The Break Up

Reaching the restaurant, Grace and her soon-to-be-ex fiance, sat on a couple table near the glass window. The waiter brought the menu book and Grace only ordered a bowl of chicken salad.

"Are you sure? You love meat right? It's on me, love. Just consider this my treat because I hadn't given you any news in the last few days."

"You don't have to. I just want a salad for this lunch."

Fillo looking at Grace longer. "Okay, but if you want another food, you can order again, alright?"

She nodded without giving a verbal answer.

Fillo felt something strange in the air. It seemed his girlfriend was acting weird. Grace, who was always cheerful and talked about everything about her day, became far quieter than usual.

"Grace, everything is alright?" Fillo asked, grabbing Grace's hands on top of the table.

"Hm? Everything's fine."

"Something wrong with your academics?" Fillo knew Grace very well. They were childhood friends before being a couple. He knew Grace almost all his lifetime. And so did Grace to him. But this current Grace was different. Gac never felt this cold before.

"Gace, There is something that I wanted to tell you."

Grace inhaled deeply. Her heart was beating faster. This was it. This was the moment she always waited for these past days. And after this. She would find her new beginning.

"I… you know.. I love you, Grace. I really love you. You are my one and only bestfriend. We've known each other since we were kids. We know each other's family. You will always be my first priority."

Too much chitchat. Grace didn't have any patience to throw her hot americano on that disgusting face.

"Grace, I love you," he said with a small smile on his lips. She frowned. Why would he say something like that if he wanted to break up with her?

"Don't you want to say it back?" asked Fillo because usually it was always Grace who talked about love everytime. And now he wanted Grace to say it back?

"What do you want, Fillo? You never say that you love me first. Is there anything you want?"

Grace looked at his girlfriend with a dreamy expression like Grace was some kind of a saint. 

"Well, I will be very busy in the next few months. I just want to let you know that… maybe we can't spend time together. How about we take some time alone? I want you to focus on your study and i Will with my arts. So, when we are ready, we can talk about marriage first."

This was all so confusing for Grace. Did he intend to take a break for a while then came up with other excuses and said he fell out of love with her and wanted to break their relationship? It would take so much time! He needed to end their relationship right now, right here!

"Then after that?"

"We will decide later. But I want you to know that I will always love you, Grace. I just want to focus on my study on art and some career chances. Can you wait for me?"

Grace pulled her hands from Fillo's embraces. Nah, she couldn't do it. She didn't want him to make her a fool again. If Fillo couldn't do it this time, then Grace would gladly do it. She pulled her engagement ring and put it on the table.

"No. It's better if we just broke up. Let's end this relationship. I don't want to get involved with you again."

"Grace?" Fillo was speechless by Ggrace's sudden change of attitude. She used to be a nice sweet girl. But now there was something sharp in her voice. "What do you mean? I don't want to break up! I just need sometime-"

"I don't care. You need time? I give you freedom on your time. Doesn't it sound perfect?"

Grace grabbed her bags filled with books. The waiter arrived with their orders.

"Wait-wait-wait. What happened, Grace? Why are you acting like this?"

Fillo quickly grabbed Grace's hand quickly. 

"Give me the reason why you act weird like this, Grace!"

There is no reason, Filo! I just want to break up! This relationship won't last forever!"

"What do you mean? Are you crazy? I love you! Please, I just need some time. I will get back to you!"

"No is no! I want to break up."

"Fuck, no! You are mine! You are my fiancee. Why suddenly ask for a break up? Did you cheat on me!?"

Grace's face reddened. Fillo's voice was loud and people around them now peeked at the drama they gave.

"Did you cheat on me, Grace?" Fillo asked, squeezing Grace' hand harder until she felt pain on her arm. Her eyes started to water. She didn't want to cry. But the feeling of shame she felt because people were looking at her was too much.

"Whois this man that fuck you? What a slut. Pretend to be a saintess but open your legs wide for another man. How fucking dare you cheat on me?"

"Cheat on you? Stop your silly accusation! I never cheat on you. Now let me go!"

The waiter tried to separate them both but Fillo's grip on her upper arm was so tight. Grace cried out the pain.

"Please stop, Fillo. You hurt me!"

In desperate moments there was not even one single person who tried to help her. She was desperately looking for her americano cup. But her hand only reached the water glass and without any thinking, Grace slammed the water glass on Fillo's head until the man fell down.

Grace ran quickly the moment Fillo's grip loosened up. She didn't see her way and bumped into someone. She bowed quickly asking for forgiveness without looking at the man she bumped into.

"S-sorry, sir," said Grace and then she ran to escape from Fillo who had already got up again.

The man Garce bumped before looked at the running girl with confusion.

"Grace?" He tried to follow the girl but when he met the intersection, the girl had already lost from his sight.

"Fuck."