People like him are people I don’t like.
It reminds me of someone who broke my pieces and how I became foolish in the so-called love. My face hardens, and I stand up from my seat. I take the luggage from him and don’t need his help.“What did I do?” Zach inquires from behind me. “You’re frowning again, Cairen.”“I’m like this when I’m woken up,” I reason.I hear him chuckle softly. “You want to go back and sleep? Why not if it makes you feel better.”I halt down the stairs, and my face bumps into his chest with my sudden turn. He steps backward. “Are you mad again that I hit you? It is an accident.” He looks at me in worry.I couldn't help but notice the way he looked at me, as though I might lash out at him at any moment. It was just the two of us left, and I couldn't help but let out a weary sigh.
"You have a talent for getting under my skin," I remarked, gesturing my finger to my mouth, as if to zip it shut.
He responded by mimicking the gesture, giving me an OK sign. I shot him a glare, but he persisted, miming a problem.
"Really?" I groaned, trying to stifle a laugh at his antics. I turned away, continuing our walk. As much as he annoyed me, I secretly found his craziness endearing.
We walked in silence for a while, his head bowed and a grin on his face. I raised an eyebrow, curious about what was going through his mind.
"What's the problem?" I asked.
He only smiled wider, placing a hand over his heart. It was a gesture I couldn't quite decipher. Then, he pointed to a man passing by, holding a bouquet of roses.
"Flowers?" I guessed.
He shook his head, frowning at me. Then, he traced a circle around his face with his hand, leaving me utterly perplexed.
“Face?” My unsure tone. He nods and points at me.“My face?” Then he nods again, smiling and giving me thumbs up.I approaches him. I think this man is playing with me, and I don’t understand what he is doing. And I stepped on his foot, making his eyes widen the action as if hurt.“Why can’t you say it? It’s like you’re crazy,” I grunt at him.“Ouch!” he exclaims, full of emotion. He is gaining some attention from the passers at us.Iffin him! Attracting people from us might think that I am hurting him. “Stop doing it, Zach,” I say with just enough strength for him to hear.“If I step on your foot, is it not painful? Then you don’t want me to talk. Don’t you know how struggling it is for me when I can’t speak even though I’m itching to say a word?” he retorted with annoyance. “I am doing anything just to please you, which seems not enough.”He snorts like a child while folding his arms. How old is he? And he seems to act like this. I had never met a man like him.“What will your parents’ reaction be when I tell you what you did to me?” he threatened.“Like you do.” Who at his age would do that? Tell my parents.I refrain from throwing the juice in my hand. He had to tell my parents. And my parents’ eyes stared at me in disbelief. I can’t seem to swallow the cookies in my mouth.My father is next to him on the couch across from me, and my mother is on my side.“Cairen…” the disappointment in my mom’s voice crushes me. My hand shakes as I grasp the glass and drink the juice’s entire content.Seeing the victory in Zach’s eyes, I want to get rid. Iffin him! Papa believes him. I put the glass down on the coffee table.“Sorry,” I let out to Zach with my best, I mean it, expression.My father shakes his head. “You shouldn’t do that to Zach, and you are not like that. Is that how my mother taught you?”“No, Pa..” I just trailed off. “I am just messing up with Zach. I didn’t mean it.”I sense mom’s hand on my shoulder, and she squeezes it gently. “I understand, Cairen. It’s just not good. If your grandmother let you be like that, not me and your father.”I turn my attention to my mother. “I won’t do that again,” I swear.“I forgive you, Cairen.” Zach’s voice boils my blood.Iffin you! You go to hell! I scream in my mind. Cairen will have patience with his act and so good enough not to do what I had done. But I am not her.But I am acting as Cairen now, even though I hate it.“Thank you, Zach. My actions are too much. It’s my fault. You are just being nice, and I am here like a jerk.” I choke all my pride in that matter to humble myself in front of him. Like I have never done with anyone else.How lucky he is! In my mentality, the glass had touched his face. He looks at me with an astonished tint on his façade and restraints.“I should go now, Uncle and Aunt. Thank you for the snack, as always. Your cooking is delicious, aunty,” he declares to my parents with a genuine smile.My father pats Zach’s shoulder and utters, “You are always welcome here, Zach. You will be our son-in-law, and don’t be reluctant to come and visit our daughter.”I mentally roll my eyeballs and hold a cookie. I direct my attention to my hand and drain my glass. My parents leave to accompany Zach, and I persist in my seat. Son-in-law? Why did my parents root for him? Do they not see what kind of man he is?For the sake of the debt of gratitude! Huh! And what my parents and grandmother had will exist until I had taken that term. Iffin!I tightly clutch the crushed cookies in my hands. That man has no shame. When we meet, I will show him how I seize my revenge.Zach and I stood there in the crowded room, surrounded by the people we loved, when Grandfather Alexander made the announcement, we had all been waiting for. "I'm cancer-free," he said with a small smile, his eyes flickering with relief and gratitude.Tears prickled in my eyes as I watched him, unable to believe that after more than a year of confinement in the hospital, he had finally overcome the disease that had plagued him for so long. Although he still struggled to stand properly, his physical tests were gradually improving, thanks to the tireless work of his therapists.But then, the room erupted with another shout, and I turned to see Haze leaping onto the table, a wild grin spread across his face. "It's a boy!" he screamed; his arms flung wide in jubilation. "I'm having a son!"Zach's hand tightened around mine, pulling me closer to him as we shared in the joy of the moment. He beamed at Haze; his pride evident in his every movement. He kissed my forehead, his joy overflowing.
