“REALLY? You won't force me to go to school today?” Caren asked me in disbelief.
“Nah. Let’s just watch movies or something," I replied, shrugging. "Whatever you like to do today.”
It was already Monday. The weekend passed like a blur. It's been two days since the party happened—since Caren broke up with that asshole Jake.
Ever since Caren went home from Lenos' house, I noticed the changes in how Caren treats me. She was less bitchy to me now. She was also kinder to Aunt Feling.
I remembered how she sought comfort from the old woman when we went home yesterday morning.
"Turn left after the next street, Sir." Caren instructed Lenos.
“LOOK. This would look good on you!”I picked up a black dress in a rack of clothes and showed it to Caren.She immediately snatched the dress away from me and put it back on the rack where I got it."Stop doing that. What if someone sees you?" she whispered to me.She carefully looked around the store. I just noticed there's a saleslady coming our way.We were here at the department store of a mall. I was supposed to bring her here after leaving the house, but I was shocked when Caren asked me to visit the hospital where my body is. Instead of going straight to the mall, we went first to the hospital."This is you?"
"SEE? It looks good on you."I was smiling widely at Caren while looking at her face. Her new hairstyle looked good on her.After we went shopping, I urged her to get a new haircut. I suggested Bob style. I knew that haircut would suit her small face and I was right. "You look beautiful."She pursed her lips. "I knew that already."After we left the hair salon, we walked around the mall. I glanced at the paper bag she was carrying. Half of the things that she bought were for Aunt Feling. She really cared a lot for that old lady.I don’t know how we ended up here at the seaside. I looked around. The place was crowded with people. There are also different food stalls everywhere I look.
"TSK, that nerd is really weak."I heard Caren comment as we walked down the hallway. My gaze automatically went to her classmate Marcus who fell on his knees after another student bumped into him. The eyeglasses he was wearing fell on the floor.I looked at Caren. “I thought you'll try to be kinder now?" I asked, reminding Caren of what she told me yesterday.“I just can’t help but hate him. He's so weak. That's why he always gets bullied."She rolled her eyes and went to him. Caren picked up Marcus' eyeglasses on the floor, then handed them to him.I even saw her offer her hand to the poor boy. “Get up," Caren said. "What? Are you just going to stare at my hand?" Caren asked him, her eyeb
"I COULDN'T believe they're still celebrating that founding anniversary."I snorted as I stared at the huge banner displayed at the entrance gate of St. Claire in celebration of the 100th founding anniversary of the university.As soon as we entered the campus, we were greeted by a marching band playing the university hymn.Everywhere I looked, I got to see different kiosks and stalls selling foods, drinks and other stuff. The campus suddenly turned into a marketplace. There were also various booths organized by different student organizations."And here we go with the never ending booths. So corny." I said in disgust.Caren looked at me. “Why do you sound so bitter?" She gave me an intrigu
"COME on, I'll double my payment. Just let me out."I witnessed how Caren was bargaining with the student guards when I finally caught up with her. She was locked inside the jail booth. "I seriously need to get out." She glanced at her watch. "I have a project I need to pass at three pm.""Just try to call one of your friends or classmates," I suggested to her. I looked around to search for a familiar face of her classmates. "Maybe you know someone from there." I pointed at the group of students hanging around a food kiosk near us.She frowned. "I don't know them.""Call one of your classmates or someone.""I left my phone at home.""Wow. That's new." I replied in disbelief.
“WHY would I even think of pushing the doorbell when I can easily go inside. I’ll just waste my energy,” I said to myself while staring at the door of Lenos' house.I was here in front of his house to ask for help. I just learned that tomorrow is Caren’s eighteenth birthday and I wanted to surprise her.I said I’ll help her move on from that jerk of her ex-boyfriend. Besides, I found out that she never celebrated birthday before."Caren, tomorrow's already your birthday. Do you have any plans?" Aunt Feling asked Caren while they were having dinner. "Do you want us to throw a simple party? You can invite your classmates here," the old lady suggested."Don't bother, Auntie. I have a class tomorrow," Caren replied. "Bes
"CAREN'S ex-boyfriend is your neighbor?"Lenos said incredulously as we got out of the elevator."Yeah. I didn't know that asshole was the owner of the unit next to me."I walked ahead of Lenos and stopped in front of my unit. I turned to Lenos to ask him to open my unit for me. But even before I could tell Lenos what my passcode is, he already touched the security pad."Why did you know my pass code?" I asked him in disbelief when he successfully opened my unit.“You always use your birthday as your password,” he replied.I stilled. He's right. I couldn't believe he still remembered that little detail about me.
"HAPPY birthday, Caren!”The whole room was filled with everyone's voices the moment Caren entered the classroom.I witnessed how Caren blinked her eyes in surprise as the confetti from the ceiling fell on her. Her whole face was in shock.I looked around. There's a buffet table at the back of the room. Behind it, there was a banner posted on the wall with Caren's picture and birthday greeting to her.I saw Lenos standing near the buffet table. Beside him was Leah who was holding a small cake. Her long hair was in a braid and she was wearing this cute pink dress that made her look even prettier. The little girl started walking towards Caren who was still in shock about everything."Happy birthday
"CRESIA." It was Lenos who welcomed me the moment I opened my eyes. He was sitting beside me while holding my hand."Lenos…" I felt hot tears streamed down my face. "I'm alive, right?" I look at his face. "You remembered me, right?"He nodded. "Of course," he said. I felt his hand on mine. "You just made me worried.""What happened?" I asked him, confused. I looked at his face. His eyes were red from crying. Why did he cry?"You passed out in the middle of the street," he answered. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it while looking at me."Thank God nothing happened because I won't forgive myself…""I saw you with Kyla…" I said in a s
"CRESIA?"I was walking on the school grounds of St. Claire when I heard someone call my name. I looked around and then I saw Caren. She was standing a few meters away from me. I smiled at her and her eyes widened as she walked to me."Hi, Caren," I greeted her."It's really you," she said, her face still amazed. "What are you doing here?""I'm bringing lunch to my boyfriend." I replied with a smile. "He works here."I wondered if she'd be shocked if he learned that Lenos was the boyfriend I was talking about."How about you?" I asked her."This is where I study," she answered.
