Chapter 62
Four years later.
We’re finally going back to the Philippines.
A lot has changed since then.
Theo is now a licensed general surgeon—something he worked hard for, despite all his chaotic antics.
As for me?
I’ve finished dealing with everything that needed closure.
I’ve stepped into my role as the head of the Sanchez business empire.
Every asset, every deal, every connection tied to the name "Sanchez" is now under my care.
It's not the life I imagined, but it's the life I had to grow into.
“Huhu, makakauwi na rin sa wakas!” Theo groaned beside me as we sat on the plane, already halfway through boarding. “Sa ilang taon ko rito sa Paris, ni isang poging nilalang walang napadpad sa akin! Ano 'to? Kulam?”
I chuckled a little at his usual complaints. He never changed.
Time really does fly. Nine years… and yet it feels like yesterday when everything crumbled. When I left. When I ran away—from my responsibilities, from the pain, from her.
Wait for me, Syl. I’m coming back home. If I still have a place beside you.
The long flight lulled me to sleep without even realizing it. I must’ve looked dead tired because I woke up only when Theo started shaking my shoulder.
“Hoy, Cynthia. Landing na. Bumangon kana d'yan."
I groaned softly and straightened up. The seatbelt sign was already on, and outside the window, I could already see the familiar skyline. I took a deep breath.
I’m back.
As soon as we stepped off the plane and into the arrival area, Theo raised both arms and declared dramatically, “I’m back, Philippines! Na-miss niyo ba ako? Hays, ako lang ‘to!”
Nearly everyone turned to look at him—some confused, others amused. A few even chuckled.
I instinctively stepped away from him and pretended I wasn’t with him.
“Oh gosh,” I whispered under my breath, “I don’t know this man.”
But of course, Theo being Theo, noticed it right away.
“Pakihintay ako, teh,” he shouted, chasing after me with a wide grin. “Alam kong na-miss mo na, pero pakikalma lang ha! Wag masyadong excited!”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. Despite everything, he still managed to make things a little brighter.
As we made our way through the terminal, the weight of returning home started to settle in. The question is… was I ready to face everything I left behind?
Especially her.
We were finally out of the airport. The air was thick and warm—typical Manila. My suitcase squeaked against the pavement as I stared blankly at the cab line. Theo was busy taking selfies near a Jollibee stand. Of course.
I opened my phone and stared at the pinned address: Athena's house. I saved it years ago, still memorized the route. I stood there for a while, heart pounding.
Should I really go? What if they’ve moved on? What if they’ve changed and I’m just some distant memory?
Maybe they’ve forgotten me.
I sighed, pulling my suitcase toward the side of the road. “Stupid,” I muttered.
I walked, dragging my suitcase along the uneven pavement, heels clacking with every hesitant step.
Athena’s house was still there. Same gate, same pastel walls. The bougainvillea vines were overgrown now, but it looked exactly how I remembered it.
I stopped across the street, staring at it like it might change shape if I blinked enough times.
Nine years. Nine years of letters I never sent. Of birthdays missed. Of things I wanted to say but never had the courage to.
What if they don’t even live here anymore? What if they forgot me?
I laughed bitterly. “Who even just shows up after nine years?”
The world moved around me—cars, tricycles, a group of kids running past, one of them yelling “Taya ka na!” I could feel myself blending into the noise, into the background.
I turned around and started walking away.
Stupid.
Just stupid.
And then—
“HOY! Ate girl! Bag mo oh!”
I stopped.
“Hala, ‘di mo ba alam na masyado kang pang-Maalaala Mo Kaya ngayon?”
That voice.
That tone.
That chaos.
I turned slowly and there she was—Diana. In ripped jeans, a pink fluffy top, and gold sunglasses despite the overcast sky. Holding up my tote bag that I had unknowingly dropped in my dramatic retreat.
“Girl, akala ko ghost ka lang! ‘Yung tipong ‘hi ate pabili ng yelo’ tapos biglang mawawala sa CCTV?”
Behind her was Athena, mid-step, eyebrows shooting up the moment she saw my face.
“Wait—Cynthia?”
I blinked. She said my name like a question and an answer at the same time.
“Athena…”
Her mouth parted slightly. “Is that really you?”
I nodded. My throat was tight.
Then suddenly, she crossed the street. Her heels clicked, her eyes never leaving mine. No hesitation. And when she reached me, she didn’t say anything—she just hugged me. Tightly. Like the past nine years collapsed into that one moment.
