REINA"Are you leaving for work already?" I questioned walking after Ethan and he nodded. He was just acting like he wasn't the same person that has kissed me passionately last night and I felt sloghtly offended."Is there anything I'm to do before leaving?" He asked politely, his eyes darting all over the room except on me."No, are you healed enough to work properly?" I was trying to keep the conversation going but it seemed to me that he was doing his possible best to kill the conversation."Yeah sure, I'm in perfect health. Even well enough to stay alone." What was he implying? Was he trying to say that he was well enough to go back to him home?"Umm—""I'll see you at the office, Reina. I have a lot to attend to today so I better be on my way. Say hello to Andrew" And with that, he walked out of the house while I nodded subconsciously.I prepared myself for work and dropped Andrew off at school while I went to work. Still a little remorseful about my outburst at Ethan the day be
REINAJust as I was about saying something, Bruce barged into the house again."I'm sorry, I forget my wallet." Bruce said and I nodded having nothing to else because whatever exactly can I say."Of course, you did." Ethan sighed and I opened my mouth to say something but decided against it and shut the hell up.I stood in my living room, watching in dismay as Bruce and Ethan's argument escalated again.It looked more like were two women were bickering but not the funny kind of bickering.It had been two weeks since Ethan had been staying with me, and I had hoped that things would settle down by now. But Bruce's visit had brought up old tensions, and now the two men were shouting at each other and I don't know if they can recognize that there words are opening up old wounds and they just had to stop already."Bruce, stop!" I pleaded, trying to intervene as I held my hands up. My voice was loud and at least it brought the both of them to shut the hell up. "This isn't solving anything
REINA.I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen as I tried to focus on the Triple A project. But my mind kept wandering back to Ethan and the painful memories we had uncovered.Can my brain hurt cooperate with me till I'm done with this design? I can't afford to break down right now.I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to get out of here, to leave Ethan and all his memories behind. And the only way to do that was to finish this project and get back to my normal life.But how am I supposed to finish the project when I had been staring at the layout for more than 30 minutes and I still don't know what to do?"Mum, are you okay?" I looked down at my leg to see my sonz Andrew tucking my shirt properly and I smiled sweetly.I had to do this to give my son the best life he deserves and I guess that's where I suddenly found my drive to work. "No.baby. My eyes just hurt a little, go play with your toys. Mama needs to get a job done." He nodded and I ruffled his hair a bit b
REINA'S POVI walked through the front door of my home, my heart racing with excitement and a hint of nervousness. I knew I had to make this call, but I was scared of how Bruce would react.I had to tell someone at least that I was leaving the states and that person was Bruce. I took a deep breath and picked up the phone, dialing Bruce's number. He answered on the first ring."Hey, Reina. What's up?" he asked, his voice cheerful and I placed a hand on my chest feeling my heart beat as I wondered how he would react"Bruce, I need to tell you something," I said, my voice trembling."Reina, if this is about how I reacted at your house the other day; i really want to apologize. I'm so sorry." I smiled warmly as I stared at the phone like a teenager in lover."It's okay. I understand. That's no why I called though." "What is it?" he asked, his tone changing to concern and i bit the corner of my kips then bit my tongue next."I'm leaving the country with Andrew," I blurted out and There
ETHAN'S POV I had been knocking endlessly on Reina's door and wondered if she was deliberately refusing to open the door up for me.Maybe I deserved that much but at least, she could at least think that perhaps I'm here to apologize which I'm there to do nonetheless.I tried calling her phone but she wasn't picking up and I've already sent series of text messages to her but she hadn't replied any of them.I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. But there was no answer.I tried again, this time louder. Still, no answer.Another tenant in the opposite condominium was walking up the stairs and then stopped."Excuse me? Are you looking for someone?" The lady asked and I rubbed my forehead in frustration before sighing."Yeah, the lady and her son that lives here." I answered plainly.I didn't want her to get the idea that I had already been there for hours on end and was at the verge of giving up."Miss Gray?" "Yeah, Miss Gray.' i rubbed my worry lines to make the go again as I sh
ETHAN"Ravenna, I need you to leave," She grimaced as she looked at me with a daring yet challenging gaze but I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction of doing whatever the fuck she wants, she would do as I say today. "I don't mean later, Ravenna. I mean now." Ravenna looked up from the photo, a hint of defiance in her eyes shwoing that she wasn't willing to back down but what i knew was that, either by hook or by crook, she just had to go.Her presence was irritating enough for me."Why? I'm not doing anything wrong." She smiled maniacally and I sent my hands into my pockets were I can freely clench and unclench them."You will leave because I said so, Ravenna." I snapped, my patience wearing thin."And because I don't want you here ." Ravenna shrugged and shook her head in negativity, placing her hands on her waist.It was more like she was challenging me to do my worse and she already knew that I wouldn't even think of raising my hands on her. That would be too much and to dis
