8 — Severance

After bawling her eyes out in her office, for awhile longer, Ame wandered through the campus that night, searching desperately for Sera. She combed the empty halls, her footsteps echoing in the silence as she peeked into empty classrooms and called out Sera's name in vain. When she still couldn't find her, a sinking dread settled in. She thought about the train station—maybe she could catch Sera there before she left.

But when she arrived, her hopes were dashed; there was no sign of her. Sera had already gone, taking an earlier train while Ame had still been tearing her heart apart back in the office.

With a heavy sigh, Ame boarded the next train herself, clutching onto the last thread of hope that she might find Sera at the apartment. She sat by the window, her reflection staring back at her, a shattered image of a woman with red, puffy eyes and streaked makeup from all the crying.

As she sat, people stared, wondering what could have possibly happened. Ame usually would be desperate to keep up appearances but right now she didn’t care.

She couldn’t even try to care.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the glass, exhausted and broken, as the train rattled on through the night.

Meanwhile, on a different train heading in the opposite direction, Sera sat motionless, staring blankly out the window. Her headphones were on, but nothing played. The silence that met her ears only deepened the emptiness inside. Her mind raced, replaying everything that had happened in a painful loop as she tried to make sense of it all. She felt like she was drifting, lost in a world that no longer made any sense.

A text message from June finally pulled herself out of the haze, Sera took out her phone and hesitantly texted June.

Her fingers shook as she typed: "June, it’s an emergency. I’m so sorry for the short notice, but… I need a place to stay tonight." She swallowed hard, pressing send and hoping for a lifeline.

June's reply came swiftly, a comforting reassurance. "Of course, Sera. It's totally fine. I can accommodate you. Are you alright?"

Sera's eyes welled up again, though she forced herself to take a deep breath before typing back: "Yeah, I’m fine."

But as the words left her fingertips, she knew they were a lie. The ache in her chest was unbearable, and her entire world felt like it was crumbling around her. She bit her lip, clutching her phone tightly as she continued to stare out the window, the night outside just as dark as the turmoil raging inside her.

When Sera arrived at June's house, she was met with a warm smile—one that quickly faded the moment June saw the state she was in. Sera's eyes were red and swollen, her face pale and exhausted. She immediately averted her gaze, unable to look her friend in the eye.

“T-Thank you so much, June… seriously, I owe you one,” she croaked, her voice ragged and strained from crying.

June's brow furrowed in concern as she reached out. "It’s totally fine, Sera…" she said gently, her eyes searching Sera’s face for answers. "I don’t know what happened, but… I’m so sorry."

She pulled Sera into a hug, wrapping her arms around her friend with a firm but comforting grip. Sera, using the last of her strength, hugged back weakly, her body trembling as she fought to keep herself from breaking down all over again. June’s hand rested on her back, gently guiding her inside and locking the door behind them.

June set about making a cup of tea while Sera sat on the couch, curling up under the blanket her friend had given her. She snuggled into it, seeking solace in its warmth, and took a deep breath as she cradled the steaming cup of tea in her hands. June settled beside her on the couch, not saying a word, just being there, offering quiet support, its what she thought Sera needed.

Sera sipped the tea slowly, the warmth spreading through her, but the ache in her chest didn’t ease. June watched her carefully, her heart heavy with concern. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was connected to the troubled expressions she’d seen on Sera's face the last time they hung out. The thought nagged at her, but she held back from asking. Whatever had happened, Sera clearly wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.

For now, June just sat beside her, ready to listen when Sera was ready to share—or to just be a comforting presence in the silence.

After a while, the silence began to weigh on Sera, her guilt coming up to the surface. She finally broke it, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I’m sorry..." she murmured, her eyes still fixed on the tea in her hands.

June quickly interjected, shaking her head. "No, it's fine. Take your time, seriously," she reassured, her tone warm and steady.

Sera took a shaky breath, still staring off into the distance, as if searching for the right words in the emptiness. "It's just..." She paused, her hand running through her tangled hair as she sniffed, struggling to keep herself composed. "I don’t even know where to start."

June’s expression softened even more as she watched her friend struggle to piece together what had clearly shattered inside her. “It’s okay, Sera. You don’t have to rush it,” she said gently. “If you want to say anything, I’m here to listen.”

Sera squeezed the warm cup in her hands a little tighter, as though it could somehow give her the strength she needed to keep talking. "Everything just... fell apart," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And I don’t know how to put it back together."

