Aemie was jogging down the quiet street, lost in the rhythm of her steps, when a voice called out from behind. She glanced over her shoulder and stiffened—it was Jack.
"Hey… looks like you're alone. Where's your boyfriend?" His tone was casual, almost teasing.
"Uh… busy," Aemie replied cautiously, her mind racing.
"Then how about I take you out for a walk?" Jack suggested, flashing that familiar smile that had once disarmed her.
Aemie hesitated, a flicker of worry crossing her face. Philip wouldn't know… right? she thought. After a moment, she sighed. "Okay," she said, giving in.
They strolled side by side, the conversation light at first.
"I didn't know you'd change so much after we broke up," Jack said, his voice carrying a note of curiosity.
"Me too. When Philip came into my life, he changed me in ways I never expected. He taught me how to be brave," Aemie replied, her gaze distant, remembering how she had grown stronger with Philip's encouragement.
"Really? Seems like you really love him," Jack said, eyes narrowing slightly.
Aemie couldn't answer. Do I really love him, or is this just a crush? Her heart twisted at the thought, unsure of the feelings that had grown inside her.
"I regret breaking up with you," Jack admitted suddenly, his voice low but earnest.
Aemie's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him.
"I wish I had another chance to make things right," he said, his eyes fixed on hers, as if pleading.
Before he could lean closer, Aemie quickly stepped back. "I-I have to go now," she said, her voice trembling. Without waiting for a response, she left Jack standing there.
.....
Philip spent the entire day lost in thought, staring blankly at his computer screen. Aemie's face kept appearing in his mind, refusing to leave him alone.
"Man, if only clocks could talk—they'd probably complain about how long you've been thinking about her," Dos, his coworker, teased.
Philip adjusted in his chair, ignoring the jab.
"Hey… how do you know if you're in love?" he suddenly asked.
"Hmm… when you can't stop thinking about someone… when all you want is to be with them," Dos answered, grinning mischievously as he gave him a teasing look. "Don't tell me you're in love?" he teased further.
Philip shoved him lightly. "I'm not in love, idiot!" he snapped, walking away, leaving Dos scratching his head.
.....
Meanwhile, Aemie had just exited a coffee shop when Jack suddenly grabbed her arm.
"W-What are you doing?" she stammered, startled by his sudden appearance."
"Aemie… come back to me. Leave Philip," Jack said, pulling her into an embrace and pressing his lips to hers.
Aemie's eyes widened, her heart hammering. How dare he… she thought, shocked and furious.
Outside, Philip was driving when he saw the scene through the coffee shop window. His blood boiled. Without hesitation, he slammed the brakes, jumped out of the car, and stormed toward them.
He punched Jack square in the face. "Fuck you! How dare you kiss my girlfriend! Did you forget you cheated on her before?!" he shouted, fury burning in his eyes.
Jack clutched his mouth, blood trickling from Philip's blow. "Yes… I cheated, but I've changed. I'll win her back!" he spat, defiant.
Philip's fist tightened, ready to strike again, but Aemie grabbed his arm, her eyes pleading for him to stop.
"Tch. Stay away from her. If I catch you trying to touch her again, I swear I'll kill you," Philip growled, gripping Aemie's hand and pulling her away. Without another glance, he led her to his car, and they both climbed inside.
"Why are you with him?!" Philip's voice was a mixture of anger and hurt.
"H-He just… appeared…" Aemie tried to explain.
"Appeared? Or are you secretly meeting him?" Philip snapped, his chest rising and falling with anger.
Aemie couldn't answer.
"Have you been lying to me all along?! He already hurt you before, and now you're letting it happen again! Are you really that stupid?" Philip yelled, frustration consuming him.
"Don't call me stupid! I'm not falling for him again! And why are you even mad? You're not even my real boyfriend, so why do you care?!" Aemie shot back, tears welling in her eyes. She flinched at his words, her heart aching from being called stupid.
"Because you're being reckless—stupid even! Are you really that desperate for a relationship?" Philip shouted.
SLAP!
Aemie's hand struck his face.
"Y-Yeah…" tears streamed down her cheeks. "Maybe I am foolish… for trusting you, for thinking you were kind! What you said… it hurts… so much!"
Crying, she turned abruptly, storming out of the car without saying another word, leaving a heavy silence behind.
Philip slammed his hand onto the steering wheel, rage and guilt swirling together.
.
.
.
Days passed without Philip and Aemie seeing each other. He wanted to call her, to apologize, but every time he reached for his phone, doubt and pride held him back. He wanted to say sorry, but he didn't know where to start—or how.
Philip was lost in thought, sitting silently in his room, when a sudden knock on the door broke his concentration.
Opening it, he was greeted by the familiar, mischievous grin of his friend Eros.
"Yo, bro! Missed you," Eros said, flashing his signature wild smile.
"I didn't miss you, idiot," Philip replied flatly, rolling his eyes.
Eros didn't wait for an invitation—he strode straight into the house.
