[Chapter 4]

The Boy Who Was Always Fine

After that night he did something unexpected

He became normal

Not quiet

Not distant

Not broken in front of anyone

Just normal

He started replying in group chats again

Started going out with friends

Started laughing at jokes

If someone asked "You good"

He smiled

"Yeah I am fine"

And he said it so naturally that even he almost believed it

He went to work

Focused more than before

Stayed productive

Stayed busy

Busy people do not feel as much

At least that is what he told himself

When someone mentioned her name

He did not flinch

He simply nodded

"She is doing well I guess"

Calm

Balanced

Unbothered

Meanwhile she watched from a distance

Through mutual friends

Through social media

Through accidental glimpses

He looked fine

Smiling in pictures

Standing straight

Eyes clear

It confused her

Was he not the one who said he could not imagine losing her

Was he not the one who tried to hold on

Then why did he look lighter now

One evening she gathered courage and called him

The phone rang twice

He picked up

"Hello"

His voice was steady

Not cold

Not warm

Just steady

"Hey" she said

"Hey"

"I just called to check how you are"

"I am good" he replied immediately

"Work has been busy but it is fine"

No hesitation

No crack

"Oh"

"And you" he asked politely

"I am fine too"

"That is good"

There was no tension

No emotional weight

Just two people speaking like acquaintances

"I heard you went on that trip" she said

"Yeah it was fun"

Fun

The word felt sharp to her

He was supposed to struggle

To miss her

To sound incomplete

But he sounded whole

"I am glad" she forced a small laugh

"Yeah me too"

There was a pause

He did not fill it

He did not ask why she called at night

He did not ask if she missed him

He did not sound like someone waiting

After a few seconds he said

"I have to wake up early tomorrow"

"Oh okay"

"It was good hearing from you"

Polite

"It was good hearing from you too"

"Take care"

"You too"

The call ended

She stared at the screen

Her chest felt strangely tight

He sounded fine

Too fine

Meanwhile he placed his phone down

His hand trembled

Just slightly

He walked to the mirror

Looked at himself

"You are fine....fine as always" he whispered

He practiced it

Like a line in a play

Because that is what he had become

An actor in his own heartbreak

He did not cry

Not that night

Instead he went out the next day

Posted a picture

Smiled wider than usual

And the world believed him

She saw the picture

Zoomed into his face

Trying to find sadness

Trying to find her absence

But he looked normal

And that is when doubt began

Did she matter less than she thought

Or did he just learn how to hide better

Some people do not show their pain

They perfect their performance

And she did not know

That behind every "I am fine"

𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗲....