“IT’S BEEN A month already, Luna, are you seriously not going to talk to me?” She sounds so frustrated but I promised I won’t give into her easily.

“We don’t have anything to talk about anymore, Scarlett.” I told her as I quickly grabbed and packed my things.

“Are we going to let things be like this for us, Luna?”

I breathed sharply. “This should be the right thing to do, to end things between the two of us,” I told her. “We can’t be more than anything, Scarlett. Both of us are too scared of this. Everything happened so fast. And maybe we were just caught up in the moment which may have also led me to think that my feelings for you could grow into something more.”

The only expression that I can see on Scarlett’s beautiful face is disappointment.

“But this has to stop before I hurt myself even more,” I bravely told her.

Scarlett’s expression suddenly softened, then she looked at me as if she was troubled and completely bothered by what I just said. “What are you saying, Luna?” She asked. “Please, don’t say that...”

I gave her a small smile. We should not talk any longer. I have already made up my mind that I will stay away from her for good, even though I know such a thing is impossible since we share the same set of friends. But I know—and hope—that eventually, what I am feeling for her will be gone soon.

“I really have to go now, Scarlett.”

“Are you really saying…that we should just go back to the start? Like we have never met each other?”

With a smile on my face, I nodded at her. “Well, I hope I could say that we should act like we never met each other. But that’s impossible, right? But we can just go back to the start. We can do just that. I think it would be better that way.”

She lowered her head and I noticed her clenching her fist. “I see,” she mumbled. “Why did you suddenly want to run away from me?”

“Because it’s the only way to protect myself.”

“Alright,” she said, nodding, then glanced at me. “If that’s how I can protect you, too, then I’d understand.”

I balled my fists. No, Luna, do not give in no matter what. “I’ll go now,” I told her.

“Luna.”

I stopped but I did not look back at her. I don’t want to. I’m afraid that if I look at her again, just a single look, I will lose all the courage I gathered for myself; to have the courage to stay away from Scarlett.

“Can we still be friends?”

Her question was the hardest question she has asked me. But of course, I need to give her an answer. An answer that will keep me safe from her.

“No,” I answered. “At least, not now.