52T H E AMy body felt weak in a second and I wanted to succumb to what he wants me to do. He makes me wanna stay here and dance with him. He makes me wanna forget about the whole other people inside the ballroom to be with him. He makes me forget that Sebastian is my date and Lovemarie's his tonight.But this isn't wrong, is it?He isn't officially seeing someone and I am available too. But why do I feel like I'm betraying Sebastian?I groan inwardly and wanted to pull myself away but he gently rubs my hand with his soft long fingers. My body melted and followed him as he placed my left arm around his neck and his right hand holding my free hand as he lazily pulled it up to our side. His other hand wraps around my waist and I loved how it stays there, as if he owned me tonight.Benedict, I hope you can read my mind. I hope you can read my mind so that things will be easier and that you'll know that I am already falling for you. No, I think I had been feeling this a few months ago bu
53B E N E D I C TEverything that was surrounding me was quiet and calm now.Me and Thea were both quiet now after two hours and half of having sex. I'm tired but I've never been this satisfied. I lay on her bed with nothing on me and with Thea lying down next to me. Thea lays her head over my chest and she's been awfully quiet for twenty minutes now. It made me feel as if I did something terribly wrong. I wonder if I even satisfied her. I mean, don't get it wrong but I'm the best in bed and I've been told. Not only once but always.I have noticed that Thea has been avoiding to look me in the eye and I guess she just doesn't know how to speak to me after what we unexpectedly did. We were quiet but we were okay. All of a sudden I see Thea pulling her forefinger out and started drawing circles around my left chest. She scribbled some words against my skin but I couldn't understand what it was.I gently placed my hand over the back of her head and started running my fingers through her
54T H E AThea,I have left while you were asleep. You looked beautiful and you slept peacefully so I couldn't wake you up. About what happened, don't worry a thing about it. Nothing will change between us and if it makes you comfortable I'll act like nothing happened. Rest well. I'll see you in the morning.Benedict.I sigh as I slip the small note into my bag and kept inside a secret pocket. The yacht has now arrived the island and I wasn't too excited to be here. Honestly, I wanted to go home now. I don't feel like something good will happen here in this island.I gave out a heavier sigh.Someone suddenly knocks on my door and I see the view of Sebastian entering my room. He smiles at me and gave me a quick hug."I was worried about you last night and where you went to." He says, rubbing my back.I smiled at him. "I wasn't well last night. Seasick."My eyes travelled to the ground. He rubs the top of my hand and said, "Well I'm glad you're all right now."I smiled at him and pulle
55T H E AI exhaled heavily looking at the swimwear's prices. It was waaaay too expensive and that piece I loved was very pricey. I wouldn't want to take advantage of this gold card that Sebastian gave me."That gold piece will definitely look good on you."I spin around and saw Lovemarie standing behind me.She smiles. I don't know if it's fake on or not but she said, "Hey."I smiled. "Hello."She picks up a cute top but she frowns looking at it then picks up another one and makes an approving look. "They have some great pieces here. Ben said."Ben. She can casually call him Ben."You seem like you don't like it." I say."Oh I do. It's just that... I'm very picky when it comes to clothes." She chuckles.I nod.I watch her as she starts picking another kind of clothing and then all of a sudden hands it to me."Here. This will suit your eyes." She smiles.I don't know if she even meant it or not but what she picked was beautiful. She chuckles, "Take that and that gold one."I shake my
56T H E AI exhale nervously.It makes me curious why he's all over me so suddenly when he doesn't even care about me before. He's been getting too touchy and too close. It makes me worry why he is actually being like this. I don't know his motive and it's hard to tell if he's just trying to flirt with me or not. But I am way too far from being a little bit interested with this very devious man. But I'm sure that he has reasons why he is being like this.I just don't know what."You look like you're ready." He adds."Well..." I stutter. "I'll be joining in a bit after I finish things here."He chuckles. "What the hell are you doing here?"I shake my head. "Putting my things out.""You didn't look like you brought a lot of things with you here." He smirks.I hate him. He's so annoying.And irresistibly gorgeous."Well, hurry up. You're missing the fun." He says.I nod as I watch him stand up straight with that devilish grin plastered on his handsome face."Are you staying here because
