Maybe, Someday

Chapter 7

Zyd's POV

It had been weeks since my birthday, and the weight of silence between Serene and me felt heavier with each passing day.

Every attempt I made to reach out had been met with silence, and it hurt more than I had thought possible. She was avoiding me, and the emptiness of that absence gnawed at my heart.

I tried to focus on my work as a CEO, but my thoughts were constantly drifting back to her—her smile, her laughter, the way she made everything feel right.

I missed her more than I could express, and the ache of not knowing how she was doing was almost unbearable.

In a desperate attempt to feel connected to her, I began to follow her—though I kept my distance, careful not to draw attention. It felt wrong, like I was invading her space, but I couldn't shake the need to know she was okay.

I watched from afar as she went about her daily routine: arriving at school, spending time with friends, and leaving for home.

Some days, I saw flashes of her old self—the way her eyes lit up when she laughed with friends, or the gentle smile she shared with her brother, Richie.

But other days, she seemed distant and lost, and that worried me even more. I could see the sadness behind her eyes, and it broke my heart to think I was the cause of it.

Each time I saw her, I felt a mix of relief and sorrow. Relief that she was okay, but sorrow because I couldn't be the one to comfort her. I wanted to reach out, to pull her into a hug and tell her how much I cared, but the fear of pushing her away kept me rooted in place.

One afternoon, I followed her to a nearby café where she often studied. I sat at a table across the room, pretending to focus on my own work, but my eyes kept drifting to her.

She was sitting with a group of friends, laughing and chatting, but there was a shadow over her smile that made my heart ache.

I wanted desperately to walk over, to break the ice and ask her how she was doing, but my courage faltered each time.

I feared that any approach would only push her further away. Instead, I sat there, feeling powerless, as the minutes turned into hours.

That evening, I watched her leave the café, her laughter fading as she stepped outside. I took a deep breath, torn between the urge to follow and the need to respect her space.

But as I saw her walk down the street, her shoulders slightly hunched, I couldn't help myself. I needed to know she was okay.

I followed her at a distance, my heart pounding. She arrived home, and as the door closed behind her, I felt a pang of disappointment.

I wanted to be the one she turned to, the one who could make her smile again.

It went like that for another two weeks. Until she started going to clubs, drinking and making out with other people. That's my last straw.

I had continued my quiet surveillance of Serene, following her from a distance, but I never expected to see her in a different light.

It started innocently enough—she would hang out with friends, laughing and chatting. But then I noticed a shift.

One night, I saw her at a club, the vibrant lights flashing as she danced with a group of girls. My heart sank as I watched her, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, laughing and carefree.

It was a stark contrast to the sadness I had seen before, and part of me felt relieved to see her enjoying herself.

But as the nights wore on, the scene changed. I saw her drinking—too much, it seemed—laughing loudly, and even making out with different guys.

Each encounter felt like a dagger to my heart. The girl I had known was slipping away, and I felt helpless.

I couldn't just stand by any longer. This wasn't the Serene I loved, and I had to confront her about it.

I needed her to understand that the choices she was making were dangerous, that they wouldn't fill the void I sensed inside her.

One night, as I watched her from the shadows of the club, I could see her swaying slightly, giggling with a guy whose name I didn't know. It was the final straw.

I felt a surge of adrenaline and stepped forward, my heart racing as I approached her.

"Serene!" I called out, my voice cutting through the music.

She turned, surprise flashing across her face, quickly replaced by annoyance. "What are you doing here, Aki?" she snapped, her tone sharp.

"I'm here to talk to you!" I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaos around us. "This isn't you. You don't have to do this!"

"Do what?" she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. "Enjoy myself? Live my life? You don't get to dictate how I should feel or what I should do!"

The hurt in her voice hit me like a punch. "That's not what I meant, Serene. I just... I've been worried about you. This isn't the way to cope with what happened between us."

"What happened between us?" she replied, her eyes narrowing. "You mean the fact that you kissed a girl on your birthday? You mean the fact that all this time, you knew I'm in love with you but you kept on denying me? Saying I'm still young? Huh? But the truth is, you just already have someone!"

"That's not true Serene! I don't have a girlfriend. What you saw that night was clearly a misunderstanding. If you will let me, I'll explain it to you" I exclaimed, frustration bubbling over. "I've followed you because I wanted to make sure you were okay! But this—this isn't okay!"

Serene's expression hardened, and I could see anger boiling beneath the surface. "You think you know me? You think you can just follow me around and pretend to care? You don't know anything about what I'm going through! I'm so tired, Aki! I'm so fucking tired! You're so hard to love. Loving you is what I've been doing my whole life, but fuck Aki, it's tiring..."

"If you don't want me, just say it straight to my face. You know what? I don't understand you. You act like you care about me. You act like you love me. You act like you want me, but whenever I confess to you, you always deny me. Tell me Aki, tell me the real reason. Tell me what you really feel about me, because honestly, you're confusing me." she said while her voice was cracking down.

I couldn't answer her. I just stood there, unable to talk. She just chuckled painfully and uttered, "I get it, you don't love me the way I love you. Right. I'm sorry, don't worry, from now on, I'll never bother you again. You don't have to take care of this kid."

Then she left.

I can feel my heart tightening. My chest are getting heavy and I'm having trouble breathing.

That's not true... I love you, Serene.... More than my life. I love you, more than you love me. I love you more than love itself. I love you to the point that I'm doing everything I can just so I could live longer.

I love you to the point that I am trying my best to win this battle so I could be with you, forever.