I woke up feeling raw.
My eyes were heavy from crying the night before, and my head throbbed faintly from lack of sleep.
Sebastian wasn't here.
It had been hard enough leaving him yesterday, but what happened with Aleine and Raphael in that office still clung to me like a second skin, making my chest tight and achy every time I thought about it.
I wasn't going to think about it.
I got up, showered, dressed in a pale beige silk blouse and black slacks, pinned my hair back in a tight low bun.
Neutral, professional, untouchable.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I could do this.
I had to do this.
Today i had a meeting with Mr. Ang—an important potential investor who could help fund our next expansion.
I needed to be focused.
No emotions.
Just business.
When i walked into the living room, I found Samuel sprawled on my couch with Sebi asleep on his chest. Kourtney sat cross-legged on the carpet, watching something on her phone.
They both looked up at me.
"Look at you, Boss Lady," Kourtney said, grinning.
"Shut up," I muttered, though i couldn't help the small huff of laughter.
Samuel raised his eyebrows, gesturing at Sebi. "We'll stay here today. Got no plans anyway."
"You sure?" I asked, even though i knew the answer.
"Duh," Kourtney drawled. "You think we're going to leave Sebi alone? You paying us in free WiFi and snacks. That's more than enough."
I rolled my eyes, biting back a smile.
"Alagaan niyo mabuti yan," I said, voice gentler now.
Samuel shifted slightly to keep Sebi comfortable. "Yeah, yeah. We know the drill. You act like we're going to sell him to a circus."
"He's too cute for a circus," Kourtney chimed in. "We'd keep him."
I shot them both a look and picked up my bag.
"Don't teach him any bad words."
"No promises!"
-
By the time i arrived at the coffee shop where the meeting was set, I was settled back into my CEO mindset.
Confident. Collected.
Ready.
I checked my watch before pushing the door open.
10:57 AM. Early! Good.
I was scanning the room for Mr. Ang when my eyes landed on a couple near the corner window.
My heart stopped.
Raphael.
And Aleine.
Her arms were looped through his.
She was leaning into him, head tilted as she laughed at something he said.
He was smiling, faint but there.
It felt like a physical blow.
A flash of heat shot through my chest.
I felt sick.
Stupid.
Of course.
Of course they were here.
Of course they were together.
I swallowed hard and forced my feet to move.
They saw me.
I saw Raphael's eyes flicker in recognition, his expression shifting immediately, eyes narrowing, mouth tightening.
But i didn't give him the satisfaction of stopping.
I lifted my chin, my heels clicking against the floor, and walked right past them.
If Aleine smirked, I didn't see it.
If Raphael called my name, I didn't hear it.
I found Mr. Ang waiting at a small table in the back.
He stood when he saw me.
"Ms. Araneta. A pleasure to meet you."
I smiled politely. "Thank you for meeting me."
We shook hands and sat.
I did my best to tune out everything else.
I launched straight into the pitch.
The new fragrance line.
The international orders.
The distribution deals in China.
He asked questions. I answered.
It was going well.
Until—
"Raphael!"
Mr. Ang stood up with a delighted laugh as Raphael approached the table.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
No.
No no no.
Raphael extended a hand. "Mr. Ang. It's been a while."
"I didn't know you two knew each other," Mr. Ang said cheerfully, gesturing between us.
My lips felt numb.
"We're...friends," Raphael answered smoothly, not even glancing at me.
Friends.
The word stabbed me right between the ribs.
I looked away, swallowing.
"Claudia," Raphael said flatly, acknowledging me with the barest nod.
I forced a tight smile. "Raphael."
I wanted to kill him.
I wanted to cry.
I did neither.
Mr. Ang was delighted at our "coincidence."
"So, dinner tonight," he said, clapping his hands together. "We should all go. I'm meeting with other investors. Come, come, both of you."
I tried to protest.
Raphael didn't even give me time.
"Of course," he said.
So i was trapped.
-
Dinner was at an upscale Filipino restaurant downtown.
I wore my best poker face.
I ordered a glass of wine.
Then another.
Mr. Ang was talkative and warm, the kind of investor who liked to make everything feel friendly, informal.
Other investors joined us at the long table, laughing, trading business cards, sharing plans for expansion.
