Nia quickly put the towel around her body as she heard the man chuckled loudly. She imagined the man scanning her buttocks from behind and it made her cringed.
It's the first time that a man was not attracted to her slender body figure. In her previous work in an Italian Restaurant in New York, she was pretty popular that all the men drool over her even though she wears a chef's uniform. The women told her she has a body to die for like a model's figure.
Some magazines also called her to be their new face including the Vogue which is based in France, New York magazine, Harper's Bazaar and GQ so she was insulted by that man's respond when he saw her body silhouette from behind.
Is it only a silhouette? Or is she afraid that the man saw her round buttocks and will saw motive to seduce her? Ah! I don't know and I don't care! I only came here to have a peaceful vacation but it looks like she will not have one.
She had a habit of pleasing people with her cooking skills that her mom managed to pass on to her but this time, she's not confident to do so.
She ran towards her bedroom door to choose the right clothes to show off her curves all over her body.
She rummage her big suitcase and managed to let all her things out in her bed. Its a big mess considering that all her clothes were consisting of branded dresses, several suit and coats, sweat pants and shirt and her favorite spaghetti strap Sando and some baggy clothes.
Her make up kits were still intact since her other bag is not yet open.
After half an hour of not able to decide which clothes she should wear, she sigh deeply and sat down to the chair in front of the table with face mirrors.
Why am I doing this in the first place? I didn't do this for the past years of staying in my birth country! Am I attracted to that man? Well, I it will be a good start for me to think of him more often instead of thinking about the accident of my father in the plane crash that saved her life and at the same time, gave her a huge trauma!
Why did I even think of that?
Her hands began shaking in horror as the memory flood through her mind...
She was sleepy and the last thing she saw was her father's smile before she closed her eyes and felt that a blanket was placed to cover her shoulders up to her feet.
She always wear a headset since she loved listening to music when she's sleeping.
It was actually the first time that her father brought her to his business trip and they plan to visit the famous Eiffel Tower in France.
It was her dream to see the sight at night with either of her parents with her.
She was in a deep slumber until the music came to a stop and she heard a couple of women's voice screaming in terror!
When she removed her headset, she saw her father standing, getting their things above them. When her eyes landed on the seats in front of her, she saw the sign "fastened your seatbelts" and there is an announcement coming from the captain pilot that they will have an emergency landing since one of the engine motor had a problem.
Shocked, she slowly gaze back to her father who managed to put their things in her thighs before she heard a loud sound of crashing metals to the ground.
Her whole body is shaking from the tension just thinking that they will die from that plane crash and she will not see her mom anymore. Her father James saw all that emotion that crossed her face so what he did is to hugged her tightly.
They were in a three-seater economy class seats near the aisle so they can debark as quickly as possible after the arrival and it didn't happen.
She passed out after her father whispered to her ear.
"Always remember that I love you, sweetie. I will love you and your mom endlessly until I die. Please tell that to your mom and even if I die today, I won't regret it since I have you both in my life."
After her mother heard about the plane crash through her secretary, she had a nervous breakdown in front of a meeting presentation.
Her valuable mother's secretary didn't hesitate to use their money to locate her and her father but it was too late.
She was found after three days in an isolated island covered with her father's blood and shattered body. She didn't know what happened after she passed out until she woke up hearing her mother's sentiments while crying.
She was lucky that she survived and that the only part of the plane that landed on the ground was their seats with the stranged man near the window.
Her mother told her that the plane tear down in half and she is the only survivor in Economy Class seat thanks to her father's love and protection.
When she woke up, she cannot speak and no voice is coming out of her mouth even if she wants to said something.
She cried with her mother holding her left hand at that realization. After she was discharged in the hospital, the doctor scheduled a Physical therapy and a Psychology appointment for her. It takes two years for her to barely managed to get back with her previous life as she was a graduating college student.
Instead of receiving the highest honor in graduation ceremony as she planned for her father to witness, she had the lowest honor rank in The School of Health and Sciences at Touro College in Brooklyn New York in a virtual graduation.
She stayed in their house until recently that her mother urged her to go to Philippines. Her mother and her friend Andrea agreed that it's better for her to stay with Andrea for her full recovery.
****
Bryce impatiently taps her desk while waiting for Naya to come out of her room. It's been almost an hour from the time that he told her to get dressed and he's dead worried. He didn't know why but he started to feel uncomfortable while shifting in his seat.
