CHAPTER 5:

CHIN POV
It’s better this way…focusing my attention on Jace instead of letting my thoughts drift toward Dyllan. This is wrong. It can’t be. Yeah, maybe those butterflies I feel whenever he’s near are just in my head. Oh, maybe I’m just cold? Yes! That’s it, I’m just cold. Ugh, what’s wrong with me? Sheesh, erase, erase!
I sighed and rubbed my head in frustration, muttering to myself. I was too caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice someone in front of me until—
Bump!
“Oh my—” I froze.
Dyllan.
And… oh no.
He was topless.
“Jesus Christ…” I whispered under my breath, my eyes widening. My face instantly burned with embarrassment. I could practically feel the butterflies in my stomach going wild.
“Heyyy, what’s wrong with you?” he teased, chuckling as he caught me staring. “AHAHAHA! You’re totally checking me out, huh? Can’t resist this body?” he said, flexing playfully and laughing even harder.
“Wha—what?! Of course not!” I stammered, covering my face. “Ughhh! You’re so full of yourself!”
Without waiting for another word, I ran straight to the classroom, my cheeks still flaming red.
Why was he topless?! Why did I even think of visiting him at the gym?!
Oh Lord, please let the ground open up and swallow me whole!
“Chin, what happened to you?” one of my classmates asked, eyeing me curiously.
I didn’t answer. I just sat down on the bench, trying to calm my racing heart. I grabbed my fan and began fanning my face, but it was no use — my mind was still replaying what just happened.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
And there he was.
Dyllan.
Everything felt like slow motion. His messy hair, the faint smirk on his lips, the way his eyes met mine — it was all too much.
No, Chin. Don’t feel this. This is wrong.
But my heart didn’t listen. It skipped a beat — again.
Dyllan walked toward me and leaned slightly closer, his voice soft but teasing.
“You okay? You ran off like I was chasing you or something.”
I looked away, pretending to check my phone. “I’m fine. Totally fine. Don’t flatter yourself.”
He chuckled — that low, familiar laugh that somehow made my chest tighten.
“You’re blushing,” he said quietly, almost in a whisper.
“I—I’m not!” I replied too quickly, still avoiding his gaze.
He leaned a bit closer, his scent still faintly mixed with cologne and gym sweat — oddly comforting.
“If you say so,” he murmured, smirking before walking away.
As soon as he left, I exhaled shakily.
My heart was racing like crazy.
This is wrong, I told myself.
But why does it feel so right? 💞

“Mom, where’s Dad?” I asked softly as I leaned in to kiss her cheek.
Something felt wrong — terribly wrong. I’d never seen Mom like this before. The half-empty bottle of wine on the table, her trembling hands, the way she avoided looking at me — everything screamed that something was broken.
She didn’t answer. Her eyes were distant, glassy, like she was lost somewhere far away.
“Mom?” I asked again, my voice shaking a little. I sat beside her, waiting, hoping she’d speak.
Then her voice finally broke the silence.
“Anak… I saw your dad,” she said, her lips trembling. “He was with another woman.”
The words hit me like a slap. My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe.
“What? No, Mom… maybe you’re mistaken,” I said quickly, trying to convince both of us. “Dad wouldn’t… he wouldn’t do that again. He promised.”
But Mom’s tears fell faster now, her shoulders shaking as she began to cry uncontrollably.
“I saw them with my own eyes yesterday, Chin… I thought he stopped. I thought he changed.”
My heart sank.
I wanted to scream, to deny it, to run — but all I could do was sit there frozen, my fists clenched so tight that my nails dug into my palms.
“Mom, maybe… maybe there’s an explanation,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Please don’t cry…”
But she only sobbed harder, her words breaking between each breath.
“Your father has done this before, anak,” she said in a shaky voice. “And every time, I forgave him. I wanted to keep our family together. I wanted you to have a complete home… even if I had to break myself to do it.”
My throat tightened. The pain in her voice was unbearable.
She took another sip of wine, her hands shaking so badly that the glass nearly slipped.
“Mom, please stop,” I said, reaching for the glass. “You don’t have to do this. You still have me.”
She looked at me then — tears streaming down her face, a weak smile trying to hide the hurt.
“I’m sorry, anak… I just wanted him to love me again. To love us again.”
I couldn’t hold it anymore. The tears I’d been fighting finally fell.
I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her as tightly as I could.
And in that moment, I realized — sometimes love isn’t enough to keep someone from breaking you.
Sometimes, even the strongest hearts get tired of holding on. 💔

A loud noise jolted me awake. I blinked a few times, confused, until I realized the shouting was coming from outside my room.
Even without seeing, I knew those voices — the sharp tone of my mother’s anger and the desperate pleading of my father. My chest tightened. They’re fighting again…
I quietly stood up and went to the door, just enough to hear.
“Please, Maureen, let me explain!” Dad’s voice echoed through the living room. He had just come home, his words full of regret and panic.
“Explain?!” Mom shouted, her voice trembling with fury and pain. SLAP! The sound of her palm meeting his face cut through the air. “After everything, you still have the nerve to say that?”
Tears pricked at my eyes.
“Maureen, it’s not what you think,” Dad said desperately, his voice breaking. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was just a coincidence—I ran into Monica at the restaurant. We talked for a few minutes, and when she was about to leave, she hugged me. That’s all. I swear!”
“Don’t you dare mention her name!” Mom cried, her voice cracking. “Monica?! My best friend? After everything she did? After what you did? And now you expect me to believe that it was just a coincidence?”
Dad fell to his knees, crying, trying to reach for her hand.
“Please… believe me this time, Maureen. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
But Mom stepped back, her tears falling silently. Her face was full of heartbreak — and exhaustion.
“Sorry isn’t enough anymore,” she whispered, and turned away. Without another word, she climbed the stairs, leaving him kneeling on the floor.
The house fell silent.
Only my father’s quiet sobs remained, echoing faintly in the cold night air.
I stayed in my corner, hidden behind the wall — too scared to move, too scared to speak. I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to steady my heartbeat.
In my mind, the same thought kept repeating:
Maybe this is what love does.
Maybe this is what happens when you give too much.
Maybe this is why I’m scared to fall in love.
Because what if one day, I end up just like them…breaking apart over someone who once swore to love me forever?