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LXXI: [Still Flashback] Into the Deep
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-07 22:28:29
Bab terkait
His Son, Her Secret LXXII : [Still Flashback] Too Close, Too Late
I don't know how this happened.How could I just let Pascha into my life?From that day at the lake, everything changed.Pascha was no longer just someone who frequently appeared, now he was everywhere.He would wait for me outside of class without being asked, offering me coffee that somehow always suited my taste. He would pull me to sit with him in the library under the pretext that he needed someone to "keep him company while he reads"—when, in the end, it was me who was busy with the assignment while he was just silent, watching me with that annoying grin.Sometimes, I still try to avoid him. Not because I want to, but because I don't know what is going on between us. But Pascha always found a way to drag me back to him.And I let him. I couldn't stay away from him anymore.Yet, on the other hand, I was already moving away from Jacob. I was never really with him, but we both knew that something could have been something that never really grew.So, I decided to end it before anyth
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08His Son, Her Secret LXXIII : Present : Stay Away, Stay Close
Present The morning slipped through the gap in the curtains, refracting golden light into Max's room.I opened my eyes slowly, letting consciousness return to fill my heavy mind. My body still felt tired, not from lack of sleep but from the burden of thoughts that haunted me even in my dreams.Max was still asleep beside me. His face was peaceful, his lips slightly pursed like he were dreaming. His blanket was half uncovered, and one small hand was still hugging his favourite Superman doll.I gently stroked his hair, letting my fingers brush the fine black strands. My son. The only part of my life I never regretted.But everything leading up to this point? I can't say the same.I took a deep breath and looked out the window. The beach in front of the house was still quiet, and the waves were rolling in with a calm rhythm.I shouldn't feel like this.But as I sleep next to my son on what should be a peaceful morning, Aurora's words from five years ago come back to haunt me."You have
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08His Son, Her Secret LXXIV : Max’s Cookie Chronicles
After lunch, I stood on the sill of the dividing wall that separated the kitchen and living room, staring at Pascha, who was putting the car keys into his pants pocket. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his hair was slightly messy, typical of him.Sitting on the living room floor arranging Lego toys, Max turned his head when he heard his Dad footsteps."Are you leaving, Daddy?" he asked innocently.Pascha paused for a moment, then lowered his body to Max's level. "Yes, sweetheart. Daddy have some work to do."Max nodded with understanding. "You won't be long, right?"Pascha smiles a little, ruffling Max's hair. "I'll be home as soon as I finish work, Maxie."Max looked thoughtful for a moment, then his face lit up like he had just remembered something. "It's okay, Daddy, you don't have to worry."Pascha raised an eyebrow. "Why I don’t need to worry?""Because Uncle Ben is coming! So I won't be bored." Max casually replied.I froze in place.Pas
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09His Son, Her Secret LXXV : Max’s Favorite Person
Max was still sitting on the sofa with an unreceptive expression, his mouth continuing to chew his hard homemade cookies with extra effort.Beside him, Clara laughed without pity, eating my cookies with a look of complete satisfaction."Wow, Bel, these cookies are perfect," she said dramatically, chewing slowly, wanting to taunt Max further. "Soft, just the right amount of sweetness, and they don't require any extra effort to bite into."Max gave her a sharp look. "My cookies are good too!"Clara suppressed a smile, then took one from Max's pile of cookies, tapping it against the table with a loud 'tock' sound.Max widened his eyes, then glared at her. "That's just because they're too dense! If I dipped them in milk, they'd be even better!"I laughed while Clara pretended to think. "Hmm... well, I'll try."She reached for Max's glass of milk, dipped the cookies into the milk for two seconds, then took a bite.Silence.Max waited expectantly.Clara blinked. Then...She rolled her eyes
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10His Son, Her Secret LXXVI : Lines We Cannot Cross
