Skiez's POV
The hallway was dim, too quiet, like even the air knew something heavy was about to be said. Sky's fingers trembled in mine when she started, and I felt my whole body lock up.
"My mom… she left me on a street when I was nine," she whispered.
Nine? The number hit me like a punch. Nine years old and abandoned on a street? Who does that to their child?
Charlie snorted. "What kind of monster misses their kid's face? Whoever she is, I'm volunteering to throw rotten fruit at her. Violently."
Sky's lips twitched at his chaos, but she kept talking. "I waited and waited because I thought she'd come back. I thought she'd… want me."
She waited. My chest squeezed painfully. She actually believed her mom would come back for her. She still wanted her. Damn it, Sky… you shouldn't have had to hope for scraps of love.
"And then… someone found me. I was hurt that night."
The words were simple but heavy. She didn't explain more, but my jaw clenched so tight I felt it ache. Hurt. Someone hurt her. At nine. Nine. If I ever— no. No words are big enough for what I'd do to that person.
Charlie's voice cracked with fury: "If I ever meet whoever did that, they'll regret ever being born. Permanent graffiti on their forehead."
I wanted to say the same, louder, meaner, but I stayed quiet. Because if I open my mouth now, I'll scare her. And she doesn't need my rage — she needs someone steady to listen.
"They brought me home," Sky went on, softer. "My tita Jessica and Tito River. They wrapped me in blankets. They… they actually adopted me after my dad left with Air. They raised me like their own. Their older son was twenty-one when I was nine — he treated me like his little sister."
Relief surged through me, breaking the tight knot in my chest. Thank God. Someone loved her. Someone made her feel safe.
Charlie, ever the idiot, clapped once. "Adoption badge unlocked. Tito River, you're my hero. And the 21-year-old? Top-tier kuya energy."
I couldn't help it — a ghost of a smile pulled at my mouth. Charlie was loud and ridiculous, but every stupid word of his was cutting through the weight pressing on her.
"My dad came back later… not for me. For Air." Her voice cracked. "He wanted Air in China. I begged him not to take my kuya. I clung to him, I cried, I screamed — and he still left with him."
He didn't even look back for you? My stomach churned. He left you twice. First your mom, now your dad. And you were only nine. How did you even survive that kind of emptiness, Sky?
Charlie scowled, his voice sharp. "Unacceptable parenting. I'd have chained myself to the car if I were you. Roll the whole thing if I had to. What a joke."
Sky's mouth twitched — half a laugh, half a sob. That small laugh lit something in me. She's breaking but she's still here. She can still laugh, even if it's bitter. That's strength I don't even understand.
"My tita and Tito loved me like I was theirs," Sky whispered. "My cousin protected me. My lola told me I was safe. And… when Air came back at eighteen, he told me he never wanted to leave. That Dad forced him. He still calls me his little star."
Something burned in my throat. Air came back. At least someone came back. Someone chose her. That matters. God, that matters.
Charlie whooped. "Ta-da! The prodigal kuya returns. Medal for Air. Sandwich too. He's earned it."
Sky let out another shaky laugh, and this time it softened her eyes.
She's still here. After everything, she's still here. And she's letting me hear this… me. She trusts me with the darkest pieces of her. How am I supposed to hold that and not break?
The silence stretched. I finally managed, "You didn't deserve any of it. Not the leaving, not the hurt, not being chosen last. You didn't deserve to be left."
Her hand tightened around mine, and I swear I felt the weight of her whole past in that one squeeze.
Charlie clapped her shoulder, grinning too brightly. "Well, you've got us now. And trust me — we're too annoying to leave. Consider yourself stuck with chaos and broody boy over here."
I leaned my forehead against hers, just a touch. You'll never be left again. Not while I'm here. I'll make sure of it.