"I don't know if you're well aware that you're seating in the CEOs office and I don't have the time neither am I about to play three guesses with you. So please, leave before I cal the security."Hey Lulu, your name has such a ring to loo loo." She squeaked in a baby like voice and I stared at her in shock.I never expected that I would ever see her again.If this isn't a blast from the past, a shadow from my past then I don't know what is. The world seriously knows how to surprise me even when I'm not searching for any surprises. Lucy, my childhood friend, was sitting in the chair in front of my desk, a bright smile on her face.I hadn't even been able to recognize her because well, quite a lot had changed about her. She looked more beautiful and more mature and a lot of her features had worn off.To top it off, she has black hair but she had dyed it brown now and even it cut it and curl it."Lucy!" I exclaimed, feeling a rush of excitement."Oh my god, it's been ages." I moved to hu
"Alright, Ravenna, that's enough. You've had your fun moment so you should leave now." Ravenna smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement and that look that she had whenever she had something in store for someone. Something bad."Oh, sure thing, hubby," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm and I sent my hand to my pocket again trying to remind myself that I shouldn't hit a woman."I wouldn't want to interrupt your little reunion." Ravenna completed and Lucy sighed out."Gosh, some women would act like the others made a mistake coming out as the same gender with them." I glanced at her, gesturing at her to stop as I had have enough for Ravenna already. I didn't need more."Alright, I'll shut up. But your wife is really loosing it, it's more like her head is not intact." Ravenna stared at her trying to o decipher what she had said because Ravenna had spoken with gritted teeth. I had already mastered it so whatever she said, she picked me.She turned to leave, but not before casting
EthanI could not sit still. Not after everything that has been happening.My fingers drummed against the edge of the hotel desk as my eyes looked towards the door for the hundredth time. I had double-checked the lock, slid the chain in place, and even propped a chair under the handle. But it was not enough. Not when I knew someone was following me.All these things felt like deja vu because something like this has happened to me before I moved to the country my family is in. Why was all these messing up with my life? “They have been watching us. There are cameras in the house.” I remembered Reina's words. And now this being tailed by a black car, the creeping feeling that every step I took was being tracked. I ran my hands through my hair and each strand was damp with sweat. I felt trapped and powerless, and it was eating me alive.My phone buzzed on the desk. I snatched it up, my heart pounding, hoping it was Reina. It was not.It was Carl. He never backed down even when I told
Reina I was scared to death, unaware of what to do. Ethan had been yelling at me that I should call the cops. “Call the cops now! Reina!” I wish I could. My hands were shaking and I could not dial the number correctly. When I was able to call the cops, the line operator answered and I heard a faint knock at the back door. My breath caught in my throat.“Reina?” Ethan’s voice came in again. I knew he heard the noise. “They are at the back door,” I whispered with tears streaming down my face. I could not believe that I would be crying this minute. See what we have gotten ourselves into. “Get out of there,” he said. “Now.”“I can’t. It's not that easy,” I said, my voice barely audible.“Then hide,” he said. “Go somewhere safe and stay there until the police arrive. I’m on my way, Reina. I promise.”On your way? Oh, Ethan. I know that you haven't booked a flight yet even though you pleaded with me that you will book the next available flight. I hung up and bolted toward the pantr
ReinaThe house has always been this quiet in the past few days. The kind of quiet that made every creak of the floorboards and every faint rustle outside feel like something heavy. I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the unknown number on my phone screen. My hands were trembling as I read the message again.“You’re in over your head, Mrs. Reina. Tell your husband to back off and leave Japan or you will both regret it.I had seen my fair share of threats in my career. The angry competitors, disgruntled clients, jealous rivals but this was different and more dangerous. I knew Ethan was in danger. I knew I was in danger. But what chilled me to the bone was the realization that whoever sent this message didn’t just know about us, they were watching us. They had their eyes on us. I felt like I was suffocating, the walls of the house closing in around me. I needed air. I needed to breathe. I ran outside so that I wouldn't faint and the cool night breeze kept on hitting my face as I
