PERCIE
My classes ended, and I still found no message from Hailey. I rechecked it. Nada.
I walked to the bench where I found her before. Then there she was. She was talking to someone, and that someone just made my blood boil.
I strode in their direction at a long pace. Before I could get closer, Cassie saw me first.
“Hey, Percie. Meet my new friend. We have classes together. Hailey—”
I cut her off and grabbed her away from Hailey. “Stay away from her, Cassie.” I didn’t think it was a coincidence. “I don’t wanna see you talking to her again. You can’t be her friend. That’s impossible. Someone like you who doesn’t have the same interest as hers can’t ever be her friend. You two are like night and day. You can’t fool me, Cassie.”
She glared at me, and I glared back. “Go.”
She grabbed her things and walked away.
I look at Hailey, hugging herself and looking down at her feet. “St
PERCIE Eight months ago. Emma had been practicing her race on weekdays for five months now since her application was accepted. Her neurosurgeon cleared her to join the Paralympics after running some tests. She was not the best or the fastest, but I was so proud of her determination to join the race for a cause. We’d been visiting her every Saturday for five months. Still, no words from my parents. I almost got caught when they didn’t show up on Friday. Instead, they visited her on Saturday just like us. I didn’t insist on asking permission from them to see Emma since everything about us was doing just fine. I didn’t want to give more trouble to Emma more than I already did. She had to focus on racing. Emma extended another couple of months in rehab just to let me visit her every Saturday. She’d been busy with her blog as well. She encouraged paraplegic patients to join sports. She’d meet her followers every
PERCIE The dinner with the Wards became regular every weekend—Saturdays with my grandparents and Sundays at Hailey’s. The only difference today was, I was going with her instead of driving there alone. “Dad wants us to stop at the grocery first before going home.” I faced Hailey. “And what he wants this time?” “He wants me to buy candles. They used the candles he bought yesterday when the electricity had a short circuit at home.” “What’s he going to do with the candles this time? Didn’t he call someone to fix it?” “It’s done, but we need candles for Mom’s cake.” I froze. “Hailey, wait. What’s with the candles and cake? Is your mom’s birthday today? And you didn’t mention it to me?” She shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I thought it’s not a big deal, and it’s just us like every dinner over weekends.” “Still, it’s your mom’s birthday. Remind me to buy a gift, ev
PERCIE Eight months ago… “Nothing, Percie. I thought maybe she’s tired in the flight, and she wanted to take a rest first,” Grandpa explained. I wasn’t entirely convinced. There was more to it than what these oldies were telling me. “Grandma, since you’re done and ready, can you check on Emma while I’m in the shower. Please?” “Of course, Percie. You go ahead. I’ll be with Emma. I’m also famished.” There was something odd going on that I couldn’t point my finger on it. I stared at both of them intently. Grandma took her purse and walked out of the door. “What’s going on, Grandpa? Is there something you’re not telling me?” “Like what?” Grandpa asked back. “Like secrets, you, Grandpa, and Emma are not sharing with me.” “Go shower, Percie. I don’t have secrets to tell you.” Disappointed, I blew a huge breath before I walked into the bathroom.
PERCIE “Oh, she said—” “Dad!” she shouted, dropped the fork. Then she stood up and left us at the dining table. A moment later, a bang followed from upstairs. “You pissed her off, Keith.” My words came out defensively. “Sorry about that, Percie. She’s so shy,” Lillian said. “Only to me.” I drunk my water then wiped my mouth with a napkin. I stood up. “Don’t apologize, Lily. I’m the one who provoked her. Let me check her up if you don’t mind.” “Go ahead.” I knocked on her bedroom door. “Hailey, it’s me. Can I come in?” I waited, then knocked again. “Hailey, please? I apologize if that embarrassed you.” She still didn’t answer. I twisted the doorknob, but it was locked. Shit! I was screwing this up. I took a huge breath then walked down. I took the paper bag I bought for Lillian and joined them in the dining. They were done eating.
