S E L E N A“Edward…” I heard Pedro yell after me as I made to open the gate, I stopped right on my track to hear what he had to say.He knew about Edward, yes, but I wouldn't show it. I thought I could keep up with the facade until he uttered, “I think you should visit him if you have the chance, it doesn't seem like the poor man has a lot of time left,” My shoulders jumped in shock, and my arms went limp. I dropped the shopping bag in alarm, its contents spilling onto the ground. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel my breath quickening. I stood frozen in place, unable to move.“What?!” I gasped and turned on my heels. I was surprised to see Pedro gone. My legs suddenly gave way and I collapsed to the ground, the impact jolting through my body. My mind was racing, trying to process what Pedro had said. I couldn't believe that Edward was in danger, that he might not have much time left. I had visited him before I left the city, and he had seemed fine. He had promised me h
S E L E N AI stood before the familiar hospital. My heart pounded against my chest as I clutched my purse tightly. I stared intently at the building before me.I hadn't been inside the hospital for three years, and I never imagined I would be back - at least not for Edward. As I stood there, staring at the building, the memories of the last time I was there rushed back to me. I never thought I'd step foot in this city again, and if I did, I imagined it would be to visit the old man at his home, not in the hospital. As I stood there, I couldn't help but feel the irony of the situation.I took a deep breath as I walked through the doors of the hospital. The memories of coming to visit the old man at the hospital, after my shift at the cafe with a basket of his favourite fruits in hand rushed in. I remembered the memories of pushing the old man in his wheelchair flooding my mind, of the times we would sit outside the hospital and enjoy the fresh air. It felt like only yesterday that I
P E D R OGetting home the previous night, I regretted bringing up the poor man’s condition to Selena that I couldn't sleep a wink. My mind was troubled and I felt like the worst man on earth.Why did I do it? Why did I tell her that? Why did I have to bring up the man for my selfish reasons?I knew how much that man meant to Selena, and I never meant to use him as bait to get to Selena. It wasn't a lie that the man’s condition had gotten worse over the years, but it wasn't my place to break such information to Selena.After using all the money she got paid from cleaning my house, and the ones she got from her other job at the cafe to balance Edward's medical fee, I knew the man meant more than just a neighbour to her.When she left the city, I picked up the role she left behind and continued to pay the man a visit in her stead. It was then that I got to know that the man could not survive the sickness.In fact, not only that he won't survive it, but the poor man barely had little tim
S E L E N A “Are you okay now?” Pedro asked, he placed a palm on my lower back as he walked me out of the elevator.I nodded once, didn't know what reply to give to his question. I didn't know I would break down in tears like that back there, I wasn't expecting it. But watching Edward's body still on the bed with various machines beeping by his side made life flash through my eyes.I couldn't believe the once hyperactive Edward was the one lying motionless on the bed. It broke me to know he had been fighting for his life while I was away. I left when he needed me.“Thank you,” I mumbled, stretching the handkerchief back to Pedro. That was the second time he would be seeing me break down in tears since I returned, and I hate to think of how fragile he must be seeing me.“It’s okay.” he smiled, took the handkerchief from me and squeezed it in his free hand. His eyes not leaving mine and I was forced to make a low grunt.“What now? Is there something on my face?” I glared, and gently sh
C H R I S T O P H E R The house felt empty without Selena. She had left the house earlier, saying she was meeting a friend at the cafe where she used to work. I wanted to go with her, but she insisted that it was "girl stuff." I couldn't help but feel a bit lonely without her. The house seemed to echo with emptiness, and I couldn't help but wonder what Selena was doing and who she was meeting. Lying on the couch, a book covering my face, I couldn't find anything to do in the house. My little boy was upstairs, in his own world as he drew and painted in his sketchbook. The boredom was overwhelming, and the silence of the house was deafening. I closed my eyes, hoping to escape the monotony of the afternoon.That was until I heard distant footsteps.“Uncle,” Liam's tiny voice called out to me from upstairs, I flung my eyes open and tossed the book to the floor as I gently sat up on the couch.My gaze travelled up where the tiny voice was coming from, and I saw Liam rushing down the sta
P E D R OI reached out to pull a chair for Selena, offering her a seat with a polite smile. "Please, sit," I said. She took the seat, adjusting herself in it carefully. “Thank you.” she smiled, placing her purse on the table.I leaned forward and moved a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “What would you like to have with your coffee?” I whispered to her face, watching her face turn to a bright red.She cleared her throat and played with her nails. “Just coffee,” she said and I nodded once, leaving our table to get our coffee.There was no need to ask how she wanted her coffee - I knew that Selena liked hers black, with just a touch of sugar and a generous amount of milk. It was a small detail, but one that showed how well I knew her. As the barista prepared the coffee, I wondered if Selena would notice the little things I did to make her realise I never for once forgot about her.I walked back to our table and handed her coffee to her. With a mumbled “thank y
S E L E N A It seemed like the world had stopped spinning and everything went still. All I could hear at that moment was the beating of my own heart. As our lips locked. And his tongue fought for dominance.“Mmph.” a moan escaped my mouth as Pedro traced his finger on my arm. He had one hand pressed on my lower back, pulling my body to his, and another hand was on my arm, tracing an invisible line on my bare arm. Sending a jolt of electricity to my body.My head was screaming for me to stop the kiss, but my body seemed to not be cooperating with my head. My body wanted his touch. My body missed his touch, my body wanted him and of course, I wanted him too.“Baby,” Pedro moaned into my mouth, his hands dropped to either side of my waist. He gripped my ass and I gasped into his mouth.It felt like we were the only one in the world. My eyes were shut tight, so I couldn't care less about my surroundings.Pedro slid his hand under my shirt, moving his hand up to my back and stopped on my
S E L E N AOne thing I wasn't expecting to meet upon my return was Christopher, leaning against the door frame with a scowl on his face.“Hey?” I called out to him, grabbing his attention.He slowly raised his head to look in the direction where my voice was coming from. When our eyes met, I didn't want to admit but it seemed like the scowl deepened. He forced out a smile after watching me halt on my track, not attempting to move closer to him. “You’re back?” he asked, and I could swear there was anger in his tone.Nothing knowing if he was angry with me, or if he was just having a bad day. “Uhm,” I nodded, watching him closely.He peeled his back off the door frame and stood up straight. “How was it?” he asked, throwing his hand to his head to straighten his hair. “Did you enjoy your day with your friend?” he added, not looking at me.I didn't know how to reply. I would be damned if I say I didn't enjoy my day with Pedro, he was nothing but romantic throughout the drive. We even sh