Whispers of the Heart: The Unspoken Love

CHAPTER 21

Lingering Doubts

Year 23:

Months flew by in a blur, as Vera and Jace found themselves immersed in a pool of responsibilities and commitments. The once abundant exchanges of lengthy messages and phone calls had now dwindled to mere snippets, stolen moments snatched amidst their hectic schedules.

Vera, ever dedicated and meticulous, made it a point to assure Jace of her packed schedule, diligently updating him on every aspect of her life.

*messaging Jace*

Vera: Hey Jace, sorry hindi na kita na chat kanina. I've been swamped with work lately. Kakatapos lang ng defense namin, and now I'm off to a meeting. I miss talking to you properly.

Jace, in turn, expressed understanding, attributing his own busyness to the demands of his military training. He felt a pang of longing every time their conversations ended abruptly, but he tried to hide it, not wanting to burden Vera with his concerns.

Jace: No worries, Vera. Naiintindihan ko naman. Sorry din, training has been intense lately ih. We're preparing for a major exercise, and it's eating up a lot of my time. I miss our long talks too. Pero kaya yan, dapat nating kayanin!

Yet, despite their attempts to maintain normalcy, a lingering thought persisted in Vera's mind, a nagging sense that something had changed in Jace. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his silence than just the demands of their busy lives.

*calling Jace*

Vera: Jace, are you free? Can we talk for a moment?

Jace: Sure Vera!

Vera: It's been bothering me. I feel like something's different between us. Are you okay? Are we okay?

Jace: (sighing) Yeah, I've been feeling it too, Vera. Ang hirap niyang i-explain. These past few weeks, everything's been so hectic, and it's taken a toll on us. I've been trying to cope with the pressures, but I guess it's affected our connection.

Vera: (concerned) I understand, Jace, but I don't want us to drift apart. We used to share everything with each other. I miss that closeness.

Jace: (pausing) Me too, Vera. Pero ngayon, I'm just trying to keep up with everything. Maybe once things settle down a bit, we can find our way back to each other. Ayokong mawala kung anong meron tayo.