I hate you

Severa's POV

The walk back to the hotel was silent.

Eugene and I had spent hours at the beach, but after his confession, neither of us could find the words to fill the space between us. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but it was heavy—like a storm cloud lingering above, waiting to break.

When we reached our floor, we stopped in front of our rooms.

He hesitated for a second, glancing at me. I did the same.

Then, without a word, he turned and entered his room.

And I entered mine.

I locked the door and leaned against it, pressing my forehead against the cool wood.

I had spent years hating Eugene Dominguez. Years convincing myself that the past was just a lesson—one that I had painfully learned. But tonight, he shattered everything I thought I knew.

I had been a target from the start.

Everything I believed about that summer, about him, about us—it was all built on a lie.

And yet…

He had looked at me with so much regret. So much pain. As if he had been carrying the weight of his choices all this time.

But did that matter? Did regret erase what he had done?

I let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through my damp hair.

I didn't know what to feel.

Hurt. Conflicted. Angry.

Before I could spiral further into my thoughts, a knock echoed through my room.

I froze.

A second knock. Then a voice.

"Sev, it's me."

Eugene.

I swallowed hard and stared at the door. For a brief moment, I considered pretending I was asleep.

Another knock. "I brought food."

I sighed.

Of course, he did.

Reluctantly, I walked over and opened the door. Eugene stood there, holding two takeout containers, his expression unreadable. He looked… tired.

"I figured you haven't eaten," he said quietly.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't hungry. But my stomach betrayed me by growling softly.

Eugene almost smiled. Almost.

"Come in," I muttered, stepping aside.

He entered my room, setting the food on the small table near the window. The scent of grilled meat and rice filled the space, making my stomach grumble again.

I sat down across from him, watching as he handed me a container.

For a few minutes, we ate in silence.

But I couldn't take it anymore.

"I don't know how to feel," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "About everything you told me."

Eugene put down his fork and met my gaze. "I know."

I clenched my fists. "You—You betrayed me, Eugene. And now you're telling me you had no choice? That you regret it?"

He exhaled, his fingers tightening around his fork. "I do regret it."

I shook my head. "Regret doesn't change anything."

"I know."

"Then why?" My voice broke. "Why did you do it?"

Eugene shut his eyes, as if the question itself physically hurt him. When he opened them again, there was a deep sadness in his gaze.

"Because back then, I was weak."

I scoffed. "That's not an excuse."

"It's not."

I swallowed, my hands trembling. "You made me trust you, Eugene. You made me believe in you." My vision blurred with tears. "And then you destroyed me."

Eugene's jaw clenched. "I know."

I wiped my eyes roughly. "I was just a stupid girl who thought—" My breath hitched. "Who thought you actually cared about me."

His chair scraped against the floor as he suddenly stood.

"I did."

I looked up at him, my chest tightening.

Eugene took a step closer, his hands clenched at his sides. "I did care about you, Sev. More than I was supposed to." His voice was thick with emotion. "And that's why it ruined me when I did what I did."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Ruined you?"

"Yes." His voice was raw. "That night, when I hurt you… I regretted it the moment I walked away."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. "Then why did you do it?"

"Because I was a coward." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. "I thought I could walk away. I thought I could pretend that you never mattered to me."

I turned away, unable to look at him.

"Sev."

He took another step closer.

I felt his presence behind me, close enough to touch.

"I never stopped loving you."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

My breath caught.

Eugene exhaled shakily. "I tried to forget you. I tried to move on, to tell myself it was just a mistake." His voice cracked. "But I couldn't. Because I loved you then, and I still love you now."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Don't say that."

"It's the truth."

I shook my head. "You don't get to say that after everything."

Eugene gently turned me to face him. His eyes were filled with regret, with longing, with something I couldn't bring myself to believe in.

"I know I don't deserve forgiveness," he whispered. "But I needed you to know."

I stared at him, my heart pounding.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, and before I could stop myself, I whispered, "I hate you."

Eugene flinched.

I clenched my fists, my body trembling. "I hate you so much for what you did to me."

His hands fell to his sides, his expression shattered.

"I know."

And yet, despite the hatred I felt, despite the years of pain, there was a part of me that had been waiting to hear those words.

And that terrified me more than anything.