LauresseI don't know when he will come home again, after we had arranged everything about our wedding, he left without saying anything.And here I am again, left at home. In the eyes of people who know him, the reason the wedding was rushed was because I was pregnant.I looked at my stomach. It's not bloated, and I do yoga every day to slim my figure. But I can't help eating, especially when I can't do anything. This house was so boring and lonely that the only thing saving me from silent madness was the book.I took chips from the bowl while my eyes moved along the lines of the book. He said Savi will come today to send me books again along with the other things I asked him to buy.But I've been wondering that why he took so long and has not yet arrived. Why is that? I put down what I was reading, and looked out the window at the front of the house. I stared at the vantage point for a few seconds before I decided to stand up and felt something strange around me. It doesn't make me f
LauresseI am lying on the cold floor, staring at the ceiling; only I can see darkness. No light. Just darkness. And the surrounding was like the cool freezer seeping through my skin deep to my bones. Even my breath was frigid.Where am I? A choking sound came to my mouth, along with my fresh tears. Death. The only word I am going of my life. I should not leave my hometown and be independent. Perhaps...maybe... indeed...I am not in this situation.Is it my karma? I don't know, and I'm not that kind of person. I don't step on other people or destroy anyone. But why did I end up here?Even if I wanted to stand up, I had no strength left. I haven't eaten for two days, and the stinky algae smell of the jail room sickens me. I'd rather die than those people who used my body. I'd instead end my life here. I will hit my head against a hard wall over and over until I know I am dying. The white fabric of the oversized shirt was the only thing that covered my knee-length nudity. I remember how
LauresseHe was grinning and facing Ashton. "I am inspecting if truly she is pure," he reasoned."You have no right to do that. What would Alexandro do to you if I told him?" Ashton monotone, staring at him, warning.I noticed the sudden whiteness of her face, and he laughed fakely. "You can't be funny. Take her out." He orders his two men.If Ashton just let the man do what he did, maybe—I can't imagine that. I am disgusted now, and I can feel what he did. I wanted to run away, jump into the river and clean myself. Remove this hand imprinted on my body. I could feel his hands as if they stayed there on my body. I bit my lower lip. The pressure hurt, tasting the iron blood in my buds.I'd rather die.The two men still holding me in both arms, we walked to the end of the hallway. The man Hernan went with Ashton to the adjacent cell with the two men outside the cell, and I heard the girl cry, begging, which pained me.If only I could do something, the same thing would happen to him as h
LauresseI tried to get out of the old man's hands, the stout man's hand gripping my neck as his hand caressed me everywhere he liked. Tears stream in my eyes as I gasp with air and scream for help, but no voice comes out of my mouth. I was in the old cell that they locked me in. I don't know why I went back there. I could see the broad grin on his face like a demon, and I could feel his hand going up between my thighs."No!" I shouted as I opened my eyes. My breath was ragged, as if I was drowning, and cold sweat hit my forehead and neck.I was stunned for a few minutes, staring at the white ceiling, and I touched my cheek. The hot liquid coming from my eyes not ceasing. And caught the scent of lavender fragrance around me. And the air condition was at a suitable temperature, not too frigid.The same nightmare coming in my dreams that even though a month has passed, it seems like it was just yesterday. My body shivers from the disgust of those memories.My mouth was dry, and still, m
LauresseTita turned her gaze to me. "Isn't it Ijha? To which I just nodded. Work should not be prioritized over food," Tita reasoned."Where's Ashton?" I inquired."That boy is also one. I said to wait until you come to eat but went to his phone." Aunt Cathlyn sighed in frustration. She doesn't want to have her husband and son doing something when it's eating time. She would say that only the food time they gather together and anyone should not do other things take priority over family dinner."Maybe it is an important call, wife," Uncle Henry defended as Auntie Cathlyn glared at him. "Tell your son about it. It's like you are going to choke me in death."Aunt Cathlyn sighed, and she smiled, trying not to feel annoyed. She folded her hands on the table. Her eyes focused on the delicious breakfast she had cooked.A bowl of fried rice in one bowl. Omelet sprinkled with lots of onion leaves, savory eggs, and sausages."Oh!" she gasped, "I forgot to bring the coffee I made! When you're g
AshtonRotating the phone in my hand, my gaze shifted to the door in front of me. The sky above was overcast and looked like it would bring strong winds and heavy downpours. I should have brought an umbrella, and it seems Gunther was right about the weather today.Just looked at my phone before boarding the plane three hours ago. It says Moscow will be sunny. But my expectations changed upon getting out of the private plane. Hearing the sound of the vehicles passing behind my back and the constant chatting of people walking on the sidewalk, which the road was between the apartment building, some establishments, and stores.I also did not expect to meet him in front of the barbershop. The location was pointing in here. Am I going in or not? At the same time, the glass door opened, and a man came out with his thick beard trimmed. He was wearing a black bonnet on his head, three inches shorter than my height. He was wearing a thick leather jacket, and his black eyes looked at me for a mo
