Meanwhile, Pasco had made a decision. After weeks of stewing in his jealousy and regret, he couldn't stay away any longer. He booked the next flight from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, determined to win Debbie back. The city was alive with its usual chaos as Pasco arrived, but his focus was singular. He tracked down Debbie's number through mutual friends and sent her a simple text:
"Can we talk? I'm in Phnom Penh."
Debbie saw the message as she sat with Filex in a quiet café, their laughter filling the air between sips of coffee. Her smile faltered for a moment as she stared at the screen, her emotions swirling.
"Everything okay?" Filex asked, noticing her change in expression. Debbie hesitated before turning the phone toward him. "It's Pasco. He's here."
Filex's jaw tightened, but his tone remained calm. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Part of me feels like I owe him a conversation. But another part of me… I don't want to open that door again." Filex reached across the table, taking her hand in his.
"Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Just promise me one thing—don't let him pull you back into the past. You've come so far, Debbie."
Her chest tightened at his words, and she gave a small nod.
"I'll think about it."
Later that evening, Pasco stood outside Debbie's apartment building, pacing nervously. When Debbie finally emerged, he froze, his heart pounding at the sight of her.
"Hi," he said softly, his voice betraying his nerves.
"Hi," Debbie replied, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Pasco?"
"I came to apologize," he said quickly. "I know I hurt you, and I was a coward for the way I handled things. I thought I was doing what was best for both of us, but I was wrong."
Debbie's expression was unreadable as she listened. "Why now? After all this time, why come back?"
Pasco hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "Because seeing you with him—Filex—it made me realize what I lost. I still care about you, Debbie. I never stopped."
Her heart ached at his words, but they didn't hit the same way they once would have. "You don't get to say that now, Pasco. You made your choice, and I had to pick up the pieces."
Pasco stepped closer, his voice pleading. "Can't we start over? I'll do better this time, I swear."
Debbie shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "You're only here because you're jealous. But jealousy isn't love, Pasco. You didn't fight for me when it mattered most. And now… now I'm not sure I have anything left to give you."
Pasco's shoulders slumped as her words sank in. For the first time, he realized that he might have truly lost her—not because of Filex, but because of his own failures.