“You idiot,” she whispered into my hair. “You’re really back.”
“I didn’t know if I should come,” I murmured.
Diana crossed her arms. “Ewan ko sa’yo ha, kung ako ‘yan, matagal na akong kumatok. Kumain pa ‘ko ng sinigang habang nag-sosorry! Hindi ‘yung emo walk with matching baggage. Teleserye ka talaga, bes.”
“Diana,” Athena warned, but she was smiling through her tears.
“Joke lang! Pero totoo rin.”
We heard running from behind.
“Oh my god, I saw from the balcony!”
Seinna. Hair still perfectly blown out, waving her phone like she was livestreaming.
“I didn’t think I had a place here anymore,” I said.
Athena pulled back, cupping my face. “You’ll always have a place. With us.”
Seinna snorted. “Yeah, just maybe warn us next time so Diana doesn’t yell at a ghost in the street.”
“Hoy,” Diana raised a brow. “Mabait kaya ako sa multo. Pero hindi sa mga dramang ganyan! Ako na nga ‘tong na-miss ka, ikaw pa ‘tong nag-walkout!”
Everyone laughed. And I laughed too—through the tears I didn’t realize had started falling again.
This was home.
And I was finally back.
As soon as we stepped inside their house. It was still the same.
“You guys didn’t change a thing,” I murmured, brushing my hand against the edge of the living room couch.
Athena smiled as she walked past me, unzipping her boots. “Why would we? Seinna still uses the same mug every morning—”
“Because it’s perfect,” Seinna called from the kitchen. “And because someone broke my other favorite one.”
“I did not—”
“You did. You were trying to show off your ‘foam art.’”
Diana appeared in the doorway, holding a glass of cold calamansi juice. “It was a heart!”
“It was a butt,” Seinna corrected.
I laughed. Loud. Freer than I had in years.
Diana slumped on the couch dramatically. “Grabe. Parang reunion special ng teleserye, no? Kulang na lang, may slow-mo tapos theme song.”
Then she threw a pillow at me. “Ayan! Para sa siyam na taong hindi mo kami kinausap! Akala ko tuloy namundok ka!”
“I was in Paris,” I deadpanned.
“Exactly. Namundok.”
Athena set her phone on the table and curled up next to Diana. “You look good, Cyn. Different. In a… polished CEO-who’s-also-mysterious way.”
“She looks rich,” Seinna chimed in, sipping her drink. “Like she owns a vineyard and sometimes disappears to ‘Italy’ but no one knows what for.”
“You guys are insane.” I shook my head, but the grin refused to leave my face.
“Okay, pero wait lang,” Diana sat up, suddenly serious. “Real talk. Kumain ka na ba? May adobo pa ata sa ref. Or we can order tapsilog—basta ako, kailangan ko ng kanin. Itong mga burgis na ‘to, puro salad!”
“Excuse me?” Seinna blinked. “I literally just had kare-kare last night.”
Athena raised a hand. “I’m always pro-rice. I just like mine with presentation.”
“Presentation? Girl, kanin lang ‘yan, hindi thesis defense!”
The laughter that followed filled the whole living room. It echoed through the walls, into my chest, like it had been waiting for me to come back just so it could sound the way it used to.
"But what really happened? Are you okay?" Seinna asked me.
I told them everything that has been happening to me since in the past.
“Putangina talaga, Cynthia. Alam mo ba, kung nakita kita noon na umiiyak mag-isa, baka kinampihan pa kita kahit wala akong alam. ‘Yung tita mong—ay nako. Diyos ko. Kunsabagay, hindi rin ako masyadong madasalin pero kung ako si Lord? Kukunin ko rin siya agad!”
Athena looked at her. “Diana.”
“What?” she said, arms crossed. “I’m just saying what you’re all thinking. Don’t lie.”
Seinna sighed. “She’s not wrong. But like… you went through all that alone?”
I shrugged. “It didn’t feel like I had a choice.”
“You always had a choice, Cyn,” Seinna said gently. “You had us. You still have us.”
I looked around. Athena was wiping under her eye discreetly, pretending to check her eyeliner. Seinna had set her phone down—completely unheard of.
“Hay nako,” Diana muttered. “Dito na ‘ko magtatayo ng foundation for emotionally damaged girls. Cynthia, ikaw na poster girl. May pa-Paris Paris ka pa d’yan, eh ang totoo pala—na-trauma ka!”
