“Again? What do you mean again? Didn’t you already covered Christmas for them last year and the year before that?”

“Yeah. But it’s the year end festive period. People will be clearing leave, taking their kids and family some place nice…”

“And it will happen again next year and the year after.” There was a sharp intake of breath that was followed soon after by an exasperated sigh. “I get that you’re trying to be considerate Boaz. But surely there are other people in your department who can do it this year instead of you? Just like them, you too have family that you should come home to see from time to time.”

There was a slight pause while Boaz reflected on Alonzo’s words. "“I know.” Taking a deep breath, he sighed. “It’s not like I didn’t try Alonzo. I’ll see if I can drop by come New Year’s or later on in January?”

“Alright. I’ll let mum and dad know then. You take care of yourself over there alright?”

“I will. I’ll see all of you when I’m back then. Take care Alonzo.”

Tapping on the phone screen to end the call, Boaz stared long and hard at the picture of both Mel and himself that he had set as his smartphone wallpaper. It has been slightly over two and a half years since the both of them hooked up following that fateful meeting in the hospital specialist outpatient clinic huh? Leaning back on the couch, he glanced up at the ceiling and sighed. Maybe he should swap that picture for something else in the meantime. A plain black background perhaps, or even one of those natural scenery pictures that he personally enjoyed putting together as jigsaw puzzles. That way he wouldn’t have to be constantly reminded of her absence and how much it hurts just to get by each day with no end in sight.

Looking back, he found himself wondering now just what exactly possessed him back then to take a leap of faith and give this relationship thing a chance. He was content as he was. He worked long and hard to build up his career at the hospital after graduating from medical school and although he faced some difficulty initially juggling that alongside the additional responsibilities that came with his joining the Negaverse, he managed it all somehow and even managed to score himself a promotion to the rank of Captain along the way.

The thing between Mel and him probably started because it was the very first time that a girl had come right out and told him point blank that she was interested in him. He couldn’t find it in himself to say no to her and what followed thereafter, as people would put it, was history. He didn’t regret getting into this - being with Mel made him happy and gave him a different kind of purpose.

It was just that things between the both of them weren’t looking all that great at the moment.

The problem kind of started around a year ago with Mel suddenly disappearing on him without a word, warning or message. Like every concerned boyfriend in a normal steady relationship, he got worried. He did everything that was avail to him during his spare time, from calling to texting to even looking up all of her friends in person at DCU to find out if any of them had any idea as to what had happened to her.

Yet, in spite all of his efforts, he found nothing. Left with no other choice, he simply waited. It wasn’t till a few months later that Mel finally returned. Some family issues had cropped up back in England - that was the reason that he was given. One that he readily accepted without further questions because family was important and he figured that they probably weren’t close enough yet at that point for her to feel at ease telling him something like that.

There were the little nitty gritty things that bugged him back then of course, like she could have called or sent him a text that she needed to attend to something. He really would have been fine with just that. Anything was certainly better than nothing. And he already knew all too well because of his association with the Negaverse that people sometimes disappeared into thin air in Destiny City because they were caught up in or witnessed something that they weren’t supposed to be privy to.

But he was more than happy to overlook everything upon her return so they picked things up from where they left off. There was the hotel suite that he surprised her with during the New Year’s Day party earlier this year. One thing led to another and they eventually went on to sex which, in his opinion, was a big step forward given that it was the very first time for the both of them.

Pausing for a brief moment, he lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and rub at his face. He really couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong for Mel to disappear on him again without leaving him anything to work with. It was an entire repeat of what had happened a year ago and god knows how long it would be till her return this time. If she even returned at all.

He didn’t know what he should feel about this at all. Anger. Disappointment. Dejected. She promised that that wouldn’t happen again. Surely he meant something to her for the both of them to take their relationship to that level of intimacy. If so, if he was someone significant and important to her, surely it wouldn’t be unreasonable of him to expect to hear from her as soon as she was able to spare a minute or two from whatever she was caught up in this time?

Just how long more was he going to have to wait?

Should he even bother waiting even?

It has been six to eight months since he last saw and heard from her now. He really didn’t want to give up on her and what they had.

But he was gradually losing hope and sinking into despair...