His hard gaze promptly softens when he saw the terrified expression on my face.
Killiad cleared his throat, gazing at me mournfully. “I'm sorry, my University days were not as fun as everyone else.”
I gulped nodding my head not saying anything.
“Wife,” I stole a glance at him before looking away again. I don't want to say anything that could trigger a fight that I couldn't win.
‘But Killiad is not Brad, Elle. Stop comparing two different people.’ a voice in my head chided.
Triggers. Words or actions that sometimes could change our mood drastically. It's part of the trauma caused by accidents or situations we don't what to go back to.
Maybe Killiad was no different than me. Perhaps he's battling his own demons in silence.
My terror was triggered by Killiad’s abrupt change in demeanor. While Killiad’s changed in demeanor change when I asked about his University.
“Yes,” I
On some days working in the office was gloomy and dull, save for the occasional chatter outside my office.Today's a different story though. I am the cause of the chatter, thanks to my ever-supportive best friend for selling me out to my employees.“So, I heard from a reliable birdie that you've married a ‘hottie’ without everyone knowing.” Emily, my secretary said as a way of greeting as she barged inside my office without knocking.I gritted my teeth in annoyance.‘Arya, one of these days I’m going to skin you alive.’ I thought darkly, gripping the pen poised to sign on a document.I threw her a glance before getting back to work. Or pretending I am. “Yeah, a drunk marriage I can’t seem to get rid of,” I said feigning nonchalance.She scoffed before settling herself on the chair in front of me, staring at me like I've committed a heinous crime. “Probably because you li
In a world dominated by men, women get easily trampled and overlooked. Most women didn’t even realize that they were already dominated by the opposite sex.I hate it.I hate the fact that most women were easily blinded by the words so sweet they didn’t even realize it’s a leash put on their neck.That was what my parents did to me back then.So I distanced myself from them. Yes, I love them but it will never be enough to stop me from reaching my dreams and making my goals a reality. That’s why despite the love I felt for Brad I didn’t let him dictate me like my parents did to me back then. I won’t let them make me someone I’m not.And now Killiad.I don’t know what to make of him. Sometimes he’s everything I am searching for but other times he’s someone I've been running from.I angrily touched the call button below his name, my foot impatiently tapping the floor.He p
Happiness. Sometimes it doesn’t occur to us that we’ve been living without it until one day somebody will come into our lives and made us realize that we’ve been missing it without even knowing. Then, we'll start to try to remember when was the last time we laugh so hard or when we just unconsciously smile because though life is hard and simple someone is making it more special.Killiad made me realize all that.I felt guilty. Everyone deserves to be happy and I know I don’t have to feel guilty about it. Brad made his choice. I know I should have moved on and forgotten Brad but the thing is I can’t. I simply can’t.Killiad made sure of it.Once while on our nighty stroll he suddenly asked me about Brad and my high from the night we shared abruptly crashed back to the ground. I got mad and walked out on him. He chased me. Hold me firmly and said “Stop running from the things and memories that are hurt
I didn’t stay over at Killiad’s place since we’re going to spend the following day together. So instead of going to work the next day I just called Emily to come over to my place to finalize some things.Emily didn’t bother to ask me why I was at home working the moment her eyes fell on the boxes cluttered on the floor. I was itching to tell her that I’m moving out but that was just plain obvious since I didn’t bother to unpack everything that was already in the box a week ago. I wanted to tell her that I’m moving in with Killiad but I’m too afraid to see judgment in her eyes. But then it’s better if she heard it from me rather from the other human being that would 'surely’ exaggerate the whole thing into something as huge as winning the lotto or something. And yes, I’m talking about Arya.She was gathering the documents on the coffee table when I hesitantly told her about my plan on moving in with Killi
I don’t know Emily, not personally so I don’t have the right to judge her. She has her own story, I know that. And based on the scars I saw on her back it probably has to do with the emotional, psychological, and physical trauma she’d experienced.I let out a tired sigh as I stared blankly ahead.“Hey, just let it go. I’m sure she had her reasons.” Killiad said as he walked around the kitchen counter before sitting beside me on the stools, facing the kitchen.“I know but I can’t help it. Two times she said she doesn’t want to see me hurt again, kind of ominous, you know.” I said exasperatedly.He leaned his elbows on the counter, his fingers steeple while his chin resting the back of his palm. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”“I hope so,” I answered, finally facing Killiad.“Hey, chin up the
As my eyes opened, I felt disoriented and displaced. That feeling that usually comes when I’m in an unfamiliar place, that feeling of not knowing where I was.I peered at the nightstand and saw my phone before everything came rushing back with the weight of my decision heavily pressing my mind. It was both amazing and sad how easy to pack up the life I built for Brad and myself, but the moment I saw a peek of how beautiful the day is, I shook my head from the gutter I put myself into and start looking forward to the day ahead of us.I took my phone and according to it, it was only five on a brand new Saturday morning. A smile broke out on my face when I remember last night. I slowly got up from the bed, do my morning routine before trudging down in the kitchen where I could already smell the coffee.New beginning. New beginning.The mantra is like an anchor that helps me stay grounded. Honestly, I want to run and pretend that everythin
