Take On Me

Chapter 27

Chapter 27
Chase

I have cried a lot of times.

Sometimes, it's because of something small—like when I am very frustrated, or when things are just hard for me and my family. I cry to let everything out. Our father told us that boys don't cry because of the simplest of things, but our mother made us realize that sometimes, it's okay to cry. Crying does not make you any less of a man. 

And then there are times where I don't. 

There are times where the problem is too big, that I'm just too overwhelmed to cry—like when my father just couldn't accept the career that I chose or the time he left us for another woman, or when I saw how devastated my family was when he left. I didn't cry during those times because my body defaults to being the strong one in our family. I needed to be the foundation, the strong wall so that we wouldn't completely fall apart.

And this... this was one of those.

But this time, it was different.

I may not have cried but I felt something inside me break. Like I was defeated. Like I lost in a battle that I was still preparing to fight. And maybe, I spent too much time preparing. I spent too much time worrying about myself, that I lost what I was about to fight for. I lost Bright.

My shoulders dropped as I read the headline again, knowing too well that there wasn't going to be any miracle that would magically make this particular news disappear. 

The newscaster continued to speak, saying that they were still waiting for the confirmation from both the artists and their management, but based on the pictures where Bright has his arm wrapped around Tu's shoulders, it looked like he was protecting her from the paparazzi. About their engagement, perhaps?

It was also clear, especially when Tu's left hand had a diamond ring wrapped around her finger. Was that not enough explanation? Do we really need confirmation when the answer is already right in front of us?

Bright is really getting married. To Tontawan. That's it.

I averted my gaze at the TV, feeling my lips quivering a little. I smiled inwardly. And whose fault is this, Win? Isn't it yours? Tu played fairly, just like what she said. She gave you the chance to talk to Bright because she wasn't the type of person who would give way just for me. I knew that. I just didn't expect it was going to be that fast.

"Are you okay?" Dreau asked, worry evident in his voice.

It was already evening when I decided to go to Andreau's hotel room. I don't think I can be alone in my place after the news this morning and I'm afraid to check my phone. They are all already all over the news, what more on different social media sites? I'm sure everything is more detailed there and I don't think I have the guts to read posts or articles about it.

"Yeah," I said without looking at him, scared that he might realize I'm lying.

"If you're okay, then why are you asking me if we could move our flight tomorrow?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Well, it's not like I have something to do here. My family already went home to our house and Gulf is on his honeymoon. Besides, won't it be better for you if we go back early? I miss my work and our friends."

"Is that really it?" he raised a brow, "Or was it about the news this morning?"

My gaze immediately darted at him.

"Yeah, I know about the engagement, Win," Dreau explained as he walked towards me. "I have a television, and the people here aren't exactly being quiet about it. It was all they were talking about when I went down to the restaurant to eat."