CHAPTER 30: THE RING, THE RAIN, AND THE EMPTY SILENCE;

Scene: Secret Garden Café – Twilight

Pete had reserved the entire rooftop.

Fairy lights. Soft jazz. Mek's favorite flowers—lavender and white tulips.

He wore black slacks, a dark blue shirt rolled at the sleeves, no tie. A little nervous. Very in love.

He clutched the velvet box in his hand.

> "Tonight, I give you all of me, Mek…"

"Please just say yes."

He rehearsed again.

Mek was late.

Pete checked his phone. Called. No response.

10 minutes.

30 minutes.

An hour.

Rain started falling lightly.

He stayed.

He waited.

Even when the candles got soaked.

Even when the food got cold.

Even when the violinist silently packed up.

He waited.

---

Scene: The Next Morning

Still no Mek.

Pete's chest felt tight—like something was crushing it from inside.

He stormed to Mek's apartment—

Empty.

Mek's clothes gone.

Sketchbooks gone.

No note.

Gone.

---

Three Days Later – Pete's POV

Pete was spiraling.

> "Where is he?"

"Did something happen?"

"Did I do something wrong?"

He called everyone.

Nobody knew.

Even Mek's parents didn't answer his calls anymore.

But something didn't sit right.

This wasn't like Mek.

He wouldn't disappear like that. Not after everything.

Then…

Pete's mom broke down and told him:

> "Your father… had a meeting. With Mek. The day before your proposal."

Silence.

> "He said he just wanted to talk."

Pete's vision blurred.

---

Scene: Pete Confronts His Father

Pete barged into his father's office, fists clenched.

> "What did you do?!"

His father didn't flinch.

> "I saved your future. That boy would've destroyed you."

> "He is my future!"

His father's voice turned cold.

> "He's beneath you, Pete. He's broken, he's soft, and he would've made you weak."

Pete's heart snapped.

> "No. He made me stronger. And you? You just destroyed the one person I loved."

He stormed out, rage flooding him.

---

Scene: Pete at Mek's Rooftop Spot – Alone

Pete sat at the place where Mek once said,

> "If I ever vanish, find me where I felt peace."

But he wasn't there.

Pete fell to his knees.

Rain again.

He pulled the ring box from his pocket.

> "Mek, please…"

"Please come back to me."

He kissed the ring and held it to his chest.

> "I was gonna ask you to be mine forever…"

"And I still will."

"Even if it takes forever to find you."