"Where are you going? We're not even done yet." Luna snickered.
"What do you mean not done? It's been how long since we've broken up?" Phoenix was agitated. He knew he messed up, and he messed up big time.
"It's only been three months, you don't want me back?" Luna was pushy. Phoenix took a deep breath, putting his hand on his temples and slowly massaging them, trying to keep his composure.
"We made our breakup clear, Luna. I refuse to have this conversation again." Phoenix glared at her, grabbing his bag and leaving Luna in the room.
Phoenix planned to find Ash. But late at this hour, he's not even sure where he is. He had zero idea. He doesn't even know where his apartment is. An hour was spent finding Ash, it was to no avail. He tried calling Ash, but he wasn't responding to any of it. There was no hope at this point. The only thing he could do was go back home and hope Ash would go to school the next day, but he doubts that he'll go.
He was right. Ash didn't go to school the next day. Every class they had that day, Chey was always there to talk to the professors for a brief moment. Eager, by the last subject they had, he went to listen closer to eavesdrop.
"Professor, Ash is not feeling well today. He'll provide his excuse letter when he returns." Chey was practically whispering at the professors. They'd nod and dismiss Chey. Before she could leave the room, Phoenix held her hand, making Chey look back.
On what once was her face, which looked concerned, was now changed with anger and pity.
"You have no right to stop me, Phoenix," she hissed at the boy.
"Chey, let me just talk to Ash, even for a bit. It was a misunderstanding," Phoenix pleaded. Chey looked around and pushed Phoenix out of their room, preventing anybody from hearing them. They distanced themselves from the room.
"You! What did you fucking do?!" Chey was fuming with anger, not knowing what to do with Phoenix. "You're already here, and thankfully I'm holding myself back from hurting you."
"What happened to Ash?" Phoenix was worried.
"Happened?! You did that to him! You made him cry, and worst, he's not even functioning properly. He cried all his tears away last night." Chey couldn't hold herself back and almost slapped Phoenix, but she stopped midway.
"I don't know the whole story," she began. "Here's his apartment address." She showed him the direction to his place. Phoenix thanked her, and before he could leave, Chey cleared her throat.
"When I get back there later and find him crying, you better sleep with your eyes open, Phoenix," she threatened, and Phoenix nodded, taking his leave.
Ash was awakened by his doorbell going off. Still tired, he ignored the ringing, but it kept going. If it was Chey, she could've let herself in easily.
"I'll be there!" He tried shouting, but he couldn't. She left his bed and walked slowly towards the door. Without any second thought, he opened the door.
The silhouette of a familiar face towered over him. His eyes were dry and irritated—he couldn't focus on who it was, but he exactly knew who it could be.
"Ash..." that recognizable voice spoke. Ash tried adjusting his vision and looking up.
"Phoenix," Ash could barely speak, his voice hoarse. He was feeling dizzy, yet he still stayed upright.
"I don't... want to see you," he said slowly. Phoenix shook his head, wanting to clear everything. Ash wanted to push him out, but before he could do so, his dizziness worsened. Losing his balance, he almost fell to the ground. He couldn't even process it anymore, and he already passed out.
Phoenix was quick and was able to catch Ash before he fell. He carried Ash to what he thinks is his bedroom. He laid him down there and tucked him comfortably. While he was inside, he took his time to snoop around for a bit. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help himself.
Ash's room was spacious. It was clean, and everything was organized. Some piles were messy, like how he couldn't bother separating his pencils and pen even when there was a tiny label on it. He walked closer to his shelf and was scanning the books on it. There were tiny picture frames and Polaroids taped on some parts, but a picture caught his attention.
He examined the photo closely, and he wasn't wrong about it. It was a photo a teacher took during their campus tour even before school began. It was a picture of Ash looking at Phoenix, and Phoenix was glaring at the camera, not even bothering to smile.
Ash woke up the second time today, back on his bed. He looked around, and then a sudden rush of memory came pouring in. While he was not feeling any closer to being better, he still tried to walk, but then he fell from his bed. The commotion made his bedroom door open widely. There, Phoenix was holding a ladle in his left hand and wearing an apron.
Ash sat comfortably on the dining room table while Phoenix was cooking in his kitchen. Phoenix poured him a glass of water earlier. Ash was taking his time sipping on it, trying to keep himself hydrated. Ash was in complete disbelief, seeing Phoenix in his kitchen, cooking.
After a couple of minutes of cooking, Phoenix had already served what he was cooking. It was an Italian-style pasta and homemade lemon juice.
"Thanks," Ash spoke. He was indeed hungry, trying to keep his stomach quiet while it was grumbling ever so slightly.
He took a bite out of the pasta, and he loved it. The flavor was tangy, savory, and rich. Before Phoenix could even sit down, Ash had already finished his plate.
"You know you still have a lot. You don't need to rush." Phoenix smiled at Ash. Ash just nodded and got himself another batch of the pasta. Phoenix quietly ate while staring at Ash, while Ash continued devouring his plate of pasta.
After around three batches of pasta, Ash was finally full. He poured himself a glass of the lemonade that Phoenix made. It was citrusy and sour, but it was immediately balanced out with sugar. Ash had a hearty dinner and was so full he couldn't leave the seat he was in. While he was still tired, Phoenix offered to help him sit on the couch, which Ash gladly accepted.
"How about your girlfriend?" Ash spoke out of the blue. "Where is she?"
"Ash, she's not my girlfriend anymore."