"How are you, Trey?"Unbelievable! I hadn't seen her in such a long time. And, as far as I could recall, that was the instant I warned her never to show me her face again. After that night, she decided not to run into me anymore, and she vanished like a bubble in the air."I'm fine. How are you, Lori? It's been so long," I said.I was no longer angry or anything. Besides, I wanted to free myself from any hatred because I wanted to do what I needed to do and to focus on my goal, to achieve my dreams and aspirations.She smiled in a friendly, peaceful way. "Yeah. I'm all fine, too."Looking at her after years of not seeing her, I could say that she changed a lot. Not only did she mature—her face, aura, expressions, eyes, and body. A baby bump was even visible in her floral maxi dress."Can we talk, Trey? I mean, if only it's okay with you…"I glanced at my wristwatch. I still had an hour left before the lecture in the review center where I enrolled myself would resume.I nodded. "Alrigh
"Are you okay? You seem not feeling well, Doc."I shook my head, gathering myself together. "I'm okay.""Are you sure?"I nodded."We can reschedule this community service on the other day, if you want—""No. People are expecting to see us today. Let's not postpone and ruin our schedule."Ben, one of my members in this team of community service, hesitated."I'm alright, Doc Ben, if that's what you're minding. Now, we can't just stay here and wait for the dawn. The people in the neighborhood are waiting for us."He nodded, finally convinced and agreeing. "Alright then. Let's go, Doc."Our men power and vet-health assistants followed us.We were directed to their small plaza. There were guidelines and announcements first that had been held between us, the community service providers, and the people in this place.There had been attendance checking for their proof of presence of coming to the plaza and then eventually, later on, those who had their names listed on the form started to get
(Camila's POV)I personally brought the donation of goods to the rescue center.The company's delivery truck where I purchased the sacks of cat and dog food delivered them to the rescue facility. They followed the car I was driving in order to find the location where they would drop them off.The sanctuary's men and helpers assisted in receiving the goods.I also monitored and double-checked the items if they were complete and of in good and high quality condition. And as of the moment, I didn't encounter any issue with my purchases."Camila…"I looked at the man and owner of the rescue center who just came to check in here, too.I smiled. "Trey, hi!""This is a big help and a very kind action of your compassionate heart. The angels will surely love them and they will be forever grateful," he sincerely thanked.I nodded. "Welcome. For the rescued ones here, as much as I can and I have the blessings to give, I'm very happy to share.""You're very kind and generous, Maam! Surely, your h
"Thanks, Trey, for driving me home and for everything. For your love, as well," I said when we stopped until in front of the gate of my house.We were still holding hands, and it was as if we both didn't want this night to end. We always wanted to stay this way forever and never gonna let go of each other's hands ever again.He embraced me and I could just submit. I wanted to be in his arms just as much as he wished to me being locked in his embrace.He kissed my forehead, and I closed my eyes gently, totally accepting and cherishing his loveliness.When we let go of that hug, he remained close and held my waist."I love you, Camila. And I'll never want to let you go this time around," he declared and made a vow while sincerely looking into my eyes.I reciprocated the same amount of love and sincerity. He always deserves the best, and deserves to be loved unconditionally."And I love you more, Trey. I promise I will never let go of your hand again.""You do?" He wanted to make sure.I
"Yes, Camila. You are right. I am not Trey. I'm Noah—your fiancé."I couldn't believe it, but soon as he confirmed it, all my inhibitions went away with the air and I threw myself on him. I gave him an emotional, tight embrace. How I missed Noah!He responded with a tender hug. I knew he also missed me the way I missed him. I could feel it, especially with the beat of his heart I could hear because I was burying my ear into his chest.When we were over the hug but still remained close with each others' bodies, I caressed his cheek. His eyes seemed to be sad for a very long time."I missed you so much, Noah.""I missed you, Camila. I have missed you for so long…""H-ow did it happen, anyway? How were you able to come back? Is this even possible? You're alive, Noah?""I have always been with you, Camila. I never left. I am always alive, in your heart…"I felt so heavy with those heartilly words and with those lonely eyes. I gave him a hug once again. And he responded to it."Now that I'
"You just creeped me out, what the f*ck?!" I cussed unintentionally and it was purely because of my initial reaction upon shock.Mom raised her hands, making a humorous gesture of giving up and not fighting while chuckling because she had unintentionally scared me!"Chill, dear! I'm sorry, okay?""Mom, it was you! I thought it was a ghost!" I said, feeling guilty and regretful.She smiled.I hugged her. "I'm sorry, mom."She caressed my back upon responding to my hug. "It's alright, dear. No problem. I understand.""Anyway, what are you doing here?" I asked when the hug was over."Well, you have mentioned to me in our call early this morning that you're going to visit Noah, and I immediately knew which place you were talking about. So, I decided to come, too, and followed you. And of course, to visit him as well since he had been long gone," she explained.Oh now, I got it. I nodded. We both continued to look at the sea while silently talking to Noah's soul where he was last seen bef
