Mia's head spun and time seemed to have stood still for a moment. Her whole body shook violently and her teeth clattered uncontrollably.
She balled her hands into fists, digging her fingernails into the flat of her palms.
With a cracked voice, she asked a question, "what did you just say?"
Her eyes brimmed with tears and she hoped the words that would come out of his mouth this time wouldn't break her heart.
"I'm sorry, Mia. I can't do this again." He pursed his lips. "I don't love you anymore. I'm in love with someone else now." His voice was low and calm but they rang in her head loudly.
The tears she was fighting really hard to keep in check broke loose and streamed down her face.
Mia sobbed uncontrollably while Max watched her in utter silence.
All of a sudden, the weather changed and it started to drizzle. Even nature felt pity for her.
Max and her had known each other for more than half their lives. They practically grew up together. Even as kids, they had liked each other, and at the age of fourteen, Max had asked her to be his girlfriend. She accepted.
Mia's heart wrenched and she felt life being squeezed out of her. Her life revolved around him; how would she live without him?
She had noticed the change in his attitude, way long before now. He hardly had time for her. He was always busy. If she didn't call, he wouldn't bother looking for her.
Even whenever they were together, he was always so eager to leave.
She had noticed everything and tried her best to keep him. To keep their relationship.
She saw this coming but she hadn't expected it to come so soon. She had tried her utmost best to prevent it but here they were.
She cried profusely some more.
Had it been she knew this was what he wanted to say, she wouldn't have stepped out of the dorm to see him.
It was already late at night and she was about to go to bed when she received a message on her phone telling her to come outside. It was from him.
She had been shocked and excited 'cos it was the first time in a while that he had initiated a call.
Hopping from her bunk bed, she looked at herself in the mirror and straighted her modnight black hair with her fingers.
"Where are you going?" Her bunk mate slash bestfriend had asked her keenly.
Martha was one to always want to know everything about her bestfriend, so Mia replied her wothout holding anything back. "Max's here-I'll be right back."
She grinned, showing a neatbrow of white set of teeth.
She wore a pair of flip flops and rushed out without waiting to hear Martha's response.
But when she stepped out into the cold to meet her boyfriend, the expression on his face drained hers of any color.
He looked restless and impatient, and the moment he spoke, "Let's break up." Mia's heart broke.
***
Mia cried continuously, for a while, until her head started to ache her terribly.
Sniffing, she looked up into his eyes. The eyes that once held love and endearment for her were now empty. He looked at her emotionlessly and her heart clutched tightly around her chest. This wasn't her Max.
Sniffling, she asked in a hoarse voice. "Who?"
A sweet, melodious voice suddenly came from behind Mia. "Max? Is that you?"
Max looked past Mia and his eyes lit up.
Mia saw that the same eyes that had looked at her with emptiness in them were now replaced with ones full of admiration. He used to look at her with those eyes…
Instinctively, she turned around in the direction the voice came from and saw a silhouette approaching them.
It was dark and the light was dim. She squinted her eyes, trying to figure out who it was. But as the person drew nearer, she began to pick the person's form.
"Martha?" Mia's voice trembled when the person's face became clear as she stood beside her.
Thank God. She heaved a heavy sigh and fresh tears began to pour from her eyes. "Martha, Max is breaking up with me"
"Please, plead with him on my behalf. He's my life, I can't live without him. I really can't." She cried helplessly, her whole body quivering. "Please…"
"Oh, Mia." Martha's face was filled witg concern and she closed up the space between them.
She drew Mia's head to her shoulder and began to pat her head. "Poor thing."
She heaved a sigh as the girl cried uncontrollably in her bossom, ruining her dress.
"Max, why would you do such a thing?" Martha asked calmly, staring directly into Max's eyes.
Mia sniffled, relaxing her body a bit. Now that her best friend was here, she'd help her talk to Max and settle everything. She sighed, sobbing softly.
Thank Goodness she had Martha.
Max panicked immediately he heard Martha's statement. Wasn't this what…
"I told you to let me know when you're about to tell her. How can you break her poor heart like this?" Martha scolded calmly.
Martha took in the words and she pulled her head from Martha's bossom.
"You knew?" Her voice was uneven when she spoke. "Martha, you knew he was going to break up with me?"
Max heaved a sigh, "I'm sorry. I texted you as soon as I got here." He replied Martha.
Martha gave him a sweet smile before turning to face Mia. "Mia, I'm sorry-but yes, I knew-I'm so sorry." She looked somber.
Martha shook her head in denial. This wasn't true. Her best friend had no idea about this. She tried to calm herself but the truth was glaring at her.
"You knew, Martha? Why didn't you tell me?" She sobbed.
If the breakup news had broken her heart, the words she heard next shattered her completely.
"I didn't tell you because I'm the one Max is in love with."
"We tried to kill our love for each other but it just won't die. That's why we decided to tell you."
"We didn't want to keep you in the dark any longer." Martha began to sob.
Mia stood in a daze for a couple of seconds. She didn't quite get the language her best friend was speaking.
She felt a wave of nausea rush through her. "Wh-wha-what di-you j-just ssay?" She stuttered.
Martha's voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Mia. I'm really sorry. We just couldn't help it since it was a natural feeling. One can't cheat nature." She wailed.
Mia had stopped crying at this moment. She stood still, her eyes, an emotionless pit. Slowly, she raised her hand and pointed her finger at Martha, then at Max. She chuckled like a mad woman and turned around. She began to walk back into the dorm on staggering feet.
"Mia!" Max called out her name and tried to go after her.
Although he had fallen out of love for her, he didn't like to see her this way.
But right at this moment, Martha began to wail even loudly. Max stopped in his tracks and rushed to her side.
"Why are you crying?" Max frowned, concern written all over his face.
"Mia hates me now." She spoke in between her sobs.
"Don't think that way, Martha. She'll understand. It couldn't be helped-It can't be helped." He comforted her warmly.
Martha clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and cried.
Max bit on his lower lip. He hated to see her cry. "Wipe your tears. I'll take you to Domino's."
She sniffled and her tears stopped immediately. She loved Domino's so much. "Look at how much effect your words have over me. So, you think me to be a glutton…" she pouted her pink cherry lips.
Max laughed, "no." And she hit his chest playfully.
"But what about Mia?…" She was hesitant.
Max pursed his lips, "she'll be fine. She'll understand."