Ah, Japan, how I wish to go there, Milo murmured.


    "Milo! Milo!" his mom called.


    "Huh? Yes, mom?"


    "You have to understand, your father and I cannot continue our relationship anymore."


    "Why, mom?"


    "Oh, it''s just that there''s no spark anymore, and I have someone else now. You will understand someday, Milo."


    He looked at his mom with lifeless eyes.


    "Haaaaaaa," a deep breath he released. "It''s fine, mom.


    You might need something; here''s some money," she said, trying not to cry.


    He looked at the money and his mom, sadness in his eyes.


    "It''s fine, mom. I''ll manage. Let''s keep in touch."


    As he walked out of the restaurant, his mom started crying.


    Walking in the streets with a blank mind. He looked so tired, yet he hadn''t done anything all day. He paused for a moment, looking up at the sky. The thought of Japan, once a bright spot in his imagination, now seemed distant and unreachable. His shoulders slumped as he continued walking, the cold air biting at his cheeks.


    In the quiet, he whispered to himself, "What about our happiness?" The words hung in the air, unanswered.


    He reached his room, a shared space with his buddy Nick. He hopped on his bed, feeling the weight of the day''s events. His phone buzzed, and he saw a message from Jennifer, his girlfriend, after a long week of silence.


    "Hey," the message read.


    His heart tightened.


    "Hey, I miss you. Did I do something wrong?" he typed back, anxiety creeping in.


    "No, it''s just that I realize you''re not my type anymore. All of those things were in the heat of the moment, and I thought you were a challenge," her reply came swiftly.


    "Oh."


    "I''m sorry. You deserve better." She said.


    He put his phone down. His lifeless eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.


    "Why did I accept that girl anyway?" he thought. "She confessed to me all of a sudden in front of her friends. Of course, who am I to say no? I did everything she asked for; I stayed loyal and consistent."


    "AHHHHHHHHH," he shouted, his frustration and heartbreak echoing in the small room.


    He stayed in bed for hours. Suddenly, the door creaked open.


    "Hey!"


    Nick arrived, his voice cheerful as ever.


    "Hey, Nick," Milo answered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Is there a vampire in here? Why so dark?"


    Nick asked, flicking on the light.


    "I just wanted to sleep in the dark."


    "Oh well then, let''s stay in the dark," Nick said, turning the light back off and sitting on his bed. "By the way, did you get into school this week?"


    "No, I''m kinda sick."


    "He?? I''ve got some medicine here."


    "No, I''m fine. Oh, okay.


    But if you need anything, I''m in the top bed, okay?" Nick said.


    "Okay."


    "Anyway, our shift is later, so yeah, rest up." Nick reminded him.


    "Ohm," Milo replied, his mind still lost in the events of the day.


    At night, a busy restaurant where Milo and Nick worked buzzed with activity. The clatter of dishes and hum of conversations filled the air.


    "Milo, we need more plates!" the chef shouted. "Milo, clean this mess, Milo, clean this. Take that, take this."


    "Yes sir!" All Milo could say, rushing from task to task.


    "Ah, tough night," Nick said, wiping his brow.


    "Yeah," Milo replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.


    "Hey, why so gloomy?" Nick asked.


    "Nah, just tired."


    "Why? Girl trouble? Jennifer still won''t answer your texts?"


    "Yeah, about that..."


    As they walked home, they saw a familiar face. A girl familiar to Milo was walking with another man. It was Jennifer and her new man. She saw Milo and immediately changed lanes, avoiding eye contact.


    His heart shattered. With a broken heart, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his mind racing with betrayal and pain. He took a deep breath and let go, trying to steady himself.


    "Hayst, it''s fine," he said, his voice strained.


    "We broke up earlier," he continued, his words heavy with sorrow.


    "That bitch,"


    Nick spat out, anger flashing in his eyes.


    "It''s fine, Nick. That''s just life," Milo replied, releasing a heavy sigh. His chest hurt, his eyes became lifeless again as they reached their room.


    "Are you okay?" Nick asked, concern in his voice.


    "Ohm."


    "No, you''re not. Just call me if you need anything, okay?"


    "Ohm."


    Heart so hurt, eyes so lifeless, tears just came out from his eyes involuntarily.


    "I''m tired," he whispered with a heavy breath.


    "Wakey, wakey," Nick smiled. "I already cooked the food. Stand up and eat at least, okay? I''m going to school."


    "Ohm, be careful."


    "You too. I hid the rope because I was worried about you."


    Milo managed a weak laugh. "Nah, an extension cord is enough."


    "Hey, stop joking like that. Anyway, take care, Milo," Nick said, his worry clear.


