"I'm sorry Serena, you go first, and meet with Charlton, I will join you later. I just need to help Joan settle some matters regarding the coming spring ball." Geoffrey explained after the student council meeting was adjourned. 

"Okay." Serena replied. 

Leonard felt torn. He was still apprehensive about leaving Serena and Charlton alone, but at the same time, he needs to trust that the two already know their boundaries. Anyway, he was left with no choice as he joined the archery competition scheduled after lunch.

"I will try to join you two later after my match in the archery competition is over." Leonard stated.

Serena was surprised with the situation but just nodded her head. She did not expect that Leonard would also be coming late. Anyway, seems like she will be spending some time with Charlton alone today.

--

After having a quick lunch back in her room, she thought of what to do with Charlton later. Again, she knew that they were already over but, she can't help but hope. Enough time has passed and she knew in her heart that she loves him still. For peace of mind, she told herself that she still has to try.

Picking one of her personally tailored dress, she changed the dress she was wearing. She looked at the mirror satisfied. Refreshingly sexy but can still be deemed appropriate. It's been a while since she last wore something like this. 

Anyway, after much deliberation of how she should act, she went to the private music room like a girl on a mission.

--

When Serena looked through the glass window, she saw Charlton sitting in front of the piano. She observed him for a while. He was alternating his concentration on playing the keys and then writing something on the sheet music he prepared. She could not help the upward tilting of her lips; she was reminded of the time when there was just the two of them working on a song. He does not know it, but he has this habit of furrowing his brows and biting his lower lip when he's getting frustrated.

Charlton was shaken out of his concentration when he heard someone open the door. To his surprise, he saw Serena entering the room alone.

Seeing his confused face, Serena chortled, "Sorry to disappoint you, it's just me. Geoffrey and Leonard would be coming a little late."

Charlton felt his heart on his throat. It has been a while since Serena used that attitude on him. Also, she looked fantastic. Her hair was left in lose curls and she was wearing a low-cut square neck light blue dress with short sleeves. Anyway, he pretended that she did not affect him that way. 

"It's alright. I have already finished working on the melody and harmony of the song. It would be nice if Geoffrey and Leonard were here to play the strings. Anyway, in the meantime, would you like to listen and see if you're satisfied with what I came up with?" 

"Alright. Let's hear it." She replied as she placed her purse on the sofa. Then she started hearing Charlton playing the song as she walked over to stand by his side. 

Charlton felt her body heat radiating as she stood near him. He was being hyper aware of her especially that they are alone.

Serena in all fairness was satisfied with the melody that Charlton came up with, however, she could not concentrate on that when she finally had him alone. While in the middle of playing the song, she interrupted him by placing her hand on the keys of the piano.

"I think on this part, it should be like this." Then she sat beside him, their shoulders almost touching, and as Charlton's hands were still on the piano, her left hand grazed the end of his right. 

Both of them felt the unmistakable spark. Then the next second, Serena was holding his cheeks and kissing him.

Charlton who was caught in the moment could only kiss her back. His right hand held her body close to his while his left hand held the back of her head as their tongues mingled in a battle for domination.

When Charlton came back to his senses, their foreheads were touching as they both tried to catch their breath.

Serena smiled feeling like she already won and got him back. However, his actions right after made her frown. He separated from her and stood up from his sitting position. Then, he started to pace back and forth, as if he was facing an internal struggle. In the end, he stood before her and looked into her eyes.

"I'm sorry Serena. This should never happen again."

Serena for all her sensibility can feel his words grating on her ears. Thus, she replied with irritation laced in her voice, "I remember you kissing me back. So, what's holding you back?"

Charlton closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "this is for the best Serena. You and I will never work. Let's leave it at that."

Serena could not believe what she's hearing. What the hell was he talking about? 

"What do you mean? Charlton, look at me. I am trying even though I now look like some desperate woman asking for your affection. I understand that you hate the feeling when I kept you like some dirty little secret. I thought it through, over and over. Yet in the end, I believe that that was still the best course of action at that time. Why are you being like this? Did you not love me at all during those times?" she asked emotionally. She has been keeping those words all to herself all this time and now it just burst out.

Charlton wanted to hold her in his arms and take his words back, but he has already had his heart set. He would rather hurt her now than let her regret everything later. He would rather sacrifice his own happiness if it means that she will have her own secured in the future.

"Serena, I also thought it through. Keeping our relationship secret at that time was for the best. I don't blame you anymore regarding that. We both have a lot at stake. If our relationship was revealed, we would have to put your family in jeopardy. You and your family will lose a lot just because of me. On my end, the same is also true."

Serena digested everything he said but could not agree with his words, "I knew that from the very start and it's a sacrifice I'm willing to take if it comes down to it. But it's an issue we don't have to face at this moment, a lot of things can still change in the future if we just work on it together. We even have our plans. So, what changed?"

Charlton tilted his head up to stop his own tears. "Serena, you may be willing to sacrifice that much and think that everything will work out just fine in the future, but I can't make that gamble." he meant to say that he could not let her sacrifice that much and he was only thinking for her own good. However, before he could explain further, Serena started bombarding him with her words.

Serena felt her heart wrenching and her stomach churning. She could not swallow what he just said. "You mean to say that you're not willing to make the same sacrifice? That I'm not worth all that much to you as you mean to me?" It was painful, too painful and she could not stop her tears from falling.

"No, that's not what I meant Serena, I…" he started saying, he could not see her like this. So, he moved to hold her in his arms. He knew he was hurting her as much as he was hurting himself. But how could he console her? Although he wanted to say that she was worth it, that he was willing to give up everything for her, he could not utter those words. How could he when he knew that him walking away was what was best for her?

"Then what do you mean?" She asked, moving away from him so that she can look him in the eye. 

Charlton shook his head. Seeing her looking at him with tears on her eyes made his throat constrict. He embraced her in his arms so that she would not see the look on his face as he said, "Please Serena, don't make this any harder than it already is... I just want what is best for you." 

Serena felt that he was being unbelievable. She struggled to get away from his hold. As she felt him not letting go, she started to push him away. "Get away from me! don't touch me!" she bellowed.

Charlton did not want to let go, he wanted to explain, but if he does, then what good would it be? So, he loosened his hold. "Serena, please..."

Serena stood up from the stool to move away from him. She can understand his reasons, but she was not reconciled, "Was that the best that you can come up with? You should have thought of what was at stake before you dived into this relationship with me. This, whatever your reason is, is complete bullshit. Unless you thought of breaking up with me at some point in the first place."

"You know that that has never passed my mind. Serena, I…."

But before he can continue, they heard the door opening causing them to stop whatever conversation they were having.

--

TBC

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