The old man approached me. He tried to touch me, but I quickly stepped away from him.“I’m not your son.” I returned the paper to him. “Maybe you’re looking for a different Mary De Castro and not my mother,” I added before turning away from them.I quickened my pace up the stairs. I didn’t have time to deal with their trip. How could Mom have a husband if she only got married once? I just shook my head as I thought about what the old man said. We had the same first name as his son, but our last names were different.I took a deep breath before opening the door when I was outside room 100. I peeked through the window, and I saw Mom lying on the bed with many tubes attached to her body.“Miguel…”I turned to Love Rein. Her clothes were wet and her hair was messy. She walked towards me. I flinched when she suddenly hugged me and buried her face in my chest. She was crying. A doctor came to us. Love Rein noticed him immediately, so she let go of the hug.“Are you Mrs. De Castro’s son?” t
Caroline’s POVI woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. I opened my eyes and sat up. I turned off the alarm and searched for my phone inside my bag. I touched my head, it was a miracle that it didn't hurt that much. I saw ten missed calls from Dad and five missed calls from Alexander. I sat on the bed, exhausted, and started checking the countless messages from my family. From: DadI know you’re still mad at me. I want you to take a break for now. Don’t go to work today because you’re on a week-long leave. Anyway, your cousin Julia’s wedding is tomorrow, you might want to spend a week with them. Your cousins in Cebu miss you. They said you haven’t noticed them on your social media even when you’re online, so they called me yesterday.I sighed before replying “OK” to Dad. It was a good thing he thought about my well-being if they would force me to work today. I’ll just attend my cousin’s wedding instead of moping around in my condo. I’m close to my cousins on Dad’s side. I would feel
When I entered the room, I dialed Miguel's number again. I sat on the swivel chair and looked at my reflection in the large mirror."Hello?"I stood up when he answered my call. I took a deep breath before speaking."Yes, Miguel? Where are you now? I've been looking for you for a while but you're not here at the condo," I pretended to ask. I sat back down on the swivel chair."I'm at the hospital now. If you want me to do something, just tell Jay. I might not be able to come back right away. I need to watch over Mama.""Which hospital did you take her to? I'll go see you there. After all, I don't have work all week because Daddy wants me to take a leave of absence.""I'm here at the hospital where Michelle is confined. Don't come here anymore. Just rest for now," he replied coldly. It felt like he had poured a bucket of yellow water on me."Are you mad at me? Sorry about last night. I'm drunk and I don't know what -""It's okay. I'm not angry. I'll hang up if you don't need me. I'll t
I wiped my face and looked away from him. I tried to hold back my tears but they wouldn’t stop falling. He opened the door and got in. He sat in the passenger seat while his gaze was on me.“D-Do you need something?” I asked.“Am I the one you’re asking like that?” he asked in his cold voice.“I just want to apologize for whatever I did and said to you last night. That’s it.” I smiled.“Is that all?”I nodded. “Yes, Miguel.” I picked up my phone when someone suddenly called me. I quickly turned it off when I saw Mommy’s name. “Why are you here? You’re watching over your mother, right?” I asked him.“Why are you crying?” he asked.I swallowed, fumbling for an answer to him. “Why are you asking? Do you even bother me every time I cry?”“Yes, Caroline. I’m concerned about why you’re crying. I care for you. You know that.”I smirked. “You care for me? Even for Love Rein?”“What? Why did Love Rein join our conversation?”“You said you like me. That’s why you’re flirting because you like me
I held the steering wheel of the car while looking out the window. I wanted to cry again after admitting to him that I also had feelings for Miguel. I was so embarrassed. He thought I had rejected him, but now I was admitting to him face to face that I liked him."I have to go," I said to break the silence. You can get out if you want. I've said everything I wanted to say. I don't care if you laugh at me because I admitted that I liked you."“Do you mean it?" he asked.I didn't know if I should be happy with his question or be shocked. He was hard to talk to. It took him a while to understand what I was saying. I pulled his collar and pressed a kiss to his lips."Yes, Miguel," I whispered after I kissed him."Does it mean -"I kissed him again. "Stop courting me. You're my boyfriend starting today.""The real one?" he clarified.I nodded. "You don't want to?""No, no. I like it. I'm just ... speechless. I don't know how much you make me happy, Caroline." He hugged me.I couldn't help
"Stop it, Miguel!" I whispered to him while looking away.He took my hand and kissed it. I looked around in case anyone had seen us and recognized me. I breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed that there were only a few people eating and they were only looking at their food.It wasn't long before I finished eating. I just ignored his lingering stares at me. This was nothing new to me, but it felt like something new to me. Is it because we both have feelings for each other?"You seem to be thinking deeply," Miguel suddenly asked as we walked towards his Mom's room."Nothing. I'm just happy," I said. I wrapped one of my arms around his waist and leaned my head on his shoulder."Is there a problem?" Miguel asked.I stopped walking. "I might be gone for a week. My cousin's wedding. I'm going to Cebu. Daddy gave me a one-week vacation. It's a shame because I can't be with you. Your family needs you here.""When are you going to Cebu?""Tomorrow morning. Don't worry. We have body guards th
