PROLOGUE

"Grey?"

"Hey Grey!" I was startled hearing Irene's voice.

"Oh, sorry. Why?"

"Babe you're spacing out.I was literally talking here and you're not listening. God, why are you like that?" She crossed her arms on her chest and rolled her eyes.

"Sorry" I said, pulling her closer. "What was it again?"

"Scratch that. Tita said let's wait for them." She stood up and got her bag. "I'll go buy something. Do you want water or anything?"

"No, I'm good." She worriedly looked at me, then looked around, and back at me again. "I'm fine here alone, Rene. Don't worry." I gave her an assuring smile.

"You sure, 'kay? I'll be back." I was quite shocked when she kissed the side of my lips before walking away. I acted normal.

Minutes have passed. All I did was stare at the people who were walking outside the hospital. Tita said that they'll be a little late but we're waiting for quite a while now.

There's no need to complain. It's kinda early to hear a rap that's faster than Eminem's. I took a deep breath. 'Patience is a must,' my mind said.

"Zael! Stop running!" I froze hearing that voice.

"No! I think I saw Kuya Grey!" I was staring at the kid who's running towards me. "See? It's him, Kuya!" He joyfully said as he hugged my thighs. "I missed you, Kuya"

(Kuya is a Filipino term for Older Brother)

I was shocked.

I slowly shifted my gaze to the man standing a meter away from us.

I don't know how to feel.I don't know how to react.

Months have passed but his painful eyes and cries never faded in my mind.

The hatred.

Memories of him begging me to say that everything he saw weren't true. That memory is still fresh and still hunting me every night.

"God! Why does the sun have to be this hot, huh?" I heard Irene's rants, but I couldn't take my eyes off to his cold gaze.

"Uh hi? Babe do you know them?" She asked, clinging on to me.

I clearly saw how his gaze went from my eyes to Irene's arms on mine. He clenched his jaw.

"He's… Thane's cousin."

"Really? So you're close?"

"No, not that much. Civil." I answered not knowing where I should look.

"Oh, okay." Irene said and faced him. "Hi! I'm Irene, Grey's girlfriend and I'm pretty close with Thane so it's a pleasure to meet you" She offered her hands with a smile. "You are?"

Her smile slowly faded when he just coldly stared at it.

Irene awkwardly crossed her arms on her chest again and rolled her eyes.

"Zael let's go"

"What? But kuya Grey is here. I don't want to leave him here." Zael whined at his brother. Pouting his lips with those pair of puppy eyes as if it could convince his brother.

"I said let's go." He said but this time you can feel the authority in his words.

Zael with teary eyes looked up at me. "Kuya, when will you see me again? Please come back to us."

I only smiled at him.

'I'm sorry, Zael' My mind said.

I hugged him before letting him go. I can't even open my lips to utter a word.

He turned his way with Zael, never meeting my eyes again.

" Rude, asshole. " Irene muttered.

" Did you see that? He just freaking ignored me. Where did he got that audacity, huh?" She whined and looked at me.

"I'm having enough for this day. Let's go in"

"Guess I don't have a choice but to understand, right?" I said as we walked through the hallway.

She looked at me. "It's your choice, stupid." She rolled her eyes again.

"If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences." I sighed. Guess I don't have a choice anymore.

"Forget it. Let's wait in the garden. I don't want to encounter anyone again " Her eyes were cold.

As we sat on the benches. Silence filled our spaces.

Irene was busy browsing on her phone. She didn't bring the topic back again, nor opened her mouth to talk.

Thoughts have been entering my mind.

It's okay.

I understand. I have to understand.

I didn't expect this to happen. I didn't expect to see him.

I don't know if I should be happy since after months of being away I saw his eyes again, or if I should be hurt 'coz he looked at me differently this time.

I can feel the hatred in his eyes even though his face seems emotionless.

Months have passed and I keep convincing myself that it's for the best.

I keep telling myself that what I did was right, that I chose the right way.

They said, when people are meant for each other, God planned a way and let them be happy together.

Maybe, we just met so that we can learn something from each other. From the smiles and cries, we've experienced that to be a better person for the one that we are really destined to.

Seeing him again made me regret what I did.

If only I could bring back time.

If only I had the courage to be selfish.

If only I'm strong enough.

I laughed at my own thoughts.

Shut up, Grey. He'll find someone else.

That someone would make him the happiest man alive.

That someone who won't do anything that can hurt him.

That someone who can give him a family that he deserves.

That someone who can give him the assurance of being together for a long time.

I can't be that someone.

I will never be that someone.

I did what I did.

I should face what I deserve. Your choice is for the best Grey. You can't just think about yourself.

Even that choice could hurt the both of us, I'm sure time will heal his wounds.

I wanted to be selfish.

Even just for this one.

But I can't.

I just can't.

'I'm sorry, Love'