I couldn't help but wonder what was preventing him from advancing. Was he getting increasingly irked with the current ambiance in the hallway, now that I was present? He approached me, causing me to feel a flutter of nerves. I wasn't sure if I should flee or stand my ground and watch him come closer. "Casslie, it's been a long time," he said, speaking slowly as I cautiously met his gaze. "I had no idea you were here in the Philippines too." "I've been here for over a week now," I responded succinctly, and he studied me intently. Of course, Casslie! Iffin you! He's probably just visiting his grandfather! What else would he be doing here? "I was on my way there now," he answered, and I gazed at him thoughtfully. I informed him that I would be heading back to Grandpa Alexander's room to say farewell. We made our way to his room in silence, with my mind focused on the jumbled thoughts swirling in my head, and Zach simply observing the flowers he had placed on Grandpa Alexander's tabl
I couldn't help but inhale deeply as I listened to her words. My heart felt heavy as I struggled to process everything she was saying. "H-how is he doing, Bella?" I finally asked, my voice filled with concern. "He's okay... I think," she said with a shrug as she leaned back into her chair. "He never opens up to me about his problems. He keeps everything to himself and refuses to share what's going on in his head. Every time I ask him, he just says that he's got it under control. I know deep down he's still struggling with what happened to our grandfather, especially now that his condition has worsened." "I heard about it from our grandmother," I said softly. She smiled at me and I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. "No matter what mistakes our grandfather may have made, Casslie, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him. You have no idea how long he's been waiting for you to come back and visit him. He's been beating himself up for causing you and your brother pain. He
Due to my question, she gasped. It wasn't just her who was surprised because even Grandma was startled by my question. "Che-Cheska?" "Just answer, Cairen," I said without hesitation, swallowing her fear. Based on her face, it seemed she didn't know how to answer my question. "Is that result yours or were you blackmailed by Cheska before?" "It's mine," she replied confidently, taking a deep breath. "The baby died when I gave birth to her. I wasn't even able to hold or see her before they took her away to Grandma." I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at Grandma who was now silent. She looked at me when she noticed my gaze on her. "I wasn't able to show her to Cairen because the doctors on duty then forbade me to," Grandma answered, looking down. I know Cairen didn't want to remember the death of her first child, so she didn't question it anymore. Sadness and tears were also evident on her face, so instead of asking questions, she just remained quiet. We continued to wander around th
As I sat at the dinner table with my parents, Papa posed the question that caught me off guard, "Do you want to visit him, daughter?" The mere mention of Zach sent my mind spiraling and a warm flush rose to my cheeks. "I don't want to see him anymore, Pa," I answered, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. Mama and Papa exchanged a concerned look, aware of the tension between Zach and I. "God knows how much I hate him..." "His grandfather, daughter," Papa corrected me gently, a hint of amusement in his voice as Mama let out a small laugh. "We were asking if you wanted to visit him in the hospital, daughter." My words had made me feel ashamed, and I struggled to meet my parents' gaze. "There's no reason for me to visit him anymore," I replied softly, before returning to my meal in silence. The thought of Zach lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder about his whereabouts. But I didn't dare bring him up in conversation, as it seemed to be the only topic my parents wan
After much contemplation for two weeks, I finally made the decision to return to the Philippines. The thought of it weighed heavily on my mind, but once the decision was made, I felt confident in it. Blake had promised to visit me whenever he had a vacation or gigs in the country, and Alice and Katana had also pledged to accompany me. With their support, I felt motivated to search for a suitable place for us to stay, just like we had in the past. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with a loud, joyful cry of "Casslie, my child!" from Mama, who then enveloped me in a warm, tight embrace. We held each other tightly as we reunited at the terminal. Grace, Lucia, and Evan were also there to greet me, but Aldridge was nowhere in sight. Despite this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. "I told you, it's you that I saw at Forçe last time," Grace said before she smiled at me and hugged me, which I returned. Even though our relationship wasn't good the las