Chapter 67: I'm coming

Milie's POV

I sat frozen on the couch.

Alan had left, and I knew he would come back, but the problem wasn't that.

The problem was… what if he came back changed?

"Milie, darling." I looked up. Grace Auntie had just walked out of her bedroom.

The moment she saw me sitting there, her expression softened.

"Auntie." I immediately stood up. Hope surged through my chest. "Do you know where Alan is?"

"No, honey." The hope vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

I stared at her. "No?"

She shook her head. Concern was written all over her face.

"I've been trying to call him since yesterday."

My stomach dropped. “It's all because of me."

"Milie..." She studied my face carefully. "Did something happen between you two?"

My lips trembled. I looked away. And she got her answer.

What was I supposed to say? That your son confessed he loved me.

I confessed too. Then I broke his heart. And now he's gone.

Her shoulders dropped. "It did, didn't it?"

"Oh god, this boy." She immediately looked annoyed.

"No." I shook my head so fast my neck hurt. "Please don't blame him."

"Milie—"

"It wasn't his fault. Not this time. Not any time.” The guilt twisted deeper inside my chest.

"I'm not blaming anyone, dear, but this is—

Before aunty could finish, Nana's voice came from behind us.

"Alan never leaves people."

Both of us turned. Nana was standing near the dining table.

"He gives people too many chances if you ask me." A sad smile appeared on her face.

"Even when they hurt him."

The words struck me directly in the heart.

Grace folded her arms. "He still should've told us where he was going."

"He wanted space."

"Space?"

"Yes, space." Nana looked completely unconcerned. "He'll come back."

"He might be really hurt."

I stared at Nana, an ache elevating in my heart. "Yes, I hurt him really bad."

My eyes scanned the hall. The sight alone made my chest ache.

Yesterday he was there, laughing, teasing me, feeding me cake, and handing me a slice of pizza.

Looking at me as if I was the only girl in the world, and now, nothing.

I didn't even think it was his birthday. "I was being selfish. I was being so selfish."

I stood up abruptly. "I should go."

Neither of them stopped me. I reached the front door when Nana called softly.

"Milie."

I turned around. Her eyes were kind. "He'll come back."

My throat tightened. "I know."

But somehow...that wasn't what I was afraid of.

I walked home on autopilot, and my phone remained in my hand the entire time.

Waiting, hoping, and expecting.

But no random flirty, no call. no stupid memes. Nothing.

The silence felt unbearable. I realized how much noise Alan brought into my life until he was gone.

By the time I had dinner, I felt drained, especially emotionally.

The moment I entered my room, my eyes landed on the shoes.

The memories hit instantly. "You look beautiful today, Mils."

My chest hurt. I could hear his voice so clearly as if he'd said it five minutes ago.

Not yesterday.

I sat on the edge of my bed and picked up my phone.

I called him. Still switched off. The same automated voice answered.

Again and again.

By the fourth attempt, I wanted to throw my phone across the room.

"Where are you, Alan?" My voice cracked.

"Please come back." I squeezed my eyes shut.

"I hope you're okay."

The room remained silent for a while. Then my phone suddenly rang.

My heart nearly stopped. Alan.

I grabbed the phone. The hope disappeared immediately.

Daxton.

I exhaled, then answered.

"Hey."

"Hey."

His familiar voice sounded warm and comforting.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"You don't sound okay."

I rubbed my forehead. "I'm fine, Dax."

"You left pretty quickly."

"Mom gave me some work. I had to get it done."

The lie came naturally, and I hated myself for it.

Because Daxton cared, always, and all I did lately was lie to him.

"Okay." I knew he didn't buy my story, but he would never force me to open up.

"Take care of yourself."

"You too." After disconnecting, I stared at the ceiling.

Sometimes I wished I could tell him everything.

Tell him this wasn't working.

Tell him my heart had already chosen.

But every time I imagined the consequences...I couldn't. I just couldn't.

The next morning was worse. Still nothing.

I opened Alan's chat. My fingers hovered above the keyboard.

Milie: Where are you?

Milie: Please come back.

Milie: I'm sorry. I hurt you.

Milie: Please just tell me you're okay.

The messages remained unread. I stared at them for a long time.

Then locked my phone. The ache in my chest only grew.

College felt wrong. Everything looked normal.

Students were laughing. Professors were teaching. People were running late.

Life had continued exactly as usual. Except Alan wasn't there.

I searched for his car in the parking lot. Nothing.

I searched for him near the basketball court. Nothing.

In the cafeteria. Nothing.

In the library. Nothing.

Everywhere I looked… Nothing.

By lunch break, I was losing my mind.

I checked my phone again. Nothing.

I checked it five minutes later. Still nothing.

"You're doing it again."

I looked up. Sammy was smirking. I immediately locked my screen.

"Doing what?"

"Checking your phone."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You've checked it sixteen times."

I blinked. "What?"

"Since lunch started."

My jaw dropped. "You counted?"

"Of course."

"You're insane."

"Maybe."

His grin widened. "But at least I'm not waiting for somebody's text."

I kicked his leg under the table. He yelped.

Daxton looked between us. "What are you two fighting about now?"

"Whose text are you waiting for?”

Sammy looked way too entertained. "Our Alan boy is missing."

I nearly choked on my drink.

Daxton frowned. "Missing?"

"Yeah." Sammy shrugged. "Vanished."

"Where?"

"No clue."

"He said he'll be back in a few days," I quickly added.

Both boys looked at me. I immediately regretted speaking.

Daxton tilted his head.

"If he said he'll be back, then what's the issue?"

"Exactly. There shouldn't be one." I wondered, staring at Daxton.

"So why does my chest hurt every time I don't find him?

"Why do I keep checking my phone?"

"I'm not worried."

The lie sounded pathetic even to my own ears.

Sammy snorted. I glared at him. Thankfully, Daxton didn't seem to notice.

"Then stop looking so miserable." Daxton said. “You seem distracted since yesterday."

I forced a smile. "No, I’m not. Anyway, I have a class to attend."

I stood abruptly and walked away.

For the rest of the day, I barely heard a single lecture.

Every few minutes, I checked my phone. By afternoon, I wanted to scream.

"Damn you, Alan." I buried my face in my hands. "I hate you."

"I don't want to miss you, not a bit."

During the last lecture, my phone buzzed.

I nearly ignored it. Then I saw the name. Grace Auntie.

My heart jumped. Without thinking, I just ran out of the class. “I’m sorry. It's an emergency."

I picked it up before it ended. "Hello?"

"Sweetheart."

"What happened? Any updates about Alan?"

"Yeah. He is with his grandparents."

I blinked. His grandparents?

For a second, I genuinely thought I'd heard her wrong.

"His grandparents?"

"Yes."

I stared at the desk. How was that possible? In all this time, I had never heard him mention them. Not once.

"Is he okay?" The question escaped immediately.

"He's okay."

Relief crashed through me so hard I nearly cried.

"When is he coming back?"

"I don't know."

My heart tightened again. "He didn't say?"

"No." The answer came softly.

"Auntie."

"Yes?"

I swallowed hard. "Where do they live?"

Then Grace sighed. "Milie. It’s far from here, and you are not going after him."

My heart started pounding. I stared at the long empty lobby.

I’m going for the boy I couldn't stop thinking about, for the boy I missed so much that it physically hurt.

“I have to, aunty. Please tell me where they live?”