The Last Guardian Of The Apocalypse

Rain drummed against the glass windows of Blue Orchid Restaurant.

Inside, couples laughed over expensive meals while soft piano music filled the air.

Ethan Cole sat nervously at a corner table, clutching a small velvet box hidden inside his jacket.

Tonight was supposed to be special.

Four years.

He and Lily had been together for four long years. Through poverty, late-night shifts, unpaid rent, and empty stomachs, he had believed one thing would never change.

Her.

He then thought within him

" Why did she choose such an expensive restaurant,........ Maybe she had got really lucky today and wants to surprise me ...."

He blushed as he thought more about it.

He smiled as he checked his phone.

7:58 PM.

"She's almost here."

A waiter approached.

"Would you like to order while waiting, sir?"

Ethan smiled awkwardly.

"No... I'll wait for my girlfriend."

The waiter nodded politely and walked away.

Five minutes later...

The restaurant doors opened.

Ethan's face lit up.

"Lily!"

But the smile froze on his lips.

Lily wasn't alone.

Walking beside her was a tall man dressed in an expensive black suit. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist, and the keys to a sports car dangled casually from his fingers.

The two of them walked hand in hand.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

"Lily... who is he?"

She sat down calmly, not even looking guilty.

"This is Victor."

Victor leaned back with a smug smile.

"So you're Ethan."

He looked Ethan up and down as though inspecting a beggar.

"I expected... better."

Several nearby diners glanced over.

Ethan ignored Victor and looked only at Lily.

"What is this?"

Lily sighed.

"Ethan... let's end this."

His smile disappeared.

"What?"

"I can't keep pretending anymore."

"I've spent four years believing things would get better."

"They didn't."

"You work day and night, yet you're still broke."

"You promised we'd have a better life."

"You promised we'd travel."

"You promised we'd own a house."

"But promises don't pay bills."

Every word pierced Ethan's chest.

He whispered, choking in his words with tears rolling down his checks,

"I've been working for us... I worked 5 jobs,... I pay your rent, .....your school fees which your parents couldn't afford, .......I feed you, .......I clothes you, I even do things your parents couldn't do ,........... I overworked myself so I can give you even half of the life you wished for,........ when you are sick I take good care of your health but this is what I get in return "your betrayal"

His chest tightened as he was pouring out half of what was in his mind .

She shook her head.

"No."

"You are too poor and broke."

Victor placed an arm around Lily's waist.

"I can give her everything you can't."

A waitress accidentally stopped walking just to watch.

Other customers had already begun whispering.

One man chuckled.

"So that's the boyfriend?"

"What a loser."

Ethan's fists trembled beneath the table.

"Lily..."

"Was everything we had fake?"

She looked away.

"I did love you."

"...Once."

"But love isn't enough."

She said sarcastically as She stood.

"Oh, and one more thing."

"I'm engaged."

Victor held up Lily's left hand.

A diamond ring sparkled under the restaurant lights.

It was brighter than anything Ethan had ever been able to afford.

His vision blurred.

He couldn't breathe.

Victor smirked and said to Ethan .

"Thanks for taking care of her."

Then Victor then turned to Lilly and said

"I wonder what you were doing with such a poor loser like him,.... I mean you are very beautiful........ and deserve only someone like me who is capable ... "

Laughter echoed from nearby tables.

Someone even clapped.

Ethan slowly stood, he didn't know what to describe the feeling he was having at that moment.

He was having both the feelings of betrayal and that of the embarrassment he received .

Without saying another word...

He walked away.

Not because he had accepted defeat.

Because if he stayed one second longer...

He would break.

Outside...

The rain poured harder.

His clothes were soaked within seconds.

He laughed.

Then laughed again.

Eventually...

The laughter turned into tears.

"So this is how it ends..."

Four years...

Gone in ten minutes.

His phone vibrated.

Bank Balance: $3.27

He stared at the screen.

Three dollars.

That was everything he had left after paying Lily's rent last week.

He looked toward the dark sky.

"Was I really that worthless?"

At that exact moment...

SCREEECH!

A speeding truck lost control on the slippery road.

People screamed.

"LOOK OUT!"

Ethan turned.

The blinding headlights filled his vision.

He couldn't move.

Everything happened too fast.

BOOM!!

...

Darkness.

Complete silence.

Do you think Ethan survived the crash with the betrayal from his girlfriend do you think his broken heart will be repaired