ReinaThe sun was just beginning to set when I heard the sharp knock on the door. It was unusual. I wasn’t expecting anyone.I froze, my mind immediately flashing back to Leonard’s warnings and Detective Daniels’ advice to stay vigilant. For a moment, I considered not answering, but the knock came again, louder this time.“Reina, it’s me,” a familiar voice called out.Leonard.My stomach churned as I tiptoed to the peephole. Sure enough, there he was, standing in a crisp black suit, his expression unreadable.I opened the door just enough to see him. “What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.“We need to talk,” Leonard said, his voice calm but urgent.“We have nothing to talk about,” I replied, starting to close the door.He pushed it open slightly, his hand on the frame. “Please, Reina. This is important. It’s about Ethan.”That made me pause. I didn’t trust Leonard as far as I could throw him, but the mention of Ethan pulled at my resolve. Reluctantly, I stepped aside and let him i
EthanI stood by the window in my hotel room, staring at the city lights shining brightly against the night sky.The streets below were alive with honking cars and I could hear laughter, and the distant thrum of music right here in my room. Yet inside this room, the silence I felt indifferent. I felt something that I could not quite shake off. The events of the last two days replayed in my mind like a broken record. The redhead, the alcohol, the shame. And Carl, my so-called friend who had managed to vanish when I needed him most.I clenched my fists, anger bubbling under the surface. “You are an idiot, Ethan,” I muttered to myself. “An absolute idiot.”My phone buzzed on the bedside table, snapping me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, half-expecting Reina’s name to light up the screen. But it wasn’t her.It was Carl. “Come on dude. Let me be.”I hated the way I was dwelling on all of these. I had work to do and I haven't been able to do anything yet. For a moment, I conside
ReinaThe dinner with Leonard didn't go as expected. As usual, he was cutting through corners. If he knew that I had submitted his name to the cops, maybe he would have given me more information. I was left to rack my brain over this. This was something that was meant to be the detectives work but I have not gotten any report from them. I wanted to call them to ask if they are making any progress but I guess I should just wait for some time. I sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen. The article I had been reading earlier blurred before my eyes. Leonard's words from the night before were still looping in my head. How would I get him to tell me all I need to know?Ethan was in Japan and some unknown people see plotting to kill him. Getting anything from Leonard seemed impossible especially when I knew that he was more interested in my body. But, I can't give in him or anyone. I was w married woman and I had a child. "They see Ethan as a threat,” I repeated as I thought alou
EthanThe cold shower did little to wash away the guilt clinging to my skin. I stood there, water pouring over me, hoping the icy sting would calm the storm in my chest. But it didn’t.I was haunted by memories and all I could see and hear and feel were The redhead’s laughter, her touch, the softness of her lips. it all kept on haunting leaving a relentless echo in my mind.“You are a fool, Ethan,” I muttered, slamming my fist against the tiled wall. “A bloody fool. How could you do such a thing?”I turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel. My reflection in the fogged-up mirror stared back at me. I looked like a total stranger. A stranger with bloodshot eyes and a fucked up face. This was not me. This was not the man I promised Reina I would be.Reina. My sweet wife. Her face swam before my eyes and I could still see her bright smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. What would she think of me now? Would she even look at me the same way if she knew what
ReinaThe clock on my desk kept ticking loudly and I wondered if it was because I was paying attention to even the little things that I was able to hear it. On a normal day, I would care less about a clock. The sound of the clock was made louder by the silence that engulfed the house. At first, I was sketching a few designs that I was going to put up for sale in the online market but my attention became divided when I remembered that there was something I had to do quickly. tapped my pen against the edge of my notebook, staring at the half-written page in front of me. Research on Leonard had consumed my thoughts for the past two days, but the deeper I dug, the murkier things became.Something about him didn’t sit right with me.I sighed, pushing the notebook aside and reaching for my phone. My messages with Ethan stared back at me, our recent exchange still fresh.“Hey. Busy morning. I will call you tonight. Miss you.”His words these days had been reassuring, but something felt of
EthanI woke up to the sound of a door closing softly, followed by the faint click of heels on the floor. My head throbbed, pounding restlessly that made even the dim morning light coming through the curtains feel unbearable. Letting out a soft groan I tried to sit up, but the heaviness in my limbs kept me pinned to the bed.And then it hit me. I was naked. In her. By this time. I blinked, looking down to see the rumpled sheets tangled around my naked body. My stomach twisted as I began to remember what happened last night. The memories kept flooding back and I could not move. Her red hair glowed under the blue lights. Her laughter. Her hands. Her lips.Oh, my God! What have I done?The door clicked shut, and I turned just in time to catch a glimpse of her fiery hair as she disappeared down the hallway. She didn’t say goodbye. She didn’t even look back.I sat up quickly, clutching the sheets as if they could shield and protect me from the shame threatening to consume me. My cl