Tan looked back at Elaine who’s catching her breath and leaning her hand on the tree he just passed by. He smiled when she looked at him. She waved and signalled for him to go ahead. But instead of doing so, he went back for her.
Tan took the insulated water bottle from his bag’s side pocket, opened it and handed it to her. He took the back she was carrying. Elaine wanted to protest but she didn’t have the strength. She knew it wasn’t heavy because she made sure to put just a first aid kit, one hundred ml mineral water and some crackers in it before they started to climb.
Tan hired a guide and porter to carry their bags and tents for them. Elaine brought a lot of stuff... From ready-to-eat food to sleeping gear. While he just brought a survival kit and first aid kit aside from clothes good for two days of camping.
The climb was easy, he realized. They had to cross a somewhat deep river with big rocks a while ago but since the current wasn
One and a half year laterTan just finished bathing, although he was in his sleeping clothes, his towel was still on his head to dry his hair after he emerged from the bathroom. He looked at the clock. Eight in the evening. He went home on time as usual. He arrived while Elaine was playing with Sean and Thera’s twins. They ate dinner together with the couple.After eating, Jassy Mikaela started throwing tantrums but turned quiet when Elaine carried and entertained her. They decided to bring her to their room while Lucah Gabrielle was brought to the guest room by Thera and Sean to be put to sleep. It was the second time Sean’s family visited them and stayed overnight.Sean has an important meeting and didn’t want to leave his family at the villa. Until now, the two was making up for the time they were apart. Tan was genuinely happy for them. They deserve to be happy after all they’ve been through.
Just when Elaine’s husband, Tan De Marco, needed her most, she left him. Taking along with her the five million pesos she'd asked as compensation for all the fruitless days she’d spent with him. After three years, Tan has moved on with his life and became a successful Surgeon. Just when he thought everything's sailing smoothly, he found out that his late grandfather Textile company was facing serious hardship in the operation and management.The only way to save the company was to remarry his heartless ex-wife who disappeared right after she got the money from him. For Tan, he'd rather dive into poverty than marry his ex-wife once again.Upon knowing about Daniel De Marco’s will, Elaine reappeared and approached Tan again. Surprisingly, in her own keen ways, Elaine was able to marry him again despite knowing that he had already fallen out of love with her.Elaine tried to do everything to win Tan’
Dear Readers,Good day! This is La Tigresa and I would like to thank you all for stopping by.Tstory is written in English. If you're a Filipino and wants to read the Tagalog version of the story, please search for Fragments of Memories 2: Beautiful Stranger. Book 1 of the series entitled Fragments of Memories 1: Married at Seventeen (both English and Tagalog version are also available in GoodNovel)The whole series talks about and focuses on self-love, self-worth and self-forgiveness that I hope you'd all be able to relate to and learn from it.Thank you in advance for your support and Enjoy Reading!La Tigresa
July 2012 Baclaran, Manila The rain was pouring heavily, but there's no sign of rush in Elaine's steps. Meanwhile, others were running and rushing to the nearest shelter to protect themselves from the rain. On the other hand, she didn't seem to bother as she took her way towards the Baclaran Church under the heavy downpour, taking only her backpack with her. She halted at the corner a few steps from the church, not caring that she was already soaking wet. She looked up in the sky, letting the rain drip on her face. Elaine could tell that the rain will not stop any time soon based on the sky's visible dark and thick clouds. She was unsure if the sky was sympathizing with her or was just plain mocking, just like the people around her. It must be the latter. She continued moving forward. Elaine was an illegitimate child. She grew up without her father and spent her whole life under her mother, Betina. Bettina
January 15, 2021With a burgundy glass on the folding table, Elaine poured wine into it once more. She then settled herself on the wooden bistro chair that was facing towards the open shore of Boracay Beach.It was four in the morning. As usual, she couldn't seem to fall asleep not until midnight falls or the sun rises. It's been one hell of a month of moving from place to place. She stayed at a hotel somewhere in the Visayas; from Iloilo to Cebu. From there, she flew to Panglao then El Nido. She will fly back to Manila on the next day to settle in the condo unit she invested in.Her real work will start by then. She could not get any more nervous about it even though she had been prepping for it for almost a month.Elaine sipped her wine. She took her time clearing the glass. She wanted to savor every drop as if it would take her forever to taste it ever again.After emptying her glass, she looked up in the sky. She could hardly see
