For the rest of the meal, Lara focused on eating, forcing herself to ignore the warmth that had briefly settled in her chest. It was dangerous-this fleeting, foolish hope. She reminded herself over and over: It wasn't real. It was never real.
Her mother continued chatting happily, occasionally directing questions at Lucas, while Lara's father remained quiet, eating in his usual composed manner. Lucas barely responded beyond polite nods, but that didn't seem to dampen her mother's enthusiasm. Lara, on the other hand, felt like she was just going through the motions, her body present but her heart elsewhere.
She barely tasted the food. She wasn't even sure if she was full, but she forced herself to swallow bite after bite, anything to keep her emotions at bay.
When the meal ended, they moved back to the living room. Her father, uninterested in conversation, pulled out his iPod and leaned back in his chair, paying them little attention. Her mother, on the other hand, looked content, chatting about various things. Lara knew her mother's heart was full today, and if nothing else, that was enough for her.
A few minutes later, Lucas glanced at his watch. "I should get going," he announced, his voice as indifferent as ever.
Lara's mother's face fell, disappointment flickering in her eyes. "So soon? You barely spent any time here."
Lucas, ever the actor, gave her a small smile. "I'll visit again soon, and I promise I'll stay longer next time."
Lara's stomach twisted. She knew better than to believe him.
Her mother sighed, though she nodded in understanding. "Alright, but don't make me wait too long for that next visit."
"I won't," he said smoothly.
Lucas turned toward her father. "I'll be going now, Sir."
Her father barely spared him a glance, simply nodding in acknowledgment while scrolling through his iPod. Lucas didn't seem to mind the lack of enthusiasm as he stood and adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves. It was nothing surprising. Their relationship had always been distant, and Lucas had never made an effort to change that.
"I'll walk you out," Lara said softly.
Lucas said nothing, but he didn't stop her either.
As they stepped outside, the crisp afternoon air did nothing to ease the heaviness in Lara's chest. Lucas strode toward his car, his posture relaxed, indifferent-as if this was nothing more than a routine visit, as if nothing had changed.
And of course, nothing had changed.
Yet, despite knowing that, she still found herself reaching out. Just as he was about to open the car door, her fingers caught the fabric of his sleeve, the smallest touch, barely there-hesitant, uncertain.
Lucas stopped mid-step. His gaze flickered downward, landing on where her fingers clutched his sleeve before shifting up to meet her eyes. His expression remained unreadable.
Realizing what she'd done, she quickly let go, forcing a small, awkward smile. "Thank you for coming," she said, her voice soft, ignoring the way her chest tightened. "My mom was really happy to see you."
Lucas's expression remained unreadable. "It's nothing," he replied, his tone cool. Then, without missing a beat, he added, "Just don't get the wrong idea."
Lara felt the sharp sting of his words, like a needle piercing through her chest. Even though she had expected it-even though she knew all of this was just an act-hearing him say it so bluntly still hurt.
She swallowed down the lump in her throat and forced herself to nod. "I won't," she said, pretending the ache in her chest wasn't there. "I know it was just an act. I just wanted to thank you for playing along."
Lucas didn't respond. He didn't need to. The indifference in his gaze was enough.
Lara exhaled softly before shifting the topic. "You don't have to stay out late tonight," she said, looking away. "I'll be staying here for the night."
For a brief second, something flickered in Lucas's eyes-too quick for her to catch. But then, just as swiftly, his expression returned to its usual indifference. "Do whatever you want." he said simply.
Lara wasn't sure what she had expected him to say, but his apathy still left a hollow ache in her chest.
She took a step back, giving him space. "Drive safe," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked toward the house. Her steps felt heavier than before, but she refused to look back. At least, she told herself not to.
But the moment she heard the sound of Lucas's car engine starting, she couldn't help it. She turned just in time to see his car disappear down the road.
Even when it was out of sight, she stood there for a few seconds longer, her heart aching with a pain she had no right to feel.
Tearing her gaze away, Lara inhaled sharply, swallowing down the emotions threatening to consume her.
She stepped back inside the house, closing the door softly behind her. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness in her chest.
