A Journey Through Love and Loss

Night drink session

Avery's POV

I was still in a daze from the hospital incident. Even after Tyler tried to explain, I couldn't bring myself to listen. Now, as we headed to the restaurant for dinner with our friends, I felt a heavy silence between us. Kanina ko pa siya hindi pinapansin sa hospital hanggang sa sasakyan.

We walked in, and I immediately spotted Mark, Caleb, Lucas, Ruth, and Tyrone.

Tyrone, spotting us, ran over excitedly.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Tyrone's joyful voice was a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.

I scooped him up, giving him a warm hug. Tyler smiled at him, but I avoided his gaze. Setting Tyrone down, I moved to sit next to Ruth. Tyler took a seat beside Lucas, looking slightly hurt but trying to hide it.

Caleb, noticing the unusual seating arrangement, raised an eyebrow. "Hey, why aren't you two sitting together?"

The table fell silent, everyone sensing the tension but no one daring to ask further questions. Caleb looked around for answers but found none, so he dropped it.

When our food arrived, the atmosphere remained strained. I focused on feeding Tyrone.

"How was your day, sweetheart? Did you enjoy spending time with them?" I asked, keeping my tone light.

Tyrone nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Mommy! They taught me a new game!"

I smiled at him, but it didn't reach my eyes. "That's good, Tyrone."

Ruth, sitting next to me, gently touched my arm. "Avery, how are you feeling after the treatment?"

I gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "I'm okay, Ruth. The treatment was fine." My answers were brief, not revealing much.

Tyler glanced over at me, a mix of concern and frustration on his face. He opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it and returned to his meal.

Mark and Lucas tried to keep the conversation going, talking about work and other light topics, but the tension was palpable. Everyone was aware that something was off, but no one wanted to confront it head-on.

As the dinner progressed, I continued to interact mainly with Tyrone, answering his questions and making sure he was comfortable. My friends exchanged worried glances but respected my space.

The dinner dragged on, feeling more like an endurance test than a pleasant gathering. The once tight-knit group was now overshadowed by the unresolved issues between Tyler and me. It was clear to everyone that something significant had shifted, but for now, it remained an unspoken burden we all carried.

After dinner ay bumalik na kami sa hotel. Hawak ko lang ang kamay ni Tyrone habang nakasakay kami sa elevator papuntang room namin. Tahimik lang si Tyler na nakasunod sa amin. Sakto naman na nakasalubong namin si Secretary KC sa hallway.

He smiled and greeted us. "Good evening, how was your dinner?" She asked.

"It was fine. Can you get me a new hotel room?" I asked her.

I saw the surprise and confusion on her face. "For what? And who will use it?"

"I'll use it, and Tyrone will too," I replied immediately.

"Don't follow that, Secretary KC. She doesn't need a new hotel room," Tyler said authoritatively, clearly holding back from speaking out for a while.

Secretary KC glanced back and forth between us, obviously confused about whom to follow.

"Get some rest. You'll accompany Avery to the hospital tomorrow," Tyler said to her.

Secretary KC hesitated, then bowed and took her leave. Tyrone and I entered the hotel room, with Tyler following.