The One I Cannot Touch

String 6: Between the Pulse and the Silence

Miguel: "Yes. But small-scale."

Jade: "Then double-check and go through with it. I don't care if they're not a giant brand. If Chase trusts them, we trust them."

Miguel: "Understood."

Elle raised a brow from her corner. Jade caught the look.

Jade: "Don't. Say. Anything."

Elle: [grinning] "Wasn't gonna say a thing. Except... you only call him Chase now."

Jade: "I'm efficient. Using full names takes time."

Elle: "Sure, Ma'am. Totally not because he's hot humanitarian Ken with trauma eyes."

Jade: [throwing a pen lightly at Elle] "Out."

Present – Barangay Outreach Event, 3 Days Later

Jade arrived unannounced.

The outreach wasn't expecting the CEO to show up — especially not in white sneakers, oversized sunglasses, and a rolled-up blouse that looked too designer for a health mission.

But she came anyway.

The minute her SUV pulled in, Chase spotted her from the registration tent.

Chase: [to himself] "Of course she did."

He walked over, slightly dusty, clipboard in hand.

Chase: "You brought security?"

Jade: "They're not for me. They're for the cockroach I saw last time."

Chase: "Right."

He was glad to see her, though he wouldn't say it.

They walked through the rows of people — toddlers, pregnant women, elderly men — all waiting for free checkups, vitamins, or food packs. The smell of adobo mixed with rubbing alcohol. Dogs barked in the distance.

Jade: "You built all this in two weeks?"

Chase: "With your money and about a hundred sleepless nights, yes."

Jade: [genuine] "It's beautiful. It's... needed."

Chase: "Why are you really here, Jade?"

She didn't answer right away.

Then:

Jade: "Because sometimes... I need to remember what impact really looks like."

He looked at her, eyes softening.

Chase: "You could have asked me to show you photos."

Jade: "Photos don't have dust."

Meanwhile – Back in Manila, Seb's Art Studio

Seb was staring at a blank canvas again.

His hands were stained with ochre and charcoal. He tried to sketch her again — Jade — but every version felt wrong.

Because lately, he saw someone else in her expression. A different kind of softness. A new kind of ache.

His phone buzzed.

Jade: ["At the project site. It's... overwhelming in the best way."]

Seb stared at the message for a long time.

Then, with a quiet sigh, he replied.

Seb: ["Call me when you're back. Let's have dinner. Just us."]

Back at the Site – Sunset

Chase and Jade sat on a bamboo bench near the edge of the camp.

Kids were playing behind them. Chase had two unopened bottled waters in hand, and offered her one.

Jade: [taking it] "You ever think of quitting all this? Going back to real hospitals?"

Chase: "I did once."

Jade: "What changed?"

He stared into the fading sun.

Chase: "I lost someone. And I realized I didn't want to work in buildings anymore. I wanted to be where life happens."

Jade: "Is that why you wear that?" [nodding at his red thread]

He hesitated.

Chase: "I don't even remember why I started. Just... every time I wanted to cut it off, something stopped me."

Jade: [softly] "Maybe fate's stubborn."

He turned to her.

Chase: "Do you think we were meant to meet?"

Jade's lips parted, but no sound came out.

She looked at her own wrist — still bare, but for the bracelet Lance had given her.

Jade: "I think... some people are placed on your path like signposts. Not always lovers. Not always forever. But necessary."

Chase nodded slowly.

Chase: "And what if they're more?"

She looked at him then. Really looked.

And whispered:

Jade: "Then I hope I don't touch them too late."