The sound of airport announcements echoed faintly as Aries Frostel wheeled her luggage through the crowded terminal. She looked calm on the outside, but inside, her heart ached with a quiet longing.

It had been a month since she left for her business trip abroad, a project that kept her miles away from the man she secretly loved—Brylle.

They promised to keep their relationship hidden from their friends, to protect what they had until the right time came.

But now… time was slowly becoming their enemy.

Aries (texting):

“Hey, I just landed from another meeting. How’s your day?”

Minutes passed. Then hours. The “seen” mark appeared, but no reply came.

Every night felt colder. Every unread message became a wound.

On the other side of the ocean, Brylle sat in a café with Jasmine, a mutual friend of Devine. What began as harmless company slowly turned into something more dangerous—comfort.

When Aries stopped calling often, Brylle found himself laughing, smiling, and talking deeply with Jasmine.

And because no one knew about his secret relationship with Aries, Jasmine had no idea she was falling for someone already taken.

Brylle (softly, smiling):

“You always make things easier, Jas.”

Jasmine (laughs):

“You too, Brylle. You’re… different.”

While Brylle found warmth in Jasmine’s presence, Aries back abroad was fighting her own loneliness.

She missed him too much.

Too much that one night, she made a sudden decision.

Aries (packing hurriedly):

“I’ll surprise him. I’ll finish everything early and go home. He’ll be happy… right?”

But fate had other plans.

Aries returned earlier than planned. She told herself it was because of work — a project that needed her presence. But deep down, it was because of Brylle. She missed him. Missed their quiet talks, their secret glances, their laughter that only they understood.

She wanted to surprise him. Maybe they could fix whatever was breaking.

The afternoon sun was warm when she arrived at his apartment. The keys jingled in her hand, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. She took a deep breath, opened the door—

—and the world stopped.

There, on the couch, Brylle was asleep. Jasmine was beside him, her head resting on his chest. His arm was around her, holding her as if she belonged there.

Aries froze.

The suitcase slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Jasmine stirred but didn’t wake. Brylle’s arm only tightened around her, his face peaceful, unbothered by the heartbreak standing right at his door.

Aries couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt hollow, her eyes stung, but no sound came out.

She turned away silently, closing the door without a sound.

That night, she went home to her parents. When they saw her, their eyes widened in surprise.

Aries Mother: “Aries? Anak, what happened? I thought you’d be gone for three months,” her mother asked gently.

Aries only smiled weakly, tears threatening to fall. Aries: “Can I… stay for a while? Just a few days.”

But those few days turned into weeks. And when she finally spoke again, it was to ask for one thing.

Aries:“I want to take a break,” she said softly. “From work. From everything. I want to find myself again.”

Her parents looked at each other — worried but understanding. They loved her too much to ask questions she wasn’t ready to answer.

So when she asked to go abroad — this time not for business, but to heal — they agreed.

They helped her pack, hugged her tightly, and promised to keep her secret.

And when her friends asked about her sudden disappearance, her parents only said, “She’s away for business again. We don’t know when she’ll return.”

Spain was different this time. Not a place of work, but a place of silence.

A silence Aries didn’t know how to fill.

The days were long and heavy. She stopped smiling, stopped reaching out. Even food lost its taste. Eventually, her exhaustion became something deeper — a quiet kind of pain that medicine couldn’t fix.

A doctor told her she was suffering from depression.

It didn’t surprise her. It almost felt like she already knew.

The hospital was bright, too bright. The nurse who assisted her was kind, patient, and often spoke for her when she couldn’t find the words.

Her doctor, Alexander, was calm and soft-spoken — the kind of person who never rushed her healing.

He didn’t ask about the past at first. He just stayed.

Every time Aries cried, he waited. Every time she fell silent, he listened.

Little by little, she began to speak again — at first, just a few words. Then a few sentences. Then laughter, quiet and uncertain, but real.

Months passed. The shadows in her heart began to fade.

When Alexander told her she was ready to go back to her life, Aries smiled — a real smile this time.

But instead of returning home, she chose to move forward.

She relocated to Switzerland, where no one knew her name, where she could start over from nothing.

There, she built a life of her own — a coffee shop, a restaurant, and a small hotel, all designed with her own hands.

For the first time, she was not running from the past. She was walking toward her future.

It was a quiet afternoon in Switzerland when Aries met him again.

She was sitting by the window of her café, sketching a new design that refused to look right. Frustration was written on her face when a familiar voice broke through the silence.

“You seem to be in trouble again.”

Her head snapped up — and there he was.

Alexander, smiling, holding two cups of coffee.

“Alex?” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“Vacation,” he said simply. “I thought I’d see how you’re doing. You look… better.”

She laughed softly. “I am. Because of you.”

They spent the next few weeks together — walking through cobbled streets, talking about everything and nothing.

It wasn’t romantic, not really. It was comfort. It was peace.

When his vacation ended, Alexander returned to Spain. A month later, Aries followed — not because she couldn’t live without him, but because for the first time, she wanted to live again.

They stayed friends, exchanging calls and letters that carried no promises, only care.

Four years passed.

Aries had built a quiet, successful life. She was no longer the woman who cried herself to sleep. She had learned how to stand tall, even when the memories tried to pull her down.

Then one morning, her mother called.

A wedding invitation had arrived.

Miggy and Devine — two of her closest friends — were getting married.

Her heart skipped. She hadn’t seen any of them in years. She wasn’t sure if she was ready.

