After dropping Luisa near her house, Ben slowly turned his car to head back to his apartment.
The rain had started again, tapping softly against the windshield.
As he drove, a faint ringing sound filled the car.
Ben frowned.
He glanced at his phone.
It wasn't ringing.
The sound was coming from somewhere else.
He slowed the car and looked around, then leaned down slightly.
The sound was coming from the passenger seat.
Ben stopped the car completely and searched.
Then he found it—
A phone had slipped down near the seat.
He picked it up.
It was Luisa's phone.
At that moment, the screen lit up.
David was calling.
Ben stared at the screen for a second.
Then, without thinking, he quickly stepped out of the car.
The rain hit him instantly, soaking his clothes within seconds.
But he didn't care.
He ran.
The Call
As Ben rushed toward Luisa's house, his own phone started ringing.
He stopped for a moment under the open sky and took it out.
It was Charlotte.
Ben immediately picked up.
Ben:
"Hi, Charlotte."
Her voice came through the call.
Charlotte:
"Hi, Ben… how are you? I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier. I was busy with work."
Rain poured heavily around him.
Ben looked around briefly, trying to find shelter—but he didn't move.
Ben:
"I'm fine. It's okay… how are you?"
There was a pause.
Charlotte:
"I'm fine… Ben, I need to tell you something."
Something in her tone felt different.
Serious.
Distant.
Ben:
"Tell me… but before that, don't over work and take car—"
He didn't get to finish.
Charlotte took a deep breath.
And then—
Charlotte:
"Ben… I want to break up."
Silence
The rain grew heavier.
Thunder echoed in the sky.
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Ben felt like his heart had been cut open.
His mind refused to process the words.
Break up…?
He stood there, frozen.
Ben (whispering):
"What…?"
His voice barely came out.
Charlotte:
"I know this is hard for you… but I think we're not meant to be together."
Ben shook his head slowly, disbelief filling his eyes.
Ben:
"Is this because of my dad? Please don't do this. We don't need him… this is our life."
Charlotte:
"No… this is my decision."
Ben's chest tightened.
Ben:
"What are you saying? You said you loved me… you said we'd stay together. What about everything we dreamed about? Our future?"
There was another pause.
Then Charlotte spoke, softer but distant.
Charlotte:
"Ben… I don't think we were enough for each other. And now you're in Himmer… I'm in Aves… it's too hard."
Ben:
"But we can wait."
Charlotte:
"I can't."
The words hit harder than anything.
Charlotte:
"That's why… I want to end this."
And just like that—
The call ended.
In the Rain
Ben stood there.
Still.
Silent.
The rain poured over him, soaking him completely.
Cars passed by.
People moved.
But for him—
Time had stopped.
His hand slowly dropped to his side.
His eyes were empty.
Luisa
From a distance, Luisa was walking back, holding her umbrella.
She had come looking for her phone.
Then she saw him.
Standing in the rain.
Not moving.
Her steps slowed.
Her heart tightened.
Luisa (thinking):
Why is he standing like that…?
She walked closer.
Carefully.
Softly.
Luisa:
"Ben… I think—"
She stopped.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
His face…
His eyes…
He didn't look okay.
Luisa (softly):
"Ben… are you okay?"
Ben turned slowly.
His expression was blank.
Without saying a word, he held out her phone.
Luisa took it gently.
Luisa:
"Is everything okay?"
No response.
Not even a glance.
Ben turned away and walked back to his car.
Luisa stood there, confused and worried.
Luisa (thinking):
What happened to him…? Why isn't he saying anything?
She watched as he drove away.
Aftermath
Luisa returned home slowly.
She sat down on the couch, still holding her phone.
Her mind was restless.
Luisa (thinking):
Should I call him…?
She hesitated.
Then shook her head.
No… maybe he needs time.
Still, a strange worry stayed in her heart.
Ben's Breaking Point
Meanwhile, Ben drove through the rain.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
His thoughts were a mess.
Ben (thinking):
What happened to Charlotte…?
Did Dad do something?
Without thinking, he turned the car toward his father's house.
Confrontation
He entered the house, soaked and furious.
His stepmother rushed toward him.
"Ben! What happened? Why do you look like this?"
He ignored her completely and walked straight to his father's room.
His father looked up, surprised.
Ben:
"What did you say to Charlotte?"
His voice was cold. Sharp.
His father frowned.
Father:
"What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I talk to that girl?"
Ben's anger rose.
Ben:
"You're lying."
Father (irritated):
"Have you lost your mind?"
Ben clenched his fists.
His breathing grew heavier.
For a moment, it felt like he might explode.
But instead—
He turned and walked out.
Alone
Ben drove back to his apartment at high speed.
The rain blurred his vision.
His chest felt heavy.
His hands trembled slightly.
After reaching home, he stepped inside.
Everything felt empty.
He immediately took out his phone and called Charlotte again.
The call rang.
And rang.
Then—
A voice came.
"The number you are trying to reach is not answering."
Ben slowly lowered his phone.
The silence in the room felt louder than anything.