Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Series #3) (Completed)

Chapter 48

Several days pass again. I often just lie down, feeling uninterested in everything. Lei visits me once a day, but I don’t feel like talking to her. I’m glad she doesn’t force me to speak.

When I think about how Yhael and I are under the same roof yet feel so far apart, it makes me even sadder.

I’m not mistaken about seeing him in the States a few years ago. Maybe he was there to study or recover? I don’t know the exact reason, but I’m sure it was Yhael. He just doesn’t remember anything.

One day, while I’m lying on the bed with my back to the door, it suddenly opens. The footsteps are slow, so I know it’s Lei.

"Aphle," she calls gently. I don’t respond, but she continues. "You have visitors."

That’s when I suddenly feel alive again. Visitors? How did Ysmael allow someone to see me?

I slowly sit up and face Lei. She’s smiling like she always does when she greets me, even though I can tell she’s sad about how I’ve been.

"Who’s my visitor?" I ask, confused.

"Ysmael said they were your friends from before," she answers.

My brows furrow. The first person who comes to mind is Sovie. Out of all my past friends, she was the closest to me.

"Sovie?" I ask excitedly.

Lei nods with a bright smile, then turns to the door. "Let the visitors in."

The door opens, and a woman steps in. At her side are two men, and behind her are two more.

"Aphle!" Sovie calls out to me excitedly before running toward me.

I’m shocked when she suddenly jumps onto the bed and hugs me tightly. We almost fall off as I nearly lose my balance.

"Oh my gosh, I missed you so, so much!" she says happily.

Ilang minuto niya pa akong niyakap bago siya nakuntento at humiwalay na sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang braso ko na parang kapag hindi niya iyon ginawa ay muli na naman akong maglalaho.

"Saan ka ba galing, babaita ka?!" Sermon niya sa akin. "Nagbakasyon lang naman tapos bigla kang naglaho na parang bula! Akala ko noon sumama kana sa impyerno sa mga magulang mo. Eh imposible naman iyon dahil anghel ka!"

I smile at her unfiltered chatter. She’s still the same Sovie who used to be my best friend. Only her body has changed—she’s taller than I expected. Her face looks more mature now, but her mind and personality are just the same.

I turn to the four guys standing near us. "Kuya Zhack, Daniel, Janser, and Juniel," I say, calling their names.

Daniel and Janser smile and give me a playful salute. They still seem as mischievous and lighthearted as ever.

"Hi, Aphle! Mas gumanda ka, ah," biro ni Janser. "May boyfriend kana ba? Nagkita na ba kayo ni Yhael? Ang astig ng tropa naming 'yon! Mas pogi ngayon syaka pa-english english na! Tapos ang yaman-yaman pa. Kaya ka ba nandito dahil engage na kayo?" Dare-daretso niyang sinabi.

I give them a bitter smile before shaking my head. "H-He doesn’t remember me." I force my voice to sound cheerful, not wanting to ruin the mood.

The five of them exchange looks, and I quickly avert my gaze from Janser. Then I turn to Lei. She signals that she’s stepping out of the room, and I nod in response to say goodbye.

Makalipas ang ilang sandaling katahimikan ay muling nagsalita si Sovie. "Siguro fair naman 'no?" Natatawa niyang tanong. "Kasi kahit kami hindi niya maalala."