I was quiet while watching the establishment we passed and Zach's attention outside the window. He only told me yesterday that we were going to his mother's death anniversary.I have many questions, but he has no intention of answering them. He gave me silence. Aldridge was the one driving, and he was silently glancing at Zach and me. I don't understand why he was looking at us. And Zach was aware of his stares and glares at him. Then Aldridge focused on the road. Zach was wearing a black coat and tie, as was Aldridge. Death anniversary—how come his mother died? Whose mother? Does Zach have two mothers? The car entered the gate of a columbarium building, and many people were there. After stopping in the parking lot, the three of us got out. We entered the building while Zach was still using his crutch. Everything was white, and Sir Alexander was coming out of one of the rooms and approaching us. "You are here, Cairen," said Sir Alexander, and he hugged me. I was still confused, and
I touched his hand, showing him I was listening and that I was there for him. I moved closer to him. He sighed. "I left the house and went to my grandfather. I was begging him to tell me everything. That's the first time I met my other sister, Arrabella. Grandpa told me everything that broke my heart. I never saw her. After giving birth to my little sister, my mother could not cope with her son being taken from her. She was depressed, afraid Arrabella would be taken. My mother begged my father to bring me to her. Father did not care.” Zach's jaws tensed. “He had no heart for doing it to my mother. Arrabella was five when our mother died of a drug overdose.” His eyes were filled with tears. "She wanted to see me, but it didn't happen. I hated my father and the family he cared for. He never cared for his first wife. He killed her!” I can't help but be affected by his cry, and tears well up in my eyes. I embraced him, his forehead resting on my shoulder, as his shoulder shook. "If my
Zach was visibly anxious, clenching his fists and hunching his back as he stared down at the floor. I approached him and informed him that his grandfather was in the ICU. "What really happened?" he asked, looking up at me with tears in his eyes. "Aldridge even went to pick up Arrabella, who was at a beach resort in the city," I added. Tears streamed down Zach's face as I asked, "What happened? Aldridge only told me that Grandfather collapsed." I hugged him, and his head rested on my stomach. "It's not just a simple collapse, Cairen. Someone shot him in the back while he was boarding his private plane. The authorities are still trying to track down the perpetrator." My mouth dropped when I heard it. "Who can do this? Why?" "That's why I don't know who could do such a shameless thing. Grandfather was critically ill as a result of blood loss. I don't want to lose him, he was the only family I had that cared for me and my little sister," Zach said in a wavering, raspy voice. "I don't
As the professor lectured, I watched the students playing volleyball on the field. Sir Alexander had been in the hospital for three days, but his condition had improved, and I planned to visit him later. During my previous visit, I met Sir Alexander's two children. Arrabella remained silent throughout the visit, never daring to move from her seat near the window. Zach was not present during this visit as he had a doctor's appointment.I spent the visit greeting Giovanni's father, Alexon, and Hera, and I couldn't stop smiling. However, Sir Alexander was not pleased with his son's visit and exchanged harsh words with him."You wish for my death, don't you?" Sir Alexander accused Alexon, causing Hera's face to turn bright red."Father, don't say that! Alexon won't think such horrible thoughts!" Hera interjected, trying to ease the tension.Giovanni's father clenched his jaws, and left without saying a word. Hera pressed her lips tight and sighed in frustration. "I understand you can't for
It's been two days, and Grandma has not answered my calls. Why? The question that bothers me with concern. "You look troubled?" Zach made a remark to me as I sat on the couch; it was the weekend, and I didn't have class. "It's about Grandma, she doesn't answer my calls," I admitted to Zach. My grip on the phone tightened. He stopped at the edge of the couch. "Grandpa said your grandma is coming to visit today. I forgot to tell you yesterday." "Is he coming today? What time?" Why didn't grandma even tell me, She kept worrying about me. Giovanni's words kept bothering me more and more. Why no record? I haven't been able to sleep well for two days. I want an answer. Maybe grandma did that so no one would know Cairen died. And I was sure of that assumption, which I was filling for myself. "Afternoon," Zach replied, his eyes full of questions. "Did you have a good sleep?" He sat on the other couch across from me, holding the crutch in his left hand. "Do I look like I didn't sleep w
I put the wine on the table. Grandma and I were at the restaurant near the university since we didn't talk yesterday because Uncle Eric called her about something important that grandma needed to settle. "How is your sleep, Grandma?" I asked. Grandma and Haze were staying at Zach's grandfather's house. Still, Zach was mad at me, and he didn't come home to my parents' house. This morning, Aldridge went to pick up Zach's stuff. He had called our parents to express his gratitude for letting him stay, and he was leaving to stay at his apartment. I don't seem to have anything to say to him, and I was guilty of my action. I lied and hurt him. I deserved such treatment from him. Last night I was crying out of guilt, and I was hurt by what happened. "I sleep well, sweetie, and I love the garden they had. And it has different species of beautiful flowers, which I hadn't seen before," Grandma said with a sweet smile on her lips. "How is your schooling here? Did you have a great adjustment fro
