Just Hold Tight (Bittersweet Solitude Series #1)

Chapter 03

Fractured Hearts

. . .

The sun barely peaked over the horizon when I woke up, my eyes sore from the tears I cried last night. My heart felt heavy, and every breath was a reminder of the betrayal I witnessed. Parang kahapon lang ay magkasama pa kami ni Terrence, but now everything felt different. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather the strength to face the day.

Hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan ang araw na ito. My mind kept replaying the scene of Terrence and Bianca, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Bakit ganoon? I trusted him with all my heart. Tila wala na akong kakayahan na muling magtiwala. I sighed deeply, forcing myself to get up and start my routine.

Kailangan kong magpatuloy... kahit ang sakit-sakit na.

Terrence was still asleep when I left the house. Hindi ko siya magawang harapin, not after what I saw. My feet led me to a nearby park, a place where I usually found solace. Habang naglalakad ako, I tried to make sense of my feelings. I wanted to believe that there was an explanation, but my heart knew better. The trust we had was shattered.

I found a bench and sat down, my hands trembling.

"Bakit ganito, Terrence?" I whispered to the wind, hoping somehow, it would carry my pain away. Pero wala namang nagbago. The ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the love that once was.

"Hey, Ethan!" a familiar voice called out. I looked up to see Mika, a close friend of mine. She sat beside me, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? You look... devastated."

"Hindi ko na alam, Mika," I admitted, my voice breaking. "I saw Terrence last night... with Bianca. They were... kissing."

Mika's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my gosh, Ethan. I'm so sorry..."

I nodded, tears welling up again. "I don't know what to do. Everything feels so... broken."

Mika hugged me tightly, offering comfort in my darkest moment. "You don't have to go through this alone, Ethan. Nandito ako para sayo. We can figure this out together."

Her words were a balm to my wounded heart. For the first time since last night, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe I wasn't as alone as I thought.

***

The following days, I woke up with swollen eyes and a heavy heart. The events of that night replayed in my mind like a relentless nightmare. I felt drained, the betrayal weighing heavily on my soul.

Terrence was already up, preparing breakfast as if nothing had happened. I watched him from the doorway, my heart aching with a mix of love and anguish. How could he do this to me?

"Ethan, you're up. Come eat breakfast," he said, his voice cheerful. It was as if he had erased the memory of last night's betrayal from his mind.

I forced a smile, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Sure," I replied, my voice barely steady.

As we sat down to eat, I couldn't bring myself to look at him. The food tasted like ash in my mouth, each bite a painful reminder of the kiss I had witnessed.

Days turned into weeks, and the pattern continued. Terrence would go out with Bianca, always with some excuse that seemed plausible on the surface. He would leave me at home, waiting, hoping, and dreading his return. Each time he walked out the door, my heart broke a little more.

Kahit na iba-iba pang rason ang sabihin niya... alam kong iisa lang ang pinupuntahan niya.

I became a shadow of my former self, my laughter fading, my joy disappearing. The constant suspicion gnawed at my sanity, turning me into someone I hardly recognized. I tried to confront Terrence a few times, but he always had a ready explanation, his words smooth and convincing.