7:23 AMFreya stirred slightly, her neck stiff and aching from where she had fallen asleep. She had slumped over in the hard chair with her head resting on the edge of Diego's hospital bed, her fingers curled loosely around his hand.The faintest movement beneath her palm made her brow furrow in confusion. Being half-awake, she shifted slightly, brushing it off as a trick of her tired mind. Then drowsily, her eyes sank downwards as she began to drift off to sleep once again.But then it happened again—a soft, deliberate squeeze on her fingers. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and her mind, still heavy with exhaustion, struggled to make sense of what she was feeling at the moment.The sterile white of the hospital room came into focus, and her heart thumped hard as she lifted her head, her disheveled chestnut hair falling around her face. Her gaze fell on the source of the touch — Diego's hand which was intertwined with hers. Just then, Diego’s fingers moved again, wrapping weakly ar
Freya's eyes got big with shock as she froze, her gaze transfixed on the TV screen. She felt her heart skip a beat as she witnessed the awful scene on air. “...the most awaited moment in the world of entertainment. Here we have Monica Holland and her finally revealed lover, Desmond July, kissing openly on the red carpet just yesterday in Hollywood! What a sight to see! Who would have thought Monica was in such a serious relationship with a man who is no stranger in the world of business tycoons…” Freya's shoulders shuddered, and she quivered like she had been standing outside in the snow for hours. Her lips barely moved as she breathed a silent “No”, shaking her head forcefully. A single teardrop, like a shiny pearl, crawled out of her eye down her cheek. Shivers were sent down her spine and she finally gave up standing and dropped dramatically to the floor. “Mom!” From a hidden corner in the living room, her eight-year-old son who had been silently watching her distress, ran
"Move aside!” Freya staggered like a toddler taking his first steps as Desmond pushed her to the side aggressively. “I just got back from a hectic trip and the welcome I get is you standing in my way and staring at me like I'm the reason for your misery. Get me something to eat. I'm so hungry”, Desmond ordered and marched majestically into the house, pulling his small travel box behind him and ignoring the poor Freya who had bumped her head into the wall due to his rough push. Noah, whose eyes watched the little drama in horror, took a few steps backwards away from his monstrous looking father. “Little boy, get me a glass of water!” Desmond snapped as he fell lazily on the couch and tugged on his tie aggressively. He roughly tossed his luggage aside. Noah shook his head adamantly and fled to his room, ignoring Desmond's order. “Noah!” He fumed, turning his head to see Noah run off. “Desmond! How dare you!” Freya exclaimed suddenly, like she had just regained her consciou
4:30 amFreya grasped Noah's little hand tightly, hauling him along with her.A few steps more and they were gone from the dungeon which Desmond had originally referred to as a home. With her other hand, Freya held a small saddle bag while Noah's favorite clothes could all fit into his little backpack, luckily. She also carried a small handbag along which she hung on her shoulder.Before advancing further, Freya stopped abruptly and turned around to take the final glance at her soon-to-be ex husband's gigantic mansion. The enormous white pearly building stood tall and majestic in the early morning moonlight and stared down at her as if judging her for summoning up courage to finally leave it.“I'll miss this house”, Noah finally spoke up on seeing his mother steadily regard their house for an awkward amount of seconds.Freya let out a dense sigh as she looked down at her tender son. The innocence engraved in his facial expression captured and softened her heart. “Yeah. But we're ne
"I'm Diego. Sorry I didn't introduce myself properly”.Diego offered a handshake, a gesture of courtesy, and Freya, still reeling from her recent misfortune, hesitated briefly before extending her hand, her fingers meeting his in a cautious grasp. “Can I get your name as well, hope you don't mind?”Freya regarded the strange man called Diego with utmost curiosity aiming at getting a clue on what he was all about.His jet-black longish hair and gray eyes, accompanied by his strong jawline, blended excellently well, working hand in hand to give him a majestic and handsome appearance.“Freya”, she replied stiffly, looking away from his steady gaze.Diego, sensing her discomfort and likely shyness, let out a brief, warm chuckle, his vibrations conveying a gentle understanding.Freya scowled at him, wondering what was laugh-inducing in that arena asides her being in a pathetic state.“I know exactly how you feel. Don't worry, your belongings will be tracked down in no time. My friend here
"Imelda”, Freya's soft voice called out and she wrapped her college friend in a warm embrace as soon as she opened the door for them.Noah's eyes wandered, his attention flagging as his mom and her friend shared a warm but overly long hug.“Freya! So good to see you once again. Please come in!” Imelda, Freya's college friend, welcomed her into the house with a warm hand gesture.With an awkward grasp, Freya clutched Noah's hand as they stepped into the house of their new host, their facial expressions etched with uncertainty. They paused in the living room, reluctant to take their seats on the couch, their bodies tense with unease.“Please, have a seat. You're welcome to my house. Freya, who's this little boy?” Imelda asked immediately, her tone laced with curiosity. Freya and Noah sat together on a couch with Noah snuggling tightly into Freya's arms. He clutched the sleeve of her blouse and Freya could tell that his shyness was kicking in."He's my son," Freya replied curtly, her to
