Meant to Collide

13. Care Met with Coldness

The night draped the sky in a raven's deep, dark hue, echoing the storm brewing in Sky's mind. His consciousness mirrored the blackness above. As the taxi rolled to a halt outside his home, Jules stepped out to help him, her arm steady as she guided him. Sky's eyes avoided hers as he muttered, "You can leave."

"Is this your place?" Jules asked, her eyes scanning the modest house.

"Does it look like a temple to you?" Sky shot back, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

"That's not what I meant. I thought you lived in a palace," she replied, her tone softer, almost confused.

"Leave." His irritation was more apparent this time, though it barely cracked his cool demeanor.

Jules nodded but lingered, concern shading her gaze. "Let me know when you get home. Don't disappear like last time," Sky added, softer now, his tone carrying a weight he wouldn't admit.

She agreed, standing still for a moment longer. Sky stepped back towards his gate, glancing at her once more. "Stop being so formal," he murmured before slipping inside.

Jules watched him until he disappeared through the gate, then made her way back to the taxi. The car sped off, but her mind lingered at the threshold of Sky's house. As soon as she arrived home, she rushed to her room, fumbling for her phone. I've arrived home, she texted. The message was read almost instantly.

Sky's reply came as blunt as ever. "Why did you text me? Why didn't you call? My head hurts. My eyes hurt. I don't want to read".

Without hesitation, Jules called. Sky, lounging on a grey, sophisticated sofa in his dimly lit, dreary living room, picked up.

"Boss, I've reached home," Jules said, her voice gentle but nervous.

"Why did you call? I have a headache." His exhaustion seeped through the line.

Jules faltered, unsure of how to respond. "Erm... then I'll hang up."

Sky bolted upright. "Wait, wait. Why are you in such a hurry to hang up? Did it not cross your mind to ask about my condition?" His words were sharp, cutting through the line.

"Are you still having a headache?" Jules asked, her voice trembling with both fear and concern.

"You had to wait for me to tell you that?" Sky's words dripped with disdain. "If it doesn't come from the heart, I don't need it. I'm suffering from a headache, not memory loss."

The sting of his words hit Jules hard. Tears welled up, blurring her vision, but she kept silent, trying to hold herself together.

"I told you before, don't act like we're close," Sky jabbed, twisting the knife. Still, Jules remained quiet.

"Why are you keeping silent?" Sky shouted, his frustration bubbling over. "I don't like silence. Speak!"

Tears began to fall from Jules' eyes as she struggled to find her voice. "I don't understand what you want from me, boss. Whatever I do, it's wrong. Whatever I say, it's wrong. I text, I'm wrong. I call, I'm wrong. My work isn't approved. Please, just tell me what I should do." Her words were broken by sobs, her emotions pouring out.

"Ah, so the reason you took care of me was to get your work approved?" Sky asked coldly.

Jules paused, swallowing her emotions. "I really am worried about you, but is this how you treat someone who cares?" Her voice cracked, but her words were sharp, cutting through the tension.

Sky sidestepped the topic, his tone abruptly detached. "Sweet dreams," he said and hung up.

Sky threw the phone onto the table with a frustrated groan, rubbing his temples as if to soothe the pressure in his head. Across town, Jules stared at the screen, tears streaking her face as she looked at the disconnected call.

The sad music swelled in the background as her eyes shifted to the bulletin board in her room. Sky's pictures were pinned up, reminders of all their moments, good and bad. She wiped her tears, her heart aching. "Why does he think of me like that?" she asked the silence around her.

Exhausted and defeated, Jules slumped over her desk, her eyes burning with worry and sadness, finally dozing off under the weight of it all.