AFTER SEVERAL weeks after their break up, Glyde kept acting and convincing himself that he is doing just fine. But his friends knew better. He was just forcing himself too much. That is also probably why Jaycee asked Beatrice to pick Glyde from his office so he wouldn't overwork himself. 

"Geez! And you still keep telling me that you didn't love her and only stayed with her or being with her was for money? We all knew that Hershey's family is not that dumb to put you in a higher position just because you're with her. You just worked hard to deserve those positions. The only reason you stayed with her is because you just truly love her. Why do you keep lying to yourself?" Beatrice said as she couldn't hold back anymore.

Glyde was already out of it, so he smiled bitterly and mindlessly said, "That's probably the reason why, huh?"

Beatrice dumbfoundedly stared at the person she once liked before, "Don't tell me you really don't know?"

"Maybe I knew, Maybe I really don't" Glyde answered as he shrugged as if it was nothing. 

"You..."

"I was too blinded of my desire of wanting more money to be able to stabilize my life. I was too focused on it that I neglected on acknowledging my own feelings" Glyde continued, finally admitting something.

Beatrice let out a sigh. "So? Why did you two broke up?" she asked in curiosity.

Glyde thought for a while, before he could find the right answer for her question. "Because we unconsciously hid things that we should've just revealed."

He thought that he never lied but I guess he still did. Lying by omission was it? He just realized it now. 

"What?" Beatrice was confused by his vague answer, but he didn't told her anything more than that.

Glyde bitterly smiled as he reminisce what he had heard from Hershey's father. She was getting engaged back to Kian. It was Reed's decision, for the sole-purpose of strengthening their power in corporate world. That was also the time he got confused why he was so upset, and he couldn't even do anything about it. There's a feeling of regret deep inside of him.

Then, one day, a random number called Glyde. He picked it up, hoping it was Hershey. Unfortunately, it was not her. It was Mina, Hershey's cousin at the same time bestfriend. 

Glyde already had an idea that the reason Mina called would be about Hershey. Just like how those cliché stories goes, Mina dropped a news that made him run to the hospital that Mina mentioned. There, Glyde overheard Hershey and Kian's conversation. What he heard just added more pain to his already broken heart. 

"It's funny how I let you go to be with Glyde, but I still ended up being tied to you. I'm sorry if you got caught up to my father greediness." Hershey chuckled. "I guess, I am really his daughter. I was too greedy for Glyde. I approached him with an ulterior motive, and longed for his love. Did I received it? Hahaha, he has always been so cool and sweet" 

Kian held Hershey's hand tightly, having a hard time watching and listening her struggling to talk. But he couldn't stop her. 

Outside of the room, Mina silently observed Glyde as he watch Kian and Hershey inside. "Yes. you definitely did" Glyde whispered.

"But then, while I beg for his love, I was the one who falls deeper for him. I never realized it. I thought I just really crave for love and attention because that's what I needed, but it was also because I love him. That's why I wanted more. I'm so bad, aren't I? But hey, at the last minute, I learned and corrected everything. I... Let him go... Even if I don't want to... Even if I want him to be only mine. Even if I don't want to see him be with any other person besides him. I want him to look at me only... I'm that selfish" 

"Does he know about your disease?" Kian asked.

"I don't know. Probably, not. I never told him. I didn't see any reason for me to tell him."

"He didn't asked?"

"No. Probably, because he also doesn't know what question that was needed to be asked. I could've told him, Kian. I just chose not to. I think deep inside, I really don't want him to know."

"You are really selfish" Kian humorlessly laughed.

"I really am"

Glyde just observed them and Mina could not read how he was able to take all the information he just learned. He just stood there as if imprinting the image of the person he love slowly bidding goodbye to this world where he had to stay. He could not even muster up the courage to walk inside to say that he already knew. He already had the idea. 

How could he not know? He was not that dumb not to notice. This is Hershey they were talking about, the woman that Glyde is willing to give up everything for. He have long realized what was going on. He fully understand that Hershey is sick and she doesn't have enough time, but he didn't knew that it would be this soon.

It hasn't even passed 2 years since they've met. Why is it so fast?

Glyde didn't told Hershey that he knew she was not well, because he was waiting for her to tell it herself. That's why when Hershey asked for them to break up, he also understood that the painting they've argued about was just something she used to hid the real reason why she wants to break up. It was probably as she said. Hershey wants to be selfless and to let him be free. 

He respects Hershey's decision and for the last time, he wants to abide to her wish.

That's why, Glyde won't go inside. He is satisfied that even from afar he could watch his beloved. 

"Kian..." she weakly uttered the name of the man besides her. 

"Hmm?" 

"You still remember the painting I kept talking about right?"

"Hidden Light? What about it?" 

"I think I already know why I'm always drawn on it"

"Why?"

Hershey gave a smile for the last time. "Because it was Glyde. He is my hidden light. After searching for something that I want before my death, he came to my life and made every seconds of it memorable and worth it."

Kian, Mina, and Hershey's other family members who was able to hear her last dying words were able to smile at those words. It proved that Hershey would be able to leave this world with no regrets. She was able to found, and have or did something she wanted after living for 25 years. This was something that Hershey's family prayed for Hershey's cursed fate.

Glyde, on the other hand, doesn't know what he should feel. At the struck of 12 AM, as if it was really destined, Hershey breathed her last. "Happy birthday, my love" he whispered.

---

Ryan continuedly annoyed Glyde with the same question he kept asking for the past three years. "Are you really not gonna pursue Beatrice, bro?"

"Shut up, Ryan. You already know the answer to that, right?"

"I'm just worried for you, okay? Have you really not moved on from her yet?"

Glyde glared at Ryan, but then he knew that his friend meant well. He sighed, "I already did. She let me go so I could be free. I already am, Ryan. The reason why I'm not pursuing Beatrice is just simply because I don't see her that way, okay?"

Ryan raised his hands up as he gave up. "Alright, if you say so."

Glyde ignored him as he knew that Ryan still had some doubts. But Glyde just told Ryan his truth. He does miss Hershey every now and then, but it doesn't meant it hinders him to have a relationship with another woman. It was just he still haven't found someone he could give his heart again.

For now, he was focusing on the things he currently have. If he learned something from Hershey, it is to treasure the things he have than looking at the things he doesn't before he regrets it later. That's why, even if it was hard, he tried to get along with his current family. When he did try, getting along with his siblings and parents wasn't all that bad.

***

Thank you for reading up until the end!

Glyde and Hershey appreciates you for tuning in to their story.

This is where the story ends, but their spirits would still remain as long as you could remember them. 

Again, thank you and I hope to see you in my other stories!

- ZelkyieAnn