As he struggled to calm the sudden emotions that were spreading throughout his body, Jaime watched his friend leave. He doesn't want anyone to see him like that, acting like a child and throwing a tantrum because the girl he likes doesn't return his feelings."Did you ask why she gets angry with you?" Clinton calmly asked after Jaime remained silent."Because I put that lawyer in the lowest position in my firm," Jaime said. "I interrupted their lives, I pulled her away from him.""Did she say that?"Suddenly embarrassed, Jaime remained silent. Those were all his assumptions, but, he believed them to be correct. There is no other reasonable explanation for Vivian's behavior towards him.Meeting again after two years, she contacted him because of Jerry and then also Jerry. During the conversations, she also reminded Jerry, it was never him."You said you argued with her, and you regret it." Clinton reminded. "Do you remember? You've told me so many times about it, I don't think I'll eve
Turning around, her eyes fell on Jaime's desk, and she discovered three never-before-seen photos. Their wedding photo, a photo of her and him together after he proposed, and a photo of her alone. She never paid attention to them.Homesickness passed through her painfully. Her head shot up immediately as the door opened and Jaime entered. Putting the pictures down, she hurried around the table toward the bed and sat down, hoping he wouldn't sense what was going through her mind.Keeping her eyes flat, she prayed that he would come in and get his computer and leave. Instead, he sat next to her."Is your leg better?" He asks."Already."Why is he worried about her leg?"Does the cut hurt?""Are not."What does he want? The baseless questions he asked made her feel even more uncomfortable. If he wants to say something, it doesn't have to be long."Do you want to do anything today?"Vivian carefully thought about it. Should she tell him or not?"I want to visit my younger brother when he g
"Are not." Vivian immediately responded loudly. Without thinking, the answer seemed to burst out of her mouth. Has saying 'no' become a natural reflex for her?Hodja frowned even more at her. "I don't understand you. His nephew is just your excuse? Unless that child is in the hospital, you have no reason to be there, with that man. You said you would divorced, now you're living with him exactly like you were two years ago.""You keep going back and forth between the promises you're making. Why are you so indecisive? You studied so hard, worked hard abroad, and came back as a different person. I think you're ready for a new start, but why did you return to the old place?"Guilt flowed through her body. Shame surrounded her in its familiar embrace. She's in a bad position. What's worse is that she doesn't fully understand her intentions.She has no reason to communicate. There was a truth to which she was committed upon her return, but it was all thwarted when Jaime entered her life aga
Vivian slept very well, waking up feeling refreshed and alert. Juke went to school, and Jaime went to work, which meant she was alone with her mother - something she was never ready for again.Going downstairs, she discovered the woman in the kitchen baking something. For a second, Vivian stared at her, noticing the difference in her mother's sunken face, she immediately looked away when Mrs. Maggie turned her head."Are you awake?" Mrs. Maggie asked. "Sit down. I'll clear the table."Vivian wanted to say that she didn't have to, but her legs moved before her mouth did. Pulling out a chair at the table, she sat down.One of the last people she thought of while in France was her mother. Times now are very different from two years ago. Two years ago, her heart was filled with resentment towards this woman.Today she was still angry but darkly because she realized this woman had also considered her death a loss, just like Jaime and Juke.A bowl of soup was placed in front of her along wi
"Actually..." Her mother began, but he quickly cut her off."But I heard Luna say that your daughter-in-law is looking for a divorce lawyer."Vivian's heart pounded, her hands clutched her shirt.Her mother glanced at her in surprise then turned back to President Evans. "I haven't heard anything about that."President Evans smiled as if satisfied that she didn't know. He reached into his pocket and placed on the table the business cards of divorce lawyers he knew. "These lawyers are all very good, I promise they will work quietly so as not to tarnish Jaime's reputation. Let's clean up this mess, so we can have their wedding. "Vivian's eyes looked at the business card. Her heart ached. She was the one who wanted a divorce but now she's hesitant.This morning, she could have gone out after Jaime left for work, but she lay in his bed and slept peacefully. She could have left the house to go for a walk somewhere when she saw her mother but she still chose to stay."Are not." Her mother f
