I LOOKED at my sister. She was not looking at me.Her brother is capable of taking care of himself, as she herself has observed. I should have realized that right away. I didn't say anything until we were finally on our way to my new school."I was wondering what school you graduated from. Why are we only seeing you now? Why only this year did you enroll? Why have you only appeared in my life today?"These boys who were circling around me and interviewing me were my classmates on my HUMSS course, especially the last one who joked on me. Though I was feeling increasingly awkward and had no idea which of them to address first, I managed a hearty smile anyhow.I whirled around to look out the window and noticed that a few of the boys in the other classes (STEM and ABM) were eager to hop on the bandwagon as well. When I peeked through the open door, I noticed more fresh faces smiling at me, albeit I didn't know any of them."Miss, are you a transferee here? Can I introduce myself to you?"
I was still trying to recognize the familiar face of the guy but he already seemed to have read my mind and he answered my unsaid question."I am Vandyke. Remember? I am one of your stepbrothers' friends who had been with you just this last summer on vacation at their beach in Gensan."And it was because of what he said that I remembered him. I had actually met him before, on the beach while on summer break, which explained why he looked so familiar.I smiled with friendliness and nodded. "I can remember you now.""What are you doing here, anyway? You're a Grade 12 student, right?"I nodded."You're looking for your stepbrother Zack?"I immediately shook my head because my heart drove abnormally at the name he just mentioned."No. I am not looking for him.""Okay. So, what are you doing here on the college building?""I was with my classmates awhile ago but I suddenly got lost and I don't know where to find them now.""Is that so? Let me send you back then to your classroom. Will that
"There's a hot college man hanging around our building! A very attractive man!"The girls in the corridor, especially those who were my classmates and friends, were going crazy. They were yelling and banging on doors and windows in an effort to catch a peek of a good-looking college student."Oh yeah! He's really handsome! Oh my heart!”"I wanna know his name!""From which department in college he comes from and what year is he now? Ahhh!"The students in the neighboring classrooms were absolutely going crazy attempting to get a good look at that one student.Just shrugging my shoulders, I went on with filling out the assignments provided to us by our teacher. The latter claims that she has urgent business at hand, which is why she handed out worksheets instead of speaking to us.In my opinion, there are more pressing matters to attend to than to follow the herd in swooning over a hot college guy."Oh my gosh! He's coming nearby! I'm doomed!""Oh my! Am I beautiful now?" Super conscio
I DIDN'T expect to see him here today! The pressure on my heart is raising again due to his sudden unexpected appearance but it was immediately felt like stabbed when I saw he wasn't alone ay all, he was with another unfamiliar girl and he was learning resting his arm on the girl's shoulders."Who are you to talk to her that way, huh?!" one of my guy classmates immediately spoke up with bravery to protect me.Zack's eyes darted on the latter and then he chuckled in an insulting tone. "And who do you think you are to call me out, huh young boy? Aren't you ashamed of yourself for passing your assignment to your classmate that supposedly it's your own responsibility to do such!"My classmate couldn't seem to know what to say next and as what Zack wanted, he looked insulted now."Zack…" I gently called the name of my stepbrother.I don't wanna create a scene here, please now right now!"You seem so full of yourself! Who the heck are you!" Luke spoke too."I'm a man from her home."My clas
"ZACK! Ahhh! Don't! Hahahaha! It's tickling me, Zack, don't! Hahahaha!"I woke up from a nap one evening because of the screams and laughters I have heard. I brushed my eyes and looked at the assignment I was doing awhile ago. I wasn't aware that while writing my assignment here on the terrace I was totally taken by sleepiness.Tired and sleepy, I watched the carefree Zack and Anya who seem to be enjoying playing like children and running everywhere in the house. Anya was laughing her heart out while Zack was tickling her all over her waist and belly. It's been a month now since Zack introduced her to our parents.I tried to focus on continuing my assignment but I would always end up being distracted by their noises that I just couldn't think of what to write next especially it's an essay piece.I just shook my head and then started to fix my things. Guess, it's better to go back to my room and continue this so that I can focus more without too much distractions."Hey, Ryn! You're the
I didn't really take Rhian's opinions to bones 'cause I believe that everytime I see Zack and Anya together I can see it that the two sincerely care for each other, especially Zack to Anya. It even seems that he, actually, treats her like his princess."You're not feeling well?" One afternoon, I was walking in the wide campus and it was already too late for me to walk away to another direction 'cause I knew they already saw me coming. And then, I don't wanna give them conclusions too that I am avoiding them.Zack seems to worry a lot for Anya."Migraine, Zack. Whenever I have my period, if it's not dysmenorrhea, it's migraine that's attacking me so bad."I could somehow relate to that thing. A woman's monthly struggle.Zack gently guided her to lean to his broad chest as he softly massaged her shoulder.Though, she's not feeling well, she was still able to notice me."Ryn! Hi!" she tried her very best to still greet me nicely though her head is not really on a good state right now.I