Caroline slammed the door to her room after discovering Alexander had revisited their house. Alexander invited her on a date, and her mother quickly agreed. This was against Caroline's will as she was scared of Alexander. "Open the door, Caroline. Alexander is here to visit!" Glenda, Caroline's mother, shouted as she knocked on the door. "I don't want him, Mom. Yes, he's rich, but he's an addict and a psychopath. I don't want to marry him!" Caroline shouted in frustration. Alexander Mercedez is the son of one of the wealthiest individuals in the business industry in the Philippines. He is indeed an addict and a psychopath. He has had feelings for Caroline for a long time, and he has intimidated all of Caroline's suitors. Caroline's parents and Alexander's parents found out about this, leading both families to believe that marriage between the two would be the solution to reform Alexander. "Alexander loves you, Caroline. Can't you see that? They are wealthy, and the wealthy should
Miguel's hand firmly rested on Caroline's waist as he guided her towards the elevator. Caroline tensed up as they stepped inside. Miguel's proximity and the evident tension and anticipation in his grip on her waist sparked her imagination. She felt nervous because she didn't have any neighbors there. She owned the entire floor. Caroline lifted her gaze to the front as the doors closed. She caught their reflections in the mirrored walls. She swallowed repeatedly as she saw Miguel's unfamiliar face. He looked so refined in his coat and tie. She wanted to step back and reconsider her decision. Her lips parted when she noticed him watching her intensely and darkly. It was evident in Miguel's gaze that he was losing his composure. She tried to avert her eyes, but it was as if they were magnetically drawn to his. His eyes pulled her back. "What's the matter? Are you scared?" he whispered, his voice so close to her ear. It sent a ticklish sensation down her spine, almost making her shrink
"Stop it, Miguel!" I whispered to him while looking away.He took my hand and kissed it. I looked around in case anyone had seen us and recognized me. I breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed that there were only a few people eating and they were only looking at their food.It wasn't long before I finished eating. I just ignored his lingering stares at me. This was nothing new to me, but it felt like something new to me. Is it because we both have feelings for each other?"You seem to be thinking deeply," Miguel suddenly asked as we walked towards his Mom's room."Nothing. I'm just happy," I said. I wrapped one of my arms around his waist and leaned my head on his shoulder."Is there a problem?" Miguel asked.I stopped walking. "I might be gone for a week. My cousin's wedding. I'm going to Cebu. Daddy gave me a one-week vacation. It's a shame because I can't be with you. Your family needs you here.""When are you going to Cebu?""Tomorrow morning. Don't worry. We have body guards th
I held the steering wheel of the car while looking out the window. I wanted to cry again after admitting to him that I also had feelings for Miguel. I was so embarrassed. He thought I had rejected him, but now I was admitting to him face to face that I liked him."I have to go," I said to break the silence. You can get out if you want. I've said everything I wanted to say. I don't care if you laugh at me because I admitted that I liked you."“Do you mean it?" he asked.I didn't know if I should be happy with his question or be shocked. He was hard to talk to. It took him a while to understand what I was saying. I pulled his collar and pressed a kiss to his lips."Yes, Miguel," I whispered after I kissed him."Does it mean -"I kissed him again. "Stop courting me. You're my boyfriend starting today.""The real one?" he clarified.I nodded. "You don't want to?""No, no. I like it. I'm just ... speechless. I don't know how much you make me happy, Caroline." He hugged me.I couldn't help
I wiped my face and looked away from him. I tried to hold back my tears but they wouldn’t stop falling. He opened the door and got in. He sat in the passenger seat while his gaze was on me.“D-Do you need something?” I asked.“Am I the one you’re asking like that?” he asked in his cold voice.“I just want to apologize for whatever I did and said to you last night. That’s it.” I smiled.“Is that all?”I nodded. “Yes, Miguel.” I picked up my phone when someone suddenly called me. I quickly turned it off when I saw Mommy’s name. “Why are you here? You’re watching over your mother, right?” I asked him.“Why are you crying?” he asked.I swallowed, fumbling for an answer to him. “Why are you asking? Do you even bother me every time I cry?”“Yes, Caroline. I’m concerned about why you’re crying. I care for you. You know that.”I smirked. “You care for me? Even for Love Rein?”“What? Why did Love Rein join our conversation?”“You said you like me. That’s why you’re flirting because you like me
