CLAIRE"Have you made a decision?"I turned my gaze to Heiji, who was standing still behind the chair I was sitting in. I couldn't find peace, so I decided to stay in the green refuge of my yard and let my thoughts wander. I feel very guilty about what I did to Ryker, which weighs heavily on my mind. At this very moment, I feel like my heart is being broken into pieces that can't be put back together. For some reason, though, I don't want to lock Ryker into a relationship I know will never work out. Furthermore, I have to free him from being tied to me because he is about to take on the grave responsibility of being a father. I worry that the child will grow up without the father's supervision owing to my selfishness.Heiji set the beer bottle on the table's shiny surface in a smooth movement. The golden color of the glass sparkled in the soft light. He moved quickly and sat on the empty chair across from mine, putting himself in my sight."That," he says softly, "will help you sleep.
CLAIRE"Claire..."While lying on the bed, I felt warm and cozy from the blanket. I gently pulled my legs together and cradled them in a private show of comfort. Tears ran down my face as I did this, showing how distraught I was. It's like forgetting has snagged my mind and thrown me into a sea of broken memories. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something so unexpected would happen. In my heart, I always wanted Ryker's touch. The things that occurred tore apart the very fabric of my life, leaving my world in a mess. The sad truth is that I can't remember anything except the painful memory of an aching pain that plagued my mind the night before while Heiji and I were talking. He reached out to help me and led me up the stairs with a gentle hand. Anything after that time is lost in my memory, and I have no more thoughts. I feel uneasy in the depths of my being like the very fabric of my mind is becoming less stable. The lines between what makes sense are fuzzy, leaving me lo
RYKER"She's taking too long."By strangely tilting my head, I looked through the glass window and into the cozy little shop. There is no way for me to tell how much time has passed in that room. Minutes have passed since she walked in, but the time seems to have gone on forever. I saw her figure, firm and immovable, standing in front of the cold room that held a variety of cooling drinks."What does she want to buy?"I was lost in thought when the sharp sound of my phone ringing woke me up. Quickly, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, eager to find out who was bothering me. Before my eyes, the letters that make up the name "Alice" appeared on the bright screen of my phone. My hand shot forward and quickly and decisively took the call."Have you met?" Alice's voice echoed through the phone line quickly, and her question reached my ears with a sense of urgency. "She doesn't pick up when I call. I worry about what happened to her.""I'm with her; don't worry. We are on our way somewhere
RYKER"Would you like some beer?" As the words escaped my lips, a subtle undertone of uncertainty accompanied them. "Are you sure about that?"Once we had finished our meal of instant ramen, Claire and I made the decision to remain in the comfort of the living room. As I stood in the kitchen, conversing with Claire's mother over the phone, Claire remained seated nearby, her presence filling the room. With a sense of urgency, I promptly relayed the events, making sure to alleviate their concerns and provide a clear explanation of my actions. The length of our stay in this place remains uncertain, hinging on the swiftness Claire can find in her heart to forgive me. At this moment, I have a strong desire to converse with her. I intend to provide a comprehensive explanation and delve deeper into the various facets of the situation.With cautious steps, I inched closer to Claire, my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of fear and intrigue coursing through my veins. In a composed manner,
RYKERWith a slight curl of her lips, Claire gave off an air of knowing that was mysterious and interesting. I was caught off guard when she gently touched both of my faces. The kindness of her actions made me feel good. She stroked the curves of her face with great accuracy, using a light touch to apply a slight force. I was filled with awe as I felt her warm skin on mine."You've been in love with me that long?" Claire asked. "Gosh, that was five years ago, and I didn't even notice it.""Indeed," I said in a low voice that was hard to hear over the wind's whispers. "Perhaps I must exercise self-control; you never notice it, but I hope you can feel it."Claire's smile suddenly faded, and tears started to fall down her face. She slowly pulled her hand away from the soft touch on my cheek. She touched the thing lightly, running her palm along its surface. I carefully took Claire's tiny hand in mine."If my feelings for you are not sincere, I won't wait five years to restrain myself. An
RYKER"I am a failure."I sighed in contentment as I set the empty amber liquid container on the table. Its contents were once bubbly and flavorful, but my use has drained them. After finishing my drink, I enjoyed the aftertaste. I sat on the sofa's velvety back and took a deep breath. I cupped my head in my hands and gently kneaded the knots of stress that had formed inside. Twelve bottles of beer were almost completely gone. I, too, am in a daze, and I, too, give in to the dizzying feelings that assault my senses. I let out a faint sigh as I released the air from my lungs. As I closed my eyes, I found comfort in the darkness and welcomed the little reprieve it provided.Unfortunately, once Claire left, she never came back. Taking stock of the situation, I hoped that a thorough explanation of what was going on would help bring everything back into balance. Unfortunately, I have no idea what caused her sudden disinterest in me.'But, Ryker, I'm no longer worthy of you.'It was always
