Luisa began to feel uneasy the moment Ben sat beside her.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her book.
Luisa (thinking):
Why does being next to him feel so uncomfortable now…?
Before, his presence used to calm her.
Now… it only made her heart ache.
Ben: "I saw you coming to the library."
Luisa forced a small smile.
Luisa: "Oh… I see. Are you okay?"
Ben kept his eyes lowered.
Ben (softly): "Yeah… I am."
But his voice didn't match his words.
Luisa noticed it.
She always noticed.
Luisa: "Did you have lunch?"
Ben: "Yeah… but I didn't feel like eating."
Luisa's chest tightened.
Luisa: "You should take care of yourself… you look really tired."
Ben let out a quiet breath.
Ben: "It's hard… everything feels hard right now."
Those words stayed in the air.
Heavy.
Painful.
Luisa didn't know what to say.
Because she was hurting too—
but for a completely different reason.
Luisa (softly):
"Don't worry… it will be okay."
Ben looked at her for a moment… then nodded.
But neither of them truly believed those words.
After Classes
The day ended quietly.
Luisa walked toward the bus stop alone.
But as she reached there—
her steps slowed down.
Everything from yesterday came rushing back.
Ben's voice.
"I loved her so much…"
His broken expression.
The pain in his eyes.
And her own heart—
shattering silently.
Luisa closed her eyes.
Her hand slowly moved to her chest.
Luisa (whispering):
"Why… does it hurt so much…?"
It felt like something heavy was pressing against her heart.
She sat down on the bench, unable to stand anymore.
After a few minutes, the bus arrived.
She got in—
quiet…
lost…
empty.
Ben's Side
Ben reached his apartment.
The silence inside felt suffocating.
He sat down on the couch and took out his phone.
His fingers moved automatically—
opening his chats.
Charlotte.
The last message:
"Stop calling me. Everything is over."
His chest tightened.
But still—
he kept scrolling.
Old messages appeared.
Full of love.
Full of promises.
Ben: "After we get married, I want to live in Aves."
Charlotte: "Why not Himmer?"
Ben: "Not my type."
Charlotte: "Okay, no problem, baby."
Another one—
Charlotte: "You'll never leave me, right?"
Ben: "Never. You're my first and last love."
Ben's grip on the phone tightened.
His eyes burned.
Ben (whispering):
"So… all of this meant nothing to you…?"
He leaned his head back against the couch.
A tear slipped from the corner of his eye.
Ben:
"At least… you could've told me why…"
Luisa's House
Luisa sat at her desk, trying to study.
But the words blurred in front of her.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts.
She stood up and opened it.
It was Amy.
Luisa (forcing a smile):
"Hi, Amy… how are you?"
Amy: "I'm good! But… you don't look okay."
Luisa looked away.
Luisa: "I'm fine… come in."
Amy shook her head.
Amy: "Nope. You're coming out."
Luisa blinked.
Luisa: "What?"
Amy (grinning):
"I'm free today. And it's been so long since we hung out. So—let's go somewhere!"
Luisa hesitated.
Luisa: "Actually… I have to study—"
Amy: "No excuses. You're coming."
Luisa sighed softly.
She didn't have the energy to argue.
Luisa (quietly):
"Okay… give me a minute."
After changing, Luisa came downstairs.
Amy was waiting for her.
Luisa stepped out,
trying to escape her thoughts.
Even if it was just for a little while.