June felt a pang of sympathy as Sera's voice quivered, and without hesitation, she reached out to rub her friend's back. The small, comforting gesture prompted another sniff from Sera, who found a bit of strength in the warmth of June's touch, the tea, and the blanket wrapped around her. It gave her just enough courage to keep talking. The crux of everything was Ame, and the thought of opening up about that tangled, painful mess made Sera bite her lip.

She shook her head, her eyes glassy and unfocused, unable to meet June's gaze for more than a fleeting second. "I don't even know how... or what to tell you..." she whispered, her voice barely holding steady as the tears threatened to spill over again.

June's heart ached seeing Sera so fragile, realizing just how hard this was for her to talk about. She kept rubbing Sera's back, trying her best to offer a steady presence for her closest friend. "Sera," she began, her tone gentle and sincere, "whatever it is, I’m here for you. You don’t have to tell me everything if you don’t want too. Just say what you can, even if it doesn’t make sense. I don’t care if it’s a mess... I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure it out together."

June's reassurance was like a lifeline thrown to Sera, who clung to those words desperately. There was a part of her that feared unraveling everything she felt for Ame, but there was also a part of her that longed for someone to share the burden with, to help her understand the pain in her heart.

Sera took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she searched for the right words. It felt impossible to convey what she was feeling, but she had to try.

Setting her teacup down on the table, she pulled the blanket tighter around herself, hugging it as if it could shield her from the weight of the truth she was about to share.

With a shaky exhale, she finally spoke.

"I think... maybe... I may be in love... with someone," she confessed, the words coming out in a fragile voice. She felt June's gaze snap toward her, then quickly shift away as if to give her space. June nodded, listening intently, her expression full of concern and curiosity.

Sera swallowed hard, her chest tightening as she continued. "It all started on the first day. When I saw them..." She paused, her voice catching in her throat as she took another breath to steady herself. "They were... the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen," she admitted, her eyes welling up with tears again. "Like, effortlessly… utterly gorgeous. It was like... like they just walked in and took all the air out of the room. I couldn’t look away."

She felt her cheeks heat up as she spoke, her heart pounding as if it was struggling to escape from her chest. "At first, I thought… this feeling… I thought it would pass. I even thought maybe it was just another silly little crush, you know? But... before I knew it, they were all I could think about.." she continued, her voice becoming steadier but still laced with emotion.

"I loved everything about them… the way they moved, the way they spoke... I was just so mesmerized. And it wasn’t just about how they looked, it was... everything. It became, absolutely everything about them. I was just—over the moon. I still am."

Sera sniffled, her eyes staring down at her lap as she hugged the blanket tighter. It felt surreal to finally voice the feelings she had kept locked up, but she was still being careful, not daring to say who it was. Not yet.

June listened closely, her heart aching for Sera as she unraveled the story. She was happy that Sera could experience such deep feelings for someone, but now, she couldn’t help but wonder what had gone wrong. Gently, she reached out to reassure her friend.

"I'm really glad you could feel that way about someone, Sera," June said softly, rubbing her back in comforting circles. "But... it sounds like something happened. So... you and this person... it went well?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity and concern.

Sera clutched the blanket more tightly, her chest aching at the thought of those moments that had felt so perfect. "It went really well," she replied, her voice trembling. "We were getting along, really getting close. They’re actually my roommate… you know, the one I moved in with at the start of the semester?"

June’s eyebrows rose as she nodded. "Yes, of course. I remember how excited you were to move in." she recalled, her expression encouraging.

"Yeah… that's them," Sera murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor. "It was all going so well... We shared these... warm moments together," she confessed, her voice breaking a little at the memory. "I’ve never, ever felt like that with anyone before... never." She bit back a sob, her shoulders shaking slightly as her emotions threatened to overtake her again.

June, sensing how fragile Sera was, rubbed her back with more care, hoping to soothe the deep hurt. Sera struggled to find the words, knowing how tangled the situation was. "But because of our roles... our dynamic together..." she began, her voice dropping to almost a whisper, "they think we can't spend time together anymore."

She glanced at June, her eyes pleading for understanding, hoping that she could convey the weight of the situation without having to spell it all out. "It's like... everything was perfect, and then... they just... pulled away," Sera added quietly, tears stinging her eyes again as the reality of it all sank in once more.

Sera’s voice quivered as she spoke, her fingers digging into the fabric of the blanket. "The worst part is... maybe they’re right. Maybe we really shouldn't spend time together anymore. I feel like I've created this whole mess, and I just... I don't know what to do." She let out a shaky breath, guilt weighing heavily on her chest.

