“Uh… my birthday isn’t in another four months.”“Can’t I get gifts for you without it being your birthday?”“Ok.”He turned and walked out of her room. If looks were lasers, his back would have burnt through.“He couldn’t even say a thank you.” She grumbled, flinging a dress she just brought out of her wardrobe haphazardly.“Thank you!” she heard him shout. Her anger dissipated and her lips curled up in response.*“This is weird.” King grumbled, adjusting the collar of his shirt as he and Joan stood awkwardly at the corner of the entrance of the church. He couldn’t deny that she had a good taste in men's clothes, he thought looking down at his trousers. She definitely knew his style.“You’re the one making it awkward.” She whispered.He was about to respond but stopped, chuckling instead when he saw her fiddling with the sleeves of the burgundy gown she wore, she was also nervous. They had come to the Catholic Church closest to her house, St. Thomas Aquinas. The mass had
Despite all that, there was still that small hope, that small light burning somewhere deep in his heart, that little boy in him that longs for the care and acceptance of a big brother, longs to know what it meant to have a family , your own blood.He cleaned the cut, placed the plaster over it and then he cleaned his own. The result of evil, both parties bore the marks. He was glad that whomever it was, whether for evil or for good reasons, had knocked out Jamal. He was sure the person wouldn’t stop him now from what he was about to do. It was time to do things his own way.*Joan paced up and down her room. King hadn’t called yet, he promised he would. She had made sure to get him a new phone and a sim card before he left, she left it in the pocket of his hoodie. He promised he would call. Her two hands went up in her hair and back down and then down her face.What if something bad happened? What if the blue guy caught up with him or the cab man had been fake?It had been two
She quickly pulled her hands away from her mother’s and stood up, walking to the double windows.“Joan, did you hear me?”“Yes.”“Good. If you're already harboring feelings for him, you better kill them now before it’s too late. King needs you in his life, even I have to admit, don’t be selfish. I won’t go back on my words.”She waited until the door clicked shut before she succumbed to the tears.*King stared at his brother as he stared awake. It had been four hours. He was seated across the room from him, they needed the space. Jamal’s eyes went open and he looked around, his look that of puzzlement until his eyes landed in him, they became even more puzzled then they changed to that of fury.“You!” Jamal shouted.King stared at him, unbothered. Jamal made to stand up but fell back into his chair, the clanging of chains filling the room.“You chained me!?”Jamal’s voice boomed throughout the room, the heat of his anger chasing away any coolness the room had. King tried har
He placed kisses on her hair and forehead, muttering soothing words to her. He continued this way until her cries quietened and she finally looked up at him. Big tear filled eyes stared up at him and he stared back, trying to convey his warmth to her through his eyes.She opened her mouth and spoke.“Kiss me.”*He froze, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.“Wha… What?” he stuttered, hoping he had heard wrong but at the same time, his heart beat increased in anticipation.“Kiss me, King.”“Joan…” he cleared his throat, licking his lips, and adjusting his hold on her, “You can’t mean… you can’t be serious.”More tears slipped down her face.“Kiss me King, please.” She begged.“We’ll pretend like this didn’t happen. I didn’t ask you for a kiss.” She spoke, getting up from his lap.He stood up also, perplexed, wanting, in need."What? But you..."She faced him with still teary eyes. "I know. That was a weak moment, I was troubled and I needed some sort of reprieve. It was
Maybe she would get over it, maybe she would move on, maybe it wasn’t anything to her, maybe she would never consider him anything more than a bestfriend, maybe the strange emotion he had seen in her eyes had been fake, maybe the desperation he had heard in her voice was unreal, maybe all she said was true, maybe it was all a cover-up but one thing he knew for sure was that he would never forget, ever.*“You’re staying!?”He groaned, turning over on the bed, trying to get more sleep. This was the best he had slept in a long while, she didn’t understand that. His door banged open and her voice shook the room.“King! You didn’t tell me you were staying!?”He buried his face in his pillow.“King!”The duvet came off him.He let out an exasperated sigh, “Joan, I’m trying to sleep here!”She giggled.“You’re awake already, you spoke to me.” She sang.He grumbled, turning into his back so he could see her while rubbing his still sleepy eyes. A pillow landed on his face.“All thro
“I hope. If Jamal doesn’t cooperate, there are legal steps to take to make him do so. You are the victim and must remain the victim to have the law in your side.”“I know that.”“Very well then. You can leave my office and come back after the three days is up.” He stood up, giving Mr. Winnows a curt nod before walking out of his office, Mr. Winnows scrutinizing gaze piercing his back even all the way home.*Joan walked round the car reciting physics formulas to herself to memorize them.The garden was quiet and peaceful as expected, the rest of the outside world was not, exactly why she had escaped there. On a normal school day with no exams lurking around, she would have busier herself with filling her ears with the latest gist going around school, Sisi was always there to inform; either the latest couples or the latest cheats or who got preggy or had an abortion or who lost her virginity or passed out on the streets the last Friday night party… there was always something to
