43 - Bichon Frise

HARI YASIEL SIERRA

I was nursing my drink, trying to drown out the chaos in my head, when suddenly someone yanked my hand, forcing me to spin around. Before I could react, a sharp sting exploded across my face as a slap landed squarely on my cheek.

“Sai!” Gulat na sigaw nila Leo nang sampalin ako ni Sai.

There she was, Saoirse, standing in front of me, her eyes blazing with anger. She looked like she had been holding it in for a while, and now it was all spilling out. I scoffed, wiping the side of my mouth with the back of my hand, more out of habit than actual need. The sting from her slap was nothing compared to the pain I’d been carrying inside.

I wished it was Haven standing in front of me, her eyes burning with the same fire that had always drawn me in. I wished it was her voice, steady and strong, telling me to get my act together. I wished it was her hand, not Saoirse’s, reaching out to pull me back from the edge I’d been teetering on for so long.

But it wasn’t Haven. No matter