Thalia fails to decide before the trip, so she'll have to stick with the plan that screams: "We're breaking up." She has hoped to have some say in this charade, but her indecisiveness has left her feeling stuck. Now, she's contemplating just bailing on the whole thing and spending another 24 hours mulling over what she can actually live without.

But she already misses Miguel.

How can she not? She's in love with him—body and soul. Cheesy as it sounds, she's happy to be with him, and falling for someone else isn't on her radar. Not today. Not ever.

But she also loves her family. Aren't they the reason why she'd tossed everything aside?

Thalia's never been this wishy-washy in her life.

She'd always known what she wanted and what was the right thing to do. When her father's casket was buried six feet under, she stepped up without hesitation, even though she knew that her heart would receive a beating and her happiness would take a nosedive.

"Thalia!"

She hears Joshua call from the rented van parked in front of the store. At 6 AM, he is oddly energetic. But that's Joshua. It will be weirder if he isn't.

"Sorry, I'm late," Thalia says as she strolls over to the van, windows rolled down. "The bus took its sweet time."

Thalia scans the people on board, making sure everyone's settled. Miguel's parents, Baljit, Linda, Lorenzo, and Joshua are all in their spots. Miguel is chilling in the driver's seat, but there's an unexpected vacancy in the passenger seat. Definitely not what they had talked about. They are supposed to execute the brand-new agreement on this trip.

"Joshua, why didn't you call shotgun?" she quizzes, side-eyeing Miguel, who should've made sure they didn't end up sitting together.

"Why would I?" he asks, yawning. "I don't wanna be responsible for the nav."

She bites her lip, shooting Miguel a look that speaks volumes. He revs the engine, acting all nonchalant.

"Come on in, Thalia," Sheila says, motioning for her to hop in the van. "We've got a schedule to stick to."

Feeling a bit awkward, she reluctantly takes a seat next to Miguel, whispering, "Why didn't you have Joshua sit here?"

"I tried. Why were you late? You could've snagged a spot back there if you weren't," he replies, getting the wheels turning.

She clicks her tongue. "Never mind. We've got a long day ahead."

"Yeah. We can make up for it," Miguel says, sipping coffee from his tumbler. "Let's give it our best shot."

Thalia frowns. Their best? Are they giving it their all to convince everyone they're over?

Miguel seems really eager to sever ties, Thalia thinks, stealing another glance at him. His expression remains elusive in the dark, sporadic flashes of car headlights highlighting his stern features. It's as if he's compelled to be there but isn't exactly thrilled about it.

Perhaps it's the lack of breakfast or caffeine in her bloodstream, but the cogs in Thalia's brain spin rapidly and then click.

What a fool she's been. Is he ever going to make an effort to make her stay?

He isn't.

Up until this point, Thalia hasn't really admitted it, but she's been secretly hoping he'll say something to stop her. End this drama. Assure her that everything will be okay, that there's something worth sticking around for. That they'll be just fine as long as they're together.

That's why it's been such a struggle to decide. It's not because she can't; she's waiting for him to tell her to stay.

But, the truth is, Miguel is less likely to utter a word until she's completely given up on him. It is he who has proposed the marriage, and it is he who's just taking it back.

Thalia's overestimated her worth. He doesn't like her that much to hold on.

These depressing thoughts unfurl in her mind during the drive, and she begins to wonder why she even bothers going through the ordeal when they aren't on the same wavelength. It's pointless to waste away like this. Even if she decides that she can't live without Miguel, it doesn't mean he can't live without her.

Screw seduction tactics. Screw being in love with him. She should go where she's wanted.

That's it. Easy peasy.

Thalia stares out the window, holding back tears that mess with her view, and the city lights and passing cars become a blurry mishmash. She's dead set on not looking in Miguel's direction. Ever since Aly dropped the good news bomb, her mind's been all Miguel, guilt turning her into an emotional sponge.

This chapter will be closed soon.

On the upside, she has resolved to keep her distance from him during the trip and hang out with Linda instead. It's not just in line with their plan; it's also for her own good.

Unfortunately, things aren't going smoothly so far. Their companions seem determined to keep the faux future groom and bride together at all times, not just in the car's seating arrangement. For instance, when they swing by a cafe for breakfast, the only available spot is next to Miguel. Joshua takes Miguel's order, so he doesn't even have to get up. Thalia concedes and occupies the seat beside him, placing her tray on the table and munching on her hashbrowns in silence.

Thalia can't really blame them. She and Miguel haven't hashed out the details of how and when they'll break the news that they're calling it quits. All they've agreed on is that it shouldn't be during this trip; they don't want to spoil the experience for everyone.

Their first stop is Maligne Canyon inside Jasper National Park. In April, most of the ice has melted, ruling out the possibility of an icewalk. So, they embark on an easier hike from the parking lot to the bridges. The area is surrounded by mountains and lush trees, with the ambient soundtrack of wild animals having some chit-chat in the background, mostly birds tweeting.

