INICIAR SESIÓNVeyra didn't sleep in the master bedroom.
After spending an hour staring at the cold, half-eaten chicken on the dining table, she wrapped the container, placed it back in the fridge, and took a pillow and blanket from the linen closet. She set herself up on the couch in the living room, listening to the muffled silence echoing from behind the closed bedroom door.Parang hindi ganito sa mga drama. The guy should be the one sleeping on the couch and not the other way around.Hindi pinirmahan ni Caelan ang roadmap noong gabing iyon.He just left the pen untouched on the dark mahogany surface, stood up without saying a single word, and walked straight to the guest room.The quiet click of the door closing echoed through the cold kitchen like a final punctuation mark. Veyra remained seated at the dining table for hours, her hands folded tightly on her lap, staring at the empty space across from her until the dark sky outside turned into a pale, lifeless gray.Nahihirapan siya but her pride says client niya ang taong mahal niya.By Thursday morning, an uneasy, suffocating truce had settled over the eighty-square-meter condo.They moved around each other like two heavily guarded strangers trapped in a waiting room, carefully calculating their movements to avoid any accidental collision.Kapag narinig ni Caelan ang kalansing ng baso sa kusina habang nagtitimpla ng tsaa si Veyra sa umaga, he stayed locked inside the guest room until she went back into her home o
Veyra let the phone ring until it gave up.Three seconds later, it lit up again. Then again. Apat na sunod-sunod na beses tumawag si Caelan and the buzzing vibration against the mattress sounded like a panicked heartbeat.On the fifth attempt, the calling stopped. Pero sunod-sunod na text naman ang dumating kay Veyra.Caelan: Veyra, answer the phone please.Caelan: I can explain those papers.Caelan: Please don't do this. Let me call you.Veyra sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the thick folder in her lap. Her thumb traced the bold black header of the document.RESIDENTIAL LEASE APPLICATION — UNIFIED PROPERTY MANAGEMENTThe application was fully filled out. His signature sat neatly on the line. The security deposit check was already photocopied and attached to the second page.Two weeks ago.While she was making him breakfast on a random Tuesday, worrying if his presentation with the board went well, Caelan was already putting down a deposit on a one-bedroom unit three kilometers
Veyra didn't sleep in the master bedroom.After spending an hour staring at the cold, half-eaten chicken on the dining table, she wrapped the container, placed it back in the fridge, and took a pillow and blanket from the linen closet. She set herself up on the couch in the living room, listening to the muffled silence echoing from behind the closed bedroom door.Parang hindi ganito sa mga drama. The guy should be the one sleeping on the couch and not the other way around.At 3 am, she heard the door creak open.Veyra stayed perfectly still, breathing evenly as shadow and warm hall light spilled into the living room. She felt Caelan’s presence near the couch, the faint scent of his scent lingering in the air. He stood there for a long time—long enough for her chest to tighten with the effort of pretending to be asleep.Eventually, she heard him adjust the blanket, pulling it gentler over her shoulders, before his footsteps retreated down
Veyra’s breath caught in her throat.He looked down at his own hands resting on the table. “May mga gabi na katabi kita sa pagtulog, pero nakatitig lang ako sa kisame habang naiisip ko kung paano tayo noong una. I used to come home and tell you every stupid detail about my day. Magrereklamo ka tungkol sa bosses ko kahit hindi mo naman masyadong naiintindihan 'yung financial terms na sinasabi ko.”Despite the heavy lump in her throat, a faint, nostalgic smile touched Veyra’s lips. “Because you never explained anything properly. Bigla-bigla ka na lang nagkukuwento sa gitna ng story.”“Pero naiintindihan mo pa rin.”“Sometimes.”A faint shadow of a smile passed across Caelan’s face, but it evaporated as quickly as it came.“I don't want to lose that,” he said quietly.“Then don't,” Veyra urged, leaning in. “Don't walk away.”He looked at her with a terrifying kind of clarity. “It's not that simple, Veyra.”“Why not?”“Because I don't know how to go back to who we were.”Veyra stared at h
By seven that evening, Veyra had rearranged the dining table three times.Una, inayos niya 'yung plato na magkatapat, standard setup for two people who shared a space. Then she shifted her chair beside Caelan's, the way they usually did whenever they had to do taxes or talk about something heavy. Eventually, she gave up. Ibinalik niya ang plato sa gitna at napatitig na lang doon, staring as if the arrangement of ceramic and stainless steel could magically foretell what kind of night this was going to be.The condo was quiet.Sobrang tahimik na naririnig niya pati ang mahinang humming ng refrigerator at ang malalayo at paos na busina galing sa EDSA.She checked her phone. 7:08 pm. No message.At 7:15, binuksan niya ang refrigerator kahit wala naman siyang balak kunin. At 7:19, isinara niya rin ito.At 7:23, the soft, electronic beep of the digital door lock echoed through the entryway.Veyra’s hand froze halfway to the glass of water resting on the counter.Caelan stepped inside.He un
“What if it’s not withdrawal, Veyra? What if I miss you simply because I still love you?” Bumuka ang mga labi ni Veyra, pero walang lumabas na boses. She had to force herself to look away from his dark, searching eyes. “That would make things significantly harder.” “Why?” “Because then... I’d have to decide whether to believe you or protect myself.” Before Caelan could answer, two soft knocks sounded against the glass door. Both of them snapped their heads toward the entrance. Mara opened the door a crack, looking thoroughly stressed. “Ma’am, sorry po talaga sa istorbo... pero si Sir Soren po. He said he’ll just wait in the lounge, pero baka pwede raw po siyang magtanong kung matatagalan pa?” Veyra composed herself instantly, straightening her blazer. “Tell him five minutes, Mara.” “Okay po, ma’am.” Mara pulled the door shut. Caelan stood up slowly, his eyes burning into Veyra. “Five minutes?” “You heard her.” “He’s waiting outside for you?” Veyra gave him an incredulous







