Aligning the Stars (GXG)

XXIII - Confession

Third Person's POV

It's almost an hour since the two walked, with Astrea following behind just a couple of meters away. Neither of them talked.

The cold breeze brushed against Astrea's skin as the night fell, the sky darkened except for the stars and the moon that flickered above them. The quiet engulfed them both, and for a moment, it seemed like the stars were the only witnesses to the tension between them.

The younger one heard a soft sigh escape from Vivien, prompting her to glance at the professor walking just ahead. A pang of sadness struck her as she saw the weight of Vivien's emotions, evident in her slow, heavy steps.

They were both suffering in silence, though for different reasons.

Three months had passed.

Three months since everything changed.

Three months since the person Vivien loved— or used to love was gone, leaving her a hollow shell of the woman she used to be. Vivien tried to be strong, but she could no longer keep up the facade. Astrea felt envy, knowing Vivien's heart still belonged to someone else, someone who would never return.

As Vivien walked ahead, her mind drifted to that familiar aching emptiness. The pain hadn't dulled; if anything, it had grown even more. She knew Astrea was behind her, just a few steps away, watching her. She could feel the younger woman's eyes on her, the silent concern that was almost too much to bear.

Vivien wished she could return the care Astrea had shown, but her heart was too heavy. Her thoughts still lingered on the past, on someone she could never forget.

Suddenly, she stopped walking and so did Astrea.

"Ms. Del Mundo..." Astrea's voice was gentle, breaking the silence.

Saying the older woman's last name instead of what she usually calls her was odd, but with how the Professor has been acting towards her— she felt that it was the proper way to address her.

Vivien turned slowly, meeting Astrea's gaze. A flood of emotions rushed through her—guilt, sorrow, and hopeless. She didn't want to drag Astrea into her mess. Even at times like, Astrea's presence was like a lifeline, but Vivien knew she couldn't depend on her any longer.

She didn't want to be a burden.

"Astrea, you don't have to follow me. I'll be alright on my own," Vivien's voice was rough, colder than she intended. She hated how distant she sounded, but she couldn't let Astrea get any closer.

It wasn't fair to her.

Tila natigilan naman si Astrea dahil dito. "Sasamahan po kita. Delikado na po at gabi na, maraming mga masasamang tao ang pagala-gala dito."

Vivien's gaze lingered on her, and for a moment, she was caught in the warmth of Astrea's sincerity. Her heart fluttered with the knowledge that Astrea would willingly walk beside her, even when Vivien had nothing left to give. But that was exactly why she needed to push her away.

Nahihirapan na siya, in those three months of her grief, she had realized things.

Things that may not only hurt her but also the people that surround her.

"I don't.." Vivien sighed, her defenses faltering for a moment before she found the strength to continue. "I don't need somebody to look out for me, Astrea. I've realized that I may have been taking advantage of someone's presence— your presence, when I'm responsible for my feelings, alone."

Para namang binagsakan ng langit at lupa si Astrea matapos marinig ang mga sinabi ng Propesora, the hurt evident even in the dim light. Vivien hated herself for being the cause of it, but what else could she do?