But when she heard Miggy’s voice on the phone, all the old laughter came rushing back.

Miggy: “Aries! You’re alive!”

Aries: laughs “Barely.”

Miggy: “Four years and not even a single visit? You owe us a lot of hugs.”

Aries: “Then I’ll bring double.”

Miggy: “You’ll come, right?”

Aries: “Of course. But… can I bring someone with me?”

Miggy: “Yeah, sure. Whoever it is, just be there.”

Aries: “Thank you, Miggy.”

When she hung up, she called Alexander.

Aries: “Want to go on a trip?”

Alexander: “To the Philippines?”

Aries: chuckles “You always know.”

Alexander: “For you? Always.”

Dingggg donggg... diinggg dooong...

The church bells rang loudly as people cheered and laughed. It was a joyful day — Miggy and Devine’s wedding.

And honestly, Aries was happy. Truly happy for them.

Aries: “Hi Miggy! Congratulations on getting married!”

They hugged warmly.

Miggy: “Thank you, Aries! I hope you won’t go home early, okay? I better see you at the reception.”

Aries: “Eh— I wasn’t planning to, okayyy.”

Miggy: “You think I don’t know you, huh?”

Aries: “By the way, you’re so lucky to be married to Devine — your longtime crush!”

Miggy: “Don’t change the subject!”

Devine approached, glowing with joy.

Devine: “Hi, Aries! Thank you for coming to our wedding!”

Aries: hugging her tightly “I should be the one thanking you — for marrying Miggy, for changing him, and for leading him to the right path!”

Miggy: “OA, OA!”

Devine: giggles “Oh, by the way, Brylle’s late again.”

Miggy: “Yeah, he said he’s picking up Jasmine.”

Aries: smiling faintly “Oh, really?”

She managed to sound casual, but a soft ache lingered in her chest.

Aries: Now, now, you two should go and entertain the others. Let’s meet at the reception, okay?

Miggy: Ar—

Aries: Yeah, yeah, I won’t go home early. Don’t worry. I’ll go meet the others. Byeee!

As they parted ways, Aries suddenly felt a sting in her heart.

Aries (to herself): (Brylle...)

Then she forced a small smile.

Aries (whispering): “I should forget about it now. Past is past. It’s been four years, Aries.”

moment later

Gia: “Eh, hey... is that Aries?”

Paulo: “Huh? Babe, did you say something?”

Gia: “Whoa, she’s changed so much these past few years.”

Audrey: “Oh yeah, I saw that girl the other day. She looked really familiar, so it was Aries, huh?”

Theo: “The heck—hey Carl, Steph! It’s Aries!”

Carl: still chatting “Huh? That witch! I haven’t seen her in forever—and she didn’t even tell us she’d be here!”

Linzel: “Oh, looks like she’s about to leave.”

Carl: “Let’s go, baby! Let’s go meet her!”

They ran toward her, waving.

Aries: “Hi.” She smiled faintly.

Just then, someone approached — calm and polite.

Alexander: “I came to get you, Aries.” He smiled, opening the car door for her.

Everyone froze, confused by the scene — especially by how refined and gentle this man was beside the once loud, carefree Aries they used to know.

Stephen: “Hey, bitch! Hahaha—long time no see!”

Alexander: “Umm, excuse me. I think you’ve crossed the line. Calling someone that is quite rude. Please mind your manners — we’re still outside the church.”

Everyone fell silent.

Stephen: “Oh, uh… bro, sorry.”

Carl: “Yeah, sorry. We didn’t mean to offend her. I’m Carl, by the way. Nice to meet you. And this is my girlfriend, Linzel.”

Linzel: “Hello, good to see you back again, Aries.”

Alexander: “I’m Alexander.”

Aries: “Nice to see you too, Sister Linzel.”

Carl: glaring

Aries: avoids his gaze

Paulo: “Oh? You won’t talk?”

Aries: “Hey guys, it’s been a long time, hahaha. My bad — I disappeared. I’m sorry, okay?”

Theo: “Good to know that you know it’s your fault.”

Alexander: “Arie, let’s go. You need rest.”

Carl: “Wait.” still glaring

Aries: “What?”

Everyone: 🤨

Aries: “If you keep glaring at me, I won’t know what you want, okay?”

Alexander: “Arie?”

Everyone: stares at him

Aries: sighs “Oh, Alex, come here.”

Alexander: “Okay!” well-behaved

Everyone (whispering): “Nickname for each other already? Looks like an obedient dog?”

Aries: “Everyone, it’s been a long time since we last met. I’m sorry I lost contact — life got busy.”( that was a lie..)

Carl: “We were busy too, but we still tried to reach out.”

Aries: “I know, I’m sorry. I planned to visit every summer, but my flights always got canceled.”

Paulo: “Reaaally?”

Aries: glares

Paulo: 😶

Gia: “Hahaha, so Aries, who’s that handsome guy beside you?”

Paulo: “Babe 😔”

Gia: “You’re more handsome, baby, don’t worry.”

Audrey: “You two look good together.”

Alexander: (We look good together?..) silent, lost in thought

Aries: “This is Alexander. I met him in Spain when I was… dealing with something. Back then... he helped me a lot. We became good friends.”

Stephen: “Oh, so he’s just a friend?”

Everyone: suspicious looks

Aries: “Yes, just a friend.” smiles “Anyway, it’s getting late. We’ll talk more at the reception, okay? I promise I won’t disappear this time.”