There was a half-sliced heart when Pedro looked at how Rey held Luana's hand tightly.

The rumbling in his chest returned, just like how it hit him when Luana always chose to return to Rey. Luana's phone call yesterday afternoon really made a Pedro Viscout realize in the end, that he really didn't have even the slightest crack.


The fact that this was all in vain, especially how Valerie had reminded him about one-sided love that would never bring happiness, finally made Pedro make an important decision in his life.

Luana has chosen, and so has Rey.

The incident that happened to Luana yesterday afternoon, more or less taught Pedro that their love connection might have grown stronger than he could have guessed so far. Pedro clearly knew what was going on between Luana and Rey-which he was still keeping under wraps, and that's why he was in Munich to be her second option in case she needed help.


But that didn't seem to be the case, as both Luana and Rey chose to stand their ground. Surviving against everything, surviving on the love that had apparently blossomed in their hearts. A heart that... Pedro could not enter even a little.

Luana approached, still with a smile on her face.


"Pedro!" she called for the second time. "Thank goodness we're not too late!"

The couple's handshake did not slacken at all, even though they were now right next to the corner table where Pedro and Valerie had been for half an hour. Waving goodbye to Valerie, Luana seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Luana, you didn't say you were coming here." Valerie had already made the first move, hugging Luana tightly even though Rey didn't seem to want to let her go. "If we knew you were coming here, we could have left together earlier."

Pedro was silently grateful now that he didn't have to face Rey and Luana alone. Valerie's presence among them had really broken the ice, and Pedro couldn't have asked for more than that. He was glad Valerie was there, he was glad Valerie was making an effort to cover up the awkwardness created between him and Rey.

"Hi, Luana," Pedro greeted after a few seconds' pause. "Hello, Rey."

It was awkward, especially since Pedro didn't like being in situations like this.

"Hello, Pedro," Rey replied equally awkwardly. They had never been properly introduced, and were always involved in meetings that were not conducive. "I heard you were leaving, is that right?"

Pedro nodded as he pulled out an empty chair for Rey and Luana to sit in, since the airport café wasn't too crowded.

"That's right," Pedro said in a flat tone. "I didn't think you guys would come. Have a seat."

Pedro and Rey's eyeballs greeted each other, but still the arrogance of being a man enveloped the situation that was now happening. Sitting on the chair Pedro had pulled out earlier, Rey was now right next to the fighter.

Silence enveloped the four of them, as Valerie now took the initiative to take Luana's hand first. Perhaps the two men needed space to talk, just as Valerie whispered softly in Luana's ear.

"Shall we walk for a while, Luana?" she offered. "Or accompany me to the restroom, would you like?"

Luana nodded, of course, and then said quietly to her husband that she would go with Valerie for a while. Like Valerie, Luana also felt that this might be the only time to give Rey and Pedro some space to talk to each other.

As grown men.

The faint sound of Luana and Valerie's retreating steps could be heard, followed by the dejection that escaped Rey's lips. Raising his head to be level with Pedro, the nobleman opened their conversation.

"Pedro, I... have not thanked you for what you did to my wife yesterday afternoon." There was still some awkwardness taking over, but it was okay because it was long enough to be an opening sentence.

Pedro turned to stare at Rey intently, when he found a different look emanating from the other's bluish irises.

"It's nothing," Pedro said, trying to make things easier. "Valerie and I are helping Luana because we're friends, and I hope that doesn't rub you the wrong way."

Rey's eyeballs moved quickly, as if he was scrutinizing the meaning of the look Pedro was giving him. Both of them were breathing on each other now, as if this conversation between men was so difficult.

"I know you are a good man, Viscout," Rey spoke again. This time it sounded more familiar, because the man had tried. "If only we met at the right time, maybe we could get to know each other properly."

Pedro grinned slightly, taking another pull on his espresso glass to drain the brownish liquid that had been lingering. The fact that the sentence Rey had just uttered felt true, made Pedro half-amused.

"I know your relationship with Luana," Pedro said now. He noticed Rey's serious gaze on him, but he did not stop to continue.

"You know, Rey. It's not hard for me to keep track of anything," the Viscout said. "I know who Luana is, and how she got involved with you."

Rey felt her heart being squeezed hard. Right in her heart.

"But I respect your decision to stay," Pedro continued. "No, Luana didn't tell me anything. But I did offer to help if she needed it, and she came with a request to change hotels yesterday afternoon."

Rey was still pressing his lips together, listening intently to the fighter's carefully crafted words.

"I'm not trying to interfere," Pedro said honestly. "But as a man, you must know that I look at your wife differently."

Without realizing it, Rey felt his oxygen supply dwindle. This conversation didn't look like it was going to end easily. But Pedro's laughter suddenly eased the anger that was beginning to bubble up inside Rey.

"I might just be interested in her," Pedro explained again. The man's laughter hung, making his eyes seem to narrow slightly. "But you should know that I'm not the kind of guy who snatches someone from someone else, and now I'm happy for you guys."

Even though his lips were tightly linked, Rey could feel the emotion of relief that now enveloped him.

"Luana is a good girl," Pedro praised without hesitation. "You agree with that, right?"

Rey didn't take long to nod his head, because that was the reality. And he loved that good girl.

"You're right," Rey said with open lips. "That's why I'm sure you understand why I chose to stay despite knowing what consequences we might face."

Pedro took a deep breath, because he truly understood what Rey was talking about. There was no need for words to make it clear, because they both knew it.

"She has chosen you, Lueic," Pedro said this time. The words that made Rey raise his head again, to look straight at the fighter.

"I know."

"And I believe you can save her," Pedro said confidently. "Either way, I support your decision to keep her happy."

Rey had no idea that he and Pedro would be having such an intimate conversation, because everything that Pedro Viscout implied was just an invisible shadow.

"You...." Rey hung his sentence, as if he was looking for the right words to continue the interrupted words. "You really are a good man, Viscout."

Pedro again allowed himself to mutter a laugh, with a grin that appeared later.

"You finally recognize me," Pedro greeted positively. "I'll take that as a compliment, Lueic."

Now it was Rey's turn to let laughter adorn his face, as if he had forgotten that he was once so annoyed by Pedro's presence around them. Rey had always thought Pedro wanted to steal Luana from him, but look at how this afternoon the Viscout was clearly in full support of his and Luana's relationship.

"Then..." Rey spoke up again. Extending his hand to Pedro, the nobleman continued with a smile etched on his face. "Can we be friends? I'm Rey Lueic, and you?"

Pedro looked half-surprised at what Rey was doing to him, but he couldn't help but raise his hand to shake Rey's outstretched hand.

"I'm Pedro Viscout, nice to meet you, Rey Lueic."