Clark lay sprawled on a beach towel, his head resting on Angela's lap while the wind played with the sand around them. In his hand was Paul Nicholas's small sand bucket. Not far away, Darius was giving their son—Angela's and his—some water.
The two men was in silence. But it wasn't tense. It wasn't awkward. The usual feeling that they had to watch every word or movement was gone.
A moment later, Clark handed the bucket to Darius.
"Here you go, bro. Better keep this—your kid might dump sand on my face again," he said, making Angela laugh.
Darius smirked as he took the bucket. "Our kid, right?" he replied with a playful eye roll, but there was laughter in his tone.
Clark nodded. "Yeah. Our kid."
Silence again.
"Thanks, bro," Darius said. "I know all of this wasn't easy for you."
Clark looked at him. "If you really love your kid—your family—why would I be mad? That's all in the past. I don't want any more drama."
Darius nodded. There was nothing else to add.
No hugging. No emotional speeches. But in the silence between them, there was respect. Friendship. And most of all, a slow, steady healing.
***
That afternoon, Darius was annoyed as Lance and Andres teased him endlessly. Ever since Clark and Angela got married, the group had been spending more time together—something they never expected after everything that had happened.
"Oh, come on! You two never stop messing with Darius," Kitty said, shaking her head.
"He's acting like a teenager!" Lance teased, referring to the woman they'd met at the grocery store.
"You guys are ridiculous! It was embarrassing. She just asked for directions!" Darius protested while unpacking their groceries.
They were in San Diego, vacationing after Paul Nicholas's birthday celebration. After a whole day of fun, they decided to head to the beach. But according to Lance and Andres, it was time to find Darius a girlfriend.
"You're acting like a high schooler," Kitty whispered, making Angela laugh.
"What was that?" Darius asked.
"Nothing," the two women replied in unison, stifling giggles.
"Dude, it was obvious that girl liked you," Lance said. "She was making a move. Lost people don't smile like that."
"Exactly! You just won't admit it," Andres chimed in.
"What's going on here?" Clark asked as he arrived from his mother's house carrying plastic containers.
He walked over to Angela and gently kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose before setting the containers on the counter. It no longer hurt Darius. The sting was gone—what remained was friendship and trust.
He was happy now. Content. Paul Nicholas's arrival had changed everything.
"We're just teaching Darius how to read signs from girls," Andres teased. "He's still clueless."
"Really? You?" Clark said, raising an eyebrow. Everyone burst out laughing.
Clark understood why Darius wasn't ready for a new relationship. Elle had left deep wounds—it wasn't easy to trust again.
But he didn't blame him. A lot had changed between them. They were more open now. Closer. And through all the teasing and quiet moments, Clark could feel the real peace between them.
***
Months passed. As summer faded, life kept moving. This time, it was Andres's wedding keeping the group busy. Clark was one of the busiest helping hands.
"Wow!" Lance exclaimed after hearing Andres's love story.
Andres shared that he first saw his bride outside the university library where they all used to study.
He recalled the memory again.
"Too bad," he'd said then, watching the girl walk away. "She's cute. But I don't stand a chance next to you, bro."
Clark just shook his head. "Then help her. Go. Run after her."
Andres shook his head too, smiling. "You and your dramatic exits. But me? I want a girl who falls for me even before she knows me. So that even if she sees you, she's already mine!"
***
"Who would've thought, right?" Andres said. "We were just classmates at U—Darius and I in MedTech, and you and Angela, pharmacy addicts."
"Hey!" Clark interjected. "Not all addicts are in Pharmacy."
"And me," Kitty chimed in. "Psych major surrounded by lunatics."
"And I was in Architecture. Just got dragged into all this by fate," joked Lance, and everyone laughed.
Andres never expected to see the girl again—until they sat next to each other on a flight back to the Philippines. What started as stolen glances became a conversation. Before they knew it, the whole flight from San Francisco had flown by. And the rest, as they say, was history.
Today was their wedding day.
Clark had just arrived at the reception. He let Angela ride with Kitty so she wouldn't get bored.
At the reception, while everyone was busy eating and chatting, Donna nudged Andres, holding two glasses of champagne.
"Hon, don't forget your promise," she whispered, placing a glass in front of him. "You'll introduce my cousin to your friend, right?"
Andres glanced at Darius, who was chatting with Clark and Angela at the next table. He was smiling effortlessly—dazzling even.
