Intermission

With worry in his eyes Jace kept glancing at Liana while driving. She just stared outside at nothingness.

" How was the... food ? " He asked hesitantly

" Don't know. " She replied faintly

Jace got frantic " What... you didn’t eat ? It's almost midnight. " Liana was taking long breaths

Jace couldn’t focus on driving. So, he parked on the roadside. " Talk to me...You're not even asking me why I'm here ? "

She gulped looking at him " Why are you here ? "

" For you..."

To break eye contact she looked away.

" Your mom called. You told her we're on a date. Then I asked Ruby about your location. "

Liana rolled her eyes " I never told mom about a date. She assumed. "

" You could've informed me. What if I was a jerk and told your mom the truth ? "

" Should I touch your feet in gratitude ? Why did you even come, Jace? " She held her head in frustration

" You trust me enough to say my name. " Jace appreciated it

" You didn’t need to come. It's weird. I'm on a date but another guy picks me up. "

" I'm not a another guy... And you were walking alone like a stray cat. Your partner was nowhere to be seen. It was over. "

Liana gritted her teeth " So, you came to laugh at me. Yes...my date was Over because it had no beginning. Happy...? "

Jace got shocked that Tian didn’t came to the date. He put his hand on top of hers. She removed it subtly and ran through her hair.

" It would be better if he didn’t came. He came to mock me like you. " He tried to explain but Liana started her rant.

" No... my feelings are valid. I'm not hard to love, Am I ? Tian just hates everything about me. It frustrating and insulting. I know it ruins my stature. Still my heart doesn’t care. "

" It's not you, Liana. It's uncomfortable for him. He knows you as a student. "

" What about you ? " She asked him with moist eyes. He looked down with guilt avoiding her question.

" I can't forget your 18th birthday... How you treated me. "

Jace's 18 birthday party was going to be a anticipating day for both of them but it became a black day.

Liana and Jace were friends from the day they had sense. They had inseparable bond before. Jace was protective of her while Liana could treat him like no one could. It was not just... friendship. Anyone could see it including them.

They were gonna make it official and ask each other out on Jace's birthday party but... fate had other plans.

Before cake cutting ceremony Liana came to meet Jace in his room.

**knock knock...

No answer**.

She entered anyways only to see Jace making out with a girl in the dark moonlight. Liana just stood in shock to mourn her innocence and First Love... That girl got annoyed but Jace had a empty look giving her existence zero credit.

Any other heartbroken girl would storm out of the room crying but Liana was built different. She screamed to not cry but tears still streamed. Her legs fastened towards Jace and mouth ran every known swear word.

" We're not together and shouldn’t be. Don't force your feelings on me. " He talked as if their love was one sided.

His words stabbed her pride " I hope you get herpes and cry. I'll not be there then. "

It seems childish but pain of first love hurts the most. Liana's case was more severe because Jace was her best friend and his change of heart was a mystery to this day.

Present :

" I was young back then. " Jace made excuses.

Liana scoffed " You played with me. Be grateful I didn’t tell a soul about your behaviour and still stayed friends. "

" Let's talk about us later."

" There's no us anymore, Jace. "

He bit his lip in regret and drove to a fast food restaurant. The car ride with food reminiscing the past gave them reassurance that they'll be friends no matter what.

Before heading home " About Tian...I need a break. " Jace got assured that Liana was still sane.

1 week later :

The Xiao house became calm after Liana went into hibernation mode. She locked herself in the room barely getting out. Everyday several shopping packages are coming for her which contained weird books, incense sticks and cactus plants...

Her sanity became a hot topic among her family and friends.

Lily keeps banging room but only sound of mental help podcast and incense smell came.

" Just open the door and let us know you're alive. " yelled Lily

" I'm living the best life...dear mom. " The weird acts of her is making everyone worried.

" Jace should know something. They went on a date, right ? " suggested Chen

" Date...How ? They fight 24/7. " said Raymond. Lily sighed with frustration.

Ruby dragged Jace to help Liana. He got surrounded by judging eyes.

" Tell us about your date. " asked Chen concernly

Jace got intimidated " We just had dinner... and drived. "

" Then Why Is Liana Gone Batshit ? She isn’t responding well. Her phone's off. Weird music is playing. She's not herself. " ranted Lily

" Aunt Lily. She's just stressed about studies. So, She took a break. "

" This road to insanity is... break ? " Jace somehow managed to convinc them

Liana doing breathing exercise meditation while listening to philosophy podcasts. In few days she tried to become calm.

She opened her phone to see floads of messages and calls. Liana was about to read a book ignoring the messages only to see messages of.... Tian. Like a magnet she got sucked in.

**Hey... I thought about it. I was too harsh. I'm sorry.

.....

Are you fine ? You're missing classes.

.....

You dropped out of my class. Can we talk ?

.....

Can you meet me ? I'll wait for you**.

The consistent messages over the course of days made Liana feel things. If she saw them earlier. Maybe she couldn’t have gone through detox. But now she's changed. Her self respect is too big to run back to Tian...right ?

What will Liana do ? Will she reject Tian or go back to him ?

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