Chapter 4- Brief and Bright

🎬 SCENE 1 — CLINT'S LIVING ROOM, SAME MOMENT

Clint stood halfway down the stairs.

Shirtless. Damp towel over his shoulder.

His eyes locked on Janet, who was frozen on the couch, hugging a throw pillow.

> Clint (blinking):

"...What the hell."

> Janet (smirking):

"You're asking me? Ikaw 'tong bumaba ng walang armor."

> Clint (snorts):

"It's my house!"

> Janet:

"Still. There's such a thing as emotional preparation, you know."

> Clint (steps back dramatically):

"Should I go back and redo my entrance?"

> Janet (grinning):

"Too late. I've already seen your final form."

They laughed — real, warm, the kind of laughter that left traces.

> Clint (half-muttering):

"You're getting bolder, huh."

> Janet:

"Blame your mom. She practically dragged me in."

> Clint:

"Figures. I should've changed the locks last week."

> Janet (teasing):

"Do that, and I'll break in with more confidence next time."

> Clint:

"You're really saying next time?"

> Janet (mock gasp):

"Don't flatter yourself."

He disappeared upstairs, chuckling. Janet leaned back on the couch, still holding the pillow.

Her heart?

Still racing.

---

👀 SCENE INSERT — FROM THE HALLWAY

Just around the corner, Clint's mom stood silently, the dish towel still in her hand.

She listened —

to the banter, the teasing, the laughter.

Her son's laughter.

It had been a long time.

Her fingers tightened slightly. Her chest rose in a slow, quiet breath.

> "Masaya ka na ulit..." she whispered.

"Kahit alam kong panandalian lang."

She smiled.

Not from joy—

but from relief.

> "At kahit sandali lang 'yan… sapat na muna sa ngayon."

Then she turned away.

No drama. No sound.

Just a mother holding onto a moment that might not last.

---

🎬 SCENE 2 — OUTSIDE CLINT'S HOUSE, SUNSET

They stepped outside. The golden hour wrapped around them like a soft curtain.

> Clint:

"Thanks for dropping by. Didn't expect it."

> Janet (teasing):

"Didn't expect to see that much of you either."

> Clint (laughs):

"Touché."

The silence that followed wasn't heavy.

It was full of something else.

> Clint (softly):

"Hey, Janet..."

She turned to face him, eyes curious.

But before he could finish—

> ??? (off-screen):

"CLINT!"

They turned.

At the gate stood a girl. Bright smile. High ponytail. Familiar confidence in every step.

Mia.

> Mia (approaching):

"You weren't answering my texts. So I figured... surprise visit!"

She glanced at Janet, then smiled —

too sweet to be innocent.

> Mia:

"Oh... you have company?"

> Janet (tight smile):

"I was just leaving."

Her voice was calm. But her eyes flickered — just for a second.

---

🎬 SCENE 3 — JANET POV | WALKING HOME

Janet walked faster than usual.

Her fists were clenched. Her heart louder than her footsteps.

> Janet (inner thought):

"Why does it bother me?"

"Why does she bother me?"

Her phone buzzed.

Clint:

> "Sorry about earlier. She just showed up."

She stared at the message.

Typed nothing.

Deleted the reply.

Put the phone back in her pocket.

---

🎬 SCENE 4 — CLINT POV | INSIDE THE HOUSE

> Mia (grinning):

"So... that was Janet, huh?"

> Clint (flat):

"Yeah."

> Mia (sits down like she owns the place):

"Cute. But you never let me in back then."

> Clint (walking past):

"You never knocked. You barged in."

> Mia (leaning back, playful):

"Well… maybe I should barge back into your life."

Clint stopped mid-step.

He didn't turn around.

> Clint (quiet):

"Don't make this complicated, Mia."

> Mia (smirking):

"Too late."

---

🎬 SCENE 5 — JANET'S ROOM, NIGHT

Janet lay on her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

> Janet (inner thought):

"Why did I even care?"

"Why did he look at her like that?"

"Or... did he?"

She turned to her side, burying her face into the blanket.

But still...

She smiled.

Just a little.

> Janet (inner whisper):

"Clint... what are you doing to me?"

---

🎬 SCENE 6 — CLINT'S ROOM, NIGHT (CLINT POV)

The house was quiet again.

No voices.

No teasing.

No distractions.

Just the hum of the electric fan and the faint buzz of night outside the window.

Clint lay back on his bed.

Towel gone. Hair dry. Shirt on.

But the smile?

Still there.

He closed his eyes — and let it all play back:

Janet's teasing.

Her laughter.

The way she hugged the pillow like she belonged there.

Her voice echoing—

> "Too late. I've already seen your final form."

He chuckled quietly.

> Clint (inner thought):

"You're something else, Janet."

He reached for his phone.

No new notifications.

Just his reflection in the dark screen — and something strange.

He didn't look as tired anymore.

> Clint (inner thought):

"This is new..."

"And I don't hate it."

He smiled again.

Not wide.

But real.

> "Maybe... just maybe..."

He didn't finish the thought.

He didn't have to.

---

[Black screen. End of Chapter 4.]

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— Kent