Elaine"Home at last!"My feet dragged as I stepped inside and quietly shut the door. I double-checked each lock I’d installed and made sure everything was secure. The last thing I wanted was to face another intruder and end up in a dangerous situation again.I let my bag drop to the floor lazily before sinking into the couch. The cushions wrapped around me, providing some comfort I needed at the moment. A deep sigh slipped from my lips. Somehow, I’d thought a day at the mall would help me relax and clear my head but I was wrong. Because now, I felt even more exhausted than when I’d left earlier and I didn’t even know why. I shook my head and I almost laughed at myself. Emotional exhaustion.That was the only way to describe it. It was like there was a heavy, invisible weight that suffocated me. Unfortunately, no amount of shopping or casual distractions could lift it. Dang! How did I end up in such a miserable state? I brought my hand to my temple to massage it a bit. The pleasur
ElaineMy heart skipped a beat. I felt my pulse quicken when I heard how husky his voice was. A fluttering warmth filled my chest. Standing there in a plain white shirt and shorts, Trevor looked effortlessly cute. Every little detail about him just pulled me in more and more. “Elaine? What's wrong?” he called my attention again. Our eyes locked. And we both lingered in the moment. There was something in his eyes that mirrored what I felt. It was a blend of surprise, curiosity, and maybe... longing.The thought was enough to make my cheeks flush. I swallowed, finding it harder than I expected to break the silence. Trevor and I were so close to each other. I could pick up the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the fresh and clean aroma of his shirt. And though his hair was slightly messy, it didn't make him less handsome in my eyes.Finally, I had the courage to speak. “Can I… come in?” He blinked as if coming out of a trance. he then smiled and I could have sworn it was enough to
ElaineThe world seemed to spin as I stood there. My heart was pounding so hard that I could feel it echo in my ears. For a moment, I thought it might explode.Everything felt surreal. It was like a dream I never wanted to wake from.Trevor’s lips were still pressed against mine, leaving me both paralyzed and speechless. I kept asking myself if any of this was real. I clenched my fists at my sides until my nails dug into my palms, just to check if I was dreaming. The slight sting reassured me I was awake. His lips moved softly at first, exploring, questioning, as if he wasn’t quite sure this was real. But then, the kiss gradually changed. His kiss deepened, and I could immediately feel his longing. His hand slid to my back, pulling me closer. At that moment, all my reservations vanished. The next thing I knew, I melted into him, tangling my fingers in his hair to savor every second.Dear goddess, how could a simple kiss be this life-changing?My knees shook, and if not for his suppor
Elaine"W-What did you say?" The moment Trevor scooped me up from the ground, my heart started pounding so loudly that I was sure Trevor could hear it. My insides knotted feeling his arms around me. I should probably say something by now or do something, especially when he began to move. But words felt stuck in my throat. Everything about this moment tangled up with excitement and nerves.We moved through the hall toward his bedroom, and I held my breath in response. My mind spun with a million questions of “what ifs” and “will he?” and yet nothing seemed to have answered it. My pulse raced erratically, but I did nothing to stop him. Deep down, I knew I was more excited than I could ever admit. Whatever he was about to do, I was more than ready to do it too.Trevor nudged the door open with his shoulder and as we entered the room, he lowered me gently onto the bed. I felt the mattress beneath me as he placed me down with such care. When he looked down at me, I couldn't read anything
ElaineThe next day, I woke up wrapped in Trevor’s arms. I shifted slightly, and his sleeping face came into view. I couldn’t help but study every detail. My eyes traced each feature, admiring the person lying beside me. I never expected he would look so vulnerable like this. He was like a baby sleeping peacefully in his crib. It was as if he hadn’t truly slept for days. The thought that he could finally find rest with me made my heart swell.Slowly, I lifted his arm from around my waist, careful not to wake him. I slipped out of bed and tiptoed across his apartment. I grabbed the stray pieces of clothing and items strewn around. Well, I couldn't leave him in this messy place. So, I found myself straightening his space. After tidying up, I took a quick bath. I let the warmth of the water shake off any lingering drowsiness. I pulled out a simple white shirt and shorts from his dresser. I was sure he wouldn’t mind me borrowing them, as I hadn’t brought any spare clothes from yesterday.
ElaineI took a deep breath as I stood in front of the mirror, examining my reflection. My hair was swept up neatly. And the dress I’d chosen, simple but elegant, felt both like armor and an invitation to embrace the night. I was grateful Mr. Smith had sent me home two hours early to prepare. Initially, I’d protested, telling him that I had no problem working until my shift ended. But he’d insisted. He pointed out that I’d never once missed work or asked for time off since I’d been hired. “Elaine, you deserve some time for yourself. Go, enjoy the party,” he said with a smile.So, here I was, looking at myself in a way I hadn’t in a long time. The party was formal, yes, but it was more than that for me. This was a rare opportunity to reconnect with my past and bridge the gaps in my memory with the familiar faces and voices from the orphanage. This was exactly the reason why I decided not to invite Trevor. I wanted to have this time for myself and find the missing piece of life that
ElaineThe spotlight remained focused on us as Tristan inched closer to me. Everyone in the crowd was clapping. In their eyes, you could see how much excitement they were feeling to see us together. Lily made quite an expression by her introduction yet I knew that those words were far from the truth. I kept a small, polite smile on my face, trying to look calm. But inside, I was a mess. I came here to this event to reconnect with my forgotten past. However, Tristan was not part of it. My hands were sweaty, and I clenched them into fists to hide how nervous I was. My nails dug into my palms, just enough to help me stay steady. Part of me wanted to walk off the stage. I wanted to run away from all the eyes watching us that I felt was suffocating me. But I couldn’t move. My whole body felt stiff, and I could feel a chill down my back as if I was stuck in place. I felt trapped.I took a deep breath, trying to push down the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Everything felt wrong. This
ElaineI froze. My fingers tightened on my purse. I turned around and glared at him. I didn’t hide my annoyance. “The party’s over, Tristan. I don’t have to pretend to like you anymore,” I scoffed. But instead of stepping back, he smiled. No, he smirked, making my blood boil. He didn’t seem to get what I was trying to say. Instead, his eyes glinted with the same arrogance he kept on showing to me. I stayed still as he stepped closer. I looked away and crossed my arms, determined not to let him pull me back in. I let him sense my irritation just by looking at him."You think this is over?" he said, his voice low and condescending. "You think you can just walk away like nothing happened? We’ve been through too much for you to act like this."I almost laughed. The audacity. "You’ve been through too much? What about me, huh? What about what you did to me?" I could feel the anger bubbling up, but I held it in, keeping my voice steady. "You don’t get to make this about you anymore. I am w