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Chapter 13
Huling Na-update:
2025-01-03 13:11:43Kaugnay na kabanata
Love in Beta Chapter 14
The coffee in front of Maya had long gone cold, but she didn't care. Ash was sitting across from her, his presence dominating the small café, and Maya couldn't seem to take her eyes off him. The air between them was thick with the things left unsaid. She had heard his words, had listened carefully, but there was still something she couldn't quite grasp. Her heart still felt like it was in a state of constant tug-of- war-between the part of her that wanted to believe, and the part of her that was too scared to hope.Ash leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Maya," he began, his voice soft yet steady, "I know that I've been distant lately. I know it must have hurt you. But I promise you, it wasn't because I didn't care about you. It's just... things aren't simple for me. I have so many things in my life I can't explain just yet."Maya's gaze faltered for a moment. She felt herself getting lost in his blue eyes again. As much as she wanted to believe him, as much as a pa
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-03Love in Beta Chapter 15
Ava's POVWala na akong ibang maiisip kundi si Maya. Alam ko kasing she's been struggling these past few days. Hindi ko na siya nakikita as her usual bubbly self. I could tell that something was bothering her, but she just kept brushing it off whenever I asked her. I was starting to think na baka si Ash na naman ang dahilan.Kahit na hindi ko kilala si Ash nang personal, I could see how much he meant to Maya. They've been talking nonstop these past few weeks, and I knew from the way Maya smiled at her phone na may something special between them. I was happy for her, honestly. She deserves someone who'll treat her right after everything that's happened in her life.But still, there was this nagging feeling na parang may kulang. I've been trying to shake off this suspicion, pero every time na nag-uusap kami ni Maya about him, there's always this look in her eyes na parang... I don't know. Parang hesitant, pero hopeful at the same time.This morning, nag-usap kami ni Maya after her meeti
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-03Love in Beta Chapter 16
Maya's POVThe days following my last dinner with Ash felt like a blur, a series of fleeting moments that left me both light and heavy at the same time. His words echoed in my head, especially the way he told me he wanted me to see him- the real him-and not just the CEO, not just the man behind SoulLink. It's been hard for me to believe him, to let myself fall into this feeling that kept stirring inside me. But the way he made me feel seen, understood-it's something I hadn't experienced before.Sana hindi ako magkamali.I didn't tell Ava about our dinner. She'd been asking more questions lately, and I wasn't sure I was ready to explain the things I was feeling. Not when it still didn't make sense to me. Asher was so different from the guy I imagined him to be. The walls he had built around himself were real, but so were the cracks I saw every time we talked. Still, I couldn't deny that I was drawn to him. And yet, there was still a part of me- nag-aalangan parin-afraid that things wou
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04Love in Beta Chapter 17
AVA'S POVIt's funny how life throws curveballs when you least expect it.I was just sitting on my couch, scrolling through my phone like I always do when I'm avoiding the chaos of my thoughts. My mind was on autopilot, and I was so focused on the meme I was reading that I didn't even notice the text message from Maya until it was too late. I had been meaning to call her for hours, to tell her everything, but every time I thought about it, my stomach twisted. I didn't want to worry her. Hindi ko pa nga rin sigurado kung tama ang ginagawa ko, pero nararamdaman kong kailangan ko itong ibahagi.I texted her first.Ava: Maya, I need to talk to you. There's something you don't know.I saw her reply almost immediately.Maya: What's going on?The moment I saw that message, I realized how cryptic and vague my words had been. Was I really ready to tell her everything? The truth about Ash? The things I had uncovered?But I couldn't back out now.Ava: I think I found something. About Ash. Someth
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04Love in Beta Chapter 18
