Part 13: The Storm

INTRO:

Not all days are filled with sunshine.

Storms will come, bringing tempests of doubt and pain.

Will their love endure the raging winds,

Or will they be swept away by the storm?

"BE MY DATE"

There I stood, waiting for Kate outside her classroom.

The moment the bell rang, signaling class dismissal,

I stepped forward, gathering my courage.

My voice trembled, my hands clenched—

But I smiled as I spoke.

"Kate, would you be my date today?"

Then her words came—

Soft, sincere, yet sharp as a dagger.

"DECLINE"

Big brother was there,

Asking for my time.

In fact, I had figured it out a few days ago.

His actions, different from before.

Even my man had noticed it—

And it made him quite afraid.

I said no.

"Brother, I really appreciate your love,

But I'm sorry, I cannot reciprocate it.

I already have a boyfriend,

And I love him with all my heart.

I'm really sorry.

Don't worry, I still see you as my big brother,

And I pray you find the right one.

I'm sure there is someone more suited for you than me."

I hugged him as I spoke these words sincerely.

"MY FIRST LOVE"

As I hugged my big brother,

My thoughts flashed to my man—Angelo.

Yes, it's true that my first crush was my big brother.

He had my admiration and became my inspiration.

But you're wrong about something.

The thing you're worrying about—it will never happen.

Yes, he may have been my first crush,

But it was only admiration.

My feelings for him were as a brother.

You are my first love.

Of course, I'll never tell you this—

It's too embarrassing.

I like you as a man.

I love you as my man.

If my closeness with my brother makes you anxious,

Then I will distance myself from him.

My sweet little love,

My love for you is too great,

And I hope you realize it.

"DUST"

As I pulled away, a gust of wind blew.

A speck of dust stung my eye.

I rubbed at it, wincing.

Jonathan bent down, concern in his gaze.

"Here, let me help."

He gently blew the dust from my eye.

I blinked, the discomfort fading.

"Thank you," I murmured.

Then—

A sudden force, a loud impact.

Jonathan staggered back.

A punch.

Fury.

Angelo.

"VALENTINE"

Today was meant to be special.

A day of love.

Dressed sharply, carrying a bouquet of tulips—

Red for love, pink for admiration, white for sincerity.

Humming to myself, I made my way to Kate's classroom.

My heart light, my love unwavering.

Then I saw it—

Jonathan leaning in,

Kate standing still.

From where I stood, it looked like a kiss.

Rage consumed me.

My grip on the bouquet tightened.

I ran.

I struck.

Again and again.

"THE FIGHT"

Angelo, furious.

Punching him, again and again.

Kate, unable to process the scene fast enough.

Jonathan, just standing there, taking the blows.

Kate, shouting at Angelo,

Finally stepping between them.

Angelo, not budging at all.

Looking at his brother's bruised face, she got angry.

She shouted his name.

And in that instant, Angelo snapped.

He stepped back, pushing Jonathan away.

His eyes dark, questioning him.

"FLOWERS"

Now, alone with Kate,

Angelo, still angry, handed her the flowers.

The petals were missing.

The leaves torn.It had been crushed during the fight.

Kate, too upset to accept them, tossed them aside.

"What was that?! Huh?

You came out of nowhere and punched him?

Are you insane?! Why the hell did you do that?"

"Go cool off, Angelo."

"I'm going to check on Jonathan."

Her anger was clear.

She did not tolerate his actions.

"CRYING HEART"

When Angelo handed her the flowers, he was still angry.

But the anger in his heart quickly faded.

His mind went silent.

His heart, empty.

The bouquet he carefully chose—

The one he had planned to give with love—

She didn't accept it.

She tossed it aside.

She spoke after,

But he wasn't listening.

His attention stayed on the fallen petals.

His mind blank.

His heart numb.

He couldn't look at her.

Because the moment he did,

His tears would fall.

Then she turned to leave—

To check on Jonathan.

That's when he snapped.

His hand caught her wrist, stopping her.

His grip weak.

"Don't leave me..."

His voice was small, like a child.

To Kate, it may have sounded like—

"Don't go to Jonathan. Don't leave me here."

But deep in his heart, it meant something else.

He was afraid.

Afraid she would truly leave him.

His body grew weak.

His mind sank into darkness.

"Don't leave me..."

The words kept escaping his lips,

Again and again.

But Kate, still angry, pulled her hand free.

She glanced at him—

His head lowered, his face unreadable.

Yet from the trembling in his voice,

She knew—he was breaking.

Still, it was Angelo's fault.

So she walked away.

"Cool off, Angelo."

That was all she said before leaving.

"ON THE GROUND"

Left alone.

All strength drained from his body.

He collapsed.

Falling to the ground.

The tears he had held back poured out.

He looked like a lost child,

Like someone who had just lost something precious.

His eyes landed on the tossed flowers.

Crawling weakly, he reached for them.

Holding them close,

As if his life depended on it.

He hugged them.

Crying into them.

Then, his phone rang.

His friend calling—

Just to ask if he was free to hang out.

But all they heard was his sobbing.

Concern filled their voices.

They asked where he was.

At first, he said nothing.

Just cried.

Then, after a long silence,

He whispered his location.

His friends rushed to him.

"PITIFUL"

A public place.

The campus.

Too many eyes watching.

A beautiful man, broken and crying.

A heartbreaking sight.

Students whispered.

Some felt pity.

Others were stunned.

Yet no one dared to approach.

The way he curled into himself,

The silent message in his body language—

He didn't want anyone near.

Then his friends arrived.

They ran to him.

Lifting his weak body from the ground.

He felt so light, so fragile.

Like his cries had drained him completely.

As soon as they held him—

He collapsed.

Fast asleep.

"IN THE HOSPITAL"

Jonathan, covered in bruises,

Lay in the hospital bed.

Kate sat beside him, guilt in her eyes.

She never thought Angelo would do something like this.

She kept apologizing on his behalf.

But Jonathan only smiled weakly.

"It's okay."

Then, looking at her seriously, he said—

"You should go to him now."

"Clear up the misunderstanding."

"Find your peace."

Just as he finished speaking,

Kate's phone rang.It was her friend.

She stepped out of the room to take the call.

"WORRIED"

The words from the other end of the call—

Made her heart drop.

"Kate, it's Angelo... He—he's lying on the ground.

Crying.

Holding the flowers.

Hugging them.

People are staring.

It's bad, Kate."

Her heart ached at the image forming in her mind.

She hurried back to Jonathan,

Apologized, and told him goodbye.

"I hope you recover soon."

Then, without wasting another second—

She rushed to find Angelo.

"IF ONLY..."

Jonathan watched as Kate ran off.

Even without words,

Her worry—her love—was clear.

The tiny girl from his childhood,

Now a grown woman.

And in that moment, regrets filled his heart.

If only I never left.

If only I came back first.

If only I told her how I felt sooner...

Would things have been different?

Would she have chosen him?

No.

As he watched her disappear from sight,

He knew the answer.

Kate's heart belonged to Angelo.

Her eyes held love only for him.

Jonathan clenched his fists,

But then he smiled—softly, painfully.

"She chose a good man."

Even if it hurt,

Even if it stung to admit it—

He knew it was true.

Angelo was a good man.

And Kate was happy.

That was enough.

OUTRO:

A storm has come, shaking their love.

Will they find their way back to each other?

Or will the damage be too great?

Only time will tell…