The One Year Agreement

When I finished showering, I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a little more composed than when I first arrived home.

My hair was still damp, so I grabbed a clean towel and slowly dried it as I walked toward the bedroom.

The condo was unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

I glanced around.

Everything was familiar the bed, the curtains, the small table beside it, and the bag I had left there earlier.

Yet somehow, the place felt different.

Maybe it was because I was different.

I walked toward the mirror and stared at my reflection.

For a few seconds, I simply looked at myself.

I looked like the same Jasmine who had left home the night before.

But I didn't feel like her anymore.

I looked away.

I didn't want to think about it.

I went to the closet, changed into a simple dress, and tied my damp hair loosely behind my head.

When I finished, I returned to the bedroom and picked up my phone.

The screen immediately lit up with several notifications.

My heart skipped.

I already knew whose name I expected to see.

Jared.

I hesitated before checking my messages.

There was nothing from him.

For some reason, that made me feel relieved.

I placed my phone on the table and walked into the kitchen.

I needed coffee.

Something normal.

Something that would make the morning feel ordinary.

I prepared a cup and stood quietly by the counter, taking a small sip.

The warmth spread through me, but it did nothing to settle my thoughts.

My mind kept returning to Tagaytay.

The quiet road and the cold breeze.

His voice. and eyes.

The way I had felt around him.

I immediately shook my head.

“No.”

I didn't want to remember.

Whatever happened last night was a mistake.

One reckless decision made on the worst night of my life.

It had nothing to do with who I was.

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

I placed the coffee down and took a deep breath.

I had a husband waiting for me.

A marriage I had promised to endure for one year.

And a life I needed to return to.

Whatever happened in Tagaytay had to stay there.

I would forget the stranger and move forward.

Before I could take another sip, my phone vibrated on the table.

I glanced at the screen.

This time, Jared's name was there.

My fingers tightened around the cup.

For several seconds, I simply stared at his name.

Part of me wanted to ignore him.

Another part knew I couldn't avoid him forever.

I reached for my phone and opened the message.

“Are you home?”

I stared at the words.

So simple.

As if nothing had happened.

As if he hadn't shattered the life I thought we were going to build together.

I typed a reply.

Yes.

But I stopped.

Then I deleted it.

I tried again.

“Why are you asking?”

I pressed send before I could change my mind.

His reply came almost immediately.

“Can we talk?”

I closed my eyes.

Of course he wanted to talk.

There were still so many things between us that hadn't been settled.

I set my phone down and walked toward the window.

The city was already awake.

Cars moved along the streets below. People hurried to work, and everything continued as though my entire world hadn't changed overnight.

I rested my hand against the glass.

Yesterday, I believed I was beginning my married life.

Today, I was trying to figure out how to survive a marriage built on a lie.

My phone vibrated again.

“Please, Jasmine. I need to talk to you.”

I swallowed hard.

I didn't want to see him.

Not yet.

But I had agreed to stay.

One year.

If I intended to keep my promise, I couldn't run away every time facing him became difficult.

I picked up my phone.

“When?”

His answer came quickly.

“I'll come to you.”

My heart sank.

“No.”

The word escaped my lips before I could stop it.

I didn't want him here—not while my mind was still struggling to understand everything.

I typed another message.

“I'll come to you instead.”

There was a pause.

Then his reply appeared.

“Okay. I'll be waiting.”

I put my phone down.

For a moment, I stood completely still.

I had spent the morning convincing myself that I could forget the night before.

Now I had to face Jared again.

I walked back toward the bedroom and picked up my bag.

Before leaving, I glanced around the condo one last time.

I took a slow breath.

Whatever happened last night belonged to the past.

Today, I had to deal with my husband.

I opened the door and stepped outside.

For a moment, I remained in the hallway, my hand still resting on the doorknob.

I could do this.

I had already made my decision.

One year.

I just had to get through it.

I walked toward the elevator, my heels making soft sounds against the polished floor.

When the doors opened, I stepped inside and pressed the button for the lobby.

As the elevator descended, I stared at my reflection in the mirrored wall.

I looked calm.

At least from the outside.

Inside, I was still trying to put the pieces of my life back together.

When the elevator reached the lobby, I stepped out and walked toward the entrance.

The moment I stepped outside, the warmth of the morning air touched my skin.

I paused briefly before continuing toward the street.

I needed transportation, but my mind was somewhere else.

I was thinking about Jared.

About the conversation waiting for me.

About the promises he had made.

And about the year, I had agreed to spend beside a man whose heart had never truly belonged to me.

I raised my hand and waited for a taxi.

After several minutes, one finally slowed near the curb.

I opened the door and got inside.

“Where to, ma'am?”

