Chương 26: The End Of His Beautiful And Youthful Dream

||Lucas||

[Hello again, Mr. Liu. I'm sorry for calling you a few times before. I'm so grateful for your help. If you ever found yourself in a predicament, please contact me. I'm glad to offer mine as well.]

Lucas kept reading the same message over and over again. The look in his eyes was dull as the screen light was reflected into them.

Lucas was standing with his back leaning on the store building of MoodSpresso. His hair and shoulders were dampened by melted snow. A shovel was propped against the store.

This was not the first time the woman sent him a text. She also tried calling him before but, Lucas didn't answer it. He felt bad for leaving her hanging yet, he wasn't in the right mind to do so.

"Help, huh?"

Lucas put the phone inside the pocket of his winter jacket. He didn't have the intention to reply to Liliana's message.

The clock was showing a quarter to six. The sky had darkened completely. The entire area was already brightened up with bright lights.

Lucas put the shovel inside the store. He made sure to lock the door properly before he made his way into the cafe.

From the tall glass walls, Lucas could see many patrons enjoying their food and drinks, either alone or with companions. They were clearly enjoying their time there. The calming ambiance of the cafe further added to their peace.

"I'll head home now," Lucas handed the store keys to George who was manning the cash register, "Tomorrow's my day off but, just call me if we're short-staffed."

"You don't wanna rest?" George took the keys from Lucas, "It's Saturday! Why don't you bring your girlfriend out tomorrow? It's rare for you to have a day off on the weekend."

Lucas held back the bitterness from showing on his expression. He gave George a faint smile, "It's fine. I can earn more money too."

"Tsk, such a workaholic."

Lucas stopped replying to George. He went inside the staff room to retrieve his crossbody bag. Soon, he was already out of MoodSpresso. He didn't even say goodbye to Michael as always.

Last week, no talk happened between Lucas and Daphne. She was so adamant, scolding him to think what was his fault by himself.

When Lucas begged her to speak more, Daphne just scoffed and kept telling him to stop being so pathetic. More insulting words came out of her mouth.

Their relationship had reached the breaking point but, Lucas was still dearly holding on to the last straw.

'Has she come home already?'

Lucas dragged his body to the apartment where they lived. He was so reluctant to go back but, he didn't have any other places to go. His close friends didn't know how he was living right now.

"...!"

Once Lucas reached the floor, he found that two bags and a box were put outside the door. The two black and gray backpacks were his. Seeing them gave a sense of foreboding to him. His heartbeat accelerated in an instant.

'Why are they outside? Don't tell me...'

Lucas kneeled on the floor. He began checking the backpacks and the box. His clothes and his other belongings were crammed inside them. A bead of cold sweat ran down his temple.

Unwilling to face the truth, Lucas rummaged inside his chest bag. He quickly inserted the key into the keyhole but, the door wasn't budging. He couldn't open the door no matter how many times he tried!

"This... this is new."

Lucas was stunned once he realized the entire door lock wasn't the one he was accustomed to. Even though it appeared identical, there were no scratches, wear and tear grazing the surface.

"Daphne! Daphne, are you inside? Open the door!"

Lucas knocked on the door repeatedly but, nothing happened. He stopped when his phone rang suddenly. Daphne's name was displayed on the screen.

"...Daphne! What did you do?!"

Lucas' hoarse voice echoed heavily in the open corridor. He took in a deep breath, trying to restrain his emotions from spiraling out. The whites in his eyes started to redden.

"This is our end. I'm so sick of you now. Take your things and go away. Don't make me call the police."

Without any warning, Daphne hurt Lucas' feelings with her piercing words. Each one of them cleaved into his heart, causing blood to gush out.

Lucas stood frozen. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Numbness flared out all over his body.

"...what did you say? You... you're breaking up... with me?"

Was this an awful joke?

Daphne was exasperated. She sighed out loud, "Are you that stupid? You can't understand me? I'm breaking up with you! There's no place for you anymore here."

Lucas shook his head, regaining his senses.

"Daphne, open the door, please..." Lucas softened his voice, almost pleading to the woman who had just coldly shattered his feelings, "We can still talk it out, right? Please... open the door for me."

Never did Lucas lower himself like this in front of anyone.

Despite knowing Daphne treated him like a beggar, Lucas still couldn't bring himself to walk away. His gaze on the backpacks and the box was blurred by unshed tears.

Was this... really the end?

"Don't be stubborn," Daphne was clearly running out of her patience. Her voice rose to another octave, "I don't see any future with you. Just go back to your part-time jobs. See how they can sustain you for life."

"Daphne! Open..."

"I'm calling the police now! Scram!"

Tutt!

Lucas' breath hitched. His entire face was flushed red. Not only because of the cold wind but, also the sorrow that overwhelmed his heart.

"...Daphne?"

Lucas took one step closer. He feebly knocked on the door. The sound echoed weakly in the open corridor, drowned in the howling of the wind.

"...please, let's talk. I can't accept this."

Was he this easily discarded by the one he wholeheartedly loved?

"Daphne..."

Was this the end of the beautiful and youthful dream they shared?

