Home is Not a Place

Chapter Three: Broken Dreams

Six years ago....

The evening sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over the secluded beach somewhere in Polillo, Quezon. The sand felt cool beneath their bare feet, and the waves lapped gently against the shore, creating a soothing melody that seemed to wrap around them like a warm embrace.

Nina leaned into Ethan's side, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder. The breeze tousled her hair, sending dark strands dancing around her face. She looked up at him, catching his profile outlined against the setting sun. He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers, and the soft smile that spread across his face made her heart skip a beat.

"Ethan," she murmured softly, a teasing lilt in her voice. "What will you do when we're both old and gray?"

He arched a brow at her, his smile widening. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... when I'm all wrinkled and my hair's gone white." She lifted a hand to trace a gentle line across his cheek. "When you're all... grumpy and balding." She giggled when he feigned a wounded look, but he quickly leaned in closer, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"What will I do?" he repeated quietly, his gaze softening. "I will love you," he said simply.

And then he kissed her. It was slow, deliberate, as if he were pouring every emotion, every promise he could never quite put into words, into that single touch of lips against lips. He drew back just enough to murmur against her mouth.

"Until the earth stops spinning."

Another kiss, a little deeper this time, as if he were trying to imprint this moment onto his soul.

"'Til the waves stop crashing on the shore."

He kissed her again, this time brushing his lips against the corners of her mouth, trailing soft kisses along her jaw, her cheeks, and back to her lips.

"Even after that."

One final kiss, a sweet, lingering one that left them both breathless.

"I will love you," he whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

---

That final line echoed in her mind as Nina opened her eyes, her cheeks wet with tears.

"Damn it," she berated herself, angry at her inability to move on, even in her dreams.

Despite the slight hangover, she forced herself to sit up and saw a glass of water and two painkillers on the coffee table beside her. She smiled. "Thanks, Liam," she said to herself. Yet, as she reached for the pills, she wished it were as easy to cure the ache in her heart as it was to soothe a headache.

She got up, shaking off the thought, and started preparing for her morning jog.

Fifteen minutes later, with her earbuds in, Nina listened to her favorite playlist as she jogged along the familiar paths surrounding her apartment building, smiling and nodding hello to the other Saturday morning joggers. Multi-tasking as always, she planned her activities for the weekend, making a mental list of the things she needed to pack for her trip to the U.S. next week. She would have to discuss this in more detail with Liam. Anyway, it's Sunday tomorrow, so she'll see him and his family at the church service and dinner, as usual.

Smiling at the thought of Liam and his family, she fondly recalled one of her many interactions with the Cruz family from about two years ago.

---

Nina arrived at Liam's house and took a deep breath, smoothing the skirt of her dress before stepping out of the Grab car. One of their officemates was getting married at a beach resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, which was about a two- to three-hour drive from Metro Manila. Liam had offered to drive there with her, and Nina had gratefully accepted.