Everyone stared at her.
She blinked. “Anong tingin niyo? Wala bang katotohanan ‘yon?”
Athena groaned. “Diana, tone it down.”
“Hindi ako nag-tu-tune up! Ganito lang talaga ako mag-alaga!”
We all laughed—because that was her version of comfort. Loud, unapologetic, slightly illegal.
Seinna leaned back, legs crossed. “What now, though? Are you staying?”
I nodded.
“About time,” Athena said. “We’ve kept your room. Just in case.”
“You didn’t.”
“She did,” Seinna confirmed. “She wouldn’t let us turn it into an office. Said it was ‘bad feng shui.’”
“It is bad feng shui,” Athena defended. “You don’t mess with emotional energy.”
“Gaga, emotional energy ba tawag mo sa dami ng plush toys sa kama ni Cynthia?” Diana snorted. “Pati ‘yung stuffed octopus na may mood-mood pa? Hindi mo nga tinapon!”
“I still have that?!” I gasped.
“You left half your childhood here,” Athena said. “I’m surprised we didn’t start charging rent.”
“‘Di nga kami nag group chat masyado kasi may ma-mi-miss kami. Ikaw.” Diana added, surprisingly quiet.
Then, just as suddenly: “Teka, gutom na ‘ko. Mag-order tayo! Bawal ang iyakan sa may hapon. Gabi lang ‘yan! May tapsilog pa ba diyan?”
Seinna stood. “We’ll eat. And then you’re staying the night. No arguments.”
"But by the way, where's Samantha?" I asked, glancing around. Something felt off. It had taken me a while to notice it, but her absence was louder than any voice in the room.
"Ay, teh… naging multo na 'yun! Swear! Parang hangin—wala nang address, wala na ring signal!" Diana answered instantly, flipping her hair like she was in a soap opera. "Parang ex mong hindi na nagparamdam—boom, ghosting!"
I blinked. "What?"
"She left," Athena said, her voice soft but certain. "She’s been abroad for a few years now. Something came up… something important. She never told us the full details, but she made her decision."
"We haven’t heard from her since," Seinna added, arms folded, her usual composed tone laced with a faint trace of disappointment. "She just disappeared. Vanished."
IDiana chimed in again, scooting closer with wide eyes. "Pero wag ka, hindi pa 'yan ang chika of the year!"
"There’s more?" I asked, unsure whether to be nervous or amused.
"Of course," Athena smiled gently. "We’ve been working on something while you were away. Something… big."
"Huge, actually," Seinna added.
"May sariling university na tayo!" Diana suddenly shouted, raising both arms like she just won Miss Universe. "As in, legit university! May library, may gym, may students—lahat! May scholarship programs pa kung gusto mong maging bida sa teleserye ng buhay!"
"Wait, what? A university?" I asked, trying to process what she just said. "You can’t be serious."
"We are," Athena nodded. "It started as an idea. A joke, even. But then… we did it."
"It’s ours," Seinna said firmly. "And guess what, Cynthia—you own it."
I stared at them. "I what?"
"YES!" Diana leaned in so close I could see the sparkle in her eyes. "Ikaw ang queen bee! Founder, CEO, school mascot kung gusto mo! Kahit wala ka, ikaw pa rin iniisip namin."
"Your name is literally on the front gate," Athena added with a soft chuckle. "Golden letters. Big and bold."
"And expensive-looking," Seinna smirked. "I made sure of that."
"You guys… built a university and made me the owner?"
"Surprise!" Diana sang, waving imaginary confetti in the air. "Welcome home, school founder!"
I was stunned into silence. My chest tightened in that weird, warm way that felt like both gratitude and guilt.
"We promised ourselves that one day we’d be professors there," Athena said. "It was one of those 'what if' dreams we used to talk about… remember?"
"And when you left, we didn’t stop," Seinna added. "We just… kept building. For you. For all of us."
"Kasi kahit wala ka, bestie, hindi ka nawala sa puso namin," Diana said dramatically, clutching her chest like she was about to cry in a soap opera. "Kahit saan ka nagpunta, ikaw pa rin ang Cynthia naming palaban, matalino, at medyo scary minsan pero mahal na mahal!"
I laughed through a choked breath.
"You guys are insane. Seriously."
"We missed you," Athena said quietly.
"We never stopped thinking about you," Seinna added.