I panicked and then I shook my head. I didn't do anything!"Nothing, Zack.""Zack, it's not Irryn's fault why I feel in the floor. It was because of my clumsiness and my high heels. In fact, Irryn helped me stood up and guided me to sit here to relax my feet from getting pained." Anya immediately spoke for me.Zack was still doubtful though it already came from Anya that I didn't do anything. His eyes are still darting on me the sharpest way it could murder me any moment from now.I bowed my head and restrained my tears. I didn't do anything! Why do I feel like he's unreasonably blaming me for hurting his love just because he saw her in the act of getting hurt while we were together! It seems like he's accusing me of doing something bad!"Zack, don't get angry with Irryn and don't blame her, okay? She did not do anything bad to me and it was not her fault that I fell on the floor," Anya continued. "Now, please assist me 'til my feet won't hurt anymore."Zack listened to her and he nod
My whole body was shaking in fear and my tears turned cold flowing like a river in my cheeks. He remained still for the moment and he was just staring at me. I just cried more when I felt his gentle caress to wipe away my tears. I was still afraid but deep inside I was praying thankfully that finally he stopped and came back to his senses!"What did I do?! Shit! I was out of my mind! Damn it! I am a big asshole! I shouldn't have done that!" he smoothly cussed himself.I don't exactly get his point this time. If it's for what he had done on hurting Anya's feelings or if it's for me for almost raping me in this place!Without a word, I let my face fall on his chest and I cried in both sadness and happiness 'cause for the first time he hugged me! I cried in his broad hard-rock chest. If this is only a dream, I wouldn't like to wake up anymore. I never knew it felt really good being locked up on his arms with warmth."I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have hurt you especi
Now, both Zack and I have realized that trust is one of the most important core parts of a harmonic relationship. At least as of this time, we knew where we were lacking, and we are starting to correct our flaws from the past... "I'm sorry too, Zack, if I lost the trust in you the moment you left and I was hurt." "I understand. Always have been, Ryn." He nodded. "At least you had a reason, and it was valid. But mine? My jealousy let me suppress my whole mind, which led me to hurt you, and I was truly regretful of what I did. Little by little, I'll work hard to gain your full trust in me as how you trusted me when we used to be happy together during our school days, Ryn. I'll gain it back. I will wait for the day that you will trust me completely once more. I am never going to be leaving you or hurt you again. I'll work hard to earn back your trust." I nodded. "I love you so much, I won't deny you that thing, Zack. Everybody deserves another chance, and you deserve it. We don't need
Zack nodded gently and spoke, "It's okay. Answer it, Ryn." He reassured me it was okay. I answered the caller. "Dencel..." I said while glancing at Zack. He just stared and listened intently. "Hello, Ryn?" The caller spoke from the other line, too. I turned the loudspeaker on for Zack to hear whatever the conversation will be. "Why did you call?" I could feel my knees as weak as jelly as I was looking at my husband’s eyes. "Uhm, I just thought of your specialty coffee. Can you make one for me once I visit your cafe-resto maybe within this week?" he asked in his friendliest voice. Oh that! My promise to him. I suddenly frowned. "Uhm. Okay, Dens-" "Great!" He sighed with delight and in excitement. "So, when do you think is the best day to visit your cafe-resto? Tomorrow, maybe? Will you be there?" "I guess not, Dens. I will not be in Latte and Meal tomorrow." "Oh? Why? Where are you now?" I was about to answer when Zack suddenly held out his hand in front of me, an indicatio
I nodded, sincerely willing to grant him complete forgiveness.Things from the past wouldn't matter anymore because my love for him is just as powerful as it forgives no matter what mistake he’d made."I love you, Ryn. Back then and always will. I really do love you."I burst into tears, feeling loved and cherished and delighted."Do you love me, too?" He asked me full of hope."I love you so much, despite the fact that you've been a bad love to me in the past." In the midst of our sobbing, I made a light-hearted joke. "As much as time has passed, my feelings for you have not lessened in the least. This affection I have for you has not faded despite all the suffering we've been through together."We were in the middle of happiness when my phone suddenly rang in the pocket of my shorts. I picked it up and saw mom calling."It’s Mom," I said as I dearly glanced at Zack.He nodded, giving me a go signal to answer the call."Mom?""Irryn, where are you now? Zack is waiting for you! For th
