UsIf only I could disappear this instant, I would have done it a long time ago. All I wanted at that moment was to disappear without him seeing me. But I know that's far from reality. And deep inside me, I know this time will come.I calmed myself down and just focused on what I was doing. I was relieved when it was almost done. All I wanted was to get out of there as soon as possible. I can hear Santi's voice from afar and no matter how much I stop myself from listening, I can't.Heavy footsteps from behind awakened me from my reverie. And before I knew it, he was right in front of me. He avoided looking at me and shook hands with the judges next to me. I cleared my throat with the indifference he was giving me. Or was I just imagining things?He's totally different from the last time I saw him. His physique let out a strong authority and aura. No wonder all the staff went into chaos when he walked in. Not to mention his serious and stern expression which seems to be natural to him.
ResponsibilityI had a hard time sleeping that night. He walked away after what he said while I was left anxious and afraid. Even though it never occurred to me that this would happen, I secretly hoped it wouldn't. I expected him to be angry with me. With my sudden disappearance, everything was not clear to both of us. I can't blame him. But to see him so angry earlier, I wasn’t prepared to face it.I don't know which of the two I would prefer. To see him indifferent towards me or to face his anger. I thought he'd moved on. I expected him to be. I was even more afraid of the possibility that he would know about my son. It's much easier to deal with him myself. But now that my son is involved, I'm struggling."What did he tell you?"I took a sip of my drink and turned to Bailey. I didn't go straight to the condo after what happened. I would be too nervous he'd follow me so I stopped by Bailey's place instead. He came to me and sat next to me."He seemed mad," I sighed."Well, he has th
DadIt took me a while to calm down and compose myself. I can just pretend we're strangers, right? After all, that's what he did when we first met. Besides, I bet it's about work. That knowledge reassured me. Even though I am still so embarrassed about what happened a while ago. I should still be given the benefit of the doubt because I just started here.But now that I am in the position, I have to take responsibility for everything. Had I known that something was wrong, I would have done something right away. Maybe I was too confident with the idea that the deal had been closed months ago."If this is about the report, I will take care of it and proceed with the initial plan.""And your team? What are you gonna do about them?" He scoffed."I still have to sort things out, Mr. Lopez so I will call a meeting today. Rest assured the project will not be affected."I looked him straight in the eyes. I must say I would have applauded myself for not wavering in front of him.He really chan
EngagementI tried to brush off what Callar had said last night. I reasoned out in my own head that he was asleep at that time and doesn't really know what he was talking about. Even when my fear and apprehension are too much.I was mindful when I brought my son to the academy. He would normally talk about random things but today is different. He's silent and continues to look out the window."Baby, is there something wrong?" I asked to get his attention.He looked at me briefly then resumed his gaze outside the window. I can't help but worry. It’s the first time he’s acting like this and I'm scared."Is there a problem, Callar?"He shifted on his seat and looked at me for a moment. I can feel something is wrong."Mommy, do I have a dad?" He asked reluctantly, sadness etching his voice.I lost focus for a moment that I almost stepped on the brakes in haste. I immediately returned my attention to driving even though my hand was shaking from the sudden nervousness. This is it. The day I
MineEverything happened so quickly that I wasn't able to react that fast. My brain is still trying to process what I just heard. Most of the guests are shocked too. Who would not? Xander was with someone else when the old madame of the Del Rio’s suddenly announced it.I held my temple with sudden dizziness. I can't think of anything else but to go home and forget what I just heard. I just want to go home to my son.I was just distracted when I noticed the faint commotion on Xander's table. He was trying to get away from his parents. Aurora is no longer at their table. I didn't even notice her disappearance."Did you both know it was going to happen?"That's what I immediately asked Mom and Dad when we got home from the mansion. It was a relief the party ended peacefully despite the announcement of Donya Esmeralda. Only a few noticed the tension in Xander's family. The old madame didn't even pay attention to her grandson who left the mansion in the middle of the party.I feel bad for
GirlfriendI clung tightly to his arm. His kisses are slow and soothing. I didn't feel any anger at the way his lips grazed mine. His kisses went deeper and I lost myself. I didn't realize how much I missed him until now. Now that he was holding me and kissing me, the feelings I thought I had buried in the depths of my heart prevailed again. That no matter how angry I feel, I still love him.I gasped for air when his kisses went from my lips to my cheeks, down to my jaw. I tilted my face to give him access. I feel like I'm going to suffocate from the heat that his lips bring to my skin. He pulled me closer to his body."Answer me. Is it still him? Hmm?" He asked between his kisses.I groaned in protest when he stopped kissing me and his grip on me loosened slightly.Realizations poured on me like cold water when passion build up in me. I pushed him but he held me tighter. I looked up at what he did. His eyes were soulful and gentle, entirely different from the anger he showed earlier.
