Chapter 64: The Words She Was Afraid to Hear

A quiet sadness settled over Sabrina’s heart.

She stood beneath the soft gym lights, staring at nothing in particular, while Jason’s words continued to echo in her mind.

He was still so young.

Only a few years older than her daughter.

And she was already thirty-one.

For the first time in a while, Sabrina became painfully aware of the years behind her. She lifted a hand and gently touched her cheek, her fingertips tracing the smooth skin there.

She still took care of herself. She exercised almost every day, watched what she ate, and worked hard to stay healthy.

But time was time.

It never stopped.

If I were ten years younger...

The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

If she were twenty-one instead of thirty-one, perhaps she would have the courage to chase after Jason without worrying about what anyone thought.

She could compete with the girls his age.

She could fall in love without wondering whether she was holding him back.

But reality wasn’t that kind.

In another ten years, she would be in her forties.

Jason would still be young, with an entire future ahead of him.

What happens then?

The thought made her chest ache.

She didn’t want Jason to wake up one day and realize he’d sacrificed the best years of his life for someone older than him.

Perhaps the safest choice was to keep things simple.

They could remain friends.

Close friends.

People who understood each other and enjoyed each other’s company.

That way, she wouldn’t have to risk losing him completely.

But even that thought left her heart strangely empty.

Sabrina lowered her hand.

She didn’t know which choice would hurt less.

Jason noticed the change in her expression.

His playful smile disappeared, replaced by a seriousness she rarely saw from him.

"Sabrina, don’t think like that."

She looked up.

Jason’s voice was calm, but there was conviction behind every word.

"Your daughter matters. Of course she does. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life putting yourself last."

Sabrina stared at him.

"You only get one life," he continued. "Don’t you think you’re allowed to live some of it for yourself?"

She remained silent.

His words slipped past the walls she’d spent years building.

"Wanting happiness doesn’t make you selfish," Jason said. "And choosing to have a life of your own isn’t something you need to apologize for."

Sabrina’s eyes softened.

She wasn’t sure what he was trying to tell her.

But something inside her shifted.

Jason stepped closer and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

"You’re still young, Sabrina. Don’t convince yourself that your life is already over just because you’re a mother."

His voice softened.

"Your daughter probably wants to see her mom happy too."

Sabrina’s lips parted slightly.

She had never thought about it that way.

For years, she’d believed being a good mother meant putting every dream of her own on hold.

But Jason was asking her to consider something she’d almost forgotten.

What about me?

The question frightened her.

It also made her heart ache.

She lowered her gaze.

"Don’t say things like that."

Her voice was quiet.

"I’m thirty-one."

She gave a small, self-conscious smile.

"Compared to the girls you go to school with, I’m already old."

She looked toward the other side of the gym.

Young women were still working out nearby, laughing with their friends and talking between sets. Their energy seemed effortless.

"They’re the ones with their whole lives ahead of them," Sabrina murmured. "They’d be better suited for someone like you."

She looked down at her hands.

Over the years, she’d worked hard to preserve herself.

Exercise had become more than a job. It had become a way to hold on to the parts of herself she feared time would take away.

But every now and then, seeing younger women in the gym reminded her of reality.

Youth didn’t last forever.

And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop the clock.

She sighed.

"Time doesn’t wait for anyone."

Jason shook his head.

There was almost frustration in his eyes now.

Not anger at her.

Frustration that she couldn’t see herself the way he did.

"Sabrina."

She looked up.

Jason reached out and gently lifted her chin so she would meet his eyes.

"I’m not joking."

His gaze stayed on hers.

"If you hadn’t told me you were thirty-one, I would’ve guessed you were in your early twenties."

Sabrina blinked.

"Your skin, your energy, the way you carry yourself... You don’t look like someone who’s already given up on her youth."

Her cheeks slowly warmed.

She knew he was complimenting her.

But hearing it from him felt different.

Especially when he was looking directly into her eyes.

"You’re just saying that," she murmured.

"No."

Jason’s answer came immediately.

"I mean it."

Sabrina’s heart skipped.

She wasn’t prepared for how sincere he sounded.

She suddenly became aware of the closeness between them.

His hands had just left her face, but she could still feel the warmth lingering against her skin.

Her cheeks turned bright red.

She took a small step backward.

"W-where..."

The rest of the sentence disappeared.

She didn’t know what to say.

Jason’s smile widened slightly.

Sabrina quickly looked away.

"You’re just good at sweet-talking people."

She tried to recover her composure.

"There must be plenty of girls at your school who like you. I bet you have admirers everywhere."

Jason nearly laughed.

If only she knew.

The girls at school weren’t exactly lining up to chase after him.

At the moment, his reputation wasn’t exactly impressive.

Before everything changed, he had been known more for constantly chasing after girls than for being someone girls actually wanted.

Jason shook his head.

"I’m telling you the truth."

Sabrina glanced at him.

"The girls at school don’t interest me."

He paused.

"Honestly, when I was helping you with your squats earlier, I..."

He stopped himself.

A slightly awkward smile appeared on his face.

Sabrina immediately understood where he was going.

Her cheeks burned.

"Enough."

She gave him a playful glare.

"Don’t say embarrassing things."

But despite her words, the corners of her lips had already curled upward.

Inside, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling happy.

At least she wasn’t imagining everything.

At least Jason really did feel something for her.

Jason quickly added,

"I’m serious. Everything I said came from the heart."

"You’re still going!"

Sabrina lightly scolded him.

But her smile gave her away.

Her heart felt strangely light, almost as though she’d just been given permission to hope again.

"Come on," she said, deliberately changing the subject. "Let’s finish your squats."

"All right."

They returned to the squat rack.

For the next several minutes, they focused on training.

Sabrina corrected his stance.

Jason followed her instructions.

Every now and then, their hands brushed or their shoulders bumped.

Neither mentioned it.

But neither seemed eager to move away, either.

Eventually, Sabrina wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at the clock.

"All right. That’s enough for today."

Her hair had become slightly messy during the workout, with a few strands resting against her cheeks.

She looked tired.

But there was a softness in her expression that hadn’t been there earlier.

Jason nodded.

"Okay. Thanks for today, Sabrina."

She smiled.

"You’re welcome."

Then, after a brief pause, she added,

"If you ever have questions about training, just ask me."

Her smile was warm and genuine.

"I’ll help you."

They gathered their things and left the gym together.

Outside, evening had settled over the city.

The last traces of daylight lingered along the horizon, while streetlights flickered on one after another. Cars passed along the road, their headlights cutting through the growing darkness.

For a moment, Sabrina simply stood there beneath the warm glow of a nearby streetlamp.

Something inside her felt different.

She looked at Jason.

Is this really where today ends?

What if they could never become a couple?

What if she spent years wondering what might have happened if she’d been brave enough to take a chance?

The thought hurt.

Maybe she didn’t need to demand a future from him.

Maybe she didn’t need a promise.

If she couldn’t be his lover, she could at least remain someone important in his life.

Someone close enough to share his happiness.

Sabrina slowly clenched her hands.

Her uncertainty gradually gave way to determination.

Fine.

Then I’ll stop running away.

Jason walked toward his motorcycle.

"Sabrina, I’m heading out."

He waved casually before climbing onto the bike.

He had no visible hesitation.

No nervousness.

No sign that he was waiting for anything.

But inside, Jason was counting.

Three.

He glanced toward Sabrina.

Two.

He reached for his helmet.

One.

"Sabrina, wait!"

Jason’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

Exactly as he’d expected.