"Jill!"
"Cathy!" I screamed hard when I saw my cousin's figure emerged out from the arrival area of the national airport.
Cathy's face seemed glowing when she saw me. Leaping forward into her direction, I hugged her as tight as I could before releasing her.
"I missed you so much, girl!" I exclaimed and scanned her face. Cathy lose weight which made her look prettier.
"I missed you, too! It's been what? Almost a year?" She outstretched her arms in the air and inhaled for air. "I miss my hometown! I miss everything here and of course, I miss you!"
I giggled and hugged her again. We are attracting attention from the people but we do not care. I'm so happy to finally see her in flesh after how many years of being separated.
With our arms on each other's waist, we walked to the exit where a car is waiting for us. Mom arranged for someone to fetch Cathy
"Cathy, I'll be there later after an hour. I just have to run some errands for my perfectionist mother. You know the drill about Madam Divina. She gets everyone so worked out."Cathy chuckled at the line and quickly dimissed me. She said that she will do the report first while waiting for me."I didn't know how you do it Cathy but I'm so glad I'm not you."Cathy laughed. "And I'm also glad I'm not you, Jill. I can't see myself being foolish just for a guy!""Uh-huh. You are not going there. I'll hang up. See you."Five minutes more and I am parking outside Von's residence to give him the paper myself. My mother said it's a very confidential matter so I need to take it myself. I didn't ask for any further questions. Even though I promised her that I will do everything she wanted me to do, I'm still having a tug-of-war relationship with working for the company."Sorry Ma'am Jill but Sir Von instructed us not to receive any guest for now."
"Stop meddling with my affairs, Jill. Go home or go to work. You will never get anything worthwhile from involving yourself to my life."He stood up and walked to me to get the envelope but out of my frustration, I tore the document into two pieces and handed them to him. Von gritted his teeth and threw the papers on the floor."What is wrong with you?!" he roared.That's when I knew that I can't take it all in anymore. With my eyes blazing hot in tears, I stood up and faced his wrath."What is wrong with me?! You! What is wrong with you?! Why can't you see all that I've done for you! I've done everything for you Trevor just so you could give me a part of your heart! I've done everything for you but your eyes are still glued to Sandy! Can I ask what did she do for you to love her that much? Can you compare it to what I have done for you? Can she die for you? Can she help you like I did? Is she willing to give up eve
"I told you already, Jill. I warned you the first time you told me about your fascination with Von that you should never expect your feelings to be reciprocated by someone who still has hang-ups for his ex."I poured myself another whiskey and drank it all out."I know, Cathe. I know! But what can I do?! I'm stupid and madly in love! How can I caution myself to be out of his life when all of me is screaming for him! I love him, Cathy! I fucking love him!"I wept and howled at the same time while thinking about the disaster that had happenedCathe sat by my side on the floor on her room and snatched the glass away from my hand. What was supposed a visit to the newly opened spa turned out to be a crying session in her pad."Jill, I will tell you a secret only your mother knows.""What is it?" I asked in a ragged voice while I put the bottle on my mouth. To hell with the glass."Von and I had a past. We had a relationship dur
I am definitely back where I began but this time, it came with another twist.I'm now imprisoned in the promise I made with my mother to work in the company. I did not have the luxury of time to cry for another day because she put me on the front line out of the blue.I'd like to think that she did it on purpose but I know she doesn't know about what happened between me and Von. I don't want to tell her at all because I'm done asking for her help. What I want is to prove to her that I can do this starting now.It's also a good thing that I'm too absorb in the work. No time to think about how hurt I am.Sometimes I get myself astonished. There are days when I would stay up until the wee of morning crying until it's impossible to close my eyes while there are days when I felt like it all happened years ago. I tried to maintain my latter's disposition but the minute I wake up in the morning to go to work, the voi
