"Some betrayals fade. Some leave scars. And some? They change everything."
Renee hugged her arms as the evening breeze brushed against her skin. She should've been focused on the fading sunlight, the way the city lights flickered to life—but her thoughts kept drifting to Joey.
Alex pulled up beside her, stepping out of the car with a small, knowing smile. He didn't say much, just handed her a cup of coffee as they walked. The warmth seeped through her fingers, grounding her.
"I'm glad we talked," Alex said, his voice steady but soft. "I cherish our friendship more than anything. So don't feel sorry for me, okay? It's not your fault. We can't force our emotions."
Renee met his gaze, her throat tightening. His words were calm, but she caught the flicker of sadness in his eyes before he looked away. She wanted to say something—anything—but instead, she just nodded. Her grip tightened around the coffee cup as a quiet ache settled in her chest.
As they walked, Alex suddenly pulled her into a gentle hug. Renee stiffened for a moment before relaxing in his embrace.
I'm letting you go... he told himself. Not because I want to, but because you shouldn't have to force your heart. Still, I'll stay by your side—even as just a friend. That will be enough. This ache... it will stay with me forever. I want to tell you I love you, just once more. But instead...
A single tear slipped from his eye, but he quickly turned away, masking the pain with a small smile.
"I'll call you tomorrow," he said lightly. "Bye, Renee."
And before she could see the heartbreak in his eyes, he walked away.
Renee waved as Alex walked away, knowing there was nothing she could say to ease his pain. He would be fine—at least, that's what she told herself.
Lost in thought, she absently kicked a small pebble, sending it rolling down the sidewalk. A second later, a voice broke through her haze.
"Ouch... that hurts."
She kept her head down, too distracted to look up. "Sorry," she murmured.
"That's not okay, Miss Parker," the voice teased.
Her head snapped up. Joey stood a few steps away, watching her with an amused smirk. Her face grew hot.
"I—I'm sorry," she stammered.
Joey crossed his arms, pretending to look serious. "Hmm... now you have to make it up to me."
Renee blinked. "How?"
"Ice cream," he said instantly, grinning.
She couldn't help but laugh, the weight in her chest lifting just a little. "Fine,"
Joey chuckled. "Sure, sure. Let's go before you change your mind."
After buying their ice cream, Renee and Joey strolled toward home, enjoying the quiet moments between them. Their smiles lingered, warmth settling in the air around them.
"So, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Joey asked, taking a bite of his ice cream.
Renee licked her spoon before answering. "I'll be home. My sister is coming tonight from the States after years—I finally get to see her."
Joey nodded. "Oh, let me know if you can make time for me."
She hiccuped, caught off guard by his words. Before she could respond, they neared her aunt's house, where her family stood outside, waiting excitedly. A sleek car pulled up, its headlights cutting through the dim evening light.
The door opened, and out stepped Rose—elegant, outspoken, and every bit the beauty queen she had always been. The years had done nothing to dull her confidence. Her eyes landed on Renee first, but as she took a step forward, her gaze shifted—to Joey.
A slow, knowing smile crept onto her lips.
Joey froze.
Renee, overwhelmed with joy at seeing her cousin, was about to rush forward—until she noticed Rose walking straight toward Joey instead.
Their eyes locked.
"It's been a long time," Rose said, her voice soft yet laced with something unspoken. "I missed you."
Joey's grip on his ice cream loosened. It slipped from his fingers, hitting the pavement with a dull splat. Without a word, his jaw tightened, and he turned on his heel, walking away—anger radiating off him.
He didn't look back.
Renee stood there, stunned, her mind scrambling to make sense of what had just happened.
Before she could react, Rose linked her arm through Renee's, gently guiding her inside. The house filled with warmth and chatter as the family welcomed Rose home, but for Renee, the night stretched on endlessly, her thoughts trapped in the moment Joey walked away.
As the night stretched on, Renee lay awake in her room, sharing the space with her younger cousin, Jeremy. Curiosity gnawed at her, and after tossing and turning, she finally turned to him.
"Jey, what's up with Rose and..." she hesitated, "the boy who lives across from us?"
Jeremy propped himself up on one elbow, blinking sleepily. "Joey?" he asked.
Renee nodded.
"Oh, he's her ex," he said casually. "They were in a really serious relationship. The families liked each other too—it was practically a done deal."
