The Weight of a Promise

CHAPTER 2

After hours of laughter, drinking, and singing, one by one, their classmates started saying their goodbyes and heading home. The remaining group was now much smaller.

“Ingat kayong lahat, see you at the wedding next week!” Jen shouted as the last few people left. The night was winding down, and only their small group remained, still lingering in the yard.

Louanne’s phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. She fished it out, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name flashing on the screen: *Babe*. It was Zain.

"Hey babe, do you want me to pick you up? I know you've had a few drinks," his message read. Louanne couldn’t help but smile, though she still felt conflicted inside. Despite everything—his perfect looks, his stable life, and his unwavering support—she just couldn’t bring herself to feel the way she thought she should about him. Zain seemed like the perfect boyfriend: 36 years old, a site engineer with his own house, car, and a secure financial future. He was impossibly handsome, too—thick eyebrows, long lashes, brown eyes, a sharp nose, and lips that curled into a dazzling smile. His body, honed by hours at the gym, only added to his appeal. Yet, despite everything, there was only one thing Louanne could feel for him: friendship. He was the person who stood by her side through everything, someone she trusted deeply—aside from Kai—and someone she held dear in her life.

"Yes, please. I think I’ve had too much to drink. I don’t think I’m safe to drive," she replied, trying to hide the way her heart fluttered at his concern.

"Okay! I’ll be there in 10 minutes," Zain responded quickly, and Louanne couldn’t help but smile again.

Kai, still sitting beside her, raised an eyebrow. "Uyyy, Anne, kaya mo pa bang magmaneho? Naka-three beers ka na," he asked, clearly concerned.

"Zain will pick me up, no worries," Louanne replied casually.

"Zain? Yan ba ang boyfriend mo, Anne? Ipakilala mo naman sa amin!" Karla chimed in, her curiosity piqued.

"Oo nga! Pogi ba?" Carol added, raising her glass.

"Sana nga boyfriend na yun ni Anne. Ewan ko ba d’yan sa kaibigan nyo, ayaw bigyan ng pag-asa si Zain," Kai muttered with a deep sigh.

Louanne just smiled weakly. "He’s very special to me, but we can’t be in a relationship," she answered, taking another sip from her beer. She absentmindedly shook the empty can, hoping to get one last drop. She was already a little tipsy, having drunk more than she intended while thinking about Andrei.

She was about to grab another can when she felt a hand on her arm. She looked up, rubbing her eyes as if to clear them. Her vision was blurry, and she tried to focus on the person standing in front of her.

"Babe," she muttered softly when she realized it was Zain.

"Yeah, I’m here. Let’s go home," Zain said with a warm, gentle smile, his hand still on her arm, guiding her gently as she stood up.

"Napakagwapo naman pala nitong si babe. Ayaw mo ba, Anne? Akin na lang," Karla teased, running her hand over Zain’s arm as she leaned in.

"I’m sorry, but no," Louanne said firmly, though her voice was a little slurred from the alcohol. "Babe, they’re all my classmates from elementary to high school. They’re all my friends." She then stood, a bit unsteady on her feet, and walked toward Zain, who helped steady her. "Guys, this is Zain."

"Hello, guys! Nice meeting you all," Zain greeted them with a smile.

Louanne’s friends waved, saying their goodbyes. "Ingat sa pagmamaneho, Louanne!" they called out as she climbed into Zain’s car.

Inside the car, Louanne stared out the window, her thoughts a million miles away.

"Have you seen him earlier?" Zain asked, his voice gentle but curious.

"Huh? Who? Sinu…?" Louanne replied, her words slurring just slightly, though she knew exactly who he was talking about.

Zain smiled knowingly. "Who else? Did you two run into each other?"

"’Di." Louanne’s response was short as she yawned, trying to hide how tired she felt. "Matutulog muna ako. Gisingin mo ko pagdating natin," she mumbled, sinking into the seat, her eyelids heavy.

"Okay," Zain simply responded, his gaze soft and filled with affection as he focused on the road.

Some time passed, and Zain gently nudged her awake. "Hey, babe. Wake up, we’re here," he said softly, brushing her hair away from her face as he spoke.

Louanne groggily rubbed her eyes and sat up straight. She glanced around, realizing that they had already arrived.