Her parents were still in the living room, sitting together on the couch. Her mother was leaning against her father, watching something on his iPod, her expression one of amusement. Her father, looked more focused, occasionally adjusting his glasses as he scrolled through the screen.
Sensing her presence, her mother looked up. "Lucas already left?" she asked.
Lara nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah. He just left."
Her mother sighed, shaking her head. "I wish he could've stayed longer. But of course, it's always about the company." She frowned slightly before adding, "It reminds me of before-when your father used to do the same thing."
At that, her father scoffed, setting his iPod down as he turned to his wife. "Don't compare me to that man. I knew how to make time for my family."
Lara's mother rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. There were times when you barely came home too."
"And yet, I'm still far better than him," he shot back, crossing his arms. "At least I know when to put my family first. Work is important, but not at the expense of my wife and kids."
Lara knew her father's words were true. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for them. Even when she was a child, she had never felt like she came second to his work.
Her mother exhaled, clearly not in the mood to argue. "Fine, fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "You win this one." Then, turning back to Lara, she asked, "Anyway, are you staying?"
Lara nodded. "I was actually planning to stay the night. I'll leave tomorrow morning."
Her mother's face instantly lit up. "Really? That's great! It's been a while since you spent the night here."
"I thought you'd be happy," Lara said with a small smile.
"Of course I am! At least now, I can have my daughter all to myself for a bit."
Lara chuckled at her mother's enthusiasm.
She sat down with them, relaxing into the couch as her mother excitedly started chatting about different things-what she had been up to, the neighbors' gossip, and even some funny stories from her cooking club. Her father would occasionally chime in with dry remarks that made her mother playfully swat his arm, making Lara laugh.
Then, out of nowhere, her mother's expression brightened as if she had just remembered something exciting.
"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you-I saw Duke yesterday at a restaurant."
Lara blinked in surprise. "Duke?"
Her mother nodded eagerly. "Yes! I ran into him while I was having lunch with some of my friends." She sighed dramatically. "Oh, that boy still looks as handsome as ever. No-actually, he looks even more attractive now! He has this mature aura about him. Very different from when you two were still students."
Lara smiled at her mother's reaction. It wasn't surprising. Duke had always been a charming person, and her mother had been fond of him since their college days.
Lara chuckled. "You always did like Duke,"
"Of course! He was always so polite when he came over. I don't understand why you never gave him chance."
Lara chuckled, shaking her head. "He's just a friend, Mom."
Her mother waved a hand dismissively. "Well, you might see him that way, but you should still invite him over. I miss talking to him. He always knew how to keep up with me."
Her father snorted. "I doubt anyone can truly keep up with you."
Her mother ignored him and turned back to Lara. "I'm serious, dear. You should invite him over sometime. It'd be nice to catch up."
Lara laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll reach out to him."
Her mother clapped her hands together in satisfaction. "Good. I'll look forward to it!"
Lara just smiled.
After chatting with her mother for a while, Lara excused herself and headed upstairs to her old bedroom.
As soon as she stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Everything was just as she had left it before she got married. The soft pastel walls, the neatly arranged books on the shelf, the familiar scent of lavender lingering in the air-it was as if time had stood still in this space.
Her gaze wandered to the familiar digital photo prints decorating the wall across from her bed. A small smile tugged at her lips as she walked closer, tracing the edges of the pictures with her fingers. Most of them were of her with Ali and Duke. They were snapshots of their college days-laughing at cafes, posing in front of random places, pulling silly faces at the camera, celebrating birthdays together.
She let out a soft chuckle. Those were good times.
Shaking off the bittersweet feeling creeping into her chest, she walked to her closet and pulled out a set of comfortable clothes. She grabbed a towel and headed straight for the bathroom, eager for a warm shower to clear her mind.
The hot water felt soothing against her skin, washing away the exhaustion of the day. As she let the steam envelop her, she found herself thinking about Lucas again-about the way he had coldly reminded her not to get the wrong idea, how he left without a second glance. She knew she shouldn't care. She knew she had no right to expect anything from him. And yet, the familiar sting in her chest reminded her that some wounds weren't so easy to ignore.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she finished her shower, changed into her fresh clothes, and towel-dried her hair. Then, she climbed onto her bed, leaning back against the headboard with a sigh.
