*Click*

As the door opened, the dark and murky room was greeted with a fresh wave of sunlight and air.

The only resident of the apartment flat shielded his face, having sunlight striking him harshly.

"Ugh, man! It was a curse letting you know my passcode." The boy grumbled as he saw his friend entering his room while carrying a roof freshener and some meds.

The said friend sprayed the room freshener like he entered some kind of toxic lab, and without the spray, it was nearly impossible to stay within the walls.

"Goddamn, what's with the smell of ramen and honey? What kind of shit mix are you consuming these days?!" The short brown-haired boy sat down after making some space on the couch and looked at the person, once a handsome guy, now looking nothing more than a homeless hippy.

"No one invited you, Harry." The said hippy grumbled before he pulled another slice of pizza and roughly stuffed it inside his mouth.

The other one, named Harry, looked at his friend before signing, "Seriously dude? Just a break up it all took for you to get detached from the world and play emo? I mean, it wasn't the first time you had a break-up, Luke."

Luke scoffed, "It's not just break up, man, it was all too fucked up back home. It was getting hectic so I decided to take a break." Luke responded as he focused back on his game.

Harry cringed upon seeing what Luke was playing, "You really are playing some otome now? At least go for some RPG or something."

Luke heaved a sigh, "Tried and finished most of it. This one is slightly different and annoying. The number of characters it offers, without letting them become monotonous, is intriguing."

Harry shook his head, "But still dude? It's basically all romance in the game. Are you that desperate?"

Luke smirked, "Couldn't find love in real life, so satiating fantasies through fiction type of shit."

Harry chuckled before asking, "Are you coming with me for the reunion?"

Luke raised his brows before pausing the game and asking, "This sudden reunion?"

Harry looked exasperated, "How can you forget, man? Miss Milli is retiring today."

Luke's eyes widened before he turned his eyes toward the calendar…and found the months hadn't switched.

He took his phone and looked at the date, and indeed today was the day.

Luke looked at the game…he was just about to reach the finish. But well, not like he was playing for the last time, and looking at Harry, he knew if he didn't get up now, a mini battle arc might begin.

Luke got up and said, "Wait for me. It will take twenty minutes."

Harry grumbled before he laid down over the bundle of clothes and tissue paper lying on the couch.

Wait…tissue papers?!

—----**-------

After about half an hour, Luke came out of his room, his beard shaved, hair combed, and instead of oversized clothes, he wore a formal suit now.

"Man, talk about transformation." Harry couldn't help but compliment as he looked at the hippy who now seemed a little presentable.

They soon left the apartment and headed toward the venue where the gathering was arranged. It wasn't very far away, that's why they reached before time.

"Hey, Luke. Long time, mate." There were many who recognized Luke, given he was on the rugby team and someone who had friends in each section.

He wasn't extremely popular, but from each group, at least one could recognize him.

"Hey, guy. How is it going, Eric?" Luke then got busy chatting with others, and most of them were asking where he was and all.

Just before high school graduation, Luka disappeared, and now, six months later, he showed his face.

Many people knew the reason and that was his break up. However, naturally, no one mentioned it.

Until….

"Monica is here." Someone from the group said, and everyone turned towards the entrance from where a lovely black-haired girl entered…with a guy beside her.

Luke didn't turn towards her and just continued to enjoy his drink. Harry, who was just beside him, said, "Goddamn, she has turned hot after breaking up with you."

Luke dryly smiled, "Thanks for adding the last part."

Harry smiled, and while patting his back, he said, "Anytime, mate."

People began murmuring and gathering around the girl. Monica was currently dating some hotshot from college. Naturally, a beautiful girl and a handsome man would attract others' attention.

However, what they failed to notice was Monica's fleeting gaze on Luke.

Her smile froze whenever she turned her eyes to him and found him completely ignoring her.

It wasn't that Luke didn't feel her looking at him, but he was just too tired with all this to care about her.

Fortunately, soon their teacher arrived and everyone's attention turned towards her.

Not so long after the celebration began, and everyone started boasting about the universities they got, Luka left the venue.

He texted Harry that he was returning home since the atmosphere of the inside was too suffocating.

'Forget it, I will meet the teacher some other time…'

Crushing the remnant of the cigarette under his foot, Luka advanced towards the street, hoping to get a bus back home.

He was just standing there, looking at his phone, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice from behind,

"Luke?"

Luke didn't have to turn to know who it was, so he just turned to his left, intending to walk away when suddenly she ran towards him, "Wait! Please."

Luke rolled his eyes, "Don't you have a boyfriend now? Why are you chasing after your ex?"

His harsh words made the girl flinch.

Seriously, the way she lowers her eyes and bites her lips makes his heart accelerate. But unlike before, he now can control his emotions and retain an indifferent front.

Very timidly she said, "I wanted to tell you…why I broke up with you."

Luke heaved a long sigh, exposing how unwilling he was, but still Monica continued,

"It was because…I realized the love you carry for me…I knew I won't ever be able to reciprocate your feelings. I felt I don't dese-"

"That you don't deserve me. And that I deserve someone better, so to not make me sad, you broke off, right? I have heard that so many times that now I don't need to know the reason behind breakups."

Monica lowered her eyes, as she slowly muttered, "But it's true Luke….I knew I would hurt you someday-"

"So you moved up the event, I guess?"

Monica bit her lower lip and with teary eyes, she asked, "Can you forgive me? Please? We still can be friends…."

Luke chuckled which soon turned into laughter.

This was so…cliche!

"Look, Monica, it's not necessary for you to try and be kind and good to everyone. I have accepted the fact that you don't deserve me, so let's end this right here. Bye."

Luke was seriously tired and frustrated with this conversation…..why did she have to strike up a conversation with him in the first place? Luke never bothered her after the breakup, and once he decided that it was over, he never cared about how and why they broke up.

*HONK* *HONK*

'Does she have no life? Why come all the way to talk about the past?'

*HONK* *HONK*

'You deserve better, eh? Why not? That's the first time I have heard that lame a** excuse '

*HONK* *HONK*

Maybe it was because he was too occupied with his thoughts; he never noticed the truck coming in his direction.

And when he looked up,

'Truck-sama?'

Luke tilted his head in confusion, unsure how a truck ended up in an alley, but his curiosity was never answered.

**DHAK**

At the age of eighteen, Luke died in a truck accident.

—-------**----------

A/N:- Thanks for reading.