Between the Lines of Us

Chapter 23

6:45 AM – Quin's Condo, Forbes Park

Quin stared at the ceiling.

Wide awake.

The sheets felt too warm, too heavy against his skin.

Quin exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.

That night was—fuck.

It wasn't just sex.

It wasn't just some reckless mistake.

It was something else.

Something that made him feel weightless and grounded all at once.

For the first time in his life, Quin felt like he wasn't pretending.

And yet—

And yet, his chest twisted painfully.

Because the moment he thought of Andie—

Reality hit like a bullet.

7:30 AM – The Unraveling Begins

The knock on his door was unexpected.

Quin blinked, sitting up.

For a second, a stupid part of him thought—

Gab?

But when he opened the door—

It was Andie.

And she didn't look okay.

Her hair was messy, like she had barely slept. Her hands were balled into fists, her breathing uneven.

Quin's stomach dropped.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Quin swallowed hard, stepping aside. "Yeah."

Andie walked in, arms crossed.

Then—

She turned to him, eyes burning.

"Are you still in love with me, or are you just afraid of what people will think if you aren't?"

Quin froze.

His lungs felt like they stopped working.

Because that was it.

That was the one question he had been too scared to answer.

7:35 AM – The Argument That Should Have Happened Sooner

Andie let out a sharp laugh.

"Alam mo, Quin," she said, voice shaking. "I was willing to wait. Kasi sabi ko, baka pagod ka lang. Baka stress ka sa trabaho."

Quin couldn't speak.

"Pero puta," Andie hissed. "Nagising na lang ako isang araw, naramdaman kong wala na 'ko sa utak mo."

She stepped closer, eyes blazing.

"And now? Now I know why."

Quin opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

He saw it in her eyes.

The exact moment she realized the truth.

And that?

That broke him.

7:40 AM – Gab's Unplanned Arrival

Gab balanced a coffee tray in one hand, a paper bag in the other.

He had woken up earlier than usual.

Maybe it was last night still lingering in his head.

Or maybe—maybe it was something else.

Either way, his feet had taken him to Quin's place.

A peace offering.

A stupidly domestic attempt at whatever the hell they were becoming.

But as he reached Quin's door—

He heard Andie's voice.

And it wasn't good.

7:42 AM – What Gab Shouldn't Have Heard

"Alam mo ba kung ano ang pinaka-nakakatawa?" Andie let out a bitter chuckle.

Quin stood completely still.

Andie's voice lowered—but it was sharp.

"Tangina, Quin. Ex ko yun."

Silence.

Then—

"Boyfriend kita. Anong freakshow ba 'to?"

Gab stopped breathing.

The coffee bag in his grip crinkled loudly—but neither of them noticed.

Because inside that room, everything was falling apart.

7:45 AM – The Weight of Silence

Quin didn't even try to defend himself.

He just stood there, mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.

Andie laughed, shaking her head.

"Quin," she whispered. "Say something."

Quin's throat felt tight.

Because what was he supposed to say?

That she was wrong?

That she was imagining things?

That what happened with Gab meant nothing?

It would all be a lie.

So he said nothing.

And that was her answer.

Andie inhaled deeply, blinking rapidly.

Then—

"That's all I needed to know."

She grabbed her bag.

She didn't yell.

She didn't cry.

She just walked out.

And this time—

Quin let her.

7:50 AM – Gab's Choice

Gab barely stepped away in time before Andie stormed out of the apartment.

She didn't see him.

Didn't see the way his hands shook slightly, fingers gripping the coffee bag tightly.

Didn't see how he looked like he had just been punched in the gut.

Gab let out a slow, shaky exhale.

And then—

He turned around.

And walked away.

Because suddenly, he wasn't sure whose heart he needed to protect.

Andie's.

Or Quin's.

Or maybe—

Maybe his own.