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Chương 27: His Hope Was Slowly Extinguished

Lucas' attempt to speak to Daphne was fruitless. She didn't call the police but, she asked for help from the apartment supervisor. The old man sternly told him to leave now before he involved the authorities.

Not knowing where he could head, Lucas dragged himself back to his family home. It was the only place he could think of now.

To be frank, Lucas was so tempted to contact his two best friends. But, his pride stopped him from doing so.

With much difficulty, Lucas brought all the bags and the box with him. He almost stumbled on his step a few times before he finally reached the house.

"Lucas? What are you doing here? What... what's wrong with that bags?"

Linda was so shocked to see her eldest son showing up at the door. More so when Lucas appeared so disheveled. His hair was unkempt and the look on his face was listless.

"Mother, I'll stay here for a while... okay?"

Lucas lacked the energy to explain anything. He put the bags down in the entryway before he kicked the shoes off. The remains of cold air still made him shudder.

"Well... it's fine, no problem," Linda stuttered at first. She quickly closed the door, cutting off the cold air from infiltrating the house, "Really, what's your problem? Did you fight with Daphne?"

"Something like that," answered Lucas mutedly.

He sounded so exhausted with his eyes barely open. What occurred today had certainly taken a toll on his mind. He hung the winter coat on the standing coat rack.

"Geez, what happened? How could you fight with her? Have you apologized to Daphne?"

Linda followed Lucas from behind, nagging him without trying to understand her eldest son's situation.

Ever since Daphne was appointed as a teacher in a public school, Linda was happy with the idea of having a civil servant as her future daughter-in-law. She already forgot how unhappy she was with Daphne before because of her ordinary background.

"Things happened, Mother," Lucas grew irritated as he walked down the hallway leading to the living room, "I don't have work tomorrow. I'll tidy my things later."

"Yeah, up to you..."

Linda mumbled under her breath, dissatisfied with Lucas' lack of response. He turned on a deaf ear, trying not to show his distress toward his own mother.

Lucas entered the kitchen, finding that only some rice was left in the cooker. From the look of it, his mother didn't cook much tonight.

"Father's not at home?"

Lucas washed his hands under the running water, relishing the warmth. Linda stood at the kitchen entrance with both hands on her hip, eyeing her son in doubt.

"Your father's on another business trip again. This should be the last one before the New Year holidays. Just make something simple for yourself. I'll cook more dishes for you tomorrow."

"It's fine, Mother. You should head to bed now."

Linda left Lucas to tend to himself. Her and Richard's bedroom was on the first floor while Lucas and Kevin had their own on the second floor. She wasn't interested to know more about what kind of trouble her eldest son was in.

Lucas just let his mother be. Even though he was already used to such a treatment, it was still upsetting.

"I should make some fried rice," murmured Lucas to himself.

No matter how devasted he was right now, a hungry stomach had to be filled first.

Lucas quickly cooked some egg fried rice. The fragrant smell rose from the pan as the rice was still sizzled by the heat. In no time, a plate of fried rice was served on the kitchen island.

While wolfing down the food, Lucas checked his phone.

A shred of hope was still lighting up his heart, thinking what if Daphne regretted her action and tried calling him back? He would immediately return to the apartment even though he had to drag the bags and the box with him.

Yet, nothing happened.

Lucas was both sad and annoyed. Everything was too much for him. He typed a few texts to be sent to Daphne but, not even one went through.

Lucas opted to call Daphne's number. His desperation spiked up when only the operator's voice echoed from the end of the line.

"We're sorry to inform you that the person you've called is unreachable..."

He was blacklisted!

Lucas put the phone down on the kitchen island. His eyes were stung with tears as he looked at the wallpaper. It was a photo of him and Daphne during their trip to the amusement park a few months ago.

At that time, no cracks had yet to form in their relationship. Daphne was still the same girl he loved during his youth.

"Daphne..." Lucas' breath was heavy. Tears were threatening to slide down his face, "...just why?"

How could they reach this point?

Was everything irreparable?

No! He couldn't accept that!

Since that day, Lucas tried getting a hold of Daphne by walking around outside the apartment. He could only do so when his work schedule was free but, he was unable to even catch sight of Daphne.

When his attempts failed, Lucas tried mingling outside Daphne's school. The snow and harsh cold wind did nothing to falter his effort. Still, it was useless. He couldn't even see a strand of her hair.

The Christmas gift that Lucas got for Daphne this year remained sitting in the box. It was small but, held his longing.

With more days passing by, Lucas' agony stretched out far. The burning hope that he held slowly got smaller, leaving a barely lit fire.

Until...

A cold and harsh truth extinguished the last of his hope.

Almost one week in, Lucas got off work early to head to the apartment. It was nearly the end of the year. Bracing the falling snow, he ran until he arrived outside the apartment block.

What he saw almost snatched his soul out of his body.

A silver sedan car pulled up opposite the entrance. Lucas was shocked to see Daphne getting out of the car. He remained rooted on the ground as he watched her smiling brightly at whoever sitting inside the car.

Soon, a man emerged from the driver's seat. It was an unfamiliar face. The man rounded the car to get to Daphne.

In the next second, he saw them exchanging passionate kisses.