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2024-10-29 19:42:56"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 adorable, I want to pinch his cheeks.
"Who's the guy with you, Kay?" She gave a hawk-like glance towards Zach."Zach Archer Mendez, a high school classmate," I answered while savoring the wine in my mouth.
"He's handsome," Shanna remarked. The four of us are the same age and will be graduating next year. I'm enjoying my summer vacation. College wasn't easy, especially with the pressure in everything, especially since I'm taking a business-related course.
I met them when I was in college, but I shouldn't be here if Cairen is here. And I wouldn't see my parents.
"Zach Archer Mendez... What a handsome name," Mika said with a mischievous smile. There she goes again, being a playgirl.
"Zach Archer Mendez, an international model for Queen magazine. He has a damn gorgeous body I want to taste," Shanna said, showing something on her phone to Mika.
"Gosh! Six-pack, shit!" Mika exclaimed upon seeing the picture of Zach.
"You have an abs fetish," I rolled my eyes at Shanna and ate a slice of cake from my plate.
"Tsss, why do you fucking like abs?"
"Shut up your damn mouth, Haze." She gave him a fierce glare.
"Tss, whatever!" He jammed his earphones into his ears and started listening to music on his iPod.
"Is he your boyfriend, Kay?" She wiggled her nose at the guy. I smirked.
"Of course not!" I didn't bother answering. I crossed my legs and looked at my phone. There were three messages from Alice and Katana. They're my friends, we're taking the same course, and they're the ones who really know me.
"Really? Should I believe that?" Her tone didn't sound convinced. I looked up at her.
"If you don't, then don't, but for heaven's sake! I'm not lying." I rolled my eyes and suddenly caught a whiff of roasted chicken. I turned my gaze to the waitress holding a tray of two chicken. Those are my favorites. I licked my lips. I rarely get to eat those; it was only once when Alice, Katana, and I visited the Philippines back in high school. Grandma allowed me to go, my plan was to see my parents, but I didn't know where they lived.
"What's so special about the roasted chicken that you're craving it?" Shanna asked, playing with her pancit on the plate. She's not much into eating because she's on a diet. What's the big deal about dieting anyway?
I smiled. "It's so yummy, tastes good."
"Exactly," Mika agreed. She didn't necessarily want it, but she does appreciate its taste. '90s music played on the stereo. The ambiance felt cozy and relaxed, especially with the chatter of people around us. It felt like I was transported back to a '90s-themed event.
"He's staring at me, Kay. Gosh! His features. I'm melting from his hotness. I want to see his damn six-pack abs and touch them." Mikaella was almost out of breath. She just loves abs, but when it comes to relationships, she's not so good at handling them.
"Pfft, funny," Shanna said, looking like she couldn't help but laugh.
"What's funny?" Mika asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your face. It's so obvious," Shanna sarcastically replied.
"As what Haze said, Whatever!" she said, flipping her hair.
I stood up from my seat and headed to the table where the roasted Chicken was. It was untouched since everyone was busy chatting and talking. I grabbed the knife to slice the chicken into two before putting it on a plate. A big smile formed on my face.
"Thanks!" I was surprised when Zach took half of it. I planned on getting that portion.
"It's my..." I didn't continue what I was about to say.
"So tell me, how's your life here?" he asked, looking at me while I was getting a salad that was already in a plastic cup. He also took one.
"Fine, so? Then, how's Grace?" I asked eagerly.
It took him a few seconds to respond. "She's fine, I think," he seemed unsure of his answer.
I looked at him. "From the way you sound, it seems like you haven't met her?" I asked, suspecting.
"Ahm... That's it," he chuckled awkwardly. "Let's eat together, why not introduce your cousin to me?" He was asking for my permission if he could.
"Sure," I shrugged. He followed me towards my cousins' table. Only now did I notice the looks from my relatives, including my parents and grandma. I simply ignored it.
"Introduce yourself to them," I whispered in an ordering tone before taking my seat.
"Hi!" Was he feeling shy?
"Hi, Zach. Sit down." Mikaella and I even assisted him. "I'm Mikaella Syre Verdan, by the way. This is Haze Rain San Forte and Shanna Rose San Forte. The only twins of our families."
I quietly continued eating. Only twins? Hah! The two of them chatted away, becoming close immediately. Shanna was busy on her phone, sighing several times out of boredom. Haze had his eyes closed, leaning on the seat as if completely absorbed in the music playing.
I excused myself from the four of them when Alice called. Why? I left the hall and answered the call outside my house, in my grandma's garden. I sat on a swing.
"Hello, Alice."
'Hi, Cass. Sorry if I happened to disturb you. Can you give me the concept notes files? I lost my flash drive.' Her voice sounded troubled. Alice and I weren't super close, maybe because she's geeky and into things I can't relate to.
"Sure, I'll send it this evening. Don't worry." I heard some wild music. Where could she be? "Where are you, Alice?"
‘I’m in the club with Katana. We’re spying her boyfriend. Text you later. And thank you, Cass.’
"Ok, no worries," I smiled as I ended the call. I glanced at my watch and realized it was already 5 pm. I felt too lazy to go back inside. I ended up surfing the internet on my phone until I landed on a blogger site. I scrolled down, but my eyes stopped when a familiar name caught my attention.
Grace Lopez's blog. I opened the site that was provided. It had a pinkish color and a cute cartoon rabbit design. I couldn't help but smile secretly. My eyes landed on one of her blog posts.
I opened it and started reading. "Five worst yet best things with me in 2013." There were two paragraphs written by a girl on top of her blog. I smiled. I fought back the tears because I knew how much she missed her friend.
