186 CHAPTER 186: GOODBYE

She packed all her things and made sure not to leave a thing behind. She must disappear with no trace. After securing her things, she called Aisha so she could hang out with her before leaving the country for good. However, to her dismay, Aisha isn't picking up her phone. Seems like she's quite busy. Well, that's given knowing that she's been looking for a bone marrow donor for Stacy.

After an hour, Aisha checked her phone and found that she got five missed calls from Lisa. Oh no! Is there something wrong with her? She panicked so she called her back.

"Lisa, I'm sorry I missed your calls. How are you?" she asked.

"I'm fine. I was just calling to see if you have some time so we could grab a cup of coffee? Ah, I miss the old times." she chuckled.

"I'm sorry dear, I love to, but I have to do something today. Can we do it tomorrow?" Aisha guiltily responded.

"Oh, tomorrow? Well, maybe we could do that." her tone was a bit disappointed. Her best friend has her own problems to iron out too, so why would she disturb her? Lisa sighed. she will be flying back to her hometown in a few hours.

"Okay then. You take care." Lisa continued.

"I'm really sorry Lisa but I will see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure." Lisa faked her excitement. "See you then. Bye then she hung up.

As soon as the call ended, Lisa look at her watch, she still have two hours before her flight but she doesn't know where to go next while waiting. Well, it won't hurt if she will just wait at the airport instead. So she took her luggage and was about to open the door but she was surprise when she saw a person standing in front of her.

"Sophie?" Her eyes widened. "Since when did you arrived?" she innocently asked while trying to hide the luggage behind her.

"Just now. but where are you going?" Sophie still noticed it. "Wait… Lisa, are you perhaps…?"

"A-ahh… m-me? ah, Mom called me the other day asking me to visit her for a while. I think it wouldn't hurt if I spend a few weeks there for the meantime." She reasoned but seems like Sophie wasn't convince.

"Did Caleb broke up with you?" Sophie was direct and as she was saying her statement, scorn can be seen in her face.

"No!" Lisa interrupted immediately. "I did." She lowered her head.

"Lisa…"

"I'm okay Sophie. besides, we already talked about it. I broke up with him not because of any misunderstanding. But I want him to spend some more time for his family." She smiled. "And you should meet Sahaya, she's such a sweet angel." She chuckled.

"I know." Sophie replied. Of course, she had already met her not just once but a few times now. "But does Caleb knows that your leaving?"

She shook her head. "But I don't think he needs to know." she laughed. "Anyway, I'm just going to see my mom!" she reasoned. "Why do you have that sour face?"

"If you said so. But you better come back, you moron! I'm not yet done teaching you some fighting skills!" she scowled just so they wouldn't get emotional. Although, Sophie can feel that Lisa will never come back anymore. ah! Why can't everyone not get their own happy love story endings? Sophie thought.

"Would you like me to send you off?" Sophie offered.

"No!" she interrupted. "I-I mean; you should rest since you just came back. I know you have a lot of things to do today." she beamed.

"Okay, then you should take care of yourself there." then they hugged each other tight.

As soon as Sophie heard the screeching of the tires, she took her phone and dialed her brother's number.

"Sophie…" Caleb was sitting at the edge of the bed watching the sleeping woman when he received a call from his sister. guess she also heard about Sahaya and Elise.

"Where are you?" Sophie asked.

"Hospital." he replied. "Why?"

"Did you broke up with Lisa?" Caleb can hint irritation in her voice. Well, what did he expect?

"We already talked about it. but if you called me because of that, I am hanging up. I still have to do ---''

"Stupid!" Sophie butt in. "I normally wouldn't mind your relationship matter but I think you should know that Lisa had already packed all her things and now she's driving to the airport. take it from a woman's instinct, I don't think she'll ever come back." She blurted.

There was silence for a few seconds on the other line.

"That's it. I just thought you want to know. okay, bye." Then Sophie ended the call. "Ah! What a nuisance guy?" she mumbled then she went upstairs to her room.

Meanwhile, Caleb was rooted to where he was sitting. Though the call ended, the phone was still in his ear. Lisa? Lisa packed all her things and will be going away? His heart ached at the thought that he won't be seeing her again.

He stood up and went to the window looking at the vast horizon. His mind was filled with thoughts about the woman whom he learned to love with all his heart. But then again, his gaze landed at the woman lying on the bed. What should he do?

He looked at the vast horizon in front of him. will he really let her go? now his mind is in a mess. Unknown to him, Elise was long awaken when he was talking on the phone and was able to hear a few.

"Caleb? is everything okay?" he suddenly heard a faint voice so he stared at Elise who was now sitting on the bed.

"Elise…" he went near her and sat on the lone pew. "I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something." he faked a smile.

"Is it Lisa?"

Caleb jerked. "It's nothing. are you perhaps hungry----''

"Caleb, stop pretending." She cut him out. "If you really want her that bad, you should go after her."

"Elise… I-I'm sorry if I was acting up but…"

"I am not saying this out of frustration, Caleb. I hope you are doing what you are doing right now not because of your guilt. I appreciate it if you are taking care of me out of concern."

"Of course I do!" Caleb butt in. "Why are you thinking---''

"But Caleb, I won't get mad if you go and bring her back. In fact, I would appreciate it more." Elise smiled. Caleb looked at her with shock.

"I know you loved her and I have never thought that you have forgotten about me either. However, we can't bring back the past now. we can't change what's done. But we can still work on the here and now. I have fully accepted that my condition is beyond treatable and now I am just counting months to live. I won't be here for long Caleb and I don't want you to go through what I had to go through when I thought that I lost you. I should have been happy if I wanted to since Tommy had always been there for me and Sahaya, but it was my decision to stay as a single mom not because I couldn't get you out of mind, I chose to live my life like that. when I saw you for the first time again, I was happy to know that Sahaya wouldn't grow up without a family. Now, she has you." she touched Caleb's hands.

"Have you seen how Lisa dotted Sahaya when they first met? I don't think she was faking it and I can say that Sahaya also liked her. Caleb, I won't live for long but I hope you can give Sahaya the perfect family she was longing for." She implored.

"Elise…" he teared up but Elise wiped it for him. he took her hand and kissed it gently. "I'm sorry, if only I wasn't that stupid before, then you should have lived a happy and long life." he was breaking. Then he felt her other hand caressing his hair.

"Caleb, have you ever heard the phrase "All things work for good?" she voiced. "Our own destinies were already carved beforehand. the only thing we can do about it is to enjoy the time that God has given us. My situation right now isn't your fault nor anyone. So you should go now before you even miss her." she tapped his shoulder.

Then immediately, Caleb stood up, kissed her in the cheek and hurried outside. but before he left, he didn't forget to thanked her. Elise smiled then when she was sure that the room was empty, she opened the drawer and took a paper and a pen and started writing something with her tears gushing out from her eyes.