"At ngayon, bumalik ka na! Ready na ang classroom mo!" Diana winked. "Pero ikaw lang ang teacher na walang lesson plan. Charot!"
For the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a place again. Like I hadn’t been forgotten. Not really.
And for a moment, everything felt like it used to—chaotic, strange, but home.
I was happy—or at least I thought I was. Everything felt calm. Familiar. But deep inside, something was missing. There was a quiet longing I couldn’t ignore, a gentle ache that followed me wherever I went. I was longing for someone.
Sylvia.
I missed her. More than I could put into words. I wanted to ask Athena where she was, if she had seen her, if she was okay. But I hesitated. The words wouldn't come out. I was afraid of the answer.
And then, the front door opened. My breath hitched as I turned to look behind me.
There she was.
Sylvia. Standing in the doorway, wearing her school uniform, like she had just come back from class. Her hair slightly tousled, her bag slung over one shoulder. I felt an overwhelming urge to run up to her, to call her name, to smile, to cry—anything. I was ready to say hi.
But then she looked at me.
And something was wrong.
She looked... different. Her eyes didn’t light up like they used to. There was no recognition in her gaze. Just a blank stare, distant and detached.
“You’re home,” Athena said gently.
Sylvia simply nodded. “Mhm. I’ll rest, Ate,” she murmured, and then walked past us without another word.
No smile. No hug. . .No “Hi, Cyn.”
Nothing.
And just like that, my heart shattered. I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of what just happened. My chest felt tight, like it was caving in.
I turned to Athena slowly, confusion and fear gripping me.
“Athena... what happened to her?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Athena looked at me with a sadness I wasn’t prepared for. “Sylvia doesn’t remember you,” she said softly. “She doesn’t remember any of them either.”
My blood ran cold. “W-what? What do you mean?”
“She has dissociative disorder,” Athena explained, her voice barely above a whisper. “After you left... she started having that. She would look for you constantly. She waited for you every single day. She kept thinking you'd come back. But you never did.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“It hurt her more than she let on,” Athena continued. “The longing, the disappointment—it broke her. Her mind tried to protect her the only way it could. She began to forget. Piece by piece. Until one day, you were gone from her memories entirely. Like a defense mechanism.”
I shook my head slowly, trying to process it. “No… no, she can’t just forget. She can’t forget me. She loved me…”
“I know,” Athena said quietly. “That’s what makes it even more painful.”
And just like that, I felt the world crumble around me.
It hurts.
More than I ever imagined it could.
A deep, twisting kind of pain that settles in your chest and refuses to leave.
I stood there, overwhelmed, not knowing what to say, what to feel, or even how to move.
My body felt heavy, like the weight of everything I had missed, everything I had done—or failed to do—was crashing down all at once.
I didn’t know what to do.
I didn’t know how to react.
How do you respond to something like this? How do you look into the eyes of the person you love—who once loved you so deeply—and see nothing but distance?
How do you stand in front of them when they don’t even remember the sound of your laugh, the warmth of your hand, or the way you used to whisper secrets under blankets at night?
I never expected it to be like this.
I knew I hurt her. I knew leaving without a proper goodbye, without explaining everything, was selfish and unfair. But I thought... maybe one day, we’d find our way back to each other. I thought I’d come home, and she’d be there—maybe angry, maybe cold—but still her. Still Sylvia.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
I didn’t realize the damage ran this deep. I didn’t know my absence would leave scars so heavy they’d erase me from her heart and mind completely. I didn’t know the silence I left behind would become so loud it would drown out every memory we ever made.
Sylvia.
My Sylvia.
My baby.
The one who used to cling to my arm, who used to laugh at the smallest things. The kid who once looked at me like I was her entire world now couldn’t even recognize me in a room.
And it’s my fault.
Tears blurred my vision as I stood there, heart breaking over and over again.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, not sure if she could hear me, not sure if it even mattered anymore. “I’m so sorry.”
But sorry felt so small. So useless. It couldn’t bring back the memories. It couldn’t undo the pain. It couldn’t make her look at me the way she used to.
All I could do was stand there and watch the person I loved walk past me like I was a stranger.
And it was the cruelest kind of heartbreak I’ve ever known.
---
The room felt too quiet, the air still and thick, as if the weight of what had just happened hung around me like a dark cloud I couldn’t shake. The faint hum of the city outside was barely audible, muffled by the thick walls of my house.
