About You (In The Midst of The Crowd Book 2)

Special Chapter: Alternate Ending 2.0

Colet's POV

The music swelled, a triumphant crescendo announcing the start of our first dance. Chie beamed, reaching for my hand. But my feet felt rooted to the spot. My gaze darted across the room, searching. Then, I saw her.

Jhoanna stood by the doorway, her back to me, a solitary lighthouse in the storm of emotions churning within me. The sight of her ripped the carefully constructed walls of my resolve to shreds. It's still her, always been her.

Taking a shaky breath, I turned to Chie. "Chie, I... I can't do this."

Her smile faltered, replaced by confusion. "What do you mean, Col?"

"This," I gestured around at the elegant venue, the smiling faces, the symbol of a life I wasn't sure I wanted. "This isn't me. It isn't us."

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over as I spoke. "I love you, Chie. You're kind, dependable, everything I thought I needed. But..." My voice cracked. "There's someone else."

Silence descended, thick and suffocating. Then, I saw Jhoanna turn, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and hope.

With a deep breath, I confessed, "I love Jhoanna. I always have."

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. Chie looked pale, her face a mask of hurt. But within seconds, her expression softened.

"Colet," she said, her voice surprisingly steady, "it's clear where your heart belongs. I won't stand in the way of your happiness."

Her words unleashed a torrent of emotions. Relief washed over me, mingled with a deep respect for Chie's understanding.

Without hesitation, I crossed the room, the music a fading thrum behind me. Jhoanna's eyes welled up, her face a canvas of disbelief and joy.

"Colet," she breathed, her voice thick with emotion.