Pat finds a weird pair of glasses in his closet. Cue multiple life-changing realisations.
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(All he knows is that Pran's glow is different. Different in a way that steals his breath right out his lungs. It wraps around him prettily- like it's mean...
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Pat can't shake the growing weight in his chest. The glasses have changed everything- he can no longer ignore the truth they've been showing him for weeks. Nan's glow, that dull, fleeting gold that flickers only when she's asking for something, isn't love. Not even close. And every time Pat sees her now, every conversation feels rehearsed, every touch calculated. He can't unsee it, can't pretend anymore.
The final straw comes two days before the Christmas concert. The entire school buzzes with excitement, but all Pat can think about is the quiet unease gnawing at his gut. He's been avoiding this conversation, dragging it out because it feels easier to keep things as they are. But he isn't being fair to Nan (not that she has been fair to him or anything)- or to himself.
They sit at the back of the cafeteria when he finally decides to do it. Nan scrolls through her phone, not even looking up as she speaks to him. "So, I was thinking, after the concert, maybe we could go grab dinner? There's this new place downtown, and-"
"Nan," Pat interrupts, his voice firm.
She glances up at him, a brief flicker of annoyance in her eyes before it fades back to her usual indifferent gaze. "What?"
Pat gulps, his heart pounding in his chest. He knows this isn't going to be easy, but it has to be done. "We need to talk."
Nan's eyes narrow slightly, the corners of her mouth tightening. She sets her phone down, crossing her arms over her chest. "What is it? You're not about to cancel our plans, are you?"
"No, it's not that." Pat shakes his head, trying to find the right words, but everything feels jumbled. "I just... I don't think this is working anymore. Us."
For a moment, Nan doesn't respond, just blinks at him like she hasn't heard him correctly. Then she lets out a sharp laugh. "Wait, what? Are you breaking up with me?"
Pat nods slowly, his hands twisting together under the table. "Yeah. I think I am."
Nan's expression shifts, a flash of something red in her grey aura. The same emotion crosses her face. "Why now? Right before the concert? We've been together for months."
"I know," Pat says, his voice thick with guilt. "But it just doesn't feel right anymore." He can feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him, urging him to say more, to say what has really been on his mind. But he hesitates, unsure if he's ready to admit it out loud.
Nan sits back in her chair, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest. "You're dumping me two days before Christmas because it 'doesn't feel right'?" Her tone is incredulous, almost mocking. "Come on, Pat. What's really going on?"
"I... I don't know," Pat stammers, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "It's just... I've been thinking a lot, and... I think I like someone else."