Freya hesitated briefly before responding to Diego, surprised by his eagerness to hear her voice again so soon after their first meeting.“Hi”, Freya said awkwardly, taking her seat gently on the bed.“I have news concerning your “bag thief”. She's been taken into custody by the authorities. Your luggage has been retrieved and I'd like you to come get them at the police station.”Freya's heart lifted with relief and gratitude as she met Diego's help with a deep sigh of appreciation, her eyes glittering with a warm smile.“Oh my goodness, thank you so much. I didn't expect this to happen so fast. I'm really grateful, sir”, she said in a high pitched tone that betrayed her happiness.“It's nothing. I just want to know where you are now so that I can come pick you up. Then we could go to the station together. Would that be okay?” Diego's soothing baritone voice pierced through her eardrums.Freya's pause afterwards was a fleeting moment of uncertainty, as if trying to make a major decisi
Diego flung open the car door and held it open for Freya to alight with a gallant gesture, his arm extended in a majestic invitation as a warm, radiant smile spread across his face. “Please ma'am, could you step out like the queen that you are?” He murmured, his deep voice gentle and sincere, and his eyes burning with warmth, as he stretched out a hand of assistance towards her. Freya's initial moody countenance crumbled, her amusement bubbling up as she succumbed to the charm of Diego's unexpected complement. Her lips curved into a sweet smile, revealing her amusement. “Queen?” She laughed cheerfully, as she teased him about his cheesy remark. Diego's face lit up with a pleased smile, his eyes glowing with delight, as he basked in the joy of having forced a smile out of her. With a broad lingering grin spread across her face, Freya slowly placed her hand in Diego's, and he assisted her out of the car with tender care. Afterwards, Diego shut the door behind her with a soft c
7:23 AMFreya stirred slightly, her neck stiff and aching from where she had fallen asleep. She had slumped over in the hard chair with her head resting on the edge of Diego's hospital bed, her fingers curled loosely around his hand.The faintest movement beneath her palm made her brow furrow in confusion. Being half-awake, she shifted slightly, brushing it off as a trick of her tired mind. Then drowsily, her eyes sank downwards as she began to drift off to sleep once again.But then it happened again—a soft, deliberate squeeze on her fingers. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and her mind, still heavy with exhaustion, struggled to make sense of what she was feeling at the moment.The sterile white of the hospital room came into focus, and her heart thumped hard as she lifted her head, her disheveled chestnut hair falling around her face. Her gaze fell on the source of the touch — Diego's hand which was intertwined with hers. Just then, Diego’s fingers moved again, wrapping weakly ar
4:17 AMFreya gently twisted the door knob and cracked the door open. Before stepping in, she scanned the hospital room where Diego lay. Letting out a silent sigh, she stepped into the room, ushering Noah in. Then she gave a slight nod to the nurse who accompanied her as if asking for privacy. The nurse got the message and left, shutting the door behind her. The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors. Freya's eyes misted, her hand steadying Noah's as they approached the bed. Diego lay unconscious, his skin pale against the stark white sheets. An IV drip snaked down to his arm, and there was a pulse oximeter sensor clipped on his index finger. She had prepared herself for this moment, but the reality of seeing Diego like this was far more painful than words could convey.Freya's heart sank, and her face reddened in anguish. The sight of Diego's helpless state stole Freya’s breath, but it was Noah who let out a soft, broken cry.His grip on her hand
As Freya settled back into her seat, trying to focus on the relief of Diego’s survival, Desmond’s phone suddenly buzzed, shattering the deafening silence.Desmond pulled his phone out, glanced at the screen, and furrowed his brow, making a show of standing up and stepping away.“Yeah?” he answered, his voice pitched just loud enough for them to hear. Freya and Noah exchanged uncertain glances before returning their gazes to Desmond once again.A short moment passed before Desmond nodded, his expression shifting to what Freya recognized as his version of “concern.” “What? Now? Alright, I’ll handle it.”He ended the call abruptly and slipped the phone into his pocket, turning back toward Freya and Noah. Then he gave a small, almost theatrical sigh.“I’ve got to go. Work emergency,” he said, the words almost too casual for the supposed urgency in his tone. “I’ll have to leave. Keep me posted on Diego.”His voice carried that familiar blend of arrogance and feigned importance, which trig