Renee's stomach twisted. "Then... what happened?"
Jeremy yawned, stretching. "She wanted to study more and go abroad. Joey wanted to wait, but long-distance didn't work out. And..." He hesitated before leaning in slightly. "Let me tell you a secret—but don't tell anyone."
Renee's pulse quickened. "What?"
Jeremy lowered his voice. "She cheated on him once."
Renee shot up in bed. "What?!" she nearly shouted.
Jeremy shushed her frantically, glancing at the door. "Keep it down!"
She whispered harshly, "Does he know?"
Jeremy nodded. "Yeah. He found out, and they broke up after that. But she never really got over him. And now..." He exhaled. "She's back—to get married."
Renee's mind spiraled.
She couldn't process any of it—Joey's anger, Rose's return, the buried past suddenly unraveling before her. It was too much. Her thoughts tangled into a mess, refusing to make sense.
Her brain wasn't braining.
She could neither hear, see, nor sleep.
As the sun rose, Renee sat by the window, staring blankly outside. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, her body slumped like a lifeless doll. Sleep had never come.
Dragging herself to the bathroom, she freshened up, but the exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. She joined her family at the breakfast table, but her mind remained elsewhere. Her gaze lingered on Rose, thoughts swirling in a storm of questions and disbelief.
Rose noticed. "Everything okay?" she asked, raising a perfectly arched brow.
Renee hesitated before muttering, "I don't know."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked back to her room, shutting the door behind her. Her hands trembled slightly as she grabbed her phone and called Diana.
The moment Diana picked up, Renee spilled everything—Joey, Rose, the past, the betrayal, and the confusion clawing at her chest.
Diana listened in stunned silence before finally saying, "We need to talk. Come over."
Renee exhaled. Her own house suddenly felt too crowded, too suffocating.
"On my way," she whispered, grabbing her things and heading out.
"Mom, I'm staying over at Diana's place tonight," Renee said, grabbing her bag.
Her mother gave her a concerned look. "Be careful."
Renee barely nodded before heading out, her mind too restless to focus. Her mother sighed, watching her leave. "What's wrong with her?" she muttered to herself.
The car ride was a blur. Renee leaned her head out of the window, letting the wind hit her face, hoping it would clear the mess in her mind. But the confusion only grew.
By the time she reached Diana's flat, her thoughts were tangled beyond reason. Diana, who lived alone, opened the door before Renee could even knock.
"I talked to Max," Diana said the moment Renee stepped inside. "He was shocked too—he never expected her to come back."
Renee sank onto the couch, rubbing her temples. "Why, though? Why does she have to be my sister?"
Diana crossed her arms, studying Renee. "Wait... you moved on, right? So why is this affecting you so much?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you hiding something?"
Renee froze.
Renee exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Alex and I were never in a relationship," she admitted.
Diana raised a brow. "Then why does everyone assume—"
Renee cut her off, recounting everything—the party a few days ago, the unexpected moment with Joey, Alex's reaction, and the mess of emotions tangled between them all.
By the time she finished, Diana sat there, wide-eyed. "What the hell..." she muttered.
Renee sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. "Yeah."
For a moment, they both just sat in silence, trying to process it all.
Diana finally spoke. "Let's wait for Max and see what he says."
Renee nodded. Maybe, just maybe, Max would have some answers—or at least a different perspective on the storm raging inside her.
Diana leaned back, shaking her head. "Dude, your timing is always off. First, it was Helen, and now it's your sister? Will you and Joey ever just be?"
Renee let out a dry laugh, but it faded quickly. "Did Joey even respond after that?"
Before Diana could answer, Renee's phone rang. She glanced at the screen—Mom.
She answered. "Hello, Mom?"
Her mother's voice came through, brimming with excitement. "Renee! Your sister's wedding is fixed—with the boy across from us!"
Renee's breath hitched.
Joey.
"It was already decided by both families," her mother continued, oblivious to Renee's silence. "Isn't this wonderful?"
The phone slipped from Renee's hand, crashing onto the floor.
Her chest tightened. Her vision blurred.
She barely registered Diana's voice in the background. The room felt smaller, like the walls were closing in.
Joey. Marrying Rose.
Her mind screamed for her to move, to do something, to say anything.
But all she could do was sit there, gripping the edge of the couch, as a single, terrifying thought echoed in her head—
Is this really the end for us?