When I entered the room, I dialed Miguel's number again. I sat on the swivel chair and looked at my reflection in the large mirror."Hello?"I stood up when he answered my call. I took a deep breath before speaking."Yes, Miguel? Where are you now? I've been looking for you for a while but you're not here at the condo," I pretended to ask. I sat back down on the swivel chair."I'm at the hospital now. If you want me to do something, just tell Jay. I might not be able to come back right away. I need to watch over Mama.""Which hospital did you take her to? I'll go see you there. After all, I don't have work all week because Daddy wants me to take a leave of absence.""I'm here at the hospital where Michelle is confined. Don't come here anymore. Just rest for now," he replied coldly. It felt like he had poured a bucket of yellow water on me."Are you mad at me? Sorry about last night. I'm drunk and I don't know what -""It's okay. I'm not angry. I'll hang up if you don't need me. I'll t
Caroline’s POVI woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. I opened my eyes and sat up. I turned off the alarm and searched for my phone inside my bag. I touched my head, it was a miracle that it didn't hurt that much. I saw ten missed calls from Dad and five missed calls from Alexander. I sat on the bed, exhausted, and started checking the countless messages from my family. From: DadI know you’re still mad at me. I want you to take a break for now. Don’t go to work today because you’re on a week-long leave. Anyway, your cousin Julia’s wedding is tomorrow, you might want to spend a week with them. Your cousins in Cebu miss you. They said you haven’t noticed them on your social media even when you’re online, so they called me yesterday.I sighed before replying “OK” to Dad. It was a good thing he thought about my well-being if they would force me to work today. I’ll just attend my cousin’s wedding instead of moping around in my condo. I’m close to my cousins on Dad’s side. I would feel
The old man approached me. He tried to touch me, but I quickly stepped away from him.“I’m not your son.” I returned the paper to him. “Maybe you’re looking for a different Mary De Castro and not my mother,” I added before turning away from them.I quickened my pace up the stairs. I didn’t have time to deal with their trip. How could Mom have a husband if she only got married once? I just shook my head as I thought about what the old man said. We had the same first name as his son, but our last names were different.I took a deep breath before opening the door when I was outside room 100. I peeked through the window, and I saw Mom lying on the bed with many tubes attached to her body.“Miguel…”I turned to Love Rein. Her clothes were wet and her hair was messy. She walked towards me. I flinched when she suddenly hugged me and buried her face in my chest. She was crying. A doctor came to us. Love Rein noticed him immediately, so she let go of the hug.“Are you Mrs. De Castro’s son?” t
I smiled bitterly, though I wasn’t sure if I could accept her decision. I wish I hadn’t woken her up if this was what she was going to say. If what she said was true, this would be the second time I've failed in love. Maybe love isn’t for me. I confessed my feelings for her because I didn’t want a repeat of what happened before. But what happened now? She rejected me.“I’ll sleep now. Thank you for taking care of me,” she said coldly and lay back down on her bed.“Good night,” I whispered before taking the bowl. “From now on, I’ll distance myself away from you.”I closed my eyes when my gaze fell on the flower. I took it and brought it outside. I let out a heavy sigh when I saw a garbage can.“She doesn’t like me. I’ll always be her personal bodyguard,” I mumbled before throwing away the flower.I went to the other room. I immediately lay down and closed my eyes. I only now felt sleepy and tired. I took my phone and typed a message to Sir Samson. I’ll send some helpers here. I placed
It was already early morning, but I was still in the kitchen, cooking soup for her. Instead of buying ready-to-eat food at a restaurant, I chose to cook for her. When I was done cooking, I left the sink. I took a bowl and placed the pork sinigang I cooked in it.When I went back inside her room, she was still asleep. I carefully placed the food tray on her study table. I took the blanket that covered her face before waking her up."Caroline, eat something while the soup is still hot."She slowly opened her eyes while one hand was on her head. She stared at me for a moment and closed her eyes again."I want to eat ice cream," she murmured, even with her eyes still closed like earlier when we were on our way home."You can eat ice cream later. Eat something first so your stomach won't be empty." I woke her up again.She looked at me sleepily. "You'll buy me an ice cream?" she asked like a child."I bought you ice cream earlier."I flinched when she suddenly sat up. One hand was on her h
MIGUEL'S POV "You're just her bodyguard," the guy flirting with Caroline laughed. He tried to touch Caroline's arm, but I quickly grabbed his hand."Don't touch her if you don't want to meet St. Peter," I threatened. I pulled Caroline away from him.Nico smirked. I’d wanted to punch him since I saw them kissing. I felt betrayed. I knew Caroline wasn’t mine. I confessed my feelings, but that didn’t mean she liked me too.“I can take her to my condo. Caroline and I talked earlier. She wants to go with me,” he said proudly.My blood boiled with anger even more. I had to control myself because my friend owned this bar. I didn’t want to cause a scene.“I’ll take her home. She doesn’t need to go with you. She’s drunk, she doesn’t know what she’s doing and saying.”I gasped when Caroline hugged me. She was smiling while touching my stomach. I waved to Tommy when I caught his eye. He owned this bar.“Is there a problem, Miggy?” he asked, looking at Nico. “Is this your boss’s son? Seems like