Flavia noticed a foreign car in her driveway. It wasn't actually a foreign car, but Gladwin's car. So, her uncle had decided to inform Flavia's parents of his return. That meant the man was rested enough and ready to be teased by Flavia's mother and siblings. Knowing this, Flavia just smiled quietly to herself. Carrying her siblings' shopping items to the playroom, Flavia then chose to hide in her father's office. She had two reasons for doing so. The first reason was Gladwin, and the second reason was that she genuinely wanted to finish her work quickly. Flavia was majoring in administration at college. However, thanks to her uncle Altezza, a skilled architect, she learned how to create building designs and use computer applications widely used by talented architects today. Flavia had already measured the shop they were going to rent, and now she was planning its interior design before deciding on the workers who would execute it. Her work took time, so she only came out when sh
Flavia sat silently in the car driven by her private chauffeur. This morning, she had an appointment with Abigail at their new café to discuss the furniture they would buy before her friend got busy with her photography schedule. It had been several days since the dinner event with Gladwin. As Flavia knew from their previous conversation, her uncle had started working actively at a renowned hospital not far from the new café. This meant that soon, after the café officially opened, she might meet her uncle again and even his colleagues. But long before that happened, Flavia had to come up with a reason to avoid the party her step-grandmother was planning for her uncle. It would be a celebration for Gladwin's return and his acceptance at one of the prestigious hospitals in their city. It's not that Flavia disliked her step-grandmother or felt uncomfortable in her stepmother's family. On the contrary, she felt very comfortable. Even though she was Claire's stepdaughter, Claire's famil
Dear Diary, I want to vent again, after holding it in for some time. May I? Where should I begin this complaint? I just want to know, until when will these trials keep coming to me? After days of trying to avoid them, why do we have to meet again? It feels like I'm running in circles. When I think I've gone far enough, in the next step, I'm back to the starting point of my journey. Is this fate? I can't say it's fate. Not after the cruel fate separated me from him. Not after the cruel fate gave me a... I don't even want to say it because I don't want to remember it. Dear Diary, I promised that I wouldn't wait anymore. But seeing him again makes my determination waver. I'm entranced by his smile, and I fall in love because of his laughter. I'm trapped again, falling into his charm. I don't deserve to hope for him. It feels like, to fall in love with him, I don't deserve it. Maybe in the past, I dreamed of having him. Loving him for the rest of the life that God gave me. But
"Why is Uncle here?" Gladwin turned to look at his niece. Her beautiful face looked melancholic, her cheeks reddened by the hot sun. They were sitting on a bench in the courtyard of the orphanage, right under the tall mango tree. "Why indeed? Is Uncle not allowed to be here?" Flavia turned, looking back at Gladwin with her golden-brown eyes and shaking her head. "Not like that. It's just that I heard today Grandma is organizing a welcome party for Uncle at home," replied Flavia in her calm tone. Gladwin noticed the movement of the girl's skirt as she shifted back and forth. "So, if Grandma is throwing a party, I'm not allowed to be here?" Gladwin asked, raising an eyebrow. "Not like that," Flavia replied with a tone of resignation. Gladwin liked hearing the girl in front of him whining. It felt like seeing Flavia ten years ago when she was still a teenager. "I mean, the party is for your welcome. Uncle is the main star; how can the star not be present at his own event?" Gladwin s
Flavia gazed at the two-story house with a long sigh. The luxurious house that had been her second home for eleven years once again made her feel uncomfortable. For the past five years, the place always made Flavia nervous. Carrying a paper bag with clothes she had intentionally chosen for this occasion, Flavia walked in following Gladwin. Instead of using the front door, they opted to enter through the side door that led directly to the kitchen. The housemaid who already knew her greeted her warmly. "Is Mom already here?" Flavia asked, glancing towards the interior of the house. "Yes, Miss. Mrs. Claire is in front of the house with Mr. Antony," replied the housemaid, acknowledged by Flavia with a nod. "And Abigail?" "She's upstairs. Getting ready, she said." Flavia nodded again and chose to walk up the stairs to her friend's room. The room they always shared when they gathered there. Flavia knocked on the door as a form of courtesy. She never wanted to open the door directly, f
"I'm not acting strange. Medusa is too arrogant. I can't stand her having a relationship with Uncle Gladwin, especially when she openly insults you. Who does she think she is?" "But it didn't have to be so confrontational, right?" Abigail just shrugged. They were now in the living room where a long bench filled with plenty of food was served, and dinner began after a few words from the party organizers. Flavia was still at Gladwin's residence, helping the household assistants clean up the leftovers of the guests while some men continued the drinking session in the backyard. "Are you staying overnight?" Abigail asked, carrying a dirty plate in her hands. "No, I'll be heading home," Flavia replied, placing the plate on the bar table, which would later be washed by the assistants. "Why? I was planning to stay here and not go back to the apartment." "There's still work I need to finish," Flavia said casually. "Work or..." Abigail paused her statement. "Abby, stop teasing me." Ab
The car stopped in front of a two-story luxurious house. A middle-aged couple who had been sitting on wooden chairs stood up as Phoebe opened the iron gate. Gladwin, following Phoebe, entered the front yard and greeted them while kissing the back of their hands as a gesture of courtesy. "Doctor Gladwin," Phoebe's mother greeted. Gladwin nodded politely. "Darling, this is Doctor Gladwin, Julie's son." Phoebe's mother informed her husband with enthusiasm that Gladwin found a bit excessive. "Does Dr. Gladwin also work at the same hospital as Phoebe?" Phoebe's father asked, and Gladwin shook his head in response. "Phoebe will move to the hospital where Gladwin works after finishing her current contract, Pi," Phoebe explained with her sweet smile. Gladwin felt a sense of discomfort when the woman beside him spoke. He knew Phoebe was making her move, and he was aware of it because he was an adult, not an inexperienced young boy. "Come inside. I've prepared some snacks," Phoebe's mother
Gladwin had already parked his car in the orphanage parking lot. He looked for Flavia's known car but didn't find it. Was Flavia not coming? Was the girl avoiding him again? He wondered to himself. Gladwin increasingly realized that avoiding him was now Flavia's specialty. This conclusion was not made without reason because it became clearer day by day that Flavia was deliberately avoiding him, especially yesterday. Flavia refused to be in the same car with him, refused to be in the same room with him. And Gladwin was sure that if he had picked her up at her house, she would have refused his offer to go together with various excuses. Gladwin tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. His heart felt conflicted. On one hand, Gladwin was clearly unwilling if Flavia avoided him. But on the other hand, he felt that he didn't need to go through the trouble of finding ways to avoid the girl as he had been trying to do. For ten minutes, Gladwin wrestled with his own thoughts until he final