Rainan drive back home that night with a heavy heart, the weight of his conversation with Angelo still fresh in his mind. As much as he had expected some form of rejection, hearing Angelo’s anger made it all the more real. The years of separation, the unspoken words, and the painful truth that he had left without so much as an explanation—all of it settled like a knot in his stomach.
He had left because of his dreams, his ambitions. He had wanted more, and in the process, he had abandoned the very person who had been a part of those dreams. He had been selfish. He had chosen his path without considering how it would hurt Angelo. But now, standing here, he could only wish he could undo it all.
That night, he barely slept. The silence in his room was deafening. He kept replaying that night in his head—the way Angelo had looked at him, the sharpness in his voice, the hurt in his eyes. There was no denying that he had hurt Angelo, and there was no easy way to fix it. But leaving things like this wasn’t an option. He had to make things right.
The following morning, Rainan decided to give Angelo a little space. He knew he had made an impact, but sometimes, space was the only way to allow feelings to settle. He spent the day with his parents, though his mind was miles away, constantly drifting back to the events of the previous night. He couldn’t help but think about how different things could’ve been if he hadn’t been so ambitious, so driven by the idea of success. What had he truly gained from all of it?
That evening, after a quiet dinner with his parents, Rainan texted Mikaela.
Rainan: I went to see Angelo today. He told me to leave. I don’t blame him, though. I left without a word all those years ago.
A few moments later, Mikaela’s reply came through.
Mikaela: You’ve made the first step by reaching out. It’s going to take time, Rainan. But you have to be patient with him.
Rainan: I know. But how do I even start? I left him without telling him anything. I didn’t even say goodbye. I was so focused on my own dreams, and I didn’t care who I hurt in the process.
Mikaela: It’s not easy, Rainan. You left because you wanted more, and you thought you needed to go alone to get it. But you weren’t alone back then. He was part of your dream, whether you realized it or not. You just have to show him that you’re here now and that you want to make things right.
Rainan stared at the screen, the weight of Mikaela’s words sinking in. She was right, of course. Angelo had always been there, supporting him in the background, believing in his dreams. And he had left him behind. It wasn’t just a friendship that he had abandoned—it was a bond that had meant everything to him.
After a long pause, Rainan sighed and set his phone down. He was determined to make things right, but he knew that this wasn’t something that could be rushed.
The next evening, Rainan stood in front of Angelo’s shop again. He had decided not to knock on the door this time. Instead, he stood there for a few moments, looking at the faded sign above the entrance and taking in the familiar scent of wood and paint that always lingered in the air. He hadn’t realized how much he missed this place—the way it felt like home.
He took a deep breath and finally knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet street. The door opened, and Angelo stood there, his face soft but guarded.
“What are you doing here?” Angelo asked, his voice less sharp than it had been the previous night.
“I just wanted to talk,” Rainan said, his voice steady but hesitant. “I know you’re angry, and I understand why. I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just want to explain. If you’ll let me.”
Angelo eyed him for a moment before stepping aside, allowing Rainan to enter. “Fine,” he said simply. “But make it quick.”
They sat at the small table in the back of the shop, the same table where they used to sit for hours, talking about life, dreams, and everything in between. The memories flooded back, and for a moment, Rainan was transported to those simpler times, before he had let ambition drive a wedge between them.
“I know I don’t have the right to ask anything from you,” Rainan started, his voice quiet. “But I need you to understand something. I left because I was selfish. I wanted more, and I thought I had to do it alone. I thought if I didn’t chase my dreams, I’d regret it forever.”
Angelo didn’t say anything, but Rainan could see the conflict in his eyes. He wasn’t angry anymore, but the hurt was still there.
“I wasn’t thinking about you, Angelo,” Rainan continued, his voice thick with emotion. “I left because I was afraid. Afraid of what our feelings for each other might mean for my plans. I was so consumed by my ambition that I didn’t see that I was hurting you. I’m sorry.”
Angelo’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Rainan thought he might get up and walk away. But then, Angelo’s gaze softened, just a little.
“You think I don’t know that?” Angelo replied, his voice quiet but firm. “I’ve always known you had bigger dreams. I never wanted to stand in the way of that. But you left, Rainan. You left me without even a word.”
Rainan felt a pang of guilt in his chest. “I was wrong,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I know I can’t take back what I did. But if there’s any chance we can start over—if there’s any chance we can rebuild what we had—then I’m willing to try. I just don’t want to keep living with this regret.”
Angelo looked away for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. “I don’t know if I can just forget, Rainan. I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
“I’m not asking you to forget,” Rainan replied, his voice steady. “I’m asking for a chance to show you that I’ve changed. That I’m not the same person who left all those years ago. I’m asking for the chance to prove that I’m here now—and I’m not going anywhere.”
There was a long silence, and Rainan held his breath, waiting for Angelo’s response. Finally, Angelo looked up at him, his eyes softening just a little.
“We’ll see,” he said quietly. “But don’t expect everything to go back to how it was. It’s going to take time.”
Rainan smiled, a weight lifting off his chest. “I’m okay with that. As long as we have time.”