Faith and Mateo met the elders of the village that included Faith’s grandmother. They all called her Mila and she didn’t mind it. She didn’t think that she would like being called by her real name, but now that the kind and sweet villagers were calling her by that name, it was growing on her. She didn’t correct them once and always responded to that name. They were very welcoming toward her. Some children gathered around to see who was Karina’s daughter. Turns out, Karina was a very well-loved person in the village that the kids who were born after her death knew about. Faith met a lot of people. It was a very overwhelming experience for her. Since most of the villagers didn’t speak or understand English, Kami, his sister, and a few more translators were brought into the meeting. Mateo was discussing something with the elders. It was probably about security and everything that happened in a few days, while Faith was sitting outside with a few young villagers, one of them was Kami. “I
Three days later, Piper finally woke up. It was all a haze for her. She took a few minutes to register what truly happened. She wasn’t allowed to meet anyone until the doctors check on her. It took her a little time to process everything that she had to go through. She remembered hearing the footsteps. She remembered asking Benji to run. She remembered being dragged and beaten in the forest. She remembered seeing Jeremy’s face. She remembered his goons slamming his head on the tree. She remembered nothing after that. She roamed her gaze around the hospital room and when she couldn’t find Benji’s face among them, she started to get panicked. “Benji? My – my brother?” She choked on her words. Her throat was dry and prickly. “Ms. Clarke, your brother is completely fine. He is not even injured. Mr. Bianchi has taken him home. Benjamin lives here with you in this room,” The young doctor pointed at the bed, Piper didn’t notice was beside her. “He refused to leave your side. Mr. Bianchi t
Piper didn’t ask for Kai to come back. She knows that he saved her, but what he said to her the last time, really hurt her. She is still in a lot of pain. She doesn’t feel right and she doesn’t believe that she has the energy to deal with anything else. She didn’t ask anyone to bring in Kai. She didn’t even ask anyone about him. She didn’t even go into details about what happened back on the island. She just liked how everyone she likes to be around was there – sure, something was missing. Sure, she wasn’t feeling fully contented, but she was trying. She was really trying. What Piper didn’t know was that Kai never left the hospital. He wanted to. He even thought about it, but he couldn’t. He knows he will be relentless if get back to his empty penthouse. Faith was staying with Mateo since she returned, he doesn’t know when or if she will even return. There was no one at home. He was all alone. He doesn’t want to back to his place only to feel suffocated by loneliness. He didn’t want t
Ethan was sitting in the living room of Levi’s apartment. He still addresses it as Levi’s apartment when they both live there. Levi has corrected him numerous times, but he doesn’t feel right calling it his as well when Levi is the one that owns it. Since it is Levi’s own apartment, Ethan can’t even ask him to spilt the rent. He doesn’t feel right calling a place his own when he doesn’t own it – not even half of it. He was currently reading a book. Ethan is not much of a reader, but right now he is willing to do anything to keep himself busy. Why? He doesn’t want to interact with Levi, who was currently in the kitchen with his AirPods on – making dinner. Levi did ask Ethan to come to help him in the kitchen, but he lied and said that he was on a very good part of the book and he wants to read a few chapters before dinner. Of course, it is not true. He is just ignoring Levi.Here is the funny bit, Ethan is not ignoring Levi because he is mad at him. He is ignoring him because he is mad
“Um, I don’t have a table.” Noel awkwardly scratched his head when Levi asked where he can put the food. He felt weird to have company. He usually never has anyone over. He doesn’t have any friends or family to entertain. He was nervous and anxious to have company over, especially when it was two people he was bound to ignore. “Umm, I hardly ever eat at home, but when I do – umm, I eat here.” He pointed at his small couch. “I – I don’t have a table. Sorry,” he muttered. Levi chuckled and shook his head, “Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter to us. This one doesn’t like to use a table anyway.” Levi rolled his eyes, “He likes to eat in bed.” He complained, making Ethan protest. “Hey! There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel comfortable when I am eating.” He griped and rolled his eyes. Noel couldn’t help but chuckle. He feels Ethan is very cute. He is deadly but cute. He doesn’t know on which scale can he measure this man, because he has everything and nothing he looks for in a person. No
“What happened? Why are you two so surprised?” Levi spoke calmly as he scoops the last bits of rice from his plate and put them in his mouth. Noel and Ethan watched him with widened eyes. They felt like their souls could leave their bodies. It was alarming how calm Levi was. The two of them watched him chew the last of the rice and wipe the corner of her mouth with a napkin and put the empty plate on the floor. He sniggered and shook his head, “You two are something,” there was something extremely bitter in his tone. Noel and Ethan shared a worried glance. It was Ethan who tried to speak, “Levi…” “No,” Levi chuckled lowly and shook his head. He jumps on his feet and for a moment, Noel felt like Levi was going to come to him and beat him and then leave him to die, but Levi picked the plate from the floor and walked to the kitchen. Noel flinched when Levi walked past him, but he didn’t even spare him a glance. He put the plate in the sink and stood there for a few seconds – his back w
Two more weeks passed since Piper was discharged from the hospital. She has been living with Mateo in his penthouse. Faith spends most of her time here as well, but she doesn’t spend nights here. She never said why, Mateo never insisted on her staying the night, and Piper knows exactly why. Kia. Kia was alone back at his own place. No one really talks about him to her except for Benji, who still didn’t understand why Piper was not seeing Kai. She doesn’t explain anything to him nor does he expect any explanation. Benji is fond of Kai, and he refuses to cut him off his life, so he often goes to visit him. Piper doesn’t stop him either. She knows that it wasn’t just Benji who needs Kai, it is Kai who needs Benji as well. Piper has been spending her time locked in her room. Faith and Benji often come into her room, but she doesn’t leave until absolutely necessary. Even Mateo visited her a couple of times, but she hardly ever leave her room. She has had a lot on her mind since the day sh
Mateo heaved a sigh and watched his girlfriend as she pressed her ear to the door. He folded his arms and squinted his eyes, “You know that’s not okay, right? You can’t listen to their conversation and hey, even if you really want to, you still can’t. They are down the stair, in a whole other room.” He pointed out, making Faith roll her eyes. She looked at him over her shoulder and glared at him but didn’t say anything immediately, she know he is right. He chuckled, “Come on, give them some privacy. We haven’t really spent a good time together since we came back. We both are always busy.” That, he is right about. They both have been busy. Mateo has been busy with his regular work, and Faith is on a new mission now – the mission is to free the village from the hold of Bianchi and Ricci or anyone else’s hold. They are free, but not really free. They need actual freedom so they can also move forward, and not just stay under the same condition they are in. Faith has shared this idea with