"And why? Are you hiding something from me, Jill?"I bit my lips as I uttered the two words that I hope will convince her."I'm pregnant."Her face stayed blank before I saw the slightest change. Her eyes registered pity and then anger before it settles back to her usual stoic face."Who's the father?""You know who's the father. But my unborn child will have no father if the marriage will take place.""Does Trevor know about your condition?""No. I broke off whatever we have after I found out that he went back to Sandy. But mom, everything now has changed. We will have a child so I should be the one who will walk down that aisle and not Sandy. So please, don't stop me. He has the right to know about this."I wiped the tears off my face and turned my back."It's over, Jill. By the time you get there, the ceremony is over. Stop fighting for someone who clearly doesn't want you in his life. Let him go completely."I
The full five-minute drive to the wedding is akin to a funeral march. Every second that passed is a second towards my death sentence.I'm having difficulty in breathing but I don't want it to show in front of my mother because she might stop me completely.She decided to accompany me to avoid any stupid action I might make according to her. But in my dejected and mournful state now, I don't think my mother could stop me from doing anything drastic.We entered a country club and then pulled off outside an open hall that's filled with all kinds of expensive flowers. A line of chairs covered with elegant white linen are on each side of the aisle where Von and Sandy were holding hands and staring lovingly at each other before an officiating priest.I tried to open the door to go out but my mother was quick to stop me. I looked at her begging."Mom, please. Just this once, please. Let me go out. Please."I reached for her hands and squeezed them
But she didn't. My mother didn't live enough for her to witness just how adorable and handsome my little toddler is. She didn't hold on as what I've asked her to.On the third month of my sensitive pregnancy, she died in her sleep while holding my hands.No matter how many times she has prepared me into this, I still can't accept it. Nothing could ever prepare me for this. Now I am officially an orphan. And I couldn't do something but cry and be bitter about it.My mother's funeral has been solemn with many friends and acquaintances paying their respects to my mother and condolences for me.I looked at the faces of the people I barely recognize. Who are the wolves and the vultures among them? Can I find a single friend in them?Von was also present in the service but he made sure to position several seats away from me. He didn't get to talk to me not because he didn't try but bec
After five years"Did you remind Mr. Gonzales about the contract with the Barcellos?""Yes, madam. I've sent him a message thirty minutes ago and he replied that only the finishing touches of the contract are still on the roll."She opened the glass door for me and I entered the lobby of the last floor of the building."And what do you mean by finishing touches? I remember specifically instructing you to make sure I get the contract on my desk by the end of the day.""I get that, madam. Expect it to be on your desk as you said.""Good. I expect nothing less from you, Katy. Anything for the day?"I stopped in the middle of the hallway to look for anything that might trigger my day but to my delight, nothing disturbing is on the way."Madam, Ms. Cathy called informing you about a luncheon meeting with her with the executives of the Marina quarry opera
He smiled which melt my heart."I know you have heard me offer it to you countless of times. Only now did I realize what an asshole I was for doing it but Jill, this asshole will shamelessly asked you now if you could spend your life with him for the rest of the days?"He got down on his knee and offered me the ring on his necklace. "Will you be my other half for the rest of our eternity, Jill?"I choked on my tears. I don't know why but something is telling me to give in, that this is the time I was hoping and praying for.Without further ado, I nodded and offered my hand to him. His tears fell which made the whole proposal more emotional than ever."Thank you, Jill. You will not regret it. I promise you."With shaking hands, he put on the ring to my equally shaking finger. We both looked at it with sigh and contentment in heart."Finally, you are mine again."He closed our gap and kissed me sweetly. He didn't try to open my m
The coast is as white as snow and the water is crystal-clear like it's waving at me to take a dip. The scenery is very beautiful. Everything is sparkling. There were just a few people around since the resort is a very exclusive one. I met the owner earlier who is a friend of Trevor.The father and son tandem were all long gone from our beach room and were enjoying swimming at the waters. I can see them from the terrace of the house. Trevor was teaching Zeus how to swim. I smiled when he put Zeus into his shoulders and swam.This is the greatest sight to behold. Seeing these two guys having the best time in their lives, just simply having fun.It's just sad how I can't be with them now. Earlier, they convinced me to swim but I refused because I'm not really feeling well. My head is throbbing with pain. I took a pill already so the pain is subsiding. I didn't tell them about it because I don't want to spoil the fun.