I read until the end. What if I go back? I want to meet her, to hug her, and to fulfill her promise to her. Of course, I promised Cairen that I would, but I never made it a big deal. And now the guilt is crushing me, and this time it's overwhelming.
I stared into space for a minute, gazing at the sky, when something suddenly popped into my mind.
"Right! I hope it will work." I stood up from my seat and turned around, about to take a step...
"Iffin ape!" I almost lost my spirit upon seeing Zach. I was startled by his sudden appearance.
"Huh?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. It was only now that I noticed he was holding a brownie.
"Why did you startle me?" I admitted that I was annoyed. Wouldn't you be annoyed if someone startled you?
"Your mom asked me to give it to you. She said it's your favorite," he handed me the plate. I just stared at what he was holding. It was Cairen's favorite, not mine.
"Thanks," I thanked him and took it. "Hey, Zach, I have a favor to ask." I looked at him, his gaze fixed on the garden.
"What favor?" he asked without interest, not even bothering to look at me.
"Don't you ever tell my parents about this. I'm going to the Philippines with you. When is your flight back?" I hoped he would agree. I won't tell Grandma about this, and I'm sure she won't find out if I ask for her permission. It's also the reason why I can't fulfill her wish.
"Why?" His forehead furrowed even more. I moved closer to him and whispered. Two maids passed by. If they heard, nah! They'll surely tell lGrandma do about it. And I mentally laughed in a maniacal tone.
"Well, Zach, I want to surprise my parents by being there without them knowing. You know," I answered with a smile. He looked at me as if I had two heads.
I sighed. "Fine! If you help me, I'll give you anything you want, as long as I can." I had a significant amount saved in one of my bank accounts that lola was unaware of. Or you—"
I couldn't finish my sentence as he spoke. "Anything I ask, you'll do?" There was a smirk on his lips.
"Yes, depending on what you want me to do."
His gaze returned to the garden. "Then be my wife, and I will."
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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
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"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
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I bit my lip as I flipped through the pages of Cairen's diary, searching for answers about her promise of marriage to Zach. Despite my efforts, I found nothing. With a sigh of frustration, I stood up and walked over to the open window, seeking solace in the cool breeze. I longed to find the bargain they made, but I had no choice but to confront Zach directly. The problem was, I had no way of reaching him. Our province was plagued with poor internet connectivity, making it impossible for me to message my friends or even call Mikaella. To make matters worse, my mother had informed me that she and Zach's family were no longer friends. I was torn between my pride and my desire to know the truth. I yearned to ask Zach directly, but I was afraid of what he might say. The only option left was to seek answers from Cairen's diary, but all it revealed was her close friendship with Grace. I was left with more questions than answers, and I couldn't help but feel that there was still so much I di
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"The Bargain," he said, his head nodding. "Don't tell me you forgot about the bargain we made?" I nodded, and he looked at me with a mixture of frustration and anger. "Did you suffer a memory loss or something? This isn't a joke, Cairen." "My expression didn't indicate that I was trying to be humorous. Is that…" I trailed off, hoping to find a good excuse. But he filled in the gap. "You agreed out of sympathy and never gave it another thought, did you?" Taking a deep breath, I wondered why I hadn't written this down in my diary. My twin sister always seemed to know everything about our lives, but I felt lost in the dark. I didn't know how to fix this mess. "People change," I gestured with my hands, glancing over at him. "Sometimes, memories fade in our minds. Haven't you ever done something and forgotten about it because your mind was...?" "I'm not dense, I understand," he interrupted. "So what would you like to change?" He sat with one leg bent, resting on the couch, and one arm
Marriage Bargain Nine
"Are you serious?" I shout in disbelief. "I am serious, and I really need your help, Cairen. Just this time," he sighs, "And I promised Carter that I had a surprise for him.” I don't know what to say to him. Iffin! How can I hide the fact that Zach was expecting me to sing on his friend's birthday? Just because Cairen knows how to sing, not just know, she had been joining a singing contest before. But Cairen never told me. My hands got cold and I lost my ability to speak. I sit on the soft couch and grab the lemon juice made by her cousin who left with her manager. I didn't hear what the manager and Zach conversed about. They were in the library earlier. While I was looking around the apartment, Samantha was being nice to me showing me the place. She then realize after telling her my name that I was the granddaughter of Elise Verdan, the one going to marry his cousin. Zach's family and relatives have known about it. Samantha is just like Mikaella's version, except for Sam's passio
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Biting the piece of a chocolate bar as I wait for Grandma to answer my call. It keeps ringing. Why would Uncle Tyrone think Giovanni is the one I am marrying?Grandma told me it was Zach, or did she not tell me the truth?I look at Giovanni's photo on the internet through my laptop. He is handsome, having similarities to Zach though the man is lean. His pierced jade eyes stared at my soul. A type of man you don't want to mess with. He doesn't look friendly. Rather I see him as that rugged man. Though I prefer Zach, being easy with his calm, pleasant countenance and outgoing one. It seems Gio is a specific man who talks less and has that deep voice you'll be afraid of.Mika was right. No mention of his other family on the internet besides his father, from whom he inherited his eye.'Hello, Sweetie?'I looked at my cell phone. Thanks, she answered my call."Are you busy, Grandma?" I lowered the half chocolate and leaned my back in my chair.'No, I am striding in my garden. The weather is
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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.
Marriage Bargain Ninety Four
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
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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
Marriage Bargain Ninety Two
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
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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
Marriage Bargain Ninety
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
Marriage Bargain Eighty Nine
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
Marriage Bargain Eighty Eight
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
Marriage Bargain Eighty Seven
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.