(Irryn's POV) I quickly got out of the house and traveled to General Santos. Yes, I was heading toward Zack. I already knew the answer to my questions. No. Anger is not enough and should not be an excuse to let the loved one go, and in my case, yes, I am angry with him. I was angry, but still, I could not afford to lose him. I will never be able to lose him again! I was crying while driving, and there was no one else in mind but him. I want to see him. I love to see and hug him again. I miss him a lot! "Brother Ryle!" It took me an hour of drive, and I finally arrived in General Santos. I went straight to Lamont Resort, and right at the entrance, I saw Ryle with his wife and their baby. They turned to me, and they were surprised, especially my sister-in-law. "Ryn? Ryn!" He first gave the baby he was holding in his arm to his wife, and then he approached me. We hugged each other—a siblinghood hug. "Ryn, how are you?" he asked excitedly. "I've missed you!" "Me too, brother. I'
"What can I do? Irryn couldn't accept me anymore. She couldn't seem to forgive me any longer. No matter how sorry I am and no matter what I do to beg and plead for her forgiveness, it looks like she could no longer forgive me." "Just a piece of advice. Bro, naturally, part of love is hurting, right? I believe you also believe in that. That happens most of the time for most relationships, but don't get me wrong because I'm not using that as an excuse to hurt the person you love intentionally. What I intended to make you understand is that when you hurt the woman who means the world to you, leaving her behind will never be a solution. Leaving will not simply solve anything. Yes, you might have hurt her, but leaving her again after many years you left her because you committed another mistake? Bro, grow up! Leaving her for the second time will not make her forgive you!" I was struck big time by what Vandyke said. D*mn him for hitting the point and for lecturing me about things I should
"What? Your problem is Dencel and probably not me!" Vandyke defended himself. Gradually, I get to be close to Irryn again and I was able to make her heart beat for me as it did when we were younger. I know and I am positive that I have regained her love for me which she denied on the first days of our encounter after seven long years of being away from each other. I made everything to make her smile, laugh, and genuinely be happy again. At least, I had to cope with her the times and the years she was yearning in loneliness when I needed to live on my own. I saw love in her eyes once more, especially when we married and we get to live under the same roof. Now, I couldn’t help but hate myself for what I did to her. I let my aggressive emotions take me—my jealousy and insecurities, and my over-possessiveness towards her. Those things made me lose her once more, and there’s no guarantee that she can still forgive me for all the things that I’ve done. No matter how much I try to please
I stayed in Davao to end my contract as a lowkey contract Engineer with the company I worked for. I had just finished the contract when aunt Fidelia called me, crying that she told me about daddy's real health condition, so I was sent home completely in no time. I found out that dad actually had a heart illness, and he needed an operation right away, according to our physician. But the stubbornness of Alanson Lamont did not want to undergo the operation. He said he didn't want to because he was old, but I knew the truth that he was just afraid of the operation and its process and the possible outcome. “What if it would fail? What if it wouldn’t turn out to be successful? What if I still get sick? There's no use for operation!" Dad's words were always his litany as excuses not to go through a heart operation which was required for him to undergo to prolong his life. "Dad! You won't get anywhere better if that's how you constantly think if that's how you always act immaturely and if t
"Dad ..." When we finally ran into one another once more after so long, I almost couldn't believe it. "Zack son!" Daddy was emotional when he grabbed me with a hug. "Dad!" I couldn't contain my tears when I hugged him, too. "Dad, I'm sorry!" "I'm sorry too, son. I'm sorry." When the emotional reconnection was through, I brought him to my rented house. "How did you know I'm living here in Davao, dad?" "I had investigators on hand. Even throughout your first year in Davao, I kept an eye on you. I apologize if I did something like that behind your back but I simply worry a lot. Despite the distance between us, as your father, I felt it was my responsibility to check in on your well-being and make sure you were holding strong." I was surprised. "You had me watched and followed all this time?" He nodded gently. "As I said, I had to make sure you were living fine. When you graduated, I wanted to go to you. When you first got a job as an Engineer, I really wanted to go but I wasn't co
I just came back to my senses that hurting Irryn was not actually an enjoyable thing especially when I tried to assault her in the restroom. That day Anya caught me kissing another woman and I blamed Irryn for it. The truth was, I was not really hurt by the thought that Anya dumped me, I guessed it was my ego that has been hurt. I was also planning to admit to Anya the truth then, that I really don't like her and she is more deserving of others who will really love her wholeheartedly because I can't do that to her for I am always aware that I love someone else… From that moment, I finally let Irryn enter my heart completely, I know in myself that I have also admitted the long-held fact that I really like her. That I love her, romantically. I couldn’t accept her being a sister to me because I wanted more than that. I don't want to be her brother because I want more than sibling attachment to her. No matter how much we deny ourselves, hiding our feelings even when we finally get along