CHASING HEART

"There's only one question running through my mind," I asked her, swallowing hard, trying to stop myself from crying.

"What is it?" she replied softly, gently cupping my face and making me look at her.

And that was it-my tears fell uncontrollably.

I couldn't bear the pain anymore. Ang sakit-sakit na. Pero kahit umiiyak na ako, I couldn't take my eyes off her, especially when I saw her own tears slowly starting to fall.

"Why can't I have you?"

That was it. The only question that, until now, still had no answer.

With that, I broke down completely and collapsed against her chest. She just hugged me tightly. She didn't say a word. I knew she didn't have the answer either-hindi niya rin alam kung paano ako sasagutin.

She simply held me, gently rubbing my back as if she was trying to calm the storm inside me... a storm she knew she couldn't stop.

Minutes passed, but it felt like forever-until a sudden knock on the door interrupted us.

And deep inside, I already knew... this would be our last moment together.

Slowly, I pulled away from her arms, wiping my tears and forcing a smile, even though my heart was breaking into pieces. I watched her do the same, pretending to be strong when we were both falling apart.

She opened the door.

I looked at the person standing there with empty eyes, all my emotions drained, then silently moved past them to leave.

And just like that, I walked away-without a goodbye, without one last hug, without the courage to stay.

As I entered my car, my phone vibrated.

A message from her.

My hands trembled as I opened it, my heart already shattering before I even read the words.

"I'm sorry"

Two simple words.

But they hurt more than any goodbye she could have said.