7. Rollercoaster

I trudged through the front door, dropping my bag onto the floor with a sigh. Another long day at the office was finally over. As an Account Payable Analyst, I dealt with numbers and spreadsheets all day, and it was exhausting.

But today was worse than usual. Our company was going through a merger, and our department was understaffed. I'd been working non-stop for weeks, trying to keep up with the workload. And to make matters worse, my boss had just informed me that I'd have to work overtime for the next few weeks.

I felt like I was drowning in stress. I just wanted to crawl into bed and forget about everything. But as I walked into the living room, I saw Jarred sitting on the couch, a concerned look on his face.

"Hey, babe," he said softly, getting up to give me a hug. "How was your day?"

I tried to push aside my stress and smile, but it was no use. As soon as Jarred asked me about my day, all my pent-up emotions came flooding out.

"It was terrible," I snapped, pulling away from him. "I'm so sick of this job. I'm sick of the stress, the long hours, the constant pressure. I just feel like I'm losing myself in all of this."

Jarred looked taken aback by my outburst, but he tried to calm me down. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here for you. Let's talk about this."

But I was beyond reason. I was too stressed, too overwhelmed. And Jarred's calm demeanor just made me angrier.

"No, you don't understand," I shouted, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "You don't know what it's like to be in my shoes. You just get to go to school and teach your students and come home and relax. You don't know what stress is."

Jarred's expression turned cold, and he took a step back. "That's not fair, Clyde," he said quietly. "I do know what stress is. And I'm trying to be here for you, but you're not letting me."

I felt a pang of regret, but I was too far gone to apologize. "Just leave me alone," I spat, turning away from him.

And with that, Jarred turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my tears and my stress.

I cried for what felt like hours, the guilt eating away at me. I couldn't believe I had spoken to Jarred like that. He was always there for me, supporting me and trying to understand what I was going through. And how did I repay him? By lashing out at him and invalidating his feelings.

As a teacher, Jarred had his own set of stresses and challenges. He dealt with difficult students, demanding parents, and a never-ending workload. And yet, he always managed to come home with a smile on his face and a willingness to listen to me vent about my own problems.

I realized that I had been selfish and unfair. I had no right to compare our stresses or to imply that mine were worse than his. We both had our own struggles, and we both needed each other's support and understanding.

I knew I had to apologize to Jarred. I couldn't just leave things the way they were. I needed to make things right between us.

I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears. I would go find Jarred and apologize. I would tell him how sorry I was for what I had said, and I would listen to him and try to understand what he was going through.

I had been so stressed and overwhelmed, and I had taken it out on Jarred. I knew I had hurt his feelings, and I didn't blame him for walking out.

But as I sat there, feeling sorry for myself, I heard the front door open. I looked up to see Jarred walking back in, a sheepish grin on his face. And in his hand, he was holding a pint of my comfort food, ice cream.

My heart melted at the sight. Only Jarred would think to bring me ice cream after a fight. I felt a wave of love and gratitude wash over me, and I knew I had to apologize.

"Jarred, I'm so sorry," I said, getting up from the couch and walking over to him. "I was wrong to speak to you like that. I know you're stressed too, and I shouldn't have invalidated your feelings."

Jarred looked at me, his eyes softening. "I know you're stressed, love," he said. "And I know you didn't mean to hurt my feelings. I just wish you would talk to me about it instead of lashing out."

I nodded, feeling a pang of regret. "You're right. I should have talked to you about it. Can you please forgive me?"

Jarred smiled and handed me the ice cream. "Already forgiven," he said. "And I brought your favorite ice cream to make up for it."

I took the ice cream and smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you," I said. "I love you."

"I love you too," Jarred said, pulling me into a hug. "And next time, let's just talk about our stresses and support each other, okay?"

I nodded, feeling grateful for Jarred's understanding and love. We stood there for a moment, holding each other and enjoying the ice cream. It was a small moment, but it was one that reminded me of the love and connection we shared.

As we settled into our cozy night in, Jarred turned to me with a warm smile. "What's your heart's desire for tonight's movie, love?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with affection.

After our earlier disagreement, we'd made amends and decided to indulge in a relaxing movie date. I thought for a moment, weighing my options, before responding, "Purple Heart, I think."

Jarred nodded, and with a few clicks on the remote, the movie began. He settled in beside me, cradling the bowl of freshly popped popcorn in his lap. I snuggled into the crook of his shoulder, feeling the warmth and comfort of his presence. As the movie played on, I felt my heart fill with love and gratitude for this gentle, loving man beside me.

