Chapter 1

Four days before she leaves...

Zaphyra Yuanne Andrejez, the only girl besides her mother, in a well-known family in Spain and the Philippines. She's a twenty-year-old lady who studies hard and wants to pursue her dream of becoming a Professional Fashion Designer.

Also, one of the most stunning women seen, from her Morena skin, her charming and alluring dark brown eyes, the pointed nose she got from his father, the rosy cheeks of her mother, and her plush lips with her detailed jaw, and lastly her long black hair that goes until her hips.

She is indeed one of a kind blessing of Aphrodite in the world. Truly, and with no lies, she does look like a living goddess, and sure Pyros Ryl Jimenez is a very fortunate guy for having that kind and soft-hearted lady with him for years.

They have been together from high school, started as friends, and developed into couples. They are considered the longest couple among their friends. But not all stays...

On the fifteenth floor of MH Towers, in Pyros's unit in the penthouse. Zaphyra is comfortably lying on his couch while he's seated on the floor's carpet and studies for his quizzes in his course, Business Administration.

He then asked her blandly with no hint of any emotion as if he's only asking to have peace of mind, "How's your day?" Still busy reading his books and notes, not even looking at her.

"Well... it's fine, and nothing unusual happened. How about you?" She smiled as she answers him and asking him back while her hand travels through his back, and gently, with love, she hugs her. What a sweet gesture to be pushed back?

She felt uneasy and uncomfortable about why he had to do that, she even pouted with his reply, "It's fine." His cold reply made her sense his blandness. So, made him face her and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "Do you have a problem?" her voice sounded worried and concerned, but the only emotion she saw from him was irritation.

Then he violently shoved her hands away and that startled her made her widen her eyes. What more that made her heart pinch is what he said, "Can't you see that I'm studying?" His voice was high pitched and it made her back for a bit.

Months after their third anniversary, she noticed that Pyros had become busier to take her to their usual dates. Back then, he would always tell her if he's busy or if he can't drive her home, but this time many of it changed. He'd now tell it late, without knowing that Zaph is waiting for him after school hours. She and even her brothers are confused as to why he rarely made it on time for her anymore.

"Sorry," said she, and adjusted in her seat. Though, because of a tiring day as well as boredom, she slowly felt her eyelids close by themselves and she fell into a nap.

She dreamed of a dream that she never thought she'd dream. She is in a bridal gown as she found herself walking down the aisle and the man who's waiting for her wasn't her Pyros Ryl. It was a familiar figure of a man, but she is sure it wasn't him.

She felt nervous and she wanted to cry, in her dream, she tried to pause and stop herself from walking... but is there really something that could stop someone from falling?

She felt light but confused as she dreamed, but a loud voice woke her up, shouting at her, "Wake up, Zaphyra! Go home already," He shouted as if he's an angry lion, having her stand up with her sleepy eyes. She stiffened with his words as well as his actions, staring at her and not even knowing what move she will do next.

And it both made them stop... her twinkling eyes with the tears that she is forcing herself to hold back. She gathered her belongings and wiped each tear that escaped accidentally which now couldn't stop as she walks toward his door and opens it.

She turned back to him and smiled bitterly and tired, "Sorry! Let's just talk tomorrow..." she added in a low voice, almost whispering before she closed the door behind her. He may be tired enough to talk to me... she kept on convincing herself, though now unable to stop the tears that formed and fell.

While on the other hand, as she closed the door. Pyros felt his heart pinch as he remembers how her tears fell before him. But he only shrugged it off, not caring of what she is feeling. He dialled a number on the phone and as soon as it speaks, "You can now come over, she already left."

At that time, Zaphyra was still downstairs in the lobby when she felt curious and surprised to see her best friend, Alexis Laine Torallba, who is continuously and at a fast pace walking straight to the lift. She then asked herself, Is she always here? And continuing with another question, why does she come here? And ending her thoughts as she sees the clock who is almost at eight in the evening.

Driving home, her mind is filled and preoccupied with different hunches and her face shows all the emotions that she's feeling inside. Yet doubt is the clearest of all of it.

She stopped in front of their residence and when she sets foot inside, all of her four brothers greeted her with a glare. "Do you know what time it is?" The eldest, Zaccary asked her in a serious and a very non-sarcastic way, with his hands crossed in his chest and his face a bit curious. He's her eldest brother who happens to have the most achievements and has a beautiful girlfriend, Madeline.

"You're too strict..." Zio then interrupted the eldest and went over her back then held her in her shoulders then gave her a smile. He even kissed her hair, they are the closest even if Zaphyra has her twin. Zio is the third and favourite among them.

"Kuya Zac is right." She turned this time to the second, Yoh. He's strict but funny, he's also the playboy who doesn't want anyone playing his sister's feelings.

"Well... let her enjoy it!" Shouted Yex, her fourth brother, her twin whose older than her by sixteen minutes and this young man has a free-flow life and he doesn't want anyone dictating it.