I stood in the kitchen, my fingers typing a message quickly on my phone before I could think twice.Don't come.I stare at the screen for a moment, then add,I don't want Max to see you and Ben fighting. He loves you both, and I don't want him to be sad.I hit the send button and let out a long sigh, leaning back against the kitchen counter.A few seconds passed.Two ticks. Read.But no reply.I snorted softly, putting the phone down on the table. Pascha was probably thinking, or maybe he just didn't care. That doesn't surprise me.In the living room, the sound of explosions from the Transformers movie echoed, followed by Max giving a small cheer. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes glued to the television screen, too engrossed in the giant robot battle scene.I rubbed my face, feeling a little tired despite not having done anything yet.Then, I heard footsteps.I knew who it was before I turned my head.Ben stopped in the kitchen doorway, leaning his broad shoulders against th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11His Son, Her Secret LXXVII : Brother’s Wrath
Max was still standing between them, his innocent eyes staring left and right, clearly not understanding why the atmosphere around him had suddenly changed."Max," I looked down, making my voice as soft as possible, "why don't you come with Cece to the kitchen? It looks like she needs help preparing your favorite drink."Clara, who had been quietly observing, immediately caught my code. "Oh yes!" she chirped. "Maxie, I just bought your favorite strawberry syrup! Would you like to try making a special milkshake with me?"Max immediately beamed.Without thinking, he ran towards Clara, forgetting about the two stubborn men staring at each other behind him.I waited until the sound of Max's steps disappeared in the direction of the kitchen before exhaling softly and looking at the two men warily.Pascha just shrugged casually, like Ben's presence in the house was no big deal. "I just want to have dinner with my son."My son.He emphasized the word deliberately, his gaze never leaving Ben,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-12His Son, Her Secret LXXVIII : Little Boy, Big Questions
The rain beats against the bedroom window in a steady beat. I sat on the edge of the bed, a storybook open in my hand, while Max snuggled under a blanket with a picture of his favorite Superman and his stuffed superman too . His brown hair was messy, and his cheeks flushed warm after a full day of play.But... this boy, as always, never ran out of energy.“Come on, Max,” I flipped through the book's pages. “It's getting late. You should go to bed. Mommy have to work tomorrow.”He just squirmed while hugging his doll. “But I'm not sleepy yet!” he protested. “I still want to talk about dinosaurs!”I let out a long sigh, looking at my little boy whose eyes still sparkled despite the late night. “You've been talking about dinosaurs all day, sweetie. Now, I know more about velociraptors than I've ever learned in my life.”Max giggles. “But you don't know this one yet, Mommy! You know what? That T-Rex can bite with eight thousand pounds of force! That's as strong as... hmmm...” he paused, t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13His Son, Her Secret LXXIX : One Step Too Close
I found Ben standing by the living room window, his phone pressed to his ear, his jaw set, and his eyes staring into the rainy night outside."I'll be home later," his voice was cold and measured but clearly laden with suppressed emotions. "Yes, I understand... I said I'd take care of it."I stopped in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt immediately, but his expression made my chest heavy. Ben looked... angry. No, more than that. Frustrated.He was silent for a few seconds, then snorted sharply. "Whatever. Do what you want."Click.The call ended.Ben lowered his phone, then rubbed his face roughly before putting his phone in his pocket.I took a step closer. "Who?"Ben turned his head briefly, his expression sharp, but his eyes softened slightly as soon as he saw me. "Papa."That one word was enough to make my body stiffen.Ben grunted, walked over to the sofa, and heavily flung himself down on it. "There's a problem at the office. He wants me back to Bogota now."I watched his mov
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14
Bab terbaru
His Son, Her Secret CLVI : Chaotic Good & Crystal Chandeliers [Still Flashback]
