บททั้งหมดของ Love in Beta: บทที่ 121 - บทที่ 130

Maya couldn’t help but smile as she watched Ash, his hands gripping the wheel of the car, his eyes focused on the road ahead. They had spent the entire afternoon together, doing the simplest of things—having lunch at their favorite café, strolling around the park, and talking about their hopes for the future. For the first time in a while, everything felt normal again.But beneath the surface, she knew they still had a long way to go. The past was something they couldn’t easily forget. And though Ash had shown her his willingness to try again, Maya couldn’t help but feel the weight of the history they shared."Are you sure you're okay with this?" Ash’s voice broke her thoughts. He glanced at her quickly before turning his attention back to the road. "I don’t want you to feel like you’re forcing yourself to be with me."Maya turned to him, her smile soft but genuine. "I’m trying, Ash. It’s not easy, but I’m willing to see where this goes. I want to believe that we can get back to what

Maya sat by her desk, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, while her laptop blinked with a dozen unopened emails. The morning was calm, almost too calm, like the stillness before a storm. Kahapon lang, everything seemed perfect. Ngunit sa umagang ito, may kung anong bumabagabag sa kanyang dibdib, isang pakiramdam na hindi niya maipaliwanag. Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Ash. Ash: Good morning, Maya. Busy day ahead, but I’ll call you later. Hope you have a good one. She smiled faintly. Simple lang ang mensahe, pero sapat na iyon para magbigay ng init sa kanyang umaga. Ngunit may napansin siya—parang hindi kasing-init ng dati ang tono nito. Parang mas maikli, mas diretso. Or maybe, she was just overthinking. Maya: Good morning din. Take care today!Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, wanting to add something else, but in the end, she pressed send without overcomplicating it. Nag-focus na lang siya sa trabaho, kahit hindi niya maiwasang mag-

Maya stared blankly at the ceiling of her bedroom. Kanina pa siya nakahiga, pilit binabalikan ang mga salitang binitiwan ni Ash sa kanilang huling pag-uusap. "Maybe you need someone who can give you more."Ang mga salitang iyon ay parang kutsilyong bumaon sa puso niya. She had always believed that love meant staying, fighting, holding on no matter what. Pero bakit parang si Ash, sa halip na lumaban, ay piniling umatras? ---Maya’s mother, Rachel, knocked softly on her bedroom door. “Anak, pwede ba kitang makausap?” Maya wiped her tears hastily and sat up. “Mom, okay lang ako.” Rachel stepped inside, holding two mugs of tea. “Alam kong hindi kita mapipilit na magsalita kung ayaw mo. Pero nakita kitang umiiyak kagabi, Maya. At bilang nanay mo, mas gusto kong marinig ang sakit mo kaysa sa itago mo ‘yan.” Maya’s walls crumbled. “Mom... bakit ganito? Akala ko kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, sapat na iyon.” Rachel sat beside her, handing her the tea. “Mahal ay mahal, pero hindi iy

Nasa harap ng salamin si Maya, inaayos ang kanyang buhok habang iniisip ang mga nangyari sa pagitan nila ni Ash. Isang linggo na ang nakalipas mula noong muli silang nagkita, pero hanggang ngayon, malinaw pa rin sa kanya ang bigat ng tension sa pagitan nila. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman—halong lungkot, galit, at pagkalito. “Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya haharapin ulit,” bulong niya sa sarili. Biglang nag-ring ang telepono niya, at nakita niyang tumatawag si Ava. Napabuntong-hininga siya bago sagutin ang tawag. “Hello, Ava,” bati niya. “Maya! Kamusta ka na? Hindi ka sumasama sa mga lakad natin lately, ah. Busy ka ba o... may iniisip?” tanong ni Ava, halatang curious. “Medyo busy lang sa trabaho,” palusot ni Maya. “Hmm, trabaho o si Ash?” biro ni Ava, pero may halong concern ang tono. Maya sighed. “Napag-usapan namin ni Ash, pero parang mas lumayo pa siya pagkatapos nun.” “Ano bang nangyari?” tanong ni Ava. Maya hesitated. Alam niyang kailangang mailabas

Sa sumunod na mga araw, sinubukan ni Maya na bumalik sa normal. Ibinuhos niya ang sarili sa trabaho, sa tulong ni Ava, at sa mga pag-exercise para mabawasan ang bigat na nararamdaman niya. Pero kahit anong gawin niya, parang laging may bakas ng presensya ni Ash. “Hoy, Maya!” tawag ni Ava isang gabi habang pareho silang nasa gym. “Girl, ayusin mo naman ‘yang form mo. Mukha kang lulubog na.” “Sorry,” sagot ni Maya, ngumiti ng pilit. “Kumusta ka na ba talaga?” tanong ni Ava, naupo sa tabi niya pagkatapos ng set niya. “Wag mo nang sabihin na okay kasi halatang hindi. Spill na!” Tumigil si Maya, huminga nang malalim, at tinitigan si Ava. “I’m tired, Ava. Ang hirap. Mahal ko pa rin siya kahit na sinaktan niya ako. Kahit na iniwan niya ako, hindi ko pa rin siya maalis sa utak ko.” “Alam mo, girl,” sagot ni Ava, hinawakan ang kamay niya, “hindi ka martir para ipaglaban ang isang taong hindi pa sigurado sa sarili niya. Pero kung mahal mo siya, I get it. Kaya lang, kailangan mo rin ma