Loose tie, unbuttoned shirt, coat on the floor, lip print on his neck, lipstick on his cheek, a lady's mouth pressed against his and a messy desk was what Julie saw as Steven passionately kissed another woman. He lifts his head and stares into her eyes. Julie feels as though he was looking into her wounded heart. As the saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul. When their eyes locked, Julie could tell that he seemed confused, and Steven saw that Julie felt hurt.
Julie's heart rate increases, her lips shake, and her hand trembles. She pressed her right hand against her left arm to keep herself poised and calm.
"I am sorry, sir. I will come back when you are not busy." She said in a quavering and unsteady voice, as though she was stuttering.
Steven woke up from his shock and realized what was occurring. "Julie!" Steven mumbled.
He got off Chloe and concentrated on her. At that moment, Julie fel
Julie decided that she had to give herself some self-respect and finally gaze away from Steven. She then withdrew her head from Daniel's chest."I am sorry!" Julie said awkwardly.She glances at Steven, and Daniel's eyes follow her. His sight rested on his boss, and it was crystal clear to him.Daniel realized that he got caught in a love triangle that he knew nothing about at that moment.He then focused on Julie's face, and it seemed like she was the pathetic one in this triangle. Daniel could not stand the sadness in her eyes and tried to help her out of this uncomfortable situation."Are you okay?" He said, placing his hand on her cheek and passionately wiping the tears from her eyes with his finger.Julie gazed at his expression, and Daniel did not seem cheerful anymore. Instead, he appeared concerned. She smiled and nodded her head.
Jackson came downstairs with a fresh bandage. He then joined his mother and wife at the table. Jackson sat down, and they went on eating their breakfast. Rose tasted a bit of her spaghetti and smiled."Jackson, this food is very delicious. It's the best out of all the pasta you have ever made for me. Did you use a new recipe?" She asked her son.Jackson looked at Jennie awkwardly and saw that his wife seemed a little unhappy with the fact that she was not the one applauded. Though she tried to smile and nodded that it was okay for him to take credit for her food, her expression could not lie."Actually mom, it was Jennie who prepared these dishes," Jackson said as he took a sip of his coffee.Jennie shook her head the entire time he was addressing Rose as a signal to Jackson, gesturing at him to stop talking. However, the words were already out, and he could not take it back."Je
Jackson ran upstairs to get changed. He rushed into his room and approached the pile of clothes on the floor that he had left there previously that morning. Jackson grabbed a pair of dark blue jeans and a sleeveless white t-shirt."Babe, are you sure you want to go now? I mean, mom is still here. Plus, it would seem disrespectful if you just walked out like this. Why can't you invite Steven over? That way, we can all be together, and nobody will feel left out or hurt." Jennie explained to her hubby as she stood by the doorway.She had followed her husband. Rose is not her favorite person right now, and Jennie did not want to be left alone with her mother-in-law at this time. She could have misled her husband, but Jennie did not believe she could do the same with Rose. Her mother-in-law remained married for forty-five years now, and with that amount of years, Rose had had a lot of marital experiences.
Jennie watches as Rose drinks the last of the juice. "I am full." Her mother-in-law said as she set the glass down and looked at Jennie."I'm finished too," Jennie said, laying her spoon down. She then stood up and cleaned up. Rose joined in and started collecting the plates."Mom, leave them. I will do it." Jennie announced.However, Rose continued with a smile. "You don't have to treat me like an old lady. I still have some strength left in my bones." She teased her daughter-in-law.Jennie laughed loudly at Rose's remark. She could feel some of her stress leaving her. Jennie and Rose happily chatted as they got the work done. Their joyful moment reminded Jennie of the old days when she recently started dating Jackson. At that period
The bartender stared at Steven and his friend in excitement. Jackson could taste the salt in his blood as it ran out of his mouth. He figures that his teeth might have cut his tongue when Steven struck him. Jackson reached out for some napkins, andOliverassisted him with the box. He pulled three tissues out and spat his blood into them. Jackson then wiped his mouth with his hand."I deserved this blow. Is everything all right with you? I was kidding with my last statement, and I am revoking my words. I also understand that my remarks were wrong. For that, I am sorry. But you knocked me hard, bro." He told his friend as he sat on the stool and drank his next glass.Steven felt so relieved after Jackson's clarification that he took three shots in a roll and took his seat. Steven didn't reply, though he did not look mad anymore, and Jackson