She then sighed and extended her arms for their group hug that she suddenly missed a lot. Her brothers made her really lucky as a family member herself. They all went to the dining table and Mira signalled all the other maids to prepare the dishes as they seated in their usual seats.

When it's only her and her brothers, they talk a lot and are loud. Asking about each other's day, love life updates, studies, and such things that some of them can't keep track of.

"Well, dear 'Sis. How are you and Pyros going?" Yoh asked in a sweet voice while moving his shoulders up and down as if he was dancing in one of those Zumba. She then looked at them and pursued a smile before sighing.

"I just think we have a problem..." with full of honesty, she said. She's always an open book when it comes to her brothers and the whole family. She hates the idea of lying even if there's a reasonable reason. Secrets are fine for her, but if asked, she just keeps quiet and avoids conversations.

"Why? What happened?" then asked her Kuya Zac and it made her shrug as she continues munching her food. But after she finished chewing and gulped the food, she immediately answered the question.

"He shouted at me for the first time, it's actually no big deal." All of the men's brows raised immediately, intently looking at her and waits for her next words. And this time, she can't look at them straight in the eyes.

"He did what?"

"Oh! I love you 'Sis! But I don't want to get involved, yet... I'm only one call away."

"Did he get pissed at something you did—no, I bet he'd be the one to be more pissing."

"This is the reason why I want to stay single."

"But, you're not single..."

She smiled as she saw her brother's priceless reactions. "Well Zaph, have you already told him?" Yex, her twin suddenly asked. When she shook her head no, silence then ate them. No one dared to talk for a minute.

"Don't be sad about it, I'm sure he'll understand." Zio reached for her and held her hand tight, but all she could give them was what she believed was her weakest smile.

"I'm going upstairs... I'm tired," she said while lowering the cutlery. She stood up as fast as she could and walked away from the dining area. As she disappears from their sight, they looked at each other and frowned in unison.

Two days before she leaves...

Sitting at a table for two, Alexis and her met up in their favourite café. "Zaph, why don't you tell Pyros that you are leaving?" Alexis asked, leaning on the table with a meek smile that she's hiding.

"I don't want him to get hurt..."

"But wouldn't he be even more hurt if you leave him without telling him your reason?" She felt irritated as Alexis kept on bugging her in something that Alexis doesn't need to concern herself about, she then rolled her eyes secretly and winced at her.

"I don't know."

Zaph was confused about the things that could probably happen. In just two days, she's leaving for another country and, she still didn't have the guts to tell him. "Is that hard to tell him?" Hearing Alexis's next question, she just shrugged and tried to avoid more questions from her.

"Don't you trust him?" It confused her and pressured her. The questions that came out of her best friend's mouth was like daggers that intend to attack her in some way.

I do trust him. I just don't trust myself or the way I feel anymore. She thought and said to herself, but when she raised her brows to check Alexis again. She seems irritated at her too.

"So, you're just going to ignore my questions?"

"I'm not ignoring your questions. I just have no answers for those questions." She rolled her eyes at her and saw what Pyros entered that café and, she immediately smiled upon landing her eyes on him.

He immediately sat beside her and kissed her cheeks even though his actions felt colder than usual, "Hon..."

"Hon," she greeted him back, but something is bugging her. Something felt different for her, much more different from before. After a couple of minutes of feeling uncomfortable, she decided to go and spend her time in the comfort room. As she walked to the comfort room, before she opened the door, she looks back one more time before she finally entered in.

She looked at her herself in the mirror and started talking to herself, "They're just talking..." she muttered and convinced herself and gets against her gut feeling.

Right at that moment, she went out of the comfort room and saw two sweet people, instead of feeling cringy or happy for the two. She thought of it as suspicious... and felt jealousy. Her forehead creased looking at them and thinking that kind of thing.

It is Pyros and Alexis... being sweet like how Pyros was sweet to her back then. He's just sweet because that's my best friend. She thought she's just overreacting. She walked back to their table and that caught the two's attention.

"H-hon, you've come back," the young man hurriedly turned to her. He saw Xis slightly glaring at her so she slightly raised an eyebrow at her. Not breaking her stare at her, "Yup. Have you ordered yet?" she asked the two and they both shook their heads. "Right? I still have errands, I need to go," she added, but actually, she had nothing to do, she's just uncomfortable even though she didn't know why.

"Okay!" Xis replied enthusiastically. Why is she so happy? She thought. "Okay, but I can't take you home later," Py said, taking her attention back at him.

"Sure! Bye!" she said, but instead of leaving, she waited for them to come out. She moved her car farther to the parking lot but she was still able to clearly see the entrance and exit of the café.

She felt her tears flowing through her eyes. She saw them, happy like a couple. Pyros' hands at Alexis' shoulders and her in his waist. They were laughing genuinely until Xis tiptoed and kissed Py on his lips, it was supposed to be a smack but Py insisted on more.

That made her cry... too much.