I gave the driver Jared's address.

The taxi pulled away from the curb.

I leaned back against the seat and looked out the window.

Buildings passed by one after another.

People walked along the sidewalks.

Cars moved through the streets.

Everything looked completely ordinary.

But nothing about my life felt ordinary anymore.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I didn't know what Jared wanted to say.

Maybe he wanted to apologize again.

Maybe there was something else he needed from me.

Or perhaps he simply wanted to make sure I hadn't changed my mind about staying.

Whatever it was, I would hear him out.

But this time, I wouldn't let my emotions make the decision for me.

The taxi eventually slowed as we approached our destination.

I opened my eyes and looked ahead.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

This was my life now.

A marriage held together by an agreement and a year measured not by love but by time.

And I had no idea how much that year was going to change everything.

The taxi stopped.

I paid the driver and stepped outside.

For a few seconds, I stood in front of the house, staring at the familiar entrance.

Then, I tightened my grip around my bag and walked toward the door.

Before I could knock, it opened.

Jared was standing there.

His expression changed the moment he saw me.

“Jasmine.”

I said nothing.

I simply looked at him.

For the first time since discovering the truth, I wasn't looking at him as the man I had once believed he was.

I was looking at him as the man I had agreed to stay married to.

For one year.

“Come in,” he said quietly.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt the familiar weight settle over me again.

This house had once felt like the beginning of my future.

Now, it felt like a place built around a lie.

Jared closed the door behind me and turned toward me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

He looked tired.

There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and his usually composed expression had been replaced by something I couldn't quite identify.

Regret, perhaps.

Or fear.

“Are you okay?” he finally asked.

I almost laughed.

“Do I look okay?”

His eyes lowered.

“No.”

I tightened my grip around my bag.

“Then why did you ask?”

He sighed.

“I don't know what else to say.”

“That's convenient.”

“Jasmine—”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I don't want you to apologize again.”

He stared at me.

“Then what do you want?”

The question caught me off guard.

What did I want?

The truth?

I already had it.

An explanation?

He had given me one.

My marriage back?

That was impossible.

“I want to understand something,” I finally said.

“What?”

“Did you ever love me?”

His expression changed.

He looked away.

That hesitation hurt more than I expected.

“I care about you.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

“That's not what I asked.”

“I know.”

“Then answer me.”

He remained silent.

My chest tightened.

Finally, he whispered,

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

“But you did.”

“I know.”

“You let me believe that you loved me.”

“I know.”

“You let me marry you.”

“I know.”

Each answer came quietly, almost painfully.

But hearing him admit it didn't make the betrayal easier.

I looked away.

“I keep wondering if there was ever a moment when you planned to tell me the truth.”

He swallowed.

“There was.”

“When?”

“After I received my inheritance.”

I stared at him.

“So you were always going to use me until then.”

“No.”

“Then what was I?”

He stepped closer.

“You were someone I trusted.”

I gave him a bitter smile.

“That's supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

His voice softened.

“It isn't.”

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then Jared spoke again.

“I know I don't deserve your forgiveness.”

I looked at him.

“You're right.”

His eyes dropped.

“But I am asking you to keep your promise.”

I remembered the night before.

One year.

I had agreed to stay.

Not because I had forgiven him.

Not because I suddenly accepted what he had done.

But because somewhere beneath all the anger, I still cared about him.

“I haven't changed my mind,” I said.

His head lifted.

“I'm staying.”

Relief immediately crossed his face.

“For one year.”

He nodded.

“One year.”

“And after that, you will give me my freedom.”

“I promise.”

I looked at him for a long moment.

“Don't make me regret staying.”

His expression became serious.

“I won't.”

I wanted to believe him.

But trust wasn't something he could simply ask me to give back.

He had broken it.

And I didn't know if it could ever be repaired.

I turned toward the living room.

“I need some time.”

“Of course.”

I took a few steps before stopping.

“Jared.”

“Yes?”

I looked back at him.

“If we're going to do this for one year, there will be rules.”

He nodded.

“What rules?”

I took a breath.

“No pretending that we're in love.”

His expression tightened.

“Okay.”

“No expectations.”

He nodded.

“And no more lies.”

He stared at me.

“Agreed.”

I turned away.

For the first time since discovering the truth, I felt as though I had taken back a small piece of control over my own life.

But as I walked farther into the house, an uncomfortable thought entered my mind.

I had promised myself that what happened in Tagaytay would stay there.

It was a mistake.

One reckless decision made on the worst night of my life.

I would forget the stranger and never see or think about him again.

And I certainly wouldn't allow myself to wonder who he was.

I had a husband to face.

A one-year agreement to fulfill.

And a life I had to somehow learn to live with.