Luisa felt suffocated.
Every word… every moment… everything felt too heavy for her heart to carry.
Her chest tightened, and her heartbeat grew faster and louder, as if it was trying to escape.
And then suddenly—
Luisa: "Ben…"
Ben stopped and looked back to her.
Ben: "Yes? Tell me."
Luisa hesitated. Her fingers curled slightly, and her gaze dropped for a second.
Luisa: "I… I forgot to tell you something."
Ben: "What is it?"
She swallowed softly.
Luisa: "David… is back."
For a moment, Ben's expression softened.
Ben: "Oh… that's great. How is he now?"
Luisa: "He's better… much better."
Ben: "That's good to hear."
A small silence fell between them again.
Luisa looked away.
Luisa: "I think… I should go now. It's getting late. I have to make dinner… and study too."
Ben looked at her for a moment, as if he wanted to say something… but didn't.
Ben: "Okay… bye. Take care."
Luisa nodded quietly, stood up, and started walking toward her house.
Ben remained there, watching her leave.
Luisa's heart was still racing. Her steps were steady, but inside, everything felt unbalanced.
She didn't look back.
She couldn't.
Ben (softly): "Bye, Luisa…"
She stopped.
Just for a second.
Then slowly, she turned.
Luisa: "Bye… Ben."
Her voice was faint.
And then she turned again… and walked away.
After she was out of his sight, Luisa stopped.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
Luisa (thinking): Why do I always end up in front of him…?
Her chest tightened again.
Luisa (thinking): This is all my fault…
She finally entered her house.
The silence inside felt overwhelming.
She dropped her bag and sat on the couch, leaning back, staring at nothing.
Luisa: "I'm so done with this… I just want to leave this place…"
Her voice was tired… almost breaking.
After a while, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
David calling…
Luisa stared at it for a few seconds.
She didn't feel like picking up.
Luisa (thinking): No… this is wrong. It's not David's fault… I shouldn't ignore him.
Taking a small breath, she answered the call.
Luisa: "Hi… David."
David: "Hey, Luisa. Did you get home?"
Luisa: "Yes… just now. What about you?"
David: "Got home about ten minutes ago."
Luisa: "Oh… that's good. Did you eat?"
David: "Not yet. I'm just about to order something. What about you?"
Luisa: "I haven't decided yet."
There was a brief pause.
David: "Should I order something for you too?"
Luisa quickly shook her head, even though he couldn't see her.
Luisa: "Oh—no, no. I'm fine, really."
David (lightly): "Relax… I won't force you."
Luisa let out a small sigh of relief.
Luisa: "Okay… that's good."
David chuckled softly on the other side.
David: "Alright then. Bye, Luisa. Let's meet tomorrow."
Luisa: "Okay… bye. Take care."
David: "You too. Bye."
The call ended.
David looked at his phone for a moment before setting it aside.
He walked toward the balcony.
The city lights stretched endlessly in front of him, glowing under the night sky. It was beautiful… calm… peaceful.
But his heart didn't feel the same.
Somewhere inside, there was a quiet heaviness.
David (thinking): She didn't sound okay…
He sighed softly, his gaze drifting into the distance.
The Next Day
The morning felt fresh, yet something about it was still quiet.
David got ready for university and headed out.
When he reached the bus stop, he stood there waiting.
A few minutes later, the bus arrived.
As it slowed down, his eyes instinctively searched—
And then he saw her.
Luisa.
She was standing inside, near the window.
Lost in her own world.
Her gaze was distant, as if her thoughts were far away from everything around her.
For a moment, David just stood there… watching her.
She looked… beautiful.
Not in a loud or striking way—
But soft… quiet… fragile.
He stepped into the bus.
Luisa didn't notice him.
She was still lost in her thoughts.
David walked quietly and stood beside her.
She was looking down, a few strands of her hair falling over her face.
Slowly, she lifted her hand and tucked them behind her ear.
That simple movement…
It made her look even more delicate.
David couldn't look away.
There was something about her—
Something that made everything else fade.
The noise of the bus… the people… the world—
All of it disappeared.
And in that moment—
It was just her.
And him… standing silently beside her.