BUT LET ME TRY (SEASON 3)

HE'S HOME

ASHLEY'S POV

"KUYA!"

I threw my arms around his neck.

He pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine once more, kissing me so deeply, so intensely, I felt like I was being swallowed whole by everything I'd ever missed.

Tears fell from my eyes without warning. My mind went blank. My hands trembled, and the trembling spread down my arms and legs, leaving me barely able to stand. My heart was racing wildly, pounding so hard I could barely breathe. I tried to steady myself with a deep breath, but all that came were shallow, broken gasps.

I couldn't believe it.

The person I'd spent years searching for… was here. Standing in front of me. Real.

I missed his lips. His scent. I missed what it felt like to be in his arms...safe, whole.

He pulled away slightly and looked into my eyes. His hands gently cupped my face as he wiped away my tears.

He stared at me with such focus… and in his dark eyes, I saw it.

My reflection.

I saw myself, happy. Genuinely happy.

Then his voice broke the silence.

"Tell me… who are you, really?"

His words shattered me.

The smile that had been blooming on my lips faded instantly.

I stared at him, stunned. My eyes widened as confusion and fear crept in.

What does he mean by that?

"Daniel…" - unfamiliar voice

O. O

We both turned at the same time when a small voice called from behind him.

The moment we saw who it was...

Kuya pulled away from me completely and rushed toward her.

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head, holding her like she was the only thing that mattered.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry." He whispered, again and again, pressing his lips to her hair.

And as I watched them, frozen, something inside me broke.

A pain unlike anything I'd ever felt spread from my chest through every inch of my body. Like a spear piercing my heart, twisting slowly, relentlessly.

Tears streamed down my face again.

I stood there, motionless, watching Kuya embrace another woman.

I wanted to pull him back.

I wanted to fight for him.

But I couldn't move.

Because in that moment… I felt like I had no right to.