MAYA'S POVI sat in my car, staring at the screen of my phone. Nandiyan na naman ang message ni Ava-ang huling mga salitang binitiwan niya na nag-uudyok sa puso ko na magtulungan kami, pero may isang bahagi ng akin na ayaw makinig. I didn't want to believe it. Ayoko pang isipin na may itinatagong mali si Ash. Hindi ko kayang mawalan ng tiwala sa kanya. Hindi ko pa kayang makapaghanda para sa kung anuman ang lihim na tinatago niya.Pero... kung may itinatago nga ba siya, anong klaseng relasyon ang meron kami?Sighing, I finally hit the gas and started driving toward Ash's place. I didn't even know if I was ready to face him or if I was simply running away from the uncertainty that had been eating me up ever since I got that message from Ava. But deep inside, I knew I had no other choice. Kung gusto ko talagang malaman ang katotohanan, kailangan ko siyang tanungin.I arrived at his apartment complex and parked my car. Pagdating ko sa building, I took a deep breath. Ang dibdib ko ay para
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04Love in Beta Chapter 19
MAYA'S POVWala akong masyadong naramdaman habang papauwi ako. Siguro kasi hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong magiging ending ng lahat ng ito. I wanted to believe Ash, I really did. Pero, ang sakit pa rin. Bawat salita niya kanina, parang may mga butas. Masyadong madali niyang ipinasa ang lahat ng pagkakamali niya sa ibang tao. Hindi ko siya masisisi, kasi siguro ganun talaga siya-laging itinatago ang mga bagay na nakakabigat.Pero ako? Hindi ko kayang maging ganun. I may have built walls to protect myself, pero hindi ko kayang magpanggap na hindi ako nasaktan, na hindi ko nakikita bawat signals. Na hindi ko ramdam na may kulang.Pagdating ko sa apartment ko, diretso akong pumasok, hindi na pinansin ang phone ko na nag-vibrate sa bag ko. Nandiyan na si Ava, naghintay na sigurado akong matagal. Hindi ko kayang mag-isang nang mag-isip ngayon. I needed someone to talk to."Ava!" Sigaw ko habang tinatanggal ko ang sapatos ko. "Ang hirap!"Bigla niyang binuksan ang pinto, ang mukha niyang pun
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04Love in Beta Chapter 20
AVAS POVAng gabi ay tahimik. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit, pero may bagay sa hangin na nagdudulot ng pakiramdam na may malalim na mangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung para kanino o kung anong ibig sabihin nito, pero nararamdaman ko ang weight ng mga nangyayari.Maya is my best friend. Alam ko kung gaano siya kalakas at ka-independent.Pero ramdam ko yung paghihirap na tinatago niya. Ang sakit makita siyang nahihirapan dahil sa isang lalaki. I just wanted to shake her out of it. Kasi alam ko, she's better than this. She deserves better.Tumingin ako sa kanya mula sa kabilang sofa habang nagmumuni-muni siya. Nakita ko ang mga mata niyang malungkot, puno ng tanong, at may pag- aalinlangan. Maya, at least I know you're strong enough to face this, I thought.Sinubukan ko siyang pasayahin, kahit na alam kong hindi madali. "Babe, kahit anong mangyari, remember-you're amazing. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, okay?"She gave me a faint smile, pero hindi pa rin siya tumitingin sa akin ng direts
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04Love in Beta Chapter 21
AVAS POVAng araw na 'to, para akong nakakulong sa isang malaki, madilim na kahon ng mga tanong at pagkabahala. I mean, I was trying to be there for Maya, trying to support her through her pain. Pero, at the back of my mind, alam ko na may sarili din akong mga problema na kailangan harapin.Kaya nang magring ang phone ko at makita ko ang pangalan ni Liam, hindi ko na alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Naramdaman ko ang kilig, at the same time, ang takot. Takot na baka maulit na naman ang mga bagay na hindi ko na gustong balikan.Maya and I were at a cafe, trying to distract ourselves from all the emotional baggage, when I felt my phone buzz. Pagtingin ko sa screen, nagilid ang mata ko. Liam.Napaisip ako sandali, kung tatawagan ko ba siya or ignore ko na lang. Ayoko na sanang balikan siya, pero hindi ko maiiwasan ang curiosity ko. Lalo na't ang huling nakita ko sa kanya, hindi maganda."Are you gonna answer it?" Maya asked, her eyes still focused on the menu. I could hear the curiosity
Huling Na-update : 2025-01-04
