Chapter 17: "The Space Between Us"
1591 Words
Weeks passed.
Alex hadn’t shown himself again.
Erika didn’t try to reach out either. She wanted to give him the space he needed. She knew he was still furious with her—and any attempt to make things right too soon would only make things worse. She had accepted her mistakes and was willing to do anything to earn his forgiveness. But more than anything, she knew Alex needed time alone. She would give that to him, even though every part of her missed his presence—missed him so painfully it ached.
The nights dragged on. She spent them praying, hoping the pain would subside and things would change. More than anything, she longed to see her best friend again. She missed Alex so much it hurt to breathe.
Just like the previous Saturdays, she woke up late. She trudged downstairs without an appetite, barely noticing the smell of pancakes wafting through the kitchen.
Her mom was by the stove, flipping pancakes. She knew they were for her.
Her mom had never confronted her about what had happened. She only watched silently, as though waiting for the right time. Some mornings, she would simply hug her daughter or kiss her forehead—quiet acts of comfort. Pepper suspected her mom could see how broken she was inside. But she couldn’t bring herself to open up. Not yet.
“Oh? Why aren’t you dressed? Aren’t you going to see Alex off?” her mom asked, her voice gentle.
Her brows furrowed. Alex?
He doesn’t want to see me, she almost said. But… see him off? Where?
“Did you forget he’s leaving for the States today?” her mom asked softly. “I even reminded you last night.”
Her chest tightened. She had been so lost in her thoughts last night she hadn’t heard a word.
Only then did she notice her mom was already dressed to leave.
“Sweetheart, weren’t you listening when your Aunt Dinah told us their plans? Alex is flying out today.”
Why didn’t you tell me, Alex? she thought, her heart constricting painfully.
“I—I’ll go!” she exclaimed, her voice breathless.
She didn’t care that she was still in her pajamas, hadn’t washed her face, hadn’t brushed her hair. She just ran.
Out of breath, she reached Alex’s house. The housekeeper greeted her warmly, but she didn’t stop to return the greeting—she rushed inside. The living room was empty. Panic surged through her. Her heart pounded in her ears as she sprinted up the stairs.
Relief washed over her when she saw him in his room, packing his things.
She didn’t care about anything anymore—not her appearance, not the sweat clinging to her skin. She was just glad she wasn’t too late.
Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him from behind. He froze at her touch. He didn’t move. For a moment, she thought he would peel her arms away and push her out.
Alex, I love you... she whispered, her tears soaking into the back of his shirt.
Alex was stuffing the last of his things into his bag. His heart felt hollow. The anger he had clung to for days had numbed him. He wanted to escape. Because if he stayed, he’d go mad.
Every day, he fought the urge to run to Pepper’s room and hold her. She messed with his emotions more than anyone ever could. How was it possible to love and hate the same person at the same time?
He hated what she did. He hated how small she made him feel. He wanted her to feel the way she had made him feel. And yet, every time she cried, every time she looked at him with those broken eyes, he had to fight the overwhelming urge to take her into his arms and soothe her.
He was tired. Tired of battling himself. Tired of loving someone who didn’t love him the same way. Tired of being the one who always lost.
So when his father said that he will only allow him to marry Erika if he agreed to study law in the States, —he accepted. No protests. No questions. He just wanted the pain to stop. He could give anything just to stop hurting. He wants to escape reality for once. He could choose not to marry her but even when he's this mad, he still cares about her. He still loves her. He just needs a time off.
He’d chosen the only escape he could find.
He wasn’t surprised when she showed up. What surprised him was how fast she could undo the walls he’d tried so hard to build.
“Do you hate me that much?” she asked softly, her voice trembling. “That you would leave without even saying goodbye?”
He felt her tears through his shirt. His jaw clenched, his eyes stinging.
He should push her away. But she was already melting his anger again.
“What can I do to make you forgive me?” she asked, her voice shaking.
He couldn’t answer. The lump in his throat was too thick.
“I will miss you, Alex. Before everything, I was your best friend. I still am. Even if you see me as cunning, manipulative, selfish—I’m still the girl who has loved you her whole life. I hope someday, you’ll see that again. I’ll wait for you, Alex. No matter how long it takes. I’ll wait for you to come back. And I’ll keep hoping things will return to the way they were.”
Then she tightened her arms around him as if letting go would kill her. And she cried—cried like she was already mourning him.
Just when Alex turned around to finally hold her—
She pulled away and ran.
He caught a glimpse of her tear-streaked face as she fled down the hall, and something inside him cracked.
“Damn it!” he muttered, grabbing fistfuls of his hair, torn between chasing after her and letting her go.
He stormed downstairs, ready to follow her.
“Where are you going?” his father asked, stepping out of his room.
“Pepper,” he said breathlessly.
“But your flight’s in an hour. You’ll miss it. Get your luggage.”
“Just one minute—”
“You can’t miss that plane, Alex. I spoke to Gino. They’ll be at the airport. Come on.”
With no choice, he turned back and grabbed his bags.
He was breathing hard, her tears still damp on his back. Did she really mean what she said? Or was it just a friendly goodbye?
He didn’t know anymore. His mind was a mess.
Suddenly, a warm hand squeezed his.
“You’ll be okay,” his mother whispered, tears in her eyes. “I still can’t believe my baby boy is all grown up.”
“Mom,” he groaned. “We agreed—no dramas.”
“I can’t help it. You’ll always be my baby.”
His father, watching them in the rearview mirror, just shook his head.
“You better take care of her,” Alex told him quietly.
“I always do,” his dad replied.
“You better. I’m keeping my end of the deal.”
His father gave a rare, almost-smile. “Thank you.”
Alex turned to him, surprised. His father never thanked him. “You’re… welcome?”
Their conversations were always stiff. Even when he learned Lance was his half-brother, his father barely said a word. It was business, always business. Alex didn’t ask questions. He didn’t have the strength to care anymore.
At the airport, Pepper’s parents—Uncle Gino and Aunt Mushroom—were waiting. But not Pepper.
“Pepper wanted to come, hijo,” said Uncle Gino. “But she’s not feeling well.”
“Thank you,” Alex said, unable to hide the disappointment on his face. He tucked the small package she had sent into his bag.
“Take care over there,” his uncle said, handing him a calling card. “This is my cousin Dianne. Don't hesitate to call her if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Uncle Gino ruffled his hair. At times, Alex felt more like his son than his own father’s.
When his flight was called, he hugged his mom tightly. She teared up again, and he tried to joke around to lighten the mood, though his chest was heavy.
“You take care,” his dad said, pulling him into a rare embrace. He patted him on the shoulder. “You made me proud with this decision, son.”
Alex froze.
It was the first time his father had ever said that.
For a fleeting moment, his choice felt right.
He moved toward the check-in counter. The plane was boarding. He turned back, waving at his parents one last time.
His eyes scanned the airport desperately.
He searched for a familiar face—her face.
Please, Pepper. Please be here.
But she never came.
His vision blurred as he stepped onto the plane.
That was when it hit him.
He was really leaving her.
And it shattered something deep inside him.
“First time flying, sir?” the stewardess asked with a kind smile.
He shook his head. “I’m fine,” he replied, even though he knew he looked pale.
He was leaving Pepper.
And he already missed her more than words could ever say.
- Writer
