“W-WHERE are we going?” Meredith suddenly asked Randall when the road he was taking was not the way home to their condo. “Captain wants to celebrate our victory for the whole team. He said we can bring whoever we want so I decided to bring you there.”“So, Shan will be there also?”“I guess so!”“Then can I invite Marylex as well?” she asked.“If that’s what you want.”“So, where exactly the location is?”“At the Capricorn Bar.”She frowned. “Bar? Why there?”“One of the members made the request, he said his favorite mysterious band on E-tube will be performing tonight at Capricorn Bar.”“E-tube? Mysterious Band? Is that the one with the mysterious girl vocalist?”“Yup! How did you know?”She gasped. “Oh my! Don’t tell me it’s the Quirin Band?”“Ahm, sounds like that?” he said uncertainly.“Oh, hurry up! I am also eager to see them. I’ve been wanting to see them in person for a long time.”“So you’re a fan?”“I really love the voice of the vocalist but she never showed her face to a
“RANDALL, my grandson! You’ve finally come to see me! Congratulations on your championship victory. I’m so proud of you,” Don Warrick greeted after hugging Randall tightly.He also endured almost a month of not being able to see and talk to his grandfather. The last time they talked, he said goodbye and that he would be busy with their upcoming championship. Apart from that, he had another reason, which was to avoid blaming him. But, as the guilt in his heart grows stronger with each sight of Meredith in pain, he will do what he should have done a long time ago.“Thanks, Grandpa.”He handed him a fruit basket.“Grandpa. . .”“Hmm?”“Haven’t you known for a long time that I’ve been looking for someone?”“Grandson, I told you that whatever you were dreaming about before doesn’t mean anything.”“But I found her,” he confessed.Don Warrick was taken aback. “W-what did you say?”He handed Barbara's sketch to him and his eyes widened in shock.“She’s Aunt Barbara, isn’t she?”“W-where did y
MARYLEX was currently running inside the BSU campus, carrying the things she needed for her reporting when she suddenly collided with someone, causing her to drop everything she was carrying on the ground.“Sorry! I didn’t mean to run into you,” she apologized as she gathered her belongings one by one.When she stood up, the man with thick eyeglasses appeared, handing her some of the things that he had picked up.“T-thank you!” she said.The man smiled. “It’s okay. I’m at fault too.”Suddenly something ran towards her heart when she saw the man’s smile. She seemed to have seen those smiles before.She came back to her senses when she realized she still needed to prepare for her reporting. She had to be ready before their Professor arrived because it was their first subject.“Thanks for the help!” she said to the guy as she ran again.“You did an excellent report, Lex. Our professor has nothing to ask,” Meredith complimented Marylex during their lunch break.“I can tell you really put
“LEX, out of the three of us, you should be the one to join the pageant,” Shanaia persuade Marylex. Everyone is excited at BSU because next week, they will be having a Star and Moon Year 2023 pageant. And until now, they still haven’t chosen a representative in their department. “Why me? It’s you who knows how to walk like a Miss Universe. And you’re the most talented among us,” Marylex insisted on Shania. She held Meredith’s arm to persuade her as well. “Mer, why don’t you try, hmm?” “Don’t count me in, Lex. You know Randall won’t agree.” “Same with JP,” Shanaia added. Marylex pouted. She forgot that out of the three of them, she was the only one who was single. “What am I going to do? Is it possible for me to withdraw?” “Definitely not! Because everyone voted for you. Unless you find someone else to represent our department.” Her shoulders slumped. She had already asked all of their classmates, but none of them consented, even the boys for Moon. For the event, it is neces
“HEY, Lex! Are you sick? As far as I recall, you were complaining about not wanting to participate in the pageant yesterday, but here you are, you seem serious about winning the title,” Shanaia observed when she noticed Marylex’s determination. “You’ve been practicing every night, even during our girls’ time,” Meredith added, pouring juice into their glasses. They’re currently at Shanaia and John Person’s place to review their group project, but Marylex appears to be preoccupied with the pageant. Marylex sat down next to them after finishing the juice in her glass. “I just realized that I should do my best. It’s not all about me after all. It’s all about our entire faculty and I don’t want to disappoint them.” “Don’t worry, Lex. It’s fine with us if you only get the Popular Star of the Year. It’s a big honor for us even if you don’t get the highest rank.” “No! I should get the highest rank!” Marylex opposed instantly. The highest rank is what she and Typhoon agreed upon, so th
