Chapter 42 – A Shocking Revelation

“Oh my God… Today was absolutely exhausting,” she muttered as she stepped into her apartment unit, tossing her handbag onto the couch. She walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and drank until the bottle was empty.

She then hurried into her bedroom, stripping off her work clothes. All she could think about was soaking in a warm bath to ease her fatigue.

Jeslyn walked toward the bathroom, her steps sluggish and heavy. The dim lights flickered on automatically as she entered. The clean lavender-scented space brought a sliver of calm to her mind. She turned on the faucet, letting warm water fill the bathtub while adding a few drops of essential oil—something she always used when stress overwhelmed her.

A thin mist began to rise, fogging up the mirror. Jeslyn removed the rest of her underwear and slowly slipped into the water. The warmth immediately wrapped around her skin, drawing a long sigh from her lips as she closed her eyes.

“Today was just…,” she whispered, her mind replaying the day’s events—especially Leonel’s words and actions.

That man never failed to catch her off guard.

His face, his firm voice, the way he looked at her—so controlled, yet… attentive. It was all stuck in her head. Jeslyn massaged her temples gently. She didn’t want to admit it, but he always knew how to confuse her. And at the same time… make her feel seen, in a way no one else ever had.

Then came the image of Jefran. The worried tone of his voice during their call, the panic he couldn’t hide—and Leonel’s firm decision not to let her get involved. It was as if all the important decisions in her life were no longer hers… but Leonel’s.

Jeslyn splashed water over her face and then sank deeper into the tub, until only her face remained above the surface.

“I need to stay sane…” she whispered.

Her phone, resting on the nightstand, suddenly rang. She didn’t move at first, just stared in the direction of the sound, then slowly closed her eyes.

“Who is it now…” she muttered.

She reached for the phone. It was a call from Kiara.

“Yeah?” Jeslyn answered.

“Are you at home, Jes?” her friend asked.

“Yes. I just got back from work. Why?”

“Wanna go out with me?”

Jeslyn paused. The memory of their last night out—when she got drunk and somehow ended up with Leonel—flashed through her mind. That man was always full of surprises.

“But this time, no alcohol,” she said.

Laughter rang from the other end. “Oh, why? Afraid something interesting might happen again?”

“Let’s just have dinner. If we get drunk, it’ll be at my apartment,” Jeslyn replied firmly.

“Okay, no problem. I’m on my way. See you soon,” Kiara said before hanging up.

Jeslyn stared at the now-dark screen of her phone. She sighed and shifted in the bath, letting the heat seep deeper into her tense muscles.

“Dinner with Kiara,” she murmured, eyes on the bathroom ceiling. “Should be normal. Just normal.”

But deep down, that night still haunted her. What had started as a night of fun ended in complete loss of control—waking up beside the one man who made her feel everything and nothing all at once… Leonel.

She covered her face with one hand. “I really need to stop making impulsive decisions…”

After a few more minutes of letting her thoughts drift in the false calm, Jeslyn finally got out of the tub. She dried herself off, slipped into comfortable pajamas, and headed to the kitchen to prepare a warm drink while waiting for Kiara.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Jeslyn glanced at the clock. That was fast...

She walked to the door and opened it to find Kiara standing there in a cream coat and a wide grin.

“Well, you look a lot more alive than the last time I saw you,” Kiara teased as she stepped inside.

Jeslyn snorted. “Did you bring drinks?”

Kiara held up a paper bag with a bottle of wine and two packs of takeout.

“Dinner—with a touch of drama, maybe?”

Jeslyn gave a faint smile and shut the door behind her.

“I need a normal night,” she said, heading toward the kitchen.

Kiara followed, setting the food on the small dining table.

“Too bad your life is anything but normal right now,” she said, taking a seat. “Especially with two men pulling at you like you're the crown jewel of some royal throne.”

Jeslyn gave her a mixed expression. “Don’t start, Kiara…”

Kiara raised an eyebrow. “Come on, spill everything. I’m dying to know… who do you actually want, Jes? Leonel… or Jefran?”

Jeslyn went silent. Her face tensed, her thoughts beginning to stir again.

“Oh, and who’s hotter in bed? Leon or… Mr. Giraffe? Though honestly, I already know the answer—clearly, Mr. Leon is the sexiest,” Kiara said, placing everything on the table.