"I'm starving! Is there any delicious food here?" he said, heading straight for the kitchen.
"Don't eat everything," Philip warned, trying to maintain some semblance of order.
Eros, of course, ignored him, loading his bag with whatever he could from the fridge.
"You got problems, huh?" Eros asked casually, stuffing a piece of fried chicken into his mouth.
"None," Philip said tersely, focusing back on his thoughts.
"Sure, bro… I know you too well," Eros said, finishing the chicken and finally turning toward him.
Philip noticed he was holding some sort of strange book.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Oh, this? Just the diary of yours truly—the handsome me," Eros replied with a cheeky grin.
Philip groaned inwardly. Talking to Eros seriously had always been like hitting a wall. He's always unserious.
"I'm leaving now, bro," Eros said suddenly, walking toward the door.
Philip merely watched as Eros moved, but when his friend reached the threshold, he stopped and turned back.
"If you ever make a mistake, don't be afraid to apologize. Don't let your fear eat you alive," Eros said, eyes serious for once.
He took a step closer. "Follow what your heart screams at you. Always remember: feelings will always defeat logic," Eros said, and then, as if on cue, he began to sing:
"If you no longer understand..."
Philip's patience snapped. He grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it at Eros, who ducked just in time, letting it shatter harmlessly against the closed door. Philip shook his head. He really was surrounded by lunatics—but somehow, Eros' words stayed with him.
.....
Meanwhile, Aemie was lying on her bed when her phone rang. Seeing Philip's name on the screen, she hesitated, then answered.
"Hello?" she said cautiously.
"Aemie… we need to talk," Philip's voice was firm, unwavering.
"There's nothing left to talk about," she replied, her heart sinking.
"I'm not leaving your house until you speak to me… and forgive me," Philip insisted.
Aemie got up and opened the window. Outside, Philip was standing there, drenched from the rain.
"Go home, Philip," she said softly.
"I'm not leaving," he replied, his voice steady despite the storm.
"Do as you wish," she said, closing the window. But she had underestimated him—he remained outside.
As Aemie ate, the rain poured harder. She glanced out the window and was shocked to see Philip still standing there, soaked to the bone.
"Are you insane? Look at the rain! Go home!" she shouted.
"I told you, I'm not leaving until you forgive me," he shouted back.
Snatching an umbrella, Aemie rushed outside to him. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded.
"Because I love you…" Philip's voice cracked with sincerity.
She froze, her eyes widening in shock. Her heart skipped a beat. He… loves me? Really?
"Y-You… l-love me?" she whispered, her voice trembling, eyes locked onto his.
"Let's stop pretending… let's make this real," Philip whispered, pulling her into his arms. The umbrella slipped from their hands, leaving them both completely drenched.
"I'm sorry," he continued, his forehead pressed to hers. "I got jealous when I saw you with Jack. I loved you then, but I was too scared to admit it—afraid you'd reject me."
Aemie's eyes filled with tears as she hugged him tightly.
Knowing that he loved her too, there was no longer any denying it. From the very beginning, what started as a simple liking had grown into something deeper—she was in love with him.
"You don't need to apologize. I love you too, Philip. You changed me—you made me strong. I'm grateful you came into my life," she whispered.
Philip's heart soared. He pulled back slightly and kissed her, sealing their confession.
.
.
.
One day, Aemie felt a flutter of confusion when a man suddenly approached her, saying that Philip wanted her to come along. Hesitant, she followed, her steps unsure, until she found herself standing before a grand hotel. Inside the dimly lit function hall, the man vanished, leaving her alone, her heart beating faster with curiosity and a hint of nervousness.
Then, the lights flickered on, revealing a breathtaking scene—soft lights, elaborate decorations, and a violinist playing gently. And at the center, waiting for her, was Philip.
"What… what is all this?" Aemie asked, astonished.
"Aemie, I know we've fought and I've made mistakes in the past. But I promise you, from this day forward, my only goal is to make you happy," Philip said, stepping closer.
Then he dropped to one knee.
"I want us to take our relationship to the next level. Aemie… will you be my happily ever after?" he asked, presenting a sparkling ring.
Her eyes widened upon seeing the ring. Could it be that he wanted to marry her? To make her his wife?
She couldn't hide her happiness; tears of joy streamed down her face.
"Yes, Philip," she whispered, offering her hand.
Philip slid the ring onto her finger and pulled her into a long, tender embrace.
"I love you, Aemie," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly with emotion."I love you, too," she breathed, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness.
For a moment, they simply gazed at each other, hearts racing, until the world around them seemed to fade away. Slowly, they leaned closer, and their lips met in a kiss filled with longing, warmth, and everything they had ever felt for each other.
From a corner, Eros watched silently, a wide smile on his face. He grabbed some food and left quietly, giving the couple their moment.
.
.
Philip and Aemie got married. They were finally happy, having found true love without pretense, without fear—just each other.
.
.
.
The End.