"HERE is a glass of margarita."I said as I placed a glass of cocktail drink in front of Lenos."Wow," he said, looking at the alcohol in front of him and then to me. "You're good at this, baby."I chuckled. "Come on, bottom's up."He grabbed the glass and drank it in one gulp.We were in Polaris tonight. It was still an hour before the opening so I decided to show Lenos how to mix drinks."When did you learn how to mix alcohol?" he asked after he placed the empty glass on the counter."Hmm, I was fifteen, I think."His lips parted and I bit my lips to stop myself fr
"GOOD morning, Dad." I greeted my Dad when I saw him on the breakfast table. He was already having breakfast."Good morning, hija," my father looked at me. "What time did you go home last night?"I pulled up a chair, sat on it and poured orange juice on my glass. "Almost two, I think." I glanced at the breakfast in front of me. I put some pancakes on my plate."I noticed your car isn't in the garage."I pursed my lips. "Lenos took me home last night."His eyebrows rose. "Are you two together already?"I casually nodded while sipping on my orange juice. "Uhuh…""Ma'am Cresia."One of our helpers entered the kitchen with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She handed it to me. "There's delivery for you."I immediately smiled when I saw it was black roses. I opened the card and saw Lenos' handwritten note for me.Good morning. I'll pick you up before dinner tonight.
"WHAT are you doing here, sis?" Alfred asked me when he saw me standing outside of my door. I smiled. "I'm just trying to sink into myself that one of my dreams finally came true." Alfred smiled at me. "You did it, Cresia." He said, then gently tapped my head. "Thank you," I sincerely said, tearing up. "This wouldn't be possible without you and Dad's help." I told him. Today was the opening night of Polaris. Alfred and my father came with me earlier this morning at the ribbon cutting. They even surprised me with a cake. And now, Alfred was here with some of his friends. Dad just went home earlier because he needed to rest early. "Nah. It was your idea and effort and money. We just supported you on the sideline," Alfred said. "We're proud of you." I chuckled to blink away my tears. "Don't make me cry. Just go back inside with your friends." I jokingly pushed him away. "Melissa was looking for you." I said, talkin
"WELCOME to my room, Aunt Cresia," Leah said as we entered her room. My eyes roamed around the room. She had a very princessy room. It suited her. I smiled when I noticed a portrait painting of her displayed on the wall. "How old are you in this portrait?" I looked at her. She smiled at me. "Oh, I was five there." Leah said as she sat on the edge of her bed. She hugged a unicorn stuffed toy we got on when we went to the theme park. "Thank you for the dinner, Aunt Cresia," she said, yawning. "I feel so sleepy already." She said in a small voice while scrunching her eyes. It was already eight in the evening. After pushing Lenos back to his room earlier this afternoon, Leah and I played board games in the garden. Then I cooked fried chicken for dinner. When I checked Lenos in his room, I still found him sleeping. It was a good thing he was having a long rest. I sat beside Leah. "You should sleep now." I gentl
"THERE'S still a space up here for another couch," Melissa told me while she was showing me around the second floor of the bar. "No," I said as I shook my head. "It's already perfect. I don't want it to be crowded." I wanted the interior of my bar to be chic and yet laid back. I looked around the area. We're almost ninety percent done with the interior of the place. Last week, I already made a deal with all the suppliers. I was also done with hiring people that's going to be my employees. I planned to start their training right after we finished with the interior. I smiled at Melissa. She's done a wonderful job in transforming this old place in just two weeks. My brother Alfred didn't lie when he said she was one heck of an interior designer.
"I HAD so much fun today, Aunt Cresia." Leah said. "I enjoyed the rides, especially the anchor's away."We were already on our way home. It was already nine in the evening. It was almost six when we left the theme park."Yeah. You're full of energy earlier, Leah." I chuckled as I looked at her from the rear view mirror. Leah was a ball of sunshine."And you got so hungry you finished two orders of fried chicken," Lenos said, he also looked at Leah from the mirror."Dad, I just missed eating at Jollibee," Leah answered, her lips in purse. "But now, I feel so full and sleepy." Leah yawned and leaned on the headrest.I looked outside. "Don't worry, my home's only five minutes away." We were already inside
CAN you ask your Dad what time should I leave the house?I typed on my phone before I pressed send. I pursed my lips as I put down the phone on my dresser.Today was the weekend I asked Lenos for a date. I was already dressed. Leah asked me to wear something peach because she said she's gonna do the same. So now, I decided to wear a peach midi dress and white sandals.My hair was tied up in a French bun. We were going to a theme park so I know my hair will get messy.Leah and I…we've been texting each other since the day of her birthday. Not a minute later, I got a reply from her.Daddy said we're going to fetch you.Reall