Chapter 141: Playtime Is Over

• Carlos stopped in front of an old-style villa. Pink roses were growing outside, and the lawn was meticulously maintained. He looked up at the first window on the second floor and willed the drapes to open. Alas, he was no magician, and they did not bend to his will. He sighed as he whispered his love’s name: “Crystal….”
• He assumed that she was asleep, and he didn’t dare wake her. Instead, he thought - I wonder what she dreams about, and if she dreams of me. This line of inquiry was painful, and he moved his feet around in his shoes, using the physical pain to distract his mind from the emotional pain. At this point in his life, there were few things that he didn’t regret, and letting go of Crystal was number one on the list.
• Carlos walked over to a sycamore tree that was on the lawn and sat beneath it. He looked at his watch and counted the seconds, and as they passed, he thought about a decision he’d been putting off. Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. The call went through, and when the person on the phone picked up, Carlos said, “I accept your condition. But in one year, you have to help me get what I want.” Then, without waiting for a reply, he hung up.