A New Home

 It has been hours since the class started. Soon, today's class will come to an end and it'll just leave us with a load of assignments to do at home. Considering everyone had a 'home'.

I bet everyone here had a solid physical type of home. As for me, the feeling could've stayed longer if I didn't do something so stupid years ago.

By the time I learnt that I've betrayed someone, it's too late for me. Of course, it was always the stupid me.

Even if you try to compile and glue a broken vase, you'll still see the crack, and the water will eventually run through it nonetheless.

In this case, I'm the one who broke the vase.

The class's silent broke almost immediately when the bell rang. The students who sat on the back are already packing their things and got up from their seat. While the students who sat on the front are still listening to the teacher's remaining notes. I was one of them, just making sure I didn't miss anything out. After packing my things up, I bid some of my classmate goodbye and left the class. I went to a nearby convenient store and bought an ice cream.

Not for me, but him.

I used to feel at home when I'm around him. It was my fault that that home got broken. I've spent my days trying to apologize with all my might whenever I managed to have the courage to face him. But it was foolish of me to think that he'd accept my apology. I should've been more careful with my choices back then.

A few steps, here and there. A long way just to reach him, but I mustn't complain. My step stopped at a certain coffee shop. A lot of familiar faces here – especially the barista – which made my anxiety worst. I sat at the bar table, right in front of him. We didn't spoke for a solid minute even after he offered me the menu. I looked down to it, hoping that I could somehow regain my courage after all the stares that I got from the other customers.

Trembling, I whisphered,

"I want to talk..."

"I'm not forbiding you."

"I-I mean... just the two of us?"

"You know perfectly that now is my shift."

"On your shift break?"

"I only got 10 minutes."

"So..."

"...I know what you're going to say. Not now Aster."

"...I see. B-but I... bought you this! So... please just accept this and I'll be going."

"...People will see you funny if you don't buy anything."

"O-okay."

I looked at the menu properly this time and try to calm myself down by thinking what I want to eat. I can't seem to focus on it, my mind felt blank and hazy. And I'm not hungry.

"...One chamomile tea, that'll be 2 dollars please."

"Ah, okay." I hand him 2 dollars.

"Thank you. And yes, I'll take that as well, if I may?"

He pointed at the ice cream. Perhaps it's a bit melted at this point, but none of us cared about that. I gave him the ice cream and he took it to the freezer on the back room. Focusing back on his my order. It wasn't long until he served me the tea.