AYU

'I bet he would be surprised' I smiled to myself as I waited outside the international airport, waiting for him to arrive. He did informed me when he got on the flight so according to my calculation, he should be here any minute now.

"You're full of surprises Ayu." he said after we made our way inside the taxi. I stole a glance at him. There were traces of facial hair around the lower part of his face making him look more rough than before. This surprised me because normally he would prefer clean shave on himself but whatever, it's not like I'm complaining. He actually looks more sexier this way.

"So what took you so long? College has started you know, it's already been five days." I asked.

"Oh you know, Dad's work kept me busy." he said with a slight hesitation in his voice.

"Okay!" I said and leaned on his shoulders while interwining his fingers on mine. "I really missed you. It's a pain that you have to live so far away from me." I admitted and it's not even about different states. This distance hurts me. I wonder how we will manage after college?

"I missed you too." he said in a low voice and kissed my head. I looked into his dark eyes showing sorrow.

"Ah! Look at me getting all gloomy. So did you bring any souvenir for me?" I acted all cheerful trying to change the topic.

"No?" he frowned. "You never requested me to bring any. Not my fault." he shrugged.

"Not fair. You should have figured it out yourself." I pouted.

"I'm not a psychic Ayu." he laughed. Thank God! For a moment he seemed to be a little more gloomy than before.

"Uhh!...?" I stood in front of his living room somewhat dumbfounded.

"What? Is something wrong?" he asked completely clueless as to what I was trying to hint. "Well I'll go freshen up myself. It's been a long journey after all." he sighed.

"Yeah sure. Listen, I think we should order a pizza. Whatcha say?" I asked.

"Sounds good." he gave a faint smile and went inside his bathroom.

Would it been the Jamie I know, we would be having a hot make out session by now to the point of leaving his empty room to shame. I know this because he always does that or atleast gives a kiss whenever we return from college or if it's been a long time. It's not like I'm dying to kiss him because we've done that a thousand times but come on it's been freaking more than two months since we saw each other, a little peck wouldn't hurt, would it? He didn't even bothered to take a second glance at me. Urgh! I feel like an idiot now. Just look at me overthinking to myself.

Afterwards we made ourselves comfortable on his bed eating pizza while talking about our summer vacations.

"So you bought a new mobile huh!" I said as I looked over at the new Samsung Galaxy model Neo. A small smiled formed at my face.

"So Mr James... how much did you drink in that party? You must have stayed awake all night. Tell me what crazy things did you and your friends do? I'm curious to know." I asked trying to stifle back a laugh.

I watched his face drop and his body tense as if I had asked him the most ugliest question. Now I'm more curious. What crazy things did they do?

"Uhh! Nothing much... we just danced and played games, the usual. I'll tell you afterwards. You should... you should go now, it's already getting late and besides I'm feeling sleepy." He said in a hurry while tease dragging me towards the door.

"Hey that's rude." I said putting my hands on my hips. He looked at me and made a 'what?' expression while I just pouted standing there. His mood really seems off somehow.

"You naughty, naughty girl." he said with a mischeivious smile on his face. At once he grabbed me in his arms and smacked his lips on mine taking my breath away. I guess I was worried for nothing.

We were only kissing for a few seconds or so when he pushed me off lightly and stopped. His face looked somewhat disturbed.

"Wha- What happened?" I asked perplexed.

"Eh! Nothing. See you tomorrow Ayu. Goodnight." he smiled which looked more like forced. I greeted him good night and he closed the door after that.

I walked downstairs with a dozen questions running inside my mind. But it only made me feel disheartened and hurt. He didn't even say me 'I love you' or walked me downstairs like he used to. I never paid attention to these small little gestures until today. I realized how happy it made me because I'm missing that old Jamie. I reassured myself thinking that he was just tired and nothing else.

But my suspicions couldn't get the better of me.

"Hey I'm free for today. Shall we hang out somewhere?" I suggested two days later.

"Uh! Actually.... I'm going to Zen's house for today. We have been assigned a project and you know how I missed my classes so I have to cover up a bit." he explained while running his hand through his hair.

"Oh!" was all I could manage. I was starting to feel disheartened now.

"Aww! Don't make that face sunshine. We'll definitely go somewhere tomorrow. Okay?" he pulled my cheeks.

"Uh! Fine." I resorted to a smile. "Promise?"

