Rosa's squeal sent a jolt through me as she crushed me in a bear hug. "Oh my God, Nicole! Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was? I've missed you so much!" My arms snaked around Rosa's back, returning her hug briefly before I pulled away, a smile tugging at my lips. "I've missed you too." Rosa's eyes scanned me from head to toe, particularly my outfit. "You look different, Nicole! What's the secret? Tell me you've hooked a rich billionaire, babe!" I rolled my eyes. Rosa would always be Rosa. A golddigger through and through. I loved her though. She had been a good friend to me from the first time I started working at the coffee shop with her. Her heart was as big as her dreams. Her eyes widened in excitement. "It's true, isn't it?" I chuckled. "You could say that." She gasped, her eyes sparking with excitement. "You're lying!" "Of course I am," I playfully pushed her away. "Do these things even happen in real life? I have told you before to stop watchi
SERGIO'S POV Nestled in Scarlett's arms, I couldn't help but remember the illicit thrill I had experienced with Nicole last night while Scarlett was busy sleeping. Last night's kiss with Nicole had been a betrayal of everything I claimed to be, yet the memory lingered. I felt extremely guilty, but I couldn't stop myself. The thought of doing it again wasn't repulsive. In fact, just thinking about it made me suck my bottom lip involuntarily. This wasn't me. I wasn't a cheat. But there was something about Nicole that I couldn't put my finger on. Something alluring. I wanted to stay away, but the more I tried, the more I became drawn to her. It was as if I was trapped in a magnetic pull towards her. Scarlett's voice, soft and soothing, broke into my reverie. "Babe, I've been talking to you. Where has your mind traveled to?" The question was innocent, but it felt like she'd seen through me. I leaned in, my heart pounding a guilty rhythm as I placed a quick kiss on her lips. How
"I don't know what you're talking about, Diego," I insisted. Diego shook his head, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I'm your brother, Sergio. I know you better than anyone else. Besides, I saw you leaving the room." Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to remain calm. I couldn't afford to be caught. Not now or ever. "I went there," I began, my voice steady. "because like she said, she had a breakdown and I went there to comfort. That was it." "I believe you," Diego said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You'd never do anything to jeopardize your relationship with Scarlett. You're also not that kind of person to cheat on anyone, let alone Scarlett. It's Nicole that I don't trust." His words sent a pang to my heart. Despite being guilty, I couldn't fathom Diego harboring such thought about Nicole, especially after she'd risked her life for our father. "Why don't you trust her?" I asked, anger creeping into my voice. "She saved Dad's life!" "I'm sorry to say t
A sly smile spread across my lips as Sergio sat beside me. I loved the fact that he sounded so angry. "What did he say to you?" I wiped away the nonexistent tears from my face and shook my head. "He didn't say anything." "Nicole!" Sergio's voice was firm. "Look at me. Talk to me! Tell me exactly what he said to you!" That was my chance. I averted my gaze to him, making sure to fixate my gaze in his. Air fanned my eyes making tears instantly well up in them. "I don't know why Diego dislikes me this much. I thought we were getting along. I thought he liked me, but I've been wrong. This isn't even the first time he's treating me like I'm a nobody," I swallowed. "I know I'm not, but it still hurts when he reminds me of that all the time. He always finds ways to make sneaky remarks about me. Why? What's my offence? I didn't want to take your card but you insisted I do, I went shopping to get a few essential things I needed, and I end up being called a golddigger and a socia
Juliana's point of view Wow! Staring at the transcript of my result, I couldn't believe I passed. I did! OMG! I really did! Dad would be elated to hear of the good news - I smiled, reminiscing how hard I studied to be able to get a scholarship. My hard work did not go to waste after all. It paid off. I giggled to myself and gazed at the results again for the umpteenth time. I just couldn't stop myself from repeating the process. It seemed so... Surreal, even to my own eyes. Dad; he worked so hard just to make sure I succeeded. I could wait no longer to get home and present my results to him. Indisputably, he would be astonished and overjoyed at the same time. Frankly speaking, he was the reason behind my zeal to get a scholarship so badly. I wanted nothing more than to be able to take us out of the poverty I grew up in. To be able to give him a better life. A life he actually deserved. Ever since I was just a kid, the way loan sharks harassed him had never gone unnoticed by me.
Groaning, I regained consciousness and just like like, everything that happened a while ago came rushing back into my system like a flood. Hot, fat tears ran down my cheeks like a loose faucet. Right in front of me, my entire world came crumbling down and I couldn't do anything to help. I was useless! Like a raging bull, I got up and pushed open the door, but to my horror, I met an empty living room. "Dad? Dad?" I screamed for him, but my efforts were futile. Knowing they couldn't have gone far, I raced outside and true to my words, I sighted them, throwing his body in the trunk of a black truck. I raced towards them, but at that very moment, the vehicle began to move. "No!" I continued running after the vehicle until my legs became jelly and I fell flat on my face. "Give him back to me." I cried intermittently. The image of his lifeless body in the pool of his blood suddenly flashed in my mind. "DAD! DAD!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs until my voice croaked and began to br
Mia let out a gasp. She obviously couldn't believe what she just heard. How could she when I still couldn't believe it myself. "Bes." She called, her voice trembling. "I'm... I'm so sorry. Who... Did that to him?" She stuttered. "I don't know who they are. It was my first time seeing them at our house... They looked like thugs." My lips quivered as I spoke. My heart was breaking into a million pieces. "Why did you not call the cops, bes? You should have done that immediately." Mia admonished, grabbing my trembling hand in hers. "I couldn't do it, Mia." I shook my head aggressively. "I couldn't leave or take my eyes away from him even for a blink of an eye." More tears slipped out of my eyes. "I think I lost my phone." "They weren't putting on masks?" Mia caressed my hand softly, emboldening me to continue. "No. I saw their faces. All three of them." I replied. How could I possibly not? Their faces were engraved in my mind and I didn't think it would ever fade. I knew I would ne
"Do you really plan on leaving Cebu? Where do you plan to go, bes?" Mia inquired. I had finally been discharged from the hospital after a few days later and was busy packing my stuff. "Can't you please just stay?" Her voice was laced with genuine worry. It was evident she did not want me to leave the province, but there was absolutely nothing she could do to convince me. I was hellbent of seeking vengeance for my father's death. I couldn't be stopped. Not even by my best friend. "Please reconsider," she continued. "You're not in the right state of mind and knowing you, you might do something reckless."I would admit, she was not wrong about that — I had always acted on impulse, but this time around, my actions would be justified. "Don't worry about me, Mia," I smiled, tightly. "I will be fine. I won't stop, until I get even with those monsters that ruined my life." The promise was more to myself. It was a vow I was ready to do anything to fulfill. There will surely pay in a dreadful