"W-What are you…" Patrick was too agitated to speak when he saw Sean.How long had Sean been sitting beside him? How long was Sean watching him make a fool of himself?!Was Sean watching all the while he cried?!How could someone be so horrible?!In fact, Patrick was so furious he could have a stroke.However, just as he was about to yell at Sean, Sean clasped a hand over his mouth, denying him the chance to speak.Patrick's eyes widened and reddened, clearly infuriated."Shush," Sean told him calmly nonetheless. "Don't make too much noise—you're on a plane."Somehow, Patrick thought that Sean was messing with him on purpose.He was so furious he could murder, and he promptly bit on Sean's palm at that instant as hard as he could.He put so much weight into it he was shaking. Patrick wanted nothing less than to kill Sean or at least bite a chunk of his hand off.Sean frowned, clearly in pain but not making a sound.He merely bore with Patrick's venting, and even Patrick
An air stewardess arrived. "Good evening, sir. How may I assist you?""I accidentally got bitten," Sean replied. "Could you help me disinfect it and bandage it?""Of course. One moment, please."Once she left, Patrick's face almost turned green. "Were you messing with me, Sean?!"His voice was shaking from restraint, and every word was growled through clenched teeth.Sean simply flashed an outrageous smile at him—Patrick never saw him smile like that and started to shake with rage and murderous impulse. However, he had to bear with it since he was on a plane and turned his head aside, not wanting to look at Sean twice.Soon, the air stewardess had cleaned and bandaged Sean's palm, and neither man spoke along the rest of the journey. Nonetheless, Sean kept following Patrick after they disembarked, leaving Patrick almost hysterical. He certainly did not want to see Sean for another second after what happened on the plane. "Why are you following me?" "Cordy told me to keep you
Patrick was speechless. "What the—"Sean simply pulled his arm along. "Come on. Rocktown is your turf—it's your turn to be host!""I never agreed to this!"Patrick was exasperated, but Sean was too strong and basically dragged him along.Moreover, since Sean could not check in at a hotel without an ID, Patrick had to let him stay in one of the apartments he owned.However, the instant they stepped through the front door, Sean asked, "I'm a little hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"Patrick almost had enough."It's almost 7 PM," Sean said nonetheless, pointing at the skies darkening outside. "I haven't eaten anything for a day."Patrick realized then that he had not eaten either, as he was caught in his misery.Sitting on the floor just then, he asked Sean, "What would you like to eat?""Anything's fine," Sean replied, stretching his back as he sat on the couch. "A little alcohol would be good, though."As Patrick looked up at him, Sean said, "No? It's been a tiring day. Dr
Patrick gritted his teeth and told himself not to get petty with Sean.Either way, he could make Sean leave tomorrow.With that, he started chomping down on the skewers and drank.-As the night stretched over the skies, the lights of the city lit up.Sean must have drunk a lot.Still, he was usually rational enough not to get drunk, and he stopped when he was about to reach his limit.He went outside to the balcony, standing where Patrick stood for a breather.Sean had never been to Rocktown, only ever coming on business trips and certainly not to gaze upon its sights properly like this.Somehow, he found it rather beautiful and enjoyed the touch of the breeze against his face as he took in the scenery. There was no telling how long had passed, and he felt a little cold as his drunkenness subsided.He turned to look through the sliding door that Patrick had already drunk himself silly and was sprawled over the table.He knew the man would get drunk tonight anyway but did
However, Patrick had not made it inside the bathroom for even a moment when Sean heard a violent crash.Stunned for a moment, he dashed inside immediately to find Patrick laying on his back, and motionless.Worried, Sean hurried to him in fear that he broke something, only to hear his regular, rhythmic breathing.Sean was left speechless—the man would rather sleep on the bathroom floor than on his huge, comfortable bed?He arched his back and tried to help Patrick back to bed before changing his mind, putting the man in the bathtub and helping clean him up instead…-The next day, Patrick opened his eyes when the sun was high overhead and felt his body aching all over, including his head.He felt a little hangover and was unable to remember just then how he ended up in bed, let alone fell asleep.He wiggled a little, and his heart skipped a beat when he realized there was someone behind him.What was more, his back was pressed firmly against their back, and he could clearly fe
"You were drunk last night."Sean stretched his back, putting a pillow against the headboard to cushion himself as he sat up, sighing emotionally. "Urgh, I'm really sore all over.""Shut up!" Patrick bellowed at him.Sean was left confused as to how he upset Patrick.It took him great effort just to bathe the man last night, so that he could sleep comfortably… only to throw a fit at him first thing in the morning?!Did he even remember how terrible he was, flailing around like a child while Sean bathed him?! Not only did Sean have to coax him just like with a child, he even scratched Sean as he resisted."You're still drunk, aren't you?" Sean asked, studying him just then."Yes, yes, yes, I'm still drunk!" Patrick admitted to it right away. "That's why I had no idea what I did last night at all! So I refuse to take responsibility!"Sean was left staring at Patrick again. 'Refuse to take responsibility?'Still, Sean understood in an instant.So Patrick was presuming what h
