𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 [𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐱 𝐎𝐂]

The Breakup

Mae

"Oh my God. You look like..." Claire paused; brow furrowed like she wasn't sure how to finish her sentence.

"Like shit?" I offered, moving away from the front door so Claire could enter my tiny studio apartment.

"I was going to say a little disheveled, actually."

"Yeah right." I snorted, dropping my ass on my rickety old couch. "Honestly Claire, I've never felt worse."

A look of sympathy crossed her face. Claire sat beside me and gave me a big hug. "I know. And I'm sorry for what my idiot brother did."

The mention of Chris Redfield brought back tears to my eyes. I cursed to myself; I promised last night was going to be the last time I ever shed tears for him.

"I just... I don't understand why." I said, trying hard not to cry. Four years Chris and I were in what I thought was a happy and loving relationship. Sure, we live in two different cities, and long-distance had its challenges, but we were making it work.

I spent every single break from college visiting him in Racoon City, sometimes with Claire tagging along. And sometimes we would switch it up and he would visit me here. This year was my last year of college. I was supposed to move to Racoon City after my graduation in a few months. Chris and I had even begun looking for a new apartment big enough for the two of us.

"And you know the worst part is?" I asked, at this point I didn't even bother to hold back tears and not even waiting for Claire to answer. "He broke up with me in a letter. He can't even bother to show up here, look me in the eyes and tell me he wants to end it. It's like he doesn't even want to hear what I want to say. What kind of person did something like that?"

Clair's eyes widened in surprise. "He breaks up with you in a letter? That's low... and doesn't sound like Chris at all." She added in a quieter voice.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah well, I thought that at first too, but I know his handwriting. And seeing as I couldn't get a hold of him or any of his friends since that letter, I say this is definitely Chris."

I was too embarrassed to tell Claire that I had actually driven four hours to Racoon City the day I received his letter. Chris' apartment was empty. The landlord said he had terminated his lease a few days ago. I visited the RPD next and was told by some officers there that Chris' had just left for vacation in Europe. I've been to the police station a couple of times before. Chris had proudly introduced me as his girlfriend. But apparently right before he left, he had publicly told them that he was now 'single and ready to have some fun', whatever that meant.

I spotted some officers giving me sympathetic looks as I made my way around the station. Some even gossip about us.

"Redfield's girlfriend just come in looking for him. Can you believe he dump her and just took off to Europe?" One of the female officers said to her co-workers.

They were sitting near the vending machine in a lounge near the STARS office, not realizing I was just behind the corner having just left the office, seeing with my own eyes that Chris' desk had been cleared up.

"I know, right? I still can't believe it. Do you see the way they looked at each other? They were like crazy in love, it was actually very depressing for singles like me." One of the officers answered.

"I even made 100 dollars bet with David they'd be married before next year." A third voice chimed in.

"Ugh, I could only imagine the heartbreak the poor girl is going through."

Walking through the police station was emotionally and mentally exhausting. By the time I made it back to my car, I had started crying again. After that, I wandered around town for a while, visiting coffee shops, stores, parks, any place he had taken me in the past, just hoping that I could maybe run into some of his STARS friends and pried some information out of them, but no such luck.

"I haven't been able to reach him either, and no letter for me." Claire said after a while, the corner of her mouth turned downward.

Guilt suddenly filled me. I had been so obsessed with my pain, that I didn't even think how Chris' sudden radio silence affected Claire. To be fair, I thought he was only ghosting me, and not his own sister. But then again, seeing as I was Claire's best friend even before she introduced us and we began dating, he probably just thought Claire would take my side and berate him for me.

"Look, Mae, I know you're angry, and deservedly so." Claire said, turning to look straight at me. "But this whole thing doesn't seem right. This isn't Chris. Something is going on here."

I knew, deep in my heart that Claire was right. Chris that I knew was one of the kindest most loving people on earth. He was the best boyfriend I ever had. I also knew he loved his sister very much. So, for him to just dump me out of the blue and cut contact with me and Claire was something I never thought in a million years he would ever do. Not without a good reason at least. However, anger and bitterness of the fresh breakup clouded my head.

"I... I don't know Claire." I avoided her eyes, opting to stare at my feet instead.

"Mae." The pleading in her voice made me raise my head. "Please, I'm worried something happen to him."

The thought of Chris in harm made my chest tighten. The anger and bitterness evaporated, replaced with worry. The emotion I had become familiar with since I had begun dating Chris. I knew his job was dangerous, he was a part of an elite unit within the RPD. From what stories he had told me, I knew he was constantly put in dangerous situations.

But every night he would call and tell me he was alright, a pact we both made because it made us feel better about not being able to see each other every day. Those calls always made me breathe a little easier. But now he was gone. No more calls. No more husky, deep voice to lull me to sleep. And suddenly panic struck me like lightning.

"Oh my god, something happened to him!"

A smile of relief crossed Claire's face as though she had been waiting for me to have that realization.

"What do we do now?" I asked, trying to tempt down the sudden worry, panic and fear.

"Okay, first of all, you need to take a deep breath." Clare took hold of my shoulder. That was when I realized my body was shaking. "Take a deep breath, Mae." She repeated and I followed her instruction.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale

"Good." Claire rubbed my back gently after I calmed down. Her expression then turned serious. "Listen, I'm going to Racoon City tomorrow, I'm going to find out what happens to Chris."

I nodded. "Okay, but just so you know I went there after I got his letter. People at RPD said he was vacationing in Europe."

"You already went there?"

I nodded again, bashfully this time. "Yeah, I just... I just need to see him."

"I understand." Claire's expression softened. "Still tough, why does he needs to break up with you or go out of contact if he's just going on a vacation?"

I shrugged, having no idea how to answer her question. Now that the jumble of the breakup emotions had disappeared, the more I could think rationally. Claire was right, something was amiss. 

We fell silent for a while. Claire leaned forward, hands supporting her chin. I could practically see the gear in her head turning.

"I still want to go. It's the only lead we've got." She said finally.

"Yeah, you're right." I nodded. clenching my fist, I tried summoning the courage I needed to look Claire in the eyes. "I know that I'm not Chris' girlfriend anymore, but I want to come with you. I want to know what's going on, I... I want to see him again."

Claire took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Of course. We'll find him, together."

My lip tugged upward without me realizing. My first sincere smile since the breakup.

Seeing me smile also brought a smile to Claire's face. "Also, I haven't given up on making you my sister-in-law."