Sitting in the quiet of her parked car, Carol feels her hands trembling as she clutches her phone. Her mind spins, flooded with memories she can't quite piece together. They begin with flashes of her parents’ cold words and harsh voices, memories that evoke a deep sadness she’s carried her whole life. She recalls herself as a small girl, clutching a stuffed toy behind a rocking chair, tears silently streaming down her face. But everything beyond that? It’s all a fog.Then, there are memories she can picture more vividly—terrifying, murky images of herself underwater, flailing as she saw her mother and stepfather standing on the shore, laughing. But when she tries to recall when, where, or why these things happened, the edges blur. She can’t seem to connect the dots, to pull the fragmented images into a single, coherent story.Outside the doctor’s office, she sits for a while, unable to start the car. In the aftermath of the visit, she can’t shake the fear bubbling up inside her. Is sh
Carol waits for Brianna for a while but she never comes. Damien isn't available to talk either since he is in an exhibition. Almost two hours passes by Brianna doesn't reply or comes to the café. Feeling a bit impatient, she sends another message but this time Brianna doesn't read the message. Carol sighs deeply, feeling a bit lost. She has been dealing with the things that she can't bear. But God never gives people something that is unbearable. Carol's frown between her brows deepens, realizing that Brianna is ignoring her. ' I shouldn't have mentioned it beforehand. Uhh! Now I miss Damien!' She rests her head on the table while thinking about Damien. It feels refreshing. Thinking that whatever It is, fake, false or imagination, Damien's present has made everything better. She takes another glance at her phone. Clearly Brianna is ignoring her message. She stands up, deciding whether she should leave or not. But her attention goes to the diamond jewelry shop. A famous br
The usual normal days return soon. Carol is expected to return to the company for work, and Damien has been acting giddy since morning. She applies a bit of lip gloss, trying to look her best. Ever since she started physical therapy and other treatments, she looks a bit tired. Since she has no intention of telling Damien about her medical situation to avoid adding more stress, she focuses on perfecting her appearance with makeup. Her effort to present her best self to Damien outweighs even her desire to keep her struggles hidden. After giving herself a satisfied smile, she walks downstairs. Whether it’s reality or a memory, whether she is mentally unstable or not, right now, she is happy to have Damien in her life. If it is a memory, she would rather never wake up. She could continue living in this dream. She grabs the ring box as well. Last night, she couldn’t give it to him. Before she remembered, she had fallen asleep in his embrace like a little baby. His arms feel warm, pro
**What?** A silent gasp escapes Carol as Damien explains her new role in his company. She looks stunned, her mind racing with confusion. **The CEO? Why?** she signs, a knot tightening in her stomach. She never imagined she would be asked to take on such an important position again, especially in someone else’s company. Damien smiles warmly, gently holding her hands and pressing a kiss to her knuckles before signing, **Because I found no one better suited for the role. You’re perfect for this position, Carol. Even my employees have been looking forward to this day.** **Your employees already know?** she signs, her heart racing at the revelation. Damien nods, his smile soft but reassuring. Carol frowns, uncertain about his response. Her fingers hover mid-air, hesitant to sign the question lingering in her mind. But the doubt festering in her heart wins over her hesitation. **Damien, be honest with me,** she finally signs. Damien’s eyebrows lift slightly, confusion shadowing hi
Damien had already told Carol about his friends visiting. However, none of them had stepped foot in his house since that day. It’s been an entire month since Carol took over the company, handling her responsibilities like a flawless CEO. She loves how supportive her employees are—reminiscent of her previous team—and how patient they have been with her. Although some clients were initially hesitant, they eventually warmed up to her, and now she has become the capable and dynamic leader they had hoped for. Despite the demanding workload, Carol has been undergoing treatment for her throat and trauma. The therapies have shown excellent results, and her throat feels more comfortable. However, she isn’t yet ready to speak. It’s a significant milestone, one that requires her to be mentally prepared. During this time, she has noticed her communication with her friends and cousins has decreased. Whenever she tries to reach out to them, they make excuses about being busy. Even Eunice has g
Confusion clouds her mind as she approaches the door to get a closer look. *Carol's Room.* The nameplate looks old, almost childlike. Her hand grazes the steel surface as she tries to piece together what’s going on. Why is her name here? Has she been here before? She doesn’t remember. Curiosity gets the better of her, and she reaches to open the door. Just as she’s about to position herself, she senses someone approaching behind her. Turning around, she finds Alex standing there, his expression heavy, as though she’s committed some grave mistake. **What are you doing here, Carol?** His signing is firm, his brows tightly knit. For a moment, she feels like she’s intruding on his privacy by being here. But she frowns, straightening her stance, **What is this?** She points to the door, her expression making it clear she wants answers. However, Alex steps toward her, blocking the door. **Please leave this floor. You’re not allowed to be here.** Her eyes widen in shock. Something
