HAILEY
The rich smell of leather assaulted my senses as I took the passenger seat. I guessed Remy loved luxury. I was not into cars, but I was sure this one had cost a fortune. It was a sleek black convertible, and it was smaller than Percie’s.
He assisted me with my seatbelt. Every time he came closer, I froze. There was something about Remy that I didn’t feel every time I was with Percie.
Remy made me skeptical, no matter how good his intentions were.
I swallowed hard as I looked at my side.
“You’re gonna collapse if you keep on holding your breath. I don’t bite, Hailey.”
“I-I know.” I swallowed again.
“Are you cold?”
I shook my head. I didn’t know why I was shivering. Maybe because it was raining outside? I guessed I was not comfortable around him because it had nothing to do with the temperature inside his car but the chill of distrust.—this was the only reason I could come up with.
<HAILEY Hatching! “Jesus!” Percie was beyond mad. He strode in my direction while I was rooted in my place. His eyes ablaze with fire, cheeks burned furiously. “I’m fine.” My hands flew to my towel, gripping tightly as my shield. Before he could reach out to me, the doorbell went off. Who would be here at this time? “Get dress. Something thick.” “Who’s—?” He glared at me. “Just do what I say!” I jumped. “Fine.” I rolled my eyes, walking back to my room. I did a quick shower before I changed to my sweatshirt and sweatpants. “Mom, what are you doing here?” I joined Mom on the couch. “I’m here to return your car. Your grandpa is okay. He told me that you should call him sometimes. How are you doing? Percie just told me that you left your coat in his car.” I wondered what else Percie told Mom. I didn’t want her to worry about me. Then I heard som
HAILEY “Wait. We’re going to see Percie?” I pulled my hand back. “No. He would not be so happy to see me. Besides, I’m sick, remember?” Lexie rolled her eyes. “Sick? Colds? That’s what’s stopping you to apologize to someone you love?” “Who said I love him?” I glared stubbornly. “Isn’t that obvious? You can deny all you want, but I don’t buy if you said you’re not in love with Percie, andbesides, he needs you right now, Hailey.” She put a little emphasis on besides. My face heated. I guessed, maybe she was right, but I was not going to admit it to her. “You told me that his grandma is okay, and her injury isn’t so bad.” “Oh, my God. You’re so clueless who much Percie’s struggling right now. He’s torn between staying here with you and in the hospital. That’s why he asked a favor to keep an eye on you before his grandma is gonna be discharge. That dude is madly in love with you, Hailey. You mean the wor
HAILEY Oh, my God!My eyes nearly popped out from each socket. I threw my books and ran towards Percie, folding my clothes. “What are you doing?” “Hey. How were your classes?” I grabbed my shirt from his hand. “The hell?” He glared at me. My eyes narrowed to slits. “The hell? Privacy, Percie. Does it ring a bell?” His brow arched. “On your laundry? I saw you almost naked, and they’re just clothes, Hailey.” I looked down.Oh, my God!My panties are neatly folded like they were ironed. My cheeks burned. I was beyond mad at the same time I was impressed. “A kiss would suffice.” I took all my folded clothes. “Kiss my butt.” “I will.” “Shut up.” I brought them to my room. When I came back, he was still folding my jeans—the only clothes left unfolded. “You don’t do that again, got it? No going through my clothes.” H
HAILEY “So, how’s your baby grumpy?” I pretended not to listen to Victoria. I opened my book instead. I was about to start reading when Megan shut the book close. “What the hell?” I glared at them as they twisted their lips at me. “He’s in his class.” “We saw him earlier, and he looked like he just hit the jackpot. Later, Lee,” Megan mimicked Percie’s voice. “Then what else do you wanna know?” I suddenly remembered what we did last night. After that eventful moments, he went to his room to change, and so did. When he came back, I already changed to PJs. We had dinner together in serenity. “Hey.” Megan nudged me. “We’re waiting here.” “Omg.” Victoria covered her mouth instantly, staring at me with wide eyes. “You finally slept with him,” she whispered. I looked around to make sure that no one listened. “We did not.” “You’re lying.” Victoria did not buy my words. It was shown all over her face.
HAILEY “Can I pick up tomorrow night?” he was insisting for a hundred times. “We already talked about it. I’ll see you on Monday morning, Percie.” He wasn’t impressed with my decision, but I knew he’d respect it in the end. I already spent my whole Saturday with him. He rubbed the back of his neck before he knocked on my parents’ door. “You can go now. I’m sure the squirrel can’t kidnap me to its lair,” I cracked a joke before he left me with those sad eyes. “If you change your mind.” “I won’t.” I cut him off. “Now go before Mom would ask you what we did in the lake house.” “And what if they’d ask you?” His eyes glinted with mischief. “We sat on the deck, ate our lunch, talked about school projects—” “And we made out. That was a whole lot of—” I covered his mouth with my hand when I heard footsteps from the house. “Go,” I warned him with a look. He was right, though. We made ou
HAILEY We arrived at the old warehouse where the party was held. It was crowded that we could barely make it to see their stupid game. Two students were assigned to record the game. The crowd started laughing when one of the jocks asked an overweight student who looked so drunk. If he wasn’t tied, he might have fallen off the chair. Anger raged beneath my skin as I noticed Remy was one of the jocks, and he seemed not enjoying the way they treated the poor guy. But if what Victoria and Megan had told me was true, their parents were elite club members. That was how they became buddies. And it seemed that he didn’t have a choice but to be a part of this, or he would look weak, and he would be the target of these stupid rich kids. “Where’s Lexie?” I asked Megan. I couldn’t call Percie. He needed his undivided attention in searching for Lexie. Once he knew I came over to help, he would just be mad at me. “Percie hasn’t still call
HAILEY “What the hell were you thinking?” I was still pressing a tissue against my swollen nose, wincing in pain. “Who are you now, Hailey? I don’t recognize you anymore?” Dad was shaking with anger down at me. “It was my fault, Mr. Ward. I went to your house to tell Hailey about Lexie,” Victoria said as we gathered in the precinct. “No. It was my fault. I was the one who told Victoria to go to Hailey—” “I don’t care who’s fault who! You all could have gotten hurt. Why didn’t you just call the police or call 911?” “And tell what, Dad?” I met Dad’s gaze. “That someone held a party? As far as I know, it’s not illegal.” “Underage drinking. Taking of drug substance. How about bullying? I don’t care if they own the city, I still took an oath to protect the people.” “Are we under arrest, Mr. Ward?” “No. But you will stay here until morning.” Dad turned to me. “And you are grounded. You will stay and go to schoo
HAILEY Percie looked right into my eyes, and my heart just broke to see how deep sadness lingered in. “Come home with me.” “But Dad—” “We would understand. I’ll take the fall.” He took a deep breath, not breaking eye contact. “I need you right now.” He pressed his lips against my forehead. “I-I thought I’d lost you. I couldn’t watch it again. You couldn’t know the feeling of watching someone you love—someone you cared about slipping through your finger—or through your sight until they’re gone. And I’d rather die before I’d go through that again, Hailey.” I nodded, and I didn’t know if I should answer or kiss him again. “Don’t ever do that stupid heroism again. Come with me. I need to feel you because right now, I feel like I’m still dreaming of you that every time I want to reach out to you, you slip through my grasp.” I cupped his face. “I’m here. I’m alive. I’m right here with you.” “Please?” The
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