MIA

It's been two days.

Two days since I found out Jackson was leaving. Two days since I told him to get out of my life. And every minute since then, the guilt has been eating me alive, tearing me apart piece by piece.

I should’ve listened to him. Maybe if I’d just waited a few more seconds, I would’ve understood why he hadn’t told me sooner. But it was too much, too hard. I could’ve acted like it didn’t hurt, but I couldn’t—because I’m was in love with him.

Not was. I still am. And realizing that now? It only makes everything worse. It makes me want to crawl into bed, pull the covers over my head, and cry all over again.

He hasn’t reached out either. And I don’t blame him. Why would he? Maybe he thinks I won’t pick up, and honestly, part of me knows I wouldn’t. Instead, he sent a text. A text I’ve been staring at for hours, tempted to respond but holding back.

"Mia, I’m really sorry. Please, can we talk? I want to see you.”— Jackson.

The last words hit me like a punch to the gut. If I were thinking with my heart, my hands would’ve already dialed his number. But instead, I convinced myself I’d see him at school. Only, I didn’t.

The class teacher announced that Jackson wouldn’t be coming to school anymore. His mum had officially pulled him out—he was going back to Korea. The whispers that followed were louder than when everyone heard Ryan broke up with Rachel. And speaking of Rachel, she cornered me after class, asking why Jackson was leaving and if he was still going to finish their project. I wanted to laugh. She wasn’t worried about him, just the stupid project. I should’ve told her to find some other desperate guy to do it for her, but instead, I just shrugged and said I didn’t know, then walked away.

That’s when I knew I’d reached a new level of desperate. I found myself heading to the swimming pool, hoping maybe he’d be there. Crazy, I know. Sydney and Ariel weren’t making things easier, either.

When I told them what happened, their first plan was to march to his house and demand answers. I shut that down quickly. There was no point. He needed to focus on leaving, and I needed to deal with the fact that he was going. The way they stared at me said it all—what’s wrong with you? And when I finally admitted I was in love with him, they didn’t say anything. No jokes, no teasing. Just a sad look before they hugged me, and that hug made everything feel even worse.

“You should call him,” Ariel had said. And I wanted to. I wanted to hear his voice, to fix whatever this was. But what would that change? We’d talk, maybe we’d even go back to being friends, but I couldn’t stand the idea of loving him and knowing he’d be gone. I didn’t want to live in some one-sided fantasy where I hoped he’d come back.

He needed to focus on college. And I needed to focus on accepting that. That’s the mature thing to do, right? Even if it hurts like hell.

So the best thing I can do now is stay away. When it’s time for him to leave, I’ll send him a text—safe journey, goodbye, and that’ll be that.

“Mia?” Maddy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was standing by the car, holding Max as he watched cartoons on her phone. Ever since Dad left yesterday, the house has felt gloomy. My mood certainly didn’t help. Mum suggested we go out for some family time, try to cheer ourselves up. Mum was singing along to some oldies from the front seat, and Miles, well, he was probably wearing earplugs because I hadn’t heard a peep from him.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” But Maddy wasn’t buying it. She shifted closer, settling Max on her other leg, her eyes still on me. “What?”

“You can’t keep doing this to yourself, you know?” Her voice was soft, but there was a firm edge to it.

I shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “I’m not doing anything to myself.”

“Yes, you are,” she pressed. “Look, I know I’ve never been through something like this, and honestly, I hope I never do, but… I’m not defending him. I’m just saying maybe you should hear him out. You might feel better about everything if you give him a chance to explain, and maybe… maybe spend time with him before he leaves.”

But wouldn’t that make everything worse? Being around him, pretending things are normal when I know there’s not enough time? Laughing at his stupid jokes, letting myself fall deeper for his stares and teasing remarks, all while knowing I’ll never get to keep him?

I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat. “It won’t change anything, Maddy. I don’t want to talk about it, so can you please just drop it?” I hated how harsh I sounded, but she’d been pushing this for days, and I was at my breaking point.

She frowned but didn’t say anything else. That was new. Usually, Maddy would keep talking, but I was grateful for the silence. I turned back to the window, watching the world blur by.

