YOU,ME,AND THEM A LOVE STORY

The Things She Never Says

CHAPTER 22

(Sabrina’s POV)

Sabrina Villareal hated feeling insecure.

She spent her entire life learning how to appear perfect.

Perfect posture.

Perfect smile.

Perfect grades.

Perfect daughter.

Nothing messy.

Nothing emotional.

Nothing weak.

That was what the Villareal family expected from her.

And Sabrina always delivered.

So why—

Why did one girl suddenly make her feel so small?

Sabrina stared at herself quietly through the large vanity mirror while maids carefully fixed the final details of her appearance.

Tonight was the engagement party between the Reyes and Villareal families.

A massive event.

Important businessmen.

Famous families.

Luxury decorations.

Everything elegant.

Everything perfect.

And Sabrina looked exactly how everyone expected her to look.

Beautiful.

Graceful.

Untouchable.

Yet somehow—

Her chest still felt uneasy.

“Miss Villareal, the guests have started arriving,” one maid informed softly.

Sabrina nodded once.

“…Thank you.”

The maid left quietly afterward.

Then silence filled the room.

Sabrina slowly looked down at the necklace resting around her neck.

A gift from Christopher’s family.

Expensive.

Beautiful.

Meaningless.

Because Chris never looked happy around her.

Polite?

Yes.

Respectful?

Usually.

But happy?

Never.

Not the way he smiled around Leanne.

The thought alone made jealousy twist painfully inside Sabrina’s chest again.

She hated it.

Hated how obvious it became lately.

Chris laughed around Leanne differently.

Smiled softer around her.

Looked more alive.

Meanwhile Sabrina only received polite smiles and forced conversations.

Like she was simply another responsibility.

Another obligation.

Another cage.

Sabrina slowly stood from the chair.

Then quietly whispered to herself—

“…What does she have that I don’t?”

No answer came.

Of course not.

---

The engagement party was massive.

Golden chandeliers sparkled beautifully across the ballroom while soft music played around wealthy guests chatting elegantly.

Everywhere Sabrina looked—

People smiled at her.

Praised her appearance.

Congratulated her future marriage.

But honestly?

Everything felt exhausting.

Sabrina politely greeted several guests before finally excusing herself quietly.

She needed air.

She needed silence.

As she walked through the garden entrance beside the ballroom—

She froze.

Because she spotted them immediately.

Christopher Reyes.

And Leanne Cruz.

Laughing together near the fountain outside.

Chris held two desserts while dramatically saying something that made Leanne burst into laughter.

Real laughter.

Bright laughter.

And Chris—

Chris looked happy.

Actually happy.

Not forced.

Not polite.

Not empty.

Happy.

Sabrina’s chest tightened painfully.

Because that smile—

That warm genuine smile—

Was the exact expression she spent years trying to receive from him.

Yet Leanne got it naturally.

Without trying.

Without effort.

Chris lightly bumped his shoulder against Leanne while laughing again.

And Leanne smiled at him softly afterward.

Comfortably.

Like being near him felt natural.

Sabrina looked away immediately.

Because suddenly—

She couldn’t breathe properly.

Jealousy burned painfully inside her chest.

Ugly jealousy.

The type she spent years pretending she never felt.

Then quietly—

Without saying a word—

Sabrina turned around and walked away before either of them could notice her.

Her heels echoed softly through the empty academy hallway connected to the ballroom.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Sabrina lowered her gaze while gripping the fabric of her dress tightly.

Why does this hurt so much?

She already knew Chris didn’t love her.

Deep down—

She always knew.

Their engagement existed because of family expectations.

Business.

Status.

Connections.

Not love.

Never love.

Still—

Seeing him happy with someone else hurt more than she expected.

Sabrina stopped walking once she reached an empty hallway far from the party noise.

Quiet.

Dark.

Lonely.

And suddenly—

The perfect mask she wore all night finally cracked slightly.

“…How pathetic,” she whispered bitterly to herself.

Then unexpectedly—

She bumped into someone.

Sabrina blinked in surprise before stepping backward quickly.

“…Oh.”

Standing there was Kai.

Kai looked equally surprised.

He wore formal black clothing for the party, though his tie sat slightly loose like he hated dressing up.

“…Sorry,” Kai muttered quietly.

Sabrina quickly fixed her expression again automatically.

“It’s fine.”

Silence.

Then Kai noticed her face carefully.

And frowned slightly.

“…You’ve been crying?”

Sabrina immediately looked away.

“No.”

Kai stared quietly for another second.

Then calmly—

“…You don’t have to lie.”

The words caught her off guard.

Because strangely—

Kai didn’t sound judgmental.

Just honest.

Sabrina looked down silently.

Then laughed softly.

Cold.

Tired.

“…Am I that obvious?”

Kai leaned quietly against the hallway wall beside her.

“…A little.”

Silence filled the hallway again.

Somehow—

It felt less uncomfortable than Sabrina expected.

Then quietly—

Kai spoke again.

“…You saw Chris and Leanne together.”

Not a question.

Sabrina froze slightly.

“…You noticed too?”

Kai looked away briefly.

“…Everyone notices.”

Those words hurt.

A lot.

Sabrina smiled bitterly afterward.

“That’s embarrassing.”

Kai stayed quiet for a moment.

Then softly—

“…I don’t think Chris means to hurt you.”

Sabrina laughed quietly again.

“I know.”

And honestly?

That somehow made everything worse.