June quickly shook her head, her expression resolute. "No, Sera, don’t say that. This isn’t all on you. Whatever happened, you didn’t create this mess by yourself. It obviously sounds like you both are stuck in something complicated. When things are like that, you may say things you don’t mean to say and do things you don’t mean to do and that doesn’t make either of you a bad person. It just means you’re both human." she said firmly, her hand squeezing Sera’s shoulder reassuringly.

June took a moment to think, her brow furrowed as she considered the situation. The implications of a forbidden relationship weren’t lost on her, but she also knew that love, when genuine, had a way of finding its own path. She let out a soft sigh and spoke gently, but with conviction.

"I don’t think you should give up," June said, her gaze steady as she looked at Sera. "Even if they feel like you two can’t be together right now, that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. If your love for them is real, and if it’s strong enough to break through all those barriers... then it will find a way back." She offered a small, encouraging smile.

"And if this person… if its true they love you back, even if they’re pushing you away now, it will never be the end. Sometimes, people build walls to protect themselves, but if you’ve seen the real person beneath it all, that means something. It means you’ve already touched their heart," June continued, her voice full of hope. "So don’t give up, Sera. You may just need to give it time… but if it's true, it won't slip away forever."

Sera looked at June with wide, tear-filled eyes, feeling a glimmer of hope pierce through the overwhelming despair she’d been drowning in.

Sera’s eyes widened at June’s words, and she hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, June… thank you… so much…" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

June wrapped her arms around Sera, hugging her back just as tightly. "Anytime," she murmured softly. "I will always be here." She grinned warmly, rubbing Sera's back in comforting circles.

When they finally broke the embrace, they exchanged a smile that spoke of gratitude and relief. June gave a small nod towards her room, a gentle command in her tone. "I think this calls for some sleep," she said. "And your only job left now is to finish that tea I made!" She added with a mock sternness, like a mother scolding a child, but her tone was light and playful.

Sera stifled a weak laugh as she picked up the teacup from the table. "Okay," she agreed, her voice still shaky but with a hint of calmness returning. "Goodnight, June."

"Sleep well, Sera," June replied, giving her one last reassuring smile before heading to her room.

As Sera sipped the tea, she felt the warmth seep through her, not just from the drink, but from the kindness of her friend. For the first time that night, she allowed herself to believe that maybe things could be okay again.

That same night at the apartment, Ame dragged herself through the empty apartment lounge, every step heavy and reluctant. She mindlessly pressed the elevator button and rode up to her floor, the hollow ding echoing in the silence. As she reached her door, her hand froze on the knob, her breath catching in her throat. She so desperately hoped that Sera would be there, waiting for her, even though a part of her feared the truth. Slowly, she opened the door, and when her eyes scanned the empty room, her whole body trembled. Her gaze dropped to the floor, despair washing over her—Sera was gone, and maybe this time, it was for good.

With the weight of loneliness pressing on her chest, Ame went through the motions of the evening like a ghost, having dinner and doing her work in silence. Everything around her felt so cold—her body, the room, even the night itself. She finally retreated to her bedroom, trembling and clutching herself, as though trying to keep the despair at bay, not even having enough energy to cry any longer.

The emptiness seeped in, gnawing at her from all sides.

Her gaze wandered to the open door across the hall which she viewed from her bed—Sera’s room. Her lifeless eyes, filled with emptiness, transformed into a look of deep longing. The reality hit her harder than she could bear. Hesitantly, she approached Sera’s room, and without thinking, she pushed the door open and stumbled inside. Almost lifelessly, she collapsed onto Sera’s bed, sinking into the pillows, clutching desperately onto the one that Sera always slept on.

Ame buried her face in the pillow, her body trembling uncontrollably. The faint scent of Sera still lingered, and without even realizing it, tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. Her deadened gaze drifted up from the pillow to the window, where the night sky loomed dark and indifferent. The crushing weight of Sera’s absence filled her with a sorrow that felt endless. She wrapped herself around the pillow, longing for the warmth that was no longer there.

Eventually, the exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a restless sleep, the darkness of the room mirroring the emptiness inside her.

The next morning, Ame awoke to the same hollow emptiness, her body heavy and cold as she lay in Sera's bed. Her eyes felt sore and swollen from the tears that had eventually lulled her into a fitful sleep. The loneliness and anxiety of Sera being gone still clung to her, suffocating in its weight, making it hard to move, to even breathe. She forced herself up, every motion feeling slow and detached, and drifted numbly to the living room.

