Love Deferred (Andrei Roxas ans Fides Mondragon Story)

chapter 48: pleas

Months passed without Fides, and Andrei's life spiralled into a bleak cycle of drinking and isolation. The once-vibrant young man became a shadow of his former self, consumed by the pain of her absence. His parents, Xandra and Marco, had been trying to reach out to him for weeks, but Andrei's phone went unanswered, and their messages were left on read. Fearing the worst, they decided to visit him unannounced.

When Xandra and Marco arrived at Andrei's apartment, they found the door slightly ajar. They exchanged worried glances before gently pushing it open and stepping inside. The smell of stale alcohol and the sight of empty bottles littering the floor greeted them. Andrei was slumped on the couch, staring blankly at the TV, a half-empty bottle in his hand.

"Andrei," Xandra called softly, her voice filled with concern. "Honey, it's Mum and Dad."

Andrei didn't look up, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "Why are you here?" he muttered, taking another sip from the bottle.

Marco stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "We've been trying to reach you for weeks, son. Your mum and I were worried sick. This isn't like you."

Andrei scoffed, his tone bitter. "Maybe this is who I am now. Ever thought of that?"

Xandra moved closer, sitting beside him on the couch. She gently took the bottle from his hand and set it aside. "Andrei, we know you're hurting. We know how much you loved Fides. But drinking yourself into a stupor isn't going to bring her back."

Andrei finally looked at them, his eyes red and hollow. "You don't understand. None of you do. She was my everything, Mum. How am I supposed to go on without her?"

Marco sat on the other side of Andrei, placing a firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder. "Son, we do understand. And we know it feels like the world has ended, but you can't lose yourself like this. We're here to help you through this, but you have to let us in."

Andrei shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I don't want to be helped. I just want to forget, to stop feeling like this. Every day is a nightmare, and I can't escape it."

Xandra's voice softened as she stroked his hair. "Sweetheart, it's okay to feel lost and broken. It's okay to grieve. But hiding in this apartment and drowning yourself in alcohol won't help you heal. We need you to come back to us, Andrei. We're your family, and we love you."

Andrei's shoulders trembled as he tried to hold back his tears. "I don't know how to live without her. Everything reminds me of her, and it hurts so much."

Marco squeezed his shoulder tighter. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. Healing takes time. But the first step is letting yourself feel everything-the pain, the anger, the loss. And we'll be with you every step of the way."

Andrei broke down, the tears he'd been holding back finally spilling over. "I don't know if I can do it," he sobbed. "I feel so alone."

Xandra wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a comforting embrace. "You're not alone, Andrei. You have us, and we'll get through this together. We promise."

Marco and Xandra, desperate to help their son Andrei, decided to turn to the only people they believed could truly understand the situation between Andrei and Fides-Fides' parents, Raphael and Alyza. The two couples and other eleven couples had been best friends for decades, sharing countless memories and celebrations together. Had a truce to maintain their friendship against all odds... They knew Raphael and Alyza were grieving, too, but they hoped that perhaps, together, they could find a way to help Andrei and Fides reconcile and if not, to heal.

When Marco and Xandra arrived at Raphael and Alyza's home, they were warmly welcomed, despite the sorrow that hung in the air. The two couples sat in the living room, a heavy silence settling over them as they tried to find the right words.