Chapter 1: Part 4 – The First Time I Met Him
488 Words
Savrielle’s POV
Three years ago.
"Ano bang suot ng presentable pero hindi halatang kinikilig?" I whispered to myself habang nakatayo sa harap ng salamin, fixing the hem of my blouse.
It wasn’t a special day. Walang occasion. But for some reason, I was more nervous than usual.
Kaizen texted me earlier:
“You’ll meet my younger brother today. Act normal. Please.”
That’s it. No “you look good,” no “can’t wait.”
He was cold lately.
Distant.
Still, I said yes.
Because I loved him.
Pero hindi ako ipinakilala bilang girlfriend.
He said I was just a "friend from school."
And I agreed. Kasi ganun talaga kami—secret relationship.
Walang labels. Walang pictures. Walang commitment sa harap ng ibang tao.
But I was okay with that. Or at least, I thought I was.
---
Pagdating namin sa apartment, medyo magulo. May kalat. May tambak na laundry. Dishes in the sink. Typical bachelor’s place.
Kaizen knocked once, then walked in like he owned the place.
“Zee! Nandito na kami!” he called out.
A guy peeked from the kitchen, holding a spoon in his mouth, hair messy, in a plain black shirt.
That was the first time I saw Zayden.
And I swear, something skipped inside me.
His eyes were warm. Curious. Parang hindi siya sanay na may bisita.
“Teka, may bisita?” Zayden chuckled, pulling out the spoon. His eyes landed on me.
Then he smiled.
“Hi, I'm Zayden.”
“Savrielle,” I said softly, trying not to let my heart react.
---
We sat on their tiny couch.
Kaizen was scrolling on his phone the whole time. Barely speaking. Barely looking at me.
Zayden, meanwhile, kept the conversation alive. He asked what I studied, kung taga-saan ako, what music I liked.
He laughed at my jokes.
I smiled at his.
We just… clicked.
There was an ease to talking to him. Parang matagal na kaming magkakilala.
He had this presence that made me feel seen—really seen.
But I told myself—stop it. You’re Kaizen’s girl.
Even if Kaizen wasn’t acting like it.
Even if Kaizen barely looked at me that day.
Even if Zayden did.
---
Later that night, habang naglalakad kami pa-uwi, I asked Kaizen:
“Bakit ‘di mo sinabi kay Zayden?”
“Anong kailangan niyang malaman?” he shrugged.
That hurt more than I expected.
More than I let him see.
I stayed quiet after that.
No more questions. No more expecting.
Just silence.
---
I didn’t know it then,
but that simple lie…
That decision to stay quiet…
Was the beginning of everything that would fall apart.
The start of the distance.
The confusion.
The heartbreak.
I kept replaying Zayden’s smile in my head that night.
Not because I wanted to—
but because it was the only warm thing I felt that day.
---
End of Chapter 1: Part 4
- Writer