RYKER"Love...."As I approached the wall, I noticed Claire still seated in the exact spot where I had left her. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with a rush of air. With a determined stride, I closed the distance between us and settled myself in the seat beside her. I positioned myself at a distance, ensuring I would not startle her."If you're worried that I'm mad at you, don't worry; I don't feel anything like that." With a quick flick of my eyes, I glanced at her. "My feelings for you will not change.""But I'm not clean anymore." Claire's voice barely escaped her lips as a whisper."How can you be sure about that? You mentioned that you don't remember anything unless you had some feeling when you woke up."With a swift movement, Claire shifted her gaze toward me. "What do I feel?"With a calm nod, I replied, "Yeah." My eyes briefly flickered toward Claire. "Hey, do you remember every time we had s-x? After, how do you feel?" Claire sat in silence, her mind consumed with thought
RYKER“Mmm, that smells good! It makes me hungry.”While I was slowly waking up, a delicious smell filled the air, calling me to attention. A delicious mix of tastes filled the air, awakening my senses and making me hungry. I had a hard time getting my heavy eyes open as the morning sun slowly came through the blinds. There were still traces of sleep on my body, which made it hard to fully awaken. When I moved, my eyes flew open, and I realized I wasn’t asleep in my bed. As I looked down at the soft blanket that was covering me, every part of my body hurt.“That’s why I didn’t end up catching a cold,” I spoke softly into the still air with a sly grin.As I got up from sitting, a strong sense of determination ran through me. I reached out and carefully began to fold the blanket that was lying in front of me right away. As my gaze moved to the spot where I had last seen Claire, I was stunned that she had disappeared without a sign.“Shit!” came out of my mouth in a sudden fit of worry a
CLAIREAs the excitement for our second wedding grew, a question remained in the air. Russell asked, “Are you still feeling nervous about the honeymoon?” He wanted to know if there were any worries left.Russell and I were sitting next to each other, and our eyes were locked for a moment. A tiny baby was in her arms, and she was holding it perfectly. Ryker and Daniel were busy with other young investors and businessmen in the distance. My husband Ryker and I’s wedding reception is over. There weren’t many people there. Professor Alice and her husband, Alex, were there, along with Daniel’s friends and past coworkers. After what happened to Russell, which Ryan caused, these people had become like family.There’s been a secret growing inside me for four months now. My condition’s symptoms have failed to appear despite time. Russell’s body is now back to how it was before. A feeling of envy came over me as I looked at her. Her beautiful curves and toned muscles on her body made her look st
WARNING: MATURE CONTENTRYKER"Ugh! F-ck!" I cautiously inserted my finger and felt her essence wrap around it, warm and moist.Claire's groan of frustration echoed off the walls as I stubbornly continued to trace circles over her breast and pull her n-pple softly into my lips. She started swaying her hips in time to the rhythm of my touch as I stretched my finger towards her."Love!" I exclaimed, "You're making me so horny!" I stopped the tender stroking of her n-pples as I carefully removed my finger from her. I kneeled at the foot of the bed and helped her legs rest there. Instantly, I opened the space between her legs and explored her slickness with all my enthusiasm."Aaaah, Ryker!" Claire's back arched.I pressed my lips against her wetness and kissed her labia. As Claire's hips raised, my hands immediately sought to cradle them. Her hips floated effortlessly in the air as I continued devouring her. With a burning yearning, I started to enjoy her with the intimate contact of my
WARNING: MATURE CONTENTRYKER"I love you, love!"Claire's forehead felt the soft pressure of my lips as they traced a path of tenderness down to her nose. Then, as if pulled by some unseen magnet, our lips locked in a passionate, beautiful kiss. After a passionate exchange, our bodies heaved with tiredness, and our breath was ragged and laborious as we lay entwined. My finger lightly stroked her face in a sweet, sensitive gesture.I softly whispered, "Hey, love, how about we get married again?" My voice was unsure. "While still your baby bump is hidden."Claire screamed, "What?" with genuine amazement in her voice. The words floated in the air, an inquiry loaded with doubt. "But wait, aren't we already married?"When I finally got off of her, I curled up next to her with my arms around her and kissed her. She laid her head on my chest, and I let her take in the sound of my heart beating."But you still use your birth name, right?" I murmured, a note of exasperation in my voice. I tri