"When I already planned our future, when you already became my comfort zone, my world, the reason for my existence ... and what happened?" She cried her tears out and did not realize that the two had already left the parking lot. She followed them and her heart ripped more seeing that they were in his condo. She waited for them to come up before she would. And when she got up to his floor, she entered the passcode. The passcode hasn't changed so that it won't be obvious? she asked herself.

When she got inside smoothly, she wanted to keep quiet. And she heard laughs at the kitchen that's where she saw them, like how they used to be. Did he find his happiness in another woman? she asked herself, she can't help but sob quietly and only watch them do the things they both did before.

She went to his room and left a note. A note that she thought she'd never write.

I love you, and you loved me. You have found joy in another person, and I want you to be happy. I don't need your explanation, save it. I'll just understand it even if it hurts and is difficult. Honey, I have many plans for us, for our future. I thought we'll last until we're old as you said, I hoped. Again, I love you. But I guess I'm letting you go.

Love, Zaphyra.

She continues to cry as she leaves his condo unit. She didn't run and walked faster, not because she was waiting for Pyros to chase her, but because she's in pain and she's hurting. When she got out and she was in the parking lot, she heard someone calling for her name... It was the guard, "Ma'am you dropped your handkerchief." He immediately handed it to her, she thanked him as she smiled bitterly.

When she got home her eyes were swollen. His older brother saw him and his older brother Zac quickly hugged him. Her tears flowed again.

"Shh.." it was Yoh now.

"What happened Princess?" asked her Kuya Zio.

"I-I decided to let him go," she stammered in response while sobbing.

"And?"

"I saw him with someone else... he's happy..." Yex's ear seemed to tingle. He immediately blushed because of anger and hurried to get his car key...

"Yex! Where are you going?!" her older brother Zio shouted at Yex.

"I'm going to teach that asshole a lesson he'll never forget," said he and quickly got inside the car and ignites the engine.

"Kuya!"

"S-stop him... please..." Zaph begged her brothers so her older brother Zio and Yoh nodded at her and also got in a car to follow Yex. While Zaph was crying, her older brother took her to their living room.

She felt the weight of the lids of her eyes along with her tiredness and yawning, she closed her eyes completely. She woke up on the soft bed in her room. She was smiling and happy because she woke up, but then in just a matter of seconds, reality struck her. And it struck her pretty hard.

She's single again, and he cheated on her. Plus, the fact that she'll be leaving tomorrow. Staring nowhere while reminiscing their every memory together, she smiled when she remembered their sweetest moments.

"You're my Girlfriend already! Alright?" Pyros said and hugged her tight.

"No," she said, suppressing the butterflies in her stomach.

"Asawa nalang?" muling banat ng binata at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. She didn't looked at him dahil baka makita nito ang pagpula ng kanyang mga pisngi.

"Then how about... wife?"

That was years ago, a week before her 16th birthday. And also a week before they became official.

"I love you my Zaphyra." he kissed her on his forehead and hugged her tight.

"I love you more Pyros," She replied and kissed him on his cheeks. That was their first anniversary and her seventeenth birthday. They celebrated it with just the two of them. It was also the day that he promised to never let her go.

"Hon! It's our fourth year together!" she shouted as she hugged him. It was always the happiest day for them because it's her birthday.

Then she picked the wrong date. because she will never forget it while she's moving on. It's her birthday and this year she'll celebrate it as her birthday only and without their anniversary.

The tears rolled down her cheeks again as she remembered that next week is her birthday. It is painful and bitter for her. Someone knocked on her door, "Zaph..." the voice of a girl mimicked. It was Mira, the lady who she treated as her own sister since she didn't have one. Mira is the Head Maid's daughter and she is very sunny.

She heard the door open and close and heard footsteps also. "Zaphyra..." the lady muttered and with a soft look on her face... it went to her and hugged her tight as she caresses her hair.

Miraphea is beautiful, simple but with elegance. Her fair skin and a nose that isn't pointed, her red lips, her eyes with the colour of darkness, and those long eyelashes that made her more attractive. And her short hair. This woman served as her ate, she is the head maid's daughter and she had this secret love towards Zaccary.

"A-ate..." she sobbed in pain, once again.

"He's waiting for you in the dirty kitchen. Mama gave her permission to talk to you, will you talk to him?"

"I still can't," she said and laid her head on her shoulders. She felt Mira nod at her as it caressed her back to lighten the pain.

"Okay... I'll tell—" but they both stilled as they heard shouts downstairs that made them immediately run out the room.

"What is that asshole doing here?!"

"Get him out immediately! Or I'll be the one to drag him out here."

"Please! I just want to talk to her!"

"How can you talk to someone who is constantly crying because of you?!"

"Leave now, before we all can't control ourselves and beat you into a pulp."

"No, I won't leave! I want to talk to her!"

As they see the whole situation clearly, both of them had their eyes widen in shock. They saw Pyros kneeling and begging in front of her brothers, his eyes were full of tears, he looks pitiful.