A soft but heavy sigh escapes Alex, who is waiting for even a minimal reaction from Carol when he mentions his family's plan to ask her to return to handle the company. But she stares at him blankly before signing: **What do you think I should do?** Alex didn't expect her to throw this question at him, and he looks away, indicating that he has no place to say anything. **Are you scared that you may have to drop out?** Alex flinches but remains silent. Tears well up in his eyes. Alex has always been independent, but studying at a prestigious university on his own isn't possible. She sighs and places her card on the table. **I want you to use it. Don't overuse it. Pay your tuition and keep studying. I will track your payment history so that once you get a job, you can pay me back.** **What?** Alex looks at her with wide-open eyes. **You don't want to return to the company?** Carol's expression seems to say, *Are you still asking that silly question?* But she shakes her h
Carol places a bowl of ice cream on the table before sitting on the edge of the bed. Lucy looks... distraught.She hasn't answered why she came here at this hour or why she looks like this, but Carol guesses that Lucy needs time to think it over.Despite their bitter history, Carol doesn’t hate her enough to shut the door in her face.Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watches Lucy fidgeting, biting her lips and casting glances here and there. It’s as if she’s drowning in deep thoughts, torn between whether she should do this or not.Carol takes a spoonful of ice cream, continuing to eat while observing Lucy closely. She’s beautiful, but the toll cancer has taken on her is evident in her eyes and body. Carol tilts her head, studying her with the curiosity of a child examining a dollhouse.Lucy, noticing Carol's gaze, finally lifts her head and looks at her with mixed emotions—anger and defeat.She licks her lips before looking at Carol directly. **How long are you going to stay here?
The apartment is unbearably quiet. I sit curled up on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The only sound is the faint hum of the refrigerator, but even that feels distant—like the world outside this room no longer exists. James’s message from last night is still on my phone, the words burning into my mind. "Staying at a hotel tonight. Don’t wait up."He didn’t call. Didn’t ask to talk. Didn’t even ask why. I clutch the blanket around me, my fingers tightening in the fabric. The weight in my chest is suffocating, pressing down like a stone. Sleep never came, only hours of staring at the walls, thinking about the moment he found that ticket—how his expression darkened, how he left without another word. He knows. And I hurt him. The sky outside turns from black to gray, signaling morning, but it doesn’t bring relief. The ache in my chest only deepens. I can’t sit in this silence any longer. My hands tremble as I pick up my phone and d
Eunice, The morning sunlight drapes across the living room, casting a golden warmth over the space. Everything feels too still, too peaceful, as if the world itself is oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. James moves around the kitchen with ease, sleeves rolled up, flipping pancakes like it’s second nature. I watch him, mesmerized by the way he hums under his breath, his presence so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. It should be comforting—this domesticity, this quiet moment between us. But instead, my chest tightens, because I know that soon, everything will change. Since we have returned home, I have been fighting with myself for a decision that I thought was simple a month ago. However, his appearance, me falling in love with him again made that simple decision one of the hardest decisions ever. I haven’t told him yet. “You’re staring,” James teases, his voice smooth, pulling me out of my thoughts. He glances over his shoulder, flashing that boyish grin that u
With a long-suffering sigh, he nods. “Fine. I promise.” Aria beams, hugging him tightly. “Yay! My Julie forever!” Irene smirks, crossing her arms. “We’ll see about that.” Julian groans, rubbing his temples as Aria and Irene continue their tug-of-war over him. He has had enough. “Can you both just stop?!” He snaps finally, his patience finally breaking and wearing off. Especially to Aria who is clinging onto him like a slime. Silence falls. Aria blinks, her grip on his shirt loosening. “J-Julie…?” Her voice is small, uncertain. Julian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Irene, you always mess with me and now her, and Aria, you act like a spoiled kid whenever I talk to anyone else!” His voice is firm, frustrated. “I can be friends with other people! You don’t own me, Aria!” His sharp cold eyes shudders Aria who looks confused with Julian's cold and indifferent gaze. The room suddenly feels too quiet. Aria’s fingers tremble as she stares at him,