RYKER"Dude, it's too late!"Both Russell and Daniel were making noises that we could hear in the background. Suddenly, Claire looked at me again."Love, it looks like Russell is in labor; he won't make it to the hospital. Make an appointment with the doctor right away!" Claire's voice filled the room."What? Is Russell having a baby?" I was shocked. "Wait, it's my phone." I was just quickly searching through my car, my eyes darting around from one spot to another. I freaked out when I couldn't find my phone. "Hey, do you know where my phone is?" I asked, with a blank expression on my face, as the words just slipped out."We're using it, Ryker," Claire said.Suddenly, Russell yelled, "Hey Daniel, the baby is on its way! Get ready to catch him!" You need to be ready to catch him!" Russell, clearly upset, yelled loudly in the background."F-ck!" The voice that could be heard all over the room belonged to Daniel.After a while, Claire and I got scared when we heard the sound of a baby cr
RYKER“Are you sure about that?” I casually asked Claire, acting like I already knew the answer. You don’t like pineapple, right?”As we were strolling through the grocery store, it was pretty obvious that we had picked up almost every type of fruit they had for sale. Fruit is becoming Claire’s favorite food!“Smooth-textured dragon fruit?” I raised an eyebrow in shock and said, “Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow as I asked the question.Clare nodded. “Yeah,” she said, “I prefer yellow-skinned dragon fruit.”I kept looking at Claire and studying her carefully. Where can I find dragon fruit with that yellow and smooth texture?Intrigued, Claire said, “Why do you appear to have such a peculiar appearance? Are you not going to find me a dragon fruit?” Claire’s expression furrowed as she spoke. She pouted her lips to show her displeasure. Midway through our chat, Claire voiced her dissatisfaction, her tone laced with pain. She said gently, “You promised to give me everything, my love,” her
RYKERMom’s voice trembled as she spoke, “It’s fine, I understand.” My mother-in-law spoke, her voice echoing through the room.Food was brought by Claire’s parents. Uncertain of Claire’s preferences, I find myself unable to determine whether she will enjoy the dish.“Wasn’t Claire affected by Heiji’s drug? No one knows that she’s pregnant.” Dad’s voice echoed through the room.“There is nothing, the doctor stated. However, the doctor suggests we let Claire’s blood and everything else be tested so we can be sure. Even so, Dad, I want to be certain.”“I want to sue Heiji for his actions,” Dad said. “I won’t let him just walk away, even if it’s claimed that he didn’t touch Claire that evening, but your mother.” A hint of irritation tinged Dad’s voice as he cast a glance at Mom’s direction. “Just accept it as is. She seems not to care about my daughter at all.”“My daughter Claire is also mine. It doesn’t mean I no longer care, even if I disagree with your desire to sue Heiji. I consider
RYKER“Are we back home?” Her eyes darted around, taking in her immediate surroundings while the question lingered in the air. A feeling of uneasiness pervaded the air as if she were waiting for confirmation.Claire’s eyes shifted to mine as I cautiously undid her seatbelt. “Yeah,” I said with a simple nod. “How was you sleeping?”We decided to go back to the familiar surroundings of Manila after a few more days in the picturesque town of Sagada. I was tired and weary after the long drive. My limbs, too, were weighed down by throbbing pain. To be sure Claire was okay, I drove very slowly and steadily.There was a palpable feeling of hurry when the safety belt was undone. Quickly, I extended a hand to help her out of the car. I took her hand in mine, my voice full of worry as I pleaded, “Please, my love, be careful.”At Claire’s teasing chuckle, I couldn’t help but look in her direction. She reassured me that there was no need for me to offer my help and that she was well on her own.M
RYKER“But... she’s bleeding. Wasn’t she having a miscarriage?” I asked in worry.The doctor informed the patient that bleeding during pregnancy is normal, especially for a few weeks into the pregnancy. The bleeding was not serious, and the faint spotting and occasional bleeding were harmless until the bleeding became excessive. There's no need to panic. That means...“The baby is safe.”I exclaimed, “Shit!” out of excitement. My voice rang out. With a quick movement, I looked at the doctor instead. I said, “Sorry,” and then my eyes returned to Claire. My voice was barely audible, so I wasn’t sure whether she heard me apologize. I proclaimed, “I am going to be a daddy!” with a massive smile. As I look at Claire, an overwhelming sense of happiness floods me.“Your wife mentioned that you reside in Manila. Therefore, I suggest you return to Manila first, even if your wife’s health is fine.” The doctor stated, “I noticed that the wife is a little weak and, if I’m not mistaken, that she h
RYKER“Love!”When I stopped the car in front of the house, I felt a burning need to escape it. I ran faster as I made my way to the front door. My attention was focused entirely on Claire. I didn’t even look at Manang Greta once. Instantly, the door opened, and I quickly looked around the room for Claire.“Miss Claire is in your room.”I quickly went up the stairs because I was eager to get to our room as soon as possible and didn’t wait for Danica to answer. As the door opened, I yelled throughout the room for Claire.“Love!”Regrettably, I found out that she wasn’t in the room. Although I was walking down the hallway, a strange sound caught my attention. It seemed to be coming from the bathroom’s direction. Because I was interested, I turned toward the noise source, and as I walked, my steps became more thoughtful. I felt like I needed to act quickly, so I didn’t knock any further and promptly turned the doorknob, which let me see what was in the bathroom.“Love!”“Oh my god, what