There aren't many things in this world worst than getting a text message from your cheating ex-fiancé after the best morning you had in a long time demanding you to meet him in "our favorite restaurant". My face instantly darkened in bitterness.Trust Bradley Miller to ruin everything great happening in my life."Hey, what is it? Your face suddenly screams murder.""Brad." I spat out bitterly. I can't believe his mere text can ruin my day. Killiad and I were just talking about the upcoming Knight Empire annual Gala when my phone chimes on an incoming text. Now, I regret opening it."What did he say?" Killiad asked worriedly, promptly taking his eyes from the road to look at me."He wants to talk.” I said a bit casually and in a hushed whisper I added, “Guess honeymoon was finally over." I muttered looking away from his searching eyes.“What was that again?”“I said, he wants to talk.”
"I'm so so-"My face morphs into a perfect picture of annoyance. "Then stop apologizing and start explaining. You said it yourself, I deserve it, Brad." So I won't have to lay at night wondering what I did wrong to go through that pain and betrayal. I wanted to add. "It's the least you could do," I mumbled the last part, staring at him."I fell in love, Elle." He said after a minute like it explained everything. Perhaps for him, falling in love was enough reason to treat me like he did."You fell in love? How about me? Did you ever love me or you just pretending the whole time?""I thought I did until I get to know Stella." He mumbled, looking away from me."Was it easy? Does it ever make you feel uncomfortable making love to her while I was waiting for you at home?"He swallowed hard. "I swear Elle for three damn years I tried to not acknowledge it but... even my self-control has its breaking point.” Breaking point? I ne
There are thousands of reasons to be sad, angry, and cry but there are millions of reasons to be happy, thankful, and trust again.It's what life taught me.We could always find a reason to run away. To never look back. Heartbreak does that to a person. Sometimes we focused too much on the hurt and pain we failed to see the positive things that surround us.Heartbreak made me see clearly what's in front of me. Yes, it made me doubt myself and everyone around me but it taught me to take a leap of faith.The moment I stepped a foot inside Killiad’s building memories rushed in like a swirl of colors and emotion.“Welcome home Mrs. Knight.” The head of security greeted me as I walked by his post in the entrance.“Good afternoon, Luis and thank you.”“Do you want me to escort you to the penthouse?” I shook my head, a grateful smile on my face.“I'll be fine but thank you for asking,&rd
Turns out, Emily is not in Gavin or her brother's place, Ethan. Though as I thought over it I didn't remember Emily introducing Ethan to me or anyone of us in the office as her brother. I just assume given their brother-sister devotion to each other.And as I asked Ethan about Emily's whereabouts he seems unbothered about it. In fact he looks like he'd been expecting it.“Em? Where are you?” I asked, my voice tinged with panic and relief as I snatched my phone on the table the moment it rang, flashing Emily's name on the screen.She chuckled at the other side of the call. That's a good sign, right? “Relax, I'm fine, Elle.”“Is Grayson with you?” I inquired directly. After my call with Killiad, I've been stressing where was Emily. It's not like her to just take off like that. So, instead of finalizing my plans for the day, I opted on looking
Days passed in a blur of tears of forgiveness and happiness. My life is almost perfect. Almost.I hadn't officially moved out on Killiad's place. I didn't want to. I'm just waiting for him or his secretary to call me to get my things out of his place. But I know Killiad won't do anything of the sort even if his life depended on it. He's a good man, a really good man and I am very fortunate to know a man like him.I felt drain, I'm not sleeping well for the past month and it was slowly taking a toll on me. But today's Monday and Mondays were killer for all the people working from eight to five.I should be back in the office where I'm needed or I risk being late on my eight-thirty meeting on the divorce attorney Brad had recommended. But Emily hadn't gone out for grocery shopping for the cupboard supplies in the office plus I'm starving.For the last week, I had lived off of the food that my husband was sending me in the office. It never crossed my mind to
Hours later, I stood outside the gigantic gate of my parents' house, working up the courage to talk to them. It's been a week and they only have Sunday as a day-off that is, if they won't be called back to the hospital at the end of the day.My childhood home was still the same even the creaked and groaned of the gate as it opens, the sound of the soles on my shoes as it hits the brick walkway. I felt nostalgic as I looked around the place. This was the first place that held the memories of my childhood. Both happiness and sadness lay in every corner of the place that had held my young heart.A small sad smile curved up on my face. I made a lot of mistakes and I know I couldn't undo them but as I think my life through I realized it taught me the best lessons in life.I couldn't lose my parents again. They had sacrificed everything they had and I pushed them away. Not anymore.Trust is a brittle thing that should be enforced with love to make it stronger.
