Chapter 3

AKIRA'S POV___

"Manang, I'm going out for a bit," I said softly.

"Where are you going, dear?" Manang asked worriedly.

"It's just... to visit a friend." She looked like she wanted to ask more, but in the end, she just nodded.

"Be careful." I gave them one last smile before leaving the house.

The night air was cold against my skin as I stepped outside. The security guards greeted me politely as I passed through the gate, but I barely noticed them.

Even now, Sedrick's words are still on my mind, making my chest feel tight.

I quickly hailed a taxi and told the driver the address. It wasn't long before the car stopped in front of a familiar house.

I stood there for a moment before finally knocking on the door. A few seconds later, it swung open suddenly.

"Akira?!" My close friend Eliana stared at me with wide eyes.

"What are you doing here—it's already night!!!" The moment I saw her worried face, the tears I'd been holding back earlier came pouring down again.

"I just... needed somewhere to go," I sobbed, and her expression immediately softened.

"Hey... come here." She pulled me inside and wrapped an arm around me.

"What happened, bestie? You can tell me everything so you'll feel lighter," she whispered. That simple sentence made my chest tighten all over again.

She let me cry in her room first. For three years of putting up with Sedrick, I finally let out all the tears I'd been hiding whenever he said those hurtful words. I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep while crying.

The next morning, I woke up feeling lighter. The tears that used to threaten to fall at any moment were gone. I got up quickly and lay down on her living room sofa.

Soft golden sunlight streamed through the windows of Eliana's living room.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Eliana teased from the kitchen.

I sat up and looked at her. She was setting plates of food on the table.

"Breakfast?" she asked with a smile. I couldn't help but smile a little in return.

"Thank you." She sat across from me and looked at me carefully.

"Will you finally tell me what happened between you and Sedrick?" My hands tightened around my cup of coffee. I was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

"It's the same as always," I mumbled, making Eliana grimace.

"That asshole husband of yours? Again?" I let out a quiet laugh.

"Yeah... him." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Someday I really will punch that guy." Despite everything, I let out a small laugh.

For the first time since last night... I felt a little lighter. But deep down, I know that no matter how far I run, my heart is still trapped with Sedrick.

Once I felt better, I immediately said goodbye to Eliana and headed home.

"Alright—if you can't handle that bastard's nonsense anymore, just tell me and I'll punch him," she said. I just laughed and left right away.

When I got home, I immediately felt the heavy silence that had settled over the entire mansion. It was as if every corner of the house held memories that kept playing over and over in my mind—memories I wish I could just forget.

I took a deep breath before going inside. As soon as I stepped in, Manang Diday and Isla greeted me with worried looks.

"Ma'am Akira, you're home," Manang said, looking at me intently.

"It's okay, Manang—this is just like a Hollywood movie," I forced a joke, making them laugh.

"Ma'am really is such a joker," Isla laughed, and I joined in even though the truth was that I was exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally too.

"Ma'am, someone called earlier," Isla suddenly said.

I looked at her.

"WHO?" I asked.

"It was Madam... your mother."

I froze for a moment.

"My... mom?"

"Yes, Ma'am. She said you and Sir Sedrick should come to their house tonight." I frowned slightly.

"Why?"

"Your grandparents are coming home from abroad. They want to see you... especially Sir Sedrick." It felt like cold water had been poured over me when she mentioned them.

Grandpa and Grandma.

I haven't seen them in a long time because they're always overseas. And I know how happy they were when they found out I was marrying Sedrick—my childhood friend.

The man I've loved for so long, but they have no idea what's really going on between us now.

I let out a quiet sigh.

"Okay... I'll get ready," I said before heading straight to my room. As soon as I went in, I closed the door and leaned against it for a moment.

Silence.

Complete silence.

After a few seconds, I stared blankly into space for a moment before walking to my closet, opening it, and starting to look for something to wear.

I don't know why I felt nervous—maybe because I know that in front of Grandpa and Grandma... we'll have to pretend.

Pretend that we're happily married.

Pretend that Sedrick loves me.

A bitter smile formed on my lips at the thought.

A few minutes later, I'd picked out a simple but elegant outfit. It was bright and neat, but not too extravagant—I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard.

After I showered and got dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked presentable enough. But no matter how hard I tried to look happy... I couldn't hide the sadness in my eyes.

I suddenly remembered what Sedrick had said earlier: "Don't act like I'll ever accept you as my wife."

It felt like my heart was being pricked all over again. I closed my eyes for a moment and took another deep breath. You can do this, Akira. Just a few hours. You just have to pretend—for Grandpa and Grandma.

A moment later, I heard the front door open downstairs, and I immediately knew who it was—Sedrick. Even without seeing him, I know the sound of every one of his movements. I slowly walked out of my room and started down the stairs.

And as I expected... he was in the living room, standing and adjusting his coat. When I looked at him seriously, I gasped softly as he suddenly turned to face me. Our eyes met for a moment, and in that instant, I didn't know what to do.

"What do you want?" he snapped harshly to get my attention. My grip on my clothes tightened as I continued walking down the stairs.

"Mom called earlier," I started. He furrowed his brow slightly.

"Why?"

"Grandpa and Grandma are coming home tonight. They want to see us." He was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something, then let out a cold, emotionless laugh.

"Ah... so we have to pretend again," he said sarcastically, making my chest feel even tighter.

"We don't really have to—"

"Of course we do," he cut me off. He stepped closer until our faces were almost touching, looking at me with a hurtful gaze.

"And you know how important your family's image is."

I had nothing to say—because I know he's right. He took a deep breath before looking at me again.

"For tonight... we act like a real married couple."

I felt a chill run through me. I don't know why my heart suddenly started beating faster.

"Just for tonight," he added coldly, then walked past me and headed for the door.

