Just Hold Tight (Bittersweet Solitude Series #1)

Chapter 06

The Unplanned Reunion

. . .

It was a cool evening, the kind that made the city feel alive with possibility. I had been looking forward to this art exhibition for weeks, eager to lose myself in the creativity and passion of the artists.

As I wandered through the gallery, admiring the paintings, my thoughts were far from the past. Little did I know, fate had other plans.

Habang naglalakad ako sa paligid, nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na mukha mula sa malayo. I stopped in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat.

Terrence.

He was here, just a few feet away from me, looking at a painting. He looked different, buffer and still strong, like time had only refined his features. My heart pounded in my chest as memories flooded back.

His hair was cut in a sharp army style, highlighting the angles of his face. There was a certain confidence in his stance, a maturity that hadn’t been there before. My eyes traced the lines of his muscles under his fitted shirt, noting the subtle changes that five years had brought. Every detail was sharper, more defined, and undeniably attractive. Terrence had the features of a real man now, someone who had clearly grown and evolved.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I've seen him already before... but why did seeing him again have to affect me so much?

Inevitably, our eyes met. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was shock in his eyes, mixed with something else—recognition, perhaps, or maybe even longing. I forced my feet to move, closing the distance between us, each step heavy with the weight of our history.

"Terrence... I didn't expect to see you again," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turned towards me, his eyes widening in surprise. "Ethan... neither did I. How have you been?"

We stood there, awkwardly trying to bridge the gap that five years had created between us. I could see the same emotions flickering in his eyes—surprise, nostalgia, and something else I couldn't quite place. "I've been good," I replied, forcing a smile. "You look... well."

"Salamat. Ikaw din, Ethan. You look great," he said, his eyes lingering on me a moment longer than necessary.

We made small talk, both struggling to keep our emotions in check. "What brings you here?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"A friend of mine recommended this exhibition," he replied. "Sabi niya, maganda raw ang mga gawa ng mga artists dito."

"Same here," I said, relaxing a bit. "Mika, my friend, told me about it. She's really into art and thought I'd enjoy it."

"Small world," he said with a chuckle. "I never thought I'd run into you here."

"Neither did I," I admitted. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah," he agreed, looking around the gallery. "So... what do you think of the exhibit so far?"

"It's amazing," I said, my eyes lighting up. "The creativity and emotion in each piece... it's really something."

"Yeah, it's impressive," he said, nodding. "It's nice to have a bit of a break and just appreciate art, you know?"

"Absolutely," I agreed. "It feels like a good escape from everything."

As the evening went on, we continued to talk about the art, sharing our thoughts and interpretations of the various pieces. It felt surprisingly natural, like we were slipping back into an old rhythm. Despite the awkwardness of our initial meeting, there was a sense of ease that slowly began to settle in.