🧎♀️🍵 Miko and Her Grandfather
Miko knelt beside her grandfather's chair 🧎♀️The wooden floor was cold under her knees ❄️
He was sharpening a wooden cane 🪵Slow strokes.Careful.Even though it didn't need sharpening at all.
"Grandpa…" she whispered 😶
He didn't look up.Didn't stop.
"You're troubled again," he said calmly ☕
Miko lowered her head 😔Her fingers twisted together 🤏
"Chichi and Barfi…""They're together all the time now.""Studying… 📚 eating… 🍱 walking…" 🚶"I barely get to sit near him."
Her voice cracked at the end 💔
Her grandfather finally looked at her 👀Eyes sharp.But kind.
"And how does that make you feel?"
Miko swallowed 😣
"…Like someone stole my favorite place…""…without asking."
The old boss chuckled softly 😮💨A knowing sound.
"My dear," he said gently,"that is exactly how the heart begins to speak." 🤍
Miko's shoulders trembled.
"But… what if he likes her?""What if she makes him happy?" 😞
Her grandfather reached for his tea 🍵Sipped slowly.
"Then you support him.""And you wait."
He glanced at her again.
"If you truly care for someone…""…you don't cage them." 🕊️
Miko nodded slowly ✔️But the weight in her chest didn't move.
📆⏳ One Month Later — The Routine
The calendar flipped 📅One page.Then another.
One month passed.
Barfi and Chichi became… something.
Not official 💬Not romantic 💞But constant 🔁
They studied together 📚Ate together 🍱Walked together 🚶
Chichi's friends whispered excitedly 🗣️
"They're such a cute couple!" 💕"Barfi is so calm!""Chichi is perfect for him!"
Miko heard it all 👂Every word.
Every day she sat further away 🪑Watching quietly 👀Smiling politely 🙂Hurting silently 💔
🌱🗣️ Chichi's Friends Plant a Seed
Lunch break 🍴Chichi sat with her friends.
"Chichi… you two are perfect!""But his bicycle…" 🚲
One girl wrinkled her nose 😒"It's basically held by tape."
Another laughed lightly 😅"He should change it. It makes him look… you know… poor."
Chichi hesitated 😕
"B-But it's his brother's gift…"
One friend leaned closer 🤫Voice low.
"If he loves you…""…he will improve himself for you."
A pause.
"Tell him to buy a new one."
Chichi bit her lip 😬
"…Okay."
🌳💥 The Breaking Point
After classes 🎒Chichi walked beside Barfi.
He pushed his stitched-up bicycle 🚲Wheel wobbling slightly.
"Barfi…" she said softly."Can we talk?"
"Yes," he replied calmly 😐
They stopped under a tree 🌳
Chichi touched the cycle seat lightly.
"I think…""…you should change this bicycle."
Barfi looked at it.
"…Why?"
She blushed 🌸"It's old… weird…""People stare…""It makes you look… not perfect."
Barfi frowned slightly 🤨
"It works.""I repaired it."
Chichi shook her head 😔"But it doesn't look good."
"I like it," Barfi said simply.
Her voice tightened.
"Barfi… can't you change it for me?"
"No."
She blinked 😳
"Why not?"
"It's from my brother."
Her lips pressed thin.
"Please.""Just buy a new one.""For me."
"No."
No anger 😐No hesitation ❌Just truth.
Chichi's voice sharpened.
"If you don't…""…we can't keep dating."
Barfi nodded once ✔️
"Okay."
Her breath hitched.
"…Okay?"
"Yes.""Break up."
He turned 🚶And walked away 🚲Without looking back.
🌸😶 Miko Sees Everything
Across the walkway 🌸Under a cherry blossom tree—
Miko watched.
Her breath caught 😮💨
Not because of Chichi.
But because of Barfi's face.
No sadness 😐No anger 😠No heartbreak 💔
Just emptiness.
A boy who learned too earlythat happiness is temporary ⏳
Miko whispered softly 🤍
"…Barfi-san…"
Petals fell around her 🌸
And she understood something terrifying:
Barfi wasn't broken by Chichi.He was broken before her.
And she had just watched another crack form.
😭🪑 Chichi Breaks Down
Behind the cafeteria 🍽️Chichi collapsed onto a bench 🪑
Crying loudly 😭So loudly pigeons backed away 🐦❌
Her friends surrounded her.
"What happened!?""He didn't change the bicycle!?""He really broke up with you!?"
She sobbed harder 💦
"He didn't argue!""He didn't chase me!""He didn't beg!""He didn't even look sad!"
Silence.
One friend whispered 😶"That boy is… different."
Chichi cried into her sleeve 😭"I liked him so much…""…but he didn't love me back…"
Hugs followed 🤍
A few steps away—
Miko heard everything 👂
"There is no winner in this,"she whispered quietly 🌫️
☕🔧 Walter Comforts Barfi (Badly)
Back at the café ☕Barfi sat on a stool 🪑Fixing a coffee machine 🔧Careful. Precise.
Walter leaned over the counter.
"So… uh…""How was your breakup?"
"It was short," Barfi replied quietly.
Walter patted his shoulder 🤝"Women come, women go…""…but your cycle is forever."
No response.
"You okay?" Walter asked.
"I am fine."
Walter squinted 👀"That's how patients talk before dying."
Barfi kept working.
Walter sighed 😮💨"Okay. I'm calling the only idiot who understands love."
"…Laddu?" Barfi guessed.
📞🤡 Laddu's Wisdom
Laddu answered instantly 📱
"HELLO! THIS IS YOUR STEP-FATHER—"
Barfi interrupted.
"…I broke up."
Laddu inhaled sharply 😮
"Ooooof. Brutal.""What happened?"
"She wanted me to change my bicycle."
"THE SACRED BICYCLE!?" 😱"THE BROTHER GIFT!?""THE TAPE MIRACLE!?"
"Yes."
"You did the right thing," Laddu declared proudly 👑
Walter nodded."See?"
Laddu continued dramatically:
"She told me to stop playing with my action figures once."
Walter screamed."YOUR WHAT!?"
"I broke up instantly!" Laddu shouted.
Walter facepalmed 🤦
"What are you doing now?" Barfi asked.
"Playing videogames." 🎮"My sister is upside down in a trap."
Call ended.
Silence.
"…He's not human," Walter muttered.
"I know," Barfi nodded.
🌑🔧 Quiet Aftermath
Barfi went back to polishing the machine.
Not sad 😐Not angry 😠Just… quiet.
Walter watched him carefully 👀
"Breakups hurt," he whispered.
No reply.
"Sometimes," Walter added softly,"they hurt because you remember…""…every time the world made you feel unwanted."
Barfi's hands paused ✋
Just for one second.
Then continued.
Walter noticed.
And said nothing.