As the movie started, Jarred handed me the bowl of popcorn and I snuggled deeper into his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me, holding me close as we watched the movie together.

I loved moments like these. Just the two of us, cozy and comfortable, enjoying each other's company. It was a reminder that even after a fight, our love was still strong.

As we watched the movie, I couldn't help but steal glances at Jarred. He was so handsome, with his chiseled features and bright blue eyes. And he was mine.

I felt a surge of love and gratitude towards him. He was always there for me, supporting me and loving me, even when I was stressed and overwhelmed.

As the movie ended, Jarred turned to me and smiled. "What did you think?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I smiled back at him. "I loved it," I said. "But I think I loved the company more."

Jarred chuckled and pulled me closer. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, his voice low and husky.

We sat there for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. Then Jarred leaned in and kissed me, his lips soft and gentle.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I kissed him back. It was moments like these that I cherished, moments of love and connection with the person I loved most in the world.

As our kiss deepened, Jarred suddenly pulled away, his eyes locked on mine. I felt a pang of disappointment, wondering why he'd stopped. But before I could ask, he stood up, his expression softening.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jarred closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before responding. "It's already late, love. You should sleep."

I felt a surge of protest, not wanting the night to end. "What about you?" I asked, trying to persuade him to stay.

Jarred smiled, his fingers gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll sleep in the guest room, okay?"

I wanted to argue, to convince him to sleep beside me, but I knew it was futile. Jarred could be stubborn when he wanted to be. So I nodded reluctantly, trying to hide my disappointment.

"Alright, love," I said, resigned.

As I turned to head to my bedroom, I caught Jarred's eye, and he smiled at me. "Goodnight, love," I said, my voice soft.

His smile widened, and he replied, "Goodnight to you too, love. Have a good rest, you need it."

I gestured towards my bed, and Jarred nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I slowly closed the door, feeling a mix of emotions: disappointment, love, and gratitude.

As I made my way to the bathroom for a quick shower, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Jarred was trying to protect me from something, or maybe even from himself. Whatever the reason, I knew I had to respect his boundaries, even if it meant sleeping alone tonight.

I woke up to the sound of my friend's loud voice, "Clydeeeeee!" I groggily got out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom to wash my face. When I came out, I saw Ashley and Kiraz lounging on my sofa.

Kiraz, my colleague who had a secret past with our boss and had once had a crush on Jarred, greeted me with a cheerful "Good morning, my bestie!!" Ashley gave her a dirty look and corrected her, "She's my best friend, not yours."

Ashley raised an eyebrow and took my hand, "You may have been her friend in work but I am her favorite." She smiled proudly, which only led to

Kiraz firing back, "No, I am her favorite. Dun kana sa ex mo, ay hindi mo pala ex kasi dika binigyan ng labe."

Ashley shot back, "Gago ka ah" The two of them continued to bicker back and forth, each claiming to be my favorite.

"No, it's me. She lived with me when we were college, we went on the same highschool and college. So, she's mine.'' Ashley.

"Mine."

"No, she's mine, Kiraz!"

"No, mine."

"No."

"My Clyde is mine."

Just as it seemed like things were getting out of hand, Jarred emerged from the guest room, looking handsome in his pajamas and a black tank top. His usually sleek hair was mussed, and he greeted me with a charming "Good morning, miloves."

He then turned to Ashley and Kiraz and said, "And good morning, ladies. You can stop fighting now, because Clyde is mine, and I am her favorite." I just rolled my eyes at the whole scene and left them to their antics.

I headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone, shaking my head at the drama that seemed to follow my friends everywhere.

As I finished preparing breakfast, I walked into the living room to call everyone to eat. But what I saw took my breath away. Jarred, Ashley, and Kiraz were all sitting on the sofa together, laughing and joking like old friends.

For a moment, I just stood there, watching them. It was a rare sight to see the three of them getting along, especially given their differences. But in that moment, all of that seemed to melt away, and they were just three people enjoying each other's company.

My heart swelled with love and gratitude as I watched them. These three people were so important to me, and to see them happy and at peace with each other was a beautiful thing.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I gazed at the scene before me. It was moments like these that reminded me of just how lucky I was to have such wonderful people in my life.

Sana lagi kaming ganito. Masaya.

"Breakfast is ready!" I called out, trying to sound cheerful despite the emotions welling up inside me.

The three of them turned to me, still smiling, and began to make their way to the dining table. As we sat down to eat together, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this little moment of peace and happiness that we shared.

