Cherry didn't hesitate to turn toward the voice that called out. Slowly, she faced him—and froze.
It was Jared.
The ex-boyfriend who had left her long ago. Her first love. Her first heartbreak.
He looked... different now. More mature. More refined. He dressed with confidence, no longer the boy she remembered, but a man who had clearly changed—maybe even improved—without her.
"Hey, how are you?" Jared asked casually.
Cherry struggled to find her voice. "I'm fine... you?" she replied, her tone uncertain.
Standing in front of him stirred up something deep and restless within her. He had clearly moved forward with his life, while hers felt like it had stalled somewhere along the way.
"I'm doing good," he said with a relaxed smile, as if the weight of the past no longer rested on his shoulders. It made Cherry feel smaller somehow, insecure in a way she hadn't expected.
"Long time no see," he added, his eyes drifting toward the two children at her side.
Jared bent down to approach the little boy, who only glanced at him before turning away. Then Jared looked to the girl.
"How old are you?" he asked gently.
The child answered right away, beaming. "I'm three years old!"
Jared smiled at her and chuckled softly. He started to say more, but Cherry cut in.
"Sorry, we need to go. I still have some things to do at home," she said quickly—lying.
She reached for her daughter's hand. "Let's go, Carina."
With a brief, polite nod to Jared, she turned and walked away.
He watched her go, regret sinking into his chest. He had hoped to talk to her—even just for a moment longer.
---
That night, Jared sat on the balcony of their home, the cold breeze brushing against his skin as he stared into the quiet dark.
His older brother, Julian, joined him with a cup of coffee in hand. "You've been out here for a while. Something on your mind?"
Julian was more than a brother—he was the one Jared could talk to about serious matters, the one who always gave grounded advice.
Jared didn't answer immediately.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Wait... this about your relationship?"
Jared had been with Kelly for two years now. She was sweet, supportive. He liked her—maybe even loved her. But what he'd felt for Cherry... that had been different. And seeing her again stirred something he didn't expect.
He finally sighed. "I saw Cherry earlier. At the grocery store."
Julian listened closely.
"I didn't expect to run into her. It's been five years."
"Really? What a small world," Julian said.
"She has two kids now," Jared added. "And she looks... different. Older. Like she's been through a lot."
Julian chuckled. "Well, yeah. Life happens. Marriage, kids—it changes people, especially women."
"It's not just that." Jared paused. "It's like... she doesn't take care of herself anymore."
Julian gave him a look. "Why are you so worried about her?"
Jared didn't answer.
"Still have feelings for her?" Julian asked, his voice quieter now.
Jared hesitated. "Nothing. It's nothing."
Julian leaned back in his chair. "Look, I get it. But you've got your own life now. Let her live hers. Don't go reopening old wounds, especially if you're not willing to stay."
Jared nodded slowly, but part of him still couldn't let go of what he saw—how tired Cherry looked, how quiet her eyes were.
"Focus on your future. You've got a girlfriend, plans ahead. Don't let the past hold you back," Julian added, giving his brother a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Then, hearing his name being called, he stood. "Ate Nenita's looking for me. Talk to you later."
"Okay, Kuya," Jared replied, still gazing out into the night.
---
Cherry stared at herself in the mirror. The reflection that looked back at her didn't lie—wrinkles, dark spots, and a sadness that lingered in her eyes.
Seeing Jared again had triggered everything she tried to suppress. He had moved on. He looked happy. Meanwhile, she was stuck.
"What did I do wrong to deserve this?" she whispered to herself. "I gave so much to others… I forgot myself. And this is what I get?"
She hugged herself tightly, trying to hold back the wave of hurt.
Eventually, she left the bathroom and quietly slipped into her room, lying down with the weight of exhaustion pressing her into the mattress.
---
A few days later, Cherry received a message.
It was from Jared.
She blinked in surprise. How did he get my number? I already changed it.
He wanted to talk. But Cherry didn't respond. She put her phone away and continued wiping down tables at Aling Marietta's small eatery where she worked.
It wasn't that her husband cheated on her—he didn't. But he gave most of his money to his family, leaving little to nothing for her and the kids. So she worked. She endured.
"Are you okay, Cherry?" her boss asked.
"I'm fine," she replied with a small, tight smile.
"If you need to rest, you can. I know things are hard."
Cherry nodded. She was grateful someone cared.