“She’s the Joan Michaels.” Their A.P chemistry teacher spoke, pointing to her. She grew even more confused as all attention turned to her.“Ok, Joan Michaels” the policeman who spoke earlier, the young, good looking one with the captivating eyes, spoke, “You’re wanted in questioning concerning the murder of Kyrian Gonzales. We would like you to accompany us to the station.”*Joan’s heart flew out of her mouth.“What!” she squeaked.“You don’t have to worry” the principal’s secretary said kindly, looking at her with pity eyes, “Its just to answer a few questions.”She looked at Sisi who looked back at her with bewildered eyes. She looked back to the good looking policeman.“But I don’t know anything, how…” her voice cracked, she cleared her throat.“All that will be in the station” the second policeman stated less kindly, “Please follow us so we won’t take much of your time.”She nodded slowly, stealing one last look at her friends before following them. They were the centre
“We’ll check to see if what the both of you claim is true, is really true. You'll be led to the waiting room while we go do that.”She stood up slowly, a bit more confident than she had been earlier but nevertheless still afraid. Her head was jumbled with different thoughts and none of them seemed to end well.They were led out of the room to the waiting room, detective White and the principal’s secretary staying back with them while detective Schuffer and the V.P went back to the school.And so she sat, waiting.*Joan sighed out in relief as she entered her home. The saying 'You never know what you have until you lose it.’ really applied to her that day. Though she ended up not losing anything, the events of that day really moved her. She had not realized how much she relished stepping into her home after a long school day, how much she loved jumping into her bed and getting a good sleep, how much she appreciated seeing her mother’s face each day, how much she valued Sisi, Keish
She stood stiff and rigid, even her breathing was controlled. His hand ran through her straightened hair."I'm sorry, Bernadette, I'm sorry. I'm here, you can lean on me. I'm sorry."She tried to pull away but he held her back so she stayed cold. Vincent and Frederico watched with narrowed eyes.*"The PDA can be saved for later. We have a brother in surgery." A cold voice cut through the moment. She jumped away from Merlione, looking guilty and nervous as a drenched fish."Vincent," She called in greeting, trying to match his cold look. He eyed her up, also Merlione who came to stand protectively by her side.She wondered why she felt so nervous and guilty. Perhaps because she knew she needed the approval of King's family.Frederico stepped forward, looking unbothered. "We heard the news. What happened?""He called me," she answered smartly, "he called me just before he lost consciousness.""How did you know where he stays?""He told me." She was less nervous now but there was someth
She laid her head on his shoulder and let him tell her about work and his life for the past nine years while sharing one large can of soda then they ran around and played like little children, using the swings and involving in a sand castle competition with the other children.It was exactly what they needed in their too-careful world.*Frederico puffed on a cigarette, lost in thought. He was surrounded by loud music and intoxicated people but none of the senseless activities going on around him registered in his head. Only one thought did.He had to get rid of King Johannson.Either he did that or he risked being killed. Who else would have the audacity to kill Luca? And motive? There was also Vincent. He sure as hell was a suspect but all fingers pointed to King. It wasn't a coincidence that Luca was murdered during the same period the girl King loved was getting hooked.He took another long drag and stubbed out the rest. It was Luca first, soon it would be him. It was Luca's fault
The problem was that he just couldn't accept the reality that she wasn't his any longer. It felt unreal.He clicked the call icon. Still, he wouldn't leave her. If he ever left her, it would be because she asked him to.Switched off. He dialed her line again. Switched off. Third time. Switched off. He ran a hand down his face.*Isla knocked on Vincent's front door."Tommy, Tommy" She cooed when Thomas answered the door."Thomas, how many times have I warned you to stop answering the door!?" Charlene shouted from somewhere inside."Calm down, Char," She chuckled, entering the lavender-scented home."Nice morning, Aunt Isla," Thomas greeted respectfully, seemingly oblivious to his mum's worries. She laughed, ruffling his hair then stuffed a hundred-dollar bill in his hand. He beamed."Buy as many chocolates as you want, ok?" She whispered, ruffling his hair one last time before going into the kitchen where Charlene was."Oh, my love," She cooed, seeing the five-month-old baby in a movi
