CHIARA POV
I stared at him, completely bewildered by his revelation. "She drugged you?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion and disbelief.
He nodded solemnly. "Yes, she did." His words were filled with bitterness as he recounted the events. "It was the night before our 9th monthsary. She came to my club, claiming that she needed me because she had just broken up with Maximo. I believed her, thinking of her as a sister to me. Little did I know, she had ulterior motives."

As he continued to explain, I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what he was saying. "When I checked the CCTV footage, it was all there. She had intentionally laced my drink with drugs, ensuring that I wouldn't remember what happened next. It was all part of her plan, a plan I had no clue about. I didn't even realize that I was the reason behind their breakup, that Rhian had feelings for me."
As his words registered in my mind, confusion engulfed me, like a swirling storm of emotions. I felt a jolt of disbelief, followed by a deep sense of hurt and frustration. I couldn't control myself the words burst out of my lips before I could even think. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" my voice quivered with a mix of anger and vulnerability, laying bare the lingering pain that had been festering inside me.
There was a brief pause, a moment of silence that hung heavily in the air. His gaze shifted towards the ground, as if searching for the right words to explain himself. Finally, he looked up, meeting my eyes with an expression laced with regret. His voice carried a tinge of sorrow as he spoke. "I tried, believe me, I really did," he said, his voice tinged with a touch of remorse. "But every time I attempted to explain, you shut me down, closed off any chance of dialogue. You even went as far as blocking me, cutting off all communication, leaving me with no opportunity to clarify or help you understand. So, I thought maybe giving you some space to think would be the best course of action."
His words hit me like a sledgehammer, creating a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions in my mind. I realized that my own actions had unwittingly contributed to the current state of affairs. I had been so consumed by my own hurt and anger that I had blocked him out, shutting down any attempts at resolution. The weight of my loneliness and confusion intensified as I grappled with the consequences of my actions.
In that moment, I understood that this situation was a result of a breakdown in communication and a failure to truly listen. A wave of regret washed over me as I realized how much I had let my own emotions cloud my judgment.
His words struck a chord within me, and my heart sank. I had unknowingly pushed him away, preventing him from revealing the truth. The realization weighed heavily upon me. It had been three long months since then, and in that time, I had come across him again unexpectedly, but now, it was under completely different circumstances.

"I saw you again," he continued, his voice tinged with a mixture of remorse and irony. "But you were at my friend's condo. I couldn't help but think it was karma, my punishment for being the catalyst behind their separation."
His words hung in the air, a heavy silence enveloping us. I took a moment to absorb all that he had shared, feeling a whirlwind of emotions coursing through me. Confusion, sadness, and regret all mingled within my heart, forming a storm of emotions that seemed impossible to weather.
It had all started months ago, when I let fear consume me. In my misguided attempt to protect myself, I had unknowingly pushed him away, shutting down any possibility of him revealing the truth. As the silence hung in the air between us, I felt myself drowning in an ocean of emotions. Confusion washed over me, as I struggled to comprehend the depth of his suffering. Sadness consumed me, a heavy cloud hanging over my heart, knowing that I had contributed to this pain.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," I said, feeling guilty for holding onto anger towards him all this time. It became clear to me now that I also was in the wrong.

His eyes glistened with sadness as he responded, "I know I said earlier that I'm not expecting anything from you, but please give me a second chance. I still love you immensely, Chimi." He gently grasped my hands and kissed them, pleading for forgiveness.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if his words were enough to rebuild what we had. "I'm sorry, but I don't know if that will work," I confessed, my reply a reflection of my indecision. He smiled at me, but there was a hollowness in his eyes that I couldn't ignore.
Suddenly, he posed a surprising question, "Hmm, friends?" My heart skipped a beat, confused by his sudden change of tune.
"Are you sure about that?" I couldn't help but ask, baffled by his earlier declaration of love followed by the suggestion of friendship. It felt like a stark contrast, difficult to process.
With a bittersweet smile, he replied, "Yes, I love you, which is why I'm letting you go. But it's not because I'm letting you go that we can't be friends anymore." He gently brushed away my tears, the emotional weight of the situation catching me off guard. I hadn't even realized I was crying amidst the dramatic turn of events.
"Let's go!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with determination. I stood up from the couch and grabbed Xander's arm, urging him to come with me.
Confusion crept onto Xander's face as he reluctantly followed my lead. As we walked briskly down the hallway, he couldn't help but question our destination. Pausing for a moment, I halted our progress and turned to face him.
"Let's talk to Luis," I suggested, my voice laced with sincerity. "I know he's been upset with you lately, and I don't want this misunderstanding to ruin your friendship. It's important that we clear the air."
Without waiting for his response, I pulled Xander along with me towards Maximo Luis' office. The anticipation weighed heavy in the air as we approached our destination, each step bringing us closer to a potential resolution.
As we reached the door of Luis' office, I sensed Xander's reluctance. His grip tightened on my hand as he voiced his hesitation.
"I'll be here," Xander reassured me, his words laden with concern. "I'll wait for you."
Understanding the worry in his eyes, I nodded in acknowledgment before turning the doorknob and stepping inside. To my utter astonishment, the scene before me caught me completely off guard. There they were - Luis and Rhian - kissing.
"Mia," Luis called out my name as he looked at me and then pushed Rhian. I noticed the surprise on his face. Meanwhile, Rhian stood next to him, wearing a mischievous smile that seemed to be deliberately irritating me, as if Luis pushing her meant nothing.
"Mia, let me explain," Luis pleaded as he approached me, taking small steps.
"No, there's no need for explanations," I replied, my face devoid of any emotion. I felt numb inside, unable to cry despite the pain I was experiencing. Luis stopped in front of me and gently grabbed hold of my hands.
"Mia, I love you. Please let me-," he started, but I interrupted him abruptly.
"It was just a dare," the words slipped out before I could even process them fully. I couldn't believe it myself. I struggled to comprehend their implications, grappling with disbelief. How could he confess his love for me, especially after witnessing everything? What about Rhian? These memories resurfacing threaten to send me spiraling, reminding me of a similar experience.
"W-what are you saying? I don't understand," Luis responded, sounding truly confused.
"Remember that night at Club Z? My friends dared me. Do you know what they dared me to do? They dared me to make you say 'I love you' to me within a month. And look, I won," I explained, forcing a smile onto my lips. But it felt empty, devoid of any genuine happiness. I didn't even know what I was saying anymore.
"No, that can't be true. You're just saying that," he replied, his tone filled with disbelief.
Suddenly, Xander's voice rang out from behind me, surprising both Luis and me. "Rhian? What are you doing here?" Xander interrupted, turning the attention away from Luis and towards himself. It turned out that he had already entered the room because I didn't close the door and he must have overheard our conversation.
"I love you, Mia. Please let me explain. You're mistaken," Luis tried to continue, disregarding Xander's presence as he wrapped his arms around me.
"But you love Rhian more," I cut him off, not wanting to hear any more of his lies.
"No-" he stammered, attempting to defend himself.
" Xander and I are together again," I confessed, not allowing Luis to finish his sentence. I sensed him freeze and loosen his grip on me.
"W-what did you say? Th-that can't be true, right? You're just saying that because-" he stammered, his words trailing off. He never got the chance to finish his sentence because I grabbed Xander's hand and kissed him on the lips, surprising them. Without hesitation, I let go of his lips and turned to face Luis and Rhian, who stood there in stunned silence.
"I no longer owe you any explanations because we were never truly in a relationship," I declared to a still bewildered Luis, pulling Xander out of the room. Tears started to stream down my face, the floodgates finally opening and releasing the emotions I had been holding back.