In Chase of Lux

1 - First Encounter

No.

I felt the air leave my lungs. It was like drowning—like falling through the floor while everyone else kept breathing just fine.

"You're joking, right?" I said, my voice trembling. "Okay naman tayo last summer break, diba?" I reached across the table, grabbing his hand.

He pulled away.

"Wait! Pag-usapan natin 'to!" My voice was starting to crack. My eyes burned.

But he stood up.

The chair scraped loudly against the cafeteria floor. His sudden movement made people look.

And then he said it.

"Stay away from me."

Cold. Sharp. Like I was something dirty.

I felt my whole body freeze.

No, no, no. Not like this. Not here. Not now.

"Jared, please..." My voice cracked. "Don't do this."

I reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his uniform, desperate to make him stay, desperate for anything to stop this moment from falling apart.

"Jared, ayusin natin 'to. Kung may mali man ako, sabihin mo lang. I'll change. I'll fix it, please." My fingers clung to his arm, trembling. Parang 'yung buong katawan ko, umaasa na lang sa kanya para hindi gumuho.

He stopped.

He turned to look at me—but not the way I hoped. His eyes were irritated, like he couldn't believe I was still clinging on.

"Lux," he said through gritted teeth, "bitaw."

But I couldn't let go.

I grabbed his arm tighter, my voice trembling. "Kung may nagawa ako, sabihin mo. Just don't leave me like this. Please, Jared. I'm sorry if I'm—"

He yanked his arm back harshly, making me stumble a bit.

"Ang kulit mo!" he snapped. "Hindi mo ba maintindihan?!"

My heart dropped at the sound of his voice—so loud, so angry. I felt everyone's eyes on us, the heat of their stares stinging more than my tears.

Still, I reached out again, this time holding the edge of his bag. "Jared, please. Ayoko mawal–"

He shoved my hand away with more force. "Tama na, Lux. Nakakahiya ka na."

I stood there, frozen. My hands hung in the air for a second, then slowly dropped to my sides. My chest tightened, tears spilling freely now.

He stared at me one last time. Irritated, exhausted—then walked away without a second thought.

And I just stood there, like a fool, surrounded by whispers and stares, still hoping he'd turn around.

But he never did.

Just like that.

Gone.

The noise around me blurred into static. I couldn't hear the conversations, the laughter, the clatter of trays and utensils. It all just dissolved into a ringing in my ears.

I couldn't move. My body was frozen in place, still waiting for him to turn around, still hoping this was some kind of joke.

But it wasn't.

He really left.

We'd been together since 2nd year. Two whole years. And now, on our 2nd anniversary, he dumped me like I was nothing.