Right after reading the few sheets in the tabloid, Elaine ended up folding the paper and placed it over the piles of untouched booklets on the table. She picked up the other one from her side to tuck them all together. Suddenly, a particular headline caught her attention. Everything shown in both tabloid and national TV news was the same; crime, government, and economic issues, but this one appeared to be more intriguing than anything else. The forthcoming closure of the biggest cotton textile company in the country, the DM Textile. A textile company owned by De Marcos. It was the legacy that was left by Tan's late grandfather, Daniel De Marco after he passed away.At first, Elaine thought that the DM Textile's inheritance would be given to Sean De Marco, Tan’s twin brother. But he was busy acting as the Chairman of The Palace, and at the same time, he was also currently managing the Sean and Tan Teacaf with the help of their friend, Miguel. At the moment, the 35-
JULY 2012Baclaran Manila"SO, your boss didn't hit her at all, is that what you're trying to mean, Mr. Gomez?" The officer-in-charge talked to Jemuel’s staff, trying to get some information that could help resolve the situation. He had the statement folder in hand, containing each of their reports. They all ended up in the police station after the incident."Yes, chief,"The investigator turned to face her, his eyes filled with doubts and questions. Elaine uncrossed her arms. At the other side of the desk were Jose and Jemuel; his head was bandaged.Drew and Macon were fidgeting on their seat next to Elaine. She could not trust their acting power and prowess. On the left side was the meddling guy. She found out later on that he was a fresh graduate of Medicine. His arms were folded across his chest, listening intently at them. He was the one
It was a very good start for her and Tan. The first time they met by chance felt like a scene from a movie. She ruined that perfect start. However, she will do everything she could do to set things right. To compensate for all the things she had done to him. That she had no other intentions but to be ever in his arms again. To make him love her again and love him more than she did before.She startled when her phone buzzed. "I'm almost there," she said, letting out a deep breath before reaching out for the door handle and headed out.She widened her smile as soon as she reached the Ainsdale Boutique. The upcoming days will be hectic for her. At any cost, she will pursue Tan. He had no other choice anyway. For sure, Tan is busy protecting the welfare of the company. And Elaine would use all of her advantages of his textile problem just to get closer to him."WE'RErunning out of time, Tan," Atty. Ramas remin
One and a half year laterTan just finished bathing, although he was in his sleeping clothes, his towel was still on his head to dry his hair after he emerged from the bathroom. He looked at the clock. Eight in the evening. He went home on time as usual. He arrived while Elaine was playing with Sean and Thera’s twins. They ate dinner together with the couple.After eating, Jassy Mikaela started throwing tantrums but turned quiet when Elaine carried and entertained her. They decided to bring her to their room while Lucah Gabrielle was brought to the guest room by Thera and Sean to be put to sleep. It was the second time Sean’s family visited them and stayed overnight.Sean has an important meeting and didn’t want to leave his family at the villa. Until now, the two was making up for the time they were apart. Tan was genuinely happy for them. They deserve to be happy after all they’ve been through.
Tan looked back at Elaine who’s catching her breath and leaning her hand on the tree he just passed by. He smiled when she looked at him. She waved and signalled for him to go ahead. But instead of doing so, he went back for her.Tan took the insulated water bottle from his bag’s side pocket, opened it and handed it to her. He took the back she was carrying. Elaine wanted to protest but she didn’t have the strength. She knew it wasn’t heavy because she made sure to put just a first aid kit, one hundred ml mineral water and some crackers in it before they started to climb.Tan hired a guide and porter to carry their bags and tents for them. Elaine brought a lot of stuff... From ready-to-eat food to sleeping gear. While he just brought a survival kit and first aid kit aside from clothes good for two days of camping.The climb was easy, he realized. They had to cross a somewhat deep river with big rocks a while ago but since the current wasn
Handcuffed(Continuation of Chapter Thirty-Six)Tan didn’t remove his eyes from Marco since the time he approached the bar counter to order a drink and even when he went to the two-seater table he occupied. He sighed when the police started pouring alcohol into two glasses served by the waiter slash bartender a while ago.He wanted to refuse the guy’s offer to ride in his car but aside from the fact he left his car in the Fuego mansion when he was taken by the police a while ago, he also wants to hear directly from the police’s mouth what was his real intention for getting close to his wife.They were in The Hub, Marco chose the place which made him wonder. The table they occupied when they came in was for two and in the corner. It was Tuesday and the bar was almost empty.“I’m treating you for a bottle of whiskey. But you don’t even know how to drink,” he said, He pushe
