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
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
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 kept honking the horn of my car. What the heck! The owner of this parked vehicle in the middle of the subdivision road has no shame. I'm late! Just one minute late! I really don't want Grandma to get mad at me because I was late for her 68th birthday. Since there was no one passing by, out of frustration, I got out of my vehicle and approached the obstructing car. A red Maserati. Its owner seems rich. Maybe? Not sure. As I got closer, I forcefully banged on the driver's door. "You foolish person! Get out of your car in the middle of this road!" I yelled with all my strength, simultaneously hitting the car's windshield. It took me six bangs and six yells before the driver's window opened. A person who looked like he just woke up greeted me. He was squinting, trying to get rid of something on their face. What the heck? Was he sleeping? In the middle of this road! For how long? Why didn't anyone notice? I examined him. He was a good-looking man. His deep brown eyes stared at me. He
"Hey, Kay Kay!" Mikaella greeted me. She was with our two twin cousins. "Hi, Cuz!" Shanna greeted me. Haze simply nodded his head at me. "Hello." I sat in an empty chair next to Mikaella. Kay Kay is what Mikaella calls me. I've gotten used to her calling me that. It sucks, you know. I reached for a glass of wine carried by a waiter on a serving tray. I took a sip. Mikaella had beautiful azure eyes and long blonde hair. She had a touch of girlishness but was incredibly compassionate. Shanna had stunning eyes that matched her innocent face, but she could be a brat to those she didn't like. Haze, on the other hand, had a bad boy vibe with his heavily lined black eyeliner and a black earring on his left ear. His long layered hair had side bangs. Both twins had beautiful, slightly blurry green eyes. Haze was too serious and grumpy at times. That's why I sometimes dislike him. I hate his attitude. Cutie Zen was sitting on Grandma's lap. He's 4 years old and has a chubby face. He's so ador
I couldn't sleep because of what Zach said to me. Was he just trying to give me a hard time by asking for such a favor? Hella! I'm the one doing him a favor, yet he expects me to give him a favor in return? What's his reason for asking that favor? He's a damn playboy! Damn him, I want to crush his face. Be my wife, his face flashed in my mind. He should end up with Grace, and I'll work with that once I'm in the Philippines. After the celebration, my cousins, along with my mom and dad, stayed at our house. My three aunts went back to the hotel where they were staying with their husbands. As for Zach? I don't know, he went back to wherever he lives. He's rich enough to have a place to stay here in California. He didn't talk to me anymore after I punched him in the stomach because of what he said. What does he think of me? Becoming his wife out of all people? Is he insane? I shook my head, trying to remove that jerk from my mind. I sat up from lying down. I wanted to go back to the Ph
"Are you sleeping?" he asked again, and I kept my eyes closed, my arms crossed over my chest, and my lips pressed tightly together. "You haven't slept well, have you?" he continued, as if we were old friends. He had been at my grandmother's house when I arrived, and he seemed to be trying to console me about the news of our arranged marriage. But his attempts were futile. I let out a loud snore to signal that I was sleeping, hoping he would take the hint and stop pestering me. I had never encountered such a talkative and nosy man before. "I know you're listening, and you're angry," he said with a chuckle. Of course I was angry. My parents had left earlier, leaving me alone with this man. Our supposed family bonding time had been shattered by the news of the arranged marriage. I stop snoring and lean toward the window. But my eyes shut open, hearing his laugh, which is gnawing at my ears as if I want to strangle him until life is not on him.“I won’t disturb you, sleep well,” he say
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
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.