Jennie stared at Rose with pity in her eyes. They had been sitting in silence for the past twenty minutes, and her mother-in-law had not changed her position. Rose kept her gaze on the light from the window.Suddenly the glow faded away, and Rose remembered how she felt like a dying light when she stood at the building with her baby boy and wondered what was behind its doors."What happened next, mom? Jennie asked.She couldn't stop herself from inquiring. Rose did not move a muscle as she continues with the story.The building had the name "Divine lovers hotel" in pink letters written on a billboard attached to the front of the building."Mom, come on! Let's go look for dad!" Jackson screamed at me.Before I could come to my senses and stop my son from entering, Jackson had pushed the door open and entered. I went after him in a h
The bar got quiet by one o'clock in the afternoon. A lot of people who were in the pub from ten o'clock in the morning at the time Jackson and Steven arrived had left. These friends were two out of the seven people in the bar, including the bartender. Jackson and Steven finish the entire bottle. However, Jackson drank more than his friend, and he crossed his sober line. Steven noticed that his pal was drunk and decided that it was time for them to head home. "Jackson, wake up. I need to drive you to your residence!" Steven said as he shook his buddy out of the brief nap he had taken on the counter. "Will you allow her to slip out of your grip?" Jackson mumbles as he slowly opens his eyes and gazes at his friend with a tired smile. "What are you saying, man? Are you drunk talking?" Steven said. He sat back on his stool since he saw that Jackson was awake now. "I'm not. I
The chilly December breeze blew gently across the tree, allowing its leaves to swing from side to side. The wind mopped the streets as it passed by, carrying the falling leaves high above the ground and into the air. People continued passing by, causing the sidewalk to become boisterous with the sound of footsteps.A married couple and their kids sat outside by the shop window as their children happily licked their ice cream and played freely with each other. Julie watches through the glass and stares at their cheerful faces. They reminded her of her childhood days when she did not understand how terrifying and depressing life was and how hurtful people could be. She can still recollect the first day she discovered that the world was not full of sunshine and rainbows.The door to the Harper bakery shop flew open, and her four-year-old self ran toward her father with her mother by her side. Her dad could see that h
Jackson walked into the dining room, fully dressed in a suit, and Rose and Miya gazed away from their food and awkwardly stared at him. “Dada!” Milo shouted, jumping in his seat. Then Mila and Milu followed his lead and started yelling, “dada.” Those words brought a smile onto Jackson's lips even though he had heard it countless times for the past few months. Beaming with joy, he walked over to his kids' seats and took Milo, Mila and Milu out of their chairs one after the other, playing with them for a moment before putting them back into their seats. “Where are you going in a suit?” Rose asked, setting her fork down on the table. “Today is Miya's final trial date, and I'm driving her to the courthouse?” Jackson said, adoringly staring at Miya. Taking her focus off her son, Rose gazed at Milo, Mila, and Milu and said, “Can you guys say ‘Nana?” “Mom, you've been trying to make them say ‘nana’ for six months now. Th
“Mom, bride, where we at?” The wedding planner said, walking further into the room.Mrs. Harper pulled up her daughter's gown zipper and smiled.“We are ready.” She mumbled, gently rubbing Julie’s arms as tears ran down her cheeks.“Awesome, bride, please come with me. Your father is waiting for you at the church door.”The wedding planner said.A look of hesitation crossed Julie’s face. Then she turned around and tightly hugged her mother.“I love you so much,” Julie said, sobbing softly.“I love you too, sweetheart.” Mrs. Harper mumbled, gently patting her back.Now that the bridesmaids were in the church hall, everyone was impatiently waiting for the bride, except Jackson.He was too focused on staring at Miya to care for the stuff going on around him.“Everyone please stand! The bride is about to enter.” The preacher said.