LauresseI don't know when he will come home again, after we had arranged everything about our wedding, he left without saying anything.And here I am again, left at home. In the eyes of people who know him, the reason the wedding was rushed was because I was pregnant.I looked at my stomach. It's not bloated, and I do yoga every day to slim my figure. But I can't help eating, especially when I can't do anything. This house was so boring and lonely that the only thing saving me from silent madness was the book.I took chips from the bowl while my eyes moved along the lines of the book. He said Savi will come today to send me books again along with the other things I asked him to buy.But I've been wondering that why he took so long and has not yet arrived. Why is that? I put down what I was reading, and looked out the window at the front of the house. I stared at the vantage point for a few seconds before I decided to stand up and felt something strange around me. It doesn't make me f
Ashton Those fearful looks in her eyes and a plea when I first saw her in a bad situation after four years.‘Your mother is here at home...’“And?” I frowned upon hearing this. Why is mom at home? She didn’t even let me know she was coming.‘And she said we were leaving. It’s about a wedding. We will be meeting with the wedding planner. Out of town, Ashton,’ she whispered, and I heard mom’s voice asking if she was done getting dressed.I woke up in my senses. Why didn’t my mother tell me about this? Having this plan during the day, I am away from the Philippines.“Can you give the phone to Mama?”And I heard her say, okay.‘Hey, dear son,’ Mama’s cheery voice on the line.“Mom, can you postpone that for now? I am not there,” I said without hesitation.‘Son, we don’t need you here for this. It is our time to have bonding with your soon wife.’I grunted. I can’t really force my mother in her tone of voice to have made up her mind. What if something terrible happens to both of them? Eve
AshtonRotating the phone in my hand, my gaze shifted to the door in front of me. The sky above was overcast and looked like it would bring strong winds and heavy downpours. I should have brought an umbrella, and it seems Gunther was right about the weather today.Just looked at my phone before boarding the plane three hours ago. It says Moscow will be sunny. But my expectations changed upon getting out of the private plane. Hearing the sound of the vehicles passing behind my back and the constant chatting of people walking on the sidewalk, which the road was between the apartment building, some establishments, and stores.I also did not expect to meet him in front of the barbershop. The location was pointing in here. Am I going in or not? At the same time, the glass door opened, and a man came out with his thick beard trimmed. He was wearing a black bonnet on his head, three inches shorter than my height. He was wearing a thick leather jacket, and his black eyes looked at me for a mo
LauresseTita turned her gaze to me. "Isn't it Ijha? To which I just nodded. Work should not be prioritized over food," Tita reasoned."Where's Ashton?" I inquired."That boy is also one. I said to wait until you come to eat but went to his phone." Aunt Cathlyn sighed in frustration. She doesn't want to have her husband and son doing something when it's eating time. She would say that only the food time they gather together and anyone should not do other things take priority over family dinner."Maybe it is an important call, wife," Uncle Henry defended as Auntie Cathlyn glared at him. "Tell your son about it. It's like you are going to choke me in death."Aunt Cathlyn sighed, and she smiled, trying not to feel annoyed. She folded her hands on the table. Her eyes focused on the delicious breakfast she had cooked.A bowl of fried rice in one bowl. Omelet sprinkled with lots of onion leaves, savory eggs, and sausages."Oh!" she gasped, "I forgot to bring the coffee I made! When you're g
LauresseI tried to get out of the old man's hands, the stout man's hand gripping my neck as his hand caressed me everywhere he liked. Tears stream in my eyes as I gasp with air and scream for help, but no voice comes out of my mouth. I was in the old cell that they locked me in. I don't know why I went back there. I could see the broad grin on his face like a demon, and I could feel his hand going up between my thighs."No!" I shouted as I opened my eyes. My breath was ragged, as if I was drowning, and cold sweat hit my forehead and neck.I was stunned for a few minutes, staring at the white ceiling, and I touched my cheek. The hot liquid coming from my eyes not ceasing. And caught the scent of lavender fragrance around me. And the air condition was at a suitable temperature, not too frigid.The same nightmare coming in my dreams that even though a month has passed, it seems like it was just yesterday. My body shivers from the disgust of those memories.My mouth was dry, and still, m
LauresseHe was grinning and facing Ashton. "I am inspecting if truly she is pure," he reasoned."You have no right to do that. What would Alexandro do to you if I told him?" Ashton monotone, staring at him, warning.I noticed the sudden whiteness of her face, and he laughed fakely. "You can't be funny. Take her out." He orders his two men.If Ashton just let the man do what he did, maybe—I can't imagine that. I am disgusted now, and I can feel what he did. I wanted to run away, jump into the river and clean myself. Remove this hand imprinted on my body. I could feel his hands as if they stayed there on my body. I bit my lower lip. The pressure hurt, tasting the iron blood in my buds.I'd rather die.The two men still holding me in both arms, we walked to the end of the hallway. The man Hernan went with Ashton to the adjacent cell with the two men outside the cell, and I heard the girl cry, begging, which pained me.If only I could do something, the same thing would happen to him as h
LauresseI am lying on the cold floor, staring at the ceiling; only I can see darkness. No light. Just darkness. And the surrounding was like the cool freezer seeping through my skin deep to my bones. Even my breath was frigid.Where am I? A choking sound came to my mouth, along with my fresh tears. Death. The only word I am going of my life. I should not leave my hometown and be independent. Perhaps...maybe... indeed...I am not in this situation.Is it my karma? I don't know, and I'm not that kind of person. I don't step on other people or destroy anyone. But why did I end up here?Even if I wanted to stand up, I had no strength left. I haven't eaten for two days, and the stinky algae smell of the jail room sickens me. I'd rather die than those people who used my body. I'd instead end my life here. I will hit my head against a hard wall over and over until I know I am dying. The white fabric of the oversized shirt was the only thing that covered my knee-length nudity. I remember how