No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 43- Gone

Not ever.

Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them.

Aiah didn’t deserve this.

She didn’t deserve to suffer, to bleed out on that cold floor, to have her life hanging by a thread because of that monster.

I clenched my jaw, my chest rising and falling unevenly as silent sobs wracked my body. “She doesn’t deserve this,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Not her. Not Aiah.”

Sheena, Gwen, and Colet exchanged worried glances, but none of them spoke right away. Maybe because they knew I wasn’t looking for comfort—I was drowning in my own helplessness, and nothing they said could pull me out of it.

Ethan finally broke the silence. “We’ll make sure Adrian pays.” His voice was firm, filled with quiet rage. “No matter what it takes.”

I barely heard him. My mind was stuck in the past, reliving every moment with Aiah—her laugh, her soft voice when she whispered my name, the way she used to hold my hand like I was her whole world.

I wiped my tears harshly, but they wouldn’t stop falling. “She can’t die,” I choked out. “I haven’t even told her…” My breath hitched. “I haven’t even told her I still love her.”

Colet sighed and squeezed my hand. “Then tell her. When she wakes up.”

I swallowed the sobs threatening to escape.

Because I knew the truth.

There was a chance Aiah wouldn’t wake up at all.

Ethan’s hand tightened around mine, his warmth cutting through the cold dread in my chest. I turned to look at him, my tear-filled eyes meeting his steady, understanding gaze. He gave me a small, bittersweet smile.

“I know,” he said softly. “Alam ko na umpisa pa lang… siya pa rin talaga.”

I swallowed hard, guilt tightening around my throat. “Ethan…”

He shook his head, silencing me before I could say anything else. “Kahit anong subukan kong pumasok sa buhay mo, alam kong wala akong laban sa kanya.” His voice didn’t hold resentment, only quiet acceptance. “Kasi kahit anong pilit kong punan yung puwang na iniwan niya… Mikha, sa kanya lang talaga ‘yon.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks again. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know,” he said with a soft chuckle, though there was sadness in his eyes. “Totoong minahal kita, Mikha. But I think… deep down, alam nating pareho na hindi ko kailanman makukuha yung buong puso mo.”

I covered my face with my free hand, overwhelmed by everything—the pain, the guilt, the fear of losing Aiah for good. “I’m sorry, Ethan,” I whispered brokenly.

He sighed and squeezed my hand. “Wag ka nang mag-sorry. Ang mahalaga ngayon, lumaban ka para sa kanya.” He let go of my hand, his expression turning serious. “Dahil kung ako nga, kahit wala akong laban, lumaban pa rin ako para sa’yo. Kaya ikaw… lalo ka dapat lumaban para sa kanya.”

I nodded shakily, wiping my tears.

Because he was right.

I had to fight for Aiah.

Before it was too late.

Ethan pulled me into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around me with a warmth that I didn’t realize I needed. I clung to him, my body shaking from everything—pain, exhaustion, fear.

His voice was soft when he spoke. “Siguro this time, hahayaan na kayo ng tadhana na maging masaya.” He pulled away slightly to look me in the eyes, his expression sincere. “Dahil marami na kayong pinatunayan.”