Suddenly, the car jerked to a stop.

“Alright, kids, let’s go,” Mum said, glancing back at us. She must’ve sensed the tension because she added, “Okay, I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything, but Maddy, give your sister a break. Let her figure out how she feels. And Mia,” her eyes softened as they met mine, “I know you’re going through something tough right now, and dealing with your feelings is hard. But I didn’t raise you to push away something good just because of what you heard. Listen to Jackson’s side, and let your heart make the decision, not your head. Okay?”

I wanted to believe that hearing him out would help. But all I could feel was the ache in my chest, the overwhelming sense that no matter what I did, it was too late.

"Okay, Mum," I muttered, letting her words sink in as much as they could. Part of me wanted to believe she was right, that maybe listening to Jackson would make everything easier. But the other part—the part that was still hurting—wasn't so sure.

“And give Maddy a break too. She’s just worried about you,” Mum added, and I glanced at Maddy, feeling guilty about how quiet she’d been. It wasn’t like her at all.

I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. "Maddy, I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how to explain it. You’re still young, and I know I’ve been acting like a jerk." I forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Guess I should stop being such a jerkhead, huh?"

Maddy snorted, rolling her eyes, but I could tell she was playing along. "Yeah, well, you don’t get to call yourself a jerkhead, jerkhead." She smirked, and for the first time in days, I felt a tiny bit of the weight lift off my chest.

“Great! Now that this is settled,” Mum started, but then paused, reaching over to pull what looked like bright orange earplugs out of Miles’ ear.

“Ugh, Mum!” Miles groaned, glaring at her as the rest of us burst into laughter.

“Shut it and let’s all go,” Mum said, grinning as she pinched his cheek playfully before hopping out of the car.

We all got out of the car and stared at the massive shopping mall in front of us, a shiny, towering structure that looked like it belonged in a movie.

“Uh, Mum…” Maddy started, her voice filled with the same disbelief I was feeling. “Did we win the lottery or something?”

Mum laughed, shaking her head. “Oh no, nothing like that. I just thought we all needed a break to cool off, and what better way than a little shopping spree? You guys can look around, see what you want, and I’ll check out some cleaning products I’ve had my eye on.”

“That sounds like a deal,” Maddy said with a grin, nodding in approval. Mum handed Miles her credit card, and that was when things got serious.

“Stay with them,” Mum warned, her tone taking on that stern edge only she could pull off. “And if I hear anything happened, no car for a week.”

Miles rolled his eyes dramatically. “Mum, I’m 20. I think I can manage.”

“And I’m the mother who struggled endlessly giving birth to all of you, so you better take this seriously,” she shot back with a teasing smile, though there was enough weight behind her words to make him straighten up.

Maddy and I snickered quietly. We could almost see the imaginary sweat bead forming on his forehead.

“Fine,” he sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Mum, satisfied, took Max from Maddy, kissed all of us on the cheek, and left us standing there, embarrassed. No one dared to mention that her public kisses were kind of awkward because none of us wanted to risk her tripling the embarrassment.

“So, where to?” Miles asked, folding his arms as we walked inside. The mall was packed, bustling with people—families, groups of teens, and kids clutching bags full of purchases. It wasn’t surprising, but it still felt overwhelming every time we came here.

“How about the arcade?” I suggested, spotting the familiar neon signs down the hall. We all agreed and headed toward it, weaving through the crowds. The arcade was loud, colorful, and filled with flashing lights. The scent of popcorn mixed with that weird metallic tang from the machines. Kids screamed as they played racing games, and the sound of coins clinking filled the air.

As soon as we walked in, we spotted it—the dance game. The one with the huge screen and the dance pads that lit up in sync with the music. I’d always been terrible at it, but something about stomping to the beat while the arrows flew up the screen was impossible to resist.

“I’m so ready for this,” Maddy said, her eyes wide as she bounced on her toes, ready to go. She dragged me and Miles over to the machine before we could say a word.