Reaching for her phone, she unlocked the screen and absentmindedly opened Instagram.
Her fingers hesitated for a second before typing a familiar name into the search bar. Eievan Duke Sandejas.
It had been a while since she last checked his account. She used to visit it from time to time, just to see how he was doing, but life had gotten too busy lately.
As soon as his profile loaded, she noticed several new posts. Duke looked the same yet different-his features sharper, his style more refined. Most of his pictures were taken abroad, often with groups of people, many of whom seemed to be foreigners.
Her eyes skimmed through the photos until one person caught her attention.
It was one particular man.
He appeared in several of Duke's posts, standing beside him, laughing in candid shots, or posing casually in scenic locations. His presence was striking, commanding even through the screen.
Lara narrowed her eyes, taking in his sharp features. Handsome wasn't a strong enough word to describe him. His chiseled jawline, tousled dark hair, and striking green eyes made him almost unreal. There was something effortlessly magnetic about him, an aura of confidence that made it impossible to look away.
Her lips parted slightly. God must have taken extra time creating this man.
She chuckled at the thought, shaking her head. Compared to Lucas, this man had an entirely different aura-there was something both effortless and untouchable about him.
Curiosity piqued, she tapped on one of the pictures, reading the caption Duke had written, but there was no mention of the man's name.
Lara debated for a moment before deciding not to overthink it. She backed out of the profile and mindlessly browsed through Instagram reels, letting the random videos play one after another. The light from her phone screen flickered across her face, but her eyelids grew heavier with each passing second.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
With a soft sigh, she placed her phone down beside her and let her body sink into the familiar comfort of her bed. Her childhood bed. A place where she once felt safe, where she used to dream of a future filled with love and happiness.
Before she knew it, sleep pulled her under, and for a little while, the weight in her heart felt lighter.
•••
A series of knocks pulled Lara from her sleep.
She groggily opened her eyes, blinking as she adjusted to the dim lighting in her room. Through the window, she saw that night had already fallen.
How long did I sleep?
She reached for her phone beside her and and squinted at the screen. 6:43 PM.
Another knock.
"Lara, dinner's ready," her mother called from the other side of the door.
Lara stretched, running a hand through her tousled hair before sluggishly getting up. She padded toward the door and opened it, revealing her mother standing there with an amused look.
"Did you just wake up?" her mom asked, giving her a knowing look.
Lara stifled a yawn. "Mmm... yeah."
Her mom chuckled, shaking her head. "Come on, let's go eat. Your brother actually came home early for once."
That made Lara perk up. "Really? Kuya Levi's home already?"
"For the first time in ages," her mother said dramatically.
Lara chuckled as she followed her mother downstairs. When they entered the dining area, she spotted Levi already seated at the table, lazily scrolling through his phone. At the sound of their footsteps, he looked up, his usually serious face softening into a rare smile.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to join us." Levi smirked. "Hi, sleepyhead."
Lara rolled her eyes as she pulled out a chair. "Hello to you too, Kuya."
As soon as she sat down, he reached over and ruffled her already-messy hair, making it even worse.
"Ugh, stop it!" She swatted his hand away with a glare.
Levi chuckled. "I'm just making sure you really woke up."
Their mother, watching the scene with a fond smile, sighed wistfully. "I missed this," she said, smiling. "Why did you two have to grow up so fast?"
Levi leaned back in his chair with a lazy grin. "So we could finally escape your nagging."
Lara snorted as their mother gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? Nagging?"
Levi nodded solemnly. "Yes. Years of suffering. 'Levi, fix your posture.' 'Levi, eat your vegetables.' 'Levi, stop ignoring your sister-'"
"That last one was very necessary," Lara interjected with a smirk.
"I take offense to that," Levi said, placing a hand over his chest in mock hurt. "I was the perfect older brother."
Lara scoffed. "You literally forgot to pick me up from school twice."
Levi shrugged. "That's a minor detail."
Their mother shook her head at them. "You two are impossible." But despite her exasperated tone, there was warmth in her eyes.
Lara smiled to herself. For the first time in a long while, she felt home.
•••
After dinner and some lighthearted chatting with her family, Lara returned to her room.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, willing sleep to take over. But sleep refused to come. It wasn't surprising-she had already taken a long nap earlier in the afternoon.
