Amara barely remembered leaving the office. The coffee she had meant to make sat forgotten on the break room counter. Her bag hung limply from her shoulder as she drifted through the streets like a ghost. Amara didn't recalled how she called a cab to ride to Mr. Navarro's house.
She didn't even realize when the cab pulled up to the familiar iron gate. She paid the driver mechanically, clutching her small purse against her chest as she stepped out into the cool evening air. The house before her glowed warmly under the setting sun, its windows casting soft, welcoming light across the quiet garden.
It had always felt like a second home to her.
She wished it didn't hurt so much to walk toward it tonight.
Kael's words from earlier at work still cut through her like shards of glass, sharp and cruel no matter how many times she told herself not to cry anymore.
"She's not my type."
"She kind of looks like a country bumpkin."
"She's too timid, gloomy even."
The phrases repeated in her mind like a curse, each one slicing through her chest.
That morning, she had floated on air, her heart soaring with the promise of a future she had always longed for. She'd greeted her co-workers, smiled freely, and hummed as she worked, believing that tonight would mark the beginning of something beautiful.
But now she knew—none of it had been real.
Kael didn't see her the way she saw him. He didn't love her. He didn't even think of her as a possibility.
To him, she was nothing more than the quiet, awkward girl. A childhood friend. A familiar shadow who had followed him for years.
Amara's chest tightened, splintering with every step she took toward the Navarro estate.
But tonight wasn't about her pain.
It was about Mr. Navarro, Kael's grandfather. He didn't know what Kael had said earlier, didn't know the sharp truth Amara now carried like a dagger in her heart. Mr. Navarro had always been so kind to her, treating her like family.
She couldn't bear to disappoint him—or worse, cause tension between him and his grandson.
So Amara squared her shoulders, took a steadying breath, and forced her trembling lips into something resembling a smile before ringing the doorbell. She would play her part.
Even if it destroyed her from the inside out.
Mr. Navarro greeted her warmly, as he always did.
"Amara, my dear!" He beamed, holding the door wide.
"Come in, come in! Dinner's nearly ready." Mr Navarro led her to the dining room.
It was warm and inviting.
A long wooden table dominated the room, laden with Mr. Navarro's favourite dishes: honey-glazed roasted chicken, buttery garlic vegetables, and a rich beef stew that filled the air with its savoury aroma. The low golden light of the chandelier gave the room a cozy glow, wrapping it in a false sense of comfort.
"I was beginning to wonder if work had trapped you." He teased.
Amara bowed her head politely, forcing a small smile to her lips. "No, sir. I'm sorry for being a little late."
"Nonsense, you're right on time." His large, weathered hand patted hers affectionately. "Come, sit. Kael should be here shortly."
The mention of Kael's name sent a painful jolt through her chest. She inhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing heart, and took the seat to Mr. Navarro's right.
For a moment, there was only the soft clinking of dishes as Mr. Navarro poured wine for the both of them.
Then, the front door swung open, and a familiar voice called out, "Grandpa! Sorry I'm late."
Amara's breath caught as Kael appeared in the doorway, his tall, lean figure framed by the light behind him.
Even now—after everything—her heart betrayed her.
Kael was as effortlessly handsome as ever, his dark brown hair slightly tousled from the wind, his warm smile lighting up the room. His presence had always been like a sunbeam breaking through clouds.
When his gaze fell on her, he smiled the same easy, familiar smile he had worn since childhood. "Hey, Amara."
"Hello, Kael," she replied softly. Her voice was steady, though it felt like her throat was filled with shards of glass.
Kael kissed his grandfather on the cheek before settling into the chair across from Amara. "You look great tonight, Grandpa."
"Flatterer," Mr. Navarro grumbled, though his eyes twinkled with pleasure. "Now sit. The food won't stay warm forever."
Dinner began smoothly.
They spoke of ordinary things: neighbourhood news, updates about the business Kael helped manage, amusing anecdotes Mr. Navarro shared from his youth.
Amara said little, as she always did, answering questions politely but never volunteering her own thoughts. It was her natural rhythm, and no one suspected anything was wrong.
But inside, she was unravelling.
Kael's laughter, his gentle teasing, his familiar voice—they were once the sound of home, the sound of safety. Tonight, they were daggers, stabbing at wounds that hadn't even begun to heal.
She kept her eyes on her plate, afraid that if she looked at him, he would see the truth in her expression.
Then, when the plates were nearly empty and the air was thick with the scent of food and firewood, Mr. Navarro cleared his throat.