A week passed.In North City, Cordy took the time to adjust and was more or less back to normal.Emotions would flare when she occasionally remembered what happened, but the issue was not at all major.And when she showed up at work, the employees would scarcely dare to act like something happened.After clearing a load of work for the day, Cordy decided to call Sean after some thought. She was convinced that she could be friends for life with Patrick, even if they could not be husband and wife.And although Sean had left to soften the blow for him over the week, he never called or texted her, so she had no idea how Patrick was doing.Soon, Sean answered, though he was clearly drowsy as if he had still been sleeping.And it was almost 11 AM—since when did he wake up so late?"You're still not up yet? What were you doing? Did you stay up the whole night?" Cordy asked, puzzled."Yeah, I just woke up," Sean rasped before adding vaguely, "Well, it's technically not the whole night
Cordy felt disappointment inside even though she could hear that Patrick sounded fine.Their relationship was neither deep or shallow, but it was over regardless.-In the afternoon, when Robin Tate—one of Cordy's executives—arrived for a routine update, he instead said, "I'm afraid I have bad news, Ms. Sachs.""What?""The lease of our flagship outlet in KPW Shopping Center that was due for renewal in October has been repealed, and a new lease tender is due immediately. We approached the manager yesterday, but they told us that someone bought the entire shopping center and is reevaluating the lease of every outlet starting next month."Cordy's eyes narrowed.Everyone was doing fine at their respective outlets at KPW Shopping Center. Why the sudden chaos and reevaluation of leases?!Not even a change in owners should lead to such a major reshuffle—forget the enormous workload that involved, it would also cause serious discontent among the businesses involved.Was the new owner
Soon, another nurse emerged from the delivery room with a small bundle. "Is the mother's family here?""Yes!" John exclaimed loudly."The delivery was successful," the nurse said. "The baby weighs eight pounds—""How is she?" John asked in agitation, not caring about the child."She's fine. The doctor is just helping her clean up and she'll be out soon," the nurse replied.As John breathed a sigh of relief, the nurse reminded him, "Aren't you the father? Here's your child."John took the baby off her arms, staring at her for a moment as the others flocked around him. "Oh, she's so fair!" Zoe could not help exclaiming. "That's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.""Are you saying that your son's ugly?" Bob teased."To be honest, yeah," Zoe replied without thinking.Jay cleared his throat—even if it was a subjective opinion, it still hurt to have his own baby called ugly."Let me carry her," Zoe volunteered just then, and John did not hesitate to hand her his baby.As Zoe
"What?!" Zoe exclaimed in shock.Beside them, John's face fell despite being usually stoic.Still, even before anyone could react, he scooped Cordy up in his arms and left.Zoe did not hesitate to follow, but Jay reminded her, "We're the hosts, Zoe.""Don't care." Zoe was completely unconcerned. "Ask my mom and your sister to handle the guests. I'm going with Cordy!"Jay hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow since there was no reasoning with Zoe.Sam and Quinn also realized that something was out of place.As they pulled away reluctantly, Bob shouted from below, "If you're done kissing, we're going to the hospital! Cordy's going into labor!"Quinn hurried after them as soon as she hurt, but Sam caught her. "Slow down. We can catch up."In fact, most of the guests were leaving as well—it was as if the banquet for Zoe's son was actually intended for everyone else.The poor boy was certainly unlucky to have such unreliable parents!-As everyone rushed to the hospit
"I'm swelling from my pregnancy," Quinn explained. "It's not your fault."Sam was left staring at her for a while before asking, "So, what should I do?""I'll put it on when I slim down.""Oh." Sam was a little disappointed, since he had always dreamed of having her put on the ring he had custom made.But this was fine—they had all the time they needed, and the most important thing for him is that Quinn was marrying him!He rose to his feet just then, and everyone was cheering as soon as he did. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"Quinn blushed right then, and Sam could see that she was embarrassed.He did not want to make things awkward for her, even if he was quite eager at the moment.Heaven knows how much he missed that night's drunken fumble they had. In fact, during the times he remembered it in dreams, he had to wash his pants when he woke up.Still, just as he took Quinn's hand and started to leave, he felt a softness on his lips—Quinn was kissing him! Sam's heart pounded thunderous
