Chapter 25

MAT’s POV:

I don’t believe in love at first sight.

At least…

I didn’t.

Not until Katherine Reyes walked into that basketball arena.

People always talk about it like it’s something magical.

Like the world suddenly stops.

Like music starts playing in the background.

Like everything becomes obvious.

For me?

It wasn’t like that.

It was worse.

Because I didn’t even realize it was happening.

—

The first thing I noticed about her wasn’t her face.

It was her smile.

She was sitting in the audience during one of Pat’s games.

Laughing at something.

Completely unaware of the people around her.

Completely unaware of me.

And somehow…

I couldn’t stop looking.

—

“Bro.”

One of my teammates elbowed me.

“What?”

“The game’s over.”

I blinked.

The game was over.

Apparently.

—

“Who are you looking at?”

—

“No one.”

—

“Liar.”

—

I ignored him.

—

Unfortunately…

That was only the beginning.

—

Because after that day…

I started noticing her everywhere.

—

Whenever I visited Pat’s condo.

Whenever I dropped by after training.

Whenever I happened to see her near campus.

—

And every single time…

The feeling got worse.

—

Not because she was beautiful.

Though she was.

—

Not because she was kind.

Though she was.

—

But because she felt real.

—

There was no pretending with Kat.

—

No trying to impress people.

No acting different depending on who she was with.

No games.

No masks.

—

Just Kat.

—

And God.

That was dangerous.

—

One night after training, I found myself sitting alone outside the gym.

Thinking about her again.

—

Which was becoming a problem.

—

Because the more I got to know her…

The more I wanted to know.

—

Her favorite food.

Her favorite songs.

What made her laugh.

What made her cry.

Why she chose nursing.

Why she always looked for Pat whenever something happened.

—

Especially that last one.

—

I used to think Patricia Dela Cruz was hard to read.

Turns out…

She wasn’t.

Not when it came to Katherine Reyes.

Because once you noticed it…

You couldn’t unsee it.

—

The way her eyes automatically searched for Kat whenever she entered a room.

The way she remembered every little thing about her.

The way she waited outside St. Aurelia every night after training just to walk her home.

The way she always made sure Kat had eaten before asking about her own day.

The way she prepared an entire room for her.

The way she bought matching mugs.

Which, for the record, were definitely **not** purchased because they were on sale.

—

I noticed.

Everyone would’ve noticed.

If they paid enough attention.

—

The problem was…

I paid too much attention.

—

Because I liked Kat.

And when you like someone, you start noticing the people who matter to them.

—

Pat mattered.

A lot.

—

One night after training, we were sitting outside the gym.

The campus was quieter than usual.

Most students had already gone home.

—

Pat sat beside me with a bottle of water.

Looking exhausted.

—

I looked at her for a moment.

Then asked the question I’d been avoiding for months.

—

“Why haven’t you told her?”

—

She frowned.

—

“Told who what?”

—

I laughed.

—

“Come on.”

—

“What?”

—

“Don’t do that.”

—

Her expression immediately changed.

—

Because she knew exactly what I meant.

—

And somehow…

That made me sad.

—

For her.

—

The silence stretched.

—

Then Pat sighed.

—

“You’re imagining things.”

—

I laughed again.

—

“Pat.”

—

“What?”

—

“You love her.”

—

The words landed between us.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Honest.

—

Pat looked away first.

—

And that was answer enough.

—

Because people only look away when the truth hurts.

—

“You’ve loved her for years.”

I continued quietly.

—

She didn’t answer.

—

Didn’t deny it.

—

Didn’t confirm it.

—

Just stared at the court.

—

And somehow…

That was worse.

—

Because I suddenly realized how long she must have been carrying it.

—

Years.

—

Not weeks.

Not months.

Years.

—

A feeling settled in my chest.

—

Not jealousy.

—

Respect.

—

Because loving someone for that long sounded exhausting.

—

“Then tell her.”

I said.

—

Pat laughed.

A short, bitter laugh.

—

“As if it’s that easy.”

—

“Maybe it is.”

—

“It’s not.”

—

I frowned.

—

“Why?”

—

Finally, she looked at me.

—

And for the first time since I’d met her…

She looked scared.

—

Not nervous.

Not uncomfortable.

Scared.

—

“What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

—

The question came out almost as a whisper.

—

I looked away.

—

Because honestly?

I understood.

—

I liked Kat too.

—

The difference was…

I wasn’t carrying ten years of feelings.

—

If Kat rejected me tomorrow…

It would hurt.

A lot.

—

But eventually…

I’d survive.

—

Pat?

—

I wasn’t sure she believed she would.

—

Because Kat wasn’t just someone she loved.

—

Kat was her best friend.

Her home.

Her person.

—

Losing that would terrify anyone.

—

Especially someone like Pat.

—

“So that’s it?”

I asked.

—

“What?”

—

“You’re just going to keep quiet forever?”

—

Pat shrugged.

—

“If that’s what it takes.”

—

I stared at her.

—

Completely speechless.

—

Because suddenly…

I understood the difference between us.

—

Pat loved Kat enough to risk her own happiness.

—

And I…

—

I loved Kat enough to risk everything.

—

Maybe that made me selfish.

—

Maybe it made me brave.

—

Maybe both.

—

But I knew one thing.

—

If I had feelings for someone…

I wanted them to know.

—

Even if they rejected me.

Even if things became awkward.

Even if I lost.

—

At least I’d have tried.

—

At least I’d know.

—

Pat shook her head.

—

“Not everyone can do that.”

—

I smiled.

—

“Maybe.”

—

Then stood up.

—

“But I’m going to.”

—

Her eyes widened slightly.

—

“What?”

—

“I’m going to pursue her.”

—

The words hung in the air.

—

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

—

Then Pat laughed softly.

—

Not because it was funny.

—

Because she already knew.

—

“You really like her.”

—

I smiled.

—

“Yeah.”

—

The answer came easily.

—

Easier than I expected.

—

Because for once…

I wasn’t afraid of the truth.

—

“I really do.”

—

Pat nodded.

—

Then looked back at the empty court.

—

And for a brief moment…

She looked lonely.

—

Not angry.

Not jealous.

Just…

Lonely.

—

Because deep down, she already knew something I didn’t.

—

She knew that love wasn’t always about courage.

—

Sometimes it was about timing.

—

And unfortunately…

I had arrived years too late.

—

The problem was…

Neither of us knew if years would matter.

—

Because while Pat was too afraid to confess…

I was willing to risk everything.

—

And somewhere in the middle stood Katherine Reyes.

—

Completely unaware that two people loved her in very different ways.

—

One silently.

One openly.

—

And sooner or later…

Someone was going to get hurt.

—

The only question was:

How many hearts would break before this story was over? 💔

—

## Author’s Note

PAIN.

THAT’S IT.

THAT’S THE AUTHOR’S NOTE.

😭😭😭

Mat: “Tell her.”

Pat: “What if she doesn’t love me back?”

Mat: “Then at least you’ll know.”

Pat: “And lose the most important person in my life?”

…

OUCH.

Because here’s the thing:

Mat is brave.

Pat is terrified.

Neither of them are wrong.

One is willing to risk losing Kat.

The other isn’t.

And that’s what makes this hurt.

Because sometimes the people who love the hardest are the ones who say nothing at all.

See you next chapter.

Bring tissues.

You’re going to need them. 💀💔🏀🩺