Vivian's eyes moved toward his hand as it brushed her cheek and her long hair. His heart was pounding, if he could get a kiss from her, he would forgive her for being dishonest with him.Leaning closer, he placed a soft kiss on the corner of her lips, smelling the shower gel she had just used. Her lips were so lovely, it made his blood boil.Quickly becoming greedy, he locked lips with Vivian, wrapped his arms around her, and placed a hand on her lower back to pull her close to him.She smelled so good, her lips were so soft that he didn't think he could control himself. Fireworks exploded in his head as Vivian kissed him back, like a snail, slowly wrapping her arms around his back.He could hear her breathing, feel her mouth part, her tongue brush against his lips. Her wonderful warm body was so perfect, and before he knew it, he was carrying her to bed.If there was one thing she didn't understand, it was why Jaime chose her. Even now, she still doesn't understand how he easily fell
Pausing, she listened as he sighed, unable to keep his expression of deep disappointment down. He left her regretfully. Re-buttoning her shirt properly, she walked toward the door, putting a hand to her neck, wondering if Jaime had left any marks.Juke looked up at her as the door opened and then he peered inside. "I know you're not asleep yet."Vivian smiled. "Why did you come here?"Juke did not answer but asked. "May I come in?""Uhm... of course," Vivian said and let him in.Clutching the large book to his chest, he walked in and stood at the side of the bed, looking first at Jaime and then back at her. Wide eyes filled with innocence. "Are you two fighting?"Vivian's first reaction was to frown and then she saw Jaime's shirt coming out of his pants. Faking another smile, she said. "No. We didn't fight.""So why does it look like you're fighting?" Juke asked, moving closer to the bed to get a better look at Jaime but Vivian quickly stopped him."Let's go out, Juke," Vivian suggest
"Your face is glowing," Juke commented as they walked him outside to wait for the bus that morning."Huh?" Vivian asked."That means you're happy, right?" He continued.Jaime smiled and patted the boy's head before spotting the bus slowly approaching. "Your bus is here.""Bye, uncle and aunt." Juke waved, grinned, and climbed into the car.Juke is right. Vivian is happy, everything is as before. What would he do without her?"Let's go to work together." Jaime proposed with rising hope. He became excited at the thought of Vivian waking up with him, having breakfast with him, and taking the same car to get to work. They would do everything together, everything about it sounded perfect."I want to visit a place," Vivian said, hope streaming down his face."Where? I can take you." He said he didn't want to leave her for even a second when they had been together all night, attached and so happy this morning."I won't be gone long." She spoke firmly but he was still nervous because there we
5 months later...The road she traveled over the years was full of rocks. Vivian doesn't understand why small things turn into such great things. Life is a circle, she ran a big circle and finally returned to the starting point.She learned that with perseverance, one can go further and that weightless dreams can take flight one day. When the road is long and dark, it means the end is near, there will be light at the end of the road.All we need to do is put in effort and courage, no one can get out of their dark path without scars.That's difficult. Her heart is small and scared but the fear is less now than before.Vivian finds it funny how dramatic and difficult situations have happened to her and Jaime. However, in the end, they somehow remained together hand in hand.She couldn't know if they were soul mates in existence, but she believed that deep down, they had built an eternal bond somewhere from the beginning. That bond remains even after two years apart.She was happy that J
"Wait." Jaime quickly pulled Vivian back as soon as she opened the bedroom door.The bags hanging from her arms collided with each other. She asked with irritation. "What's up?""Close your eyes. Don't open them until I tell you to."Vivian snorted. "Is this some trick from that stupid book Clinton lent you?"His eyes became warm. "Of course not." Even though that's a lie. This was a cliché idea he read from a chapter in a book Clinton gave him: How to Surprise a Woman.Vivian closed her eyes.“Did you close your eyes?” He leaned forward to check."Yes." She nodded. Grabbing her shoulder, he led her into the room, gently closing the door behind him. Turning on the light, he led her toward the bathroom and stopped right in the doorway."OK, you can open your eyes." He said and smiled with satisfaction when Vivian saw rose petals floating on the bathtub. The scent of lavender and rosemary flows from lit candles placed around the rim of the tub.Vivian smiled impressed. "Are you serious?
