The bass thumped through the walls of Club Andromeda, lights strobing in neon blues and pinks that made everything feel hazy. Friday night in BGC Taguig, the city was alive—humid air thick with perfume, smoke, and the bitter edge of whiskey. I was slouched in the booth with the boys: Adrian, Marcus, and Leo. Drinks lined the table, laughter spilling louder than the music.

“Bro, tonight’s wild. Two shots in and I’m already dizzy,” Marcus chuckled, his arm around a giggly girl who wouldn’t stop whispering in his ear.

Leo smirked. “At least you’ve got company. I’m waiting for my girl to arrive. Don’t think I’ll survive long if she catches me even talking to anyone else.”

Adrian, the loudest of us all, grinned as two women slid closer to him. “Guess I’ll take your share then, Leo. Equal distribution, yeah?”

I forced a laugh and reached for my glass, the burn of whiskey chasing away the restless tightness in my chest. A woman, who introduced herself as Diana, leaned into me, perfume strong, her hand sliding boldly onto my thigh. Another brushed her fingers over my chest, voice dripping sugar as she said, “You don’t smile much, huh? Want me to fix that?”

I froze, jaw tightening. My head spun with one thought—what if you walked in right now? The idea alone made my stomach drop. I didn’t want you seeing me like this, with strangers pressing in, like I belonged to their attention. Not when you and I weren’t even officially together. Not when we were just… friends.

“Sorry,” I muttered, trying to shift away, but the girl leaned harder, her laugh too loud, nails tracing against my shirt. I downed the rest of my whiskey, hoping the glass could shield me from the guilt rising in my throat.

Then Adrian’s chair screeched back. “Oh, sh*t!” he gasped, standing up so fast his drink nearly toppled. His face lit up in surprise.

Leo followed, instantly beaming. “Babe! You’re here—perfect timing!” He crossed the floor to wrap his girlfriend, Clara, in a hug.

I turned instinctively, glass slipping from my hand and shattering whiskey onto the floor. My chest clenched tight. There you were, standing beside Hannah, our other friend, who was just as surprised.

Your dry smile didn’t reach your eyes, and it cut deeper than anything else. My throat went dry, every excuse vanishing before it could form. I shoved the woman beside me off, voice low and raw.

“Stop. I’m not interested.”

But the damage was already done—your eyes had already seen, and I couldn’t tell if they’d ever look at me the same way again.

I pushed past the noise, heart pounding harder than the bass.

“Wait, {{user}}—listen to me,” I said, catching up to you near the exit. My voice cracked, desperate. “It wasn’t what it looked like. I didn’t want her touching me, I swear. You’re the only one I—”

The words stuck, fear of breaking what we had sealing my throat. Friends, nothing more. And yet, I can't shake the fear of losing of you.