57T H E AI like it.I don't like it.Arghhhh!!Sebastian looks upset and I know he wanted to exchange partners so bad but everyone said and agreed that no one should change partners as soon as the app will start choosing its own.I sigh.I glance at Benedict and he kept an impassive look on his face. His arms were inserted inside his pockets and he was just quiet while the rest of the people that were around us were talking to their partners."I think I'll pass this one." Benedict suddenly called out and got everyone's attention.All of them looked back at Benedict."Why?" Bethany asked."It'll be a great group activity for all of us." PJ says.The twin agreed."Don't be a party poop." Troy commented."It's been a while since we had this kind of outdoor activity man. Don't be like this." Khaleel says.I watch Benedict shaking his head and answered, "My hands hurt due to all the barbecuing a while ago and I am not great with sandcastles. We all know that lads."I sigh inwardly.I thi
58T H E A"Last five minutes." I hear Benedict's voice.I look over to other sandcastles that has been put up and everything weren't that bad, most especially Tommy's. He's really definitely Liv's son. Actually, when Liv and I were still together, I didn't get to meet any of his sons. I wasn't that ready to face them and I thankfully decided to do that because I would be dead caught now if he knew me back then.Compared to Liv's work from the other castles, our sandcastle was more castle-like in structure. I am not only saying this because I love my own, but I am saying this because it is true. I guess I'm having that special meal and dessert tonight all thanks to Liv."I'll get the last pail for finishing this part." Liv says."No. Let me do it." I volunteered.I grabbed the pail from his hand and walked towards the waters. I noticed a few shells from afar and decided that it may add decorations to our sandcastle. As soon as I sited it, I walked towards the small shells and picked t
59T H E AI put on some earring and fixed my hair. Since I had a wounded foot, Sebastian decided to have our date inside the villa while the others were having their dinner outside at the yard. He said he wanted to have me solo for tonight since he was busy the entire day and he felt bad for what happened to me.As for Benedict, I haven't seen much of him today. I don't know if he's hiding from me or he talked with Khaleel about what we discussed inside the clinic. By I was seriously disappointed at Benedict, most of the people asked and worried about me. But he never even talked to me and asked me if I was fine or how was my foot. God that man is despicable!I sigh as I look at my reflection. "Man up Thea. Tell Sebastian that you don't like him."A knock came by my door and I knew that it was already Sebastian. I headed straight to the door and decided to open it. But it was someone else."Hey." He smiled tightlipped."Khaleel." I welcomed his presence. "What brings your here? I tho
87 T H E A Sebastian committed suicide. He ended his own life with a gun in his head. No one even knew how he had a gun in the first place and no one had any idea he was going to do that. He was supposed to meet Ben and the others tomorrow for a reunion. He was supposed to live a new life after being sentenced in prison for seven years. He was supposed to live in a tropical place and start a new life for himself. He was supposed to live a life filled with dreams now that he is out in prison. Sebastian was supposed to live. I was supposed to forgive him. The autopsy report stated that it happened around twelve midnight which means just a few hours after he left our home. I have never felt so depressed in my entire life that I wasn't even able to tell him a lot of things that I wanted to say. I didnt know what I was exactly feeling, completely lost in my thoughts and emotions after Sebastian's passing. I knew that there was something wrong in his eyes when he talked to me becaus
86T H E A"How have you been?" He asks.Sebastian wore blue, white and light pink plaided top, a pair of faded jeans and a dirty white sneakers. He looked older than the last time I saw him and his hair has gotten longer too. He looked different, but those eyes still frightens me.Those merciless eyes.I couldn't stare at him longer and I had to look away from his gaze. I clear my throat, "I have been well." I answered."I'm really glad that you are." Sebastian tells me."Um, do you want to drink something Sebastian? Tea?" Ben offers.I quickly held his wrist, stopping him from leaving me alone in here and stared into his eyes as I said to him. "Please don't leave me here."Ben stares intently at me before he turns to Sebastian who speaks, "You dont really have to offer me anything."I bite my inner cheek and breathe in some confidence before I faced Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"Sebastian stares at me eagerly."What do you want?" I asked firmly."I came here to see if you ha
85T H E AI couldn't sleep the entire night as I was bothered about Sebastian's release happening in just a few hours.Thoughts were filling and piling inside my head one over the other and I don't know if this was going to let me sleep at all.So I slipped out of the bed where Ben was sleeping soundly and headed out of bedroom to get myself a glass of wine from downstairs. I hate myself when I turn to alcohol every time my thoughts are fogged up and fucked up. I hate when there are questions left unanswered and my solution is alcohol.I hated it.I hated it so much I hate myself too.I finished two glasses of wine and spent almost thirty minutes just sitting on a chair where I tried to drown and sort my troubled thoughts. I finally pulled myself up and headed back to my bedroom only until I saw Xavier heading out of his room, crying. I rushed to his side and wished that he wouldn't smell the stingy scent of alcohol from my breath."Xavier." I cooed. "What happened?""Mommy I had a n