After a few minutes of thinking, he decided to get the room's spare key just in case he needs to open the door if it's locked inside.
He temporary used the connecting door from his bedroom to the bathroom that is also connected to the woman's room. He sigh as the door was unlocked.
He run towards the connecting room and there he saw her sitting at the carpeted floor while facing the whole body mirror.
She look terrified in her reflection while facing the mirror. Her hands are continuously shaking, she cannot speak anything nor didn't bother to know that he was there.
He remembered his mom said that she needs to recover on something. He's not a doctor but he knew that a hug can calm her nerves after a few minutes so he did.
It's was the longest minutes of his life---hugging a stranger woman in his arms after three years.
Half an hour passed by and Nia started to calm down. She started to hear the birds chirping from afar and she saw her reflection in the mirror with the man earlier hugging her from behind.He look funny and nervous while he hugged her. His eyes were tightly shut while he bit his lower lips that is starting to get bloody.Her breathing is still heavy to the point that she needs to gasp for air but she can tolerate it until her heart beats back to normal.After several years of having physical and psychological therapy, she still have panic attacks that was caused by stressed. Her mother knew it.She still tried to smile but it turns out a grimace in her face.The man's right eye opened and when he saw her scanning his reflection in the mirror, he quickly release her from his arms that made him bounce as he sit near her bed. He looked electrified.Now it's her turn to chuckle nonstop.
The aroma of delicious food soothes Bryce's nose and make his stomach growls.Usually, he wouldn't have anything in the morning aside from having his expresso coffee because he's afraid to lose his muscles in place. He didn't want to be called 'fat' instead of having a 'fit' body.That is also the reason why he usually go to gym at night after having a heavy meal in the afternoon.It looks like his diet will be altered because of this woman!Nia showed up as of on cue and tap his left shoulder to get his attention. He faked typing something before turning around."Aren't you hungry? I'm waiting on the dinning table for five minutes now. I thought if you would smell the food, you will get up and went to the table by yourself.", Her lips in a pout like a child."I told you to call me, right? When I work, I won't notice the time until I finished it."He got up and walk
Bryce carefully stretched his left arm towards the other side of the bed, afraid that Nia will woke up if he will touch her without opening his eyes.He silently turn around to face the side table and open his left eye to see the time on the clock. It's quarter to six in the evening!He quickly jump out of the bed and his butt bounced on the carpeted floor."Ouch!", he rub his aching butt with his right hand before he continue to stand up and glance on the bed but he only saw some hair strands on the other pillow.Why didn't I wake up with the fire alam sound of the clock? It didn't happen before to him! He will usually woke up with the sound of it, thinking there will be a fire in the house!Or maybe Nia woke up because of its sound and didn't bother to wake him up? Or is it because the woman didn't notice him sleeping beside her on her own bed?Argh! I don't know what to think now! Where did she go without even checking her housemate? Did she le
Nia didn't know how long she's staring at the bright, perfectly shaped moon with a couple of stars in the sky.Her heart beats faster than normal--indicating that she's very nervous. The trauma she had experienced made her comfortable in the dark before the therapy. But after the psychologist confirmed that she can handle it without the therapy, her doctor also explained that there will be an instance that she may have an attack due to her own actions and emotions.In short, she needs to manage her emotions to stay calm all the time. In that way, she won't have an attack anymore.She sigh deeply, shrugged and closed her eyes.This is the situation that she need to conquer by herself without any help of others. She doesn't need to be dependent on someone since all the things, people and place she's currently in will only be temporary.How about Bryce, will he be just a man she met a few mon
In Bryce's eyes, having a man as your best friend is not suitable if you were a woman--he always tell that to his girlfriend Maristal Chavez.He actually dislikes seeing her best friend Dylan around them during their outdoor dates. Maristal always argue that its better for them to have her best friend accompany in exchange of having a good public image. And he disapproved of it but she is always the one who wins the argument in the end.Why? Because he loves her so much. She was his world. She accept him wholeheartedly when he needs someone beside him. She made her feel loved and let him believe that they will be the one for each other forever.Bryce is a field journalist and he has his own office in the publication company--even though he's mostly out for field reports--where he met Maristal being the Editor-in-Chief's secretary.Maristal is very defensive, always rude when he talks to her but when he got into her submissive side, they unexpectedly clicked.
