Months later
Calix’s POV
Tahimik na nakatanaw si Calix sa labas ng kanyang office. Nasa 7th floor siya, iyon ang pinili niyang floor dahil araw iyon ng kanyang kaarawan.
Belle… Napapikit siya, halos ayaw banggitin ang pangalan. What happened to you?
Saglit siyang natahimik, pero agad din niyang pinutol ang sariling damdamin. No. Stop it. She doesn’t deserve your concern. She never valued me. Not even as a friend. Not even as someone worth saying goodbye to.
Napabuntong-hininga siya, mahigpit ang kapit sa upuan. What was I even expecting? That she would look at me… as what, exactly? A man she could rely on? A man she could choose? Pathetic. She already has a family. I should’ve known better.
Nagdidilim ang mga mata niya. Still… she could’ve at least been professional. One word. One go