"Yeah promise." he nodded and went to catch up with Zen. I stood there feeling empty somehow. Get a grip Ayu. You're overthinking yet again. He said he'll go with you tomorrow right? Have some patience. I reassured myself. Then why... why do I get the feeling that he's ignoring me?

We ended up going to that date two days later. That wasn't the issue either. During that date he seemed to be in a hurry to return as if he wanted to get this over as soon as possible. Like he couldn't stand me. He didn't even hold my hand. We were standing side by side but it was like he was miles away from me. Could it be... no, no it can't be right? But his ignorant attitude was starting to annoy the hell out of me.

"What's your problem Jamie? You have been behaving rather strange ever since you came from Australia. Is something upsetting you?" I confronted him straight away after our date.

"I'm fine Ayu. Just little over the weather lately. There's nothing really to worry about I assure you." he smiled which again looked like a fake one. I glanced at him, his face showing mixed emotions of sorrow, disappointment and possibly... guilt?

"So Zenny, I think there's something terribly wrong with your friend. You might know something about it." I asked Zen after I gave up on asking Jamie since he would only jeopardise my question.

"Ask him instead? Why are you bothering me anyway? You came to the wrong person." he said while waving his hands in front of me telling me to shoo away.

"Well he isn't telling me. So he might have thought about sharing his problem to his closest friend here rather of his girlfriend who is the only one worried about him." I narrowed my eyes showing anger.

He looked offended for a second but then covered it with his genuine smile. "You know what Ayu? You're getting worried for nothing. If it was something that grave he might have told you by now. You're just overthinking. Just chill."

"But Zen... this has been going on for days, no it's been more than a week. I thought the same but I can't keep on thinking that nothing is wrong. I can feel it. I..." I trailed off my voice dropping. "I think he's lost interest in me."

"You've got to be kidding me. How do you manage to come with such ridiculous conclusions? Even you know that's not true. Maybe try giving him some time. Things will come around." he advised.

"I hope so..." I said as I let out a breath. We bid goodbyes. I was about to walk away when I remembered that I had to ask Zen something else about Jamie. I approached behind him without his notice and that's when I heard him heave a huge sigh... like he was glad. I decided against it and walked away. So there is something going on his mind. He had told Zen but didn't bother to tell me. No wonder Zen looked suspicious.

What if it's related to his family or his father? No, it possibly couldn't be since he would tell me. He didn't had any problem sharing his worries with me before then why now? Just what could the problem be that he is finding so hard to tell me? I could tell that whatever it was, it's eating him away. He wasn't the same jolly old self and it ached me to watch him like this. This could possibly mean one thing then.

I finally gathered my courage and asked him to accompany me, the next day. As expected he told me that he will be going somewhere else. If only he knew how he made my heart sank with his simple words of rejection. I felt almost numb to it now. I knew where this was going. I was prepared for the worst.

Later that evening I decided to visit his apartment. He had given me a spare key to his house months before for safekeeping. I'll just go there and wait for him to arrive. I'm going to confront him today no matter what.

However when I reached his place, I was surprised to find the lights on from outside. I went to see if the door was locked or not.

"You were lying to me? How dare you?" I snapped when I saw him sitting on his room doing something with his mobile. From the looks of it I could easily assume that he didn't go anywhere at all.

That's it I'm done over here. It's clear that he doesn't want me anymore. I thought ignoring the water that was beginning to form in my eyes. I slammed the door in front of him and made my way outside his apartment.

"Wait Ayu. I'm sorry I didn't mean to, really. Hey!" he said walking behind me but I didn't care to listen. I was running away until he caught up with me on the corridor, stopping me by my hand.

"Let me go." I shouted and he did so. "I assume this isn't the first time you had lied to me. You have been making excuses one after the other so that you can avoid me. Why Jamie? Just say the word and I'll be out of your life for good but please don't keep me hanging on like this any longer." I said, my voice creaky. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

"That's not it. You're so wrong. I don't want you out of my life." he said sounding desperate.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" I demanded.

"Because... it's hard to face you. I can't bear being with you like this. Not with the way I'm. I feel so damn..." he cursed.