She threw her phone aside with a satisfied smirk, "he asked for it. Imagine telling me to apologize after openly stating he didn't take it to heart. A hypocrite, that's what he is."Joan didn't know whether to laugh or cry."Yes, he said he doesn't mind but it is only normal for you to apologize when you do something wrong to show you are truly sorry.""Well, that should be my choice, not his." She stubbornly refused.Joan raised her hands and dropped them in resignation."Good riddance," Isla whispered.*"You were out all day."Were the first words she heard upon entering the house at about 7 pm."Yes. I'm home early. Is there a problem?" He was at the foot of the stairs. He looked sad and beaten but he was one hell of a good actor."Sorry," She changed tactics, putting on a smile, forcing ill feelings out of her heart, "good evening. How was your day?""It was trashy and boring without you," He replied in a monotone, "I went out to see my family when you left for Church and I got
"Thank God, he's gone." Isla sighed with contagious relief."Nah," Joan shook her head, "you get his phone number and talk to him."Isla's eyes widened, "How am I supposed to do that? He's obviously in a rush. Why else will he get takeout?""I'll get it for you.""How?"*Just nice, she was called three days later."It has been confirmed," James spoke, the smiling man she met at the restaurant gone, "Fr. Greg wasn't the chief celebrant at your wedding."She wasn't surprised. "Then who was?"They were all present as three days before, including James' secretary and the Priest who had never uttered a word other than a quiet greeting.He showed her a photo."After going through the footage of that day, the day before, and the day after, we suspect this man as the culprit. He has never been seen in the Church before that day. He was seen entering the Sacristy just seconds after Fr. Greg did but he was never seen coming out. Upon closer inspection..." He showed her another photo. It was a
She thought of going to see King but the memory of Vincent's cold face crossed out the thought. She visited Isla instead.*"Surprise, surprise." Isla's eyes were wide as she ushered her into her modest penthouse in the early afternoon of a Monday. The house was pretty small but comfy. A set of mismatched couches in the middle, an eating area to the right, a TV at the center, a few flowers in antique vases kept at strategic corners, and a treadmill close to a door she assumed led to the room."I checked you at work but I was told you wouldn't be at work for the rest of the week. Is there a problem?"Isla laughed, passing her a glass of water after she sat on one of the couches, "Must there be a problem?""No, but one doesn't just take a leave from work, do they?"Isla wrinkled her nose. She looked pretty. Her long red hair was now shoulder length and she looked very relaxed at home in pajama shorts and a too baggy T-shirt."Ok," She plopped down beside her and tucked her legs in, "I
"There's something else. Your father...""Sold me off? I know that. I received documents today that stated I'm no longer enslaved to them and neither are you and I under any threat. I'm simply just married to him with the condition that I can never divorce him.""Like you would ever." He scoffed.She smiled. Patience, King, patience; I'm coming for you.*She posed and smiled the brightest as the media drowned them with camera flashes and endless questions. Her arm in Merlione's, he led her carefully through the sea of paparazzi and important figures to the hall where the business dinner was being held. It was a week since their wedding.The expensively decorated eating area was to the right while the guests milled about on the left, greeting each other and making business friendships. The first eyes she made contact with were that of King's. He was invited, along with Frederico.He was chatting with an older man. A stinkingly rich one, she realized, seeing his face. She couldn't reme
"Ok, but I'll like to remind you that until this case is resolved, you are still, as it is, married to Merlione Fritzgerald and it is holy that you remain faithful to your vows."She smiled, "Yes, Father."He rose. She did too."You don't mind if I pray for you?"*She returned to her current temporal house, as she chose to call it, after spending some time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. She put on her nicest dress, applied makeup which she seldomly did, wore her best heels, and styled her hair until she looked the part of a queen.She sat in the living room and waited for Merlione to return. Once he walked through the front door, she stood and made to walk past him. He grabbed unto her arm."Where are you going dressed like this?"★Merlione's mouth dropped open at the sight of Bernadette. She looked... beautiful was an understatement. He wasn't sure he had ever seen her dress so much. He snapped back to his senses as she walked past, her rosy perfume tickling his nostrils. He grab
She always swallowed everything in and cried till her body was drained of fluid then she got up and pretended everything was fine.She looked up to Heaven and vowed. Even if it was the last thing she did, she'll fight for her and King's freedom.Making that decision, she got off the floor with a smile. The Fritzgeralds family had it coming.*"I told you; I told you! I warned you not to add that in the agreement yet you did. Look at the outcome now!" Merlione hollered, in front of his aunt and uncle."Stop being such a kid," Josephine snapped, "do you really think she'll never divorce you? Don't believe her religious crap.""Well, yes, I believe her. That's why they fought so hard so we'll never get married.""But you're married now," His uncle, Steve, reminded him.He fought the smile that forced its way up his face. He sighed, taking a seat on a side stool."I hate that I had to use such methods to get her. It's annoying seeing the hatred in her eyes whenever she looks at me which i