"Sure. Later," Andres replied with a grin. Deep down, he hoped she'd be the right one for his friend.
"Really?" Donna smiled, pleased with her husband's reaction.
Then Jenna arrived, visibly excited. "So, where's that friend of yours?" she asked eagerly.
Donna gave Andres a look and gestured—time for the introduction.
But before Andres could move, Donna beat him to it. She was even more excited than her cousin.
"Darius, this is my cousin, Dr. Jenna. OB-GYNE. The one I said is like my twin," she introduced.
Darius didn't react as expected. He froze in his seat, the glass of water meant for his son still suspended in the air.
"Daddy!" a small, irritated voice snapped him back to the present.
Even Angela was surprised, but she quickly composed herself.
She and Clark exchanged a knowing glance and smiled, as if they saw this coming.
Darius smiled at Jenna and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Doc."
"Same here," Jenna replied with a smile. "I've heard a lot about you from Donna and Andres."
After that moment, Darius and Jenna crossed paths again in the hotel hallway.
"Hey, can we talk?" Jenna couldn't believe it was Darius she ran into—just as she was hurrying back to her hotel room where someone was waiting.
"Uhm," she hesitated, unsure of what to say.
This was the first time they'd seen each other since that night years ago, when a drunken Darius, reeling from what had happened with Angela, was helped home by her.
Driven by her longing for the man she had secretly loved for years, Jenna had manipulated the moment so something would happen between them—hoping it would lead to a chance.
But the next morning, her peaceful sleep was shattered by Darius's disgusted reaction.
Jenna felt his rejection in her bones—how he looked at her with contempt and shame. She couldn't bear it. The pain made her promise to forget him.
To do so, she transferred schools and followed her cousin to San Francisco. Months later, Jenna found out she was pregnant—with Darius's child.
"Just when I was ready to forget you, I found out there was a life growing inside me. You're impossible to love... and even harder to forget," she sobbed to herself.
"You don't need to worry, cuz," Donna had comforted her. "If he doesn't want to be in your life, it doesn't mean you can't keep the baby. Don't worry. I'll be here. We'll handle this together."
***
Back in the hotel hallway, Darius and Jenna faced each other again. A hesitant silence stretched between them as they approached. Darius carried a glass of water; Jenna held the hand of a little girl who slowly let go and wandered on her own, excited by the new surroundings of the beach.
Jenna stopped a few steps from Darius. Her face showed anxiety, like she had something to say but didn't know how to begin.
Darius was silent. His eyes locked on the girl. Light-skinned, curly-haired, with a sharp nose—she looked like a blend of them both. A memory he tried to forget hit him like a slap.
"Is… Is she—?" he asked in a whisper, unable to finish.
"She's your daughter."
Three words. They thundered in Darius's chest. The world around him fell silent—except for the pounding of his heavy heart.
***
"Darius... about last night—"
He cut her off. "This is what you wanted, right? Now you can leave. You got what you wanted," he said coldly, eyes full of disdain.
***
"I'm so sorry," Jenna whispered.
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I was scared. I didn't want to ruin your life. That's why I hid it. You helped me stand again—but I learned to stand on my own."
Darius looked at the child, now picking up candies in the hallway. Silence again before he spoke.
"Does she know?"
"Not yet. She grew up with me. With my family. I didn't want to disrupt her world… or yours."
"Then why did you bring her here?"
"To see you," Jenna said, her voice almost a sigh.
Darius nodded, still holding the glass of water. He approached the girl and knelt in front of her.
"What's your name?" he asked gently.
"Daria Amelie," she answered, smiling like she'd just found peace.
"Daria Amelie…" Darius repeated, carving every syllable into his heart. "That's a beautiful name."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Darius smiled. He didn't correct her. Not yet. But in his heart, he knew—one day, she'd call him 'Daddy.' And he was willing to wait.
They began getting to know each other. Darius introduced Paul Nicholas to the daughter he shared with Jenna, Daria Amelie.
Everyone was shocked. No one saw it coming—except Angela. She had always known something happened between them.
From violent storms to gentle waves, Clark's heart had learned to be still. Darius had learned to accept. And between them, though no formal pact was ever made, a friendship had formed—unshakable.
The wounds were no longer as deep.
Peace had come—not as a climax, but as a quiet gift.
The End.