The screen flashed, and a high-energy pop song blasted from the speakers. The arrows on the screen started moving in sync with the beat, and we each stepped onto the glowing dance pads, the lights flashing under our feet. The game challenged us to follow the steps exactly as the song instructed—left, right, up, down—each arrow guiding us to where we had to move.

“Let’s do this,” Miles muttered as he cracked his knuckles, trying to act cool even though I could tell he was a little nervous.

The music pumped faster, the beat picking up speed. The arrows started flying across the screen, and I frantically stomped on the glowing pads, trying to keep up. Left, right, up, down—I was already messing up, but Maddy was killing it, her feet moving like she was born for this.

“Come on, you’re going to lose at this rate!” she shouted, laughing as she easily hit another perfect step.

Miles grunted next to me, his eyes glued to the screen, focused on every arrow. It was chaotic, with the music blaring, our feet stomping, and the lights flashing under us. It was impossible not to get caught up in the energy of it all.

This was fun. Honestly, I didn’t even care that I was losing. I just needed to burn off some bad energy and have fun with my family. And I was, even if my legs felt like they were on fire.

I kept following the instructions on the screen, though my movements were starting to get sloppy. My legs were begging for a break, and my throat felt like it had been stuffed with cotton. I desperately needed something cold to drink.

"Come on, Mia!" Maddy shouted, her voice full of energy as she effortlessly hit every step. It was like she and Miles were having their own mini-competition. She pulled off a move so fast that Miles couldn't keep up, stumbling a bit as he tried to follow her. "Where’s your energy?"

It probably died the day I stopped doing sports in school, which I don’t regret at all.

"You know what, I’m good," I told her between heavy breaths, stepping off the dance pad and plopping down on a nearby chair. My legs were jelly. From my spot, I watched them keep going, Maddy as wild as ever and Miles trying his hardest to match her pace. It was hilarious and a little sad at the same time. Poor Miles didn’t stand a chance.

I was so caught up watching them that I didn’t even notice someone walking up to me. It wasn’t until they fake coughed that I snapped out of my trance and turned to look.

It was a guy, maybe around my age. He was wearing a simple white T-shirt with a lion print on the front. Cute, with a bit of a shy vibe. He was a little taller than me, or maybe we were the same height—hard to tell while sitting.

"Um, hey," he said, his voice a little shaky, as if he wasn’t sure what to say next. "Sorry for intruding."

I shook my head, offering a polite smile. "Oh, no, it’s alright."

There was an awkward pause as he shifted on his feet, clearly trying to gather his thoughts. I waited for him to speak.

"Um, I saw you playing with your friends on the dance game and you…" He hesitated, trying to find the right words.

"Sucked?" I finished for him, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I know."

His eyes widened in panic, like he’d just been accused of something terrible. "Oh no, I didn’t mean that! I was going to say you had some cool moves."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, biting his lip as if trying to figure out how to salvage the conversation.

Okay…

"Oh, uh, thanks?" I said, still not entirely sure where this was going. "If that’s all, then—"

"No, wait!" he cut in, sounding almost desperate. "I know this sounds weird, but I just wanted to say… you’re really pretty. And I’d love to get your number. If that’s cool."

Oh.

I blinked, not expecting that. My brain scrambled for a response as I tried to process his sudden burst of confidence.

"Umm, sorry, I don’t really give people my number," I said, trying to keep my tone polite but firm. His face fell into a disappointed frown.

"I understand, thanks anyway," he muttered before walking back to his group of friends.

I turned my attention back to Maddy and Miles, who were walking toward me, breathing heavily from the game. But as I did, I caught a snippet of the guy’s conversation with his friends.

"I told you she wouldn’t fall for the shy attitude. Maybe we should look for another babe and get her digits," one of them said, laughing. My face instantly twisted in disgust.

What has the world turned into with arrogant boys like this?

I scoffed under my breath, shaking my head, just as Maddy and Miles finally reached me.

"What’s with the face?" Miles asked, wiping sweat off his forehead.

"Nevermind," I sighed, crossing my arms. "Just sad that Maddy has to grow up in a generation full of jerks who pretend to be shy just to get a girl’s number."

