No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 36- Letting go

Like I was nothing.

I felt my vision blur again, my throat tightening as I forced out the words. "Aiah... please..."

She looked at me one last time. And in her eyes, I saw everything-the love, the regret, the pain... but also the goodbye.

And just like that-

I was being led away.

As the heavy church doors shut behind me, the finality of it crashed down like a tidal wave.

I collapsed onto the cold stone steps, my knees hitting the ground with a painful thud.

"Aiah..." I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please... please don't do this."

But the doors remained closed.

I pressed my palms against them, weakly pushing-useless, desperate. "Please..." My forehead rested against the hard wood as sobs wracked my body. "Don't leave me like this..."

I didn't care about the people watching. I didn't care about the whispers, the judgment, the pity.

All I knew was the unbearable ache in my chest.

I gasped for breath, tears blurring my vision as I clenched my fists against the door. "Aiah, mahal kita..." My voice cracked as I repeated it over and over, like a prayer, like a plea. "Mahal na mahal kita..."

No answer.

No footsteps.

No one came to open the door.

She was gone.

My body shook as I finally let go, falling completely to the ground. My fingers dug into the cold pavement as I sobbed uncontrollably. "Please... kahit isang beses lang... bumalik ka."

But the doors remained closed.

And this time-

Aiah wasn't coming back.

I waited.

I don't know for how long. Minutes. Hours. Maybe forever.

The weight of the closed doors suffocated me, but I didn't move. I couldn't.

Then-

They opened.

A burst of light spilled out onto the steps, followed by the sound of voices, laughter-celebration.

And then I saw her.

Aiah.

She stepped out, still in her wedding dress, glowing under the afternoon sun. She looked beautiful. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

But she wasn't looking at me.

Her gaze was distant, her expression unreadable. She moved forward like she didn't see me-like I wasn't even there, crumbling at her feet.

I lunged forward, desperation clawing at my throat. "Aiah!"

The guards were faster.

Strong hands grabbed my arms, holding me back. I struggled, but their grip was unrelenting.

"AIAH, PLEASE!" My voice cracked as I tried to break free. "Tingnan mo naman ako!"

She didn't.

She kept walking.

I fought harder. "Aiah, don't do this! Mahal kita!"

Her steps faltered. Just for a second.

But she didn't turn around.