THE NEXT DAY, Edward went Typhoon’s condo when he didn’t answer all his SMS and calls. He just found his cousin lying on the bed and wrapped on a blanket.He rubbed his forehead. “You got a high fever!”Edward rummaged through his medicine cabinet. Fortunately, he has a stock of medicines. It’s just that Typhoon couldn’t stand up that’s why he didn’t take the medicine right away. “What did you do last night that made you sick, huh?” he asked after he ate and drank the medicine.He told him of what happened to him and Marylex last night.“So, you’re going to pursue her this time?”He nodded. “I’ve had feelings for her since high school. But I lost her because I was a coward. And this time, I will never let her go again. Even if you become a rival to me.”He grinned. “So my strategy worked, huh?”Typhoon coughed and frowned. “W-what do you mean?”“I don’t really like her. I was simply doing you a favor and it worked!”“And h-how did you know that it was her?”“You mentioned her name re
“PHOON...” Marylex wakes up Typhoon for the nth time. “You have to wake up so you can change your clothes,” she added. He groaned. “Hmm...” “You have to wake up,” she whispered. “L-Lexi?” he said weakly with a raspy voice. “Can you sit up slowly?” “I-is that really you?” She nodded. “H-how did you know that—” “Edward told me that you’re sick.” Despite his situation, he tried to smile at her. “T-thank you for coming here—” “Shhh... Don’t force yourself to speak. Just do what I say, okay?” He nodded that’s why she quickly help him to sit down and lean his back on the pillow she placed on the headboard. “I’ll change your shirt first, okay?” she asked permission. When he nodded, she slowly removed his shirt. And when she was done, she looked at his newly washed boxer shorts. She wondered if she would also change his pants or not. “L-let me change my pants,” Typhoon said as he grabbed the shorts. “A-are you sure you can change your pa—” She didn’t finish what she wanted to
“LEX, can we talk?” Marylex stopped when she saw the woman that made her not to trust Typhoon again. “M-Maureen?” She looked at her friends. They nodded in agreement to what Maureen’s wanted, that’s why she come with her so they could talk alone. When they arrived at the cafe near BSU, she opened up to her. “Did you and Phoon fight?” she asked. She nodded. “He doesn’t even want to tell me why he had to leave me just to see you.” “It’s not that he doesn’t want to. I told him not to tell anyone about what was happening to me that day.” She frowned. “What do you mean?” “First and foremost, I don’t want you to think that I met you today because he requested me to. I’m here in front of you because I don’t want you to mistrust him solely because of me, therefore I’d want to share my side because it saddens me as well every time I see him sad.” She nodded, indicating that she was ready to listen. “I called him that day because my boyfriend and I had fought,” she explained. “Phoon
“I’M SORRY, Randz, but I can’t marry you,” she replied and runaway.Even their friends, relatives, and guests were taken aback by Meredith’s response.“W-why can’t you marry me?”Meredith is deafeningly silent, unable to face him.“Answer me, please! Give me an acceptable reason why you can’t marry me!” Randall yelled, couldn’t accept the fact that he was rejected.Meredith took a deep breath, trying to hold back her tears and face him. “Because you don’t really love me.” Meredith’s emotions were mixed as fear dominated her heart. It seems that her dream about the red thread that Randall cut in her dream came back to her vision.“Mer, that’s not true! I do love you! Can’t you feel it?!” Randall said as his tears escaped his eyes.She sobbed and shook her head. “Y-you’re only saying that because of Barbara and Clayton’s red thread that is connects us.”Her mother and Rebecca covered their mouths at what she said. Even their friends looked at each other, couldn’t believe that she had b
“MEREDITH?” Ranier was taken aback as Meredith and Editha entered their house. He couldn’t believe that he would see them so soon. He thought that it would be difficult for him to talk to them again. “Where is he?” Meredith asked, worriedly. “He’s inside his room.” Meredith was on her way to Randall's room when she became stunned and closed her eyes. Barbara’s soul appeared in her body once more. She opened her eyes after a few seconds and turned to face Ranier. “Brother! F-forgive me. It’s all my fault. If it wasn’t for me, the people around me wouldn’t have been hurt. I deeply regret being weak and selfish back then. Ranier hugged her back. “Shhh... It’s okay, Barb. I know how you feel. But, please, help and guide my son, your nephew, to be strong. Don’t let him take his own life. I was so damn hurt by losing you then that I can’t bear it if I lose my son as well.” She released herself from his embrace and nodded. “Don’t worry, brother. I will fix everything I was left behind.