“Groomsmen, Groom, you guys got to be out of here in the next twenty minutes and be in the church.” The wedding planner said as he walked into the room.Jackson stopped buttoning his shirt, gazed at him, and said, “Oh is the bridal party ready?”“No. I got words from the ladies' planner, and she said that the bridesmaids and the bride will be ready and in the church within the next one hour.”“Oh! Okay. We will be out in ten.”After the wedding planner left, Jackson turned to gaze at Steven, and a frown settled on his face.“Steve, breathe,” Jackson mumbled, walking over to his friend.“I'm getting married today,” Steven whispered, holding in his breath.“I know. But you have to exhale to release the tension building up inside of you.”“There's so much ‘what if’ questions going on in my head. Like what if Juli
“Hey, mom. I'm heading out to meet with Steven.” Jackson said, walking into the living room. Rose took her eyes off Mila for a second, gazed at her son, and said, “Okay.” Then she focused back on her granddaughter. A look of disbelief crossed Jackson's face. Then he stared at Miya and whispered, “It's like I am invisible to her. Is it legal for a mother to replace her son with her grandkids?” “I think I have lost my rights as their mother,” Miya mumbled, chuckling softly. Rose rolled her eyes at both of them, and said, “Haha, fun… my grandbabies needs their nana.” “How long do you plan to stay here?” Jackson mumbled, struggling not to laugh. “Until they are old enough to call me Nana.” “Well. That's some plan. Anyways, I got to go. Steven is planning to invoke my right as his best man if I don't show up.” In a rush, Jackson kissed the babies on their foreheads and turned to stare at Miya, striving to say the words
The wind blew aggressively against Miya's face, sending her hair in every direction as she stared into Jackson's eyes.“What do you mean?” Miya mumbled, digging her fingers into the sand.“Well… Ummm… Milo and Milu are men. Well they are babies now but they won't stay like that forever. And they love you even though they can't say it.” Jackson mumbled, taking his eyes off her and focusing on the ocean.“Oh,”“I know how much my mother means to me, and the love I have for her is endless. I think they feel the same way even though they can't speak now.”“How would you know that?”
When she heard footsteps approaching the living room, Rose lifted her head and her gaze rested on her son and Miya. “Mom, we are going out. I just hired a nanny to come over, but can you stay with the kids for a few hours until we get back? Also, there will be a few other people coming over, would you please supervise them as they carry out their task?” Jackson said. “Sure, you two run about your business, and I will be right here with these adorable cuties,” Rose mumbled with a smile as Milu’s tiny hand grabbed onto her finger. His lips curved into a smile as Jackson watched his mother's face glowed with joy. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Thanks, mom.” “You don't have to thank me. These are my grandbabies, and I would do anything for them.” Rose said. The corner of Jackson's mouth raised as he watched the bright smile on Miya's pinkish lips. After a few minutes, Jackson drove out of his yard with Miya in the front seat
The moment Jackson and Jennie came back into the living room everyone tried to act natural.Without looking up for even a second, Steven was intensely staring at his blank phone screen while Julie clutched onto Steven's arm and rested her head on his shoulder, gazing down at his phone.Swaying his sight from the entrance, Chris hastily stared at his watch without taking his eyes off it even though he already knew the time.Suddenly, Mr. Harper took the box off the table and began eating the donut that was meant for Jackson while Mrs. Harper tried to get him to stop.And Rose, well, she continued playing with grandbabies like she had been doing all these while.However, Miya was the only one who made eye contact with Jackson, and when their gaze fixed on each other, Jackson looked the other way.“I'm leaving,” Jennie mumbled.For a second she stood quite still as a feeling of embarrassment held her hostage.Then Jennie walked out
After Jennie entered Jackson's room, he followed her in and shut the door behind him.“You and her?” Jennie mumbled while sadly staring Jackson in his eyes.It took a moment of hesitation for Jackson to stiffly smiled and said, “We are just co-parenting.”It grew silent between them. Then Jennie walked over to the bed, sat down on the mattress, and mumbled, “You are a dad. That was something you always wanted, and it hurt so bad that I am not the one who made you a father.”“Believe me, that's exactly how I felt when I walked into that room and saw you with your son. It hurt, it hurt so bad that I felt like I couldn't breathe, like the air I was inhaling was suffocating me.” Jackson calmly intoned.As her hand gently caressed the sheet, Jennie ushered her eyes closed and took in a deep breath. Then she stared at Jackson and said, “But you don't feel that way now.”“What?
No one in the room was prepared for Miya's response, not even Chris and Jackson, and as silence settled in their midst, everyone had different emotions on their faces.Suddenly Steven's heartbeat began to increased and his mouth opened, but no words came out.Then he took a long stared at Miya and angrily said, “You are the lady that Chris brought to Jackson's hospital room that day. When did you two hook up?”The anger raging through Miya suddenly ceased, and panic had her in its grip as she nervously stared at Jackson and thought, ‘Why did I say that?’Then she bowed her head and her nails dug into her palm when she felt them staring at her.Feeling completely betrayed by his best friend, Steven looked at Jackson with sadness in his eyes, and coldly asked, “Were you cheating on Jennie with her before the accident?”Although Jackson had already answered Steven's question in his head, his body didn’t know how to react, and he froze to a poin