As I pressed the doorbell, Arrabella's delighted smile welcomed me when the apartment door opened. "You're here! I thought you weren't coming," she exclaimed. "I can't say no to you, Bella," I replied as I entered. "Where's your brother? I noticed the depth of his thoughts, and I was surprised when he threw a glass against his bedroom wall last night. I hope he's not upset that the one who shot Grandpa is dead. I told him I was right," Arrabella explained. "He's been drinking more lately, though." "Did the shooter kill himself?" I asked. It's difficult to accept when one of your loved ones almost dies, and the perpetrator dies without receiving justice. "No, he was killed. I'm sure one of Grandpa's siblings hired him to kill him. But, in any case, I want you to hear the song I wrote. Stay here," she said cheerfully before running off to the library. I sat on the couch and looked around until she came back with a guitar. The thought of her forcing me to play the guitar gave me a chi
“How does it taste? Is it good? Is it good?” Arrabella's eyes rounded, waiting for my answer. A smudge of flour was on her cheek, and some sauce splashed on her green apron with a cute little rabbit face. I took her pasta again and ate it. Then I smiled. "It tastes so good," I said, and took another. The sauce with the grilled meat and cheese was bursting in my mouth. "This would be enough for me to eat for a day. How did you learn to cook such delicious pasta?” "My brother taught me how when I was twelve," she explained, wiping the smudge from her cheek. "Arra? What are you doing—” I stopped eating and looked outside the kitchen door. Zach was there carrying some paper bags, and our eyes met. "Brother, you are here!" Arrabella exclaimed happily. She ran up to him and hugged him. I was the one who looked away. I was astonished that he was here, and I don't know what to tell him. Was saying hi to him a good choice? "What are you two doing?" Zach asked. "Here's the thing you're a
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
The desire for silence was overwhelming. All I wanted was to escape to a tranquil place with Blake, where we could just be together without any distractions. But ever since Zach reappeared in my life, something had shifted. My decision to retreat from the world was no longer so simple. Despite everything that had happened, I still loved Zach. The guilt I felt towards Blake was overwhelming, as if I had been using him to forget the past. Had I really been so callous as to use him as a distraction? Lost in thought, I looked up to see a familiar face not far from me. Grace. She was beaming with happiness, chatting animatedly with the man beside her - Aldridge. It was hard not to feel a twinge of envy as I watched them from afar. As I watched the couple, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing mixed with regret. It was evident from their smiles and the way they looked at each other that they were genuinely happy together. But the happiness that I felt radiating from them only served
To be truthful, I was uncertain. For the past few months, Zach had become an integral part of my life. I had learned countless valuable lessons from him, and whether I acknowledged it or not, my feelings for him still lingered. I tried to conceal my emotions, but it seemed like my actions always betrayed me and revealed my true feelings towards him. I had spent two consecutive days with my parents in my condo unit. We passed the time by binge-watching N*****x shows and honing our cooking skills. Despite my slow progress, my mother never gave up on teaching me. "It's not bad anymore," my mother praised as she took a bite of my dish. questions about Blake from my parents had finally ceased. I was at ease, not having to worry about what to say if they were to inquire about him again. However, this also left me with a sense of unease as I wasn't sure how to answer them should they ever bring him up again. Days passed, and my life resumed its normal routine. But with each passing day, the
After the nurse in the nearest hospital treated my wound, we left. I was walking side by side with Zach towards the parking lot. I didn't say anything when he told me that he missed me. He hates me, why should he say that? "Thank you. But you don't have to take me," I said and looked at my phone with the cab to see when it would arrive. "We need to talk," he said, and looked at my bloodied shirt. "And you need to change your shirt." I looked at him seriously. "What are we going to talk about? Oh, you are planning to ruin my reputation after what I have done." He sighed wearily. "Not about that. Let's talk in a quieter place, not here. In the restaurant.” Even if I am stubborn with him although he was more stubborn than me and he was good at persistent. "Okay," I agreed. I didn't know which restaurant we were going to but it was far away from the mall. Until he stopped at a restaurant I had never been to. He didn't come out and stayed where he was sitting which made me wonder.