𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔- 🏳️‍🌈𝐆𝐗𝐆✔️

ONE

SHE WAS SILENT all the way from where they left her car at the side of the concrete road. The rain had soaked her thoroughly, and despite the jacket the driver had given her, she felt cold and uncomfortable. Her jeans clung to her skin, adding to her unease.

Nicole thought it best to maintain a composed demeanor, sitting with her hands folded in her lap, staring straight ahead. She avoided glancing at the person beside her, a voice in her head insisting that she should keep her distance.

Hindi parin siya makapaniwala. Was the world really so small that they would meet again like this?

"Kumusta ka na?" came the unexpected question, breaking the silence.

She was startled by her sudden inquiry.

"I was fine before this," she replied, gesturing absently to herself, as if the situation required an explanation.

"Ibig kong sabihin, kumusta ka na?" Skylar pressed again, her tone more sincere this time.

Tumingin siya sa labas ng bintana kahit na kadiliman ang nakikita. The shadows of the night outside mirrored her own confusion.

"I'm fine. Ako ang nag take over as C.E.O sa music company ni Daddy. Ikaw, kumusta ka na?" she asked, trying to redirect the conversation away from her feelings.

She turned to look at her, noting the silence that stretched between them as Skylar hesitated to respond.

The car came to a stop in front of a large house, its silhouette looming against the night sky. Skylar unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Nicole, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

"Masaya. May mga taong tumanggap sa kung ano ako. Hindi ako hinusgahan."

Nicole fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on her chest. Her heart ached as it brought back painful memories of their past.

Skylar exited the car, leaving Nicole alone in the driver’s seat, engulfed in her thoughts. She remained still, the silence enveloping her like a heavy blanket.

Skylar opened her door for her, a gesture that felt both familiar and foreign. When Nicole didn’t move, Skylar stepped closer, half her body still inside the car.

Nagulat ang dalaga sa bigla niyang paglapit. Their faces were almost touching, and in that moment, Nicole's breath caught in her throat.

Skylar gazed at her intently, studying her features from her eyes to her nose and finally resting on her lips.

"Dito, kahit hindi ako ipinaglalaban, ramdam ko ang pagtanggap at respeto nila sa pagkatao ko. Bagay na di maibigay ng mga taong malapit sa puso ko. Lalo na ikaw, Nikki."

Her words—it hurts. Each syllable felt like a dagger, reminding Nicole of the trust that had been shattered.

Magsasalita sana siya, ngunit agad itong umiwas. She wanted to say something, to express the whirlwind of emotions inside her, but Skylar turned away before she could find the words.

Pagtingin niya, naglalakad na ito papunta sa likod ng sasakyan. Her heart sank as Skylar moved away, leaving her in a cloud of uncertainty.

Natanggal na pala nito ang seat belt niya. Finally, she managed to step out of the car and watch as Skylar unloaded her suitcase and handbag from the trunk.

May bahagi ng sarili niya ang gusto itong yakapin. A part of her yearned to close the distance, to reach out and pull her into an embrace that would erase the pain of the past.

Gusto niyang sabihing namimiss niya ito ng sobra-sobra. But the words remained trapped in her throat.

Pero para ano pa? What would it accomplish? Just to get hurt again like before?

Kailangan niyang pigilan ang sarili. She needed to be strong, to protect her heart.

She's not the one who didn't fight for them. Deep down, she knew that Skylar was the one who cheated on her, and that betrayal had left scars that were not easily healed.

As they stood there under the fading rain, the air thick with unspoken words, Nicole realized that healing would take time. But perhaps, just perhaps, they could find a way to redefine their relationship, one cautious step at a time.

In the stillness between them, hope flickered like a candle in the dark—a fragile, yet persistent light.