    "Ohm," Milo mumbled, feeling the weight of his emotions pressing down on him.


    Milo, 18 years old, single, with half-decent looks, average height, and poor, is a working student currently in his first year studying computer science. Walking in the streets again, his face stressed, and mind blank, he made his way to school. The city buzzed around him, but he felt disconnected, lost in his thoughts.


    "Ehhhhhh,"


    he heard distant chatter and saw a sweet couple. His eyes filled with envy for a moment, then became lifeless again.


    "They''ll break up," he thought.


    "Should I go to school?" he thought. "Nah, I''ll just go to the park."


    The cloudy weather and cold temperature matched his mood. Birds chirped in the trees, and kids played nearby, their laughter a stark contrast to his own feelings.


    He took a seat on a park bench, breathing in the fresh air. For a moment, he tried to lose himself in the peaceful surroundings. Suddenly, intrusive thoughts invaded his mind, imagining his mother with another man and his ex-girlfriend with her new partner. The images were vivid and torturous.


    "AHHHHHHH,"


    he shouted, startling everyone in the park. Embarrassed, he quickly got up and walked away, his face flushed with shame.


    He found refuge in a nearby restaurant, ordering food.


    "Work later,"


    he thought, trying to push away the intrusive thoughts. After his meal, he went to the market hoping to buy some supplies. In the end, he didn''t buy anything.


    With his sling bag hanging loosely at his side, he continued walking, aimlessly wandering the streets. Walking aimlessly, he realized he had wandered to the elementary school.


    As the bell rang, children started to pour out, their faces lighting up as they spotted their parents waiting outside. The kids ran to them, laughing and hugging, their joy infectious.


    Milo watched from a distance, a pang of envy and longing hitting him.


    "I wish I could be a kid again,"


    he thought, a sigh escaping his lips.


    "Time for work,"


    he reminded himself, heading to the restaurant where he and Nick worked.


    "Hey, did you go to school today?"Nick asked as they washed dishes side by side.


    "No."


    "What? That''s a whole week, Milo. What are you doing?


    Don''t worry, I''ll get it covered."


    "You better be,"


    Nick said, a serious tone in his voice.


    "We grew up poor. Don''t let that... Bitch kill your dreams."


    "Please don''t call her that."


    "I know, but she really hurt you."


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Yeah, let''s just not talk about her. I''m trying to forget her too."


    "Oh, sorry. Maybe you should go home. Next week is mostly holidays and some events."


    Fighting for a spot on the bus, Milo finally found a seat and collapsed into it.


    He put on his headphones, letting the music drown out the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind.


    The incidents from the past few days replayed over and over, mingling with intrusive thoughts.


    Hugging himself tightly for warmth, he endured the long trip without a jacket.


    When the bus finally pulled into his hometown, Milo felt a mix of relief and apprehension.


    His father stood waiting at the bus stop, a smile on his face. Milo managed a small smile in return.


    "Hey there, Milo," his dad greeted him, patting his son''s back.


    "Ohm."


    "By the way, I cooked fried chicken. It''s your favorite, right?"


    "Ohm."


    The coldest conversation the father and son had ever had.


    At the house, the silence was palpable. The simple decorations were overshadowed by the messiness and dust that covered everything. They sat down to eat at the table, the awkwardness hanging heavy in the air.


    "How''s school?" his dad asked.


    "Fine."


    "How''s work?" Milo asked


    "Fine."


    After eating, the awkward silence continued. Milo cleaned the table and washed the dishes, trying to keep himself busy. He then retreated to his room and fell onto the bed, exhausted. His dad, left alone, went out to buy some beer. He sat by himself, drinking, the loneliness settling in.


    He woke up early, the morning light filtering through the curtains casting a soft glow in the room. He opened his phone, fingers hovering over the screen as he instinctively gonna text Jennifer.


    "We''re over,"


    he thought, putting the phone down with a sigh. As he left his room, he saw his dad sprawled on the floor, a half-empty bottle nearby. He might have fallen while drunk.


    "I''ll call mom about this,"


    he thought, but then remembered.


    "Oh, mom''s not here anymore. Guess I''ll do the cooking from now on,"


    he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the sadness.


    Playing some anime OSTs to lift his spirits, he took some rice and started cooking. He grabbed a fish from the refrigerator and began to clean and slice it. The repetitive task brought a small sense of calm, though his mind was still clouded with sorrow. The sound of the knife slicing through the fish was almost therapeutic.


    Suddenly, his father stumbled into the bathroom to take a bath.