The sun is shining bright, making it a perfect day for a hike. However, by the first bridge, Linda and Baljit raise their white flags.

"I'm not going any further," Linda declares, plopping down on a rock with a sigh. "I'm too old for this."

"Nah, you're not!" Thalia insists. "Come on, we still have a long way to go."

"Young people can move forward," Baljit concurs, also finding a spot to rest.

"Miguel's parents aren't stopping," Thalia argues, glancing at Miguel, his parents, Joshua, and Lorenzo making their way toward them.

Despite Thalia's efforts, she fails to convince the two. The remaining five press on to the next bridge. Unfortunately, Miguel's parents throw in the towel at the second one, with Rey citing back pains.

"Should we continue?" Lorenzo asks.

"I think we should," Miguel replies. "We're already here."

"I'll stay," Thalia says, earning a frown from Miguel, who asks, "Are you tired?"

"A little," she lies, averting her gaze. She really wants to see more of the sights, but she's more eager not to be around Miguel.

Joshua pouts, suddenly hooking his arm around Thalia's. "Nah, if we're going, you're going. We can also take photos of you two! It'll be your engagement photos to show during the wedding reception."

Thalia's lips flatten. "It's not necessary—"

Miguel interjects, "I'm going now. Linda and Baljit are waiting for us to come down. We need to finish the hike fast." He follows the trail, blending in with many others without a backward glance.

Sheila strides over to Thalia and Joshua. "You guys should go. The view is worth it. We'll head back to Linda and Baljit and wait with them."

"Come on, Thalia," Joshua nudges, untangling their arms, and continues to watch fellow hikers.

A shadow of hesitation crosses Thalia's face. Sheila clutches her hand and says, "Go. It'll be fine."

Thalia nods slightly and joins Joshua and Lorenzo, who are already a few steps ahead. They catch up to Miguel, snapping photos of the deep waterfall by the third bridge, the ripples creating a consistent and calming background melody. When Miguel turns around and locks eyes with Thalia, his expression turns lifeless, a detail she doesn't miss. She shifts her focus to the scenery, convincing herself that this is all for the best.

"Oh, it's nice here. Wow," Joshua comments, squeezing himself into the spot where Miguel is standing. Lorenzo excuses himself and goes a little further to get a clearer view of the cliff.

Joshua snaps photos left and right, takes a selfie, and then playfully tugs Miguel and Thalia into a picture with him in the middle.

Thalia can't help but suppress a grimace. She's not exactly in the mood for a photo op with her fake future ex-fiancé. "You know there's a superstition that when three people are in a picture together, the one in the middle will die, right?"

Joshua winces. "How grim. You could've just told me you don't want me in the picture!"

"No, no, that's not—"

Joshua slips away, leaving Miguel and Thalia standing there, the rocks and waterfall forming their backdrop. A family of four shuffles beside Thalia, nudging her closer to Miguel, their shoulders brushing.

"Sorry," she mutters.

"It's all good."

Joshua, adjusting the camera, frowns. "Get a bit closer, please."

"We're practically shoulder to shoulder, what more do you want?" Thalia grumbles, teeth clenched.

He scratches his head. "I don't know. Act like you're in love? You're supposed to be getting hitched soon. This isn't giving me those vibes."

As it should, Thalia thinks bitterly.

Thankfully, the whole photo-op ordeal evaporates when a massive crowd of tourists, led by a guide, swarms the third bridge. The influx of people forces the trio to retreat, seeking a more secluded spot.

"Photos will have to wait, I guess," Joshua mutters.

"Let's bounce. We're done here," Thalia declares, leading the way back to where they left the rest of their crew.

"Everything okay with you guys?" Joshua inquires once Thalia is far enough away to avoid hearing the ensuing conversation.

"Mm," Miguel hums.

"Doesn't seem like it," he replies. "She's been down for a few days now, and you guys are giving each other the silent treatment. Linda mentioned it to me, and I usually wouldn't poke my nose into–"

"Usually, you would," Miguel chimes in. "Like what you're doing right now."

Joshua waves it off. "Well, I've got no plans. Skipped Spring classes, just got out of a breakup, so, moving on—"

Miguel pats him on the back. He grunts. "No, I am alright. It was mutual."

"That's what we all say..."

"Moving on," Joshua interrupts sternly. "You two need to patch things up already. Thalia's straightforward. If you talk to her honestly, she'll come around."

"What if honesty won't cut it?" Miguel mumbles.

If he spills that he loves her and will do everything to fill the gaps she's bound to lose, will it really make a difference? Can he actually live up to that promise?

"Not sure what you mean by that," Joshua says. "But would you rather lose her with a lie?"

******

A/N: I know, I know. This story will just end if they simply talk. But where's the fun in that?! Haha. In real life, we tend to hold back, and in a 'fake' relationship, there's even more uncertainty. Thalia feels unwanted. Miguel thinks he's not on par with her career and family.

The chapter ends with a good question, though. Do we agree with Joshua? Or do we sympathize  with Miguel's reluctance?