PERCIEEight months ago… “Go, Emma! You can do it!” Grandpa was shouting as soon as the race started. Hundreds of participants had joined in different categories. Emma was one of them. “Em! You can make it to the finish line!” I yelled as loud as I could. She may not be as fast as the others, but she made me so proud. My heart swelled. What could I say? I was her number one supporter. I couldn’t help but laughed as Emma tried so hard. Still, she was left behind by a few participants. I followed her through as she raced with them. I also brought a towel, her backpack, and bottled water. I strode from the crowd of cheerers, but I couldn’t avoid bumping with the people busy cheering their athletes. In just less than fifty meters, Emma was already exhausted. My throat clogged. Looking so pale as white, she sweated profusely. “Em, are you okay?” My voice shook. She halted in the mi
PERCIEI masked my smile with a frown and crossed my arms over my chest. I wanted to show Hailey that even if she came back to our apartment didn’t mean anything to me.“What are you doing here, Hailey? Aren’t you supposed to be with your parents?” My voice was firmed.“Dad drove me here. He said I should apologize for what I did during dinner,” she answered quietly, not meeting my gaze.“Then where is it?”Her gaze snapped to me with furrowed brows. “Where is the what?”I did a low growl. “The apology Hailey.” Deep inside, I was grinning. We were still in the hallway, and I was patiently waiting to hear it from her.“Um. I’m sorry.” Her voice came out a whisper.“Not sincere enough,” I deadpanned.Pink blossomed on her cheeks while she twisted her finger. “I said, I’m sorr
PERCIE Eight months ago… I hugged Emma, still unconscious in bed. “Please, I need you. I still need you. Don’t you leave me alone again? Our parents disowned me, Em. I have no one left. I lost you once, and I can’t lose you again. Please, hang in there for me. You’ll have my kidney, sweetheart. Please, Emma, do this for me once again. I love you, and I can’t live without you. Please? Why didn’t you tell me? What’s with the secrecy? How about our promises of no more secrets, huh?” I cried and begged for her, hoping that maybe, she could still hear me, hoping for a miracle. “Percie, let the doctor see Emma.” Grandma touched my shoulder. I didn’t move. I couldn’t let go of Emma. I ignored them and sobbed. “Son, we have to let them treat Emma. Please, let them do whatever is necessary to help her. Time is running out, Percival.” Grandpa grabbed my arm. “No.” I shook my head. “You all lied to me.” “Percival, we need
PERCIE “You’re not the worst person or the worst brother, Percie. You survived that accident for a reason. It’s for you to find out what are those reasons—your purpose in life. She would be devastated, and it would break her heart too if you got the injury instead of her. Do you wanna see her in your position? How would you feel seeing her struggling and blaming herself for what had happened to you? Do you think she can survive the way you did after being disowned by your parents? You’re stronger than you think you are. Give yourself extra credit. That’s one of the reasons why you survived. You wouldn’t and never give up on her. That’s another reason. You survived for her. I think that’s enough for Emma.” I couldn’t begin to imagine Emma struggling to survive when she was in my situation. Would my parents disown her too? She had somewhere to go to—her old family. But Emma loved me so much. If I was the one who got the kidney problem? What if they both
HAILEY Six years later… It was Sunday morning, and Percie just came back from his run. It was a part of my daily routine to wake up early since we got married almost three years ago, just right after I graduated from college. “Baby, you came back early.” I kissed him on his lips. He was sweating everywhere. I gave him a towel. “And please, don’t wake them up until Grands and your parents arrive. Mom and Dad are on their way.” “I missed you as soon as left the house.” He smiled, wiping off the sweat on his forehead. I rolled my eyes. “I thought after what we did last night, you won’t miss me until you go on your business trip on Monday.” I suddenly remembered how we made love last night. He never ceased to amaze me. I could guarantee the saying rock your world was so real. He was still hot in bed. The sex was always amazing even if we’d been together as a couple for a
HAILEY Percie’s parents visit turned into a small party. His grandparents, my family, friends, and even Remy came over. It was just a click on Percie’s phone everyone we cared about came over. Mrs. Matthews had been great to me. She squeezed me into a hug when she saw me wearing her son’s engagement ring. She held my hand and looked closely at the ring on my finger. “This is so beautiful.” She smiled. “Beautiful for a beautiful young woman. Please, don’t break my son’s heart.” “Thank you, and I have no intention to.” I did a quick glance at my man chatting with Remy and his father at the corner of the living room.” “Now, I can rest. Percie has just been through a lot to have another heartbreak, but I know he’s in good hands. Thank you, dear.” She kissed me on my cheek. Percie saw us, and he was smiling at me. When his mom left me in the kitchen, I tried my best not to roll my eyes when Victoria, Lexie, and
PERCIE The feel of her tight, warm wet folds around my stiff cock made me moan in pleasure. “Fuck yes.” I looked at her, stark naked, dark eyes staring back at me. My hips flexed of their own will, sending my hard cock even deeper into her heat. My hand encircled around her slender waist, pulling my cock out slowly, and then she began to slide it slowly in, rolling her lips teasingly. She bit the bottom of her lip to stifle her moan. She failed anyway. I cupped her full round tits with my hands and sat up to suck her small bud nipple into my mouth, circling with my tongue. The sound of her moan was like music to my ears. “Percie.” She arched into my mouth, asking for more. I tugged and bit her nipple with my teeth, causing her to gasp. I did it again, sucking alternately. Something about how she called my name in pleasure made me hungrier. I flipped her over on her back. She laid there with her big dark eyes, staring back at me,
PERCIE “Hey.” I moistened my lips. I wanted to say something—anything, but words wouldn’t come out. “Hi.” Surprised, she swallowed. Her gaze dropped to the box in my hand, then glanced back at me. I waited for her to start, but it didn’t come. “Oh, uh.” I looked at the box. “This is not for you.” I went silent, stunned. Then something in her expression caused me excruciating pain. Finally, it came to my senses. “I mean, this is not mine. I mean, it’s mine now. It’s from Emma.” I stopped. I screwed big time. “This is one of a few things she left for me.” “I understand. You don’t have to explain,” she interrupted, eyes glittering. “Anyway, I just come here to take my things.” “What do you mean?” I stalked her to the living room. “Victoria is looking for a roommate. As we agreed before, I’ll leave as soon as I find a new roommate.” “Don’t leave, please?” My voice choked with raw emotions.