“Woah! What is it this time?” Emily asked as a way of greeting as she sauntered inside my office without knocking. It was clear in her face that she's excited on my behalf.“Breakfast from my favorite restaurant,” I mumbled looking anywhere but my Secretary. I don't know why I felt embarrassed about eating it. It's food and on top of that, it is my favorite.Killiad has been sending me flowers, breakfast, lunch, dinner with notes raging from ‘I miss you, I've been thinking about you and ‘Please come home, we could fix this.No, I love you or I care for you. Nothing. I want to hope but I couldn't afford to. It'll hurt too much and I don't know if I could survive the pain.I wonder what he wanted to fix. Our marriage or his life. He probably wanted to rid of me.Emily scoffed, trying to stifle her laugh.“Please don't stop your obvious mirth on my account,” I rolled my eyes, picking my pen.
“You look like sh*t,” Gavin commented just as I step on the rooftop of the bar where we usually hang out when the four of us– Gavin, Gustavo, Grayson, and I are in one city.“Gavin!” Gustavo hissed under his breath on his little corner.I tipped the bottle of beer in my hand in Gavin's direction, nodding my head. “I feel like one, bro.”He rolled his eyes, sitting on the small table. He had never taken his eyes off me as I stagger into the railing. “Can't you just call her?” I wish it was that simple.I shook my head like the thousand times I did when my finger hovers above her name on my phone screen. It feels like Mom all over again. Though I have everything money could buy I don't have the only person that I ever wanted.Space.She needed space. I ought to give her the space she wanted, after all, I had lied and hidden secrets from her. I broke the trust that she had given me. Ho
If I could just snap my fingers and wake up from this nightmare.I have never been so terrified for myself or others. Perhaps it's my fault. I didn't want the attachment. Attachment means physical and emotional responsibility. It means you have to fully giving yourself to someone became you trusted them to take care of yours and they trusted you to do the same. It'll mean my childhood all over again.I've never been so scared for a stranger jumping out of nowhere to save me.That would mean I would be responsible for his life if he's still alive after that single shot went off.I lay unmoving trying to feel every part of my body. At my peripheral vision, I saw Killiad pounding the glass wall mercilessly. He looked tortured, defeated, and scared out of his wits.If he could just look in my direction.My breath caught when then the muscled stranger groaned, a grimace marring his handsome face. He's tall, big, dark, and handsome. He's like the
Funny how can someone mean so much to me after a few hours spent together years ago. I frequently question myself why but like a parasite I clung to her, to our memories spent together, her strength and vulnerability, my darkness to her light.Indeed, the best stories usually begin unexpectedly.Or maybe not.All those years, she’d been my compass, my own guiding path. Our memories together pushed me to where I am today. Elle saved me that day. I was on the edge of losing myself, I was about to give up but then she came barging into my life and I was left with a purpose after that fateful night. That night I feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time.Belongingness.She made me feel human. Complete with happiness, sadness, and grief. She made me peek through the gap of true happiness and for the first time before Elle came into my life I feel peace at heart. She washed away my anger and tame the chaos that took residence in my head.
Blistering heat hit me from the afternoon sun as I walk out of my office for a late lunch at my favorite Mexican place.A smile curves up in my face as I looked around. The world is extra vibrant like an old musical movie playing on a vast lawn with the cold night breeze blowing in the background.It was a scene–a fantasy that had played out many times than I could count when I was falling asleep. It was a safe haven for me in my dreams. A smile tugged up at the corner of my lips. I circle my arms around my stomach as the urge to skip on the sidewalk while humming a nameless tune came over me.As I rounded the corner, nostalgia hit me right in the gut as the scene around me played in a manner like the last movie I had watched.I had watched it with Killiad. I remember wiping a stray tear in my eyes as we watched the movie in silence while I was cocooned in Killiad's warmth.A smile started to bloom on my face the moment I saw Killiad's famili