Chapter 122 - 122: Leaving

In the evening, Erick went home just to get some clothes.

He needed to stay at the headquarters tonight as they would be preparing for their upcoming operation in catching Black Shadow tomorrow night.

He waited for Elle to inform her. Elle arrived home at around 7:00 in the evening. She saw Erick sitting in the balcony.

"Hey, why are you out here. It is cold tonight." Elle said as he saw Erick.

"I've been waiting for you. I am planning to fetch you in the Cafe but since you told me that you are on the way, I decided to wait for you here."

"Hmm, have you eaten dinner?"

"Not yet, I brought some food for our dinner. So hectic in the headquarter, I was not able to cook tonight." Erick said to her apologetically.

"It's alright. Let us go inside and take our dinner." Elle said.

Erick just smiled at her and nodded.

After dinner, even though Erick did not want to leave her but he had no choice. There would be a big operation tomorrow.

Elle's mood tonight was not good. She was still feeling down but she was able to conceal it so Erick did not notice it.

After leaving the Cafe that day, Elle already made up her mind. She decided to leave Erick as soon as possible.

She did not want him to be hurt further. She did not want to continue deceiving him so staying away from him was the only solution she could think of as of now.

As Elle seemed to be in deep thought, sitting in the living room while staring blankly on the Television, Erick approached her.

He sat down beside her. "Penny for your thoughts," Erick said as he pinched her nose.

Elle whined a little because of that. She shot him a glare. Erick chuckled at her reaction. Then Elle noticed Erick's backpack.

"Are you leaving tonight?" Elle asked him.

"Yup, why? Do you miss me already?" Erick teased her.

Elle rolled her eyes. "I am just asking since you have your bag with you." Elle pointed out his backpack.

Erick let out a soft chuckle "I am just kidding. Why are you so grumpy?"

"Who is grumpy? I am not." Elle defended herself.

"Hmm, roll your eyes again and I will kiss you! And Oops, don't dare glare at me also, I am serious." Erick warned her.

Elle looked at this shameless guy in front of her with disbelief. She hit him on the shoulder.

Erick could not stop himself from laughing. He really wanted to tease Elle. Elle just stayed silent at the guy who was laughing in front of her.

'Oh God, I will surely miss hearing his laughter.'

Elle stood up from her seat and she was planning to leave the guy who was still laughing at her. But Erick was quick enough to stand up and grab her arm, stopping her from leaving.

"Ahem... kidding aside. I will miss you, Elle." Erick said softly as he stared at her intently.

His sincere words could make Elle's heart started to flutter and beat wildly inside her chest.

'I will miss you too.' Elle thought to herself.

Elle avoided his gaze since she was afraid that she would not be able to hold herself back from doing something that would ruin her plan.

"By the way, where are you going? How long will you be gone?" Elle asked him to divert the topic.

"Hmm, just one night. We will be conducting a big operation this time so we need to stay at the headquarters to polish our plan and strategy. Wait for me okay?"

Elle paused for a moment before she replied.

"Okay." She simply said.

'By the time you come back, maybe I will not be here anymore Erick.'

Something flashed beneath Elle's expression but it disappeared in just a blink of an eye so Erick did not see it.

Meanwhile, Erick was thinking of several things that he wanted to do together with Elle after he comes back.

'I should ask her out for a date after our operation. Hmm, the flowers, I have not given her flowers yet.'

They were still in their own moment of thoughts when Erick felt that his phone was vibrating in his pocket. It was a call from headquarter. They must be all waiting for him.

"Hmm, I guess it is time to leave now. They are already looking for me." Erick softly said as he smiled faintly at Elle. Elle just nodded.

However, Erick was very reluctant to leave her. He remained standing on his spot while staring at Elle.

"Elle..." He called her name.

"Hmm?" Elle mumbled.

"What did you do to me?" Erick asked her.

Elle gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"I am still here but I am already missing you," Erick said to her in a low voice. That is what he truly felt right now.

Elle was speechless. Then Erick's phone vibrated again. This time Elle let out a soft chuckle.

"Mr. Detective, I think they are really looking for their Chief. Go now. They need you there already."

Erick sighed deeply before he finally picked up his backpack on the sofa. Elle just shook her head seeing Erick disappointed and sad expressions.

Elle held his shoulders and she pushed him towards the door.

"Hey, you are so excited to send me away," Erick complained as Elle continued in pushing him.

"If I don't do this, I am afraid you will not take a step. I am just helping you not be scolded by your colleagues and Captain Jason for being so late."

And finally, they reached the door. Erick turned around to face Elle. He pulled her into a hug.

Elle was stunned in a moment but she hugged him back after she recovered. She felt Erick's embrace tightened.

She liked it. She liked how it felt to be wrapped by his arms while she buried herself into his chest.

She liked to smell his fragrance. She liked to feel his warmth. She wanted to stay like this forever but she knew it was only her wishful thinking.

She was trying to hold her tears. Her grip on his body also tightened.

'Is this the last time, I will be able to hug this man?'

Erick's hand started to move caressing her hair and her back. She felt him bent down to smell her hair.

He planted small and soft kisses in her head. Elle just closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

After what it seemed like forever, they both released each other from that warm hug. 

"I won't be able to use my phone tonight until tomorrow. Wait for me tomorrow night okay?" Erick softly said to her.

She just smiled at him meaningfully and nodded.

Erick smiled at her one last time and he leaned down to kiss her in the forehead before he left her.

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Morning came and the Joint Task Force was all set for their operation in catching Black Shadow this evening.

They were divided into two teams. One team was assigned for the surveillance and back up which was composed of Captain Jason, Allen, April, Rose, and Jane. 

The second team was assigned primarily in catching Black Shadow, which was composed of Erick, Carl, June,  and Bryan including Marie.

Marie already set the trap for Black Shadow. The location would be the night club where Marie and  Black Shadow were supposed to meet.

They already visited the location early this morning, just to survey the possible escape routes and the suitable area to attack Black Shadow.

They also prepared two vans. Rose was left in the headquarters who was responsible for monitoring the CCTV footage in the area while transmitting the data to the computers and monitors inside the surveillance team's van.

Even though the operation would happen at night, the team was already scattered in the area.

Meanwhile, as the Task Force was busy preparing for their operation, Elle was also preparing everything because today was the day that she would be leaving Erick. 

She already informed Phantom and Charles regarding her decision. Charles was so happy when he heard her plan.

Charles wanted to ask her further why she suddenly decided to leave Erick but Phantom stopped Charles from pestering Elle.

Elle did not plan on bringing something. She stayed home today. She took her remaining time to reminisce about her memories in that house together with Erick.

Looking back when she first met him she could not help but smile bitterly. She gave him cold treatment before but he was persistent and very patient towards her.

She did not notice that as time goes by she started to open up with him. The wall that she built was slowly conquered by Erick without her knowledge.

She became used to his presence. She let him enter her life and Erick brought color and light into her dull and dark life.

Elle was holding a card. Since she could not say goodbye to him in person, she decided to write him a letter.

She placed the letter on Erick's desk in his study.

"I guess, this is a goodbye, Erick. Thank you for everything. I promise, if someday our path will cross again I will surely return the favor of saving my life."

She could not explain why she felt like being stabbed in the heart a thousand times as she walked away from the house that she considered a home for several months.

She did not even notice that a single tear already flowed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.