WantI stared at the blue sky reflecting on the waves as I tried to gather my thoughts. Why I felt that way I can't even figure out. These past days have been confusing, even though I know it shouldn't be.I shouldn't get curious about who that woman is. That wouldn't be right in any way. I have been scolding myself for thinking about it for a while now. Or is it because of what happened last night? Maybe.The deafening silence bore me and I decided to go out and explore the whole cruise. What else would I be doing on a ship like this? I still don't know where it's going and I forgot to ask Lideon. Not that it matters. It's all just a show. So might as well enjoy myself while this extravagance lasts.I went out to see if Lideon was around but he wasn't. I couldn't even catch his shadow from the guests entering the corridors. Most of the guests are foreigners. There are a few who look Filipino.I started walking to where Lideon and I went to eat. I didn't pay much attention to the row o
FearIt's probably because I'm tipsy. Right. It's probably the alcohol. There's no way I'd be this affected by his gazes when I'm sober. It's just because of the alcohol. This heat is also because of the wine.But why can't I withdraw myself from staring back at him?I know I should gather my senses together. Because I know I'll regret it all when I wake up the next day. This heat, this tension... This desire. It's just for now."Almene," his hoarse voice tingled my skin.I blinked and stared at him properly. His eyes remained the same. The emotions I see in them are still the same. Desire, lust, and something else I couldn't name."O-Oh?" I manage to utter despite my dry throat.I don't understand myself anymore. I want him near, so near until I couldn't get hold of my sanity. I want him so close to me I feel like dying. What is happening to my body?His fingers trailed from the bed to the hem of my shirt. His hand lightly touched my skin which secretly startled me. His hand is so war
Torture "What are you thinking?" He whispered softly. I didn't say a word. It doesn't feel right to open up to him just because something happened between us. I can’t get used to this. And I don't even know if it's right to let myself like this. Even more so, until now I still can't get Francis out of my mind. It was only a few weeks since he was buried. And I don't think what I'm feeling is right. I don't know anymore. Maybe it's safer to keep my distance even after what happened. I don’t feel right about everything at all. He caressed my stomach lightly which tingled my insides. He gently brought me in front of him and peered into my face. "You're making me nervous," he said and touched my cheek. God, it would have been easier if he was not treating me like this. I roamed my eyes around and all I could ever see were unfamiliar faces. He couldn't be doing this for people to see, right? If so, why? I couldn't bring myself to ask him either. What are we now that something happene
Smitten They looked up at the same time as I slammed the door shut. Lindsay smirked at me and bent closer to Lideon. She even rested his chest on Lideon's shoulder a little before walking away. "Oops! I thought your 'wife' isn't coming?" She said mockingly emphasizing the word 'wife.' Although affected, I just looked at them with indifference. Lideon come to his senses just then and quickly stood up and walked towards me. "It's not what you think," he quickly held my arm when I was about to turn my back on him. Instead of looking back at him, I turned back to see Lindsay smiling. She's giving me the kind of look that she knows something I don't. And that made me feel even worse. "Looks like you're doing something important. Am I disturbing you?" There was an emphasis in my voice when I asked Lideon. I stared at his hand on me then at his face. There was confusion in his eyes. He clenched his jaw and let out an exasperated sigh. He looked sideways at Lindsay. "You can go now and
Article I couldn't take my eyes off him even when he was busy with other things. I was never like this before we set sail on that honeymoon. Maybe because we became more intimate with each other? Or was it because he confessed? Even though I'm confused, I can't deny that I'm happy with what's happening. I hate to admit it but I can't deny either that I'm starting to develop something for him. Even when a lot of things are unclear between us, especially his sudden confession of feelings. He had always been straightforward, I'm aware of that. But, something else is bothering me. There was nothing else in my mind but that even in the middle of the presentation by Lideon's employees. They were presenting different designs of buildings. They were great. Even though I don't know much about Architecture, I know how to look at a good work of art. "I heard you personally wanted Mr. David Allen for this project, Mr. Webb?" Lideon's voice is controlled and stern. Only then did I come to my
BurnMy tears fell before I knew it. My body trembled slightly from the sudden burst of emotion. I have never paid attention to what happened after the accident. The only thing I was concerned about during those times was Francis' condition. For once...it didn't occur to me that this could happen."Hey, hey."Lideon tried getting my attention by pulling me from my seat. I couldn't move my body in shock that he had to hold both of my arms to stand up. My tears poured down even more when he hugged me."I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I won't let you do this," he whispered over and over again while I cried into his chest.I couldn't talk properly until I got home. I always end up spacing out thinking about the article and the accident. And the fact that I have to face that man and talk to him bothers me even more."Do you want us to eat out or we'll head home straight?"I went back to my senses when Lideon held my hand. I almost forgot we were in the car going home. I stared at him,