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Maya felt a flutter in her chest as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was nervous—no, more like terrified. She had been dating Ash for a couple of months now, but today was different. Today, he was going to meet someone important: her mother, Rachel.“Are you sure about this, Maya?” she muttered under her breath, adjusting her hair for what felt like the hundredth time. Her phone buzzed on the counter, breaking her thoughts. It was a message from Ash. “On my way. Should I bring flowers? Or maybe wine? :)”Maya laughed softly, feeling the nerves settle slightly. Asher always had a way of lightening the mood, even with the simplest gestures. She quickly typed back.“No need for wine yet, just bring yourself. My mom’s a sucker for genuine smiles, so you should be okay.”It was true. Her mom, Rachel, had always been warm and welcoming, but she could be a little protective when it came to Maya’s relationships. After everything Maya had gone through with her father and the
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Maya sat in the cozy corner of her apartment, the soft hum of city life outside blending with the low volume of the music playing in the background. Her thoughts were swirling, but they were different now. She wasn’t running away from them anymore. Hindi na siya takot. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she was allowing herself to feel everything that she was beginning to feel for Ash. It had been a month since their spontaneous day trip, and things between them had only gotten deeper. They had shared more moments, laughed at silly things, and spent late-night conversations talking about everything and nothing at all. Maya could feel the connection between them growing stronger with each passing day. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but it was undeniable now. Ash wasn’t just the guy from SoulLink anymore. He was becoming a part of her life, someone who made her heart feel safe, heard, and seen.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Ash.“I’ll be there
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Maya sat at her favorite café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the slight crispness in the air. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, but in the best way possible. Every time she saw Ash, she felt both grounded and elevated at the same time. They were taking things slow, yes, but there was no denying that something deeper was beginning to grow between them. As she stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her phone buzzed on the table. It was a message from Ash. “Good morning, Maya. I’ve been thinking about last night... dinner was great. I enjoy every moment I spend with you. You make everything feel light. I’m really happy that we’re doing this.”She smiled, her fingers hovering over the screen as she typed her response.“I’m happy too, Ash. I didn’t think I could feel this comfortable with someone again, but here we are. Let’s keep this going, one day at a time.”As she sent the message, a warm feeling spread in her chest. It was crazy to think how far
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Maya sat at her desk, the soft hum of the office around her barely registering. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the afternoon she had spent with Ash. Their conversation, the honesty in his eyes—it was everything she had wanted to hear, but still, a part of her hesitated. Hindi siya sigurado kung kaya niyang bitawan ang mga takot na matagal nang nakatanim sa puso niya. But something had shifted inside her. Maybe it was the way he had looked at her when he said he was willing to try. Hindi niya pa kayang magtiwala nang buo, but maybe she could allow herself to take it one day at a time. She tapped the edge of her coffee cup, lost in thought, when a notification from her phone broke her reverie. It was from Ash. “Good morning, Maya. I’ve been thinking about our conversation. I know we’re taking it slow, and I respect that. But I just wanted to say, I’m happy that we’re doing this. Let’s keep taking things one step at a time. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”Her heart fluttered
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The days after their conversation at the café felt like a blur. A part of Maya was still processing everything that had happened, but she couldn’t deny the small flicker of hope that had sparked inside her. She had agreed to give Ash a chance—to let him prove that his feelings for her were genuine. Pero, as much as she wanted to believe him, she couldn’t just forget everything so easily. Hindi siya ganoon. Hindi siya ganoon ka-bilis magtiwala ulit.It wasn’t just about him being a CEO. It was about the lies, the secrets, and the fact that, at one point, he had hidden his true self from her. And now, she was supposed to pick up the pieces and pretend like nothing had happened? Hindi. Hindi pa siya handa para doon. Not yet.She had been avoiding him for a few days after their talk, not because she was mad, but because she needed space. Hindi niya kayang magdesisyon agad-agad. Every time she thought of him, she felt the weight of his promises, but also the weight of the past. The trauma