"I'm sorry…" I said."What are you apologizing for?" Trey asked."Because I've been thinking about the past, particularly about my late fiancé while with you. I shouldn't be doing it. I shouldn't reminisce and instead focus on the present, focus on you.""You're thinking about Noah?"I nodded guiltily. "Yeah.""It's alright. No issue with that," he assured me and drew me closer to him."Still, I should be sensitive and think only about you, especially when we're together."He put his arm around my shoulders and caressed my hair.We watched the scenic view together."Why? Does this place remind you about him?" he continued to ask while our eyes were still at the mountains.I nodded honestly. "This became one of our memorable places together because there was once a time that we were riding at a school bus, going on a school trip but we were left by that bus in here, so, instead of blaming each other and getting ourselves into a nonsense fight, we took that as an opportunity to enjoy an
I was so shocked upon hearing from Trey revealing that he had the same nightmare I had on the same night! "W-hat? You j-ust had a nightmare exactly as mine that very exact night, too?"He nodded surely. "Yes. I dreamed about coming back to your place and then we walked together to the shore, but later on, I realized it wasn't me you were with all along but it was rather Noah. I was only watching you two from afar and I tried calling you, shouting your name, going and running to you to get you but I couldn't move my feet and there was no voice coming out from my mouth no matter how hard I tried to make a sound. It was as if I had been silenced and I was chained on my feet. I really wanted to save you, to protect you and to take you away from him but then there was nothing I could do…"Hearing all of them, and realizing that I had been experiencing a similar nightmare he had, caused me goosebumps. And how we couldn't be together in both our nightmares!I felt my throat starting to get s
SIX MONTHS LATER... "Long live the newlyweds!" "Best wishes!" Everyone cheered and applauded after Trey and I were declared husband and wife. He lifted my veil to kiss me and I responded eagerly as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Everybody was happy for the both of us and they wished us a healthier and abundant marriage, most especially the Gregoris—Trey's parents, cousins, and even his brother, Noah. "Congratulations, lovebirds! Remember our deal? You're going to spend the rest of your lives making each other happy every single day, okay?" He reminded us. Both Trey and I nodded sincerely. Above everyone in the celebration hall, the two of us were the happiest ones. Genuinely happy that finally we were able to turn our dreams into reality. He tapped Trey's shoulder and they gave each other a warm brotherly hug. "Thank you so much, Noah. Thank you for understanding and thanks for giving way for our true happiness," I said from the bottom of my heart. And for the last time,
Noah brought a chair, placed it beside me, and sat on it. He was also looking after his brother."There wasn't any single time that I could remember I had been a good brother or at least treated him in a kind way…" he spoke, breaking the silence between us.I looked at him, and then he continued, "But you know what's ironic? That was despite me obviously despising my own brother, he has always been there for me. He was saving me, protecting me. Even before, since we were young and I wasn't yet aware of his existence, of my real identity, he was already helping me in silence. He always got my back, and though he wasn't getting anything in return, he was always willing to do something for me because he always wanted to see his brother being so well.”I knew it. I have really fallen crazy in love with an absolutely selfless man!"You know what, since then, he's really been there and always ready to save my life from harm or any danger. He never leaves me... Even if his own life would be
(Camila's POV)Walking back and forth to the wide ground of the residences of the Gregoris, my heart seemed to uncalm from its fast and hard pounding because I'd been waiting for Trey's troops to come back from the battlefield, where they had to fight to get Barbara after she was abducted.I couldn't take it easy. I could not even calm down. I felt bothered and scared that something might happen, especially to Trey and to Noah. Yes, both of them went there. As the ruler, Trey led the troops, while Noah insisted on coming with them because he also felt responsible for saving his family member.Seconds later, a siren on the whole building created a loud noise, indicating that the troops had already returned, and they were successful in getting Barbara back!The main gate opened and the first voice I heard, aside from the noises of the feet of the troop members running and hurrying, was Abigail's screaming and crying, "Trey is badly wounded! Trey is badly wounded, everybody!"My world sa
