A Quiet Farewell

Viona was still standing in front of her house, staring at the empty street that Frans had just walked down. There was a strange feeling settling in her chest—not the suffocating sadness she had felt before, but also not happiness. Perhaps this was a faint feeling of relief, a feeling that one experiences when they finally release something they used to hold on to tightly.

Steve didn't say anything. He just stood beside her, providing a non-judgmental presence, not demanding anything, just being there. And that was more than enough for Viona at the moment.

After a moment, she took a deep breath and turned. "I'm going in now, Steve."

Steve nodded. "Rest well. If you need anything, just let me know."

Viona smiled faintly and then went into the house.

As she opened the door, the house was dark. Theresia hadn't returned yet; she was probably still with James. She kicked off her shoes and walked to her room, then fell onto her bed.

Silence enveloped the room.

For the first time in a long time, she felt truly alone.

Not alone in loneliness, but alone in the truest sense—without the shadow of Frans, without waiting for messages or calls, without the pain that had continuously stabbed at her heart.

She stared at the ceiling and slowly closed her eyes.

Before long, her phone vibrated.

At first, she thought about ignoring it. But upon seeing the name on the screen, she couldn't help but smile a little.

Steve.

"Have you gotten home? Don't forget to eat something before bed."

A simple message, but for some reason, it made her chest feel warmer.

She typed a reply.

"I'm home. I'm okay, Steve. Thanks for being here."

Steve's reply came a few seconds later.

"Whenever you need me."

Viona stared at her phone screen for a moment before finally smiling and placing it beside her pillow.

Tonight, for the first time in a long time, she felt at peace.

Steve sat in his car, staring at his phone screen which displayed one name—Sharone.

It had been a while since he had really talked to Sharone, his girlfriend, or at least, the girl who was supposed to be his girlfriend. Their relationship felt like mere formality, and as time passed, the distance between them became increasingly unbridgeable.

He took a deep breath before finally pressing the call button.

The dial tone rang a few times before Sharone's voice answered.

"Steve?" Her voice sounded a little surprised.

"Can we meet?"

Silence for a few seconds before Sharone answered. "Where?"

Steve mentioned a café near Sharone's apartment. The girl agreed without many questions.

—

When Steve arrived at the café, Sharone was already there, sitting in the corner by the window with a cup of coffee in front of her.

Sharone always looked perfect, even in simplicity. Her long hair fell neatly on her shoulders, her lips painted with dark red lipstick stood in contrast to her fair skin. But there was something in her eyes—something that was no longer the same.

As Steve sat across from her, Sharone looked at him for a long time before finally smiling faintly. "I thought you had forgotten about me."

Steve glanced at the black coffee that the waiter had just placed before him. "I haven't forgotten," he said softly. "I just… didn't know where to start."

Sharone stirred her coffee slowly. "I should be the one saying that."

Steve looked up and met her gaze.

"It's been a long time since we talked, Steve," Sharone continued. "Don't you realize? The last time we really chatted was a week ago. Before that? I can't even remember when."

Steve fell silent. He knew Sharone was right.

"Are we still dating?" Sharone finally asked, getting straight to the point.

Steve sighed. "I don't know either, Sharone."

Sharone let out a small laugh, but there was no happiness in it. "At least you're honest."

Silence settled in again. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts.

Then Sharone leaned back in her chair. "I know something has changed. I'm not someone who's oblivious, Steve."

Steve looked at her but didn't deny it.

"It's Viona, isn't it?" Sharone asked in a flat tone.

Steve was momentarily surprised, but Sharone only smiled faintly. "You didn't notice, did you? The way you look at her is different. The way you talk about her is also different."

Steve didn't immediately reply. He tried to find the right words, but nothing could truly describe what was on his mind.

"I'm not saying you're cheating," Sharone continued. "But I also know… I'm no longer the first person on your mind."

Steve tightened his grip on his coffee cup. "I never intended to hurt you, Sharone."

"I know," Sharone answered softly. "And that's why we need to be honest with each other."

Another silence fell.

Sharone looked at him intently before finally saying, "Let's end this, okay?"

Steve swallowed hard. He knew this would happen. He had even come here to wrap things up. But still, hearing those words come from Sharone's mouth made him feel something strange in his chest.

Not sadness. Not regret. Just relief mixed with a little guilt.

He nodded slowly. "Okay."

Sharone smiled. A genuine smile, even though her eyes were slightly glassy.

"I hope you're happy, Steve," she said softly.

Steve looked at her and then smiled faintly. "You too, Sharone."

And with that, their relationship ended.

Without arguments, without excessive tears. Just two people who finally realized they were no longer on the same path.

Sharone stepped out of the café with slow steps, letting the night wind sweep across her face. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest.

As she got into her car, she turned on the engine and stared ahead. The streets weren't too crowded, the city lights twinkling like artificial stars.

She thought she would cry.

She thought she would feel crushed for just having let go of someone she once loved.

But what she felt instead was... relief.

Sharone clenched the steering wheel, trying to understand that feeling.

She was indeed sad—of course. Steve had been a part of her life for so long, someone who had once made her happy. But, somehow, their relationship felt more like an obligation than love.

Steve was growing distant, and she couldn't keep pretending that everything was still the same.

With a long sigh, Sharone leaned her head against the seat of the car. "I'd be a fool to keep holding on to this," she murmured quietly.

Unconsciously, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

Maybe this was a new beginning for her too.

—

Meanwhile, Steve was still sitting in the café. His coffee cup was almost empty, but he hadn't made a move to leave yet.

He stared at the empty chair across from him—the place where Sharone had just sat.

A feeling of guilt gnawed at his heart.

Not because he still wanted to maintain that relationship, but because he felt he was the one who caused everything to turn out this way.

He knew he wasn't a good boyfriend. He allowed his relationship with Sharone to become strained, letting his mind fill up with thoughts of someone else.

Of Viona.

Steve closed his eyes for a moment and rubbed his face.

"Am I a bad person?" he murmured quietly, whether to himself or to the empty space around him.

But there was no answer.

Only silence, and the lingering feeling of guilt still weighing on his chest.

Sharone opened the door to her house calmly, placed her bag on the table near the door, then slipped off her high-heeled shoes. She took a deep breath, as if just releasing a burden she had been carrying.

From inside, Theresia, who was reading a book in the living room, turned to her. "Sis? Why are you home so early?" she asked in surprise.

Sharone smiled softly and walked over. She sat next to her sister on the sofa and leaned her head back.

"I just broke up with Steve," she said, her tone casual.

Theresia was silent for a few seconds before closing her book and looking at her sister with concern. "Really? Are you okay?"

Sharone turned to her sister and smiled. "I'm fine, Ther. Really."

Theresia studied her sister's face, looking for signs of sadness or hurt. But what she saw was only tranquility.

"But you've been dating for so long..." she murmured.

Sharone shrugged. "Yeah, but just because it's been a long time doesn't mean it has to last forever, right?"

Theresia fell silent, then suddenly moved and hugged her sister tightly. Sharone was momentarily taken aback but then returned the embrace gently.

"You're amazing," Theresia said softly. "I'm proud of you."

Sharone smiled faintly and patted her sister's back. "Thanks, Ther."

Usually, when someone breaks up, they cry, feel a sense of loss, or even regret. But this time, there were no tears.

And that made Theresia even more certain.

Her sister had made the right decision.