She sank onto the couch, staring blankly out the window at the early morning light spilling over the horizon. The golden glow of the sunrise seeped into the room, yet it couldn’t reach the dark place inside her. As she watched the dawn emerge, her thoughts began to twist back over everything she had convinced herself of days before—about how it was impossible, wrong, for her and Sera to be together. But the confrontation with the girl had created a deep doubt within her, and she started to second-guess the rigid barriers she had tried to enforce.

Sera had seen something in her—something deeper than the cold, composed exterior Ame always presented to the world. No matter how hard she had tried to stay closed off, Sera had seen the real her. The cracks in her mask had shown a glimpse of the vulnerable person underneath: someone who feared being alone, someone who hid behind years of discipline and distance to keep from being hurt. Sera had reached into those broken places and found something worth loving, and she hadn’t turned away. She didn’t flinch at the exposed parts of Ame that even she was afraid to face.

Instead, Sera had accepted them.

She had accepted who Ame truly was, not just the mask she wore.

Ame's now complete realization made her gaze soften as she looked out at the sunrise, the gentle warmth coaxing a sliver of feeling back into her numb heart. She realized, Sera didn’t want the perfect teacher, or the composed professional—she wanted the real her. She wanted Ame to be genuine, to let the facade fall and show who she was beneath it all. Maybe life wasn’t all about roles or rules; it was about being seen and loved for who she was. The thought sent a painful ache through her chest, a longing so deep that it shook her.

For the first time, she allowed herself to question whether she had been wrong. Perhaps, despite everything, there was a way to be true to herself, to let someone in without fearing the consequences. Maybe Sera had seen more than she herself could see, had believed in a version of her that was worth embracing.

Ame continued staring out at the sunrise, the golden hues warming the room and brushing against the edges of her heart. For so long, she had let her mind govern every decision she made, allowing discipline, duty, and expectations to mold her into who she was supposed to be. Her family’s high standards, her father’s disappointment, her achievements as Aina’s youngest Student Council President—these were the things that had always kept her in line, pushing her to uphold an image that felt suffocatingly perfect. She had worn that stoic mask for years, convincing herself that it was the only way to succeed, the only way to avoid being hurt.

But then, Sera came into her life. In just a few weeks, the cheerful, unpredictable girl had reached into the quiet spaces Ame had locked away and touched her heart in a way no one else had. She saw the lonely person behind the calm facade, the one who longed to be truly seen and accepted, and she didn’t turn away. Instead, she reached out and cared for her like no one else ever had, even in the brief, stolen moments they shared.

As she stood there in the morning light, something within Ame began to shift. Her heart, that she had kept so tightly bound, finally broke free of the constraints her mind had always imposed. For once, she let herself imagine a life not dictated by rigid rules or social expectations, a life where she wasn’t just the flawless teacher upholding the boundaries, or the dutiful daughter fulfilling her family’s ambitions. She let herself imagine a life where she followed her heart and reached out for what she truly wanted—where she chose to love, despite the risks.

Ame’s thoughts drifted back to when she made one of the first real choices for herself—choosing to become a teacher rather than taking over her father’s business. It had been a small act of defiance, a decision made out of a genuine desire to share knowledge, to care and connect with others, and to pursue something meaningful on her own terms. Teaching had been a way for her to be herself, even if just a little. And now, she realized that choosing to pursue Sera, no matter the consequences, could be the biggest and most important choice she would ever make for herself.

She felt a fire ignite within her—a fire that had been dimmed for so long by fear and doubt. Ame vowed to herself, right there and then, that she would do whatever it took to get Sera back. It didn’t matter what the world thought, or the expectations that came with being a teacher, or even the consequences that could arise. It didn’t matter if it meant breaking away further from her father’s ideals, her family’s expectations, or the image of perfection she had always tried to uphold. Sera was worth it. This love, if that’s what it truly was, was worth it.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy; it would take time to muster the courage to face Sera again. But Ame decided, at that very moment, that she would follow her heart. She would reach for Sera, no matter the cost—reputation, social standing, all of it. A new determination burned in her eyes, and she clenched her hands into fists as if sealing the promise she made to herself. For once in her life, she was choosing to fight for what she truly wanted. She was choosing to be herself.

With the sunrise casting a warm glow across her face, Ame felt alive with the resolution that she would not let Sera slip away. She would find her way back to her, and she would keep this feeling between them alive, no matter what.