AccidentHis eyes looked like a black hole.That was the first thing I noticed when I saw him. His eyes emit no emotions and all it made me speechless. That's what I keep coming back to as I stare inside the hotel room I booked on my way here. Raul went back to Manila as per my instruction. He didn't even want to agree at first but eventually, he agreed too. Lideon bombarded me with calls all day asking if I was okay. He just finished calling so I have the chance to think now.I couldn't help but feel pity for that man now that I'd seen him. I was also very hurt when Francis died, while he lost his fiancee too in that accident. The article said that his fiancee died on the spot while he was rushed to the hospital and survived.I walked through the small balcony of the room. I was greeted by the cold wind which gave me comfort. My eyes were fixed on the sparkling lights of the different establishments. The road is also busy with passing vehicles.I wonder what it felt like living that
Prologue Everything was ordinary and normal in my life until this moment. It occurred to me many times what kind of sin I had committed for this to happen to me when all I wanted was to have a normal and simple life. My dream of having my own family would've become real if that tragedy hadn't happened. "Close your eyes," the make-up artist commanded while putting powder on my face. As I closed my eyes, I silently wished this was all a dream. A nightmare to be exact. And when I open my eyes the light will greet me. I silently hoped that as I opened my eyes, my reality would go back to how it all used to be. "There, it's done." But it was still the same. I couldn't feel my own body and everything around me. I can hear voices but I don't really understand the words. How did I end up in this situation? Why do I have to go through this nightmare? Ah, right. As payment for a debt. I wonder if my decision in doing this for the damn debt is all worth it? "Okay, we're done! Now it's tim
AccidentHis eyes looked like a black hole.That was the first thing I noticed when I saw him. His eyes emit no emotions and all it made me speechless. That's what I keep coming back to as I stare inside the hotel room I booked on my way here. Raul went back to Manila as per my instruction. He didn't even want to agree at first but eventually, he agreed too. Lideon bombarded me with calls all day asking if I was okay. He just finished calling so I have the chance to think now.I couldn't help but feel pity for that man now that I'd seen him. I was also very hurt when Francis died, while he lost his fiancee too in that accident. The article said that his fiancee died on the spot while he was rushed to the hospital and survived.I walked through the small balcony of the room. I was greeted by the cold wind which gave me comfort. My eyes were fixed on the sparkling lights of the different establishments. The road is also busy with passing vehicles.I wonder what it felt like living that
BurnMy tears fell before I knew it. My body trembled slightly from the sudden burst of emotion. I have never paid attention to what happened after the accident. The only thing I was concerned about during those times was Francis' condition. For once...it didn't occur to me that this could happen."Hey, hey."Lideon tried getting my attention by pulling me from my seat. I couldn't move my body in shock that he had to hold both of my arms to stand up. My tears poured down even more when he hugged me."I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I won't let you do this," he whispered over and over again while I cried into his chest.I couldn't talk properly until I got home. I always end up spacing out thinking about the article and the accident. And the fact that I have to face that man and talk to him bothers me even more."Do you want us to eat out or we'll head home straight?"I went back to my senses when Lideon held my hand. I almost forgot we were in the car going home. I stared at him,
Article I couldn't take my eyes off him even when he was busy with other things. I was never like this before we set sail on that honeymoon. Maybe because we became more intimate with each other? Or was it because he confessed? Even though I'm confused, I can't deny that I'm happy with what's happening. I hate to admit it but I can't deny either that I'm starting to develop something for him. Even when a lot of things are unclear between us, especially his sudden confession of feelings. He had always been straightforward, I'm aware of that. But, something else is bothering me. There was nothing else in my mind but that even in the middle of the presentation by Lideon's employees. They were presenting different designs of buildings. They were great. Even though I don't know much about Architecture, I know how to look at a good work of art. "I heard you personally wanted Mr. David Allen for this project, Mr. Webb?" Lideon's voice is controlled and stern. Only then did I come to my