"Let's go. I don't want to keep your family waiting." Soon enough, we arrived at my parents' house.

As soon as we got out of the car, the bright lights of the big house greeted us. A few seconds later, the door opened.

"Finally! You're here at last!" Mom said happily, immediately hugging me.

"I missed you so much, my child." I forced a smile even though I desperately wanted to seek comfort from her—because Mom thinks Sedrick loves me, based on how he acts in front of them.

"I missed you too, Mom." Then she looked at Sedrick.

"Oh my goodness! Sedrick! Are you really taking care of my daughter? She looks like she's lost weight!" Mom joked, making Sedrick laugh. Suddenly, his expression changed—the cold, emotionless face he had earlier was replaced with a calm, polite smile.

"Good evening, Mom," he greeted respectfully.

Before I could even process what was happening... he suddenly placed one hand on my waist, making me freeze.

"Akira, it's good you two came early," he said with a smile, so I forced a smile back at him and looked again at Sedrick—who I was seeing smile like this for the first time in a long while. I barely recognized the man standing next to me. He seemed like a different Sedrick—kind, respectful, and... caring. If I didn't know the truth... I might have believed him too.

"You two are so sweet!" Mom said happily. I froze even more when Sedrick gently tightened his arm around my waist.

"Of course, Mom," he replied.

And in that moment... I didn't know why my chest suddenly felt tight again. Because as I watched him pretend to be a good husband in front of my family... only one question kept repeating in my mind: What if all of this were real?

As I stood next to Sedrick in the large living room of my parents' house, I couldn't stop the strange nervousness that slowly spread through my chest. Even though I've been back to this house many times over the years, it felt like this was the first time I'd truly noticed every glance and movement of the man standing next to me—the man who, in front of my family, became the image of a devoted husband, but was so different behind closed doors.

I felt Sedrick's soft but firm hand on my waist as he talked to my mother. Even though I knew it was just part of our act to keep my family from suspecting the real state of our marriage, I still found myself glancing at him—because the way he held me felt so natural, as if being attentive and caring came easily to him... something I'd never experienced when we were alone.

"Akira, honey, why don't you and Sedrick sit down while we wait for your grandparents?" Mom said happily as she arranged plates on the dining table. I immediately nodded and sat quietly on the sofa, while Sedrick stayed standing next to me—as if making sure I wouldn't be left alone in front of my family.

But what confused me even more was when Sedrick suddenly bent down and asked me in a soft voice I barely recognized, since I rarely heard him speak like this.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked gently, looking at me.

I froze for a moment, unsure how to answer that simple question—which somehow brought me back to the days when we were kids, and he was the first person I'd run to whenever someone bullied me at school.

"I-I'm fine," I replied softly, forcing a smile.

But before I could recover from my surprise, the large front door suddenly opened, and we all looked in that direction—because we all knew who was arriving.

"Finally! We're here at last!" Grandma's cheerful voice echoed through the house as she slowly walked inside with Grandpa, who was also smiling as he looked at us.

"Grandma!" I called out happily, immediately standing up and walking toward them. At that moment, I felt a hand gently follow me from behind—Sedrick.

When I finally reached Grandma, she hugged me tightly as if it had been ages since she last saw me. I couldn't help but smile as I hugged her back.

"My dear Akira, you've become even more beautiful," she said, gently touching my face.

"Grandma..." I replied with a laugh.

But after a moment, her eyes shifted to the man standing next to me.

"So this must be the husband everyone's been talking about?" she asked with a smile, looking at Sedrick.

In that instant, Sedrick's entire aura seemed to change—the man who just hours earlier had said words that shattered my heart was now standing in front of my grandparents like the perfect gentleman.

"Good evening," he greeted respectfully, bowing his head slightly.

"Ah! Sedrick Villacorte!" Grandpa said happily, patting him on the shoulder. "You're still the same little boy we always saw playing with Akira when you were kids."

Sedrick just smiled and nodded politely.

"Thank you, sir."

But what confused me even more was when Sedrick suddenly placed his hand on my back and gently pulled me closer to his side—as if the gesture came naturally to him.

In that moment, I couldn't help but look at him in confusion, because if I didn't know the truth, I might have believed every word that came out of his mouth.

"You two are so sweet!" Grandma laughed as she looked at us.

"Of course," Sedrick replied, looking at me for a few seconds.

"And besides..." he added, gently squeezing my hand.

"I always take care of my wife."

Somehow, that simple sentence had a strange effect on my heart. Even though I knew it was all a lie, I still couldn't stop the warmth that slowly spread through my chest.

As dinner went on, I noticed more and more how good Sedrick was at pretending. Every time I tried to reach for food, he'd serve some onto my plate himself. And every time Grandpa asked about our married life, he was always the first to answer—as if there was nothing wrong between us.

There was even a moment when I accidentally touched hot soup and slightly burned my fingers. He immediately took my hand and examined it as if he was worried.

"Be careful," he said softly.

And in that moment, I couldn't stop myself from staring at him a little longer—because for the first time in months, I caught a glimpse of the Sedrick I once loved.

But before I could completely forget the truth, I suddenly remembered what he'd said earlier: "Never, ever hope that I'll accept you as my wife."

So I slowly turned my gaze back to my plate, holding back the heaviness that suddenly settled over my chest. Because no matter how kind his care seemed in front of my family... I know it's all just a lie.

And as I watched him smile and talk respectfully with my grandparents... I couldn't help but wonder: What if the man sitting next to me now—the one who gently serves food onto my plate and asks if I'm comfortable—is the real Sedrick I've been waiting for all this time? If this were a dream, I wouldn't want to wake up. I'd rather stay with this version of him, even if it's just my mind playing tricks on me.

TO BE CONTINUE