(Camila's POV)Noah and I went home after that long and draining double engagement night."Good night, Noah," I told him and was about to go to my room when he called me in a low, deep voice."Camila…""Hmmn—" I turned around to look at him, but I was surprised when he pulled my hand and brought me very close to his body.He held my waist tightly, and his eyes screamed desperation, hunger, longing, and sadness…"Noah, what are you doing—" I was cut to my words when he claimed my lips."Noah!" I tried pushing him gently on his chest, but when I felt like it was to no avail because he wouldn't let me go, I stopped, and instead, I just responded to his kisses.It was a responsibility of mine, wasn't it? He's my boyfriend, and he's kissing me, therefore, it's my responsibility to return his kisses. I responded to it as I should, as I obliged.He only freed my lips when he stopped, but his face remained very close to mine. He brought our foreheads touched.His breathing was deep, and the l
(Trey's POV)I could just watch her from afar… She was walking out of the hall and walking away from everybody, from where I stood…"Congratulations on your engagement," one of the seniors in the pack went to the table where my fiancée—Beth—and I were standing.We smiled at him and nodded and thanked him, then we granted his invitation for a toast.He proceeded to talk and have fun with other guests and invitees, and the cycle just went on and on every time anybody would approach to congratulate us and have a toast. We would smile at them, thank them, and toast our drinks."Trey, Beth, you really look great together. We wish nothing but abundance in your upcoming wedding," dad said happily when he went to us.Beside him and clinging to his arm was mom, who was also smiling happily upon nearing to us."Thanks, mom and dad."They both gave me a hug.And that's what Beth did, too. She greeted them, giving respect to elders, as well as her being their future daughter-in-law."I'm really g
I saw Trey from the glass door stopping and taking a look at me for the last time. He saw me and Noah hugging. I could see the hurt in his eyes, and yet he chose to shrug it off and totally went away.I knew that starting with this, I had lost him forever. He walked out of my life…After our hug, Noah cupped my face and almost endlessly thanked me for not leaving him, and for choosing him instead of Trey."I'm sorry, my love. I couldn't help it. I'm so happy and delighted that it's really still me that's in your heart even after all these years!"I simply forced a smile though it was hard to do so because my heart just honestly felt so heavy at the moment.To be frank, I chose him for a reason even though I knew within me who really my heart wanted. But I disregarded the thought. I'm happy that Noah is back and he's alive, and now we'll be able to continue what we thought we had lost several years back. I should just focus on that and give Noah my full attention and love because I alr
(Camila's POV)"How have you been, Camila?" Trey asked with a low broken voice when we agreed to meet one day to finally talk about us."I'm doing fine. How have you been, too?" I asked back while not looking at him.It's been a week since the big revelation came, and yet I'm still, even up to this day, affected by what I just have discovered. I guessed everybody still is.He smiled a little and nodded. "I'm alright. I'm glad you asked."I finally looked at him. "What are you going to tell me, Trey? I need all the truth, please."He sighed a bit heavily and nodded his head. "Okay. I'm telling the whole story to you…"He started from the first time he knew he actually had a brother and Noah was sent away from home to grow up and be trained to be independent and strong in all challenges of life, how Trey played being the shadow and guide and protector of the crown son and the supposed Alpha of their clan."During that afternoon when the tragedy happened, I was also there, Camila. I saw
After that reckless move I made, I never dared to do it again anymore or do something like that. I backed myself off, especially from their relationship. I could not possibly do anything to ruin them and mess up the plan.I just continued to watch over my brother as per my seemed-to-be lifelong task and assignment to my family. I didn't dare anymore to get close or approach Camila again just like I did that day. And I learned to move on my own. I should respect their relationship given the fact that Noah is my brother and he is about to become the Alpha and ruler of the pack while Camila is to become his Luna and wife.I tried forgetting my feelings for my brother's girlfriend and though it was hard because my own heart seemed to betray me at all time, I still fought it and instilled in my mind that I should really leave them alone because it's obvious that the two of them are the ones meant for each other. I am just a guardian and witness of their love.I also taught myself that I sh
One time, it was so reckless of me to have found my feet directing to where exactly Camila was sitting.She was at one of the tables inside a restaurant in a mall, and she was waiting for Noah because, basically, they agreed to have a date that day.I also wanted to feel and experience what it would be like if I stood next to her if I ever talked to her, and she would speak to me. I just really wanted to be in my brother's shoes, even for a little while, especially regarding his relationship with his girlfriend.Soon as she saw me at the restaurant door, she called my name… Noah's name, to be exact, because she was waiting for him and she or they—both her and my brother—didn't even know my existence…"Noah!" She waved at me happily and excitedly.My heart jumped. It felt like my world had suddenly stopped, and I could only see the two of us. I wasn't even able to move my feet!She stood up, waved at me, and ran to me. I was taken aback, and my feet turned to jelly as she hugged me.D*