“SISTER MARIA!” Editha said as she hugged tightly the nun she considered her real mother. Sister Maria hugged her back. “Oh! Thank God! You’ve finally come! I have waited so long for your visit.” Editha let go of the hug. “I’m sorry, there’s so much happened in the past years. The nun smiled as she looked next at Meredith. “Is she your daughter?” Editha nodded and introduced her only child. “Hi, Sister Maria. Glad to see you,” Meredith said as she took Sister Maria’s right hand and gently struck it to her forehead as a show of respect of every young Filipino for the elderly.” “It was nice to finally meet you, Meredith. You grew up beautifully. You look exactly like your mother,” she complimented. She looked at her mother for a moment then thanked her. “Let’s go inside. I’m sure the other nuns would be pleased to meet you as well.” They were then escorted inside the orphanage. “Was it you, Mom?” Meredith inquired as Sister Maria gave her a photo of her mother when she was young
AFTER their conversation at the Condo unit of Barbara and Clayton, Randall went home to the mansion with his family. They were currently resting in the living room when they suddenly heard a noise outside.“Walter! What is going on out there?” Don Warrick asked.“Mrs. Ebelte is currently causing a commotion outside. She wishes to speak with you.”They all exchanged glances..“Don Martial! Get the hell out of there! Face me!” Editha yelled at the top of her lungs.Randall appeared at the gate shortly.“Mom!”“Where’s your grandfather?! I want to talk to him!”The adults, including his father, rushed after him.“Relax, Mrs. Ebelte. And with all due respect, Ma’am, don't cause a commotion here,” Ranier remarked.Editha was about to approach General Marcial when Randall grabbed her arms.“You, ruthless man! How dare you manipulate our lives, huh?! You are not even satisfied with what you did before! My brother died because of you, and then you’re going to mess with my daughter too? Leave
“WHERE are we? Why did you bring me here? Who’s unit is this? Don’t tell me you’ve moved out of your condo?” Meredith asked Randall when he took her to an unfamiliar condo.But Meredith’s guess was wrong. That unit is the place where Barbara and Clayton’s dark past happened.“Don’t you remember this place?” he asked back.She looked throughout the entire condo. “Y-yeah. This place is quite familiar to me, but how did you know that this was the place?” He held both of her hands. “I told you before that I know the whole truth, didn't I?”She nodded. “However, I also told you that it doesn’t matter what happened in the past if we know it will only affect our marriage.”Randall closed his eyes. “But my conscience won’t let me sleep anymore! Especially you! As long as you dodge the truth, your dreams will keep hunting you. I also want this to end so we can start anew.” “I-I don’t understand what were you saying. Our relationship is getting stronger so why did you suddenly say it so that
“LET’S GO?” John Person said when he picked up Shanaia in her room.Shanaia didn’t respond but she handed him her bag. After that, he clasped their hands but stopped when he noticed that missing in her hand.“Where’s your ring?” he asked.Shanaia looked at her ring finger. “Oh, maybe I left it in my bathroom when I took a shower this morning,” she excused.She actually meant not to wear it anymore. She put it back in its case. She feels like it’s useless.“Is that so?”“Hmm.” John Person didn’t ask any more questions until they reached his car in the BSU parking lot.NIGHT came and Shanaia just finished taking a shower. She was about to close the lampshade and ready to sleep when her eyes caught the goggles she had ordered for JP who arrived yesterday. She took it, removed the cover, and looked at it.She was debating with herself whether to give it to him or not. But in the end, the latter prevails so she put the goggles back in the box. She will just give it to him tomorrow.One ho
“WHAT are you doing, Shan? Don’t tell me you’re going to order something online again.” Meredith asked when they reached their room at BSU.“It’s not for me this time, okay? I’m just turning the favor because I realized that I haven’t given him a single one yet.”“As far as I remember, there’s still five months until his birthday.”“I know! But that’s not the case. He still gives me gifts even when there is no occasion. I just want to return what he does for me. Just help me, okay? So any idea what thing your cousin wants to have for a long time?”Meredith thinks for a moment. “Well, I'm not sure what kind of gift he wants, but if you're going to give him a gift, it should be something he can use all the time. But knowing my cousin, he will accept whatever you give him, wholeheartedly.”“Okay! Now I have an idea. Thanks, Mer! ”Until something stole Shanaia’s attention, a black no leaking anti-fog UV protection swimming goggles with free protection case worth thirty thousand pesos.WH
“LEX, can we talk?” Marylex stopped when she saw the woman that made her not to trust Typhoon again. “M-Maureen?” She looked at her friends. They nodded in agreement to what Maureen’s wanted, that’s why she come with her so they could talk alone. When they arrived at the cafe near BSU, she opened up to her. “Did you and Phoon fight?” she asked. She nodded. “He doesn’t even want to tell me why he had to leave me just to see you.” “It’s not that he doesn’t want to. I told him not to tell anyone about what was happening to me that day.” She frowned. “What do you mean?” “First and foremost, I don’t want you to think that I met you today because he requested me to. I’m here in front of you because I don’t want you to mistrust him solely because of me, therefore I’d want to share my side because it saddens me as well every time I see him sad.” She nodded, indicating that she was ready to listen. “I called him that day because my boyfriend and I had fought,” she explained. “Phoon
“PHOON...” Marylex wakes up Typhoon for the nth time. “You have to wake up so you can change your clothes,” she added. He groaned. “Hmm...” “You have to wake up,” she whispered. “L-Lexi?” he said weakly with a raspy voice. “Can you sit up slowly?” “I-is that really you?” She nodded. “H-how did you know that—” “Edward told me that you’re sick.” Despite his situation, he tried to smile at her. “T-thank you for coming here—” “Shhh... Don’t force yourself to speak. Just do what I say, okay?” He nodded that’s why she quickly help him to sit down and lean his back on the pillow she placed on the headboard. “I’ll change your shirt first, okay?” she asked permission. When he nodded, she slowly removed his shirt. And when she was done, she looked at his newly washed boxer shorts. She wondered if she would also change his pants or not. “L-let me change my pants,” Typhoon said as he grabbed the shorts. “A-are you sure you can change your pa—” She didn’t finish what she wanted to