JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV
*WHAT DID I JUST SAY TO HIM?!*
I can mentally facepalm my face. He will be suspicious of me. I can't let him think like that of me. Come on, think of a reason or something, Joanabe.
"What did you say?" Leonel looks confused and I was starting to panic, but thankfully he did not hear me enough even though our distance to each other is so close.
"The painting reminds me of someone my mom and dad hold dear." My eyes start to avoid his eyes from staring at me.
"Joenabell, look at me in my eyes." Leonel removes his hand in my wrist and touches my cheeks to force my face to look at him straight.
"Leonel, what the matter?" I ask, and he squeezes my cheeks that pouted my lips at him.
"You, you engross me of you," he remains to squeeze my cheeks that it pains my face.
"Leh meh goh," I cannot speak
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVI close my eyes and exhale feeling the silence in my surrounding while standing in front of this wall painting. "Joenabell," A man calls for my name softly like he is familiar to me.I slowly open my eyes to see that I am not dreaming."Joenabell," He calls again, and I look at who's beside me.My eyes land on the broad shoulder of the man beside me and I wonder who he is, "How did you get here? Who are you?" "You are still feeling attached to the painting in front of you? How many years have passed since the day I promised to see you again?" His deep and husky voice is so attractive that will make any woman beg for more to hear his voice.His face turns to the side to see mine, and his sterling grey eyes had me gasp in my position."Leonel?" He grins at me."I am hurt when you asked me who I am, but I am glad you still recognize me." We face each other, and I scan on his face. He is a grown-up man now. When we were kids, he used to tease me a lot with his cha
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVThe dining area becomes silent because Kane suddenly appears to disturb us."Hi-hi dad, what brings you here?" I shutter in awkwardness in the atmosphere around us."What brings him here?" Kane's eyes look at Leonel who got choke of the cereal I feed on him.I hand the glass with water to Leonel, and he gladly accepts it with a smile on his face. He clears his throat, "Hello, Mr. Boucher I came here to visit, Joenabell. I asked permission to Mrs. Boucher."Kane raised his right brow to Leonel, but Leonel shows no fear in his eyes to Kane which is pretty impressive."How you got my wife's approval of visiting my girl?" Kane said and seats in the empty chair. *IS HE ACTING A PROTECTIVE FATHER? HAH! FUNNY KANE.*"It is not how, Mr. Boucher. As far as I know, Mrs. Boucher knows that I am her friend so it is fine to visit her." Leonel says calmly. *WOAH! WORK IT, LEONEL!*I am siding with Leonel than Kane. Leonel knows how to answer well to Kane's questions. I am
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV"You are not Joanabe to wipes my tears for me," He said crying like there's no tomorrow.He-he still remembers the promise I made to him. I failed him I failed to wipe his tears with the green mint handkerchief.His tears never stop falling. He uses my lap to lean on. "Dad, will you let Mom wipe your tears?" I stoke his head in my lap.Kane shakes his head in response."Why not, dad?" I bite my lower lip this is making me feel so bad. He can just let Cheryl wipe it."Because I want it to be Joanabe, why did she have to die?" He sobs harder."When we went to her wake, she soundlessly slept her usual tomato cheeks when she laughed at me turned into white lifeless skin," He grips in my short like a lifeline."She makes me like to listen to music because your grandmother wants me to become a musician in my younger years, but I did not follow her steps because I want to be a painter."I did not say a word. I let him say all he wants to say because to me seeing the p
THIRD PERSON POVCheryl is standing near the staircase wearing a slim fit red dress matching her gold diamond wrist, black heels, and bloody lipstick.Joanabe (Joenabell) and Karene are in awe watching Cheryl for the first time wearing something so sexy that could make anyone's head turn for her."What's the occasion, Mom?" Joenabell asks in amusement to Cheryl's slim body."Why? Is there something wrong with my look?" Cheryl's scans to her body and look at her daughter's wandering eyes.Joenabell cannot imagine that Cheryl can wear and slay a simple dress. It is better than she ever imagined, but she feels jealous.Joenabell clears her throat and lets go of her nanny's hand on her, "Mommy, you look stunning. Where will you go?""I am going out tonight with Mrs. Relish she invited me to a party and your daddy doesn't want to c
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVIt's been a while I am stuck in my bed.I sulk in my bed and bury my face in my pillow. I slam my hand in my soft bed.'UGH!'What did I say to Karene? I almost messed up I almost got myself caught because of my stupid emotions.**KNOCK**KNOCK**Someone's knocking in my door.I get up and say, "come in."**CREAKS**"Joenabell," Karene calls for me softly.She sobs hard and sniffs louder the time she takes a step inside my room. I can tell she's crying."Joenabell-" I said."Karene-" She said."I am sorry," we say in unison.We gasp as we were surprised by what we heard from each other's mouth."You do not have to say sorry, Karene. It was my fa
THIRD PERSON POVKarene is getting more suspicious of Joenabell's behavior. She wonders why she wants to have more plates in the table when there is only her and Joenabell around the house."Karene, I am trusting you. I am slowly showing you who I am." Joenabell smiles seriously to Karene that makes Karene gulp in nervousness and nod.Karene goes to the organizer to get more plates. She quickly puts it on the table where Cheryl and Kane sit."Thank you, I was raised like this even though the person is not around in the table I...I..." Karene holds her hand tightly."It is fine, I trust you, Joenabell. I know it will take more time for you to say it to me, but I will surely let my ears open for you," Karene hugs Joenabell before sitting down on their respective chairs."Thank you," Joenabell says to Karene with a genuine smile on her face.She grabs the pork cutlet to cut it into small pieces for her and Karene. Then, she places it on their plate. Karene's face twinkle in amusement due
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVMy alarm rings on my table beside my bed I let loud a groan before reaching out the alarm to turn it off.I stretch my body before leaving my bed. I open the curtains in my window to welcome the sunlight in my eyes."Good morning," I said while smiling alone inside my room.The door creaks. I look at my door to see who's coming in, and Karene walks inside seeing me standing near the window.Our eyes meet each other, and she smiles at me. "Good morning, Joenabell.""Good morning, Karene," I greet Karene with a warm smile on my face."How's sleep?" Karene asks while arranging my messy bed."It's better, how about you?" I walk to my bed to give her a hand."We are going to ask your parents today. Are you ready?" My head tilts to the right in a confused look of my face.
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV"Excuse me," Kane excuses themselves, leaving me alone on the table.My eyes blurred, and I hold it in me."Joenabell, I am so sorry. I did not expect this to happen," I look at Karene, who is standing in front of me in an apology face. "It is fine, Karene," I wipe the tear in my eyes.Karene grabs my hand. "Go talk to your mom. She must be jealous because you never ask her what you want. She knows nothing about you. She must be thinking you prefer me over her," She caresses my hand softly.I can't say I prefer Karene to Cheryl since I know Cheryl for a long time. The only thing that I can't tell Cheryl that I can trust to Karene is my true identity. The fact that I am Joanabe.It sounds crazy, but here I am.I nod to Karene and stand up from my chair to go to Cheryl and Kanes's room.**SOBS**SOBS**"Why did she want to go out with Karene, not us?" I can hear it clearly in my ears. It was Cheryl's voice in a crack I heard."Shh... Honey, please don't take it t