He Hates Me, He Loves Me Not

Rosa sends Lucy to the airport with a heavy heart.

They don't talk on the way, silently watching the roads outside. The early morning is tranquil, unlike the jumbled thoughts in Rosa's head. Although it pains her to let Lucy go, she knows it's for the best.

Lucy needs this: a change of pace, a change of scenery—all in hopes that it fills the void inside her. Maybe it will make the bags under her eyes disappear. Maybe she'll stand straight and tall again. Maybe she'll be able to sleep properly at night. Who knows? But Rosa is willing to let go as long as Lucy stops suffering.

Rosa is hurting too. She still can't believe it. Some mornings, she wakes up and forgets.. She goes about to prepare for her day before she remembers. When the quiet realization hits her, she has to remind herself that it's not a nightmare. It's not as shocking, not as jarring as when she first heard the news. She's not screaming and crying anymore, but the hollowness doesn't become any smaller no matter how many days pass.

It'll take years—perhaps never—before it feels real, and that's okay. They'll be okay, eventually, but right now, she still needs some convincing.

The airport building looms with its impressive size yet all Rosa can think about is how she's losing one person after another.

Lucy and Rosa take their time holding each other at the departure area, bodies pressed closed, not knowing when they'll be feeling one another's warmth again. They don't promise to see each other soon; they don't declare their eternal devotion for each other. In the noisy lobby of Nysus International Airport, they spare themselves from the promise and burden of the unforeseeable future.

With a kiss, Rosa says goodbye to her love.

--

Primo's hiatus announcement shocks everyone.

Not only his fans, but even those from the entertainment industry want to know why the Omega is taking a break at the peak of his career. So, they leave comments, they wait outside the company entrance, and they ask around friends and acquaintances. Why is Primo Alca hiding from the spotlight?

However, no matter how hard they clamor, no matter who they ask, his agency doesn't budge. Media reporters have no clue; the paparazzi don't have a single tail to follow. In the official post, they cite personal reasons but nothing more than that. It's a few, short words that do nothing to satiate their curiosity.

Some say that it's a marketing tactic, all hype generated for his next project. Others say that the Omega is pregnant or settling down. Only a few of his loyal supporters speculate that it has something to do with his recent photo that trended.

It was quickly removed, wiped off the internet, but they can't forget Primo's bloody appearance that night.

Still, perhaps out of respect, they remain silent. If their guess is correct, then it's more than enough of a reason for Primo to stop acting altogether.

--

A bottle of scotch sits lonesome on the table.

Two old men sit across from each other on the porch of a cabin. A wrinkled hand uncaps the bottle, pouring the dark, amber liquor on a shot glass. He raises the glass in the air, toasting to the younger Beta.

"For your sister," he says slowly, carefully. The contents are tossed to the ground. An expensive drink is wasted just like that, but none of them think twice about it. "I'm sorry for your loss."

The other man nods, accepting the condolences. He did his part and stayed with her until her last moments. It still doesn't feel real, but he has long prepared himself for the inevitable. It's why after his sister's death, Uriel didn't take too long to return to the Lin Manor.

Still, the news that greets him at his arrival is too big of a shock. How did things come to this?

Old Man Rei watches him without a word. Uriel is grieving. If the dark clothes and white ribbon don't make it obvious, then it's the mournful expression that never leaves his face.

Rei can't say he's doing better either. It's too sudden, too soon … too young.

The two remain wordless as the sun sets on the horizon. They are not supposed to be outside with the winter slowly creeping in, not with their old bones and weary bodies, but they can't bring themselves to go indoors.

They don't know how long they stay there, unmoving, unaware of each other's thoughts. Darkness envelops them everywhere yet they don't bother to turn on the light. They let the rustling of leaves and the occasional humming of dragonflies fill the silence.

When they can't feel their faces anymore, Rei pours another glass. He raises it again, not to Uriel, but to the darkness. "For Kaiden," he says, not hiding the way his voice shakes with a sob.

"For Kaiden," Uriel echoes, devoid of any emotion.

Once more, the liquor is tossed to the ground, but it does nothing to alleviate their sorrow.

--

Adam keeps his eyes on the road as he drives to the Lin Manor.

He is still unused to his role, unsure about his responsibilities. It doesn't help that Damon has been grumpier and moodier than usual. Every day before work, Adam cries internally. He can't cry in the office so he sheds his tears in advance.

He terribly misses Head Secretary Jones, life was easier when she was around. Thankfully, she's kind enough to respond to his questions despite not being part of the company anymore. He won't know what to do without her.

Adam checks the rearview mirror to see what his boss is doing. Damon has his eyes trained on the tablet, no doubt doing work even on the way home.

Hesitantly, he asks, "Is it okay if I play some music?"

When Damon doesn't respond, he takes that as assent. With a gulp, he reaches over the head unit to turn on the stereo.  The music is neither loud nor soft, but because Adam is not brave enough to let the esteemed President Lin listen to the top 20 hits, he fiddles with the screen to switch stations.

Admittedly not an excellent driver, Adam needs both hands to turn the steering wheel once they reach an intersection. Coincidentally, the shuffling lands on a news radio station.

However, they both aren't paying attention when the broadcaster's clear and crisps voice announces:

"Here's an update regarding the car that plunged into the Sefa River a month ago. The official investigation that concludes today found faulty brakes as the cause of the accident."

Naturally, they also don't hear it when the broadcaster adds:

"The underwater search and rescue team has yet to recover the body of the missing Omega."