Falling Again

13

*Past*

“I really need a day off today, sir,” Charlotte asked her employer Mr. Hanson and he looked at her wondering why this girl is asking for a day off all of a sudden.

“Okay, can I know why?” Mr. Hanson asked.

“You know, today my friend is participating in a competition and I have to be there to cheer him,” she said. Charlotte doesn’t like to say lies it will make her uncomfortable so said the truth.

“Okay, but I will deduct your today’s pay in your monthly salary,” he told. Charlotte felt sad about it, but the thought to see Jaxson was more. For that, she’s willing to lose this month’s entire salary. He’s not just her friend, he’s her boyfriend now and the first person who needed her presence other than her parents. It’s something great for Charlotte and no matter what she can’t hurt his feelings and disappoint him too.

“Okay, sir. That’s fine,” she said with a small smile and came out of the shop.

Today she said to her mom that she’s going to work, only to leave like this. If she told the truth then her mom might ask so many questions about who’s that friend and Charlotte couldn’t lie to her and in the end, it will lead to something disastrous so she decided to hide it until she finishes off her school. Her parents will never be against her choices but yet she doesn’t want to say this until she figures out whether this relationship will work out.

It’s half an hour travel from her town. Charlotte went in the local train, as it is Sunday there’s not much crowd on the train and she sat freely looking at passing buildings. She was excited to see him and wishes to see his win in this match. Jaxson said this match is really important for him to continue his way in the boxing. If he loses this then he won’t think about this boxing ever again. Charlotte was quite nervous after hearing that. She prayed to God that he has to win, after all, she wanted him to achieve his high ambitions.

Charlotte clarified the address to a passer and reached the place at the perfect time. When she entered that small stadium, Jaxson was already inside the ring and getting ready for the fight. 

He sensed her presence and turned to look for her. He has been waiting for her since the moment he came here. When his eyes find her, he got that beautiful smile. Charlotte waved her hand and said all the best. Jaxson just nodded his head.

Compared to what she has thought, the crowd is really lesser and she’s the only person sitting in that big row. Three judges were sitting on the front row. But on the other side, there are some people, it must be another player’s friends and family, Charlotte thought gazing around. Since it’s a preliminary match between two unknown players so there’s not much crowd to see the match. 

Jaxson’s opponent was a strong young man who must be in his mid-twenties, Jaxson looked small compared to that man’s bulky frame, Charlotte got worried but she strongly believed that Jaxson will win at the end. She anxiously sat on the seat looking what’s going to happen. 

The match started and the two players formally introduced each other. Jaxson moved the game slowly, he got a few punches at first and Charlotte closed her eyes unable to see that.

Then, when least anyone could expect, Jaxson thrown a punch on his Jaw and the next moment his opponent fell on the floor, losing his conscious. Charlotte closed her mouth with her palms and blinked her eyes unable to believe what just happened.

She immediately stir up from her seat and started clapping happily. But it got everyone’s attention because she’s the only person who cheered him in the entire place. She awkwardly sat down and watched his opponent unable to get up but he somewhat did without giving up. Jaxson without having no mercy knocked him to the floor and then he didn’t woke up until the referee went to help him. 

Jaxson was announced as the winner and promoted for the next match. Charlotte have to be happy watching the entire scene but she become sad thinking what if Jaxson was in the place of that guy. What if he gets badly injured in the other matches. 

With these thoughts Charlotte become gloomy and sat here looking down. She really cares for him, and it will surely hurts to see him pain. There she thought his choice is really bad, maybe that’s why his mom and dad doesn’t like him going in this path. 

“Good job, I will see you tomorrow,” a middle aged man said to him and walked away. Charlotte thought it must be his coach.

A local newspaper reporter took a photo of Jaxson and asked some general information about him, what he’s doing and how long he has been into this boxing. Charlotte waited until he finishes then went to him.

“Thanks for coming,” he smiled and leaned to kiss her cheeks. Shivers ran down on her spines when his lips brushed her cheeks. Till now they haven’t shared their proper first kiss because they didn’t got that perfect moment and Jaxson not at all initiated it. 

“Congratulations for your win, you’re so talented, Jaxson,” she said to him hiding her heart racing.

“Thanks,” he grinned and they both walked to the dressing room. Charlotte said that she will wait outside when Jaxson went to take shower and also to change his clothes. She thought he will take time to return back so she walked out of the place.

When Jaxson came out of the room, he finds her nowhere. He waited for her and thought if she has already left. He came out of the building and there he saw Charlotte walking towards him. She breathed and handed him a medicine.

“What is this for?” Jaxson asked.

“It’s for your inflammation,” she told pointing his cheeks.

“Where did you get these?” he questioned.

“Near the station, I saw there’s a pharmacy while coming here,” she answered.

“So you went there to get this?” he asked.

“Yeah, don’t forget to take these medicines,” she told.

Jaxson smiled watching her care on him and he took her backpack from her shoulders and carried it along with his bag. 

“When will be your next match?” she asked.

“Probably in the next week,” he told and Charlotte nodded.