I wasn’t sure how long I had been sitting there, tears slowly streaming down my face, but it felt like time itself had stopped the moment Sylvia walked past me—like the world had shifted and I was caught in a moment that felt impossible to escape.
Theo’s voice broke through the heavy silence, but even his words couldn’t pull me out of the deep well of confusion and despair I found myself sinking into.
"So kamusta? Landi success ba? Nakita mona siya?" Theo asked excitedly from where he stood, his phone in hand, practically bouncing on his feet.
I didn't even have the energy to answer him. His enthusiasm felt too foreign for the heaviness in my chest. It had been years since I'd seen my friends, and yet the reunion had felt like a cruel joke.
Sylvia had been there, just a few feet away from me.
But I might as well have been invisible to her.
"Are you okay? What happened? May iba naba siya?" Theo continued, his voice rising in excitement, oblivious to the internal battle I was fighting.
I wiped my face, unsure if the tears would ever stop. I hadn't expected this—this feeling of being forgotten, of having someone you loved deeply look at you with blank eyes, unable to recognize you. It was like I had disappeared from her mind entirely. It was worse than I could have imagined.
"She don't remind anything. She don't remember me. . . Theo. Sylvia... don’t remember me." I choked on the words, my voice trembling as I finally admitted the depth of the pain.
Theo's face froze, confusion crossing his features before his expression softened into something more vulnerable. His hands reached out to me instinctively, his touch gentle as he gripped my trembling ones.
"W-what? I mean how?" he stammered, his concern palpable in the air. He looked at me like he couldn’t believe what I had just said, as if he was waiting for me to tell him I was joking, but there was no punchline.
I shook my head slowly, tears falling freely now. "She has dissociative disorder. She got it because of me. It's my fault." The words felt like a confession, a weight I had carried all this time but hadn’t been able to voice.
Theo didn’t respond immediately.
He just held my hands tighter, his grip firm but soothing.
I didn’t look at him, my eyes focused on the space in front of me, trying to make sense of the turmoil that was consuming me.
I could feel his presence, though, the way he was trying to be there for me, trying to offer comfort in the face of something so incomprehensible.
"Hey, look at me." His voice was quiet, urgent, but gentle. I glanced up to find his gaze softened, eyes full of empathy, but also confusion. "Cynthia, listen to me. You didn’t do this. You didn’t cause this."
I shook my head again, the tightness in my chest making it hard to breathe.
"But I did. If I hadn’t left... if I hadn’t just... disappeared without a word, maybe she wouldn’t have gone through this." My voice cracked, and I squeezed my eyes shut to hold back the sobs that threatened to break through.
Theo was quiet for a moment, his thumbs brushing over my hands as if trying to erase some of the pain. "You didn’t ask for this, Cyn. No one could have predicted that this would happen. What happened to Sylvia, that’s... it’s not on you."
I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to hear about how I didn’t cause it, because it felt like I had. I left. I left without an explanation. I left because I was scared, and now... Sylvia was gone. Gone from my memories, gone from me.
"You don’t understand," I whispered, pulling my hands from his grip, rubbing my face roughly. "I was the one who left. I could’ve told her everything. I could’ve let her know I was coming back. I... I never meant for it to be like this."
Theo sighed, his voice filled with quiet exasperation. "God, Cynthia. You’re beating yourself up over something you couldn’t have known. None of this was your fault."
I shook my head again, my breath coming in shallow gasps. "But it is. Sylvia loved me, Theo. She did. And I just left. Without a word. Without anything. She was waiting for me to come back... and I didn’t."
There was a long pause.
I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to calm down or if he was trying to figure out how to respond.
Finally, he let out a long breath.
"I don’t know how to fix this, Cyn. But we’re here now. You’re back. That’s... something. Maybe it’s not too late. Maybe it’s not over yet."
I looked at him, my eyes red from crying. "But what if it is, Theo? What if she doesn’t want me anymore? What if... what if I’m just a stranger to her now?"
"Then you’ll remind her," he said firmly, his voice stronger now. "You’ll remind her who you are, who you used to be. It won’t be easy, but I know you. You’re strong, Cynthia. And if anyone can fix this, it’s you."
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. "What if she doesn’t want to remember? What if she’s better off without me?"
Theo’s gaze softened again, and he stood, stepping closer until he was right in front of me.
He gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.
"You don’t know that. And you won’t know unless you try. Don’t let this fear keep you from trying to fix what’s broken. You can’t change the past, but you can work on the present. And you’re here. You’re trying. That counts for something."
