The One Who Stares Behind

PAGBABALIK III

It's been almost a year, and she's still avoiding me like I'm the plague after that one kiss we shared. We never spoke about it. We never acknowledged it. But her distance, her coldness—it's like it's always there, lingering between us. I can't deny it anymore, though. I still want her. But I can't force her to feel the same. And Lexus... he's been acting strange for months now.

He's been drinking more often, spending his nights at the bar, and sometimes he even refuses to hang out with Khairo and the others. Something's definitely off.

I arrived at the house to find everything a mess, and I knew immediately I was somehow responsible for this. I've been avoiding this conversation with him for too long, but now it's time. It's time to tell him the truth.

Lewis is family. He deserves to know what's really going on.

"Lexus," he called, his voice heavy.

He looked up from the mess he was making in the kitchen, eyes bleary from too many drinks. "Lewis."

"Nakakausap mo naman si Zi, di ba?" he asked, his voice low, almost defeated.

"When there's an important matter, we talk. But other than that... no," I answered, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"Can you look for her? For me?" His voice cracked slightly, and I could hear the desperation there. "I really love her, yet she broke up with me."

They broke up. And I knew why. I knew it was because of me.

"Lewis, I want to tell you something," I said, my voice tight with guilt.

He looked at me, his eyes wide, pleading. "Please, brother. I don't want any guy around her. She's still mine..." The pain in his voice was raw. I couldn't even look him in the eye.

I took a deep breath, knowing this was going to shatter everything. "What if she likes someone else?" I asked quietly, dreading his answer.

He froze, staring at me as if I'd just struck him. "I won't let him," he said firmly, the pain in his voice turning to anger.

And that's when it hit me. I had no idea how deep his feelings for her really ran. How much of this was about love, and how much was about possession.

I knew right then, I couldn't mess with my brother. No matter how much I wanted her, no matter how much I felt for her, I couldn't tear his heart apart like this. Not over a girl.

I had to let her go.

***
Sembreak had finally arrived. I decided to go for a jog this afternoon, hoping to clear my mind. But as I was running, a dog caught my attention. It was running loose, unaware of the car speeding towards it. Without thinking, I sprinted towards it and grabbed the dog just in time to pull it away from the danger.

The little creature was adorable, looking up at me with those big, thankful eyes. It wagged its tail as if to thank me, and I couldn't help but smile. But then I realized—who was the owner of this dog? Whoever it was, they were being completely irresponsible. How could they just let their pet run off like that?

"Molly!!" A voice shouted behind me.

I turned, startled, and watched as a girl ran toward us. She was wearing cycling shorts and a loose white shirt, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She looked like she was in a hurry, but her eyes softened the moment she saw the dog in my arms.

"Molly!!"

"Hey, is she your mommy?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. Molly, the dog, barked, almost as if answering me.

"Lexus?" The girl's eyes widened when she saw me, a hint of recognition flashing in her gaze.

"It was almost hit by a car," I said, still holding onto the dog, my heart racing.