SIMULA
Samantha’s POV
“Almost His”
It was raining hard that night. The kind of rain that made the world feel heavier, like even the sky couldn’t hold back anymore.
Gavin was slouched on the couch, half-drunk, staring into nothing, a glass of whiskey dangling loosely in his hand. He looked... broken. And I hated that I couldn’t fix it, no matter how long I’d been trying.
I walked over with a blanket and gently placed it on his shoulders.
“Okay ka lang?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
He didn’t look at me.
“No, Sam. Hindi ako okay.”
His voice was low, bitter.
“She left. Cassandra left. For good.”
My stomach twisted. I knew this was coming I just didn’t know how much it would still hurt to hear it out loud.
“I’m sorry…” I whispered, sitting beside him, leaving just enough space so I wouldn’t tempt myself to close the gap.
“You know what hurts?” he said suddenly. “She chose her career. Again. She didn’t even fight for us. Years, Sam. Years kami. Tapos ganun lang.”
He took another swig. His hands were shaking.
“I can’t even hate her,” he laughed bitterly. “That’s the worst part.”
I watched him fall apart, just like I had watched him fall in love—with her. I was there for all of it: the way he looked at Cassandra like she was the only girl in the world. And even when she started pulling away, even when it was already hurting him, he held on.
Because that’s Gavin. He never lets go of what he loves.
And yet… here I am. Still here. Always here.
“You don’t have to hate her,” I said quietly. “You just have to let her go.”
He turned to me, finally. His eyes were red, tired, and drunk—but more than that, they were lost.
“Ang dali lang sabihin, ‘no? Paano ko gagawin ‘yon, Sam? She was my person.”
I wanted to tell him, “I could be your person too…”
But I didn’t.
Instead, I said, “Then let me stay tonight. Not as a replacement. Not as anything, really. Just someone who cares.”
He looked at me for a long time—longer than usual.
“Bakit ka pa nandito?” he asked, voice cracking.
And I knew I shouldn’t say it. I knew the moment I did, things would change. But I said it anyway.
“Because I love you, Gavin.”
My voice was steady, but my heart was shattering.
“Kahit alam kong hindi mo ako kayang mahalin pabalik.”
He didn’t say a word.
He just leaned in… and kissed me.
And I let him.
THE NEXT MORNING
The warmth of the morning sun touched my skin before I opened my eyes.
For a moment, I forgot where I was.
Then I turned… and saw him beside me. Asleep. Peaceful. Bare.
My breath caught.
Everything from last night came rushing back—the tears, the confessions, the touch. And suddenly, my chest felt too tight.
I sat up, pulling the blanket to my chest, watching him as he slept.
I should’ve left before the sun rose.
Because this… this was the moment I realized I wasn’t his.
I was just the girl he needed that night.
Not the one he loved.
And yet… I had given him everything.
Even if it meant losing myself in the process.
