197 Lanterns 05

They were instructed to just stay for a few minutes and act all intimately up until Hue will give the signal for the lanterns to be released however they were not instructed as to what the signal would be so all they could currently do was act and wait. This was to give their parts a more realistic reactions namely their surprise.

Though the atmosphere between them was not awkward anymore, Mirly knowing that they were still filming could not help but be embarrassed as she wanted to do what Hue instructed however she didn't know how.

In reality she was looking and staring at the crew with that small smile because she was amuse by her current dilemma and was also thinking of topics to talk about when Chad beat her to it.

"Mirly…" Mirly turned to look at him hearing the sincerity and warmth from his voice.

They stared at each other's eyes as though looking for something, searching for something…

"Mirly, I'm so sorry for what happened back then… everything ended even before it started… My career… You leaving… For everything… I'm so sorry…" He said as his voice quivered in pain

"You don't have to say you're sorry Chad, whatever happened or the lack of it was both our decisions you know… We were just too young... too absorb in our own goals and life to think of whatever we had back then..." She said after a minute of silence as she yet again avoided his eyes as she said it.

"I know, but I wanted you to know… After this past year, I still can't forget about you… about what could have been… if only we took that next step… what would have happened…" He said as he continued to stare at her side profile hurt and longing filled his voice

Mirly did not know why but tears started falling from her eyes. She hurriedly wiped it. She was confused. She did not know what she feels about him but hearing him say those words pierced her heart deeply as though an arrow was shot through it each time he talked about the what ifs.

She never regretted her decision for leaving because it was for her growth and protection of her best friend and family. But she could not help but think, similarly like Chad to think of the several what ifs that could have happened. She didn't want to confront nor think of those things yet here he was opening the secret regret she tried so hard to bury.

She did not understand why she was crying, why she was confused and why she upon hearing his words and the way he speaks made her heart hurt so deeply.

Seeing her act this way, hope bloomed inside Chad's heart. He knows seeing her cry or making her cry was a bad thing but her crying also means that she still had some feelings for him because why would she act in such a way if she thought otherwise.

He then reach for her and hugged her in comfort which startled the vulnerable Mirly, she tried to struggle because this action of his only made her more confuse and afraid.