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Maya sat down, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at Ash. He had that look in his eyes—conflicted, vulnerable—but also resigned. There was no way around this now. She had to know the truth, even if it broke her heart in the process. The café was quiet, the hum of the city outside the only sound between them. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Maya waited, her fingers tightening around the cup in front of her, feeling the coldness seeping through the ceramic.Ash exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair before meeting her gaze. “Maya, I know I’ve hurt you. And I know I’ve lied to you. But I never meant for any of this to happen.” He paused, like the weight of his own words was almost too much to bear. “I’m not just the guy you’ve been talking to on SoulLink. I—”“I know,” Maya interrupted, her voice surprisingly calm. Her eyes didn’t waver from his face. “I found out. That you’re Asher Reed. CEO of NovaSpire.”The silence that followed felt heavy, as if the air its
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Maya's POVMaya sat quietly in the corner of the cafe, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup. Her mind was a whirlwind, swirling with thoughts she couldn’t quiet. The words Ash had said earlier that night—“Maya, I need you to trust me.”—kept echoing in her head, but they felt like a distant plea, one that she wasn’t sure how to respond to anymore.Naalala ko pa nung una, when we first matched on SoulLink. Back then, everything felt so effortless, so simple. Ang saya ko pa nga nung may nakakausap akong someone who seemed to understand me, without the baggage of being the "CEO" or "rich kid" na laging hawak ng mga tao kay Asher. But now, everything was different. Now, there were secrets, expectations, betrayals... and a future neither of them could ever fully control."Hey, are you okay?" Ava’s voice broke through the fog of her thoughts. Maya looked up to find her best friend standing in front of her, concern etched on her face. Ava, ever the empath, must have sense
Love in Beta Chapter 25
AVAS POVIsang linggo na ang lumipas mula nang magkausap kami ni Julian, pero kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mag-isip. Ang mga tanong na hindi ko pa nasasagot, mga bagay na hindi ko pa lubos na naiintindihan. Ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa amin ni Liam? Bakit ba ako napagod ng ganito? And why does it still feel like I'm holding on to something that's already broken?That day, I had a meeting with a client. Medyo maaga pa, so I had the whole afternoon to myself. I decided to go for a walk to clear my mind. When I reached the park, I took a seat on the bench, looking at the people around me. Some were walking their dogs, others jogging, while some were just simply enjoying the warm sunlight. It felt peaceful, yet somehow, my mind was still full of noise. Lahat ng nangyari, lahat ng iniwasan ko, parang andiyan pa rin, nag-aantay na masaktan ako ulit.It didn't take long before my phone vibrated in my bag. I knew it was from Julian."Hey, I hope you're doing okay. I'm just
Love in Beta Chapter 24
AVAS POVHindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko. Parang may mabigat na bagay na bumagsak sa dibdib ko, but I couldn't cry. Hindi ko kayang umiyak sa harap ni Liam. Kung kaya ko lang magpanggap na okay lang ako, I would. Pero hindi ko na kayang magsinungaling.The whole walk back to my apartment felt like I was carrying the weight of the world. Ang laking pagbabago ng nararamdaman ko. Gabi na, at parang ang lamig sa labas, but it felt like the coldness inside me was worse. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari kay Liam. Was he really sincere? Or baka ako lang yung tanga na nahulog na naman sa manipulation niya. Pero kung may natutunan man ako mula sa lahat ng ito, it's that I can't keep lying to myself. I had to be strong. I couldn't keep falling for someone who would only bring me pain in the end.Pagdating ko sa apartment, I threw my bag on the couch and collapsed on the bed, trying to shake off the feeling that something was missing. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. But one