Raphael sat two seats away.
He didn't say much.
He didn't need to.
His gaze kept finding me across the table, quiet and steady. I could feel it every time, like heat at my neck.
I tried not to look back.
I focused on Mr. Ang.
On the numbers.
On our launch timeline.
But my fingers trembled when i lifted my glass.
Mr. Ang eventually turned to me. "Ms. Araneta, how did you and Dr. Gutierrez meet? I don't think u ever heard that story."
My heart clenched painfully.
I tried to open my mouth, but nothing came out.
I felt Raphael watching me.
When i didn't answer, he spoke up, voice low and flat.
"We're friends."
I felt like someone had knocked the air out of me.
Friends.
Just friends.
I blinked rapidly, fighting the sting in my eyes.
I tipped the wine glass to my lips, finishing it in one swallow.
I needed something, anything, to dull this.
Mr. Ang nodded cheerfully, oblivious.
"That's good, it's important to have trusted people in business."
I could barely hear him.
All i heard was that word.
Friends.
My fingers tightened around the stem of the glass.
I motioned for another.
Raphael's voice cut in sharply.
"That's enough."
I didn't even look at him.
"I'm fine," I said, too brightly, teeth clenched in a smile.
"Claudia," he warned.
I lifted the new glass and drained half of it in one go.
"I said i'm fine."
The table went quiet for a second before the investors recovered, polite laughter resuming, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
But Raphael was still watching me.
The whole damn dinner.
And i kept drinking.
By the time it ended, my head was swimming and my legs were unsteady.
Mr. Ang shook my hand, still excited about our partnership.
"Wonderful meeting you. Let's set up a proper signing next week!"
I managed a polite smile that felt like it might crack my face in two.
I turned to leave, but the sidewalk spun under my feet.
Raphael caught my arm immediately.
"Let go," I slurred, trying to pull away.
"You're drunk."
"I'm fine," I snapped, though it sounded like a whine.
"You're not."
I tried to jerk away again, but i nearly fell.
He hauled me over to a bench and sat me down firmly.
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, trying to steady my breathing.
My head pounded.
The streetlights were too bright.
The laughter of the departing investors felt like nails in my skull.
"Claudia."
I ignored him.
"Claudia. Look at me."
I lifted my head slowly, vision blurry.
His face was tight, drawn with anger and something that looked too much like hurt.
I let out a wet laugh.
"Raphael... if you want to get married again... go ahead," I slurred.
He flinched, his jaw locking.
I pressed on, blinking tears away.
"Find someone nice. Sebi would... he'd like having a stepmother, right?"
He exhaled hard through his nose, looking away like he couldn't stand it.
His hands curled into fists at his sides.
"Claudia, shut up," he said hoarsely.
I blinked at him, confusion mixing with the wine haze.
"You and Eleine are actually perfect match.., I- i know she will be a good stepmother," I spat, my voice cracking.
He raked a hand through his hair, breathing hard.
"You don't get it."
"Then tell me," I demanded, though my voice trembled.
He stepped closer, looming over me, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"In five years of you being gone... you think i didn't try to move on?" His voice broke on the words. "You think i didn't want to forget you? You think i didn't hate you for leaving?"
My breath hitched.
He leaned in, voice shaking.
"You were it for me, Claudia. You."
I felt my face crumple, tears spilling over.
He cupped my face roughly, thumbs brushing the wetness away.
"Even when you broke me. Even when you left. I couldn't stop looking for you."
I let out a sob, shoulders shaking.
He didn't let me pull away.
"I hate you for leaving," he rasped. "But i never stopped wanting you."
Then he kissed me.
It was messy.
Desperate.
Tasted like wine and salt and years of pain.
I sobbed against his mouth.
He swallowed it all.
Held me tighter.
Finally he pulled back, both of us gasping, faces wet with tears.
He pressed his forehead to mine.
"Let's get you home," he whispered, voice cracking.
I nodded, too drunk and too exhausted to fight anymore.
He helped me to his car, buckling me in gently even as i slumped against the seat.
My eyes drifted shut as we pulled away, the city lights blurring past.
I felt the warmth of his hand on mine.
And for the first time in years, even as the tears still fell, I let myself believe just for a second, that maybe we weren't really over at all.