Chapter 43

Charlene’s POV
I didn’t know whether to feel happy or uneasy about everything that was happening that day. I was genuinely glad to finally see Enan again, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the tension—especially the way Kerill looked at him.
I had just found out earlier that Enan was now Monica’s husband—and worse, he was the very reason Kerill and Monica had fallen apart. The world really is small… and somehow, I found myself caught right in the middle of it.
We were at a restaurant near where we had been earlier. The three of us sat together, and honestly, it was a relief Monica didn’t come. Enan had convinced her to go home. I didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if all four of us were in the same place.
“How have you been, Charlene?” Enan asked.
I smiled. “I’ve been okay. You?”
“I’m doing fine. It’s been years, hasn’t it?”
“It really has. That’s why I went to Manila… I was hoping I’d find you here. You never came back to the province,” I said, unable to hide the faint sadness in my voice.
“I’m sorry,” he replied softly, reaching for my hand—until Kerill cleared his throat beside us while sipping his drink. Enan understood and let go.
“I’ve been busy these past few years. My dad passed away, so I had to take over the company early. Honestly, if I hadn’t visited your province back then, I wouldn’t have experienced what it felt like to just be a kid. I tried to find you online, but you didn’t seem to have any social media. I even planned to visit again, but something always got in the way. But… look at us now. We still found each other.”
He smiled warmly at me. He had changed so much. Gone was the thin boy I used to know—he looked more refined now, more confident… undeniably attractive.
If he weren’t married, maybe things would have been different.
Funny, isn’t it? I had once done everything I could just to find him. But now that he was right in front of me… it didn’t feel the same. He was still important to me—but something had changed.
“Careful,” he teased. “You’re staring.”
I laughed awkwardly and looked away, taking a deep breath.
“Oh—wait. I have something for you.” I opened my bag and took out something I had kept for years.
“Wow… you still have this?” he said, surprised as he took the handkerchief he had given me long ago.
“Of course. I kept it so I could return it to you when we met again.”
“Thank you, Charlene. For looking for me.” He held my hand again and pulled me into a hug. I was startled, but I didn’t resist. Instead, I hugged him back.
And for a moment… I wondered.
What if things were different? What if there were no complications, no people standing between us?
Would we have ended up together?
I knew the answer. I had liked him—no, I had loved him… once.
Maybe if I had found him sooner… I would’ve been the one by his side now.
“Are we done?” Kerill suddenly cut in.
Enan quickly let go of me. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
“I’m asking because my wife and I need to go home,” Kerill said coldly. “Our kids are waiting.”
“Wait…” I turned back to Enan. “Can you help us with the case? Maybe you could talk to Monica and—”
“Charlene.” Kerill’s voice turned sharp. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just asking—maybe he can help—”
“I don’t need help. Especially not from him,” he snapped. “Let’s go before I do something I’ll regret.”
He pulled me up forcefully.
“Ow—Kerill, that hurts!”
But he didn’t loosen his grip.
“Hey, don’t hurt her—” Enan tried to intervene, but Kerill cut him off.
“Stay out of our business. Go home to your wife.”
I had no choice but to follow as he dragged me out. The drive home was silent and tense.
The moment we stepped inside, I confronted him.
“What is your problem?” I demanded.
“My problem? Why don’t you ask yourself? Why did you even go with him?”
“He’s my childhood friend, Kerill! I’ve been looking for him long before I ever met you!”
“Oh really? Then go back to him—just like Monica did!”
“Don’t you dare compare me to Monica!” I snapped. “I went to him because I was happy to see him again! Why can’t you understand that? And earlier—I was just asking for help! What if he could actually help us? Don’t you want to win the case?”
“I told you—I don’t need anyone’s help. I can win this on my own.”
I froze. His words hit deeper than I expected.
“So… you don’t need me either?”
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.
“Because I’m jealous!”
I froze in place.
“I’m jealous, Charlene,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “Jealous because you smiled at him. Because you found him again… and I know how much he meant to you. I’m jealous because I’m afraid of losing you.”
He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“I’m scared he’ll take you away from me… just like he took Monica.”
He rested his head on my shoulder, holding me tightly.
“Don’t you trust me?” I asked quietly, turning slightly to face him.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed—not even after seeing him again. Yes, he’s important to me. But, Kerill… I love you. If you love me, then trust me. I won’t do to you what Monica did. All I’m asking for is your trust.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks without me realizing it.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I was just scared.”
He kissed my cheek gently.
“I love you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Kerill.”
I love you enough to choose you—again and again… even when it hurts.