Star-Crossed Melodies (Echoes #1)

Special Chapter

This Special Chapter is dedicated to the first anniversary of Star-Crossed Melodies this November! It’s been one year since Austin and Ellis came into your lives. One year since you’ve been reading their story. Time really flies—my very first story has already hit its first anniversary. (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

This chapter is a dedication to those who have been waiting for the special chapter of SCM. Thank you so much for your patience! Now, today, SCM is finally complete! Thank you for joining me in this journey of writing. Happy first anniversary!

Enjoy reading! I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. :))

Forever

Now, I have a better understanding of what love truly is. Before, I thought it was just about falling for someone. Aside from loving them, you'd be loyal, be true to them, and love only them. You'd shower them with sweet words every day, and in the end, you'd walk down the aisle together and finish what you started.

That’s what I thought back then.

But I was wrong.

The real meaning of love is filled with sacrifice. It's full of questions—when and how. There's always a problem, always pain, that you have to face head-on. People you might hurt along the way. All of it, staring you down.

In short, love isn’t just about falling for someone. It’s about accepting everything that comes with it—the cost, the hurt, the consequences—and still choosing to stay.

"Kuya, is it true that Teacher Ellis had a sad childhood?" Rila asked me, looking up as she built her sandcastle.

I was behind her, her back leaning against my chest. My long legs stretched out past her castle, and my feet were already covered in itchy sand, but I didn’t really care. I let my sister play, with me just there beside her.

And now, in the middle of the sand, with the sea stretched out in front of us, I couldn’t help but wonder why she’d asked about Ellis’s childhood.

"Oh no… the castle’s fallen, baby…" I said gently, noticing the part she’d worked on had collapsed.

She pouted and pulled away slightly to fix it. My gaze dropped to the polo shirt I was wearing—well, it was pretty much covered in dirt now because of her. I sighed and just leaned my hand back on the sand, offering her some support.

Ngumuso ako nang lingunin ako ni Rila. Her almond-shaped eyes were so innocent. She was still so small, even her birthday right now—seemed like she wasn’t growing up at all, but that’s just how I liked it. I didn’t want her to have a boyfriend, not now and not anytime soon.

Ang requirements para maging boyfriend niya ay kasing gwapo ko dapat.

"Is it true, Kuya? That Teacher Ellis had a sad childhood?" she asked again, repeating her earlier question.

I sighed. "Why do you ask?"

"Well… I just remembered when he was first my teacher! His eyes were so sad, Kuya! Like he was always crying every night…" she said, pouting.

I wasn’t surprised by that. Ellis had already told me about his past, including the trauma. I knew what happened to him since he was a kid. I remember it clearly. He shared it with me without shedding a single tear. His eyes were sad, sure, but he didn’t cry.

And I was proud of him for that—for sharing it without breaking down. I was also proud of what he’d gone through and overcome. The more I learned about his childhood, the deeper I fell for him.

He’s a strong man, the kind of man I respect. I still can’t believe I’m his boyfriend.

Napangiti ako nang may maalala. Hindi na nga pala boyfriend. May singsing na nga pala 'yon sa daliri.