Trevor did stand true to his words. He proved to me that he is worthy enough to give my trust back to. Day by day, he showed to us his true colors. He was there in our life every step of the way especially for Zeus.I also saw the video clip he gave me. True enough, it was Sandy who initiated the kiss, not him. I was just too angry that time that I failed to believe his reason.Every day, he is the first person I would see first in the morning because he drives from his home to mine every dawn to drive me to the office afterwards. Sometimes, he cooks breakfast for the three of us whenever he arrived too early in the morning.And this morning is one of the many days that I woke up to the aroma of his cooking.“Good morning,” I greeted him when I was at the entrance of the kitchen. Trevor is in front of the stove, mixing whatever he’s cooking in the pan from which the mouth-watering fragrance is coming from.He looked up to me and smiled
I barely had any sleep during the remaining hours of the dawn so I just rose from the bed to start my day early. My mind was still left to Trevor. Why can’t he just drop it all so we can each live a peaceful life? Everything would be easier from then on.In the end, I still chose to understand him because I know the feelings. I was once in his shoes back then. I know how hard for someone to be yours. If there's anyone in the world who can truly understand him then it will be me. Actually, I have been thinking and trying to understand him and now, it’s all gradually sinking it to me.I was just sitting on the porch having my coffee while waiting for Zeus to wake up when the man in my mind appeared in the doorway carrying a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a box of chocolates in the other. He looked so fresh and handsome in his casual shirts and pants as if he had not cried and begged to me a few hours ago. He walked to me and kissed my head like nothing happened a
I can’t sleep the whole night. I was just tossing around my bed staring at the wall clock. The rain is still very hard outside. I also lost count about how many times I have peeked through the curtains to check if Trevor’s car is still outside. He is still there and he won’t stop calling me so I have to block his number and tried to go to sleep but the voice in my head won't stop bothering me.At two am, I can’t really stop myself. I picked up an umbrella and went outside. I braced myself for the gustiness of the wind and the heavy pouring of the rain butJbut I braved through it. I opened the gate and I saw Trevor emerged from his car and met me halfway.“Why did you go out? Go back to sleep. I’ll just be here. We will talk tomorrow,” he said when he stood inches from me soaking in rain. Exhaustion and sadness are what characterize him now.He didn't touch me. He stepped back and put his hands on his pockets not minding the strong pouring of r
"I shouldn't have put the idea in your head. That was so stupid of me. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I should have thought about your history with the man.""No, Cathy. Don't blame yourself. It was all on me. I made my own decision. I was an adult who is very capable of deciding on her own."She sighed and caressed her growing tummy. Sadness is all over her pretty face."I really thought that everything will be going as what I wanted. I am secretly hoping that you guys will make up and then get married before this year ends. Jill, I don't want to leave you like this. If I could just stay here forever for you, I will gladly do so.""Cathy, you have a life you need to live, too. If you are only doing this because you don't want to leave me alone then forget about it. I have Zeus. He's all I need. I'm a grown ass adult who runs a multi-billion business. This is just a passing moment for me. I have surpa
I was brimming with so much hope in my heart when I came here. I was so ready to tell him that maybe we can all start over again. I will tell him that as I have thought it all through, I realized that I wanted to give him a second shot, that I wanted to give our son a complete family.But all that has been shattered in an instant when I saw him kissing not just any other girl but Sandy, the woman whom I have been always insecure and wary about.The hope I am feeling earlier went out of the window instantly upon witnessing this heartbreaking scene. I can feel my heart breaking and being blown into pieces. It's like all my energy has been sucked out from my body and I cannot even lift a finger to them.I took a step back and gasped. The two heard me and looked at my direction quickly. Trevor's face was remarkable. His mouth just opened wide and his face is so pale I could paint something on it. There was a considerable fear in his eye
“Zeus, do you really want your daddy to live here in the house?”“Of course, mommy. I want daddy here with us.”My son took a car out of his piles of toys we bought yesterday courtesy of Trevor. That guy even rented the whole space so Zeus could have all the toys for himself.“But baby, this house will be smaller for us now. You won’t have the whole place for yourself. Do you like that? Are you okay with that?”He nodded and broke the leg off the toy.“It’s okay for me, momma. I want dadda here.”“But dadda is so noisy. He will wake you up all night.”“No, momma. Dadda is not noisy.”“Really?” I put him on my lap and pinched his cheeks. “But daddy will take some of your toys. You okay with that? Hmm?”&nb
“Cathy, what do you think?”“I think it’s perfectly fine. It’s about time you stop pretending and give your heart a break from all the restraining that you do. I don’t see anything wrong with being happy, Jill.”I wiped off the sweat from my head using my wrist and continued working out.“What if it’s just another trap, Cathy? I can’t risk my heart for the second time around, Cathy. I will lose my mind.”Cathy got up from her stretching routines to drink water from the bottled water on the floor of my personal gym.“Everything is a risk, Jill. Every decision we make is a risk. On my side, you know how I was protective of you. if I have sensed any tiny irregularity with his intention to you, then I will be the very first person who will be on his way. But I can feel and see that he is very sincere of you Jill even before knowing about Zeus. We can’t say that he just did it for Zeus. He loves you, Jill. You know in yourself that it’s true this time.