Poor Joaquin... still cannot move on from Clarise. Shall Haven help him? ;)
After our meal and with shopping bags safely secured in the trunks of our respective cars, Jessy offered me a sly smile as she slipped on her sunglasses. “So… we’re not ending the day here, right?”I hesitated. “I was planning to head back to the pad.”“Then let me come with,” she said, without missing a beat.I blinked. “To Joaquin’s place?”She raised a brow. “Yes? You think I’m gonna let you try on that sexy red dress alone?”I rolled my eyes. “Jess—”She cut me off. “Don’t worry. I signed the NDA, remember? My lips are sealed. Cross my heart.”I gave her a long look. Jessy had been my best friend for years, and although she loved drama and chaos for breakfast, she’d never betrayed me. If anything, she was too loyal for her own good.“Fine,” I sighed. “But behave.”“I always behave,” she grinned. “Just not in ways people expect.”We got into our respective cars—Mark looking more hesitant than ever. Before I climbed into the passenger seat, he pulled me aside.“Ma’am… are you sure a
After what felt like hours of nonstop walking, trying on outfits, teasing each other, and draining what had to be at least four digits off Joaquin’s black card, Jessy and I finally waved the white flag.“My feet are about to fall off,” Jessy groaned, plopping into a chair at a nearby restaurant’s outdoor seating area. “I need carbs. Like, now.”“Agreed,” I nodded, placing our multiple shopping bags into the car earlier felt like unloading treasure from a heist movie.I glanced at the corner where my designated driver—Mark, was it?—stood dutifully near the parking area, waiting like a loyal sentry. “Hey, should we invite him to eat with us?”Jessy looked over her shoulder and made a face. “He’s been standing around all day like an NPC. Poor guy.”Without hesitation, I waved him over. “Mark! Come join us for lunch. You’ve earned it.”He blinked in surprise, visibly unsure, but walked over anyway with a grateful smile. “Ma’am, it’s alright. I can wait.”“Nope,” Jessy interrupted, scooting
Ethan stayed behind with Joaquin to make sure he had everything he needed while I was away from home. Before I left, Ethan even went out of his way to assign a trustworthy driver to accompany me as I shopped. Knowing him, he probably instructed the poor guy to report my every move.I let out a sigh as I stared out the car window, already thinking of all the things I wanted to buy—not just clothes but also snacks and drinks for the house.Ethan kept the pantry well-stocked… but let’s be real, everything he bought was healthy. Where were the chips? The instant noodles? The soda? The fun stuff?As the driver pulled into the mall parking lot, I glanced down at the black card I held in my hand. The sleek finish and the weight of it alone screamed luxury. I let out a low whistle, twirling it between my fingers.“He really does have it all… how amazing,” I muttered to myself with a chuckle.Having a black card felt like holding the keys to a kingdom I never thought I’d step foot in.After bro
I woke up, the sun shining on me. Soon, I looked at my phone and noticed that it was around six in the morning. I let out a sigh as I put down my phone and rolled to my side, looking at Joaquin who was still sleeping soundly.I slowly sat up, stretching my arms and yawning as the sleepiness didn’t yet leave my eyes. But ever since being a working adult, I have grown used to waking up early in the morning to do preparations and it has forever become my body clock.Unless I get drunk, or have sickness, of course…I stood up from the bed and stretched my legs and arms further. I didn’t know why, but my body kind of ached. Maybe it was because of the turn of events that transpired yesterday?I got the hair tie from my wrist and then tied my hair into a messy bun. I decided to make breakfast for me and Joaquin since Ethan had already restocked the pantry and refrigerator yesterday before the incident happened.He said it had been a long time since Joaquin was here, so a restocking was in or
“Do you think I don’t care about romance?”I didn’t know what to say. I felt my heart racing in my chest as he stared straight into my eyes, as if waiting for me to answer his question.How in the hell would I even answer his question!?I started thinking about it and when I did, heck, our past intimate interactions popped in my mind! That moment in the couch… that moment in the dressing room back in the mall… those times.If you’re going to ask me as I took those into consideration, is that even considered romance? Or just playful and flirty banter?This is all too common in our modern society right now, right? Then I won’t consider it as romance.“No,” I answered in a whisper without me even realizing it. Joaquin arched a brow at me, incredulous. It’s as if it was not the kind of question he was expecting at all!“Oh?”His grip on my wrist then tightened a bit, a mischievous smirk appearing on his face. I struggled to free my hand, but my eyebrows knitted together when my strength wo
Ethan already excused himself and went home. Ever since he left, I couldn’t help but think how in the hell did he “fall in love” with Jessy when they just shared one drunk make out session that she initiated!?‘Damn, Jessy—’ I thought, ‘—if you’re a love potion, you’re definitely a potent one!’I started making way to Joaquin’s room. We all agreed to keep it open so anyone can check up on him and help him whenever he needed. It’s just us anyway, and we can give him the privacy he needs when he requests for it.I peered through the open door and saw him awake, browsing his phone. Quite surprised to see him awake, I knocked on the wood, getting his attention.“Not able to sleep?” I asked, already making way to his bed. I sat beside him, the man settling his phone down on the bedside table.“Obviously,” he replied, having the difficulty to adjust his pillow behind him.“Let me,” I said, already fixing it for him. He then watched as I did and once I was done, he relaxed his back and initia