𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

8. Make a Decision

"Hindi na nagpupunta rito si Bella."

I heard my mom say this to my dad on Friday night. It had been two weeks since I started dating Hailey, and I had also noticed Bella's avoidance of us.

At first, I thought it was just because she didn’t want to be the third wheel in my relationship with Hailey, but something felt different.

It wasn’t just me who noticed Bella’s sudden change. This morning, Hailey opened up that she missed bonding with Belle. It seemed like Bella was pulling away from them, and I couldn’t help but worry.

“Baka dahil patapos na ang school year?” Dad suggested, sounding contemplative.

I was on the terrace reading a book while eavesdropping on their conversation in the living room. Their words highlighted how serious the situation was.

"Sabi sa akin ni Val, mukha raw broken-hearted."

I suddenly dropped the book I was holding at that revelation.

“Broken-hearted? Does Bella have a boyfriend?” Dad asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

I listened intently to what Mom would say, hoping for a different answer.

“Wala naman yata. Pero yun ang sabi ni Val, mukha raw broken-hearted. Pero imposible naman kasi wala namang manliligaw si Bella.”

“Baka___.”

“Kuya Zayne, sinong pinapakinggan mo?”

I quickly stepped away from the window when my little brother suddenly appeared.

“Ahh, ehhh, wala. Nahulog lang libro ko.”

I distanced myself further and picked up the book, trying to act casual.

“Hmmm, nakikinig ka kila Mommy at Daddy eh.”

“Huwag ka ngang maingay!”

I felt the sweat on my forehead and the weight in my chest. I didn’t even catch the last thing Dad said.

While I was lost in thought, I wanted to talk to Bella, but I didn’t know how. My mom’s words highlighted my concern. If she really was broken-hearted, who was the reason? Maybe she needed a friend during this time, but what if she pulled away even more when she found out I was worried?

Even though I was happy with Hailey, Bella still had a place in my heart. I remembered the times we spent together, laughing and talking. If only she hadn’t distanced herself, we could have bonded more. I needed to figure out what was going on with Bella. Perhaps there was still something I could do to help her.

🐬🐬🐬🐬

Two weeks later, I wasn't feeling much better at all.

The more I saw Zayne and Hailey together, the deeper the pain sank into my chest. Every laughter they shared was like a reminder of what I was missing.

Then one evening, as I came home, I smiled for the first time in two weeks as soon as I stepped inside the house.

"Lola Mirabelle."

"Oh my dear Bella, look at my baby."

I didn’t realize how much I missed her until I saw her and wrapped my arms around her.

"Lola, I miss you so much."

"I miss you so much too, baby ko. Let me look at you."

She cupped my face in her hands, concern etched on her features.

"Why do you look so tired? Are you unwell?"

With my lola, I held nothing back.

"My heart is in pain."

"Oh no, baby. What happened? Did someone break my baby's heart?"

Like a small child, I nodded my head, feeling the tears well up again.

But I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the fire in her eyes.

"Tell me his name, and I will bury him alive."

I laughed, the sound feeling foreign after weeks of sadness.

"He doesn't know I'm in love with him," I whispered to her.

"Ohhh." That was all my lola could say, but her expression shifted to one of understanding.

Just then, my lola's American husband, her second husband, approached us.

"Can I get a hug too?" he smiled warmly.

"Grandpa!"

I gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek, feeling the warmth of their love surround me.

"You've grown up so fast, Belle. You didn’t look this tall two years ago."

"I know, right?" I laughed, feeling lighter.

Having them around made a significant difference. I felt my heart begin to heal just a bit.

I was genuinely laughing again while sharing stories at the dining table. Mom and Dad decided that we would go to the U.S. to visit Lola for a vacation.

And that was exactly what I needed at that moment—an escape, even if it was just temporary. Getting away from the reminders of Zayne and Hailey felt like a breath of fresh air, and I welcomed the chance to reset my heart and mind. I knew that, even if only for a little while, I could find peace and joy with my family.