Chapter 18 Broken hearts

As the winter break passed by everybody got busy with their upcoming final exams and farewell ceremony for their graduation. Students were all busy applying for jobs or preparing for entrance exams. Miyu didn't apply anywhere, she knew where she was headed and she didn't have to worry about it. She couldn't wait to get started. The only roadblock though was Seiya but assuming if everything went as planned then maybe she might have a good shot at getting rid of that guy for good. But you should never underestimate your enemy, especially an enemy like him.

She had already started acting as per planned. She had deliberately made Kanata rethink about his proposal, as much as she was yearning to spend the rest of her life with him but the stakes were too high, they were better off apart but alive.

The moment when she actually drops the breakup bomb is going to be really painful for both of them. She don't think she will ever fall in love again, he's her heart, her soul and for that she has to keep him safe. It's better if he's alive and suffering than happy but dead. To keep the inevitable misery in check she drowned herself into her studies. As the rest of the months passed by they were all busy giving their exams now.

"I can't believe we have graduated high school" Christine said. They were all sitting in their characteristic table in the cafeteria.

"I feel so old, mature" complained Nanami.

"Graduating can do that to you" Nouzumo said smiling at his girl friend.

Miyu was silent and so were the others.

"Let's have a farewell party after the ceremony. I mean who knows when we will sit like this again together"

"I can arrange for it" Kanata offered.

"Okay I'll help" Santa said.

"I don't think I'll be able to attend, I have to pack. I'm leaving next day in the morning" Miyu said. She had told them that she was moving to Tokyo but nobody knew that she was leaving for New York instead. This is another reason she'll hate herself for the rest of her life. She was lying to her friends in the last moments she had with them.

"I'll help you pack" Kanata said. The way he looked at her she couldn't refuse.

She had to agree to attend the party in the end.

The day of the ceremony was trailing between bitter-sweet moments as everyone moved around trying to spend as much time with friends as possible, giving away mementos. When it was time to head for Kanata's for graduation party whole school was brimming with excitement, he had overdid again. Seriously that guy and his luxurious habits, he had invited students from all across the town. Going over the top would be the understatement of the year and just like its host, the party was perfect in every sense. Decorations were beyond beautiful and music was awesome, Pitbull's Give me everything was rocking the dance floor right now as Miyu walked over to her friends.

It was really strange she was all alone despite of being surrounded by hoards of people. Kanata wasn't with her and she had point blank refused his offer to pick her up.

"Hey Miyu, where's Kanata?"

"I don't know"

They all gave her a look saying and-you're-fine-with-that, they had sensed the distance between her and him and before any of them could ask anything she said she'll go search for him. She walked over to a corner and called him, it went straight to voice mail. Her eyes swept across the room to search for Kanata.

"Good evening Miyu"

"Wish you hell Seiya"

"Aww you say the sweetest things" he said leaning towards her.

She smiled up at him and said "indeed when it comes to you"

"You're turning me on you know, maybe we could ditch this party"

He leaned closer to her his hands resting on her waist as he pulled her closer. Her hands went up to his chest as she pushed herself away from him, he didn't even budge. God he was strong. She glared at him and he released her but only after kissing her on the cheeks.

"What do you want Seiya? I am doing exactly as you said, I'm leaving tomorrow and you don't have any business here anymore"

"Not really, you rebuffed my proposal"

"I will never marry you as long as I'm alive"

Now it was his turn to glare at her "Are you planning to marry him in secret because know this Miyu that I'll find it out and then…"

"Shut it right there, you say you love me and yet you don't really know what love is. Sometimes you have to let go of people you love the most, it's not always a happily ever after"

"You don't really love him Miyu do you? If you did you would never walk away"

"My love for him is not something you will ever understand Seiya, no matter what you do you are never going to understand this. Your love is just like you, shallow"

"You really hurt me sometimes, you really do"

"Glad to know that you get to know a bit of what I'm going through"

"But we'll be together, you'll eventually marry me"

She stared at him long and hard as he took her right hand and kissed it, then he left Mikan following him as they disappeared in the crowd. Miyu took a deep breath to calm her nerves and checked her phone. No calls. She took a few steps forward and turned to her left when her eyes locked on to the familiar pair of brown. They both just stared at each other. Hedley's Perfect was playing in the background while their eyes did the talking.

'This is our last night together. One last time I want to hold you closer, one last time I want to be in your arms. One last time I want to kiss you so that I'll remember you like this'

As if on cue they both walked toward each other at the same time. He had a feeling that this was the last time he's going to watch her beautiful face. He could see it, the goodbye in her eyes as she walked to him. They both crashed into each other's arms. They didn't care that they were not alone. Right now in this moment the world didn't matter nothing mattered as he kissed her hard begging her to stay. Ed Sheeran's Photograph was playing in the background as they just stood there wrapped in each other's arms, neither wanting to let go.

"Please" his voice shook and it killed her to look into his eyes.

"I'm sorry" she choked on her words.

"Why?"

"It's for the best"

She kissed him again and it took her everything not to break down right there as she turned around and walked straight out of the mansion out in the road. She doesn't really remember how she got home after that. It was all a blur walking through the doors turning into her room, going down as she cried herself to sleep ages later.

She woke up abruptly sitting up on her bed. She had a strange feeling that she wasn't alone. She looked over to the clock neon hands shining in the dark showed her that it was 3 in the morning as she bent over to switch on the lights. She almost screamed then clamped her mouth shut.

