Chapter 28: Break the silence

Alan's POV

When I walked in, the first thing I saw was her–Milie.

And for a second, everything else disappeared.

"Milie—" Her name barely left my mouth before her body gave out.

She collapsed. My heart dropped so fast it felt like it slammed somewhere inside my ribs.

I was already moving before I could think, dropping to my knees, and lifting her head into my hands.

"Hey—hey, look at me," I said, tapping her cheek, my voice more panicked than I intended. "Mils, wake up."

Nothing. Her face looked pale and too still.

A kind of fear I had never known before crawled up my spine.

"Milie, please…" I pulled her closer, my hand shaking as I brushed her hair away from her face. "Don’t do this."

I didn't even realise Nana and Mom had rushed in until I heard their voices somewhere behind me.

"She'll be okay," Nana said, her hand coming to my back, steadying me.

But I wasn't steady. Not even close.

"Bring her to the room," Mom said quickly.

I didn't waste a second. I lifted her carefully, holding her closer than necessary, as if I loosened my grip even a little, I might lose her.

I lay her down on the bed, but my hands didn't leave her.

Mom sprinkled water on her face. I kept tapping her cheek, softer now.

"Come on, Mils… open your eyes."

And then, finally, she moved. Her lashes fluttered. Her eyes opened just a little.

Relief hit me so hard that I smiled through my almost-teary eyes. I pulled her into me.

"I'm sorry," I breathed into her hair. "Just… talk to me."

Her arms came around me, weak at first, then tighter.

"I'm sorry," she whispered against my chest.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll say sorry as many times as you want. Just don't be like this."

I closed my eyes and felt her. "No," I said, my hand sliding into her hair. "I'm the one who's sorry."

I pulled back just enough to look at her. "I was terrified, Mils," I admitted, my voice breaking despite myself. "What if something had actually happened to you?"

A tear slipped before I could stop it.

She shook her head quickly, her own eyes filling. "Don't… don't worry much about me. I'm not worth—"

I didn't let her finish. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"You are," I said quietly. "More than you think."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then reality settled back in.

"I don't want to mess things up for you," I continued, softer now. "If being close to me complicates your life… we don't have to do this."

The words didn't feel good coming out. But they felt it was necessary.

"I'll step back. No expectations. No pressure. Nothing."

Her expression changed instantly. A flicker of disappointment flashed across her face.

"I'm sorry, Alan," she said again, resting her head back against me. "I can't be… what you want. My friends—they're everything to me. I can't put anyone above them."

"I'm not asking you to," I replied gently.

Though I meant it, that still hurt.

"Your Nana thinks I'm a good person, but she has no idea," She said, still clinging to my chest. "I'm no different from the friend she told."

I shook my head, a faint smile pulling at my lips despite everything. "My Nana told you my stories?"

"Mhmm."

"Well, my Nana never gets it wrong."

She looked up at me, and I met her eyes longer than I should have.

Not in a way she would notice, but enough for me to memorise what I was about to lose.

I didn't know what we were anymore, and what we would be in future.

But one thing was clear: she wouldn't get this close to me again, not like this.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked, brushing her fingers across her cheek, unaware.

I blinked, snapping out of it, and looked away.

"Nothing," I muttered, pushing myself to stand.

"By the way," I said, clearing my throat, forcing a lighter tone, "I got you something."

That caught her off guard.

"For me?" she asked, sitting up a little too quickly.

I nodded. Her excitement came back just like that. No hesitation. No overthinking.

And that… that was her.

"Did you already plan to patch things up with me?" she asked, her voice soft, almost playful.

I shrugged. "Not really."

"Still got me a gift?"

"Yeah. Problem?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "Your Nana was right about you."

"Can’t help it."

"What is it?" she asked immediately, leaning forward.

I laughed under my breath. "You want to see it right now?"

She nodded without even pretending to think about it. "I love getting gifts."

"Come on, then."

We stepped out into the living room together, as if nothing had just happened.

Like we hadn't almost broken something we couldn't fix.

Mom and Nana watched us, clearly confused by how easily we'd shifted from one extreme to another.

I pulled out the box from my bag. Her eyes widened. "Is it this?"

I lifted it slightly, then set it aside casually. "No. Not this one."

"No? Oh.." Her excitement dropped instantly.

I couldn't help but laugh as I picked it back up and handed it to her.

"Hehehe. It's yours."

Her face lit up again. "Seriously?"

I nodded. And before I could react, she threw her arms around me.

I froze for half a second, then wrapped my arms around her, laughing.

I pulled back a little sooner than I wanted to.

Mom and Nana were both trying, and failing, not to smile.

But Milie didn't care.

"Alan, this is insane," she said, opening the box. "These are the latest PlayStation games… and four of them?"

I shrugged. "Figured you'd like them."

"Like them?" she laughed. "The guys are going to lose their minds."

There it was again. The reminder. Not hers. Theirs.

"Then you should go show them," I said, gesturing toward the door, trying to sound casual.

Trying not to let it show.

She nodded, still smiling. "Yeah. Thanks again."

She leaned in again, like she was about to hug me, then stopped mid-way, glancing at Mom and Nana.

I smirked. "Good call."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Shut up."

Then she turned. "Bye, Nana. Bye, aunty."

And just like that—she was gone.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly as I turned away.

"I'll just… change," I muttered, hiding my blush, and headed toward my room.

The second the door shut behind me, I leaned back against it and closed my eyes.

The relief, the ache, all hit at once.

I thought distance was better, easier, safer, but yeah, I had made a wrong call.

I had spent weeks learning how to live without her, and in a few seconds, she made me forget every single lesson.