Luisa and Amy were on their way to downtown.
The evening was calm and beautiful.
A soft wind blew through the air, cool and refreshing.
Luisa rolled down the car window slightly.
The wind brushed against her face, making her close her eyes for a moment.
Amy glanced at her while driving.
Amy: "How's university going?"
Luisa (quietly): "It's good."
She kept looking outside the window.
Luisa: "What about you?"
Amy: "Good. It's my last year… I'll graduate soon."
Luisa: "That's great. So what are your plans after graduation?"
Amy smiled casually.
Amy: "First, a job… and then marriage."
Luisa turned, shocked.
Luisa: "What? Really?"
Amy (laughing softly): "Yes. Jacob and I decided to get married soon."
Luisa (smiling faintly): "I'm really happy for you both."
Amy looked at her again.
Amy: "What about you? Do you have someone in your life?"
Luisa sighed.
Luisa: "No."
Amy smirked slightly.
Amy: "Stop lying. I know you like that guy… the one who drops you sometimes."
Luisa turned quickly.
Luisa: "What are you saying? We're just friends—I told you before."
Amy: "Hmm… I see."
Luisa lowered her gaze.
Luisa: "Yeah…"
Amy's voice softened.
Amy: "Do you like him?"
Luisa froze.
Luisa: "Why are you asking about him?"
Amy: "Because something changes in you whenever I mention him. By the way… what's his name?"
Luisa (after a pause): "Ben."
Amy (smiling): "Ohh… Ben. So… do you like him?"
Luisa stayed silent.
Amy sighed.
Amy: "I'll take your silence as a yes."
Luisa looked out of the window again.
Luisa (softly):
"Yeah… I do like him… but…"
Amy: "But what?"
Luisa's voice became heavier.
Luisa:
"He had a girlfriend… they broke up…
I didn't know before…
I found out after I fell for him."
Amy's expression softened.
Amy: "Oh…"
Luisa clenched her hands slightly.
Amy:"but they broke up."
Luisa:
"It's not about them breaking up…
He still loves her a lot.
And I don't want to love someone whose heart already belongs to someone else."
Amy looked at her quietly.
Amy: "So that's why you've seemed so off lately…"
Luisa didn't reply.
Amy (gently): "That's really hard."
Seeing Luisa's expression darken, Amy quickly changed the topic.
Amy: "oh the cafe is here it's very famous."
At the Café
They entered a small, warm café and ordered food.
Amy: "So… he still loves his ex girlfriend?"
The word girlfriend echoed painfully in Luisa's heart.
Luisa: "Yes… he loved her a lot. When they broke up… he looked completely lost."
Amy: "Then he must have loved her deeply."
Luisa (quietly): "He did."
Amy: "This must be really hard for you."
Luisa nodded slightly.
Luisa: "I just want to forget him."
Amy noticed the sadness in her eyes.
Amy: "Let's not talk about this anymore."
Luisa nodded.
They ate quietly.
After a while—
Amy's phone rang.
She picked it up, her expression changing instantly.
Amy: "Okay… I'm coming."
She ended the call.
Luisa: "What happened?"
Amy: "Jacob's mother isn't well… I have to go. I'm really sorry."
Luisa: "Don't be. You should go."
They stepped out of the café.
Amy: "I'll drop you home first."
Luisa: "No, it's okay. I'll take the bus. You go."
Amy: "I'm really sorry…"
Luisa (softly): "Stop it, Amy. Just go."
Amy: "Okay… call me when you reach home."
Luisa: "I will. Bye."
Amy drove away.
Luisa stood there for a moment.
Luisa (thinking):
I hope everything is okay…
Instead of going home—
she walked toward the riverbank.
At the River
The night was quiet.
The river reflected the city lights, shimmering softly.
The wind was cold.
Luisa wrapped her arms around herself.
Luisa (whispering):
"Why does everything feel so hard lately…?"
She walked slowly… until she stopped.
Someone else was there.
Ben.
Luisa froze.
Luisa (thinking):
Why… whenever I try to avoid him… he's always there?
She was about to turn away—
But Ben had already seen her.
He started walking toward her.
Luisa stayed still.
Her heart started beating faster.
Ben: "Hey… you're here."
Luisa: "I just came with a friend."
Ben: "David is back?"
Luisa: "No… my landlord's daughter."
Ben: "Oh. Where is she?"
Luisa: "She had something urgent… she left."
Ben: "I see… How are you?"
Luisa: "I'm fine… you?"
Ben: "Just… going on."
Both turned their gaze toward the river.
Silence.
Ben:
"Whenever I come here… I feel better."
Luisa:
"Yeah… now you understand why your mother loves this place."
Ben looked at her.
Luisa added softly—
Luisa:
"Sometimes… the answers are hidden inside the question."
Ben smiled faintly.
Ben: "That was deep…"
He looked back at the river.
Then his voice changed.
Quieter.
Heavier.
Ben:
"Luisa… you know something?"
Luisa's heart tightened.
Ben:
"I loved her a lot…
She was everything to me…
She made me smile every day…
She made me feel safe…
I miss her… her warmth… everything…"
Each word felt like a knife.
Slow.
Sharp.
Luisa's breathing became uneven.
Her chest tightened.
Ben (continuing):
"I dreamed my whole life with her…
How we would live together…
How many kids we'd have…
That's how much I loved her…"
Luisa's heart started racing.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Her vision blurred.
She couldn't breathe properly.
All she wanted—
was to run away.