Joined Paths

Chapter-9

Allena

I walked into Ziya's apartment. All the way to here I was thinking about if it is the right decision for me to agree to all this but couldn't come to any conclusion.

I walked into the apartment and all lights were off and the apartment was empty as I expected. I was glad about it because I have no clue how I will explain this to Ziya. 

I walked straight to my room ad started packing my stuff. There wasn't much to pack since all my money used to go to debts, I hardly brought things.

 I heard the doors opening and my body came in an immediate alert mode. I jump around to see Ziya standing there giving me suspicious looks. I relaxed and took a deep breath.

"Oh it's you, I thought it was some thief. How are you home at this hour today?" I said stuffing the rest of the stuff quickly in the bag and avoiding eye contact with him.

"Yeah, I took a half-day. Anyways, I hardly see you since you started with those night shifts and why are you packing?"

"I am moving out," I said zipping the bag and putting the bag down. She looked shocked at me and I was feeling bad for doing this.

"What? Why all of a sudden? And where are you going?" she bombarded me with questions.

"Ok relax and sit down, I will explain everything. But you have to promise you won't get angry " I said knowing fully how loudly she reacts.

"Stop the bullshit and just tell me," she said giving me a death glare.

"All this time I told you I was going for the night shift at restaurant I didn't actually go to the restaurant," I murmured.

"What, where were you then all these nights? Oh no did you got into drugs or f**k, are you a stripper now? Why would you do not tell me? Did you need money? " she yelled without giving any opportunity to speak.

"Will you shut up and listen for a second" I shouted at the top of my voice and she actually stopped this time and looked at me.  Neighbors would probably think these two women have gone crazy by now.

But thankfully it worked and she sat on the bed silently waiting for me to speak. I pushed the bag off the bed and sat beside her.

"I have been going to meet Jack at the hospital" I sighed 

"Not that bastard again, Allena he already broke your heart twice, how much more do you want to endure? You can't do this to yourself" I started yelling again.

 "Before you start yelling  just listen to the whole thing"

I told her everything from going there every night at the hospital, him getting me fired from my job, and asking for me to work for him. From the entry of his  Esther to Laura I told her everything, every word he said in detail, and also about moving out. I recapped all things that have happened not only for Ziya but also for myself. There were a lot of passing expressions on her face which I couldn't decode.

"Woh, that a lot to take. You know your life is like a Korean drama, every day new problems just pop up." 

"Tell me about it" I chuckled, indeed she was right.

"So that's why you were packing?" she sighed sadly.

"Yes, I am packing my bags so i .... it's so confusing, I don't know what is the right thing to do. I can't leave him when he is in this condition because of me but I don't know if staying near him will be good for me or not."

"Allena, firstly what happened was an accident and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. Secondly, and more importantly, is the reason you want to go to him is only that you feel guilty, or are there still residual feelings?"

"I...I don't know." I sighed. Do I still love him? I don't know the answer to that.

"I have something for you, wait here," she said and ran out of the room. At the same speed, she came back running and hoped back on the bed with a brochure in her hand.

I read the brochure and my eyes bulged out of my socket. It wasn't just a brochure to me, it was my 10-year-old dream. It was an advertisement for the new internship program which gave me the opportunity to meet and learn to work for one month with none other than Marial Raysee the world's best painter in France.

He has been my ideal since the first time I saw his work in the magazine. Meeting him has been my dream for so many years.

Even better was that it fully pays the travel expense and also gives a stipend. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"I saw it on my friend's desk today and immediately thought about you. I think you should give an interview for it. It's perfect timing as it will start in few weeks and by that time Jack would have also recovered so you wouldn't feel bad. I think it's time you follow your dream and it will also give you time to clear your thought."

"I don't know what I would have done without you, I can't even tell you how grateful I am to God for giving me a friend like you. I love you," I said unable to control my tears

"Allena, I love you too and I will support you whatever you decide. Personally, I don't like Jack very much but I have never seen you happier than when you are with him. Just remember I am here for you and no matter what you decide, I am with you." she said and I hugged her tightly

By the time I left the apartment, it was already dark outside, and as expected even though I told Jack that I will come on my own, a car was standing in front of me as I exited the building. 

Robert helped me put my stuff in the car and I sat in the car holding the brochure in my hand. As the car started moving my thoughts also were running in my mind. 

One thing I have decided is that I will apply for this and give my dreams the chance that they deserve. I have dreamed about being in France and painting there so many countless nights but never got the chance to actually take steps to accomplish that and I will not let this opportunity go.

 But there are still few problems. For instance, I didn't forget that the chances of getting in are only one percent. I also have to tell all this to Jack and even the bigger question is that should I tell Jack now or wait till I actually get selected?