With a sigh, she sat up and ran a hand through her hair. Might as well get something to drink.
She made her way downstairs, padding softly toward the kitchen. As she entered, she paused, surprised to find Levi sitting at the counter, lazily swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.
He glanced up at her arrival and smirked. "Can't sleep?"
Lara walked closer, leaning against the counter. "Nope. You?"
Levi chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. ""Guess we're both night owls tonight." He then raised an eyebrow. "Wanna join me?"
Lara considered it for a moment before pulling out the stool next to him. "Sure. Why not?"
Levi stood up, grabbing another glass from the shelf. He held up the bottle of whiskey and gave her a teasing look. "Think you can handle this?"
Lara scoffed, crossing her arms. "What do you take me for, Kuya? A kid? Of course, I can."
Levi chuckled. "We'll see about that." he said as he poured a drink for her, sliding the glass across the counter.
Lara picked it up and took a sip. The strong, burning taste immediately made her wince, but she quickly covered up her reaction.
Unfortunately, Levi saw it and immediately burst into laughter. "Yeah, real impressive."
Lara shot him a glare. "Shut up. It's just been a while."
"Sure, sure." Levi smirked, taking another sip from his glass.
They sat in comfortable silence, nursing their drinks. The quiet hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the kitchen.
After a few moments, Lara's curiosity got the best of her. She turned to him and asked, "So... why are you drinking alone? Something on your mind?"
Levi merely shrugged. "Nothing important."
Lara narrowed her eyes at him. "Liar."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "It's a woman, isn't it?"
Levi's hand paused briefly before taking another slow sip of his drink.
Bullseye.
Lara grinned. "Oh my god. I knew it."
"You don't know anything," Levi muttered.
"That's exactly what someone hiding something would say." Lara leaned closer, eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, tell me-what kind of woman is keeping my dear Kuya up at night?"
Levi snorted and shook his head. "You should worry about your own love life. It looks way more problematic than mine."
Lara pouted. "It's not."
Levi raised a brow. "Oh, really?"
Lara's smirk faltered slightly. "Of course."
Levi's expression shifted, turning more serious. He put his glass down and met her gaze. "Do you really think I don't know?"
Lara stiffened, her fingers tightening around her glass. "What... do you mean?"
Levi leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter now. "Lucas and I live in the same world. It's impossible not to hear things about him." His jaw tightened. "And as your brother, it's only natural for me to know who my little sister married."
Lara swallowed, suddenly feeling uneasy.
"Did you... have him investigated?" she asked carefully.
Levi didn't answer immediately. He simply pick up his glass took another sip of his whiskey before saying, "Let's just say I know more than you think."
Her heart pounded. She didn't want Levi to know how miserable her marriage really was. She didn't want him to find out that Lucas loved another woman, that she was nothing more than a neglected, unwanted wife.
She looked at him hesitantly. "Kuya..."
Levi sighed and reached over, ruffling her hair like he used to when they were younger. His touch was gentle, reassuring.
"Don't worry," he said. "I won't tell Mom and Dad. And I won't interfere with your decisions." His voice was gentle but firm. "But, Lara... you don't have to put up with this. You don't have to stay in that marriage if it's making you suffer. You're free to walk away. It won't affect us. It won't affect the company."
Lara looked down at her drink, gripping the glass tightly. "I... can't." she whispered. "Not yet."
Levi exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's your choice." he said, clearly frustrated but unwilling to push her further.
Then, after a beat of silence, he suddenly muttered, "Honestly... I'd rather you end up with that Sandejas guy instead."
Lara blinked. "Huh?"
Levi took another sip and smirked. "Duke. I'd much prefer him over Lucas."
Lara stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Kuya!"
Levi only shrugged. "What? He's a good guy."
Lara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still chuckling. "You're ridiculous."
He gave her a pointed look. "I'm just saying-he's the better option."
Lara just shook her head, choosing not to respond and continued sipping her whiskey.
After sharing a couple more drinks with Levi, Lara felt the liquor slowly taking effect. A warm buzz settled over her, making her limbs feel heavy and her thoughts a little sluggish. She wasn't drunk, but she was definitely tipsy. And sleepy.
