Luisa stood there, listening to Ben.
Every word he spoke was filled with love—
but that same love was slowly tearing her apart from the inside.
It felt suffocating.
Like she couldn't breathe.
Luisa (thinking):
Please… stop… I don't want to hear this anymore…
Ben:
"She was my everything…
I loved her so much…
She was my whole life…"
Her chest tightened.
Her heartbeat grew louder in her ears.
And then—
her phone rang.
It was Amy.
Luisa (quickly): "I… I have to take this."
She stepped away from Ben.
Far enough to breathe.
She took a deep breath—
but it didn't help.
Her hands were shaking.
Her breathing felt uneven.
Her chest still felt heavy.
The phone kept ringing.
Luisa stared at the screen for a moment—
then finally answered.
Amy: "Hello, Luisa! Did you reach home?"
Luisa (low voice): "I'm… on my way."
Amy: "That's good. And—Jacob's mom is fine now."
Luisa: "That's good to hear… I'll call you later."
Amy: "Okay, take care."
Luisa: "You too… bye."
The call ended.
But Luisa still stood there.
Frozen.
Luisa (thinking):
I don't want to go near him… it feels suffocating…
Her heart felt unbearably heavy.
Luisa (thinking):
Why do I always have to face him?
What kind of punishment is this…?
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Luisa (thinking):
I'll just say goodbye… and leave.
She walked back toward Ben.
Ben:"Is everything okay."
Luisa: "Yes… everything's fine. She was just asking if I reached home."
Ben: "Oh… I see. Let me drop you."
Luisa immediately shook her head.
Luisa (quickly):
"Oh—no, please…"
Ben looked at her, confused.
Ben: "What do you mean?"
Luisa hesitated, then spoke awkwardly.
Luisa:
"I mean… people might misunderstand…"
Ben: "Misunderstand what?"
Luisa:
"Nothing… it's just—Amy, my landlord's daughter… she might think…"
Ben sighed lightly.
Ben:
"Just tell her we're friends."
Luisa forced a small smile.
Luisa: "Yeah… I did. And I don't want anyone to think anything else… so I should go."
Ben: "Okay… take care."
Luisa nodded—
and walked away quickly.
Almost like she was escaping.
But just as she got a few steps ahead—
Ben: "Luisa."
She stopped.
Slowly turned back.
Ben (softly):
"Thank you… for always being there."
Luisa's heart trembled.
She nodded—
unable to say anything—
and turned away again.
At the Bus Stop
Luisa stood alone.
The night felt colder now.
Luisa (thinking):
Why… did I fall for him…?
I just want to get rid of these feelings…
She felt broken.
But still—
she held herself together.
The bus came.
She got in.
Silent.
At Home
Luisa closed the door behind her.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
She placed her bag and phone on the table—
and slowly sat down on the couch.
She stared ahead.
At nothing.
Lost in her thoughts.
Lost in his words.
Luisa (whispering):
"So… I fell for someone…
who loves someone else…
someone he can't live without…
someone he already planned his whole life with…"
Her vision blurred.
Tears filled her eyes.
Luisa:
"It's not like I need him…
or even want him…
but… why does it hurt so much…?"
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Then another.
She covered her face with her hands.
Her shoulders trembled.
Luisa (breaking):
"What should I do now…?
Why is this so painful…?
Why did I fall for him…?"
His words echoed again in her mind.
"She was my everything…"
And that was it.
Luisa broke down.
Crying silently—
but the pain echoed through her entire body.
Luisa (whispering through tears):
"I wish… I never met him…"