LOGINAKIRA’S POVThe warmth of his hand against mine felt like a paradox—comforting yet painful, real yet fake. It was a fire I wanted to hold onto, even though I knew it would eventually burn me. Under the table, our fingers were locked together, and no matter how much my mind screamed that this was all just an act, my heart refused to listen. It stubbornly clung to every touch, every glance, every soft word, treating them as if they were treasures meant only for me.Dinner finally ended, and the atmosphere was light, filled with the happy chatter of my grandparents. They were so pleased, so convinced that their granddaughter had found a good man who loved and cherished her. Seeing them smile made my chest tighten. I felt guilty. We were feeding them lies, wrapping them up in pretty packages and calling them the truth.“Come, let’s move to the living room,” Grandpa said, standing up and patting Sedrick’s shoulder. “We haven’t finished our story yet.”“Of course, Grandpa,” Sedrick replied
AKIRA’S POV—I found myself standing in the kitchen, quietly washing the dishes while the soft clinking of porcelain echoed in the silence around me, and for the first time that night, I finally had a moment to breathe without the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, without having to pretend that everything between Sedrick and I was perfectly fine.The warm water ran over my hands as I stared blankly at the plate I was holding, my mind drifting back to what had happened outside earlier, and no matter how much I tried to focus on something else, I couldn’t stop myself from remembering the way he suddenly pulled me into his arms, the way it felt so natural, so real, that for a brief moment, I had completely forgotten that everything between us was nothing but an act.I let out a quiet sigh as I continued washing, gripping the edge of the sink a little tighter than I should have, because the truth was, I didn’t expect that someone had been watching us from inside the house, and I hated myse
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
AKIRA POVTommorowThe next day I woke up early because I plan to cook for Sedrick again, even though I know he won't eat what I cooked like the first time I cooked for him, I will try again maybe then he won't be angry.FlashbackAkira woke up early that morning with a bright smile on her face. The sunlight that passed through the kitchen window made the room feel warm and peaceful. It had been a long time since she felt this kind of excitement.Today, she decided to cook for Sedrick.She tied her hair into a loose ponytail and hummed softly while preparing the ingredients. One by one, she carefully cooked his favorite dishes. She wanted everything to be perfect. The aroma of freshly cooked food slowly filled the kitchen, making her feel proud of her effort.“Sedrick will like this,” she whispered to herself with a hopeful smile.After finishing, she arranged the dishes neatly on the dining table. The food looked simple, but every plate carried the effort and love she poured into it.
AKIRA POV__Three years have passed since Sedrick and I got married, and it has also been three years since the argument that caused him to start avoiding me. Every morning, whenever I catch him eating, he immediately leaves even before he finishes his meal. He also comes home late all the time-the kind of late where I end up falling asleep on the sofa while waiting for him.I know I shouldn't wait for him anymore because between the two of us, I'm the only one who loves in this marriage. But for me, it's still my responsibility to wait for him because I'm his wife, even if he doesn't see me as one.I still try to fix our relationship even though deep inside I know things between us will never be okay again. I can't really blame him, because everything that happened between us is my fault. I'm the reason why we ended up in this situation."Ma'am, please eat now so you can sleep already. You should get used to Sir coming home when you're already asleep."Manang Diday said worriedly, wh
8 YEARS AGOI couldn't stay still where I was standing while waiting for my friend, Sedrick, at our favorite hangout place. I never expected that he would be the first one to call me and invite me to eat out.Between the two of us, I was always the one inviting him to eat or hang out outside just so I could be with him. But now, he was the one who asked me out, which made me extremely happy. I couldn't explain what I was feeling because of how happy I was.I wore my most beautiful dress for that day, and I was also planning to tell him how I really felt about him. That's why I made sure to fix myself properly."Akira!!"I froze when I heard Sed's voice. I fixed my hair first and took a deep breath before finally looking in his direction.Even from afar, he was already waving at me, and I could clearly see his happy face and the smile I had always admired.I smiled even more when he started jumping while waving at me. I was about to raise my hand to wave back when I suddenly stopped af







