After a long day at the studio and his friendly dinner date with Janine, Jake lay on his bed, phone in hand. He thought he could finally rest, but a post suddenly appeared on his feed. It was from Jayvee.
A simple caption:
"Dinner well spent ✨"
paired with a picture of food and the silhouette of two glasses of juice.
Jake frowned.
Jake (POV, thinking):
"Dinner well spent… so I was right all along about them…"
He noticed Jayvee's story. Out of curiosity—but mixed with jealousy—he clicked it. What he saw only fueled his suspicions: a candid shot of Aya, smiling, fork in hand.
Jake's eyes widened. He didn't know what to feel—shock, irritation, or fear.
Jake (muttering under his breath, with a bitter smile):
"Aya… that hurts."
He tapped on the story again, hoping he was just seeing things. But no—it was real. It was Aya. And Jayvee was the one who took the picture.
His chest suddenly felt heavy. A surge of unexplainable frustration washed over him—not toward Aya, but toward himself.
Jake (talking to himself, voice low and filled with regret):
"If only… if only I told her right away. But no, Jake. You just sing and sing, but never had the courage… now look, someone else might have gotten ahead of you."
He threw a pillow across the room and collapsed onto his back. His jaw clenched as he fought to keep his emotions in check.
Jake (POV, staring at the ceiling):
"I don't even know if there's really something going on between them. I don't want to think there is… but I don't have the right, do I? I never confessed. But why does it hurt this much?"
He shut his eyes, but instead of peace, images of Aya and Jayvee kept replaying—together, laughing, as if they were in a world of their own.
In the end, he pressed a hand to his forehead, frustrated and restless.
Jake (whispering with a bitter chuckle):
"Coward. You'll lose her completely before you even get to say it."
The next day, while Aya was at the office, she couldn't stop thinking about last night. Her dinner with Jayvee had left her with mixed emotions—gratitude, but also unease and guilt. Jayvee was kind, consistent, always making his presence felt. But despite all his effort, her heart still beat differently—for someone else.
Suddenly, a bouquet of red roses arrived at the front desk.
Coworker (grinning, teasing loudly):
"Ayee! For Miss Aya!"
Aya was caught off guard, especially when she saw the sender's name—Jayvee. Attached was a small card that read: "Hope this brightens your day. Dinner again tonight?"
She gave a faint smile but sighed almost instantly. Holding the card, she hesitated. She didn't know how to say no without hurting him.
Aya (POV, thinking):
"I can't lead Jayvee on. He's too kind. But if someone else already owns my heart, it wouldn't be fair to him."
She picked up her phone and typed a message.
Aya (text message):
"Jayvee, thank you for the flowers. I really appreciate it. But I'm sorry, I can't join you for dinner tonight. I'm still busy with work."
Jayvee replied quickly with a simple:
"Okay, I understand 😊 maybe next time. Take care always."
But Aya knew—this wasn't the end of Jake's cousin's efforts.
As she pondered it, a familiar tune echoed across the office speakers.
🎶 "I have loved you only in my mind
But I know that there will come a time
To feel this feeling I have inside…" 🎶
Aya turned to the radio. It was one of Jake's most popular cover songs—"Don't Know What To Say." Currently trending. Her heart softened instantly.
Aya (POV, smiling faintly):
"Jake… no matter where I go, it's always you I come back to. Until now, you're still the one my heart calls out for."
A coworker tapped her shoulder and grinned, eyes sparkling as if she was fangirling too.
Coworker (teasing, with a wink):
"Jake is just dreamy, right? The girl he'll love one day will be so lucky. Imagine—handsome and a singer? Total jackpot."
Aya smiled and nodded quietly.
Aya (softly, hiding what she truly felt):
"Mmhm… yeah. She'll be lucky."
But deep inside, one thing was crystal clear—she wasn't just a simple fan. Her heart had long been screaming only one name: "Jake"
Back at his condo, Jake sat on the sofa with his guitar. But no melody came out right. His mind was still consumed by the images of Aya and Jayvee he saw on social media. His thoughts spun in chaos, trapped by his own suspicions.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. Unknown number. Jake hesitated, then answered.
Jake:
"Hello, who's this?"
A woman's voice from the other line:
"Jake… it's Tita Anna, Hershey's mom."
A cold shiver ran down Jake's spine. Someone he hadn't spoken to in so long.
Jake (shocked, trembling voice):
"T-Tita Anna? It's you… H-how are you? Hershey…?"
Tita Anna:
"Son, I'm sorry for calling out of the blue. I just want to let you know… Hershey is coming to the Philippines in the next few days, She wants to see you. She wants to follow you."
Jake's eyes widened. He couldn't find the words.
Tita Anna (continuing):
"I know you two didn't part on good terms, but Jake… my daughter is sick. She's not as strong as she used to be. I only have one request… when you see her, please don't fight anymore. I can't bear to see her hurt again."
Jake (stunned):
"S-sure, Tita. I'll take care of Hershey when she gets here."
Tita Anna:
"She'll be with Gavin. He agreed to accompany her there."
Jake:
"Gavin? I haven't heard from him in a while, but okay… at least I know now about Hershey's plan."
Tita Anna:
"Thank you, son. I have to get back to work. Take care."
Jake:
"Thank you too, Tita. Take care… b-bye."
Jake (POV):
"Hershey is coming here? What does she plan to do…?"
His grip on the guitar tightened. He didn't know what to feel—shock, pity, or fear.
Aya and Jake thought their heaviest battles were the unspoken feelings and the misunderstandings between them. But what if someone from Jake's past suddenly came back? With Hershey's return, will it change the direction of his heart… or will it only make him realize who he's truly loved all along?
To be continued…
Author's Note:
Sometimes, love isn't all butterflies and sweet moments. Sometimes, it's painful—mixed with jealousy, wrong assumptions, and people from the past suddenly returning. On Jake's simple birthday celebration, we'll witness the different kinds of pain love can bring.
Is Aya ready to stay and fight for what she feels, or will she choose to walk away to avoid getting hurt? And how will Jake face Hershey's return, right when he's slowly starting to admit his f
eelings for Aya?
Stay tuned to find out how "When Love Hurts" will strike their hearts in the next chapter. 💔
Next Chapter: When Love Hurts