"Kanata what are you doing here?"

"You forgot to lock your room" his voice slurring the words strangely.

"Are you drunk?"

"You never told me why?"

"I'm calling Santa he'll take you home"

"Was it a lie right from the beginning? All that taking care of me, all those moments…were they all nothing but a lie" his voice broke as he asked her and not because he was wasted to the core. She swallowed back the lump in her throat.

"You don't know what you're talking about. We'll talk in the morning"

"When after you board the flight for New York" he asked her and almost looked sober. She stared at him shocked, he wasn't supposed to know.

"Don't look at me like that, did you really think I wouldn't check after all those lies and I even traced your number. Guess what I found, you know Seiya don't you? No wonder you reacted the way you did at your b'day party and today the way you two were standing…" he couldn't continue.

"It's not what you think it is"

"It was him… you went to see him the day before I was discharged, he told you about my father didn't he? He is the reason you're leaving"

"It's not him, it's you"

"Why?" his voice was so quiet that she had strain her ears to hear him.

This was her chance, break his heart, let him go and drive him away as far as possible. She fisted her hands, her fingernails biting the heels of her palms.

"It was all a lie. I told you in the beginning…I was clear right from the start and I" she willed her lungs to work as she continued "I feel suffocated around you I can't be with you because I feel like I'm tied down, like I'm being imprisoned. I feel like I am nothing more than a shadow your shadow. You're a…a burden to carry around"

He stared at her and the look in his eyes broke her already broken heart into more pieces god this is so not how she had wanted to remember him. She knew his eyes would haunt her forever. She watched him shattering to pieces right in front of her eyes and every cell in her body was screaming for her to hold him, beg him stay as he walked out of her room and out of her house into the dark.

She picked her phone and called Santa not caring that it was barely 4 in the morning. She couldn't sleep after that, every time she closed her eyes she saw Kanata's eyes and the haunted look in them. It was worse than leaving him she had ruined him completely. Question was would she even live long enough after what happened the way her heart was aching she doubted if she would even live long enough to watch the sun rise.

She did survive though she was no more alive than a zombie as she moved around her house, the movers will take care of her things as if she cared anymore. She walked out of the house she had spent 2 years in and felt like she was leaving behind a piece of her heart as she walked over to the cab that was waiting for her. 3 hours later she was at the Tokyo's international airport in the waiting lounge.

"Miyu"

"Mizuki, what are you doing here?"

"Look I don't know what happened between you and Kanata but why are you leaving? I thought you loved him"

"It's complicated, you won't understand. I can't be with him"

"He's not okay Miyu and the way you look, you're not either".

"I am sorry Mizuki, I know how you feel not just about Kanata, I know how you feel for me too but I can't stay I have to leave. Can I ask you for a favour?"

He nodded at her as tears sprang to his eyes.

"Please try not to hate me will you and let others also not…god this is wistful thinking isn't it, hoping that no one hates me after what I've done after what I am going to do" her voice was hoarse as she blinked her eyes several times to clear away the tears.

"Why are you doing this Miyu?"

"As I told him, it's for the best. Take care Mizuki"

"What about you Miyu? We are all together in this together to care for each other but you, you'll be all alone. Will you be okay?"

"It's my doing I'll have to face it. Goodbye Mizuki"

As she turned around and headed for the terminal 3 to board her plane she passed by a funny guy as he stood there wearing black shades and covered in raincoat from head to toe. On any normal day she would have stopped and stared but today wasn't normal as she walked past him. She was strangely aware of being watched but then she will always have this feeling because with every step she took she was taking her body with her leaving back her heart right here. As the plane took off her final word were goodbyes to her friends "sayonara Kanata, I'll always love you no matter what" she whispered.

Kanata saw her walk by him she didn't even stop to look at him despite of his obvious-to-eye attire. He wanted to stop her, grab her hand and beg her to stay but she had made it clear that he meant nothing to her that he was nothing for her but a burden to carry around. As she walked away from him she walked away with his heart because he knew he will never be the same again ever.

Destiny has its own ways to throw people together, to bring those people together who are meant to be. 5 years later a blond in sky high boots sporting dark sunglasses walked out of Tokyo international airport. She was all Hollywood model of corporate world in her black blazer, white button down shirt and blue Levis. She lifted her hand to flag down a cab and she was sporting a shining black Rolex on her right hand.

how was it? terrible?okay?good? let me know!

sneek peek into next chapter

"So it is true, you're back" Miyu turned around to find Santa saunter into Kanata's cabin. At least someone was happy to see her and it was a big deal for her given the way she had treated everyone going AWOL on everyone 5 years ago. She rushed to him as he came forward to give her a bear hug.

"I missed you so much, how have you been?" he asked her.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"Good, Aya's going to be thrilled to see you and what timing Miyu we're getting married"

"Really, congratulations. I am so happy for you guys" she grinned at him, the guy was like her big brother no wonder he made Kanata somewhat sociable. He has an aura like that makes you feel cared.

Suddenly she heard Eminem's Stronger than I was roaring through the speakers as she turned around to see Kanata sitting in his chair, the song was clearly a dismissal for both of them.

"Uh I'll see you later okay, say hi to Aya for me" she looked at Kanata for one last time. He was intently staring down at his laptop as she turned and headed to her cabin.