"That's it right? You... you don't want to be with me anymore so you feel guilty about it." I said and wiped my tears. He's never been serious for any girl in his entire life. You know the kind of girl he would want for a lifetime. I still remember the words Sarah had said to me that say. She was right. It turns out that I wasn't the right girl either. But we were so perfect. Where did we went wrong? "You don't have to feel bad about it. I can unders-"

"You're misunderstanding the whole thing. That's not my point. I still love you as much as I did before. It's something else." he cut me off.

"Then what is it?" I asked utterly confused by now but a part of me felt relieved. "Don't try to become Alex part two."

"Alex what?" he frowned trying hard not to laugh.

"Alex part two." I said aloud and tittered. Oh God! This is no time to be laughing. It's so stupid. "He never shared his problems with me whenever he was disturbed. And you're just repeating the history."

"Oh please don't compare me with the likes of him. I'm me." he frowned and took a deep breath. "Fine, if you want to know about it so badly then I'll tell you." he said his face regretful. "Keeping quiet didn't worked I guess." he mumbled to himself.

He motioned me to walk with me and I followed. We reached the nearby park. "I don't get it. We could discuss it inside." I said pointing over to where his apartment was.

"Well I don't think you would even consider going there once you hear me out." he said and I saw the hurt in his eyes.

"Jamie, you're freaking me out. Tell me already so that we can get this over with. I won't be angry." I said with a bit of uncertainity in my voice. I was thinking about millions of possibilities but then I shut them off. It can't be that bad right?

A minute passed in complete silence until he found the courage to break it. I could see that he was getting rather uncomfortable. "You remember the crazy party I mentioned about?"

"Oh the one you had in Akira's place." I said in a low voice. He nodded in my direction. The way he's saying it, his expression right now. A part of me wanted to run away but I was determined to hear him out.

"So... something happened there?" My heart beginning to feel heavy as I said. He again nodded but was facing in an opposite direction.

"I didn't knew it at first but... " he breathed out and got silent for a few seconds before speaking up. "Laura was there too."

"Laura..." my eyes widened with realization. His words hit me like a hard rock when he said that name. I was determined at first but now I didn't had the heart to hear the rest. I knew where this was going.

And that's when he said it. The words I didn't wanted to hear. My mind was too worked up to even hear the exact things he said.

Drunk... Laura... seduced... kissed... make out and the rest. His words felt so bitter leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I looked down, the ground sinking below me. Everything had started to make sense now. His ignorance, lies, the guilt and that's when I remembered the message he sent me that night: I'm sorry.

I don't know how long we were standing there. Nor did I know whether he was facing me or not. I didn't even feel like taking a second glance at him. Suddenly it felt suffocating to be even standing here in his presence. I couldn't get that imaginary scene off my mind. The scene where they were making out. I think they didn't had sex since he didn't told me but I wasn't hundred percent sure. That bitch. I wasn't really angry at him but I felt disgusted.

"I appreciate you for telling me." I finally said after what felt like eternity.

"Ayu, I just want to let you know..." he murmured as he took a step closer and stood behind me but I refused to look back at him. "That night, that kiss.... it meant nothing to me. Believe me." he whispered, his voice strained.

A lone tear fell of my eyes. I pressed my mouth in a hard line trying to supress my emotions.

"I'm sorry." he apologized.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry... for ever putting my faith in you." I whispered and we stood there in silence for a while feeling nothing but empty.

I silently walked away after that.

...

At the recess, three days later.

"So I'm guessing you two are on a row then?" Ashima said while busy chomping down the momos.

Jamie and I didn't as much exchanged words after that night. He did approached me though but I just gave him a cold shoulder. I expected him to follow me afterwards but was glad when he didn't. Atleast he respected the fact that I needed some space.

"Uhm! Kind of..." Jamie muttered looking anywhere else except me while Zen shot me a sympathetic look. I don't know why but sitting here besides him kinda frustrated me right now.

"Oh don't fret it. It's normal. Every relationship goes through it." she laughed nervously.

Yeah also the fact that they cheat on you!

"You're misunderstanding something Ash." I said as Jamie glanced up at me and I did the same. There was a strange tension build up in the air. I quickly averted my eyes from him and closed my eyes for a brief moment as I retorted to these words.

"We broke up."

.......................................................

Ok people plz try not to get mad at me after reading this chapter. I really wanna hear about your thoughts on this chapter.

Both of them are kinda messing up. So the main question: Will Ayu and Jamie cope up with this? Are they really falling apart? Tune on to next and don't forget to vote and comment. You readers make my day.