Jeslyn went to the kitchen for glasses and plates. “What do you think I am?” she complained, making Kiara chuckle.

Kiara laughed softly, then opened the takeout containers and began arranging them.

“I think you’re a woman caught in the middle of the most tempting love triangle ever,” she replied, pouring the wine.

Jeslyn took a deep breath and sat across from her friend. “Very funny. If you were in my position, you’d be confused too.”

Kiara shrugged. “If it were me? Hmm… I’d choose the one who makes me feel alive. The one who makes my heart race and my nights unforgettable.”

Jeslyn looked down at her glass. “But I can’t live on feelings alone. I need clarity. Stability. And Jefran—”

“—is the safe choice,” Kiara cut in, popping a bite of food into her mouth. “But Leonel… he’s the one driving you insane, right?”

Jeslyn closed her eyes. Leonel’s face appeared in her mind instantly—his stare, his smile, the way he said her name like she was the only woman in the world.

“He’s not an ordinary man,” she whispered. “Too mysterious. Too many secrets.”

Kiara tilted her head. “But you’re afraid of your own feelings. Afraid that once you fall into his arms, you won’t be able to pull yourself out.”

Jeslyn looked at her friend and sighed, taking a sip of her wine.

“I’m already engaged, Kiar. I… I shouldn’t feel this way about another man. But somehow, I feel like a traitor every time I’m with Jefran.”

Kiara went quiet for a moment, then said softly, “Maybe it’s because your heart no longer belongs to him.”

The room fell silent. Only the sound of air from the vents and the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

Jeslyn finally nodded slowly. “And I don’t know what to do…”

“Relax. Tonight, let’s forget about those two for a while. Let’s eat, watch a movie, and laugh like we used to,” Kiara suggested.

Jeslyn exhaled and smiled faintly. “Yeah… I think that’s exactly what I need.”

“Anytime,” Kiara replied, grabbing the TV remote. “But later, we’re still gonna talk about who’s hotter in bed, okay?”

Jeslyn immediately threw a small pillow at her. “You’re impossible!”

Their laughter filled the apartment, though deep down, Jeslyn knew… the storm was far from over.

Later, they sat on the couch, watching TV together.

“Oh, by the way—there’s a reunion party this weekend. You have to come,” Kiara said.

“College reunion?” Jeslyn asked.

“Nope. Our high school reunion,” Kiara replied.

Jeslyn slowly turned her head, her eyes widening. “High school reunion?”

Kiara nodded while sipping her wine. “Yup. It’s being held at the same hotel where we had prom. I got the invite from the alumni group. And yes—everyone’s going.”

Jeslyn sighed and leaned back against the couch. “I don’t know, Kiara. Feels like… too many memories I don’t want to revisit.”

Kiara turned quickly. “You mean… because of him?”

Jeslyn said nothing. Her face hardened for a moment, but her eyes stayed fixed on the romcom playing on screen—though she wasn’t really watching.

“Jes…” Kiara placed a hand on her arm. “That was a long time ago. You’ve changed. You’re not that same girl. You’re successful, smart, and let’s be honest… still stunning.”

Jeslyn gave a faint smile. “You’re exaggerating.”

Kiara pouted. “I’m being realistic. And you have to come. You can’t keep running from the past. Who knows, maybe you’ll finally make peace with it…”

Jeslyn looked at her. “What do you mean?”

Kiara finished her wine. “Time has passed, Jes. You don’t need to feel small anymore. I know you can face it.”

“I don’t know. The memories… they still hurt,” Jeslyn whispered.

Suddenly, she sat up straight. The TV remote was still in her hand, but her fingers had gone stiff. The sound from the television filled the apartment, replacing their laughter.

“...the victim has been identified as Victor Lawre, a private company employee who was reported missing a week ago. According to his family, Victor was a loner who often kept to himself. His body was discovered at the bottom of a ravine in a popular hiking area. Authorities believe he fell during a solo hike.”

Jeslyn’s entire body trembled. Her face turned pale.

She clearly remembered the photo of the man on the screen—the same man who had been following her recently. The same man Leonel said he had “taken care of.”

“Is… is this what Leonel meant by ‘taking care of it’?” Jeslyn whispered, her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide with horror.

Her heart pounded violently in her chest.

***