Unchained Hearts

CHAPTER 1: Three Years of Silence

"Sometimes, moving on doesn't mean forgetting. It means learning how to live with the pain."

---

Tatlong taon na ang lumipas simula nang sabihin niyang hindi niya ako kayang mahalin.

Three years since I stood in front of him, baring my heart, only to have it crushed without hesitation.

Three years since I chose to disappear from his life.

At sa loob ng tatlong taon na 'yon, natutunan kong mabuhay nang hindi siya kasama.

Natutunan kong maging mas tahimik, mas malayo, mas hindi madaling basahin.

Pero kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas, may mga gabi pa ring bumabalik ang sakit. The ghost of that moment-the way he looked at me with indifference-still lingers in the corners of my mind.

I tried to move forward. I really did.

Pero bakit ganito? Bakit kahit anong gawin ko, parang may bahagi pa rin sa akin ang hindi makalaya?

I took a deep breath as I pushed the thoughts away. Hindi ko na dapat iniisip 'to. I had already left that part of my life behind.

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

Three Years Ago..

"Gab, may gusto akong sabihin."

The wind was cold that night, ruffling the hem of my white dress as I stood under the basketball court's lone streetlight. I gripped the hem tightly, trying to steady my trembling hands.

Gabriel stood a few feet away, spinning a basketball in his hands absentmindedly. "Hmm? Ano 'yon, Amber?"

His voice was light, as if he had no idea what was about to happen.

Pinilit kong lunukin ang kaba sa lalamunan ko. You can do this, Amberley.

I inhaled deeply before forcing the words out.

"Gabriel... mahal kita."

His hands stilled.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine, his expression unreadable.

"I know this is unexpected," I rushed to say, afraid of the silence stretching between us. "Pero matagal na 'tong nararamdaman ko. You're my best friend, pero hindi ko na kayang itago 'to. I just-I had to tell you."

I smiled nervously, waiting for him to say something-anything.

Pero hindi siya nagsalita.

And then, slowly, he exhaled, his grip tightening around the ball.

"Amber, ayoko. Hindi kita kayang mahalin."

Parang tumigil ang mundo ko.

I blinked. "What?"

His face remained blank, voice emotionless. "Hindi kita kayang mahalin, Amber. Best friends lang tayo."

Napalunok ako, pilit pinipigilan ang luhang namumuo sa mga mata ko. "Pero... bakit?" My voice cracked. "Gab, best friends tayo-akala ko..."

"Matagal na kami ni Trixie."

The final blow.

It felt like the ground beneath me had crumbled.

Matagal na sila?

All this time, habang ako, pinipilit pigilan ang nararamdaman ko, siya pala... siya pala, may iba nang iniibig?

I laughed bitterly, stepping back. "So... ako lang pala 'tong tanga, no?"

"Amber-"

"Hindi na kailangan, Gabriel." I forced a smile, kahit na pakiramdam ko gumuho na ang lahat sa loob ko. "Salamat. At least, ngayon alam ko na."

Then, without waiting for his reply, I turned around and walked away.

That was the last time I spoke to him.

That was the moment I lost not just my love, but also my best friend.

---

Nasa loob ako ng classroom sa St. John Academy, listening to our professor's discussion about market analysis. I was taking up BS Management, something my parents had decided for me. Wala naman akong ibang gustong course noon, so I went along with it.

Hindi ko masasabing masaya ako, pero at least, I wasn't miserable.

I was quietly taking notes when I felt my phone vibrate inside my bag. I ignored it at first, but when I saw Mom's name flash on the screen, something heavy settled in my chest.

A message.

Mom: Anak, umuwi ka pagkatapos ng klase. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Mom rarely sent messages like this unless it was something important.

May kaba akong naramdaman, pero sinubukan kong huwag munang isipin.

I forced myself to focus on the lecture, pero kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maalis sa isip ko ang text ni Mom.

Something was wrong.

I could feel it.

Pagkauwi ko, tahimik ang buong bahay. Wala ang usual na ingay ng TV, walang tunog ng radio ni Dad habang nagbabasa ng diyaryo.

Dumiretso ako sa living room, where my parents were waiting for me.

"Amberley, come sit down," my dad said, his tone serious.

I hesitated before slowly taking a seat across from them. "Anong nangyari?"

Nagkatinginan sina Mom at Dad, bago muling bumaling sa akin.

Then, my mother spoke the words that shattered everything I had built for myself.

"Magpapakasal kayo ni Gabriel."

I froze.

For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.

"What?" My voice came out in a whisper, barely audible.

My mom sighed. "It's your grandfather's arrangement. You and Gabriel-"

"No." I shook my head, standing up abruptly. "Mom, Dad, this is a joke, right? Please tell me this is a joke."

But the look on their faces told me otherwise.

My whole body went cold. Napaatras ako, hindi makapaniwala.

Of all people... bakit si Gabriel?

Ang lalaking minsang naging mundo ko. Ang lalaking minsan kong minahal—at sumira sa puso ko.

"Anak, I know this is sudden," my dad started, his voice laced with sympathy.

"No, Dad. You don't know. You don't understand." My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists. "Bakit si Gabriel? After everything?"

"We don't have a choice, Amberley," my mom said softly. "This is for the family. For business."

There it was again—for the family.

Laging gano'n. Lagi na lang kailangang isakripisyo ang nararamdaman para sa pamilya.

I wanted to scream, to run, to disappear.

Pero paano mo tatakasan ang isang bagay na hindi mo naman pinili?

The next day, Gabriel Montreal was standing outside my house.

I froze the moment I saw him.

Three years.

Tatlong taon mula noong huling beses kaming nag-usap nang masinsinan.

But he still looked exactly the same-tall, handsome, and effortlessly intimidating. His sharp features, his cold eyes... everything about him screamed untouchable.

Pero hindi na ako ang dating Amberley na magpapadala pa sa presensiya niya.

I lifted my chin and crossed my arms. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes darkened as he stepped closer, his jaw clenched. "This is your plan all along, wasn't it?"

This was my worst nightmare.

At sa kabila ng lahat, wala akong magawa para pigilan ito.

I was once again trapped in a fate I never asked for.