    He fried the meat part of the fish and turned the head into a soup. He served the meal just as his father was getting ready for work. The clinking of utensils was the only sound that filled the room.


    "So, did you and your mom talk?"


    "Yes," Milo replied curtly, his gaze fixed on his plate.


    "And?"


    "Well, I really don''t want to talk about it."


    "I''m sorry, Milo. You have to go through this."


    "It''s fine, Dad.


    Your mom is, you know, a bitch."


    He stopped eating and turned to his dad, his eyes filled with a mix of hurt and frustration.


    "Please don''t call her that."


    "Right, I''m sorry."


    "I''m gonna leave now. There''s food there if you''re hungry. And son, can you clean the house? You know, since your mom left."


    "I know, I know."


    Milo annoyingly replied.


    "Haaaa,"


    he let out a heavy breath as he looked around their home. Determined to make the best of it, he focused on cleaning the house. The simple act of cleaning brought him a fleeting sense of peace.


    He cooked and ate alone, the clinking of utensils echoing in the empty house. In the afternoon, he walked alone, the silence around him amplifying the thoughts that kept resurfacing.


    "AHHHHHHHH," he shouted, the frustration boiling over.


    In the evening, he cooked vegetables, hoping his father would join him for dinner. But as the hours passed, his father never arrived. He ate alone and then went to his room, the loneliness pressing in on him.


    "Blammm!" The door slammed open, jolting him from his thoughts.


    "You whore!" he recognized his father''s voice, slurred and angry.


    "Dad," he thought, his heart sinking.


    He lay in bed, listening as his father started to rampage through the house.


    The noise was deafening, but he didn''t care anymore. Suddenly, the rampage stopped, and he heard his father sobbing loudly.


    The sound was raw and heart-wrenching. Eventually, the house fell silent, and he knew his father had cried himself to sleep.


    The house felt colder and emptier than ever. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "Bye, Dad," he said, his voice tinged with reluctance as he prepared to head back to the city.


    His dad smiled, trying to hide the sadness in his eyes, and Milo returned the smile.


    As Milo turned his back, their smiles faded, replaced by the weight of unspoken emotions. The sky remained overcast, mirroring their heavy hearts. His father headed to work with a sense of dread hanging over him.


    "Haaaaaaa,"


    he released a heavy breath, the pain in his chest becoming more severe.


    On the bus, he saw couples sitting together, their happiness a stark contrast to his own desolation. He turned on his music, trying to drown out his thoughts. This time, his father had given him a jacket, a small gesture of care.


    "It''s a long way from home," he murmured, looking out the window at the passing scenery.


    "You''re back!" Nick happily hugged him as soon as he entered the room.


    "My mom told me about your mom and dad, Milo. I''m sorry."


    "Thank you."


    "That must be so heartbreaking for you, losing your family and losing a girl."


    "Yeah, yeah, and I''m not gonna forget about it if you keep bringing it up."


    "Right," Nick said, backing off. "Anyway, go to school, you lazy ass!"


    In the classroom, the atmosphere was lively, filled with happy students.


    "Hey, what''s your lunch?" one classmate asked.


    "Hmmmm, I''ll buy later."


    "Let''s eat together!"


    "Sure."


    "Hey bro, have you heard about the new movie?" another classmate asked.


    "Nah, what about it?" The classroom buzzed with chatter.


    He sat at the back, holding his pencil. He didn''t say a word and just stayed there on his chair, feeling disconnected from the lively atmosphere around him.


    He started doodling on his paper, trying to draw a flower. As he focused on the drawing, his eyes grew heavy and he closed them for a moment. When he opened them again, he found himself in another world.


    The wind was chilly, and cherry blossom leaves were being taken by the wind. He ran to follow the wind, feeling a genuine sense of joy.


    "HAHAHAHA," he genuinely laughed, running and enjoying every moment. The grin on his face showed how happy he was.


    Suddenly, an angel appeared before him. "Milo, Milo," the angel called, its voice soft and soothing. The angel''s appearance was vague but undeniably beautiful, like a princess from a fairy tale.


    "It''s Eska,"


    he thought,tilting her head and looking at him. She smiled, her smile causing her eyes to squint, making her even prettier.


    "Oh." He said


    "You''ve been gone for a week."


    "Uhm, right, some family problems."


    "Eh, you can tell me if you want," Eska offered, her eyes full of genuine concern.


    "Nah, I''m fine. Besides, it''s me, you know." "Anyway, our chairman wants to see you in her office."


    "Oh, okay, thank you."


    Looking back, he saw Eska, the girl he''d loved all this time. From elementary school to high school to college, they''d been together, but he always knew that those smiles were never for him.