Jarred's concerned gaze locked onto mine, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my heart. "I'm just happy to see you getting along with my friends," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jarred's face lit up with a radiant smile, and he looked at me with eyes that shone with adoration. "Ashley and Kiraz are important to you, so they're important to me too," he said, his words dripping with sincerity.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt a rush of emotions. He had a way of making me feel seen and loved, and I couldn't help but fall for him all over again.

Just as we were getting lost in each other's eyes, Ashley and Kiraz burst into our little bubble, their banter and laughter filling the room. "Hoy, maya na mag landian," Ashley teased, making us all laugh.

Kiraz added, "Respeto naman po sana sa pagkain," and I chuckled, shaking my head.

As we sat down to eat, Jarred's curiosity got the better of him. "I am curious," he said, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "I overheard Kiraz, 'yung about sa ex daw ni Ashley:

I chuckled, knowing that Ashley's story was about to get interesting. "Ako magkwento, please!" Kiraz exclaimed, but Ashley quickly shut her down.

"Kwento mo? Masyadong bida-bida."

Ashley took a deep breath and began to explain, "First love ko. I actually don't believe in love because of my Parents, until he came. Ayun na inlove sa mga flowering words niya, and he left me.

Jarred's eyes widened in shock, and I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. "Mas magugulat ka pa kung malaman mo kung sino ex niya." I teased, building up the suspense.

"Who?" Jarred asked, his curiosity piqued.

I smiled mischievously. "Anak ni Mr. President."

Jarred's jaw dropped, and he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, and the others joined in, creating a joyful chaos that filled the room.

Jarred's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Kiraz. "Your ex is the President's son?" he asked, his voice laced with incredulity.

Ashley nodded, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Yes, that's right. And let me tell you, it was a wild ride."

Kiraz chimed in, "Girl, you're telling me. I've heard some of the stories."

I chuckled, remembering some of the crazy things Kiraz had shared with me about her relationship with our boss. "Kaya nga niya laging pinapatay 'yung TV kapag about sa President ang news."

Ashley laughed, "Ba't namin kasi ako makikinig sa magnanakaw?"

Jarred shook his head, still looking a bit stunned. "Pero kung hindi kayo nag hiwalay baka father-in-law mo na 'yun."

Kiraz laughed, "Wala ngang label, kaya pa'no maging Father-in-law?"

Jarred suddenly asked Kiraz, "How 'bout you?" with a smirk on his face.

Kiraz's expression turned angry, and she snapped, "Anong ako?"

Jarred's smirk grew, and he clarified, "I mean, I'm asking about your past relationship." His tone was laced with sarcasm, and I sensed a deeper connection between them that went beyond just being high school classmates.

Siguro ako na hindi lang naging schoolmate tung dalawa.

Kiraz's response was defensive, "Naka-move on na ko dun" Jarred raised his hands in mock surrender, but the sarcasm still lingered on his face.

Ashley, who was watching the exchange, chimed in, "Naka-move on na daw, pero ang defensive"

Kiraz shot back, "Oo nga"

The conversation took a dramatic turn as Ashley started mimicking Kiraz's voice, " 'Ash, I regret it, why I cheated on her' ulol ka, grabeng drama mo kagabi."

Kiraz's face turned red with anger, and she shouted, "Gago!"

Ashley continued to tease her, but Kiraz fought back, "Ba't naman ako magsisi? Siya na una mag-cheat, gumanti lang ako" The atmosphere had become tense, and I realized that there was more to Kiraz's past than I had initially thought.

We all laughed, and the tension was broken. I was glad to see that Jarred was taking the news in stride, and that Kiraz was able to laugh about her past. It was a good reminder that we all have our own stories and our own struggles, and that sometimes, all we can do is laugh and move on.

As I basked in the warmth and laughter of the moment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. The scene unfolding before me was like a snapshot from my childhood dreams. I remembered the countless hours I spent as a young girl, lost in fantasies of romance and happiness.

And now, here I was, living that very reality. The love, the laughter, the sense of belonging - it was all so beautifully real.

I felt a surge of pride and accomplishment, as if I could reach back in time and tell my younger self, "You did it. All those dreams, all those fantasies - they finally came true."

The romance I had always dreamed of was now my reality, and it was even more beautiful than I had ever imagined. Jarred, Ashley, Kiraz - they were all a part of my happily ever after, and I couldn't be more grateful.

As I looked around the table, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. This was my life now - full of love, laughter, and adventure. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.