I stared into his eyes, my heart heavy with the weight of what I knew I had to do. "I don’t know how to start. I don’t know how to get Sylvia back."
Theo smiled slightly, his expression softening with understanding. "Start with the truth. Be there. Don’t try to fix everything at once. She’s hurt. But you’re hurt too, right? Start by just being real. Let her see you. Let her remember the person you were... and the person you are now."
---
2 weeks later.
"Do you want me, mhm? Then beg." she said, seducing a girl in the bar.
I rolled my eyes, really Sylvia? Really?!?
I'm not stalking her or anything, okay? But I'm curious what she's up to. But I didn't expect this! If I was only aware, I can prepare myself but NO! How dare she?
I told myself I wasn’t stalking her. I wasn’t. I just… I needed to see what she was up to. What harm could a quick glance do? Just one, I promised myself. Just to check if she was okay. It’s not like I was obsessed with her or anything, right?
But here I am, standing just outside the bar, tucked in the corner where the dim light doesn’t give me away. I shouldn't be here. But my feet brought me here anyway. I can't stop looking at her.
I watch Sylvia, laughing like she always does, her voice carrying across the room with that mix of mischief and charm.
She’s always had that effect on people.
Always been the center of attention, without even trying.
And now?
Now she's got some girl leaning in, close, too close, with that playful smirk on her lips, like it's a game.
It’s almost like I can feel every flirtatious word she says, even though I’m far enough away that they’re just echoes of her voice. My stomach churns. I know I shouldn't feel this way—jealous—but it’s impossible to ignore. My hands ball into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.
Why does it bother me so much? She’s not mine. She hasn’t been for a long time. But damn it, watching her so effortlessly wrapped up in someone else’s attention—it feels like a slap in the face.
I try to look away, tell myself to walk out, to leave this place before I make a fool of myself.
But I can’t.
My body betrays me, keeps me rooted to the spot, my eyes glued to her.
She’s talking, laughing again, and the girl in front of her is hanging on every word.
I swallow, hard.
I shouldn’t be watching this.
I shouldn't care.
I hate myself for it. I hate how much I miss her. How even now, after everything, my heart still pulls toward her.
The girl laughs too loudly, her hand brushing Sylvia’s arm as she leans in closer, and I feel a sharp pang in my chest. It’s too much. I turn my head, willing the tears not to come.
I should just go. Turn around and leave. Let it go. But the moment I do, my eyes catch Sylvia’s in the bar mirror. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. There’s no way she saw me. She couldn't have.
But her smile... that damn smile. It's like she knew.
I should've left. I should've turned away, pretended none of this mattered. But I’m still standing here. Watching. Because, deep down, I think I’ve always known: I can never really escape her. Not truly.
One month later.
I can’t believe I’m here again. But somehow, I keep coming back, like some helpless fool. I swear I’m not stalking her—okay, maybe I am, but it’s for good reason. I need to understand. Why is she doing this? Why does she keep doing this to me?
I glance around the bar, my fingers tapping anxiously on the glass of my drink.
The ice is starting to melt, but it doesn’t matter.
My attention is glued to Sylvia, just like it’s been for the past month.
She’s laughing, her head thrown back, making the same jokes she always does, surrounded by a group of girls.
And I see it.
Again.
She’s kissing one of them.
Not even trying to hide it.
My heart drops, anger flooding through my veins. Every time it happens, it’s like a knife twisting deeper into me. I know that she’s free to do whatever she wants. I—I never thought she’d be this careless. This... heartless.
"How could she?" I mutter to myself, my hands trembling as I grip the glass tighter. My chest feels tight, suffocating, but I can’t look away. I hate how this makes me feel. How she makes me feel.
It’s not even the kisses that bother me. It’s the ease of it all. Like it’s just a game to her. One girl after another. The way she flirts, the way she wraps them around her finger so effortlessly—it’s like she’s forgotten everything we had. Like I never even mattered.
I feel my jaw clench, teeth grinding as the jealousy burns through me. My whole body feels like it’s on fire. This is ridiculous. I’m being ridiculous. But I can’t help it. It’s like I’m watching her slowly drift away from me.
I try to breathe, to calm myself, but it’s useless. The sight of her lips on someone else’s makes me want to scream, to throw something, to pull her away and demand she pay attention to me, even though I know I don’t have that right.
I take another gulp of my drink, the alcohol barely dulling the rage building up inside me.
