All Chapters of Soldier's First Love (English) - ZL Lounge Series 01: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“WHAT’S your problem, Astin?” she asked as he let her go and pushed her against his car.“Do you know what the problem is? You’re dating that Del Franco!” he yelled, making her frown.“Date? Me, dating Darryl? You just saw us together, and now we’re dating?” she angrily questioned him.“F*ck! Wow, you just call him Darryl, huh,” he muttered, then looked straight at her.He knew she called Darryl “kuya” because he was Asia’s brother and a year older than her.Moments later, he opened his car door. “Get in,” he ordered.She didn’t move and just stared back at him.“Are you okay, Astin? I have someone with me, and you want me to leave just like that?” she said sarcastically.“I don’t care. Get in,” he repeated in a firm voice.She glared at him. As she turned to walk away, he pinned her back against the car and, without warning, kissed her hard. She punched his chest, trying to stop him, but he didn’t let go.She’d admit she liked his kiss. But what he was doing was wrong. She was disres

She woke up the next morning to the gentle kiss of the man beside her. She glanced at the wall clock—it was only half past six in the morning, but he was already dressed.“Good morning, Sweetie,” he said warmly, making her smile.He seemed to be in a great mood today. Surely she wasn’t imagining the endearment. His aura was sweet, almost tender. She hoped it would last, that maybe, one of these days, Astin would finally agree to discuss their situation. She wanted him back. It was selfish—especially since he had Barbie now—but she had regretted her mistakes. Couldn’t fate grant her this one chance?“Good morning. Do you have work today?” she asked.He nodded and gently stroked her face, pinching her lower lip before planting a quick kiss. Thankfully, it didn’t deepen. Otherwise, they might have ended up back in bed.“You’re still on vacation, aren’t you?” She sat up, facing him.“I am, but they need me at headquarters. After this break, I’ll stay at HQ for good,” he said quietly.His

Laura had just stepped out of the bathroom when Astin walked back in. Their eyes met briefly before she looked away. He headed straight to her bed while she sat at her vanity, drying her hair. Through her peripheral vision, she could see him watching her. His aura was different now. The anger seemed to have subsided. The harshness on his face was gone—and that made her vulnerable again. She silently scolded herself. So weak. She could hear his occasional sighs, each one deepening her confusion. Astin’s behavior baffled her. She and Darryl had done nothing wrong, yet Astin acted as if she belonged to him. And truthfully, a part of her wish she did. But not like this—not hidden away, not as an afterthought. Why couldn’t he just forgive her? She longed to move forward, to heal completely, like Mara, the taxi driver she once met. The constant ache was too much. This punishment felt unjust. Maybe Darryl was right—she didn’t deserve to be treated this way. But her heart refused to listen.

Laura struggled to get through the next few hours. She felt unmoored as if she were drifting in a haze. It was the first time she’d ever consumed so much alcohol, and the consequences hit hard. Her head pounded relentlessly, her eyes stung with exhaustion, yet sleep was out of reach—work still demanded her attention. She was utterly drained. Dragging herself into Andy’s office, she summoned what little strength she had left to request an undertime. She looked at her drooping eyes and immediately agreed, arranging for the company driver to take her home. She barely got it into the car before fatigue pulled her into a deep sleep. When she arrived home, her aunt Kendra greeted her with a concerned look. Laura quickly explained that she wasn’t feeling well and asked to rest. Concerned, the woman later brought her some medicine. A glance in the mirror revealed her slightly swollen face and puffy eyes. Had she looked like this all day? The thought mortified her. As soon as the woman l

A month had passed since Laura returned to Caramoan. Before BK’s birthday, her father was already released, giving her the courage to face the days ahead. She devoted all her attention to her father. He was one of the reasons she never gave up on life. Even without Astin in her life, her father remained, consistently showing her how much he loved her. Though her father still had a nurse, she took care of him during her free time, never leaving everything to the nurse. Since no one lived at her Aunt Kendra’s house, she stayed there when busy at the resort and unable to return to the center. Her father, however, stayed at their old house in the Poblacion, or centre of town. She couldn’t convince him to stay with her at the resort. Following her Aunt Kendra's suggestion, she hired someone to take care of the house and cook meals. With the generous salary she earned, she could easily afford it. Hazel’s work turnover went smoothly. She even extended her stay by a week to complete an au