"I've been thinking," he said casually, as though he were about to comment on the weather rather than change both their lives.
Kael glanced at him curiously. "About what, Grandpa?"
Mr. Navarro's sharp eyes softened as they flicked between Kael and Amara. "About the two of you.
"I want you two to be engaged," He declared, his voice firm and brimming with certainty. "I've seen the bond you share. Amara is like a granddaughter to me already, and I want to make it official. Nothing would make me happier than to see the two of you build a future together."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding.
Amara's entire body went cold.
Kael stared at his grandfather in shock. "Engaged?"
"Yes," Mr. Navarro said, leaning forward eagerly. "It's the natural next step. You're both of age, you've known each other forever, and Amara is a remarkable young woman. She's kind, loyal, and dependable—everything a man could want in a wife."
Kael dragged a hand through his hair, clearly overwhelmed. "Grandpa, I… I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?" Mr. Navarro's brow furrowed.
Kael hesitated, then turned his gaze to Amara. "Amara is… she's very important to me, but she's like a sister. I've never thought about her that way."
The words sliced through Amara like a blade, but she didn't move.
Her hands clenched in her lap beneath the table, hidden from sight.
Mr. Navarro waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. Many strong marriages are built on friendship first. Affection can grow with time."
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief. "Grandpa, this isn't just about practicality. Marriage is a serious commitment. I can't agree to something like that when I don't feel that way about her."
"Then learn to," Mr. Navarro said sharply.
Kael shifted uncomfortably. "Grandpa, I'm serious. Amara's wonderful, but this isn't—"
"I won't hear excuses." Mr. Navarro's tone sharpened, his eyes glinting. "I want this for both of you. It would make me very happy."
Kael looked helplessly at Amara then, silently begging her to speak up, to tell his grandfather this wasn't what she wanted either.
But Amara… couldn't.
Her lips parted, but no words came. Because some foolish, aching part of her still wanted it to be true.
So she looked away.
Kael's eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
The realization hit him hard: she wasn't denying it.
She wasn't going to save him from this conversation.
She wanted it.
And Kael—who had always known, on some level, that Amara cared for him—felt cornered in a way that made frustration spark in his chest.
"Grandpa," he said tightly, his voice hardening, "this isn't happening. I told you—I don't see her that way."
"Kael Navarro," Mr. Navarro snapped, his tone full of warning.
But Kael had lost his patience. He pushed back his chair, standing abruptly, his jaw tight as he turned to Amara.
His hazel eyes blazed with anger she had never seen in them before.
"Was this your idea?" he demanded.
Amara's heart lurched. "No," she whispered, shaking her head—but the words were too soft, too late.
Kael let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."
And then he walked out, his footsteps echoing down the hall, the front door slamming shut behind him.
The room went very still.
Mr. Navarro's face darkened, his hands curling into fists on the table. "That boy—so ungrateful! If his grandmother were alive, she'd box his ears for the way he talks to me!"
"If he doesn't come to his senses, I'll make the announcement myself. I'll tell everyone you're engaged, and he'll just have to live with it." He continued.
"No!" Amara blurted, startling him. Her eyes filled with tears she could no longer hold back. "Please don't do that. I… I don't want to trap him into something he doesn't want."
"Nonsense," Mr. Navarro snapped. "He's too blind to see what's good for him. You're perfect for each other. I've known you since you were a child, Amara. There's no one I trust more to look after him."
"Sir," Amara said softly, her voice trembling as she tried to calm him, "please… don't be angry. He has the right to decide his future. If Kael doesn't want this, then…" Her throat tightened. "…then it shouldn't happen. I don't want to force him to be with me."
Mr. Navarro stared at her for a long, tense moment. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he said.
"Six months. Give me six months of your time. Try to let your feelings grow naturally by staying together in one house. If Kael still doesn't want it, I'll never mention it again." Mr. Navarro still trying to convinced her.
Amara stared at him with a heavy heart. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to get hurt more. Because she knew Kael would never love her even if they would stay in one place. However looking at his pleading tired eyes, she nodded her head.
She walked home alone under the cold stars, her steps slow and heavy.
Six months.
Six months of pretending her heart hadn't been crushed tonight.
Six months of watching Kael avoid her, maybe even hate her for what he thought was her scheme.
Her chest ached with every thought, every memory of his angry glare.
She had dreamed for so long about being with him, about tonight being the start of something beautiful.
Instead, it had ended in ruins.
Kael didn't love her.
Maybe he never would.
And the truth of that settled over her like ice as she finally reached home, her heart splintering silently in the dark.