Sudden Love (English Version)

I’ve lived through my fair share of trials and tribulations... I’ve felt the sting of first love, that sharp, unexpected pain that teaches you so much more than you’re ever prepared for. It hurts, yes, but I’ve learned—perhaps the hardest lesson of all. Sometimes, we allow ourselves to believe that the person we’re with right now, the one we call our partner, our girlfriend, will be our forever. But, as time has shown me, that conclusion—so naive, so foolish—is the most absurd thing a love-struck man can hold on to. I opened my heart too blindly to the desires of my own soul, failing to step back and consider the full picture. Maybe, just maybe, I should have seen things from a different angle. If only love were like the clouds in the sky—so soft, so boundless. No man in love would ever feel doubt or insecurity. Love, like the clouds, would offer nothing but pure trust and unwavering loyalty. But alas, when we love, we are often naive, sometimes even wicked in our desperation. We would go to any length, perform any act, perhaps even something dark, just to make sure the woman we adore remains by our side. Yet, despite our greatest efforts, things don’t always go the way we expect them to. The more deeply you love, the deeper the wounds you bear. When you think of love, don’t think of fleeting moments of joy or illusions of perfection. Think of pain. The kind of pain that shapes us, that teaches us the hardest truths. As they say, “If you’re ready to fall in love, are you also ready to be hurt?” From that moment, I realized that love is like a game—if you fall first, you lose. If you’re going to play the game, learn the rules first. And yes, I know some of you might be asking, “Are there rules?” Trust me, there are. “Ding Dong Ding.” The sound of the private plane door opening. The blazing sun welcomed me with an unforgiving embrace, its heat both a distant memory and an unfamiliar reality. It had been so long since I last felt this sensation—so long since I walked these lands. I had escaped, outrunning the shadows of a past that once threatened to consume me. The pain was unbearable, a wound too deep to heal on its own. My parents, desperate to shield me from the wreckage, sent me far away. Time passed, but I barely noticed. The world moved on without me, and I, in turn, drifted through life like a ghost, unanchored and indifferent. News of others never reached me, nor did I seek it. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t living—I was merely existing, stumbling forward, one heavy step at a time. It had been six years since I last returned to the Philippines. I had stayed back in London, focused on our family’s corporation. After all that happened six years ago, I had lost the desire to return to this country. But now, I was back, with business to attend to—specifically, Da’s network building. And while I was here, I’d also be attending my batch’s reunion. Even though I hadn’t graduated from Meopdiod Iallagant University, my classmates still considered me part of the reunion. And of course, there was Megame and Efrick—the main reasons I was coming back. Well, at least, they were the main ones. There might have been someone else I was hoping to see too. Someone I wasn’t sure I had truly moved on from. Yes, it was foolish to admit, but no matter how far I had gone, no matter how many years had passed, I hadn’t been able to let go. Even though I hadn’t been in a real relationship since, I couldn’t deny it. I’d had flings—oh, many flings—but none of them meant anything. I told myself I had moved on, but the truth was, I hadn’t. Not really. Not until I heard from Efrick and Meg that Aphrodite would be at the reunion. My heart fluttered, my stomach churned. The thought of seeing her again made me anxious, excited, angry, all at once. I hated myself for still feeling this way. But deep down, I knew I still loved her. Maybe the only way I’d truly be able to move on was to see her happy with someone else. Maybe that would finally help me close that chapter in my life. As I rode in the limousine, headed toward my destination, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. “Good morning, Young Master,” Sebastian greeted me with a warm smile. “It’s good to see you again. It’s been a long time.” “Yeah, Bastian. It’s good to see you too,” I replied, smiling back at him. As we arrived at the house, I was welcomed by Da and Mom, who greeted me with open arms. “How are you, son?” Da asked brightly. “I’m fine, Da. How about you?” I replied, referring to both him and Mom. “We’re good too. So, are you going to that reunion with Ef and Meg?” Mom asked. “They passed by yesterday. They thought you had already arrived.” “Yeah, I’m going. I guess I’m coming,” I answered with a small smile. They smiled back, knowing that in this reunion, the woman who had given me both the happiest and the most painful memories would be there. The woman I loved with everything I had and everything I ever will be. But for some reason—some cruel, unclear reason—she failed me. It all felt so tangled, so confusing, but I wanted to see her again. I wanted to talk to her. I hated that I still loved her. “Well,” I mused to myself, “perhaps after this reunion, I can finally close this chapter of my life and move forward. And maybe—just maybe—my heart still holds love for her.” Mom and Dad exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them through nothing more than their eyes. It was a look of understanding, one that spoke volumes without a single word. Then, as if reaching an unspoken agreement, they both smiled warmly at me and gestured for me to come inside. As I stepped through the door, the familiar warmth of home enveloped me. A lively gathering was already underway—Mom’s colleagues had come together to celebrate my return, their cheerful voices filling the space. Laughter echoed, glasses clinked, and the air buzzed with animated conversations. But my mind was elsewhere. Tomorrow. Tomorrow was the reunion—the moment I had both anticipated and dreaded.