PERCIE Hailey was true to her words in giving me the space I needed. She ignored me for the whole month. She even temporarily crashed at Victoria’s apartment. We rarely saw if not on the campus, but she barely looked at me. Her friends were still upset with me—they said, for breaking Hailey’s heart. Lexie was still giving me the cold shoulder. I thought I deserved it all. I was invited to Ward’s family dinner, and that was the most awkward dinner I’d ever had. Her words were taunting. The pain was hard to bear. As soon as it ended, I left right away and drowned myself in alcohol. I visited Remy in rehab as frequently as I could. “Shouldn’t you be with Hailey, groveling? You know, there’s a Filipino culture when courting a girl. The man plays guitar outside the house and sings for her. Why don’t you try it? It might work.” I glared at him. “Just get better, asshole.” “What do you think I’m doing? It’s not that I can threa
PERCIE How the hell did she find me? I drew in a long shuddering breath as I opened the door. I was wide awake, wincing in pain as Grandma kept on hitting me with her clutch. “Ow! What the hell?” I managed to block her with my arms. “What are you doing? Stop it!” She didn’t stop. “I won’t stop until I get the answer on what the hell are you doing here?” I stared at her in disbelief. Then I suddenly realized what she meant. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Good to see you too, Grandma.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “You will stand up and drive me to your apartment. I paid a hefty amount not for you to just desert it because you’re stupid again. You will come here and stay with your mom and dad on weekends. Now get up, or I will let my driver drag you out of the house.” I remembered Grandma like this when I stayed with them before visited Emma for the first time. She was wearing the same an
PERCIEI snatched another sandwich on the plate and apple on the fruit basket before I dashed out of the kitchen.“Finish your breakfast, Percie!” Mom called out.“Gonna be late!”“You need to call your Grandpa, Percie.” Mom followed me outside the house.My car was already in the driveway. Mom’s driver gave me my car key. “I will. Thanks, Elliot.”“Percival!” Mom’s annoying voice made me stop.I groaned. “Fine. I’m gonna be late for my class.”“You’re coming home tonight, right?” I watched her eyes light up with hope.“Sure. Can I go now?”“Drive safe, honey.”I looked at her again. I had not heard the word honey in a long time. I still felt cynical about a sudden change of heart. At this moment, I needed them and a room to stay.My
PERCIE I had not shed a tear, which honestly made things worse. I stared at the house in front of me. It was a miracle how I got in here unscathed. And I didn’t know how I was still standing. The main door swung open, revealing my dad. His walk forward felt like an eternity before he reached closer to me. “You can shove anything into my face all you want. I don’t give a fuck. I wanna stay. You can call the cops and let them drag me out, but I will still come back. I have nowhere to go right now where no one will find me. This is the last place they’re gonna look for me.” I wiped my face. His eyes widened. “Are you in some kind of trouble?” “With the authority? Not that I know of. Can I come in?” He nodded quickly. “Did you bring something with you?” “No.” Dad guided me inside and locked the door behind me. “Can you ask your driver to keep my car in your garage?” “Of course.” He took the key from m
PERCIE Call me coward, an idiot, but after watching Remy’s lifeless body, fighting for his life for the choice he made, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to go away. Since the doctor said that Remy would pull it through, I was beyond relieved that I didn’t have to carry the guilt with me for the rest of my life. It hurt as fuck as I walked out of his room while he was still unconscious. I just wished I could say something to him before I left, but on the other thought, it would just make it difficult for me. When someone said to me right now that everything happened for a reason, I already punched him in the face. If the reason for losing Emma was finding Remy, it was bullshit—a fucking cruel twist of fate. Why the fuck they both had to suffer? Why did I have to watch them suffer? It felt like a deja vu, all over again. I couldn’t think about them without that horrible image of Emma and Remy lying in the hospital bed. “Percie?” I