So BadIt took a while before I calmed down. I took my hand back from his grasp when we got out of the mansion."What was that all about?" I spat.He breathed hard and it took him moments before he finally faced me."What do you mean?" He asked, feigning ignorance."Will you stop fooling around? If this seems like a joke to you then it's not funny at all!" I said angrily."I am not kidding around," he said grimly."What are you doing here in the first place? And what girlfriend are you talking about?"He was taken aback by my remark. But he immediately returned to being serious. I know he's provoked but I don't intend to do that. I'm just being realistic here."Damn, we made love and all that and you're still not my girlfriend?" He whined.
BelieveI can't remember the last time the two of us were calm together. We seemed so comfortable with each other that I want to get used to this.Then I snapped back to reality when his phone rang and I accidentally saw who it was.So they're still seeing each other, huh?He canceled the call as if it was nothing and looked at me again. I gave him a cold glare. The cold thing in my stomach resurfaced."Answer it. I don't mind," I said coolly as if it was nothing even when my head screams otherwise."It wasn't important, Cian-"His cell phone rang again which only irritated me more. I stood up and headed toward my table. He also stood up when I started to walk away."I'm done eating. Answer the damn phone and get out of my office. I still have work to do."He groaned painfully and picked up his phone but he did not leave. I crossed my arms as I looked at him, confused. I just raised an eyebrow at him without backing down."Yes, Ivory?"I gritted my teeth upon hearing the name. I clenc
Together"Are you coming later?"I looked up to see Xander's smiling face. It looks welcoming. Most of my classmates that year would either make fun of me or ignore me. I don't mind either of those. I'm used to it. That's why it's refreshing to have someone approach me to make friends."I have some things to do at the farm," I said while arranging my things."I'll let Grandma Gracia know. Mommy baked cookies for us. Cianna's coming, too." He smiled."Who is that?" I asked brows furrowed. We don't have any schoolmates with that name."Family friend. They just moved here."I couldn't do anything when Xander came to my house to get permission from my grandmother. She also agreed with joy. Even though I don't tell her, I know she hears from school that other kids make fun of me. That's why she was so ha
PregnantI calmed myself while waiting quietly in the visitors' area of the correctional. I don't know what has gotten into me for coming here. I didn't bother to find out about the progress of the police investigation because the only thing that matters to me is that my son is safe and that the perpetrator is punished. My son is too young to experience such things. And the hardship and pain I felt as a mother were doubled.It took me a ton of courage to come here and see Ivory. I don't know why I'm doing this but I felt like I had to do this to move on.I looked up when the door opened and two female police officers entered, holding the handcuffed Ivory in both arms. She looked wasted and her sunken eyes are out of focus. Her pale lips rose for a sarcastic smirk when she saw me. After a while, she laughed a little."Who do I owe the honor of having you here?
Wait"What the hell are you doing?"I got out of the car in the middle of the rain without second thoughts. Even I couldn't understand myself and rushed to attend to him. My heart skipped a beat when he turned to me with a grim expression. His head and face were wet."You weren't inside," he murmured to himself.Just in time, the gate opened and some of the bodyguards came out with umbrellas and towels. I turned to Santi again and he still has the same expression. His jaw clenched and he looked away in anger."Let's go inside," I murmured after getting the towels from the bodyguards.The cold wind blew and my body shivered slightly. I jolted when I felt his arms wrapped around me as we walked to the mansion door.Mom and Dad were waiting in the living room when we entered. They were both surprised t
SoakedI have always wondered how all of it went wrong. We were happy and I thought it was something that would last. It never occurred to me that I could lose everything in an instant. My son is my everything. I can lose other things besides him.The sound of the gunshot still lingered in my ears until now. I heard commotions as I closed my eyes. When I woke up again, I was even more shocked by what I saw. Hugging me and my son, and shielding us from the shot, was Lance."L-Lance," my voice trembled and my eyes heavy. I tried to look at him properly.He just smiled lightly and then coughed up blood. I wanted to scream but I couldn't open my mouth. My tears just kept flowing tirelessly. He fell on the ground then the commotion around became more evident. The last thing I saw was Ivory lying on the ground being restrained by some uniformed men.