    "I never thought we''d be together all this time,"he thought. "But I always knew that those smiles would never be for me."


    "Mr. Milo! Most of your midterm exams failed. What is happening with you?"his teacher exclaimed, her frustration evident as she held up his exam papers. He bowed his head, listening to her rant.


    She calmed down and asked, "What''s your problem?"


    "Uhm, nothing, ma''am. I''m just having a problem with my schedule, that''s all," he replied, trying to sound convincing.


    She stood up and looked outside, her tone softening.


    "Haha, you know, people like yourself tend to hide their problems by themselves.Try to open up a little. Maybe not to me, but to your friends.


    Do you have close friends in your class?" she asked.


    "No, ma''am."


    "How about outside?"


    "Yes, ma''am."


    "Well, that''s good," she said. "Anyway, I want you to do your best on the next exam in order to pass. Remember, you''re still in your first year, and your performance isn''t that good."


    "Yes, ma''am. I''ll do my best."


    "Yo! You''re back, how''s school?" Nick asked, his voice filled with concern.


    "I was called to the office."


    "Why?"


    "Low performance."


    "Heh? You? What happened to our Mr. Smart guy?"


    "He''s Mr. Fool now."


    "Hahaha, but in all seriousness, you should work that out," Nick said, trying to sound supportive.


    "Yeah, yeah."


    They rested for a bit before their shift.


    "Let''s go? Let''s go."


    After the shift, Nick sighed, "Man, that was so tiring."


    "Yeah, too many orders, and the boss looked like a monster ordering us around," Milo said.


    "Well, he looks like a monster," Nick replied.


    "HAHAHAHAHA," they both burst into laughter.


    "Anyway, since we brought some food, why not buy some drinks?" Nick suggested.


    "Sure, your money since you''re the one who suggested it," Milo said with a grin.


    "Fine, here, go buy them there. I''ll wait for you here."


    As he walked towards the store. He saw a group of college students drinking alcohol outside, their laughter and shouts filling the air.


    "Whoo! Shot, shot," they all shouted.


    He tried to mind his own business but accidentally looked at the group.


    His eyes widened, and his heart ached. His body trembled as he saw Eska, her man''s arm around her shoulders, laughing and smiling.


    The sight left him stunned, a sharp pain stabbing his chest.


    The laughter and joy around him felt like a cruel contrast to his own desolation.


    "Here''s your soft drinks,"


    the store owner said, snapping him back to reality.


    "Oh, thank you."


    "Haaaa," he released a heavy breath.


    As he walked back to Nick, the cold air felt even more biting, the loneliness even more profound. The image of Eska with her new partner burned into his mind, a constant reminder of his heartbreak.


    "Milo, wait up," a familiar voice called to him.


    He turned to see Eska running towards him.


    "Oh, hello," he said, trying to keep his tone steady.


    As they stood in front of each other, there was a noticeable gap between them, a gap that showed Eska''s boyfriend,


    Daryl, walking towards them. His chest tightened as he saw the confident, attractive, tall, and tattooed Daryl.


    "Hey, what''s wrong, babe? You know him?" Daryl asked as he put his arm around Eska''s shoulder.


    "Oh, by the way, Milo, this is Daryl, my boyfriend. And Daryl, this is Milo, my childhood friend and classmate," Eska introduced them.


    "Well, hello, mate," Daryl said, extending his hand to shake Milo''s.


    Milo, feeling a sharp pain in his chest, was late to react. He reached out with a trembling hand.


    "Oh, hello," he answered.


    "Seems like you''re trembling," Daryl observed, raising an eyebrow.


    "Ah, yes, tired from work," Milo replied, forcing a smile that didn''t reach his eyes.


    "Oh, hahaha, why not join us here?" Daryl offered, a cheerful grin on his face.


    "Ah, thank you, but I''m weak when it comes to alcohol," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.


    "Well, suit yourself," Daryl shrugged. "Babe, I''m gonna go back," he said to Eska, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.


    "Ohm, I''ll be there," she replied, her eyes flicking back to Milo, filled with an unreadable emotion.


    As the two were left alone again, an awkward silence settled between them. Eska looked at the ground, her foot nervously kicking a pebble.


    "So, you have a boyfriend already."


    "Ohm, we actually started dating last week," Eska replied, her voice soft.


    "What do you think about him?"


    Still in pain, he forced himself to answer. "Oh, he''s attractive and kinda cool. Anyway, I''m gonna go now. Nick is waiting for me."


    "Oh, don''t you want to join us?" Eska asked.


    "Uhm, no, I actually don''t drink alcohol."


    "Oh, I mean, it''s my first time too," Eska said, her voice trembling slightly.


