WHEN LOVE FAILS

SPECIAL CHAPTER

 When Love Is Something Special

Jeng's POV:

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rush of emotions bubbling up inside me. Ralph was sitting across from me, his expression soft, waiting for me to speak. I didn't want to hold back anymore.

There were things I needed to say—things that had been weighing on me for a long time. And now, it felt like the right moment to finally let it all out.

"Ralph,"

I started, my voice a little shakier than I intended,

"I can't afford any more situations in my life that bring out the worst in me. It's exhausting and takes too much for me to recover from."

I watched as he sat up straighter, his eyes not filled with judgment, but curiosity. I could tell he wasn't sure where I was going with this—but I knew he would listen. He always did.

"I'm tired of feeling like I'm drowning in my own emotions, caught up in things I can't control—things that just keep taking from me until I'm left feeling empty."

I continued, my hands trembling slightly.

"I need calmness and gentleness in my life. Anything outside of that... I don't have the capacity for it anymore."

It felt like I had finally said the words I'd been carrying for so long, and even though it was hard to say out loud, a weight seemed to lift off my chest.

I didn't know what would come next, but I hoped Ralph understood. I hoped he would hear me and respect what I needed.

Ralph didn't speak right away. He just looked at me, his face unreadable for a moment, and I felt the tension build in my chest.

Had I said too much? Had I pushed him away? The silence stretched between us—heavy and thick—but I couldn't back down now. I had to be honest. This mattered.

Finally, he spoke, his voice gentle but steady.

"Jeng... I hear you. And I want to respect that. I want to give you that calmness, that gentleness. If that's what you need, I'll give it to you. Because I want this relationship to work just as much as you do."

I looked up at him, surprised by how easy he made it sound. For a moment, I felt vulnerable—like I had just laid my heart out there, and now it was in his hands.

"Are you sure?"

I asked, my voice low, almost a whisper.

"Because I know how messy my life can get. I know that sometimes things aren't as simple as we want them to be. And I don't want to drag you into that. I don't want to keep repeating the mistakes of the past. I just... I want peace."

He smiled softly, a smile that melted the lingering unease in my heart.

"I'm sure, Jeng. I want peace, too. I'm not afraid of the mess, because I know we can clean it up together. But I understand that you need peace right now. And I'll make sure we create that. No drama. No chaos. Just... us. Whatever that means. Our relationship is special. You are special."

His words were like a balm to my soul. I had been so scared that he wouldn't understand. I was afraid that asking for calmness would seem like too much—or that it would push him away.

But Ralph was different. He was the kind of person who didn't shy away from hard conversations. And in that moment, I realized he was the person I wanted to build a future with.