I was supposed to be the one who must burst out crying but after hearing the bad news, my Mom did it on my behalf. Guess what? She cries way worse than me. My parents, especially Mom know everything about the "imaginary" Dylan Spencer, starting from his complete name, position in the company, his favorite dishes, places he liked to visit, and his history. "Imaginary" simply because they believed that everything I told them was all part of my helpless imagination. They believed that I was telling them about my ideal man and that even in my 24 years of existence, they never heard and saw me bringing and introducing someone home. They were even afraid that I might end up getting old and being single for the rest of my life. But despite all the nagging, teasing, and sacrifices, my entire family still loves and cares for me. And I love them back. That was why I worked hard day and night to provide them with their daily needs, especially when my dad had his daily mainten
Everyone who passed through the road could not help but feel suspicious of Dylan, thinking he might have maltreated me. But we both ignored them. Our eyes were fixed on each other and were waiting for one another to say something. "I cared for you, Elaine. Always, and you know that," he replied before he lifted his head to the cold gloaming sky. "But what I don't understand was when you leave me without saying goodbye or telling me about how you truly feel about me." My brain froze all of a sudden upon hearing his last sentence. I was supposed to be pleased by the sound of it but emptiness and hopelessness dominated my heart and mind as though the truth behind those words were filled with bitterness. "That night in your apartment," he continued, "I heard every word you whispered to me that night. You kissed me and you said you love me. Was that the reason you resigned?" "Do you even hear yourself, Dylan?" I scoffed in disbelief, "Does your wife know that you're her
As I was about to head out, my phone kept ringing, not because someone was calling, but because I received non-stop messages from most of the people who knew me in New York, including Lalaine, Ghino, and Dylan. While thinking about what to do about our disrupted conversation, I scanned my inbox and read as many messages as possible. "Elaine, where are you? You disappeared in the middle of the wedding without a word to me. Are you sick? Want me to bring you some medicine?" The message was sent from Ghino an hour after Dylan and Maureen's wedding. "Please call me once you get this message. I'm on my way to my condo now. Call or text me if you need anything. Got it?" "I love you! Please, don't stress yourself out because your best friend married someone else. You deserve someone better. That's me." "So, please, give me a call once you get this." "Good night!" "Good morning, Elaine. I'll be dropping by Dylan's office this morning, in fact, I'm on my way now
While waiting for Noah to get back, I could not help but grit my fingernails while pacing from corner to corner. I even remained standing behind the door to make sure I could do something when someone wanted to come in. I glanced at Dylan who still kept on shivering. This time, he started mumbling. A part of me wanted to bring him to the hospital but I forgot we don't have one in the province. Our house was even a few meters away from the main road. Needless to say, the rain was pouring outside. After a few minutes of pacing from side to side, I remembered about reaching out to someone in New York to get the bottom of what happened. So I mustered the courage to open Dylan's messages. "Elaine? Where are you right now? Please, call me back. I missed you so much." From his very first message, my hardened heart melted in an instant, allowing me to gather my shattered and hidden feelings for him for seven years. Dylan never said such things like that since the begin
Noah secretly kicked my foot underneath the table, his sign of telling me to do something before everything went out of hand. Before we get busted, considering Dad was already furious about seeing Dylan. Worst-case scenario. Dad might not just point the tip of his pistol toward Dylan but to me and Noah. I could not help but bite the lower corner of my lips while holding onto that thought. I need to do something real quick. "Because Brother Noah kept on playing online games late at night. He kept cursing and punching the walls." John Dave continued. "Sometimes, I even caught him cooking and drinking in the middle of the night. He eats a lot." "He got me, Mom, Dad," Brother Noah faked a smile before he blinked at me. "I had insomnia. Playing late at night helped me fall asleep." "Better quit that kind of habit, Noah," Dad replied, and his suspicion of us started to subside. "Eating food late at night is unhealthy for your body. And so should you, Elaine." "By
"As much as I hate the fact that you don't like me anymore and want to forget our eight years of friendship, I'm gonna respect your decision, Elaine. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me." Those were Dylan's last words before he finally evacuated the house for good. His heavy feeling even left footprints in the room. But the one thing that I regretted about his disappearance was when he did not get the chance to tell me about his company. He was the CEO of his dad's company but he chose to tell his side of the story from my disappearance. I did some digging earlier while waiting for my parents to fall asleep. The news claimed that his CEO position in the company might be affected by his dad's passing. All his relatives, including Ghino, questioned his capacity to lead the empire his family built over the years. On top of that, the cops did not even have the final verdict of the case if it was an ordinary accident or murder. Dylan never mentioned anything about it
Ghino was about to put his hand on top of my shoulder, but I was taken by surprise when Noah applied what he learned from his marshal arts lessons by kicking my boyfriend's balls. Hard enough he moaned helplessly in pain on and before he crouched to the ground. "What's wrong with you, you son of a bitch? Do you have a death wish, huh?" I cannot blame Ghino for uttering such profanity even in front of me when I could feel his excruciating pain after getting kicked. I cannot blame my brother for what he did either. He was simply protecting me from harm since I forgot to mention anything that someone would pick us up from the port. Protecting me from any kind of harm, including those who wanted to take advantage of me being a woman was what he promised my parents on joining me on getting back to New York City. On the other hand, Ghino was well aware that I would be getting back to the apartment with my older brother. He knows my brother's name, however, he knows no
"Do you mind to discuss the reason with me as well?" Ghino replied, his voice sounding a bit hesitant for some reason. "I mean, Elaine and I are in a relationship. As her boyfriend, I am concerned for her well-being." They were supposed to be uncle and nephew by blood but why am I having these weird feelings that something was going on between them? Perhaps it does have something to do with Don Romulado's death. We already met the two brothers, yet neither of them told me anything about the incident. They acted in front of me as if they were not affected by it. "Well, I respected your relationship with Ms. Elaine, Ghino. I really do. But I'm afraid this business is in between me and her. It was already late, young man, go home, you still have an early flight back to France." Mr. Dex clapped Ghino's shoulder before he stepped foot into the apartment. That I didn't know. Ghino mentioned nothing about his flight back to France. Don't even know how long he will be sta