The waiting room was quiet except for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights and the occasional rustle of papers at the reception desk. The atmosphere was still, the kind of quiet that felt heavy and unnatural.Freya sat stiffly in one of the hard plastic chairs, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. Her eyes kept darting to the double doors of the emergency unit at the far end of the room, every nerve in her body tense. Diego’s life was behind those doors, and the uncertainty was suffocating.She felt like she was holding her breath, afraid to let it out in case it broke the fragile silence. Her emotions were spilled all over, tears welling up in her eyes. She had promised herself she wouldn't shed tears anymore and that Diego was going to survive. However, the feeling of self-pity washed over her as she reflected on all she had faced alongside her loved ones in just one day.Noah sat beside her, his small legs swinging just above the floor. His face was pale, his usual spark di
Freya dug her fingers into Noah's hair, clutching his head as their embrace grew deeper and more desperate. She crouched down, pulling him even closer to her.As Noah buried his face in her chest, Freya felt a dampness seeping through her clothes from his eyes. “Don't cry, my love. I'm here now. Mommy's here. There's no need to be scared, okay?” Freya said in a soft whisper, stroking his back gently.Noah responded with a sniffle, his chest heaving intensely as he tried to fight back his tears. Desmond, on the other hand, stood still behind Noah, his hands still in his pockets.His expression was neutral, yet his eyes revealed he was weary of their overt display of a soul bond, like they were the only mother and son in the whole world. He constantly rolled his eyes subtly, waiting patiently for Freya to finally notice him.Freya planted a final kiss on Noah's cheek before releasing him from her embrace. Gently, she cradled his face in her palms and looked directly at his face, her ey
The paramedics arrived at the scene and burst into the room only to see the unconscious man who lay in Freya's arms. As they began to prepare their first aid supplies. Freya's sobs grew louder, her body shaking with convulsive grief. She felt like she was losing the love of her life, and she couldn't bear the thought of living without him. As she held him in her arms, she felt a sense of desperation wash over her. She didn't want to accept the fact that he might be gone. She held him tighter, as if she could will him back to life.Her face was red with anguish, and her eyes puffy from crying. She couldn't bear to say goodbye. Her heart was wrenched, and her spirits dampened. Right before the paramedics took Diego away, Freya gently placed her fingers on his wrist, feeling for a pulse. At first, she couldn't detect anything, and her heart sank in despair. But then, after a while of patience, she felt a faint, weak pulse beating.Her heart leaped with a sense of relief and hope — he was
Freya sat frozen on the floor, devastated. As she stared blankly into space, still clutching her phone tightly, tears of anguish began to crawl slowly out of her eyes.Just then, a pang of reality gripped her throat and she snapped into action. That wasn't the time to mourn. She refused to believe he was dead. And if indeed he was half dead, she had to hurry up and save his life. She had to call for help.With the last shred of strength in her body, Freya pulled herself together and typed the emergency number on her phone, ready to dial.Just as she was about to call the line, Freya heard the doorbell. Her reflexes kicked in and she sprang to her feet, darting towards the door.With a strong sense of anticipation, she yanked the door open, not having any particular person in mind who would be visiting that minute.As she spotted the visitor, her heart sank in disappointment. For a fraction of a second, she had imagined the person at the door to be Diego. Alive and breathing. However,
6:16PMFreya's eyes darted frantically around her living room, her gaze lingering on the clock on the wall for what felt like the hundredth time.The evening sun had long since dipped below the horizon, yet her son and the man she loved the most weren't home yet. Diego hadn't called her back, neither was he picking her calls.She paced back and forth across the floor, her feet moving with a restless energy as her mind raced with worst-case scenarios.Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, and her breath came in as short, sharp gasps. She felt like she was losing her mind, her anxiety spiraling out of control with each passing minute. What brought about their sudden disappearance? Had something happened to them?She continued her frantic pacing, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She was one step away from involving the police. After all, all it took was to dial “911”.However, she had to be sure of the exact situation they were in first before raising an alarm. Though h
The man with the gun tightened his grip around the weapon, his index finger set at the trigger, ready to strike. “You're not going anywhere, gentleman”, he sneered at the shocked looking Diego, his voice dripping with disdain.“Welcome, Mr. Diego. We've been waiting for you”, another henchman added, his eyes glinting with a sinister intent.Suddenly, Diego's shocked expression transformed into that of determination. His brows furrowed in a silent question, and his expression hardened.With a bold voice, he asked, “Who are you? And what business do we have?”“You'll find out soon enough. Be patient”, the third hefty man intervened, his face twisted in a cold smirk.Diego rolled his eyes heavenward and snorted angrily in disgust. He ran his fingers into his hair, driving the strands backwards impatiently.“Look, I don't have time for this drama. I just want to see my son. Where is he?” Diego said in a hateful growl, his eyes blazing with growing fury.His chest heaved intensely as he f