Elaine felt a slight tightening of her chest while her and Marco’s eyes were still holding each other in a gaze. She didn’t want to lose a friend but she also didn’t want him to keep hurting because of her.The fear and worry she heard from his voice a while ago, wasn’t just concern of a guy for a friend. She wasn’t that stupid not to feel that. And she was not selfish to make him hope only to be hurt in the end. Marco was a good person. He deserved someone who would love him wholeheartedly.Elaine swallowed the imaginary lump in her throat when Marco smiled and started to talk.“Whenever I see you sad, whenever I know you have a heavy burden, whenever you’re crying and hurting but you try to hide it, those were the times I wanted to take you away from your husband, Elaine. But on each of those times, I was a fool who keeps restraining myself because I know whatever I do, whatever I give up, no matter how I try to dry yo
But Elaine's broken smile started to change into a mischievous grin. Along with the intentional hardness in the expression on her face, Elaine slouched a little to level their gaze.“Why not? If you’d come and visit me every day again?” she said in a soft voice but enough for her to hear.Mrs. Crisostomo gasped. She went literally still as if her neck would screech if it turned towards her.Elaine straightened up. Guilt crept into her heart when she saw her slightly shaken. But Mrs Crisostomo needed to taste a dose of her own medicine.Mental health problem was not a character failure just like what she wanted to imply. Sandra kept telling her that and she tried to put that in mind many times. She was glad she was able to voice it out now, unlike before she was scared to admit it even to herself.Perhaps she was a little different but she was still worthy of respect and of dignity. Her painful family background and her past experi
Elaine woke to the penetrating sunlight in Tan’s room. Her eyes opened wide when she realized the time. It was past nine in the morning, said the clock that was hanging on Tan’s bedroom wall.Her original plan was to wake up early so she could prepare breakfast for Tan. But as she was about to get up, she was stunned to find Tan’s huge hand around her shoulder.She looked up to Tan who was still sleeping. She took few deep breaths to calm the beating of her heart. This was her favourite sleeping position. Lying on Tan’s chest and clearly hearing his heart beating.For a long while, it was just last night when she truly felt peace, security and love again. She fell asleep fast and slept easy on his arms. After all the nightmares that passed and tested their life, she felt as if she just truly awakened last night.Carefully, she removed herself from Tan’s embrace. She sat by the side of the bed and watched him sleeping. She was
Elaine stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was glowing, it wasn’t obvious that she was nervous and anxious while parking her car inside their rented house. She could call Tan to let him know she was coming home but she chose to just wait for him there.She has a lot to say and explain to her husband. Sandra called. She admitted everything to Tan. Though the clever doctor laughed in the end saying she doesn’t have the right to file a case against her because she only told the immediate family.Elaine was thankful though. It’s as if a heavy weight was lifted from her chest. No matter how hard she tried to work up her courage, she couldn’t bring herself to admit everything to Tan if not for Sandra’s help.She was always scared that her husband might not be able to accept her. The person she loved might leave her because she was unacceptable- she was lacking and she was not whole.After the terrible things that happ
“Ma’am…”Elaine opened her eyes. Anne was in front of her with an uneven smile. She looked around her surrounding. She wasn’t in Tan’s rented house but inside Ainsdale. Tan wasn’t there as expected. So it was just a dream.“I was hesitant to wake you, but your phone keeps ringing. It might be important.”She moved. Locating the cell phone in the handbag.“Sorry, I must have dozed off. What time is it?” she asked while going through her bag.“I must have dozed off.”Elaine was surprised to hear herself say that. She never once felt sleepy while on the job.“Almost closing time, Ma’am. Seven o’clock.”She slept for almost half an hour. She was waiting for Tan for almost eight hours already. According to Drew, his husband would certainly ask her to eat out. But why until this time, he hasn’t shown
Elaine walked for several minutes while Tan quietly followed on the opposite side of the road. Tan had mixed emotions in his heart and he cannot remove her from his sight not even for a second.The wind softly blew Elaine's hair and the hem of her blouse follows her every step. Just like before, everything she wore fit perfectly to her slender body. The same body he’d adored and worshipped.Tan came to a realization that for the last three years, he had never gone an entire day without longing for her. The yearning was deep and strong it was consuming him. And maybe, he intentionally traded those feelings with anger.Why- it was the question that was too painful for Tan to ask and the answers to that ‘why’ scare him ever since their paths crossed again.Why did Elaine leave him? Why was it so easy for her to forget and throw his love away? Why the span of three years, she didn’t see him even once. Didn’t she miss him