The next morning—
Luisa didn't go to university.
Her alarm rang.
She slowly reached out… and turned it off.
Then she lay there… staring at the ceiling.
Her body felt heavy.
Her chest felt tight.
Luisa (thinking):
I can't… not today…
She closed her eyes again, pulling the blanket slightly closer to herself—as if trying to hide from everything.
—
At the university—
Ben stood near the entrance, looking around.
His eyes searched unconsciously.
Ben: "She's late…"
David walked toward him.
David: "You're waiting for Luisa too?"
Ben nodded.
Ben: "Yeah… she's not here yet."
David frowned slightly.
David: "That's strange… she's usually on time."
They both stood there for a moment.
Watching.
Waiting.
But she never came.
—
After class—
Ben pulled out his phone and called her.
Ringing…
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Ben (murmuring):
"Maybe she's busy…"
—
David also called her.
Once.
Twice.
No response.
A quiet worry settled deep inside him.
David (thinking):
Did something happen…?
—
Day one ended—
Without Luisa.
—
Day Two—
Luisa still didn't go.
Her phone lay beside her.
The screen kept lighting up again and again.
Ben calling…
David calling…
She stared at it.
But didn't pick up.
Luisa (thinking):
I just need time… please…
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She turned the phone face down.
As if that could silence everything inside her too.
—
At the university—
Ben looked more restless now.
Ben: "She didn't come again?"
David shook his head.
David: "No…"
A silence fell between them.
Ben: "Did she tell you anything?"
David: "No."
Ben ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
Ben: "She's not picking up my calls either."
David looked down at his phone.
David: "Same…"
Something felt wrong.
And both of them could feel it.
But neither knew what to do.
—
That evening—
Luisa finally stepped outside.
The sky was soft, slowly turning darker.
She needed air.
Needed space.
Needed to breathe.
She walked slowly, her steps quiet… her mind still heavy.
Luisa (thinking):
I'll be fine… I just need to stay away…
But fate—
Didn't let her rest.
—
"Luisa."
That voice—
She froze.
Slowly, she turned.
It was Noah.
Standing there casually, hands in his pockets… as if he belonged everywhere.
As if nothing ever bothered him.
Noah: "Skipping university now?"
Luisa looked away.
Luisa: "I wasn't feeling well."
Noah looked at her closely.
Noah: "Yeah… doesn't look like you're fine."
Luisa didn't respond.
She just walked past him.
Noah turned slightly, watching her go.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
Noah (murmuring):
"She's really something… the more you ignore, the more interesting you get…"
Luisa kept walking.
But then—
A thought struck her.
Luisa (thinking):
How is he here…? This is my street…
A slight uneasiness crept in.
She didn't stop.
She walked faster—
Toward the riverbank.
—
From a distance—
She saw someone.
Standing near the river.
She recognized him instantly.
Ben.
Her steps stopped for a second.
Her heart reacted before her mind could.
Luisa (thinking):
Not now… please…
She turned—
And started walking in the opposite direction.
—
Ben stood there, looking at the river.
Lost.
Ben (thinking):
What's happening…? First Charlotte… now Luisa…
He sighed softly.
Ben (thinking):
This loneliness… it's suffocating…
Without much hope—
He called her again.
The phone rang.
Once…
Twice…
And then—
She picked up.
Ben's expression changed instantly.
Ben: "Oh—hi, Luisa! How are you? Why weren't you picking my calls?"
Luisa's voice was low.
Luisa: "I… wasn't feeling well."
Ben: "You should've told me."
Luisa: "It's fine…"
Ben: "How are you now?"
Luisa: "Better."
A small pause.
Ben took a breath.
Ben: "Luisa… there's something I wanted to tell you."
Luisa closed her eyes for a second.
Luisa: "What is it…?"
Ben: "I'm going to Aves tomorrow."
For a moment—
Everything inside her stilled.
Then her heart dropped.
Luisa: "Oh… that's great. I'm happy for you."
Ben smiled faintly.
Ben: "Yeah… I was really excited to tell you."
Luisa forced her voice to stay steady.
Luisa: "Okay… I'll talk to you later. Bye."
Ben: "Bye…"
The call ended.
—
Luisa stood there, frozen.
Then slowly—
She took a few steps forward and held onto a nearby pole for support.
Her fingers tightened around it.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Luisa (whispering):
"So… that's all he wanted to say…"
Her chest felt unbearably heavy.
Luisa (thinking):
He was excited… to tell me he's leaving…
Tears filled in her eyes.
The evening felt colder now.
Quieter.
And all she wanted—
Was peace.