The Night We Met by Ruero

Chapter 15 : The Other Side

The next day, I woke up with a weird feeling in my stomach, a gnawing unease that something was wrong. The events of the previous night played on a loop in my mind, Sam's drunken accusations and the bitter tone of his voice. I couldn't shake the fear that he might have misunderstood my intentions. I got dressed mechanically, my thoughts a jumbled mess of anxiety and guilt.

As I walked to college, the morning air felt unusually heavy. The sky was overcast, mirroring my mood with its dull, grey expanse. Every step felt like a trudge through thick mud, my feet dragging with the weight of my worries. The usual sights and sounds of the campus seemed distant, almost surreal. I passed by groups of students chatting and laughing, their carefree interactions a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me.

I arrived at my first class early, hoping to find some semblance of distraction in the familiar routine. I settled into my seat and took out my notebook, but my mind was elsewhere. The professor's voice was a dull drone in the background as I struggled to focus. I kept glancing at the door, half-expecting Sam to walk in, wondering how I would face him if he did.

Then, Laurine walked in. She spotted me and made her way over, her presence a welcome relief. Laurine had a way of making everything seem less daunting, her calm demeanor a steadying force.

"Hi," I said, trying to sound casual despite the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface.

"Hey, Ethan. What's up?" she replied with a warm smile, taking the seat next to me.

I hesitated, unsure how to bring up the topic without sounding desperate. "Have you seen Sam?" I asked, my voice betraying my worry.

"Yeah, this morning," she said, her expression turning curious. "Why? What's going on?"

"How was he acting?" I pressed, needing to know more about his state of mind.

Laurine's brow furrowed slightly. "He was quite sad about his breakup and talking less than usual," she said, her tone tinged with concern.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself to explain. "Actually, last night he called me," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "And he blamed me for his breakup," I continued, feeling the weight of my words sink in.

Laurine's eyes widened in shock. "What?!" she exclaimed, her voice louder than intended. She quickly glanced around and then lowered her voice. "How can he blame you for his breakup?"

I explained everything to her, recounting the conversation we had, how Sam thought my relationship with Angelica had somehow caused Alex to leave him. As I spoke, Laurine listened intently, her expression shifting from shock to understanding.

"Sam was always like that," she sighed when I finished. "He blames others too much to cope with situations. It's his way of dealing with things, even if it's not fair."

I felt a flicker of relief at her words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the heavy weight of the situation. "I just don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice small.

Laurine placed her hand on my shoulder, her touch reassuring. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him," she said gently. "But try not to force him to talk to you, okay? We should leave him alone because whenever he's sad, he prefers to heal on his own."

Her kindness brought a lump to my throat. "Thanks, Laurine," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I hope you're right."

"He'll be okay, don't worry," she said softly, giving my shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Haha, sure," I replied, attempting a smile. But inside, my heart was heavy. I had just made my first close friend, and now I could see him slipping away from me. As Laurine turned her attention back to the class, I stared down at my notebook, the words and diagrams blurring together. I couldn't shake the fear that things would never be the same between Sam and me, and the uncertainty gnawed at me like a persistent ache.