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Vivian sobbed and pulled her mother close as if if she loosened her grip, she might lose her again.It's been a long time since she touched her mother's hair, smelled her scent, or hugged her tightly. All the regrets and pain shattered in that moment, nothing was more important than this moment. "Mom."Their reunion was spent crying and apologizing. Tears fell from all the hurt they had carried over the years. Each tear carries a different story every time it falls.There hasn't been a day since their father passed away that their small family of three has felt so complete."Look at you two." Her mother cried, stroking both of her children. The fact that they survived without their mother's warm hands, she said in a hoarse voice. "You two have grown up very well. My children.""I brought my daughter. Do you want to meet her?" Hodja asked. Picking up baby Esther from the ground, he gave the baby to Mrs. Maggie. "Esther, this is your grandmother. It's your gra
Vivian stayed at Hodja's house, hiding there for a few days until she calmed down and thought things through, but she felt like she was causing trouble for his small family. They are happy. She couldn't go to Jerry's house, so her brother's house was the last thing on her mind.First thing in the morning, Aiden called to let her know she didn't have to go to Jaime's office anymore, and instead she could work with Jerry.The past few days, burying herself in work had helped take other thoughts from her mind, but returning to the solace of Hodja's apartment was completely different. The room was very quiet.She lay on the cold bed and couldn't sleep. When she has nothing to do, she often walks around the apartment, stopping to look out the window.For a week, she let her mind wander and her heart rest for a while. Personal space helps clear any blockages in her mind. The fog began to gradually dissipate, and she could almost breathe normally again. Her chest is not too heavy.All that w
"Why do you want to be my mother now? Why should I call you mother, when you're not there for me or for Hodja, why?" Bitterness filled Vivian's heart. "I don't even know you. Jaime has considered you his biological mother for half his life, more so than Hodja and I. So how do I call you mother?"Vivian's eyebrows furrowed as she looked toward her mother for an answer, but she said nothing. Breathing out a light breath, Vivian turned away to wipe away her tears."If you were there when Hodja almost died twice, I would have knelt and admitted my mistake." Vivian declared. "But you weren't there. Others can proudly say that their mothers raised them well, but Hodja and I couldn't have that happiness. I raised him in your place. I also support myself. We never lived like other people. Waking up to my mother's breakfast, we never had that breakfast.""If I could go back in time, I want to experience that once. I missed that so much that when I finally ate your food, it just made me angry a
Everything would have gone according to Jaime's plan perfectly if he hadn't mentioned her mother. Vivian's blood boiled. She doesn't want to listen. She doesn't want to.Pulling the blanket over her head, she tried to fall asleep.The next morning, she woke up to the smell of delicious food. Jaime was cooking in the kitchen. "Come and eat quickly." He said as she walked in from the bathroom.They ate quietly like strangers. That's so sad. They had come so far, having been together for less than two years apart. Their relationship is so fragile that even the slightest touch will shatter it.Stealthily glancing at Jaime, Vivian found that she didn't know what to say. Is it her fault that they are like this? Because she was too stubborn, too stubborn because she had been in the dark for too long?Because she can't come to terms with her feelings for Jaime or admit them out loud?Is cowardice driving her life so she doesn't want to hear anything from him?That's right, it's her fault, she
Everything was hazy in memory, the argument two years ago had fatefully ended what they had. Remembering why Vivian left him is an even bigger task than plotting to get her back.Jaime leaned forward and ruffled his hair with both hands, frustration evident. Was it the heat of the moment that made Vivian pack her suitcase that night?He can't remember. What he remembered after watching Vivian leave was standing here in this room with anger welling up in a way he had never felt before.He doesn't care if she comes back or not. Jaime regrets that. He should care, because that's what means the most to him right now.That night if he had chased Vivian right after she left, maybe they wouldn't be here constantly arguing. Raising his head from his hands, he thought. Once she left, it seemed like she had no plans to return.He ate lunch and dinner in solitude hoping Vivian would return to eat with him, even if they ate in silence better than without her.If he hadn't rushed to talk to her th
When Vivian returned, she walked into the bathroom, Jaime knew that she would be stiff with anger despite the wonderful night they had had. It's better to give her some space to blow things up, like his mother suggested.Closing his eyes to return to dreamland, he prayed that Vivian would not leave him again.After cleaning up the messy clothes scattered on the floor, he took a shower and walked out. There were no plans for today, so he didn't know what Vivian would do. Mrs. Maggie and Juke have not returned from their trip yet, only the two of them are at home.Since meeting Vivian again after two years, he's begun to learn about her temperament, adapting to it, to a degree he never had when they first knew each other.When angry, she will bite and fight back easily, making him nervous or, most annoyingly, ignoring him. Today she will be angry because he won't let her continue last night's unfinished story.Jaime couldn't figure out how he was going to fight her. He just knew they ne
His excitement increased when he felt that Vivian temporarily stopped resisting. Quickly pulling down her shirt, he smelled her scent and kissed her shoulder. He had been waiting for this.The joy that Vivian kept for him for two years. She owes him. All he could think about was carrying her to bed and claiming her as his own.Retrieving her wet lips, he inserted his tongue into her mouth, groping until his fingers rested on her thighs. He caressed her white calves, pulling her forward to get even closer.Jaime desired her slowly. He wanted to taste every part of her to be reminded of her innocence. The girl's embarrassment about undressing in front of him swept across his mind. He'd be damned if he let her get away after tonight.Releasing her lips, Jaime breathed into her mouth, their lips barely brushing each other. His whole body was aroused, he was using all his energy to satisfy his desire. Turning off the light, he picked her up and walked towards the bed.Vivian's body is attr