Shui's Pov

I was sitting there, the warm, comforting stack of pancakes before me, but the sweet aroma of syrup couldn't seem to reach me. My mind was elsewhere, caught in the chaos of my thoughts. I had been fed up, more than I cared to admit, with the way people kept leaving me. What had I done to deserve this? What was it about me that made people drift away, as though I was nothing more than an afterthought?

The person I had once loved—trusted with every piece of myself—had simply vanished from my life. No explanation, no closure. Just an abrupt silence where there had once been warmth. A former best friend who had once meant the world to me now seemed like nothing more than a distant memory. Like dust, brushed aside and forgotten.

And now I was standing on the edge, staring down at a decision that felt impossible, but inevitable. I'd decided, for my peace of mind, that I was going to leave Beigoma behind. What was the point of staying somewhere that felt like a broken mirror? A place where the cracks were too deep to fix, where trust had been shattered, and betrayal was all I could taste in the air. Joining Rideout seemed like the only escape, the only place that might offer something better. Something new. And the idea of leaving behind everything—school, the people I'd known, even the familiar faces—felt strangely liberating. Maybe I could start over there. Maybe I wouldn't be reminded of the hurt every time I walked through the door.

And then there was Lui. He was going to be there, too. He had confirmed it, and now I knew—he wouldn't make my life a mess. He wouldn't just leave me without warning like everyone else had. I trusted Lui. I didn't have to worry about him walking away, disappearing when I needed him most.

Still, despite all the plans swirling in my head, there was a hollowness inside me. The pancakes in front of me were just a distraction from the ache gnawing at my insides. It wasn't about the food. It wasn't about the decision I was trying to make. It was about something deeper, something that had been building up for so long.

As I chewed absently, my mind wandered again—back to all the people who'd come and gone. I barely noticed the world around me, lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts. The clinking of dishes, the soft chatter in the background, even the gentle hum of the restaurant—it all faded into nothingness as I sank deeper into myself.

And then, a sudden jerk.

I snapped back to reality, blinking rapidly. My body jerked in response, my focus coming back like a sharp sting. My eyes locked on Lui's face, his gaze steady and full of concern, cutting through the fog in my mind.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but unwavering. His expression held a quiet intensity, the kind of look that someone gives you when they can tell something's wrong, even if you don't say it out loud.

I stared at him for a moment, disoriented. How much of my inner turmoil had I let slip into the open? How much had he noticed? The warmth of his eyes softened the edges of the coldness inside me, but I didn't know how to explain the tangled mess in my head.

"Yeah," I muttered, trying to smile, but it felt too forced. I rubbed my temple, attempting to clear the fog. "I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Lui raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. His gaze lingered on me, searching like he could see past the weak mask I was trying to put up.

"About what?" he asked, his tone gentle but persistent. It wasn't an interrogation. It was a quiet invitation to let him in, to let him understand.

I sighed deeply, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I couldn't hide it anymore. Not from him. "Everything. Just... people. You ever feel like you're just... tossed aside, like you don't matter anymore?"

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and raw. I couldn't hide the vulnerability in my voice, and for a moment, I regretted saying it at all. But Lui didn't flinch. He didn't turn away. Instead, he sat there, his gaze never wavering.

There was a long silence. The world around us seemed to slow, the noise fading as we both took in the weight of my words. He didn't rush to fill the silence. He just sat, waiting, letting me process everything before he spoke.

"I get it," he said finally, his voice quiet, but there was a strength in it. "You're not alone in this, though. You've got me, okay? If you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

His words settled in, slowly melting the hardness I had built around myself. For a moment, I felt the tight knot in my chest loosen, a breath I didn't even realize I was holding coming out in a rush. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I thought. Maybe all these feelings of isolation had clouded my judgment.

I glanced at Lui, really looked at him. There was no judgment in his eyes, just understanding. It was more than I could've hoped for, and it was exactly what I needed. I wasn't sure why I hadn't seen it before. Maybe because I had been too busy holding on to my anger, my bitterness. Or maybe because I had convinced myself that I couldn't trust anyone anymore.

But Lui was different. He wasn't like the others.

"Thanks," I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I... I don't know what I would've done without you. You don't know how much that means."

He shrugged as if it was no big deal, but I could see the softness in his expression. He wasn't the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but I could tell my words had touched him, even if he didn't say it.

"Sometimes," he said slowly, "the only way to move forward is to take a step away from what's holding you back. But you don't have to do it alone."

I sat back, the words sinking in deeper than I expected. He was right. Maybe leaving Beigoma wasn't the escape I thought it would be. Maybe it wasn't about running away from the hurt and betrayal—it was about facing it. It was about moving forward with someone who understood, someone who cared.

The thought gave me a small flicker of hope. For the first time in a while, it didn't feel like I was drowning. Maybe things could be different. Maybe leaving wasn't the answer I thought it was. Maybe, with Lui by my side, I could find a way to heal.

I nodded, a slow smile tugging at my lips. "I think I'm ready to figure it out. I think... I think I can do this."

Lui's smile grew, warm and reassuring, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I didn't feel quite so lost. Maybe the future wasn't as bleak as I'd imagined. Maybe it was just the beginning of something new.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Hope you guys liked the chapter!

Bye~