That afternoon, the Moscow sun poured through the tall windows of the Romanov family room. Light danced across the marble floors and reflected softly off the polished table, making the whole space look like a living painting—elegant, expensive, and loud.I sat at the end of a long sofa, holding a warm cup of tea. Its scent blended with the lavender from a vase on the coffee table. My hair was still damp from a long shower after our trip back from Siberia, and my legs ached just a little. But I barely noticed—too absorbed by the scene playing out in front of me.“—You dragged us all the way to Siberia, and now I’m sneezing every five minutes!” Trisha flung a pillow at Igor, who barely flinched as he blocked it with his elbow.“You’re sneezing not because of Siberia, but because you refused to wear a jacket,” Igor replied flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.“I couldn’t wear that army green thing you call a jacket! It’s an insult to my entire aesthetic!” Trisha
His Son, Her Secret CLV : We Were Wild, We Were Gold [Still Flashback]
The sky stretched endlessly above us, scattered with stars like careless handfuls of diamonds. A crescent moon bathed the small wooden cabin in a soft, silvery light.We lay sprawled out on a thick rug spread across the front yard. It was plush, coarse to the touch but warm, woven in bold tribal patterns that burst with color. Igor, somehow still looking fresh despite a full day of extreme activity, sat with his back against a tall pine tree, methodically sharpening his knife.Trisha was flat on her back, limbs splayed like a starfish, her breathing deep and heavy. Pascha sat cross-legged behind me, his hands kneading into my shoulders with just enough pressure to make me wince and enjoy it at the same time.“Your poor tiny body,” Pascha teased, his fingers loosening the tight knots in my shoulders.I let out a long sigh and tilted my head, glancing back at him from the corner of my eye. “Not that tiny.”He chuckled, letting his fingers slide lower to the muscles beneath my shoulder b
His Son, Her Secret CLIV : Screaming, Laughing, Spinning Through the Rapids [Still Flashback]
The blazing Siberian summer sun still ruled the sky as we left the calm lakeshore behind. Igor led the way through the shady pine forest, occasionally lifting a hand to signal when the path grew steep or rocky.Thick underbrush surrounded us, the green leaves rustling softly as our boots crunched over dry twigs.Pascha walked right behind Igor, his shirt soaked through with sweat. Trisha muttered under her breath behind me, kicking at the occasional rock on the dusty trail. I raised my arms to fix my hair, which had mainly slipped from its high ponytail.“How much farther, Igor?” Trisha asked, her tone more of a groan than a question.Igor shrugged without looking back. “Almost there.”Trisha let out a heavy sigh and shook her head. “You’ve been saying that for the past half hour.”Pascha glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. “Don’t tell me you’re giving up already.”Trisha shot him a glare. “I’m just making sure we don’t get lost in the middle of the Siberian forest.”Igor chuckled
His Son, Her Secret CLIII : Bonfires, Bruised Egos & Belly Laughs [Flashback]
Once everything was ready, we sat in a row along the edge of the lake, our hooks dangling in the clear water. Igor stayed calm and focused, eyes fixed on the surface, while Trisha kept nagging Pascha for swinging his line so wildly it nearly smacked me in the face.“Pascha! If you hit me with that, I swear I’ll drown you,” I warned.He just laughed and reeled his line in a bit more carefully. “All right, Miss Cooking-and-Fishing Expert. Look at you doing everything perfectly.”A light breeze drifted through, sending soft ripples across the lake. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow. It was peaceful, just the sound of water lapping and the wind rustling through the trees.Suddenly, Igor’s hook twitched. Without a word, he gave it a calm tug. A large trout broke the surface, thrashing, its silver scales catching the light.“See?” Igor said flatly. “That’s how you do it.”Trisha stared. “Oh my God, how often do you fish here?”Igor simply shrugged and dropped the fish
His Son, Her Secret CLII : Of Missed Shots & Mocking Sisters [Flashback]
The cold Siberian wind hit my face as we walked through the lush forest."So, who has hunted before?" Igor asked."Me," Pascha replied without hesitation, patting the hunting rifle on his shoulder. With his thick, dark brown fur jacket and confident expression, he seemed to want to look like a conqueror of nature.Trisha rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course. The King of the Romanov Forest."Pascha glared. "I once shot a deer from two hundred meters away.""You mean twenty meters?" Trisha scoffed."Two hundred, Trish," Pascha snorted. "That's enough distance to get a good shot."Trisha leaned closer to me and whispered loudly. "He must have been dreaming at the time."I chuckled while Pascha glared at his sister. Igor let out a long sigh, clearly used to their dynamic."I hunted once," I said, hoping not to sound too nervous. "With my grandfather in Colombia. But we used arrows.""Arrows?" Pascha raised an eyebrow, looking impressed. "Didn't know you had it in you."I lifted my chin haughti
