No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 28- One Month of love

My hands trembled as I gripped the steering wheel, about to start the car. My heart was pounding, anxiety creeping into my chest-until my phone buzzed.

A message.

I hesitated before picking it up, my stomach twisting with unease.

Unknown Number: Are you sure you know where Aiah really is?

A second later, an image loaded.

My breath caught in my throat.

It was Aiah.

Sitting in the driver's seat of her car.

With someone.

A man.

And he was kissing her.

I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.

No.

I stared at the screen, my mind refusing to process what I was seeing.

The photo wasn't old. It couldn't be. Aiah was wearing the same black blazer and white top she had on when she left for work this morning.

Which meant...

It happened today.

My hands clenched around the phone as an overwhelming mix of emotions flooded through me-shock, confusion, and then, finally...

Pain.

A sharp, gut-wrenching kind of pain.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to throw my phone across the car.

Instead, I just sat there, frozen.

Aiah... what the hell is this?

I don't know how long I sat there, gripping my phone like it was the only thing keeping me together. My chest felt heavy, my thoughts spiraling in a hundred different directions.

Then, as if on autopilot, I turned off the engine, got out of the car, and walked back to the rooftop.

The sight that greeted me felt like a cruel joke.

The table was still set-candles flickering, the food untouched, the bouquet of flowers resting beautifully in the center. The fairy lights cast a soft, romantic glow over everything, making it look like something out of a dream.

Except this wasn't a dream.

It was a nightmare.

A broken laugh escaped my lips.

This... this was supposed to be our moment. Our celebration. A night to remember.

And yet, the only one here was me.

I took slow, shaky steps forward before finally collapsing onto the floor, right in the middle of the setup I had prepared with so much love.

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

But the more I stared at the table-the plates I had carefully arranged, the wine glasses I had chosen because Aiah loved them, the handwritten note I had placed beside her plate-

The harder it became to hold everything in.

My hands covered my face as the first sob broke free.

Why?

Why would she do this to me?

Did she get tired? Did she find someone else? Was I not enough?

The image of her in the car-with him-flashed in my mind again, and a fresh wave of pain slammed into my chest.

I was overthinking, I knew I was.

But how could I not?

I poured everything into this night. Into us. Into her.

And she... she didn't even show up.

I curled into myself, silent tears streaming down my face as my mind continued to race with one unbearable thought after another.

Maybe I was just fooling myself all along.

I wiped my tears, took a deep breath, and stared at my phone. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating for a moment before I started typing.

Even after everything, I still wanted to hear from her. I still wanted her to come home.

---

Mikha:
Baby,
I don't know if you're busy, tired, or just caught up with something, but I've been waiting for you. I prepared something special for us tonight-just a simple dinner, nothing grand, but I wanted to celebrate our first month together.

Naalala mo noon, ikaw palagi ang gumagawa ng surprises para sa akin? This time, I wanted to be the one to do it for you. Kasi gusto kong iparamdam sa'yo kung gaano kita kamahal.

I know work has been exhausting for you lately, and maybe you just want to rest, but please... come home. I miss you.

Happy monthsary, baby.

I love you.

---

I stared at the message for a few seconds before pressing send.

And then, I waited.

And waited.

My phone remained silent. No reply. No "seen" status. Just... nothing.

I bit my lip, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Maybe she just needed time. Maybe she had an explanation. Maybe-

I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head.

I didn't want to think about that picture.

Not right now.