The Past (part 5) "Separation"

Walking out of a movie theatre, Abby who was about to turn 18 soon, was hugging Jake's arm who turned 17 two months ago..

Anyone could tell that they were a couple..

They both went to a small local restaurant to get lunch..

Jake wasn't a person to talk while eating—His parents taught him to not have any conversation while talking..

Meanwhile, Abby was the opposite..They were used to talking about random things all the time..

They were complete opposites yet perfect for each other..

One would talk and the other would quietly listen with a soft gentle smile..

They continued to talk about the movie they both had just watched..

"I have a question.. Answer honestly ok?"

Abby said to which, Jake nodded..

"Will you still date me if I were a ghost?"

Their question puzzled Jake—Confusion was written all over his face..

"What even... What kind of question is that?" He asked putting down his knife and fork..

"Answer my question!!!"

"No, I won't!? The heck would I date a ghost?" Jake answered honestly..

"You don't love me!?!!"

"Wh- Of course I do!?!!" Jake was speechless..

"But you said you wouldn't date me !?!"

"Yeah if you were a ghos-" he tried to explain himself..

"What about a spirit? Would you still date me if I were a spirit like in that movie we just watched?!"

"No the hell!? And how is that even different!?!"

"And what we just watched, it was just a movie" he added..

"Why!!"

"Why what? You're crazy!"

"Tch.. I wanna know tell me!"

"No, I would not date you if you were a ghost ok?" Once again he answered honestly before picking back up his fork and knife and continuing to eat quietly..

Meanwhile he was eating quietly, Abby was pouting and sulking..

Once they both were done eating, they walked out of the restaurant.. While they were walking, Jake noticed Abby was still sulking..

He stopped walking and asked..

"What happened to you?"

They didn't answer and turned away from him..

"Hey ok.." he paused and cupped their face with both his hands..

"Tell me what's wrong?"

"You said you wouldn't date me if I were a ghost" they said with a pout..

Once again, Jake was speechless..

"That was.. Why you... I...."

He sighed before continuing..

"Okay fine.. How about this.. If you were to become a ghost and .. all that.. movie stuff.. I'll become one too.. And then we both ghosts will continue dating each other, okay?" He chuckled at his own 'solution'..

Abby couldn't hold their smile anymore..

"Hm.. That's a good idea.. You better do as you said.. Or else I'll haunt you every night! Deal?"

"Deal"

------

Jack was studying as his exams were coming up..

He was exhausted because of staying up the whole night, sitting on the same chair for hours..

He was never good at studies—Not the genius student who makes others proud.. But he still tries—He tries his best..

He looked at the calendar, it was 30 August.. His exams were in two weeks..

He has been studying for 4 hours without a single break now.. He was getting drowsy so he decided to take a shower break and then continue studying..

He took a warm shower and it helped his sore body relax a little bit and he felt more awake than before..

He came out of his bathroom, drying his wet hair with a towel..

Suddenly his phone started to ring.. He picked up his phone to see who it was.. As soon as he read the name, a smile appeared on his face..

It was Abby..

"Hey how are y-" he was cut off by Abby..

"I have something to talk to you about.. Can you come to meet me at our usual spot? Hurry up, please.. I don't have much time left"

As soon as Jake heard this, he got worried and ran to the spot they used to meet up at usually.. It was more like a small park behind their school.. Not many people used to go there except for them.. They used to go there a lot..

It took him around 7 minutes to reach the spot where he saw Abby's back facing him..

He smiled softly before going up to them quietly and hugging them from behind..

To his surprise, they didn't move at all..

He let go and they turned around to face jake..

He saw Abby hesitated, fidgeting with the sleeve of their hoodie..

"We should break up" They were avoiding eye contact..

Jake was taken aback by what Abby just said..

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

Abby nodded..

"Why.. What made you think like that?"

18-year-old Jake was confused..

"I just.. I just don't feel the same way about you anymore-"

Their sentence was cut off by the sound of younger Jake's chuckle.. Although he couldn't understand what made them think like that and he knew that his world could be turning upside down any moment now, he still couldn't help but laugh..

"For real Abby.. What is it that made you want to break up with me, to come up with a lie like that?" He knew Abby better than he knew himself—Well enough to know what Abby was saying, they didn't mean it at all.. He could feel it..

Abby took a deep breath..

"Look... I'm not lying.. I'm really sorry.. I just .. I tried but I just don't feel the way I used to when we started dating"

Jake walked closer, slowly placing a hand on their cheek..

" We love each other Abby.. We can't lie to the people we love"

He said while caressing their cheek slowly with his thumb..

Abby couldn't take it anymore.. They could feel their knees getting weak, tears begin streaming down their face..

They wanted to give up.. They just wanted to fall on their knees and cry their heart out in his arms—But they couldn't..

Jake felt his heartache as he saw Abby crying like that..

They slowly moved away from his touch..

"I'm sorry" They looked at him in the end before saying the words that shattered Jake's world..

"I don't feel the same as I used to Jake.. Everything is starting to suffocate me.. L-like those hands reaching out to kill me from my room's walls.. It makes me want to cry.. I-It makes me want to die.. Please, Jake.. I don't want to die like this.. Save me from this hell and help me.. Let me go.. I can't pull you into darkness along with myself.. You deserve to live a long happy life."

18-year-old Jake was staring at the ground, too scared to look up.. He was too afraid to look them in the eye..

He understood that it wasn't Abby's feeling that has faded away with time.. It was Abby's courage—Courage to fight;

he was blaming himself for not being able to return their courage to them as they did for him..