The Charming Max Read Online Free Page A

thought.
    Max stopped his steps. He looked more surprised than what Sybille imagined him would have been. For a while, there were no words escaped his lips. They stood awkwardly, in the middle of the dark, for a long time.
    “Well…” he started to break the silence. “Well I guess … I’m surprised..”
    Tears started to well up in the corner of Sybille’s eyes. “Why?” she croaked. “Wouldn’t you have expected it, after you kept treating me like a princess?”
    He looked back at her; drawing slight guilt on his face.
    This was not the reaction she expected at all. She shook her head. “No, don’t feel guilty...” she pleaded. “Don’t say that all those sweetness and friendliness mean nothing…”
    “Sybille…”
    “Is that how you always treat other people?” she raised her voice. “Waiting for her, spending most of your days and having all your meals with her? Do you think it’s what normal people do??”
    “Listen…” he reached her arm, trying to calm her down. “I mean … of course I like you a lot. I enjoyed spending a lot of time with you.” Sybille a little calmed down by his answer.
    “This is my fault indeed … I had bad habit of being very nice to everybody, and I couldn’t resist helping beautiful damsel in distress…” he continued rattling on, restarting Sybille’s alert again.
    “I’m not sure if I love you…Sybille…if that’s what you are asking for…”
    Sybille stood there, paralyzed. The bomb was dropped so suddenly, when she was expecting paradise to happen. She didn’t know what to say. “What … what do you mean?” her body started shaking.
    “I…I like spending time with you a lot.” He repeated. Guilt drenched his tone. Sybille knew he was trying hard to alleviate her pain. But it didn’t make her feel better.
    “But…I’m not sure about love…or even relationship…”
    “Then do something about it.” Tears started rolling down her cheeks. “Please do something about it, Max…” she pleaded.
    But there was nothing Max could do about it. He knew. She knew. As she waited for miracle to happen, Max just stood there, full of guilt without being able to say any word that would make her happy.
    She then yanked her hand from his grip, and ran away in tears.
    I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
    Life is a maze and love is a riddle
    I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
    And I don't know why
     
    Slow it down
    Make it stop
    Or else my heart is going to pop
    'Cause it's too much
    Yeah, it's a lot
    To be something I'm not
     
    I'm a fool
    Out of love
    'Cause I just can't get enough
     
     
    Graduation 2009
     
    The auditorium was packed with the Engineering graduates. The university’s chancellor was finishing his address. Then one by one of the newly minted Bachelors of Engineering was called to the stage to receive their diploma. It was a long, long process, people were tired of waiting, but nobody was bored. Everyone was elated by the atmosphere, full of pride of their newly acquired degree and hope for the future. The families joined their children, brimmed with happiness.
     
    After the ceremony, they congratulated each other whole-heartedly. Good friends took photos together, past crushes got their last stolen snaps, and ex-lovers were lost in nostalgia. It was a moving moment, when everybody knew that this was probably the last time some of them see each other, when every past sin was forgiven, for the sake of memories.
     
    After mingling with his friends and family, Max looked around for somebody. Still in his toga, he started to run towards the hall he knew very well before a voice stopped him.
     
    “Max!”
     
    He turned around and saw the one he’s looking for was standing there, in simple blue sundress and earnest smile.
     
    “Sybille…” he proceeded to walk closer to her. Before he could say anything, Sybille had started the conversation. “Congratulations on your graduation!” she tapped his