The Secret Island
CHAPTER 42: Goodbye

Martin was walking back to the villa.

The thought of living without Celine gave him a severe headache. He was going crazy thinking about his life tomorrow. The hopelessness in his heart drove him insane. He sought the only way out like a drowning man. He went to Carlo to negotiate. The deal wasn't so much about selling his soul to the devil like before. He just went to negotiate.

He wanted to attend Celine's graduation ceremony.

He wanted to see her face again. And seeing her in a few weeks' time was something he could look forwards to. Even if it was just a few minutes to see her face, it would have been worth it.

He didn't know if he let her wait for too long at the villa. He hoped she didn't get mad. He told her that he would be gone for a few minutes, but it had been well over an hour. If she got mad, he would apologize and find a way to make up for

it. Martin was surprised to open the door and found her smiling at him.

"Martin!" She threw herself into his arms. She sighed, relieved that he was there.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I was gone for a long time. Are you mad?" The woman in his arms shook her head.

"No...I know you will come back to me. And you really came back!"

"Yeah, I told you I would come back."

"Thank you." She looked up into his eyes, and he was mesmerized. It was as if she created some conditions within him. She established trust. She showed him that rare sincerity between two individuals. And she made him feel so much joy when seeing her face.

He didn't even want to leave.

****

The only way out of the island was through ferries. After Martin helped onboard all of Celine's belongings, he simply looked at her, not knowing what to say. His face didn't show any emotion. But behind that expressionless face, he tried not to show weakness. He had too much pride to do that in front of Celine.

He looked at her youthful face. She had the whole future ahead of her and holding the world by the tail. His feisty girl, the light of his world.

Every time the sea breeze blew past, he would miss her. Every time the sunlight warmed his skin, he would miss her. He would miss her all the time...

"I guess it is time, Martin." It was Celine who broke the silence between us.

"I told you not to frown so much. Smile at me." He glanced at her forced smile. He understood her intention, but he couldn't do as she asked.

"You are leaving. I can't smile. I'm not as good as you." He didn't intend for his tone to come out that harsh. Celine must have sensed his hurt. She still smiled at him. Although her breathing was irregular when speaking, she told him her

reason.

"

"Soon after I step out of this place, I will become memories. And I don't want you to remember me crying."

"Smile for me. Please." She caressed his cheek, and Martin closed his eyes. He couldn't smile at her. How could he do it when what he was about to tell her hurts too much? And it would hurt Celine.

He touched her hand and decided to say it.

"Celine...if something happens, if I can't come back, please...please let go of all memories about me...."

Celine stared at him in disbelief. He hoped that she knew. She must have known that this was not his choice. He didn't want to say it.

With his voice trembling, Martin continued.

"Forget about me and love s...someone who can always be there. Someone who can take good care of you. If anything happens to me-" She cut him off.

"I know you will come back. Nothing will happen." Her bright smile disappeared, and she squeezed his hand.

He decided to be the one who said those words. Celine would never take the initiative. She could never say goodbye. She was just not that type of person. Before we moved on to our new chapters in life, he wanted her to liberate herself and have the liberty to choose someone she could love.

"...but before that day comes. If it does come. Even though that day may come, until then, I want you to be free...."

"Martin. No..." She shook her head and started to cry. The image of her crying in front of him was a new form of torture. He pulled her into an embrace. She held on to him tightly.

"I don't know how long we will be apart. It's hard for both of us...but...for now, we need to break up."

"No...no..." She told him she didn't want to see her cry, but we both couldn't escape the reality. Her arms wrapped around his body tightly. Martin slowly explained. He took a deep breath and explained.

"You have your future of possibility ahead of you. Don't be stubborn with me on this...."

He tenderly wiped away her tears, and Martin did. He thought he didn't. He thought of the future with her, and he smiled.

"Someday, if I see you again. I will do anything to win your heart again. If I still have a chance-if it will not be too late, I will make sure you love me again."

"But now, I need to let you go." Tears still flowed on both of Celine's cheeks.

"I hope you understand me." We were both quiet again until an announcement on the ferry called for all passengers to be boarded.

She had to leave.

Without anything more complicated, Celine cupped his face and kissed him. A long and deeply sweet kiss to say goodbye.

At this time, no words could be sophisticated enough to fully capture how any of them feel towards each other.

"Martin, open your eyes and look at me."

He slowly opened his eyes. And her face was the first and only thing he saw. She gave him a lively smile bright enough to rival the sun, unlike the forced smile as before. Her beautiful eyes still brimmed with tears, but her smile was of love and understanding-it was the smile she always gave him, a smile that inspired him to smile.

That was probably it. The face he would always remember as she intended.

Celine hugged him tightly once more. She kissed his cheeks and his lips as if to imprint her love there. She whispered in his ears and slowly walked away.

She boarded the ferry and waved him goodbye from high above. Her whisper still lingered in his memory. The words were from her heart.

"Thank you, Martin. You will always be my favorite ex-boyfriend. You are the man I love the most."

It was once again that he answered her in his head.

'I love you, too.'