They both exchanged a confused look before turning their puzzled expressions back to me.

I rolled my eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Whatever, let’s go."

Without needing to say more, we headed to the ice cream stand. The line wasn’t long, and thankfully, we got there just before it started filling up with people. Ice cream was the only thing on my mind now—a sweet, cold escape from the chaos of the arcade and the stupidity of arrogant boys.

When it was finally my turn to order, I stepped up to the counter. The guy scooping ice cream for us was tall, way taller than the last one. He had bright blue eyes, the kind that probably got a lot of attention. As I glanced around, I realized the crowd was mostly girls. It didn’t take long to figure out why.

"Hi, what can I get you?" he asked, flashing a charming smile.

Great. Another one.

I quickly ordered a scoop of chocolate fudge before he could make small talk. The last thing I needed was another awkward encounter.

Just as I was about to leave with my ice cream, the guy behind the counter called me back. "Oh, I was wondering, are you from around here because I—"

"I would have known if pretty girls like you existed—yeah, we know," Miles cut in, finishing the guy’s sentence for him with a dramatic eye roll. I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing.

The guy gulped nervously, his confidence evaporating as Miles smirked.

"Maybe try knowing if the guy behind her is her brother before wasting a girl's time with awful lines," Miles added smoothly. "And I’ll take a banana and vanilla split."

The guy said nothing, just handed over Miles’s order, clearly deflated. We waited for Maddy to get her strawberry ice cream, then headed off to find a place to sit.

"Did you see the look on his face?" Maddy started as soon as we sat down, barely holding back her laughter. "It looked like he wet his pants."

"Nah," I shook my head, grinning. "My bet’s on him pooping his pants. Miles killed it."

We all laughed, and Miles took a playful bow like he was proud of his work.

"Mum said I should keep an eye on you two, and I’m doing just that," he said, settling into his chair with his ice cream.

"Thanks, though," I admitted, taking a lick of my own. "Wish you’d helped me back at the arcade."

"A guy flirted with you there?" Maddy asked, eyebrows raised in amusement as she licked her strawberry cone. "Guess it’s raining cute boys for you, Mia," she teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Cute boys with annoying attitudes."

"Don’t worry," Miles said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You’ll find a better one."

I already have, I thought, but he’s leaving. Just great.

My phone suddenly rang, and a tiny part of me wished it was Jackson. But no, it was Mum. I sighed and picked up.

"Hey, my love, where are you?" she asked, sounding way too excited for something casual.

"Umm, downstairs at the ice cream store."

"That's great! Could you come to the dressing store not far from there? Don’t worry, I’ll be standing at the entrance waiting for you."

"Oh, okay..." I replied, curious about why she sounded so jumpy. I agreed and told Maddy and Miles that Mum needed me. They nodded, and I left the store, scanning the crowded mall for the nearest dressing store. With how many there were, it was tricky, but soon enough, I spotted Mum... standing with Sydney and Ariel?

"Hey, guys," I approached them slowly, a little suspicious of the situation. "Am I safe?"

They chuckled, and Ariel was the first to speak. "Don’t be silly! I told your mum we wanted to come."

"Why?"

"Duh, to get our prom dresses!" She clapped her hands, practically bouncing in place. I glanced over at Sydney, who just raised her hands defensively.

"Don’t blame me, she dragged me here."

I sighed, and before I could respond, Mum pulled me into the store like it was a life-or-death situation.

"Don’t be shy, honey. Prom is almost two weeks away, and you need a dress now!" Mum's eyes sparkled as she stared at the rows of pretty dresses. Honestly, I was a little mesmerized too, but still...

"So, are you ready?" she asked, turning to me expectantly, while Sydney and Ariel stared, waiting for my response.

I sighed again, louder this time. "Fine, let’s get a prom dress." The second the words left my mouth, they erupted into excited squeals. In an instant, Ariel and Sydney vanished toward the prom dress section, leaving me standing there alone. I quickly jogged after them, feeling a little uncomfortable with the stares from other shoppers.

I hope we finish soon. That chocolate fudge back at the ice cream store is still calling my name.

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