It felt like hours had passed since I texted Ash. My phone lay still on the table in front of me, the screen now dim, but my mind was anything but. It was spinning with thoughts, questions, and doubt. The words “I didn’t kiss her” kept echoing in my head, but somehow they felt empty in the stillness. Every part of me wanted to believe him, but the image of Victoria’s lips on his—no matter how he explained it—refused to leave my mind. I tried to calm myself, telling myself it would be okay. That we would talk. That we could figure this out together. But the hours ticked by, and the more I waited, the more that calmness slipped through my fingers like sand.I had agreed to meet him. I had agreed to give him a chance to explain. But as the time passed, the ache in my chest deepened, and the anxiety gnawed at my insides. His last message said he'd be there soon, that he'd explain everything once we met, but now, nothing. Not a single word. I checked my phone again. Nothing.I stood up, p
Ash's POVI don't know how long I sat in my car, just staring at the blank road ahead of me. Every part of me felt like it was on fire, aching from the weight of what had just happened. I knew I had messed up. I could feel it deep in my bones. Victoria's words, the scene in the office, my father's interference-it all hit me like a ton of bricks. But what hurt the most was knowing that Maya was out there, waiting for me, not understanding the truth. And I had let her down.I had tried so hard to be the man she needed me to be, the man I thought I could be for her. But today, I realized that despite all my good intentions, I had made every single thing worse. I kept telling myself that I had everything under control, that I could handle the pressure of both worlds-the business and the personal. But in the end, it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers.I started the engine and drove. Hindi ko na kayang maghintay pa. I needed to see Maya. I needed to fix this-whatever this
I was pacing around my apartment, the weight of everything pressing down on me more than ever. After the conversation with Maya, I thought we were taking small steps toward healing, toward rebuilding the trust that had been shattered. Pero ang mga hakbang na yun, para bang, isang malaking halimaw na umaabot sa mga pader ko, naghihintay na dumaan ako at madapa.I had promised Maya I’d be patient. I’d promised I would show her that she was the only one who mattered. And I meant every word. But the looming threat of my father—of his expectations—kept hanging over us like a storm cloud, ready to burst. The truth was, I had always known that if there was one thing that could destroy everything, it was my father. Reginald Reed wasn’t just a businessman; he was a force of nature. And no matter how much I loved Maya, no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from my family's control, I knew that my father wouldn’t give up without a fight.I ran my hands through my hair, frustration build
The following days after that confrontation with Ash and his father felt like I was walking through a haze. It’s as if I couldn’t focus on anything else but the situation between us. The lingering uncertainty, the fear that maybe I was just fooling myself into believing he would choose me over everything else. I had been down this road before—choosing someone who never truly saw me, never really fought for me the way I needed. But Ash... he felt different. His words were different. But were they enough?Teka, Maya. Breathe.I was standing by the window of my apartment, looking out at the busy street below, trying to steady myself. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue across the city. The world outside felt so alive, so full of possibilities. But inside my head? I was a mess.After the scene with Ash, I couldn’t shake off the lingering thoughts. Was he really telling the truth? Did he really mean what he said? Could he truly fight against his father’s control? I couldn’t help but
Everything felt like it was falling into place. After all the mess, the heartbreak, and the miscommunications, Ash and I were finally at a point where things felt calm—more real than ever. I could see it in his actions, in the way he was prioritizing us, choosing me above everything else. He was fighting for us, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t just fighting alone.I stood by the window of my apartment, watching the early morning light stream through the glass. I felt peace wash over me. The city outside was bustling, as usual, but inside, it was just me and my thoughts. And right now, I felt good about everything. About Ash. About us.“Okay lang ako,” I whispered to myself, letting the gentle breeze calm my nerves. This was the calm before the storm, but I wasn’t as afraid as I had been before.Ash had made promises—to me, to himself—and slowly, day by day, he was proving that he meant them. The road ahead was still uncertain, but we were walking it together.---Days
It’s Saturday night. Maya slumped onto her couch, knees tucked under her, a mug of chamomile tea going cold on the side table. Outside her apartment window, the city buzzed with life—people laughing in the streets, cars honking in traffic, lights gleaming across the skyline. But here, in her pristine minimalist living room, everything felt unnervingly quiet. Too quiet. Maya hated this. It reminded her of loneliness. Her phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with yet another text. 𝗔𝘃𝗮: Girl, mag-SoulLink ka na. Swear, it’s time. Baka andiyan na ‘yung soulmate mo! She rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile pulling at her lips. Ava, her bestfriend, had been on a weeks-long crusade to get her on SoulLink, a new dating app marketed for “deep, genuine connections.” Ava swore by it. Her? Not so much. Betrayal leaves scars, and her scars ran deep. Her father, who left when she was eight. Her ex, Alex, whose idea of love was an endless string of lies. Opening up again? Pass.
