When Khae arrived at Gwen's house, she barely remembered parking her car. Her thoughts were moving too fast, colliding with one another as anxiety settled heavily in her chest. She hurried up the driveway and knocked on the door, silently praying that Aiah would be the one to answer.
Instead, the door opened to reveal Aiah's mother.
"Khae?" Mrs. Arceta looked surprised to see her standing there.
"Hi ,Tita" Khae asked.
"Come in." Mrs. Arceta said.
Khae couldn't tell if her voice sounded angry, sad, or lacking emotion.
As Khae stepped into the house, she noticed Gwen sitting quietly on the couch while Aiah's father stood near the dining table with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Where's Aiah?" Khae asked. Her eyes roamed.
"Is she not here?Did she go somewhere?" Khae asked again.
Neither answered. Everyone was silent.
Then Lou looked at Gwen. Gwen looked away. That was enough to make Khae nervous.
"W-what happened?" Khae asked; her voice almost cracked.
"Aiah left this morning," Gwen finally said.
"Huh? What do you mean left?" Khae asked; confused.
"She packed some things before sunrise." Gwen told Khae.
"Where did she go?" Khae's face suddenly went pale.
Nobody answered immediately.
Aiah's father let out a sigh before setting down his cup.
"She said she wanted some space."
"Space from what?" Khae's voice came out smaller than intended.
"You know how she is. Maybe she's stressed about school. Maybe she just wants time alone."Aiah's father simply shrugged.
Khae looked down. Of course he wouldn't know.
As far as Aiah's father was concerned, she was merely one of Aiah's closest friends. Only Aiah's mother knew the truth. Only she knew why Khae looked like she was moments away from breaking apart.
"Can you help Gwen's mom outside for a moment?" Mrs. Arceta told her husband. Dean looked confused but nodded anyway before heading toward the backyard.
The moment he was gone, the atmosphere changed.
Khae noticed it immediately.
Gwen slowly stood from the couch.
Aiah's mother looked at her with eyes full of concern.
And suddenly Khae knew.
They knew exactly why Aiah had left.
"Tita..." Her voice cracked. "Did she tell you something?"
Lou hesitated.
"Aiah doesn't tell me everything."
"But?" Khae asked.
"But I know my daughter." A sad smile appeared on her lips.
Khae lowered her gaze. The shame was beginning to settle in.
"She was crying last night, wasn't she?" Aiah's mother asked softly.
Khae felt her throat tighten. The fact that she couldn't answer was answer enough.
Lou sighed.
"I've watched her love you for months."
"Tita..." Khae's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"She always understood you," she continued gently. "Even when nobody else did."
Every word felt heavier than the last.
"She defended you when people thought you were difficult. She stayed when everyone told her she deserved better. She always believed that one day your heart would stop looking over its shoulder."
Khae's chest hurt. Because she knew exactly what Aiah's mom meant.
Amanda.
Not Amanda herself. But the wound Amanda left behind. The unanswered questions. The abandonment. The years of wondering why.
"I wasn't choosing Amanda," Khae whispered.
"I know." Lou answered.
"I know you weren't." Lou is looking intently at Khae.
Tears rolled down Khae's cheeks.
"But maybe Aiah got tired of feeling like she was standing beside a ghost."
The room fell silent. For a long moment, nobody spoke. Khae simply stared at the floor as the truth slowly settled inside her. This wasn't about a phone call. It wasn't about accidentally saying Mandy. It wasn't even about Amanda. It was about every unresolved wound she had dragged into her relationship and every time Aiah had carried the weight of them with her. And now, for the first time in a long time, Aiah wasn't there.
Not answering.
Not waiting.
Not forgiving.
Just gone.
YOU ARE READING
My Last And My Only
FanfictionIf it's not you, it's not anyone, Aiah. Remember that.