Suppressing a yawn, she turned to her brother. "I'm heading to bed." she mumbled, pushing the glass away.
Levi smirked. "Already? Lightweight."
"I'm not a lightweight," she insisted, though the slight slur in her words betrayed her.
Levi chuckled. "Sure. Go to bed before you embarrass yourself."
She rolled her eyes but stood up anyway. "Goodnight, Kuya."
"Yeah, yeah. Try not to fall flat on your face on the way there." he teased.
Lara scoffed, waving him off before heading back to her room.
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she let out a deep sigh, her body sinking into the mattress. Sleep should've come easily, but instead, her mind wandered-to Lucas.
The thought of him sneaked in like an uninvited guest. Was he home yet? Was he sleeping? Or was he still out? Maybe... with her?
Her chest tightened.
She turned to her side, frowning at the ceiling. This was stupid. She shouldn't care. She shouldn't wonder. But here she was, fighting the urge to check.
After a moment, she caved.
Grabbing her phone, she checked the time-11:48 PM.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitation creeping in. She knew she shouldn't. She knew she was only setting herself up for disappointment, but whether it was the alcohol or her own foolishness, she clicked on their messages and typed:
Lara: Did you get home safe?
She stared at the screen, watching the message turn "Delivered" but not "Seen."
Seconds passed. Then minutes. No response.
She frowned.
Maybe he was asleep? Or maybe he was ignoring her. Again.
Lara bit her lip, debating, before sending another message.
Lara: Are you asleep?
Still nothing.
Her frustration bubbled up. Why was she even doing this? She knew he wouldn't reply.
And yet-
Lara: Are you sleeping?
Lara: Lucas?
Lara: Hellooo?
Lara: Are you ignoring me?
Lara: I miss you.
Lara: Are you really sleeping?
Lara: I really miss you, honey.
She sent seven messages in a row before flopping onto her back with a groan. This was embarrassing. She should stop.
Then, just as she was about to put her phone away, it vibrated.
Lara's eyes widened when she saw Lucas' name on the screen.
She sat up so fast she nearly knocked her pillow off the bed and quickly opened the message.
Lucas: Are you drunk?
She blinked. Huh?
How did he know?
Frowning, she quickly replied.
Lara: No. I just drank a little.
She barely had time to overthink before another response came.
Lucas: It sure doesn't look like "a little." You can't even type properly.
Lara gasped in offense. She could type properly! Right?!
Panicking, she scrolled up to check her messages.
They looked perfectly fine to her.
Lara: I m nat drynk anf I cn tipe perfctlu fne.
She hit send, feeling satisfied.
Lucas responded almost immediately.
Lucas: ...Right. Very convincing.
Lara frowned, rereading her text. It still looked okay to her. What was he talking about?
Determined to prove him wrong, she straightened up, squinting at her phone as she typed more carefully.
Lara: I am not drubk. I only had a few drinks.
She hit send, proud of herself.
Lucas: Drubk?
Lara narrowed her eyes.
Lara: DRUNK! That's what I said.
Lucas: No, you didn't.
She groaned, feeling irrationally annoyed. He was focusing on the wrong thing!
Lara: Why are you even arguing with me??
Lucas: Because you texted me more than seven times in a row, at midnight, and now you're insisting you're sober when you clearly aren't.
Lara scoffed.
Lara: I'm sober.
Lucas: Right. You're totally sober.
Lara squinted at her screen. Was he... laughing at her?
Lara: I AM!!!
Lucas: Sure. And pigs can fly.
She snorted. She hated that he was kind of funny when he was being a jerk.
Lara: You didn't answer my question.
Lucas: What question?
Lara: Did you get home safe?
There was a long pause. She stared at her screen, waiting, wondering if he'd reply.
Finally, his response came.
Lucas: Yes. Now go to sleep, idiot.
Lara smiled, satisfied.
Lara: Good. Goodnight, husby. Dont stay up too late.
She didn't wait for his response before locking her phone and curling up under the covers.
Lucas, on the other hand, stared at his screen, frowning at her last message.
Husby?
He shook his head, exhaling through his nose.
She's definitely drunk.