GuiltI took a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I was still shaking while holding the steering wheel. This is not the time to panic, I scolded my mind. It's more important that I get my son safely away from Ivory.I kept looking at the location Ivory gave me until I got out of the city. For several hours I crossed the narrow road with almost no houses around. It's afternoon, so darkness is slowly eating the surroundings.A few more minutes and I reached a dead end. My car won't fit if I force myself to enter the forest. I dialed Ivory's number and she answered it after a few rings."I'm at a dead end," I said immediately. I gritted my teeth as the seething anger enveloped me."There is a narrow road on the side where you are. Go through it. In the end, you will see a small hut."I roamed my eyes to look for the way
SaveMy whole body trembled and my eyes lose focus. Santi caught up to me and held my shoulders."What's happening?" He asked worry is etched in his voice. I, on the other hand, couldn't stop looking everywhere to find my son."Callar... The teacher said our son is waiting at the gate…"My chest throbbed so badly while I looked for the guard. No one is inside the post and he couldn't be found anywhere. No more students are coming out from inside and the surroundings are quiet."Let's ask the teacher once again. Maybe they sent him back because we haven't arrived yet," he said and pulled me inside.We caught up with the teacher inside the classroom who arranging her things. I roamed my eyes around but no one else was there. My chest throbbed louder. It wasn't even five minutes since the teacher called to say my so
DreamI know we have to talk things out. And here I am being stubborn again because I'm clouded with so many doubts and insecurities. Maybe he has a plan to tell me and he's just looking for a good time. Or he's hoping the issue would die down on its own so he doesn't think he had to tell me anything about it.Well, that frustrates me even more. Even more so, Ivory points to me as the reason why Santi chose not to continue with that project.And damn, I know he wanted it so bad. He worked so hard for it. I know, more than anyone, how hard it is to give up on the things I love because of other things as well. And if the thing that stops him is us, how did he expect me to react? Of course, I'd be mad! As much as I want to keep him with us, I can't just do that. And what hurts, even more, is he doesn't even share with me his dreams, his goals, his plans. I know nothing at all.
Selfish"Leave him."If she hadn't been staring at me seriously while saying those words, I would have thought she was joking. I wanted so bad to laugh at her right now. She looked helpless and a hopeless desperate bitch."Stop spewing nonsense, Ivory," I said firmly."Do you think I'm just fooling around, Cianna? Or am I just saying all of these things because of how I feel for Santi? You're wrong. Can't you see you're pulling him down?"My eyes narrowed at what she said. What the hell? What did I do to pull Santi down?"Will you please snap out of it, Ivory? If you don't have anything sensible to say, don't talk to me. You're just wasting my time," I said and turned my back on her.Just when I was about to take a step, she spoke again."You don't know anything. Or is it becaus
WantI don't know how to feel about what Jacob said. My chest throbbed with a familiar pain."Maybe they're talking about work?" I faked a smile. I tried to hide the tremor in my voice.Right. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. But no matter how hard I try, I can't stop my brain. I almost didn't even hear the loud music."Maybe," he shrugged. "Anyway, let's just enjoy the night," he grinned and gently pulled me again to dance.Before I could even refuse, a pair of hands grabbed my arm from behind. I felt Santi's familiar hold that I automatically turned to him. His eyes were dark staring at Jacob's hand that was still holding mine."Santi," I called his name in protest.He turned to me, jaw clenched so hard."Sorry dude," Jacob apologized, raising both his hands.I was about to say something when I noticed someone chasing after Santi. She stopped walking when our eyes met.Ivory looked at Santi's back in a forlorn way. My anger grew even more when it was proven that what Jacob said was