"Vivian, do you agree to marry me?"That night it was cold, she returned to the old apartment and saw Jaime in front of the building. The way he smiles at her, the gentleness he has for her – Vivian can still remember it so clearly in his head that it feels like yesterday when he proposed to her.Nothing special, nor kneeling but by telling her what emotions are in her heart. Vivian like an ephemera, rushed in.Now they are nothing of each other.Taking a breath to remind herself that she shouldn't be daydreaming anymore, she pushed the car door where she sat procrastinating for the past 10 minutes. Jaime's shopping center appears in her eyes.For a few minutes, she stared at it as if it were some extraordinary human creation. Squeezing her hand into a fist, she stepped forward.There are more important things now. Hodja, his daughter, Jerry, and herself. She spent two years living better, if she collapsed and was soft, That meant she wasted every effort Jerry put into helping her.En
She turned around, he heard the door open. Her footsteps resounded on the stairs, fading away as the door began to close in front of him. Following the impulse, he pushed it out and began to go downstairs behind her, finally catching up to her in the hall. Hold her hand tight, he said. "So what? If I am not your boss, then what am I?" Her challenging eyes looked straight at him, she pursed her lips. In his heart, he screamed. 'Say that I'm still your husband.' "I do not know." Vivian calmly said with no interest. "What are you?" Her answer made Jaime feel slapped in the face. Taking advantage of his lust, she pulled out her hand and left leaving him standing there dumbfounded by her unexpected words. Vivian's high heels faded away, a breeze coming in as the door closed. A steamy emptiness floated in his chest, feeling painful again when Vivian hurt. ~~~~~ Quiet house. Jaime should have returned to his bedroom but he stopped in the corridor and turned his head to
They have no mother, no father, no protection, and no place to call home. He wondered, does Vivian hate him? Did he die in her heart like her mother? Jaime could not stand the thought of being hated by her. Pushing the chair back, he strode towards her, standing opposite her. Vivian lifted and shot him a cold bullet as he snatched the paper she was unfinished. "It will be faster if we work together, don't you think? If you want to leave my office soon." Jaime sat down, leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and checked dozens of numbers and dollar signs on the paper. "What are you doing?" Vivian asked in a sociable manner. "Which column do you enter?" He asked. "B, C, or D? A is not right?" Vivian's eyes stiffened at him before she leaned forward to snatch the paper from him. His reflexes are very fast, and he successfully dodges her efforts. "I'm helping you." "I have never asked for your help." Vivian hissed to reach out to get the paper but he took it
"You could have had him in the two years I was gone and you still wouldn't have done it," Vivian said calmly.The standing opponent hissed feverishly under her breath. "Those two years?" Luna asked menacingly. "Do you know what we did during those two years? I stood by his side when he fell into depression because you left him. It was me and only me who remained by his side. Unlike you, I never left Jaime's side. I was there with him the whole time.""Whether you died or left or whatever you did, whether he hid you or not, I don't care but you don't deserve him. Do you understand what I'm saying ?"Vivian's eyebrows furrowed as she listened to the anger in Luna's voice. What did Jaime go through during those two years? Did he regret sending her away, because he thought she was dead or because of guilt?"My father knew a lot of divorce lawyers." Luna's eyes burned burningly looking at the other person. "You come, I'll introduce you to some of them. Get out of Jaime's life so he can hav
In the following days, Vivian was alone in Jaime's office. What she said to him last day the other day must have pushed him away so much that he wanted to avoid her as much as possible. That is not important.The two of them are just sensitive to each other, their circumstances bringing about situations that neither of them can control. If she thinks there's even a slight chance of them getting along again, then she's a fool.Right now she is just a ghost who was resurrected after two years. And what Jaime was like to her... she didn't know. Vivian hadn't thought about seeing him again, so she didn't know what she was expecting.She planned to stay late until that Friday night. When the door opened, she thought it was Aiden. Occasionally he would open the door and poke his head in to check if she was working or not, but it wasn't Aiden. Instead, she found Jerry standing in the doorway."Vivian." He smiled. "Still not done yet?""Soon.""Let's go eat, okay?"Turning off the computer, s
"What are you waiting for?" Luna said then stepped forward and pushed Vivian's shoulder towards the man named Knox."You better get back here," Jaime said solemnly.Vivian frowned at him. To cut off her line of sight, Luna grabbed Jaime's arm and pulled him away. They walked only a few steps before Jaime withdrew his arm from hers without taking care to hide his discomfort."Leave me alone." He hissed, turning his head to see Vivian with the other man.Without sending orders to his brain, his legs moved to chase her but Luna quickly held him back. "It's nice to meet you today."He bit his lip angrily when he heard Chairman Evans laugh arrogantly. "Luna, Jaime. It's nice to have you both here today."Turning around, Jaime subconsciously smiled politely and nodded to the older man by shaking his hand.“Your father wants to reveal something today.” Luna's uncle walked over, smiling happily. "Congratulations, Luna."Jaime's eyes jumped back and forth between the two, wondering what they w
"Why?" He added sarcastically. “Have I unintentionally offended you? Because you only go with men who have money? So why don't you come home with me? I can offer you twenty times more than what he gives you. My two years of hard work could amount to more than that. Do you want to hear about it?"He could feel the burning anger washing over Vivian like angry waves. The car lurched as he drove over a pothole. It suddenly shut down no matter how many times he pressed the accelerator.Taking advantage of that opportunity, Vivian aggressively unfastened her seatbelt and pushed the door open, letting the cold rain hit her. Jaime watched her open the car door, he rushed out, disappointed but desperate not to let her escape."Where do you want to go?" He asked, hastily holding her arm.Vivian was startled. "Let go, Jaime.""I asked where are you going?" He raised his voice."Are you sure you want to know?" Vivian rolled her eyes threateningly. "That might hurt your childish feelings if I told
"I heard Hodja say that my debts have been paid off. Is that you?"Gritting his teeth, he lowered his gaze and couldn't even look at her because of the pain.That's right, he hunted those bastards. Vivian died, and guilt tortured him, so he paid her debt for her."That's why, Jaime, we should divorce so you can move on with your life," Vivian said. "Get rid of your ugly past, start over like you should have two years ago. I'm sorry for putting you through that. I feel even better that we met again this way. If I run into you again, I at least want to see you happy.”Jaime raised his head at the sound of an approaching car that soon pulled up to the side of the road. Through the window, he spots Jerry behind the wheel.Of course, he thought. Who else does Vivian call other than the guy who stole from her for two years? The man Vivian had been living with for the past two years.Anger welled up inside him as Vivian stepped out from under the awning, walking towards the car without even
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