"Marcel, are you there?" Mrs. Remy, his mother, asked.
"Son, son," she called as she walked into his room and saw her son sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.
Walking over to him, she sat beside him and touched his shoulder, making him flinch.
"Mom," Marcel said, startled.
"Yes, it's me. What are you thinking of?" she asked.
"Nothing, Mom. I'm just remembering something," Marcel said.
"Oh, and what is it?" she asked.
Marcel hesitated before responding, "Look, Mom, if there's something bothering me, I'll tell you, okay? Don't worry."
His mother sensed that something was amiss. "Son, if there's something bothering you, you can tell me. Don't hide things inside and keep them to yourself. Lately, I've noticed you spacing out, even when you're eating. What's wrong, my child?" she asked, her voice filled with love and concern.
"Mom, it's just something I'll tell you when the time is right, not now," Marcel said, looking at his mother.
"So, there is something seriously bothering you?" Mrs. Remy asked again, seeking reassurance.
"Emm," Marcel replied, affirming his mother's concern.
"Okay, but make sure whatever it is, you ask for advice and don't do something that will lead you astray. And keep in mind that I'm here always, not for anyone but you, my child," Mrs. Remy advised her son carefully.
"Okay, Mom. Thanks," Marcel said.
"Come on, I'm your mother. You don't have to thank me; it's my duty," she replied, smiling.
Later, Marcel sat alone in his room, lost in thought. He had been thinking about Aria and Ace, worrying that one day Ace would leave Aria and break her heart. But he couldn't do anything; he feared seeing her tears. Though she didn't love him, he loved her deeply. Those few days she spent with him made him fall hard for her.
Marcel knew how it felt to have a broken heart, and as someone who had experienced it, he didn't want someone he loved to go through the same pain.
The truth was that Marcel had once fallen deeply in love with another girl. He had fallen harder for her than he felt for Aria now. He had always watched over her, giving her his undivided attention. Sometimes, he would find himself looking for her everywhere, his eyes roaming around just to catch a glimpse of her.
But when he finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings, telling her that he loved her, she rejected him. She told him she didn't love him and was already in love with someone else.
Marcel's heart was shattered, and he cried alone in his room that night. Afterward, he buried his emotions deep within and never spoke of it again, until this moment.
"God is the only one who knows how it felt and how I tried to tell you what I feel toward you, Aria. I'm afraid to tell you I love you, and it's all because I'm afraid of being rejected," Marcel said aloud, speaking to no one in particular.
"Though I know I will be, since I know you're together with Ace, but I still want to. But after all, I still get rejected and even get beaten, but I know it's worth it, since it's all about you," Marcel continued, lost in his thoughts.
"Aria, you're not here with me to listen to what I'm saying, but when Ace leaves you, though I don't know whether he will, and I don't want him to leave you, I'll be there for you, and I'll mend your heart. But I don't wish to see you in tears ever," Marcel said, his eyes closing as he lay down on the sofa.
Meanwhile, at the Williams' residence, Lilian, Ace's mother, called out to her son.
"Ace, come down!"
She opened the door to find Ace sitting on the sofa, smiling to himself. Lilian was taken aback by the sight.
"Why is he smiling like that?" she wondered, but couldn't help smiling herself, seeing her son so happy.
After observing Ace for a minute without him noticing her presence, she knocked loudly on the door and called out again.
"Ace!"
Startled, Ace stood up. "Oh, Mom."
"I was here, looking at you smiling. What's making you smile like that?" Lilian asked.
Ace tried to brush it off. "Oh, I was just thinking of something, Mom."
Lilian's curiosity was piqued. "And what's the thing you're thinking of?"
Ace quickly changed the subject. "Mom, just forget it."
Lilian smiled knowingly. "Oh, I should forget it, huh? Fine, let's go have dinner."
As they walked to the dining room, Alex, Ace's brother, noticed Ace's persistent smile.
"Ace, bro, why are you smiling all the time?" Alex asked.
Ace tried to downplay it. "It's because I'm in... eh... I'm just happy."
Ace's eyes met his family's, and he quickly looked away, trying to compose himself.
"Is it that obvious?" Ace thought to himself, attempting to suppress his smile.
Across from him, Lilian watched her son, wondering what had brought about this change in him. She knew Ace wasn't usually like this, but recently, he had become warmer and smiled more often.
Suddenly, realization dawned on Lilian. "Could it be that my son is in love?" she thought, a smile spreading across her face as she gazed at Ace, who was trying to hide his smile.