P E D R O My heart was racing with joy at the thought of seeing Selena again. It had felt like a lifetime since I last saw her at the cinema last weekend.I adjusted my tie, anxiously waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. As soon as it was ready, I grabbed two cups and made my way out of the break room, eager to see Selena again.I rounded the corner and stopped by my office to check myself out if I still looked presentable.I wanted to look my best for her, both polished and professional. I wanted to make a good impression, to show her that I was worthy of her attention. Maybe, if I was lucky, I could even outshine that smug guy, stupid Christopher fucking Andre.I knew it was vain and ridiculous, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted Selena to see me at my best, to know that I was more than what she had seen so far. I wanted to impress her, to make her see me in a new light. I knew it was silly, but I couldn't shake the feeling.I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety washing ove
S E L E N AI've always been a bit hard on myself, but I never imagined I would make such a huge mistake. It's embarrassing and frustrating, and I'm having a hard time forgiving myself. Running away from there when he clearly didn't care for me felt like I was trying to force myself on him, hoping that he would eventually change his mind and want to be with me. It was a desperate and misguided attempt to win him over, and I'm embarrassed by how I acted. I should have respected his boundaries and accepted that he wasn't interested in me.In hindsight, I could see that I was being a bit delusional and ignoring the obvious signs that he wasn't interested in me. I placed my hand on my chest, trying to steady my racing heart. I opened the door and walked into the room, not knowing what was on the other side. I didn't care where I was going, as long as it was away from everyone else. All I wanted was to be alone and collect my thoughts. I hoped that Christopher would forgive me for my mis
P E D R OI watched as Christopher fucking Andre led Selena to his car, a lump forming in my throat. They seemed so happy together, like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. And I felt like I was on the outside, looking in. I felt like a failure like I had lost everything. I should have been more honest with her, I should have told her the truth about Louisa. I should have told her that she was nothing to me, that I had moved on. But I hadn't, and now I was paying the price. I felt a wave of regret wash over me, a feeling of what-ifs and could-have-been. Watching Selena get into the car and drive away, I felt like Christopher Andre had won. He had driven her out of my life, out of my messed-up life. And I couldn't help but feel like I had lost. Like I had failed. I wondered if I would ever be able to get her back, to make things right. The door crept open and I didn't bother to check since I had strangely registered her fucking scent in my nostril.“Why did you do that?” I asked,
P E D R O“You don't actually believe what that nutjob said, do you?” Roy said, shutting the door behind him as he entered the living room. His tone was incredulous, as if he couldn't believe that I might be taking Louisa seriously. I could tell he was sceptical, and I wasn't sure what to think myself.“I don't know what to believe,” I said, my voice sounding small and unsure. I was still processing the things Louisa had said to me. They were outrageous, but part of me couldn't shake the feeling that there might be some truth to them.What if my father had truly said that? What if, after all these years of being at odds with the Santos family, they've finally reconciled and want to pair me and Louisa together, even though my father had shut me out because of her five years ago?“Do you really think your father did that?” Roy asked as he sat down on the couch next to me, an apron tied around his neck and the scent of cooking oil wafting from his clothes. He looked at me with concern, c
C H R I S T O P H E R Selena sat in the car with her head bowed, her forehead pressed against the window. She was so quiet, I wondered what was going through her mind. I wished I could read her thoughts, and understand what she was feeling. But I couldn't, and the silence between us was suffocating. I wanted to say something to break the tension, but I didn't know what to say.I glanced over at her, taking in her sad and defeated posture. She looked so vulnerable, and I felt a wave of protectiveness washed over me. I wanted to do whatever I could to make her feel better.I wanted to help her forget about Pedro, but it seemed like everything was a reminder of him. My heart ached every time I saw the pain in her eyes. I wanted to be the only man who could make her heart race, who could make her smile. But I knew it wasn't that simple, that I couldn't just erase the past and take away her pain. I could only be there for her and hope that one day she would heal.I just hoped that one day
P E D R OOne part of me wanted to put the car in reverse and drive back home, but another part of me was urging me to keep driving to her apartment. My mind was at war with itself, and I couldn't decide what to do. I tightened my grip around the steering wheel and groaned. “What if she denied knowing me again, and accused me of stalking her?!” I shook my head, didn't think she would go to the extent of saying that.The rational part of me knew that this was a bad idea and that I was only going to get my heart broken again. But the other part of me, the more emotional side, just wanted to go to her, even if it meant getting hurt in the end by denying knowing me again.It has been a week and a few days, a good ten days had passed since she ran out of the company after seeing me with Louisa, and she hasn't been coming to the conference meeting either.“Fuck my life!” I hissed and slammed my fist on the steering wheel. If she kept avoiding the meeting, how then will I be able to explain
S E L E N A“Edward…” I heard Pedro yell after me as I made to open the gate, I stopped right on my track to hear what he had to say.He knew about Edward, yes, but I wouldn't show it. I thought I could keep up with the facade until he uttered, “I think you should visit him if you have the chance, it doesn't seem like the poor man has a lot of time left,” My shoulders jumped in shock, and my arms went limp. I dropped the shopping bag in alarm, its contents spilling onto the ground. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel my breath quickening. I stood frozen in place, unable to move.“What?!” I gasped and turned on my heels. I was surprised to see Pedro gone. My legs suddenly gave way and I collapsed to the ground, the impact jolting through my body. My mind was racing, trying to process what Pedro had said. I couldn't believe that Edward was in danger, that he might not have much time left. I had visited him before I left the city, and he had seemed fine. He had promised me h
S E L E N AI stood before the familiar hospital. My heart pounded against my chest as I clutched my purse tightly. I stared intently at the building before me.I hadn't been inside the hospital for three years, and I never imagined I would be back - at least not for Edward. As I stood there, staring at the building, the memories of the last time I was there rushed back to me. I never thought I'd step foot in this city again, and if I did, I imagined it would be to visit the old man at his home, not in the hospital. As I stood there, I couldn't help but feel the irony of the situation.I took a deep breath as I walked through the doors of the hospital. The memories of coming to visit the old man at the hospital, after my shift at the cafe with a basket of his favourite fruits in hand rushed in. I remembered the memories of pushing the old man in his wheelchair flooding my mind, of the times we would sit outside the hospital and enjoy the fresh air. It felt like only yesterday that I