The soft morning light spilled into Maya’s minimalist apartment, casting a warm glow on her beige walls and the scattered potted plants that added life to her space. She leaned back on her couch, one hand wrapped around a mug of coffee, the other holding her phone as her conversation with Ash continued. 𝗔𝘀𝗵: I’m glad we met on SoulLink. Sometimes, life has a way of putting the right people together in the most unexpected ways. Maya smiled, taking a sip of her coffee. Where'd he learn that line? At a romcom screening? Still, there was something about him that felt genuine, even behind the screen. 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: I know, right? Minsan, you don't even notice the things you're missing until someone drops into your life. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she added, 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮: Or maybe it's just luck. Di ba? Before he could reply, a knock on her door snapped her attention away. "Hoy, Maya! Open na, alam ko nandito ka!" Ava’s familiar voice rang out. Maya chuc
Nakatayo si Ash sa harap ng glass wall ng kanyang opisina sa NovaSpire habang pinagmamasdan ang lungsod sa ilalim ng lumulubog na araw. Kanina pa niya iniisip ang dinner nila ni Maya. It wasn’t just a date for him, either. Maya was... different. Hindi siya tulad ng mga babaeng nakilala niya—hindi tulad ni Victoria. Maya didn’t care about his wealth or his title or let’s just say his status in life. Alam niyang ang gusto ni Maya ay ang pagiging totoo niya. And that scared him. “You're distracted,” biglang sabi ni Julian, papasok sa opisina nang hindi kumakatok. May hawak itong isang tablet, pero hindi nakaligtas sa kaibigan niya ang seryosong itsura ni Ash. “I have plans tonight,” sagot ni Ash at tumawa nang mahina habang nakaupo sa kanyang desk. Julian raised an eyebrow. “Plans? Don’t tell me—date? The CEO of NovaSpire is going on a date?” Napailing si Ash pero may ngiti sa kanyang labi. “Don’t make it a big deal, Julian. It’s just dinner.” “Just dinner? Kung ganon, bakit p
Everything felt like it was falling into place. After all the mess, the heartbreak, and the miscommunications, Ash and I were finally at a point where things felt calm—more real than ever. I could see it in his actions, in the way he was prioritizing us, choosing me above everything else. He was fighting for us, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t just fighting alone.I stood by the window of my apartment, watching the early morning light stream through the glass. I felt peace wash over me. The city outside was bustling, as usual, but inside, it was just me and my thoughts. And right now, I felt good about everything. About Ash. About us.“Okay lang ako,” I whispered to myself, letting the gentle breeze calm my nerves. This was the calm before the storm, but I wasn’t as afraid as I had been before.Ash had made promises—to me, to himself—and slowly, day by day, he was proving that he meant them. The road ahead was still uncertain, but we were walking it together.---Days
The following days after that confrontation with Ash and his father felt like I was walking through a haze. It’s as if I couldn’t focus on anything else but the situation between us. The lingering uncertainty, the fear that maybe I was just fooling myself into believing he would choose me over everything else. I had been down this road before—choosing someone who never truly saw me, never really fought for me the way I needed. But Ash... he felt different. His words were different. But were they enough?Teka, Maya. Breathe.I was standing by the window of my apartment, looking out at the busy street below, trying to steady myself. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue across the city. The world outside felt so alive, so full of possibilities. But inside my head? I was a mess.After the scene with Ash, I couldn’t shake off the lingering thoughts. Was he really telling the truth? Did he really mean what he said? Could he truly fight against his father’s control? I couldn’t help but
I was pacing around my apartment, the weight of everything pressing down on me more than ever. After the conversation with Maya, I thought we were taking small steps toward healing, toward rebuilding the trust that had been shattered. Pero ang mga hakbang na yun, para bang, isang malaking halimaw na umaabot sa mga pader ko, naghihintay na dumaan ako at madapa.I had promised Maya I’d be patient. I’d promised I would show her that she was the only one who mattered. And I meant every word. But the looming threat of my father—of his expectations—kept hanging over us like a storm cloud, ready to burst. The truth was, I had always known that if there was one thing that could destroy everything, it was my father. Reginald Reed wasn’t just a businessman; he was a force of nature. And no matter how much I loved Maya, no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from my family's control, I knew that my father wouldn’t give up without a fight.I ran my hands through my hair, frustration build