Julian narrows his eyes before walking towards the door, " What's their name!?" He asks. " Julie! You got friends. What about me?" She follows him hugging her plush. " I don't know her name but she is here to play with you!" Julian walks downstairs while Aria skips the staircases one after one. " Why do you have friends? I don't have friends. I want to be friends with your friend!" She keeps whining while running towards Julian. " Hi! Julian!" A girl wearing a beautiful dress shyly waves her hand. " I am here to play." " Irene! Why are you here?" Julian asks, frowning a bit. " To play -!" Julian barely takes two steps forward before Aria latches onto his arm, her plush carrot squeezed against her chest like a battle shield. Her big, round eyes lock onto the girl standing before them, her lips pursed in a deep frown. Irene blinks, then smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is this your little sister, Julian?” Aria gasps dramatically, releasing Julian just to s
Two days ago, Julian told her that he hated her for touching his homework. Now she is yet to get over from that shock. Julian barely stirs under the warmth of his blanket, his face half-buried in his pillow. The room is quiet except for the faint rustling of fabric as he tries to sink deeper into sleep. But Aria stands frozen at his bedside, her tiny fists clenched, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He said he hates me…" Her lips tremble, but not from sadness—from determination. She knows Julian better than anyone. He can say all he wants, but the moment she starts crying, he’ll melt like an ice cream cone in the sun. Taking a deep breath, she clenches her plush carrot and prepares for battle. She sniffs. Loudly. A little whimper escapes her lips, followed by another dramatic sniff. Then, with precise control, her lower lip wobbles as she blinks rapidly, allowing fat, glistening tears to pool in her big eyes. Julian shifts slightly under the blanket. She s
The ending of the vacation is coming soon. Throughout the days with James, everything starts feeling like before. His warmth, his flirtatious tease and sometimes stealing glances, it makes her heart more warm. At some point, I have started worrying about the matter of me transferring to Australia. I haven't told him about it. Not yet. I am not ready for this. The farmhouse is quiet, the night settling over us like a warm, comforting blanket. Outside, the crickets sing softly, their rhythmic melody blending with the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. The silver light of the moon streams in through the sheer curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring down at my hands, unsure of what to do next. My heart feels like it’s carrying too many emotions all at once—excitement, fear, longing, and something I can’t quite name yet. James is sitting on the small armchair by the window, his gaze fixed on me. The weight of his eyes is almost unbearab
The morning air is crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers as I step out onto the porch. The mountains loom in the distance, their peaks kissed by soft streaks of sunlight. For a moment, I let the tranquility wash over me, the weight in my chest easing ever so slightly. “You ready?” James’s voice startles me, and I turn to see him standing behind me, a lopsided grin on his face and a woven basket in his hand. He’s wearing a loose white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the sunlight makes his hair look almost golden. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, brushing past him toward the dirt path leading to the fields. We’re harvesting watermelons today. Margaret had asked us last night, her kind eyes twinkling with excitement as she explained that the ripe melons were waiting just beyond the river near the base of the mountain. James falls into step beside me, his strides easy and unhurried. “Do you think you’ll manage to carry a watermelon all the w
And, he tagged along...The hum of the plane’s engine fills the quiet space as I glance out the window, watching the horizon shift from fiery orange to muted pinks and purples. The first-class seat feels too large, yet somehow suffocating. I didn’t even want to be here with him. James, sitting beside me, stretches his legs, his presence filling the space like an anchor I can’t seem to escape. He taps his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, his gaze fixed ahead. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice soft but insistent, like he’s trying to sound casual. I keep my eyes on the clouds. “Fine.” “You’ve been quiet,” he presses. I let out a sigh. “What do you expect me to say, James? You weren’t supposed to be here.” He shifts in his seat to face me. “And yet here I am.” His voice carries that infuriating confidence that used to make me swoon—but now it only grates. I don’t reply, turning my attention back to the window. James doesn’t let the silence linger. “Eunice, I ju
Eunice, The hum of activity fills the office as I sit at my desk, tapping away at my tablet. My messages with James flicker on the screen, a mixture of casual banter and the occasional helpful advice about a recipe. He’s been staying with me for a while now, and honestly, he’s taken over my small apartment like it’s his. Cooking, cleaning, rearranging things—I can’t decide if it’s annoying or a blessing. How did I let him get so comfortable? “Hm? Bed and breakfast? How lucky!” Lea’s teasing tone pulls me out of my thoughts. I glance up just in time to see her leaning over my shoulder, her mischievous grin wide as she peers at my messages. I immediately turn the screen off, rolling my eyes. “Stop staring at other people’s messages! It’s nothing.” Lea smirks, unbothered by my annoyance, and pulls up a chair beside me. “Not ‘other people.’ My dearest colleague. Who, by the way, is leaving us soon. Got a boyfriend who’s tagging along, hmm?” I shake my head, gripping the tablet t