Everyone waited patiently for the final outcome.Quinn's eyes were welling up with tears, threatening to gush if she so much as blinked.She did her best to hold back her tears—to be strong!Sam pursed his lips in turn, his Adam's apple bobbing.A long while passed, and it felt like a century for Quinn when she finally heard him say, "Yes."Quinn's tears started falling in happiness as Sam declared loudly, "I'll marry you, Quinn—it's what I've always wanted to do! I won't let you go even if you regret it eventually! You only get to be with me, and I'll never let any other man claim you! I'll become very overbearing… eventually!""I won't regret it," Quinn said, determined.She certainly would not regret marrying him!Zoe walked up to them with perfect timing just then, and Sam did a double take.He finally remembered that Zoe was the host of this luncheon and was going to leave with Quinn when Zoe whipped out a small red velvet box."You know what's in here, don't you?" Zoe a
However, Sam had already pushed Quinn away before she could tell him. But even if he did not love her or did not want to be with her, she would never stay with Ryan.She had been disappointed in Sam, wondering why he would give up so easily.Was she that unimportant to him?Therefore, if it were not for Zoe and Cordy showing her that video or telling her so much, she would never have known that he loved her for years…Sam's heart ached even as he looked into Quinn's tearful eyes.He reached out a hand, but soon withdrew it—would he not burden her?Even so, it hurt to restrain himself as he watched her, and he was actually getting the feeling that Quinn loved him…But she already had Ryan's child…Well, he was fine with that, as long as the child was Quinn's.But would she not mind?"I will marry you, Sam," Quinn said slowly and clearly then. "Not because you're a good man, not because you prepared so much for me, and not because of how much you prepared for me, but because I
Everyone in the hall was staring at Sam and Quinn, while Quinn took center stage, staring fixedly at Sam.He stood in the middle of the crowd, watching her silently.She in turn felt fear that he would turn and leave, just as she did not know if she had the courage to stand before him again and to declare her feelings for him in front of so many others.Nonetheless, amid the deafening silence, Sam suddenly walked toward the stage.His pace was slow as if his feet were made of lead, but he was also unusually determined.Quinn's heart raced uncontrollably right then!Everyone else was watching them nervously, especially Cordy and Zoe, with the latter being especially concerned that the cowardly Sam would bail.Fortunately, he was a man who showed responsibility. He would not leave Quinn alone and embarrassed.Hence, as everyone looked on, Sam stood before Quinn, his gaze flickering as their eyes met.He gulped ever so slightly, his emotions clearly ruffled even as he did his bes
The guests were encouraging, loudly asking, "Why?!""Because of a woman," Sam's recording replied."Who is it?""Quinn Summer," the Sam on the screen said slowly and clearly, leaving the Sam who was in the hall stunned.What the hell?! That was the proposal video he prepared before! Why did it show up here? Did Zoe make a mistake?!He knew it—leave anything to Zoe, and she would mess it up!He started striding toward the stage, intent on stopping the recording, when John and Bob intercepted him with a look of utter guilt while the recording continued. "Quinn is my wife, and we've been married for years, but I've never really loved her—not because I don't, but because I'm afraid to. I feel too insignificant in comparison to the one she loves, so I'd always hurt her… painfully and childishly. I regret that so much now, Quinn. How could I have abandoned you for so long because of my own jealousy? I'd rather hold you in my sleep every night, but my damned pride denied me that for y
At the banquet hall, Jay and Zoe were thanking their guests with their children in their arms.Then, Zoe announced excitedly, "Please give my best friend, who is also my son's godmother, a warm applause as she comes on stage!"Sam stood at a corner of the hall, watching as Quinn walked up the stage, only realizing just then that her belly was clearly swelling despite her baggy clothes.Time flies—he had not left that long ago, but she and Ryan already had a child.She was not worried about giving him a stroke, was she?He watched as Quinn took the mic and looked around below searching, seemingly searching.After a while, he thought she was looking at him, but by the time he looked up, she had already turned away.Maybe she was looking for Ryan before remembering that Ryan was not there?Nonetheless, Quinn spoke into the mic, saying, "I'm honored to be chosen as the godmother to Zoe's son, and she's been saying he'd be engaged to my child if it's a girl. I already love my godson
As their eyes met, Sam turned frantic and averted his. "Of course.""Really?" Quinn asked."Would I lie to you?" Sam asked a little grumpily."And you didn't bring her back?" Quinn asked."I'm on a schedule, and it'd be taxing for her if I bought her along," Sam said, making things up as he went along. "I'll bring her along when things are less busy.""Is she pretty?" Quinn pressed."What, have I ever picked an ugly one?" Sam snorted smugly. "You know I prefer curvaceous types, and there are plenty of those abroad.""Do you have a photo?"Sam was silent for a while and eventually said, "Yeah.""Can I see it?""What, does she have to pass your assessment?""Just curious about the girl who can tempt you to settle down," Quinn replied. "You'd be humbled." Sam hastily came up with an excuse."I won't," Quinn said, determined."You'll see her when I bring her home." Sam refused nonetheless."I would like to see a photo now.""No, she's not that photogenic. It'd be slander a