my phone ringing.

For a second, I debated ignoring it. But when I saw "Mom" flashing on the screen, I sighed again and answered.

"Hey, honey! How are you? How did the exam go?" Mom's voice was as bright as ever.

I rubbed my temples. "Huh? Oh... It was tough, but I think I did okay."

"What are your Christmas plans? Do you want to come home?" she asked eagerly.

I hesitated. Home. It sounded warm. Safe. Familiar. But also... suffocating in its own way.

"Umm..." I swallowed. "I don't think so. I might come after graduation."

She paused. "I thought you wanted to stay back for another year?"

I clenched my jaw. She wasn't wrong. I had planned to stay. But now, everything feels uncertain. Especially my relationship.

"Yeah, about that... I'm having second thoughts," I admitted, the words tasted bitter in my mouth. I didn't want to talk about Joe. Not now. "How's Dad?" I quickly changed the subject.

"He's fine busy with season orders. This year, we got a lot of orders from other countries, and now he's planning to buy land and start his own farming business. He wants to export everything himself."

I could hear the pride in her voice. But then she added, "He's really counting on you."

And just like that, the conversation came back to me.

I forced a weak smile. "That's great, Mom."

We talked for a while before she finally said goodbye. As soon as I hung up, I curled under the comforter, pulling it up to my chin. The winter air had a sharp bite, and Veronica's words echoed in my head: It's all because of global warming.

I was alone. Stuck in this small apartment. Maybe it was better when exams were keeping me busy. At least then, I had a reason to be stressed. Now, I was just... empty.

Veronica had invited me to chill with her and Noah, but I didn't feel like partying. I didn't feel like anything.

I wished I could call Joe and ask him to come over. But he was gone.

On a plane.

With his family.

With Jia.

And he hadn't even asked me to come.

I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists under the blanket. He knew how much I hated being alone, how much I needed him after stressful times like these. But after our last paper, all I got was a quick kiss, a distracted goodbye, and then he was gone.

Vanished.

No long hug. No last-minute I'll miss you. No I wish you were coming with me.

Just... nothing.

I had to hear from Veronica that Jia planned this whole Australia trip because of some summer photo sessions. And of course, she dragged Joe along because they have a strong siblings bonding thing.

What kind of boyfriend doesn't even mention something like that?

And to make it worse, he had missed my birthday. Said his family had something planned for him. I had spent my birthday watching Trisha's reception party over a video call instead. She had looked stunning in her Indian attire, glowing with happiness. Meanwhile, I sat alone in my cold apartment, watching from a screen.

Lucky her.

I stared at the ceiling. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe I was being unfair.

But if he really loved me, wouldn't he have at least tried to be there for me?

I turned onto my side, hugging the pillow.

I needed to stop thinking about this.

Joe wouldn't be back until after New Year's. That left me with an entire Christmas break and nothing to do. I scanned through my options, but the only thing that made sense was finding a holiday job. Maybe tomorrow, I'd email the place where I worked during my summer break and see if they needed extra hands.

At least that would keep me busy.

I put my phone on silent and drifted into sleep.

The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly energized. Maybe it was because I had finally let go of all that pent-up exhaustion. Or maybe, just maybe, I was ready to stop moping around and take control of my own life.

I brushed my teeth, had breakfast, did some cleaning, and took a long, warm shower. By the time I was dressed, I had made up my mind.

Shopping.

But first...lunch.

I wasn't going to sit in my apartment and cry over my miserable life.

"Till we meet again, my miserable life," I muttered to myself with a smirk.

I could have fun alone. I could survive alone.

I had done it before, and I could do it again.

And again.

With that thought, I grabbed my coat, stepped outside, and looked ahead. Toward something new.

Toward something better.

________________________________

"Until we meet again, may our paths be guided by memories, our hearts warmed by hope, and our souls connected by the moments we shared."