"Kanina pa ba tayo dumating?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Just now," Zain answered with a smile, though they’d been in the parking lot for nearly half an hour.

Louanne blinked her eyes and was about to get out of the car when she caught sight of someone walking past. A man in a white T-shirt and black pants was talking on the phone as he walked by.

"Andrei," she whispered, barely audible.

"Huh?" Zain asked, noticing the direction of her gaze and following it. He saw the man Louanne was staring at, and he felt a pang of unease in his chest.

"Andrei," Louanne repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "Andrei," she muttered again, her breath hitching in her throat. She rushed to open the car door, desperate to catch up with him.

But just as she stepped out, Andrei’s car pulled away, disappearing into the night. She felt her heart race, a mix of excitement and longing filling her chest.

Zain immediately rushed to her side, steadying her as she seemed on the verge of collapsing. "Babe! Are you okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Si Andrei, Zain! Nandito si Andrei, nakita ko siya," Louanne managed to say, tears welling up in her eyes. She turned to Zain, her hands trembling. "Bumalik na si Andrei," she continued, her voice shaking, her smile tinged with both joy and sadness. The tears she'd been holding back now spilled freely.

Zain held her tightly, not knowing what to say, unsure how to comfort her. The name Andrei filled him with a sense of dread, and for a moment, he felt as if his heart might break.

---

**Zain’s POV:**

After dropping Louanne off, Zain drove to his favorite bar. He needed some time to think, to clear his head. It had been a while since he’d been there, and tonight, he just needed to lose himself in the familiar hum of the place.

"Hey, bro! Something wrong?" Zack, his best friend and the bar owner, greeted him, spotting the tension in his posture.

"Hey!" Zain greeted Zack with a brotherly hug. "It’s been a while, kumusta kaibigan?"

Zack studied him for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Hindi mo ko sinagasot, may problema ba?"

Zain shook his head, forcing a smile. "Wala bro, gusto ko lang dumaan. Nasa area lang ako." He collapsed onto a couch, trying to shake off the heaviness in his chest.

Zack raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Yung paborito mo ba?" he asked, referring to the drink he was about to make for Zain.

Zain smiled faintly. "Iyon sana ang plano ko, but I’m driving so I can’t," he said, leaning back into the couch, exhaling deeply.

Zack tilted his head, studying him carefully. "Si Louanne ba?" he asked, his voice a little more serious.

Zain froze, surprised by the question. He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "I think I’m okay being just friends with her, even if we’re not together. I thought I was fine with it," he said, adjusting his posture. He sighed again, his thoughts spiraling. "Pero kanina, sobrang sakit makita siyang ganun, akala niya si Andrei ang dumaan."

Zack didn’t respond right away. Instead, he watched Zain, processing his words. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice calm but firm. "Mabuti pa ay itigil mo na yan, Zain. Kung masasaktan ka lang din naman, alam mo sa simula pa lang na kaibigan lang ang tingin sayo ni Louanne."

Zain winced, but he knew Zack was right. "Alam ko naman yun bro! Pero parang di ko pa kayang tanggapin kung magkikita silang dalawa at ako na lang ang matitira," he admitted, the weight of the truth settling on him.

Zack leaned forward, his tone more sympathetic now. "Mabuti pa ay humanap ka na lang ng makakasama mo sa habang buhay, Zain. Yung kayang ibalik ang pagmamahal na binibigay mo. You’re very successful at your age, kaya siguradong makakahanap

ka ng iba. Hindi lang si Louanne ang babae sa mundo. Bigyan mo naman ng chance yung iba para sa future mo."

Zain stared at his friend, his chest tightening. "Hindi ko pa kaya Zack. Masaya akong makasama si Anne, kahit walang kami, kahit hindi niya ako mahalin. Hayaan niya lang akong makasama siya, ayos na ako. Kailangan ko lang matutunang tanggapin na hindi ako ang para sa kanya. Hindi ko pa kayang i-let go siya. Hindi ko pa kayang hindi siya makita, hindi ko pa kayang hindi siya makausap, at hindi ko pa kayang humanap ng iba... not now."

The two of them sat in silence for a while, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. After some time, Zain sighed deeply, knowing that even though he was hurting, he had a long way to go before he could let go of Louanne.

When the night finally ended, he said goodbye to Zack, but the pain in his chest hadn’t gone away.