Whisper of the Heart

Chapter 20

Wyatt took a deep breath, feeling the weight of guilt and frustration simmering in his chest. He looked at Ava, standing by the window, arms crossed tightly. He stepped forward, gently reaching out to touch her arm.

"Ava," he began softly, his voice strained but sincere, "ikaw lang... you're the only one. Ikaw lang ang mahal ko."

Ava's gaze remained cold, her jaw set as she turned slightly away, brushing his hand off. "Enough, Wyatt," she cut in, her voice laced with a controlled bitterness. "I don't need you to keep saying it. I don't want to hear about Chloe."

Wyatt sighed, feeling the frustration rise. He just wanted to make things clear, para sa kanilang dalawa. He wanted to set everything right, para matapos na itong alitan nila. "Ava, please, let me explain," he pleaded, voice faltering. "Hindi sa gusto ko lang linawin lahat. Para wala na tayong pag-aawayan, para sa'yo rin, sa atin."

But Ava shook her head, her walls firmly up, refusing to let his words sink in. She turned her gaze to the floor, unable to meet his eyes. For her, the mere mention of Chloe's name was enough to ignite that flame of jealousy, enough to silence him completely.

Wyatt's shoulders slumped in resignation, frustration churning in his chest, but he forced a smile, choosing to focus on the comfort of having her back in his arms, kahit na hindi lahat ng mga tanong niya ay nasagot. Holding her close, he buried his doubts, determined to give her reassurance even if a part of him felt the weight of the unspoken words pressing down, suffocating him.

In that moment, it was enough that she was with him.

Wyatt sat across from his friends, trying to keep his smile steady as he nursed his drink. Their congratulations echoed around the table, voices blending with the upbeat music in the bar. But beneath the surface, a lingering weight settled in his chest.

Ethan chuckled, nudging Wyatt with a grin. "So, okay ka na with a supermodel wife, ha? Iba talaga si idol!" His words carried a hint of teasing, but his eyes looked curious, like he was probing for something deeper.

Wyatt forced a laugh, raising his glass. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light, though a slight tension tightened his tone.

Ethan shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Well, you know... her career. There'll be times Ava's gone for long stretches, di ba? Traveling for shoots, modeling events. And alam naman natin, baka hindi pa siya ready for family life, kids, mga ganun."

The words hit Wyatt like a sudden gust of cold air. He hadn't thought about it that way or maybe he'd been pushing those thoughts aside, trying to convince himself everything would be fine. But Ethan's casual remark sliced through his defenses, leaving a sting that sank deep into his chest.

Zephyr chimed in, grinning but with an edge of concern. "Kumusta? Has Ava cooked for you na ba?" he asked, tilting his head as he studied Wyatt's face.

Wyatt's smile faltered. "Uh, hindi pa," he replied, his voice softer, almost reluctant.

Asher raised an eyebrow, giving him a knowing look. "Pero... marunong ba siya? Alam mo, like, simple things like adobo, sinigang?"

The questions piled on, each one prodding Wyatt's thoughts, his doubts. He suddenly felt exposed, like his friends could see through the façade he'd worked so hard to maintain. They weren't just teasing; they were asking the questions he'd been too afraid to ask himself.

Orion, noticing Wyatt's silence, leaned forward and said with a smirk but also sincerity, "Bro, hindi sa nakikialam kami, but we're just checking. Ok ka ba with this life? You know... always ordering food, not having her around often. Kids, maybe not for a while? Kasi, remember, this is what you're signing up for."

Wyatt swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He glanced around the table, seeing the genuine concern in his friends' eyes, realizing they weren't just joking they were looking out for him. But he couldn't bear to admit how heavy his heart felt, so he forced a grin and shook his head.

"Guys, no questions tonight, please. Let's just enjoy," he replied, lifting his glass with a slight tremble in his hand.

His friends obliged, raising their glasses in unison, and for a moment, the conversation turned back to laughter and stories. But as Wyatt sat there, lost in thought, the joy he should have felt about his upcoming wedding began to feel like something else entirely, a quiet ache, buried under forced smiles and a lingering sense of unease.

Noah sat in the dimly lit bar of the Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu, the subtle buzz of voices and clinking glasses around him barely cutting through the solitude he felt. Tumatawag siya at nagtetext kay Chloe as often as he could, kahit na may distansya sa kanilang dalawa. Every text, every call was a way to reassure her – and himself – that the distance wouldn't change anything between them. He missed her terribly, and every day in Cebu felt like it stretched longer just because he was away from her. Gusto na niyang matapos ang project para makabalik sa piling ni Chloe.

But just as he was nursing a drink, he noticed someone familiar across the bar. At first, it was just a nagging sense, like déjà vu. Then it hit him, Ava, the famous supermodel. Pero hindi siya nag-iisa. She was with a man, tall and strikingly handsome, chiseled jawline, intense eyes, and a confidence that filled the room. Parang artistahin na halos kasing-perpekto ni Ava. He tried to focus elsewhere, but he couldn't ignore them. The way Ava leaned into him, every little touch, every playful brush of her hand against his arm, the lingering looks. Noah couldn't believe what he was seeing. Alam niyang si Ava ay engaged kay Wyatt, someone who was respected and known by many.

Nakita niya kung paanong unti-unting nag-iba ang tingin ni Ava sa lalaki. It was no longer friendly, it was intimate, with a fire that only two people who were far more than "friends" would share. Noah's heart dropped as he saw the man pull her in for a kiss, and what shocked him even more was Ava's response. Hindi man lang siya nag-alinlangan. Instead, she kissed him back with the kind of passion na parang wala siyang ibang iniisip kundi ang lalaking kaharap niya.

A pang of betrayal hit Noah, even though he wasn't the one being betrayed. Hindi niya maipaliwanag, pero seeing Ava like that, doing that to Wyatt, was like watching a trust fall apart before his eyes. Ava and the guy left the bar, and before he could think, Noah found himself following them. He felt the urge to look away, but he couldn't. Gusto niyang maniwala na may ibang dahilan, na baka hindi ganito ang totoo, but the scene unfolding in front of him was undeniable. He followed them at a distance as they disappeared down a hallway, hanggang sa makita niyang pumasok ang dalawa sa isang kwarto, and the door closed behind them. It was final. The betrayal was real.

Noah stood frozen, torn between disbelief and anger on behalf of Wyatt, a man he barely knew. But more than that, he is also a man and if ever this happens to him, it is not acceptable. 

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