Chapter 10--Why Did You Do This To Me Kai?
Noah woke up on the terrace with the first light of dawn brushing across his face. The cool morning breeze tickled his skin, but it did nothing to ease the unease he felt. His body was stiff from sleeping on the hard floor, and his mind was still clouded with worry. Kai hadn't contacted him, and the silence was unsettling. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the heaviness of the previous night, but it clung to him like a shadow.
Standing up, he stretched, glancing at the rising sun. The warmth that usually brought him comfort now felt distant. Slowly, he descended the stairs and made his way to the kitchen, where his grandma was already making breakfast. The smell of toast and eggs filled the air, but Noah barely noticed.
His grandma looked up, her brows furrowed with concern. "Noah, did you sleep on the terrace?" she asked, noticing the weariness in his eyes.
"Yeah," Noah mumbled, his voice quiet. "I was just...thinking."
She didn't press him further, though her eyes lingered on him for a moment. She handed him a plate, but Noah could barely muster the energy to eat. His thoughts were still tangled with worry for Kai. Why hadn't he replied? What was going on?
At school, Noah's distraction didn't go unnoticed. His classmates exchanged worried glances, and during lunch, Alex approached him, concern etched on his face.
"You seem off today. Still no word from Kai?" Alex asked, his voice low but gentle.
Noah shook his head, his chest tightening. "Nothing. It's weird, right? He's never done this before."
Alex frowned but didn't push. Deep down, Noah knew something was wrong, but he had no idea what. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. Every time he glanced at his phone, he hoped for a message, a missed call—anything. But there was nothing.
After school, Noah rushed home, his heart racing as he checked his phone again. Still no word. He messaged Kai, a simple "Hey, where are you?" hoping for a response. The silence that followed only made his anxiety grow. He stared at his phone, waiting for the familiar buzz of a reply, but as the hours ticked by, his worry deepened. He hadn't eaten since morning, his grandma's concerned words echoing in his mind.
"What's troubling you, Noah? You didn't eat this morning, and now you're skipping dinner too."
Noah hesitated, finally admitting, "I haven't been able to contact Kai. I'm worried."
His grandma gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Noah. I'm sure he'll contact you soon."
But her words didn't bring him much comfort. By evening, the silence had become unbearable. Noah couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed his jacket and rushed to Kai's house. When he arrived, the sight of the locked door sent a wave of panic through him. Frustration and fear boiled up inside him, and in a moment of anger, he kicked the door, shouting, "Fuck!"
"Are you looking for someone?" a voice called out from behind him.
Noah turned to see a woman, Kai's neighbor. She looked at him curiously.
"My friend Kai lives here," Noah said, his voice trembling. "Have you seen him?"
The woman's expression softened. "Kai? Oh, his parents packed up this morning. They told me they're moving to America."
Noah's heart stopped. "W-what? America?"
She nodded, still looking puzzled. "It all happened so fast. They didn't say much, just that they were leaving. I asked why, but they didn't give me a clear answer."
The world seemed to spin around Noah. His legs felt weak, and his heart pounded painfully in his chest. Kai was...gone? Without a word? Without saying goodbye?
He stumbled home, his vision blurry with unshed tears. The moment he stepped inside, he collapsed into his grandma's arms, the dam finally breaking. He sobbed uncontrollably, clutching her tightly.
"Kai...he left without telling me," Noah choked out between sobs. "He's gone."
His grandma held him close, gently rubbing his back. "It's okay, Noah. It's going to be okay."
For the first time in a long while, Noah felt utterly lost. The pain was overwhelming, a crushing weight in his chest. He had opened up to Kai, trusted him, and now he was gone without a word. It felt like the same emptiness he'd felt when his parents died, a hollow ache that refused to go away.
Later that night, Alex called, his voice hesitant. "Noah...Kai messaged me. He said he's moving to America."
Noah didn't say a word. He cut the call without responding, his hand shaking as he tossed the phone aside. He buried his face in his pillow, screaming into the fabric until his throat was raw, the pain too much to bear.
"Why did you do this to me, Kai?" Noah thought, his chest heaving with the weight of his broken heart.
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