Broken Promises (Epitome Series #2)

Kabanata 54

The morning air in Chiang Mai felt different from the night before.

Mas malinaw. Mas tahimik. Parang lahat ng emosyon kagabi ay hindi pa rin ganap na humihiwalay sa paligid.

Chester was still there.

Standing a few steps away from me.

Waiting—but not pushing.

I exhaled slowly.

"Hindi ka ba aalis today?" I asked quietly.

He shook his head.

"Not yet," he said. "Unless you want me to."

That answer was careful.

Too careful.

Parang natutunan niyang huwag akong takutin sa kahit anong galaw niya.

And somehow... that hurt and comforted me at the same time.

I looked away for a second.

Then started walking.

Hindi ko na hinintay kung susunod siya.

But I heard him step behind me after a few seconds.

Not too close.

Not too far.

Just enough distance to exist beside me without invading me.

We walked through the quiet streets.

No direction.

No plan.

Just movement.

After a while, I spoke.

"Ang daming nawala," I said softly.

Chester didn't answer immediately.

He let the words settle first.

Then—

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "Pero hindi lahat nawala."

I glanced at him.

He continued.

"Some things just got buried under the wrong assumptions."

A pause.

"And pain."

My chest tightened slightly.

We passed by a small street vendor selling flowers.

I stopped without thinking.

Chester stopped too.

But he didn't ask why.

He just waited.

I stared at the flowers for a moment.

Then I bought one small stem.

Simple.

White.

Quiet.

When I turned back, Chester was watching me.

Not questioning.

Just observing.

"Bakit?" he asked softly.

I shrugged a little.

"Wala lang," I said. "It feels... lighter to hold something alive."

He nodded slowly.

"I get that," he said.

We walked again.

This time, a little closer.