His Son, Her Secret CLI : Midnight Whispers & Morning Mayhem [Flashback]
Night descended quickly over Siberia, bringing with it the creeping cold. The night wind struck the wooden walls of the cabin, rustling and whispering in a low, soothing tone. The fire in the hearth still burned, its flames dancing in golden-orange shadows across the rough wooden walls.I lay on the rough yet surprisingly soft wooden cot, a thick blanket wrapped tightly around me. Trisha lay next to me, curled up with her face hidden beneath the covers. Her breathing had evened out, signaling that she had fallen into a deep sleep after today’s long journey.But I couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the sound of the wind howling outside or perhaps it was the swirl of thoughts racing through my mind. I glanced toward Pascha and Igor, who were sitting on the other side of the room. They were near the hearth, which was slowly dying down, talking in low tones that I could only partly make out. Their Russian flowed quickly and smoothly, sounding more like murmurs than distinct words.Pascha turned
His Son, Her Secret CL : Beneath the Pines, Beneath His Gaze [Flashback]
The sky was starting to darken as we walked back to the cabin. The Siberian night air pierced our skin, even though the sun hadn't fully set yet. Trisha and I walked side by side, a bit behind Pascha and Igor, who were leading the way with their long strides.Trisha slipped her hand into my arm, trying to warm herself. "You know, I'm kind of jealous of you," she muttered suddenly.I turned to her, frowning. "Jealous? Jealous about what?"She shrugged, her eyes still fixed on her brother ahead of us. "Pascha loves you in a way that's... hard to explain. It's like the world stops when he's with you."I looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. "I know he loves me, but... the future is unpredictable, right?"Trisha laughed softly, her voice like a gentle breeze slipping through the pine trees. "That's true. But I know Pascha. He'll never love anyone the way he loves you. He might be a little annoying and clingy, but trust me, he won't just let you go."I bit my lip, tr
His Son, Her Secret CXLIX : Wildflowers & Wilderness Hearts [Flashback]
Igor walked ahead with a light step, as if he didn’t feel the weight at all, while I, Pascha, and Trisha followed behind, gasping for breath. The trail was rocky and slippery, with tree roots jutting out from the ground. Towering pine trees lined both sides, their shadows stretching under the afternoon sun.“I... hate... you... Igor...” Trisha panted, dragging her feet, clearly exhausted.Pascha raised an eyebrow, glancing at his brother. “Are you sure this is the right trail? We’ve been walking for over an hour!”Igor just looked back with a half-mocking smile. “You’re too spoiled. This is the easiest route.”I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took a deep breath. “The easiest route? Are you serious?”Suddenly, the rumble of a helicopter sounded above. I looked up and saw a sleek black helicopter flying low, following the trail. The window was open, and I could see Natalia waving cheerfully while Alexandr sat comfortably inside, probably enjoying the view from above without having
His Son, Her Secret CXLVIII : Luxury Left Us at the Gate [Flashback]
The Romanov family's private jet was way bigger than I had imagined. The interior felt like a floating penthouse, complete with white leather sofas, thick cream-colored carpets, and large windows offering an endless view of the blue sky. There was a spacious seating area with a polished wooden table and a minibar filled with crystal glasses and high-end liquor bottles.I sat on one of the sofas near the window while Trisha sat beside me, hugging a pillow with a grumpy face. From the other end of the room, I could hear Pascha and Igor’s muffled voices, seemingly arguing about something I couldn't quite grasp."I can't believe we're actually going to Siberia," Trisha grumbled, burying her face in the pillow. "I packed summer clothes, cute dresses, and now we're going to end up in the middle of a forest with wolves and—what was it again? Taiga man?"I chuckled, resisting the urge to tease her more. "You could still wear those dresses in the woods. Maybe the bears would appreciate your fa