Ash's POVI don't know how long I sat in my car, just staring at the blank road ahead of me. Every part of me felt like it was on fire, aching from the weight of what had just happened. I knew I had messed up. I could feel it deep in my bones. Victoria's words, the scene in the office, my father's interference-it all hit me like a ton of bricks. But what hurt the most was knowing that Maya was out there, waiting for me, not understanding the truth. And I had let her down.I had tried so hard to be the man she needed me to be, the man I thought I could be for her. But today, I realized that despite all my good intentions, I had made every single thing worse. I kept telling myself that I had everything under control, that I could handle the pressure of both worlds-the business and the personal. But in the end, it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers.I started the engine and drove. Hindi ko na kayang maghintay pa. I needed to see Maya. I needed to fix this-whatever this
It felt like hours had passed since I texted Ash. My phone lay still on the table in front of me, the screen now dim, but my mind was anything but. It was spinning with thoughts, questions, and doubt. The words “I didn’t kiss her” kept echoing in my head, but somehow they felt empty in the stillness. Every part of me wanted to believe him, but the image of Victoria’s lips on his—no matter how he explained it—refused to leave my mind. I tried to calm myself, telling myself it would be okay. That we would talk. That we could figure this out together. But the hours ticked by, and the more I waited, the more that calmness slipped through my fingers like sand.I had agreed to meet him. I had agreed to give him a chance to explain. But as the time passed, the ache in my chest deepened, and the anxiety gnawed at my insides. His last message said he'd be there soon, that he'd explain everything once we met, but now, nothing. Not a single word. I checked my phone again. Nothing.I stood up, p
The day started like any other, or so I thought. Ash had promised that he’d be back by dinner—he’d been so busy lately with work that I’d barely seen him for the past few days. I’d spent most of my day doing some work of my own, trying to keep myself occupied while waiting for him to finally come home. It was supposed to be a quiet night, just the two of us, catching up and relaxing. But as the hours passed and the sun dipped below the horizon, I started getting that nagging feeling that something was wrong.I called him twice, but he didn’t answer. It was unusual for Ash to not pick up, especially when he knew we had plans. My fingers hovered over the phone, wondering if I should call again, but before I could, my phone buzzed with a message from him.Asher: Hey, sorry babe. Something came up at the office. I’m going to be late tonight. I’ll explain later, promise.Something came up. That didn’t sound like him at all. He was always clear about his schedule. If he said he was going to
The past few days had been… complicated, to say the least. Ever since that party, Victoria had been like a persistent shadow, constantly lurking around, trying to get under my skin. I tried my best to ignore her—after all, I had Ash, and that was all that mattered. But Victoria seemed determined to make my life as difficult as possible. I had a feeling she wasn’t just trying to win Ash back. She was trying to prove something. And unfortunately, I was the target.It was late afternoon when I got the first message. Victoria: Are you sure you know what you're getting into, Maya? I just don't want you to be another one of Ash's distractions. You deserve more, you know. But, if you're okay with playing second fiddle, that's on you.I stared at the screen for a moment, trying to keep my cool. But the more I read it, the more I felt my blood boil. Second fiddle? Distraction? I had been nothing but genuine with Ash, and yet here she was, trying to undermine me at every turn.I thought about
As we made our way out of the party, my heart still racing from the encounter with Victoria, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was over. Or so I thought. Ash’s hand was a steady comfort in mine, and we walked towards the car, the cold night air refreshing after the suffocating tension in the ballroom.“Thank you for having my back,” I murmured, looking up at him, feeling the weight of the evening slowly lift.“Always,” Ash replied, squeezing my hand gently. “I’m sorry you had to deal with her tonight.”I shrugged, trying to push away the feeling of frustration that still lingered. “I can handle her. It’s just… sometimes I wonder why she’s still in the picture. She doesn’t know when to back off.”Ash’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing more as we reached the car. The driver opened the door for us, and we slid into the backseat. I leaned against Ash, taking comfort in his presence, letting myself relax as the car started moving through the quiet streets. But just as I
The night had started off so perfectly. After the tension with Victoria, I’d managed to shake off the discomfort and focused on enjoying the rest of the evening with Ash. We danced, we laughed, and I even felt a little bit more at home in the sea of well-dressed strangers. Ash was, as always, a calming presence beside me. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight wasn’t over. Not yet.The soft murmur of conversations filled the large ballroom as we made our way through the crowd, Ash keeping a protective arm around me. We stopped to talk to a few more of his colleagues, and I was starting to feel more relaxed when, suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.I felt a chill that cut through the warmth of the room. I didn’t know why, but the air felt different, heavier. It wasn’t until I heard the high-pitched voice that I understood why.“Maya! What are you doing here?”Victoria.I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was her. The voice was unmistakable. I turned slowly, my