Later that night, while preparing dinner, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Jared. She read it briefly—then deleted it. She even considered changing her number again.
---
While she was out shopping in the market, she heard someone call her name.
"Cherry..."
It was Jared. She ignored him, quickening her pace. But he caught up.
"I just want to talk," he said gently. "Is that okay?"
"I don't have time," she replied firmly. "I have things to do."
"I can help," he offered, concern in his tone.
"I don't need your help," she said sharply, still avoiding his eyes.
"Cherry, I'm sorry."
That was all she heard before she quickly climbed into a jeepney and left him behind.
She didn't care for his apology. It was too late. He had left her. He didn't fight for her. And now, no amount of regret could change what she'd been through.
---
That evening, Jared picked up Kelly from work.
"Where do you want to eat?" he asked.
"Anywhere," she smiled, hopping into the car.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Hurry—I'm hungry!"
He laughed, her energy infectious. But as they drove, his eyes caught a familiar figure on the sidewalk.
Cherry.
She didn't see him, but he saw her. And just like that, his smile faded.
Kelly noticed. "Are you okay? You suddenly look serious."
"Just... hungry," Jared said, forcing a grin.
After dinner, he dropped Kelly off and sat alone in his car. He considered calling Cherry again—but the line didn't connect.
He exhaled deeply. I was the one who walked away, he reminded himself. I'm the one who gave up.
Julian's words echoed in his mind:
"Let her go."
At home, Cherry served dinner. As soon as her husband opened his mouth, the smell of alcohol hit her.
"Get me some water," he muttered.
She obeyed quietly, handing him a glass.
"Where have you been?" she asked gently.
He slammed his hand on the table, causing their kids to flinch and cry.
"Fred, please—the kids..."
"That's your fault," he snapped, getting up from the table. "You deal with them."
He left her alone, once again, in the dining room.
After putting the kids to sleep, Cherry returned to the mirror. She stared at her reflection again. She looked... tired. Lifeless.
Her eyes landed on the pair of scissors nearby. On impulse, she picked them up and began cutting her hair—not drastically, just enough. Maybe enough for him to notice.
And when he did look at her, she saw it in his eyes. He stared—really stared—and for a brief moment, she felt seen.
Then he leaned in to kiss her.
She didn't pull away.
Because despite everything, she had missed feeling wanted—even if it was only for a moment.
Cherry thought she and Alfred had finally made up—but she was wrong.
He suddenly pulled away from her the moment he realized they had spent the entire night sleeping in each other's arms.
Thirty minutes later, she invited him to eat with their children. She had cooked his favorite breakfast—pansit gisado—just the way he liked it.
"Let's eat," she called out softly.
"I'll pass. I have to leave early today."
Alfred walked straight out the door without so much as a goodbye or a kiss on the cheek. The smile on Cherry's lips faded, and with it, her appetite.
For the third time, Cherry and Jared's paths crossed once again.
Jared tried to avoid her, but he couldn't bear to see his ex-girlfriend struggling with the kids. He saw her carrying both of them while also juggling several grocery bags. No matter how hard he tried to walk away, his feet wouldn't listen.
"Jared!" she snapped. "I don't need your help."
"I saw you struggling with those bags—I couldn't just stand there and do nothing."
"I didn't ask for your help, so just leave me alone. Please?"
"Where's your husband, anyway? Why is he letting you do all of this by yourself?"
Cherry gave him a bitter smile. "He's at work."
"So that's it? He just lets you go through all this on your own?"
"Jared, stop meddling in my life. Just leave us alone."
"I can't, Cherry. I can't stand seeing you like this—hurting."
That was it.
Jared had already swallowed his words from yesterday when he promised he'd keep his distance. And yet here he was again, insisting on helping her.
Now more than ever, regret weighed heavily on him. He realized how deeply he had failed Cherry—leaving her behind for his dreams and his family.
If only he had been stronger. If only he had fought for her.
Maybe then she wouldn't have to go through this.
Cherry froze.
"I can handle this. So please, let me go. Okay?" Her irritation toward her ex was written all over her face.
"Come on, Carina."
She walked away, leaving Jared staring after her with nothing but regret.
She didn't even look back—not even for a second.
Cherry truly no longer cared about her ex-boyfriend.
All she felt for him now was resentment—and maybe, just maybe, a little envy.