Chapter 51 - Gabriella (1)

I tell my mom about my burgeoning feelings toward Mariano, along with the guilt that comes with it.

"Why do you have to feel guilty? You have no control over how you feel about things or people. There's no switch you can turn on and off. It simply…exists. It's like air," she tells me.

"But Jino…"

"I'm sorry about Jino, baby. I really am. He was a good kid. But he's no longer here. It's not fair for you to be holding back for someone who's not around anymore. That's not living, Gabriella."

Something pricks at my heart. I hear her, but I refuse to accept easily. "Isn't it too fast? Too soon?"

A small sigh leaves her lips, but her voice remains soft. I rarely heard my mom raise her voice. She's always this kind and gentle woman. "We can't put a time frame on love—"

"I don't love him, mom. Just…like." That's right. It's just "like".