Lahat ng Kabanata ng When loving you meant losing me: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

I left Jayden’s apartment early that morning, careful not to make a sound as we closed the door behind me. Felix was still knocked out on the couch, a blanket half-slipping off him. For a second, I almost turned back, almost crawled back into Jayden’s bed and pretended none of this real-world stuff existed. Jayden walked me to where I got a bus and we kissed good bye. He was going to his apartment where he stays with his cousin—his real apartmentThe seminar was coming up. And no amount of pretending was going to stop it. The days between then and Tuesday felt like a blur — half stress, half fatigued.I’d sit hunched over my phone for hours. Obsessing over every single PowerPoint slide. Changing fonts. Rewording bullet points. Adding animations, then deleting them because they felt “too much.”Ava, my neighbor and lowkey study buddy came over every evening, throwing questions at me until I wanted to scream. She was brutal in the best way — every awkward pause I made during practice, s

Sunlight spilled into the room, and the chatter of a few people outside reached my ears. My phone felt like a weight in my hand as I squinted at the screen. 11:15 AM. I couldn't believe I had slept that long. Stumbling out of bed, I dragged myself to the bathroom. My eyes were barely open, but I mechanically grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed out more toothpaste than necessary. I went through the motions, scrubbing absentmindedly. Once I finished, I groggily stumbled back out, my stomach growling in protest. I was starving. I made my way to the tiny kitchen, opening the cupboard and glancing at the sparse supplies. I hadn't cooked anything yet. Thank god Ava had fed me yesterday. I scratched my head, wondering what I should make. Honestly, I could barely think straight. Pasta, I decided. Simple enough. I threw on the loose tee and shorts I’d worn yesterday, tossing my nightwear into the laundry basket. As I enter the kitchen, I realized I didn’t even have tomato paste. I groaned. I

I closed the door behind me, then stood there for a second, just listening to the quiet. I hadn't even picked a bag I'd use yet. I didn't want the bag too big so he wouldn't think I was moving in—that would be embarrassing. I picked up my tote bag. Placed it on the bed half-open and empty, like it was waiting for me to figure out what I was doing.Honestly, I didn’t even know what to pack. It wasn’t like I was going on a trip. I mean, technically I was, but not really. I wasn’t visiting family or going for a weekend away with friends. I was going to Jayden’s. Just me. Just him.Finally.I sat on the edge of the bed and dragged the bag closer. I’d already tossed in a pair of lounge wear shorts earlier. Soft ones, black, nothing too fancy. Just enough to feel comfortable without looking like I tried too hard. I added a tank top to go with it. Then, after way too much hesitation, one pair of underwear. Just one. I don’t know why. Maybe I thought packing more would feel too… suggestive?

We had been lying on the same spot for a while, our breathing slowly steadying. I reached for my phone and tapped the screen. 6:30. My bones felt heavy—the sweet kind of heavy. Jayden stood up without a word and held out his hand. I let him pull me along, still quiet, my body still tingling. The bathroom lights were warm and golden, and the air was already damp with rising steam. He turned on the tap, tested the water, then looked back at me with that crooked smile I was starting to get used to. “Come on,” he said gently, like he’d been waiting for this all day. I stepped in with him, the tiled floor cool under my feet. We didn’t say much. He lathered soap in his hands and ran them over my shoulders like it was the most normal thing in the world. It felt... soft. Not rushed. Just us. I didn’t know where to look. This was my first time having someone else bathe me. I fought the urge to cover my chest with both hands—unsure what was allowed in this kind of tenderness. When he was d

"I'm getting used to this," I mumbled, voice low and laced with sleep, pulling the tray of granola soaked in milk closer. Jayden had been spoiling me since this staycation started—I barely lifted a finger. I was bathed, fed, pampered. No complaints, no sighs. Just him, doing everything like it was second nature.After breakfast, we curled up on the sofa again. Jayden had promised a movie spree, and he wasn't bluffing. We moved from one Netflix series to the next—though most ended up watching us. Half the time, we'd barely get through the opening credits before a kiss turned into a touch, then another, until we were breathless and the screen faded to the closing scene."There's something wrong with us," I laughed, panting, my skin still tingling. I had no idea how many rounds we'd gone or what time it was. I just knew my body kept reaching for him like it couldn't stop."I think we need therapy," he said, his chest rising and falling.His hands brushed over my skin again, and my breath