"𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆"

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂

Arc leaned back against the bench near the campus garden, exhaustion written across his face. His chest still ached faintly from the earlier episode. Aurora Syndrome, the rare genetic illness that weakened his heart and caused sudden attacks was a constant shadow. Every step, every breath, carried the risk of collapse.

He closed his eyes, and Darcy’s face appeared in his mind. Not smiling, not admiring, but annoyed. Her awkward nods, her clipped words, the way she seemed eager to escape him.

Arc chuckled bitterly. “She sees me as an annoyance. No difference from a normal person. Maybe that’s why she feels… different.”

Unlike the others, Darcy didn’t look at him with admiration or envy. She didn’t see wealth, status, or heirship. She saw him as someone inconvenient. And strangely, that made her unforgettable.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was his bodyguard. “Sir Arc, kailangan na po nating umuwi. Nasa labas na po ang sasakyan.”

Arc sighed, standing slowly. As he approached the university gate, a lavish black car pulled up, polished to perfection. The bodyguard opened the door, bowing slightly. Students nearby stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with envy and admiration.

“Wow, ang yaman talaga ni Arc,” one whispered.

“Parang prinsipe,” another sighed.

“Kung ako lang sana ang girlfriend nyaaa…” murmured by one of the girls while giggling.

Arc forced a polite smile, nodding at the crowd. Inside, though, he felt the weight of their stares pressing down. They don’t see me. They see the heir. The wealth. The name.

He slid into the car, the leather seats cool against his back. The bodyguard closed the door, and the vehicle glided away from the campus, leaving behind whispers and jealous glances.

---

At home, the Arcabal estate was as grand as ever — marble floors, chandeliers, sprawling gardens. Yet Arc felt no comfort in its luxury. His mother greeted him warmly, her eyes filled with love, while his father’s nod carried pride and expectation.

“Arc,” his mother said softly, “the new doctor has arrived. He came from abroad, highly recommended. He believes he can help with your condition.”

Arc nodded, weary. “Aurora Syndrome isn’t something easily cured, Ma. But… let’s see.”

Her hand trembled as she touched his cheek. “Anak, you are our only child. I risked my life giving birth to you. I cannot give birth again. Kaya lahat ng pagmamahal namin, nasa’yo.”

Arc’s chest tightened, not from illness but from guilt. He knew how much his parents had sacrificed. He knew how much they hoped.

His father’s voice was firm. “You must fight, Arc. You must live fully. You are the heir of this family. We cannot lose you.”

Arc lowered his gaze. "They love me the fullest, but they also expect me to carry everything. How can I, when my body betrays me?"

---

In the study, a man in his forties stood waiting. His accent was foreign, his demeanor professional yet kind. “Mr. Arcabal,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Dr. Collins. I’ve studied rare genetic illnesses for years. Your case is unique, but I believe there are treatments that can ease your attacks.”

Arc shook his hand, cautious. “I’ve heard that before. But every time, it’s just medicine to numb the pain.”

Dr. Collins nodded. “Aurora Syndrome is rare. It weakens the heart muscle, causing sudden arrhythmias and collapses. The body struggles to regulate blood flow, which is why you feel exhausted even after small exertions. It’s painful, unpredictable, and often misunderstood. But there are therapies we can try — new medications, lifestyle adjustments, even experimental treatments. Relief may come slowly, but it can come.”

Arc’s mother’s eyes glistened with hope. “Please, Doctor. Do everything you can. My son must live.”

Arc’s father added firmly, “Whatever it takes. Money is no object. He is our heir.”

Arc winced at the word heir. He wanted to be seen as more than that. He wanted someone to look at him and see just Arc — not wealth, not status, not illness.

And again, Darcy’s face flashed in his mind. Her awkwardness, her annoyance, her refusal to treat him as special.

“Arc,” Dr. Collins said, breaking his thoughts, “we’ll begin tomorrow. Rest tonight. Your health is our priority.”

Arc nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He excused himself, walking to the balcony. The night air was cool, the city lights shimmering in the distance.

He whispered to himself, “Darcy… you don’t admire me. You don’t chase me. You even find me irritating. And maybe that’s why I can’t forget you.”

His chest tightened again, this time from despair. He had tried countless cures, endured endless treatments, and still the illness clung to him. Hope was slipping away, replaced by quiet resignation.

Inside, his family celebrated the arrival of the doctor, clinging to the belief that Arc would be cured. Outside, Arc stood alone, caught between the weight of expectations and the memory of a girl who treated him like no one else did.