"Miss, okay lang po ba kayo? Gusto niyo po ba—"
“SHUT UP!” I snap at the waiter, not even looking at him. “MY BLOOD IS BOILING RIGHT NOW!”
He stumbles back, eyes wide in surprise, and I don’t care. I don’t care about anything anymore except the burning in my chest. It’s so damn unfair! Why does she get to move on so easily while I’m left here, stuck in the past?
I watch Sylvia again, her lips brushing against the girl’s. It feels like I’m watching the entire world slip through my fingers. I should walk away. I should leave, forget about her, let her go.
But I can’t. Not when she keeps pulling me back in like this.
I want to scream. I want to say something. Tell her how much this hurts, how much it kills me to watch her do this. But I don’t.
Instead, I take another drink, my eyes never leaving her, watching as she laughs with the new girl, as if I don't exist.
And it’s the worst feeling in the world.
I was always there—quietly, in the background—making sure she got home safe.
She didn't know, of course. She never saw me. But every time she went out drinking, I made it a point to be nearby, just in case. Because she was drunk, and the world isn’t kind to people like her when they're vulnerable.
Sometimes she was laughing with friends, their voices echoing through the streets like they didn’t have a single worry in the world.
And sometimes, she was all alone, walking slowly, swaying slightly, lost in her own thoughts—or maybe just trying to get home without falling apart.
Call me obsessive, paranoid, or just plain crazy, I don’t care.
All I knew was that I couldn’t sleep unless I saw her safely reach her door.
So I followed.
From a distance.
Always keeping her within sight, heart pounding with every step she took.
If anyone dared come too close to her, I was ready.
I didn’t want recognition.
I didn’t want thanks.
I just wanted her to be safe—even if she never knew I was the one who kept her that way.
4 years later
Theo slumped into the seat across from me at his office, shaking his head with a mix of disbelief and amusement. “Cynthia, apat na taon mo nang sinusundan si Sylvia! Kunti nalang talaga makukulong ka na sa ginagawa mo.” His tone was sharp, but I could tell he was trying to lighten the situation.
I narrowed my eyes at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “So what? She’s lucky she has a stalker like me. But does she think I would forgive what she did? No!” I gritted my teeth, the memory of Sylvia moving on with everyone but me still stinging. I wasn’t going to let go of this easily.
I wasn’t even here for the lunch with Theo’s family. I was here because of the mess we were in—him dragging me into this fake relationship for his own benefit, and me not caring about his lies.
I forgot to mention, me and theo is in a fake relationship. Because his parents has been asking him, and he's crazy for telling them that I'm his girlfriend?!? How could he have a girlfriend if he's a rainbow?! And how dare he used me?
But my friends know it. But they didn't know that it was all a fake. I did it so if ever it reach Sylvia, she would feel the same how I feel if she's with—Hmp!
Theo groaned, leaning back in his chair and stretching. “Nabaliw ka na talaga, Cynthia. Kahit kelan.” He paused before adding, “Don't forget tomorrow's dinner ha?”
I just rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah, yeah. I won’t forget.”
Then, in the middle of my annoyance, he suddenly grinned, his eyes lighting up with something that almost made me forget we were having this tense conversation.
“Okay, listen. I tried a dating app.” Theo’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone, like he was about to reveal a secret. “And OMG—you won’t believe it.”
I raised an eyebrow, my interest piqued despite myself. “What now, Theo? You’re gonna tell me you found a bunch of rainbows?”
He slapped the table, practically vibrating with excitement. “No, no! I’m telling you, there are handsome guys everywhere! I mean, everywhere! Like, the kind you can’t even get with just a wink!”
I stared at him, deadpan. “Theo, I’m literally in a fake relationship with you. Are you really telling me about guys on a dating app? Seriously?”
But Theo just ignored my sarcasm and kept going.
“I swear, there’s this one guy, Paolo? Mmm he’s got this jawline that should be illegal! And his smile? Gurl, you would die. I couldn’t stop staring at his profile!” He was practically bouncing in his chair now.
“I had to hold back from typing ‘I’m already in love with you,’ ‘cause I was really feeling it!”
I couldn’t help but laugh despite myself. “ Really, Theo?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically. "You think I’m joking? I’m telling you, this Paolo guy, I might just have to make a move. Pagbigyan mo na ako, Cynthia."
“You’re insane.” I couldn’t stop the snicker that escaped me, my lips twitching.