    "Oh, okay. Uhm, have fun," he said, turning away, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. He felt his chest tighten, and his eyes stung with unshed tears as he walked away.


    "What took you so long?" Nick asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "Oh, me and Eska were talking," he replied.


    "Yiiieeee, so you found the courage to confess to her?" Nick teased, his voice high-pitched with excitement.


    "Hmmmm, you know I won''t do that," he said, his tone flat.


    "Why not?" Nick asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.


    "Because I already know the answer and it''s no,"


    he replied, a hint of bitterness in his voice. His heart ached at the thought.


    "I mean, well, if I were Eska, it would be worse than no," Nick joked.


    "And I''m glad you''re not," " Milo said with a weak smile as they continued walking.


    "Ohm, yummy," Nick said as they both started to eat.


    His mind drifted towards Eska, his heart heavy with longing.


    "What are they doing right now? Are they kissing or holding hands or..."


    His thoughts spiraled, the images tormenting him. "No, no," he thought desperately. His frustration boiled over, and he punched the table, startling Nick.


    "Hey dude, what''s wrong with you?" Nick asked, concern etched on his face.


    "Ah, sorry," he muttered, his face flushed with embarrassment.


    "Anyway, I''m not gonna sleep here," Nick announced, changing the subject.


    "I know, send my regards to Mia."


    "Ohm," Nick said as he excitedly prepared to go out. "Bring protection," he laughingly said.


    "No need, I know what I''m doing, unlike some virgin guy over here," Nick joked, glancing at Milo.


    "Hey, ahahah," Milo replied, trying to join in the humor but feeling the sting of the words.


    "Yeah, maybe that''s the reason why Jennifer broke up with you," Nick teased.


    "Yeah, maybe that might be the reason," he said, a touch of sadness in his voice.


    "Anyway, don''t use the extension cord, okay? And be careful here," Nick said, his tone turning serious.


    "Ohm."


    He sat alone in the quiet room, the silence pressing in on him. The walls felt closer, the air heavier. The only sounds were the distant hum of the city outside and the occasional creak of the old building.


    "Done eating," he relaxed a bit, turning off the lights and going to bed. He checked his messages, but there were none. The emptiness of his inbox mirrored the emptiness he felt inside.


    He closed his eyes, trying to sleep. "Nick and Miya are probably doing it right now," he thought with a small, forced smile.


    But the next image that flashed in his mind was Eska with her man. His hand clenched tightly, his body trembling, and his heart ached with a searing pain.


    "Why do I care? It''s not like we have something or anything," he tried to convince himself. But the pain didn''t subside.


    Trying to sleep again, he remembered Jennifer, their laughter, and the fun they had together.


    The memories felt like a cruel reminder of what he had lost. He remembered the day he saw Jennifer with her new man, and the betrayal stung anew.


    He tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming back, relentless and unforgiving. His mind was a battlefield of memories and regrets, each one a dagger to his heart. He turned over, trying to find a comfortable position, but the bed felt like a prison.


    "Why didn''t I confess to Eska? Now it''s too late," he thought, the questions swirling in his mind.


    As the night grew darker, the silence of the room became deafening. The weight of his emotions pressed down on him, suffocating and unrelenting. He felt a lump forming in his throat, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.


    "Maybe it''s my fault for still liking another girl even though I had a girlfriend," he thought, guilt gnawing at him.


    "If I didn''t like anyone, maybe Jennifer wouldn''t have done it. But no, she cheated on me. Why do I get cheated on? Why am I not that attractive?" The thoughts consumed him.


    He sat up in bed, his breathing heavy and erratic. His heart pounded in his chest. The darkness of the room felt like it was closing in on him, amplifying his despair.


    "Why am I thinking about these things when my parents are divorced and my future is in bad shape?


    What did I do so bad to be punished like this?" The questions echoed in his mind.


    Tears welled up in his eyes, and he tried to hold them back, but the dam broke. He sobbed quietly at first, his body trembling with each gasp for air. The pain was unbearable, and he felt like he was drowning in his own sorrow.


    "I''m so lonely right now," he thought, the weight of his emotions crushing him. The room felt suffocating, the darkness amplifying his despair. He curled up on his bed, his body trembling, wishing for an escape from the relentless pain. His sobs grew louder, his cries echoing in the empty room as he finally let it all out.


    Looking into the darkness, he felt his eyes sting as if they were being pricked by countless tiny needles. He lay there, curled up, with the relentless images encircling his mind like a swarm of bees. Each memory felt like a sharp sting, piercing through his thoughts. But he was too exhausted to do anything about it.