Torn Between Feelings

Felix had been gone for three days. The house was quieter than usual, except for the occasional sounds of Juan sighing and Grace trying to hold back her tears. Joseph had stopped asking about his older brother, but Lisa could see the worry in his eyes.

Lisa sat in the living room, staring at her phone, her fingers hovering over Felix's contact. She wanted to call him, to tell him to come home, but she knew he wouldn't pick up. He was too stubborn.

That night, the front door finally creaked open. Felix stepped inside, looking exhausted. His clothes were slightly wrinkled, and there was a hint of dark circles under his eyes, but his expression remained as cold as ever.

Juan rushed to him. "Where have you been?"

Felix ignored her and walked straight to his room.

Grace wiped her tears. "Felix—"

"Shut up, Grace." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

She flinched.

Felix turned around, his expression unreadable. "What do you do? I pay the house rent, I pay for electricity, I pay for the water running in the house, I pay for the food you eat, the water you drink, the clothes you wear. I pay for Huahua and Joseph's school fees, Mom's medication, and now you want to add a baby to that?"

Juan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Felix, please—"

"No," he snapped. "I work every day, and she just sits around, making stupid decisions. And now she's pregnant? What is she going to do, huh? Wait for me to raise the child too?"

Grace's tears spilled over. "It's not like I planned this!"

Felix scoffed and turned away. "Not my problem."

Lisa had been silent the entire time, watching everything unfold. But now, she felt the need to step in.

"Felix, enough."

Felix turned to her, his gaze cold. "You have something to say?"

Lisa met his eyes, her heart pounding. "You're being cruel."

For a second, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—guilt, hesitation, something. But it disappeared as quickly as it came.

He turned away. "I don't care."

Lisa clenched her fists. Why do I feel this way about him?

Lisa walked through the school hallways, lost in thought.

She hadn't spoken to Baskhar since the last awkward lunch. She had been avoiding him, unsure of how to face him. But today, she had no choice.

After school, he was waiting for her outside the gates.

"Lisa, can we talk?"

She hesitated. "About what?"

He sighed. "You know what."

She looked away. "Baskhar—"

"I like you, Lisa."

Her heart skipped a beat, but she already knew this. She just didn't know how to respond.

Baskhar took a step closer. "I know things are complicated, but I want to be with you."

Lisa swallowed hard. She liked him, but she didn't love him.

She forced a smile. "Baskhar, I—"

Before she could finish, Iris appeared, her face pale.

Lisa immediately knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" she asked.

Iris looked at her, then at Baskhar, her eyes filled with emotion.

"I need to talk to you both."