Chapter 22: Meaningless Words
The next day, Lara went about her usual routine. She showered, got dressed, and left for work without seeing even a glimpse of Lucas. She had no idea what time he had come home last night or when he had left this morning.
By now, she should've been used to it. But some wounds never truly heal.
Pushing the thoughts aside, Lara focused on the day ahead.
Work kept her occupied. As always, her students were a welcome distraction, their bright smiles and endless energy filling the hours with warmth. She spent the day guiding them through their lessons, laughing at their silly antics, and gently correcting their mistakes.
By the time classes ended, Lara was in the pick-up area with the children. The late afternoon sun bathed the playground in gold, casting long shadows as parents slowly arrived, one by one, to collect their kids.
Just as she knelt to tie a little girl's shoelace, her phone vibrated in the pocket of her skirt.
She finished tying the bow before standing up and pulling out her phone. A message notification lit up her screen.
Reagan: 6 PM. 22 Prime, Discovery Suites.
Lara blinked, surprised at how efficiently he had set things up. She had expected him to cancel or at least suggest a later date, considering how busy he must be. But no, Reagan had actually followed through.
She quickly typed a reply.
Lara: Alright. See you there.
A strange feeling settled in her chest. Not exactly nervousness, but something close. Excitement? No, that couldn't be it. It was just dinner. A simple dinner to say thank you.
Still, as she tucked her phone away, she found herself wondering what kind of person Reagan really was.
Once all the kids had been picked up, Lara returned to the faculty room to pack her things. She bid goodbye to her co-teachers and headed home, eager to get ready for the evening.
As soon as she arrived home, Lara went straight to her bedroom, already thinking about what to wear. She pulled open her wardrobe, fingers hesitating between a dress and something more casual.
Would Reagan care? Probably not. But then again, the restaurant name sounded vaguely familiar.
Curious, she grabbed her phone and typed 22 Prime into the search bar.
Her lips parted slightly as the results loaded.
A high-end European-style steakhouse. Known for its award-winning USDA steaks, an exquisite à la carte menu, and a breathtaking view of the city.
She wasn't entirely shocked. Reagan seemed like the type to prefer fine dining. Not that she minded, but… wasn't this supposed to be just a casual dinner?
She bit her lip, lowering the phone.
Well, that changes things.
She couldn't show up underdressed.
Exhaling softly, she ran her fingers through the hanging dresses in her closet before settling on one.
A delicate, vintage-inspired floral slip dress. The bodice featured a romantic white ruffled top with cap sleeves, a dainty red ribbon tied at the center, giving it a soft, feminine touch. The skirt, adorned with a vibrant red rose print over a cream-colored satin base, cascaded down to her ankles. To complete the look, she slipped into a pair of deep red velvet slingback heels. The pointed-toe design and slim, mid-height heels added a refined touch, embellished with shimmering gold bows that caught the light with every step. For accessories, she kept it simple. A silver necklace with a small pendant and matching silver earrings.
After a quick touch-up of her makeup, she brushed her hair, letting the soft waves frame her face. She checked herself in the mirror, tilting her head slightly.
Not bad.
Satisfied, she turned to grab her purse but hesitated when her gaze fell on her phone.
Should I text Lucas?
A part of her still felt the need to inform him when she'd be home late even though he never extended her the same courtesy.
With a sigh, she unlocked her phone, intending to type a quick message.
But as her thumb hovered over his contact name, something caught her eye.
An old message thread.
Her brows knitted together as she scrolled up.
And then, her stomach dropped.
Oh my God.
She had… drunk-texted Lucas?
Her heart pounded as she skimmed through the messages, feeling the blood drain from her face. Each incoherent text was worse than the last. A chaotic mess of typos and stubborn insistence that she was, in fact, not drunk.
Lara groaned and clamped a hand over her mouth, mortified.
What the hell was this?
Memories from that night were hazy, but she remembered drinking with her Kuya Levi when they visited her parents. She must have texted Lucas afterward, though she had absolutely no recollection of it.
And yet, here was the proof. Undeniable. Cringe-inducing.
Oh God! Did I really texted him those nonsense? And Lucas actually responded?
And, wait—
Was he teasing her?
Her heart stuttered. Lucas… teasing her?
It was such a foreign concept that she almost didn't believe it. For a moment, she just stared at the messages, an unfamiliar warmth curling inside her.
Why?
Why had he responded like that?
Why did he humor her instead of ignoring her like he usually did?
She had never seen this side of him before. He was always clipped, distant, indifferent. He barely spared her more than a few words unless necessary. So why…?
Why did he act like this that night? Why was she only seeing this now?
Was the universe playing some cruel joke on her?
Her fingers clenched around the phone as her emotions twisted in a confusing mess.
Was it just amusement for him? Was he just entertaining himself at her expense? Or… was there something else?
Her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat. But then, she forced herself to stop.
No. Snap out of it, Lara.
It was just texts. Just meaningless words. They didn't matter. They didn't change anything.
Those words, playful as they were, did nothing to bridge the distance between them. They didn't erase the cold silences, the empty nights, or the years she spent feeling invisible in her own marriage.
Lucas was still the same. Distant. Indifferent. Unreachable.
He had probably just been bored that night.
That's all it was.
Biting her lip, she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before inhaling deeply.
Enough.
She shouldn't be thinking about this. She shouldn't be analyzing his words like they meant something. Because in the end, they didn't.
Exhaling sharply, Lara locked her phone and set it aside, refusing to let herself spiral over something so insignificant.
Not tonight.
Tonight, she had other things to focus on. And for once, just for one night, she wouldn't waste another moment thinking about Lucas.
Tonight, she wouldn't be in this house waiting for him.
Grabbing her purse, Lara straightened her shoulders. She took one last look in the mirror, and walked out the door.