“Oh my god! Next week important tests were coming,” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, I am not going to attend it,” he told.

“Then how I will come there to cheer you and how you will get good scores?” she asked.

“I don’t care about my academics anymore, Charlotte. But you should attend the test. You don’t have to come to my next match,” he said with a smile and Charlotte sadly agreed to that. 

The evening was cool and the skies have turned dark showing the signs for rain. While walking along with him to the station, Jaxson slowly held her hand, she didn’t look at him immediately and smiled blushing so hard.

“You are okay?” he asked when she slowed down steps.

“Yes, I am okay,” she nodded and continued to walk.

“Shall we go for a date?” she asked.

“Date?” she blinked in surprise.

“Yeah, that’s what I said,” he responded.

“Where we will go?” she asked.

“What’s this question? Don’t we have any place to go?” he asked.

“You’re new here but I have been to all the places in this town,” she pouted.

“Even if you have gone to all those places, it will be different when you come with me,” he said.

“Is it?” she smiled.

“Yeah, I will make it different,” he assured. 

“By the way Jaxson, if it is going to rain I don’t have an umbrella,” she smiled.

“It’s fine. I don’t have any problem to get drench in the rain. Do you have any problem?” he asked.

“Yes, I will get cold. I am kind of allergic to rain, whenever I get wet I will eventually get cold the next day.” Charlotte said 

“Then let’s wait somewhere, after we get out from the station,” he said and Charlotte nodded.

They got in the train at the perfect time and the rain started pouring. Taking the last seat in the compartment, Charlotte watched the rain and passing stations still holding his hand and leaning on his shoulders.

“Jaxson, why do you like me?” she asked.

“Why do I like you? I don’t know, I just like you so much since the moment I saw you,” he answered and Charlotte smiled hearing that.

“Do you want to know why I like you?” she asked and looked at this eyes. 

“You’re a good person I have ever met,” she told that from her heart.

“No one ever said that I am a good person. You are the first one,” Jaxson sounded emotional and tears slightly showed up in his eyes.

“Don’t get emotional big boy. Just smile since it’s a good day for you,” Charlotte said and patted his shoulders.

“Charlotte, what you’re going to study after you graduate?” 

“Ah… I always wanted to be an Entrepreneur. So in the future I will most likely start my own business, mainly hotels and resorts. You see these days people travel a lot and this type of business will always yield a good profit,” she explained. 

“When did you got this idea?” he asked.

“When my family went for a vacation to Miami, we stayed in a costly hotel. There I got this idea,” she said.

“Interesting,” he smiled.

Then they didn’t talk until their station arrived. They came out and Jaxson suggested to buy an umbrella in the store beside the station.

Giving the bags to her he went to get it running in the rain. Charlotte watched how good he is to her. There she asked herself, did I just like him? Or Am I falling in love or already fallen in love? She thought and got jumbled up in her questions.

“Charlotte, come on,” he told reaching out his hand for her.

She gave her hand thinking, I don’t think I just like him. I like so many people but the feelings I have for him is more than that.

“Give me the bags,” he told and pulled that from her shoulders. 

As they silently walk to their houses, the rain got vigorous and they couldn’t continue any further so they took shelter under the sycamore tree in that empty street.

“Charlotte, is it okay if you couldn’t go home on time?” Jaxson asked.

“Yes, my mom won’t ask anything because it’s raining,” she told and looked down.

“What happened?” Noticing her sudden change Jaxson questioned.

“Nothing, Jaxson. I just thought what I am going to do tomorrow,” she lied.

“Oh,” he nodded.

“Jaxson, how long we will be together?” Charlotte suddenly asked.

“What?” he raised his eyeshadows in surprise.

“I mean how long we will be together, what happen in our future?” she asked.

“Why you’re talking about it now?"

“Because I want to know,” she said.

“Okay, as long as you want this relationship I will never leave you,” her promised to her. His voice sounded serious.

“Why it is only about me. Your opinion is equally important too. If you don’t like me then won’t you tell that to me?” she asked.

“I won’t because I... I can’t think about leaving you now or in the future,” he said and looked at her hazel eyes.

“I think I am in love with you, Charlotte,” he confessed.

She’s stunned by the sudden revelation and stared at his raven eyes. It’s dazzling with the truth in his words. Her heart raced, she want to hold his hand and hug him tightly.

Yeah, if these feelings aren’t love then what it is? This is love, she came to a confirmation.

Before she could do all of those things and confess her love. Jaxson held her hand looking into her eyes.

“I don’t know what’s the reason I starts to like you. But now I think I love everything about you,” saying that he removed her glasses.

Charlotte was dumbfounded and she wondered why he took her spectacles staring back at his eyes.

“You’re the first girl, I am going to kiss,” he clarified his actions before pressing his lips on her soft lips.

Charlotte closed her eyes, it was a small yet an electrifying one because this is her first kiss.

She blushed with a smile, and then suddenly she held his collar.

“You know what, you’re my first kiss, Jaxson,” telling that she pulled him closer to kiss him.

Jaxson smiled and this time they kissed passionately when the skies were busy showering it’s love on earth.