After lunch with Theo and his dramatic dating escapades, I slid into my car and sighed. The buzz of his excitement still rang in my ears, but I had work to do. My next lecture was at 2:30, and I needed to finalize my slides. I pulled out my phone to check the time—1:42. Perfect.
I was about to start the engine when my phone buzzed again.
Cyn, change of plans. Come to my house instead. We need to finish the files for the alumni event. Urgent.
I blinked at the message, rereading it like I could will it to change. Seriously?
I dropped my head back against the seat, groaning. I had mentally prepared myself to face the university, to walk those halls again, maybe bump into a few familiar faces and pretend everything was fine. But no, now Athena was summoning me like some rich Greek goddess with an agenda.
Another buzz.
Don’t ignore me. Diana’s already here. Seina too. We’re waiting for you, Miss Professor.
I rolled my eyes, fingers typing a half-hearted response.
On my way. But you all better have coffee waiting.
I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat, muttering to myself. “Of course it’s urgent. It’s always urgent when Athena says so.”
When I arrived at Athena’s place, they were already gathered around the dining table, their laptops open, documents scattered across the surface, and the occasional sound of frustrated sighs filling the air.
I slipped into my seat, joining the group, and we started working right away.
The atmosphere was focused, heavy with the kind of intensity that comes when everyone’s running on caffeine and deadlines.
We worked in silence for a while, broken only by the occasional typing or someone asking about a reference. I was so caught up in proofreading our draft that I didn’t even notice how much time had passed—until I glanced at the clock in the corner of my screen.
It was already 10 p.m.
I leaned back and rubbed my eyes, the screen burning holes into them at this point.
"I'm tired. I'll just get some snacks first," I said to the group, my voice low and a little raspy.
They nodded without looking up, too deep in their own work to care where I was headed. I stood up and stretched a bit before making my way to the kitchen, hoping to find something sweet to recharge my brain.
I scanned the counters, opened a few drawers, and finally spotted a familiar pack of snacks tucked into the uppermost cabinet. Of course. The highest one.
I stood in front of it, narrowing my eyes like I could magically summon the strength to grow six inches taller.
For goodness’ sake.
I stood on my toes, stretched my arm, and tried jumping a little—but nothing. Still out of reach.
"Lord, just be me this snacks, I’m tired. Don’t let me have a hard time, hm?" I muttered under my breath, sounding both desperate and mildly dramatic.
I turned my head slightly—and froze.
It was Sylvia.
My heart instantly skipped a beat, and I felt something tighten in my chest. Calm down, Cynthia. Breathe. Act normal.
She stepped inside, her expression calm, maybe even a little curious. Her presence filled the room so casually, but to me, it felt like the air had shifted.
"Oh, hi. Are you Athena's younger sister?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light, pretending like my heart wasn’t trying to punch a hole through my ribcage.
"Yeah, and I guess you're one of her friends?" she replied.
Her voice had changed—deeper, more mature, with a smoothness that made me even more flustered. And yet I couldn’t calm myself down. Not with her standing this close. Not when I could practically feel her gaze.
"Yes, I am. Btw, can I ask you a favor?" I said quickly, trying to stay casual. Act normal, Cynthia. Breathe. You’re just asking a favor.
"What is it?"
I pointed up at the cabinet, avoiding eye contact. "Can you get those for me? I can't reach it."
Without hesitation, she walked over and reached up, effortlessly grabbing the snacks I had been struggling with. She handed them to me like it was nothing.
"Here."
"Thank you," I said softly, taking the snacks from her hands and turning to leave. I needed to go. Right now. Because my heart was pounding way too fast, and I couldn’t risk her noticing.
But then—just as I was about to step out—she spoke again.
"What's your name?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.
I froze.
And now she wants my name? Oh no. Don’t tell me—am I her target now?
I turned slowly, looking back at her with a small, mischievous smirk.
"Why? Are you interested in me, honey?" I replied, leaning slightly on the doorway, letting the words roll out playfully.
"What if I am, Miss?" she said.
I raised an eyebrow and grinned, but my heart was still racing uncontrollably.
"Well, I'm not. I'll be going. If you want my name, then ask your sister," I replied coolly.
Then I turned around and walked away—gracefully, confidently—snacks in hand, pride intact.
Slayable Cynthia. You did great! I thought, as I made it back to the dining room, trying to calm my nerves.
But oh my god—how did she become so dangerous?