84T H E A“Why didn’t you tell him?”Benedict's question still lingers in my mind.Why didn't I tell Sebastian back in the day?I have been asking myself that same question over and over again for the past couple of years. I used to tell myself that I wasn't ready and I know I wasn't ready. I lied to myself when I said I was ready to confess to him about our child but I was absentmindedly denying the fact that my mind was filled with so many thoughts as soon as I faced Sebastian.When I saw him, I was reminded of how he raped me mercilessly. When I saw him, I was reminded of how dirty of a woman I was. When I saw him, I was reminded of how I didn't want this baby to be born if only it hadn't been for Ben.Ben has always been my rock and my strength after everything that happened to me. All these years, he accepted me no matter what and I have been beyond blessed to have a man like that in my life.That kind of love and care he showed me is going to be something I didn't want to waste
83T H E AI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror, I gained weight but I look different compared to the old me a few weeks ago. My eyes travelled down to my baby bump and as I turn to my side, I feel more anxiety building in the back of my head. I am not confident enough that I will be a good mother to this baby once it’s out when I know this baby came from a man who I trusted so much but just raped me. My bump is starting to show now and I know I have a lifelong responsibility waiting ahead of me. I just hope I will be responsible enough.I rub my hand over my small tummy then smiled at myself.“You will be fine.” I told my baby.Ben is here for me and for us. He always has. He made everything feel better. He made me better and happier without asking too much in return. He is a very selfless man and I owe him my life. My everything and all that I have left.I breathe out heavily and tucked my hair behind my ears as I stare at myself wearing this white dress and white ba
82B E N E D I C TShe stands by the balcony sliding door, staring at an empty space wearing my shirt and some pajamas. Standing here afar from Thea, looking at her, I can see and I can feel that her mind is full. It’s full of endless thoughts and worries. I wish I could take some from her restless bothered thoughts and I wish I could help her with what she is going through.Thea is strong but I don’t want her to have another breakdown. I hope I can share the pain and confusions she is going through right now. I wish, at least I could make her happy despite of what has happened lately.But I don’t know what to do as well.I am bothered too, restless, anxious, troubled and angry. I still have this growing hate in me and unwillingness to befriend Sebastian.I hate him.I walk towards Thea and wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t budge but still sets her eyes out the window. “There are no stars tonight.” I say.She sighs heavily.“Aren’t you hungry sweetheart?” I ask.She didn’t answer
81B E N E D I C T“The CEO of Saintclare Enterprises , finally off the market!!”I read mentally the newspaper’s headlines as soon as I got into my office. I scan through the magazines which were also over my desk, and the headlines were also all about me.I sigh. “I knew this was gonna come out first thing in the morning.”The phone on top of my desk rings, I quickly picked it up, “Yes.”“Mr. Saintclare everyone is calling in for an interview with you. They’re all asking if you have any available time.” I can hear telephones ringing from my secretary’s background.“Cancel all interviews. Tell them I have a busy schedule up until next week.” I hung up.Suddenly the phone in my pocket rings. I stare at the screen and it was Mrs. Brown, my PR.I sigh as I answer, “I know what you’re going to say.”“It’s everywhere. My phone has been ringing since six o’clock this morning. I don’t know what to answer them.”“Did you say anything about Thea?”“No. Not unless you tell me to. I’m only wait
80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed
79THEASometimes, in our lives there are instances when you just want to disappear because of awkward situations or embarrassing moments. And right now, that’s what I want to happen. I want to teleport to another place far from here.It feels like everything inside my system malfunctioned and brain feels dead. I have never felt more disgusted of myself and my past than how Sebastian is embarrassing me right now in front of Ben. No one has ever made me feel so little of myself, only Sebastian.This bastard. This one of a hell man. I wish he dies.My tears were just flowing from my closed eyes and I feel this growing pain against my chest. I try to breathe in but the pain grows as I exhale so I remained quiet. I don’t want to face anyone or see how they look at me with disgust and filth. I just want to disappear like one pop of a bubble or run out of this house and never look back.But I cant, I know I have to face them now. I have to face Khaleel. I have to face Benedict even if it’s