The whole travel from Del Sol to SanMy was spent in silence only interrupted by Warrenโs grunts and fidgeting from the passenger seat.
Haru, focusing on the road and the traffic light thatโs taking forever to turn green, loudly taps a finger on the steering wheel to drown out the commotion.
๐ช: ๐๐๐๐! Earth to Haru? Hello????
Unable to elicit a reaction from Haru, Warren slumps back onto his seat and rolls his eyes.
๐ช: I swear to Watcher, woman! Are we going to talk shit out or are you going to shut me out again until you start missing me?
Without warning, Haru stops tapping her finger and slams her forehead on the steering wheel.
๐: *๐จ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ*
Suddenly concerned, Warren approaches her carefullyโฆ
๐ช: ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐ฆ, I know weโre both frustrated right now but wonโt you please speak to me so we can solve-
๐: Thereโs nothing to solve, Warren! I kept taking you back when I shouldn't have too many timesโฆI gave you all the chances in the world but all you succeeded in was finding new ways to disappoint and hurt me...
...๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธโฆ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ.
Warren sits in dejected silence for a moment. Haru never outright said before that she wanted to end things.
๐ช: Do you really mean that, Haru?
๐: ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ! The last thing we need right now is to stay in a pointless relationship. You have a lot to work on and I deserve better.
๐ช: Soโฆitโs goodbye then?
๐: Donโt be silly! We run in the same circles, itโs likely weโll still see each other around.
Haru puts her hands on Warrenโs shoulder.
๐: We have a year left in college - thereโs still time for you to turn things around. I know the brilliant Orange is still in there somewhere. Make him proud.
With his momโs place being only a block away, Warren figures itโd be best for Haru to take the free cab in front of them instead of driving him home.
But of course, Haru, being Haru, doesnโt take leave without making sure he can manage.
He assures her heโs more than sobered up and can drive.
Itโs actually uncomfortable how aware he is of himself at the moment.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ฑ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ? He drank, didnโt he?
๐๐ฐ๐ช๐ด๐ต ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฆ๐ด? Itโs late, heโs sleepy!
๐๐ฒโ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ! He might ask his mom to make hot peppermint cocoa with marshmallows on top when he gets home, though.
๐: The dorm at Mossy Lane in Britchester, please. It's close to Pepper's Pub.
Breaking up isnโt any easier for Haru.
Theyโve been together for years, albeit on-again then off-again, and most of her teen milestones were with him.
She can cry but her body has had it (officially) and is flatly refusing to produce the tears necessary to feel somewhat of a catharsis.
๐ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ! ๐๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ท๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณโฆ
Just as Haru whips out her phone, the light turns green.
The phone on the other end rings for only a second before it's answered. Clearly, whoever she called was anticipating her.
????: MY BABY! Happy New Year! How are you?
Haruโs heavy heart immediately lightens at the sound of her motherโs voice.
๐: Mom! Happy New Year too! Iโm okay...๐ ๐จ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด?
Rosie, Haru's mom, clicks her tongue in disapproval.
๐ฅ: Please tell me you at least took a break from your schoolwork to celebrate. Have you eaten already?
The truth is, all of her schoolwork had been completed before Winterfest, but she had to lie due to...๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด.
๐ฅ: Haru, donโt make me teleport there to force-feed you Japchae and Dango!
๐: OMW, yum! Is that what you guys ate? So jelly!
๐ฅ: Iโm not joking, young ladyโฆ
๐: Why donโt I teleport there instead? Actually, I went to Julienneโs party but didn't have the chance to grab a bite...
Haru hears a scoff in the background, followed by the critical voice of her father.
๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต: What does that kid serve at her parties anyway, rabbit food?
๐ญ: I just donโt get it!
Haru giggles. Sheโs already feeling a lot better.
๐ฅ: What your father is trying to say is itโs not the same without you here. Give us a few to get ready to meet you at the spawn point-
๐: Wait! Iโm still on my way back to the dorm. Let me change first.
๐ฅ: No problem. Call us when youโre good, โkay?
๐: Roger that. See you!
Haru hangs up the phone, her heart full and hopeful.
Sheโs not big on resolutions, but if there is one lesson this night taught her, itโs that letting go and not sticking to plans can lead to better outcomes.
๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ข๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐จ๐ช๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐.
