Just Hold Tight (Bittersweet Solitude Series #1)

Chapter 12

The Symphony

. . .

I woke up to the sight of Terrence crouching on the sofa, his form curled up awkwardly as if he had been trying to find comfort in an impossible position. The dim morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on his face. He looked so uncomfortable, and I felt a pang of guilt knowing he must not have slept well. Hindi siguro siya nakatulog ng maayos, naisip ko.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and there was a shadow of fatigue under his eyes. The sofa wasn’t long enough for his tall frame, leaving his legs dangling over the edge. It was clear he had spent the entire night there, probably to keep an eye on me after everything that happened.

My heart ached at the sight. Terrence had always been there for me, through thick and thin. Seeing him like this, sacrificing his own comfort for my sake, made me realize just how much he cared. I quietly grabbed my blanket, careful not to make any noise that might wake him, and gently laid it over him.

He stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. I stood there for a moment, watching him. The gentle rise and fall of his chest, the way his lips parted slightly as he breathed. There was something incredibly tender about this moment, and I felt a mix of gratitude and sadness.

As I reached the bathroom, I couldn’t help but glance back one more time.

Kahit ang gulo-gulo ng buhok niya at mukhang pagod, ang gwapo pa rin nito sa pagtulog. Ngayon ko lang ulit siya nakita sa ganitong estado, and it made me realize how much he had been through for me. Taking a deep breath, I began my morning routine, determined to make it up to him somehow.

Nagtungo ako sa kusina pagkatapos. I decided to cook breakfast. Just as I was finishing up, Terrence came down to the kitchen. He saw me and gave me a small smile. I told him to sit down and eat.

"Salamat, Ethan," he said, his voice soft. I returned his thanks with a warm smile. Kahit na medyo malungkot pa rin ako, pinipilit kong pasayahin ang sarili ko. Mas okay na ako ngayon dahil nakatulog ako ng maayos.

Dahil may napagsabihan na rin ako ng saloobin ko kahapon, kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Terrence seemed to notice this and smiled gently.

"May pasok ka ba sa trabaho?" He asked.

"Wala," I replied.

After breakfast, Terrence headed home, leaving me with a warm sense of gratitude. I decided to channel that feeling into something productive, so I started cleaning the house. The familiar routine of tidying up helped clear my mind. I swept the floors, dusted the shelves, and organized the scattered items in the living room.

Nang matapos ko ang paglinis ng kusina, I paused for a moment, wiping the sweat from my brow. The house was starting to look better, and I felt a small sense of accomplishment. As I was about to head to the bedroom to continue my cleaning spree, the doorbell rang.

Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Terrence standing at the doorway, now freshly dressed in a crisp shirt and jeans. His army hair cut was neatly combed, and he looked like he had just taken a shower. For a moment, I just stood there, blinking in surprise.

"Hey," he greeted me with a warm smile. "I thought I’d come back and see if you wanted to go out for a bit."

Napatitig lang ako sa kaniya, still processing his sudden appearance. "Terrence, you don’t have to—"

"I want to," he interrupted gently. "Come on, it’ll be good for both of us. Let’s get out of the house for a while."

Nakaramdam ako ng halo-halong emosyon. Part of me wanted to refuse, to stay in and continue cleaning, but another part of me was touched by his effort. Terrence had always been thoughtful before, and today was no different. His gentleness towards me, his patience... it all made my heart ache in the best way possible.