Smitten They looked up at the same time as I slammed the door shut. Lindsay smirked at me and bent closer to Lideon. She even rested his chest on Lideon's shoulder a little before walking away. "Oops! I thought your 'wife' isn't coming?" She said mockingly emphasizing the word 'wife.' Although affected, I just looked at them with indifference. Lideon come to his senses just then and quickly stood up and walked towards me. "It's not what you think," he quickly held my arm when I was about to turn my back on him. Instead of looking back at him, I turned back to see Lindsay smiling. She's giving me the kind of look that she knows something I don't. And that made me feel even worse. "Looks like you're doing something important. Am I disturbing you?" There was an emphasis in my voice when I asked Lideon. I stared at his hand on me then at his face. There was confusion in his eyes. He clenched his jaw and let out an exasperated sigh. He looked sideways at Lindsay. "You can go now and
Torture "What are you thinking?" He whispered softly. I didn't say a word. It doesn't feel right to open up to him just because something happened between us. I can’t get used to this. And I don't even know if it's right to let myself like this. Even more so, until now I still can't get Francis out of my mind. It was only a few weeks since he was buried. And I don't think what I'm feeling is right. I don't know anymore. Maybe it's safer to keep my distance even after what happened. I don’t feel right about everything at all. He caressed my stomach lightly which tingled my insides. He gently brought me in front of him and peered into my face. "You're making me nervous," he said and touched my cheek. God, it would have been easier if he was not treating me like this. I roamed my eyes around and all I could ever see were unfamiliar faces. He couldn't be doing this for people to see, right? If so, why? I couldn't bring myself to ask him either. What are we now that something happene
FearIt's probably because I'm tipsy. Right. It's probably the alcohol. There's no way I'd be this affected by his gazes when I'm sober. It's just because of the alcohol. This heat is also because of the wine.But why can't I withdraw myself from staring back at him?I know I should gather my senses together. Because I know I'll regret it all when I wake up the next day. This heat, this tension... This desire. It's just for now."Almene," his hoarse voice tingled my skin.I blinked and stared at him properly. His eyes remained the same. The emotions I see in them are still the same. Desire, lust, and something else I couldn't name."O-Oh?" I manage to utter despite my dry throat.I don't understand myself anymore. I want him near, so near until I couldn't get hold of my sanity. I want him so close to me I feel like dying. What is happening to my body?His fingers trailed from the bed to the hem of my shirt. His hand lightly touched my skin which secretly startled me. His hand is so war
WantI stared at the blue sky reflecting on the waves as I tried to gather my thoughts. Why I felt that way I can't even figure out. These past days have been confusing, even though I know it shouldn't be.I shouldn't get curious about who that woman is. That wouldn't be right in any way. I have been scolding myself for thinking about it for a while now. Or is it because of what happened last night? Maybe.The deafening silence bore me and I decided to go out and explore the whole cruise. What else would I be doing on a ship like this? I still don't know where it's going and I forgot to ask Lideon. Not that it matters. It's all just a show. So might as well enjoy myself while this extravagance lasts.I went out to see if Lideon was around but he wasn't. I couldn't even catch his shadow from the guests entering the corridors. Most of the guests are foreigners. There are a few who look Filipino.I started walking to where Lideon and I went to eat. I didn't pay much attention to the row o
GreedyI don't know how he managed to convince me of this. But here I am, following him while dragging my small luggage. The cruise ship staff met us and took our suitcases. I turned to look at Lideon's bodyguards, the van that we rode in just left."Let's go," Lideon turned to me and held my waist.I followed him mindlessly, unable to take my eyes off the surroundings. His warm hand ignited my skin and I jolted a little with his touch. It didn't help that I couldn't forget what happened last night.It was my first time being intimate on that level with a man. Francis and I have been in a relationship for a long time, but our intimacy never reaches that level. Sure he kisses me and I do, too. But what I felt last night with Lideon's touch and kisses was different.I shook my head to clear my thoughts. But no matter what I do, what happened keeps peeking into my brain. And to this day, I'm still not sure if something happened between us or not. How do I know that without asking him? Oh
HoneymoonWhat I thought would ease my problem made it worse. Lideon held me firmly while eyeing the man in front of us. I went back to my senses when I realized what was happening."Back off," he said gritting his teeth."How will I know you're telling the truth?" The man replied cynically.Oh no, this is not good. Even if I want to speak, I just get dizzy and can't think straight. I held onto Lideon's suit and tried pulling him to get his attention. Because I know if this goes on, he will attack the man.The tension between the two only stopped when some of Lideon's bodyguards came in to come between the two, including Raul."Is there anything wrong? Mrs. Martin seems to be very drunk," he said looking at me for a moment. I couldn't even look back at him properly."Nothing, Raul. I'm taking her home now," Lideon said firmly, still giving the man a bad look.I closed my eyes when I couldn't take it anymore. I am very dizzy and sleepy. I just got distracted again and saw Lideon adjusti