Nia felt like she was in a deep slumber for a long time and she just woke up with ease.She tried to remember what had happen but she can't. She had no memory but she's happy.Without thinking anything, she get up from the bed only to be surprised. Her body remains on the bed but when she double checked, she's also standing straight next to her body!When her eyes roam around, there are other patients lying on the beds nearby and her bed is near the glass window.The room has a light coming from the fluorescent light on the ceiling and there are two doctors and three nurses around her bed. One of the doctors is currently pumping her heart, the two nurses are checking her vital signs and putting some liquid medicine from the vials to her dextrose using a long syringe.She cringed. If she's conscious right now, she won't let them stung her with that.She's the type of pers
Surprisingly, Nia noticed that Bryce do all the things to make her comfortable on her stay in the hospital. Bryce didn't say anything after she woke up the following day. He volunteered to help her get up, to guide her in going to the bathroom and even feed her. Nia is very touched by his gestures and realized he's a warm, loving and caring person although he say otherwise. It's her third day in the hospital and still waiting for other examination test results. Bryce did all the walking and talking with the doctors the whole day and at night, he will stay awake until the last doctor's visit to check if her vital signs are stable. Nia smiled at the thought of having him as her boyfriend. She can imagine his pale lips twitching when he will talk back at her every whims but he will give up on the end and he will still give what she wants. She sigh and silently pray that she can stay
Nia is clueless as to how Bryce manage to bring her home with a wheelchair. She's very uncomfortable sitting on it while all the passersby judgemental eyes were on her until they reached the parking lot. The doctor recommended for her not to think deeply of anything for two whole weeks to avoid stress and not to wash her hair because the fresh wound might open up--the water may came inside her brain and it will decay in less than a year that can cause her death. She still wants to live. She wants to explore, experience adventure and travel--with Bryce if possible. "Why are you smiling while staring at your hands? Care to tell me what is interesting there?", his brows were in a thin line together while his eyes shows he's oblivious of her thoughts. Nia rolled her eyes and murmured to herself, "I thought women are the only busybody." The wheelchair stopped in front of the elevator abruptly. "What? I heard something about busybody
After Nia dressed up with her favorite purple balloon tube top and stretchable pants. She just grab a coat from her closet without checking its color since she'll just use it to cover her top and she'll remove it eventually in her own office. She want to spend more time sleeping now rather than working or doing anything in her office. She wants to take a few months off but her mother is very strict and she doesn't want her to just crawled up in bed all day!Nia got dressed at exactly seven in the morning so that she can still go back to sleep until nine in the morning. Though her sleep was interrupted since her dad came in at eight thirty."Come on, sleepy head! You can skip going to office right now but still you need to go to the car right away so that we won't be late to your doctor's appointment!" He carefully guide her shoulder and back to get up from bed as her mother put her black Jimmy Choo flat shoes."Yeah, you c
34Without Agatha's consent, Nia went in to her Ob-Gyne's appointment. Unlike the other women who were also sitting in the designated metal bench with their mother or husband, Nia is sitting side by side with Scott. As expected, all eyes are directed to them since Scott's age is showing with all the wrinkles on his face and she, on the other hand, looks like his wife based on how they looked a her.Nia whispered at Scott. "Their looks are hilarious, aren't they? Do I look like your wife or something? I thought the people here aren't judgemental but based on their reactions, I think they are.""Let them think what they want to think about us. What matters the most is for us to know if you have a little bean growing here." Scott carefully touch her small tummy before he continued, "And if I'll be a grandfather soon! I'll be excited to boast with my amigos about your pregnancy. I'm sure they're eyes will be as big as an owl when they'll
To Nia's surprise, a cold atmosphere was filled in the air after she came back to the dinning table where both her mom Agatha and Scott where silently glancing at her. She knew they were talking with their eyes since they are having a weird hand gestures while eating. As if a bomb will explode anytime soon!"Mom, is there something I need to know? Both of you are dead silent after I came back from shower. Is there something wrong?" The smile on her lips slowly fades as none of them answer her question. "So, there is?"Scott cleared her throat a couple of times before he took a deep sigh and made an eye contact with her. "Darling, you don't need to worry about it. Your mom and I will take care of it, I swear!"Nia felt her mom kicked Scott's feet and that result for his crumpled like face with a fake smile on his lips."Is it about Bryce? Oh, come on! Does he have an upcoming surprise for me?" She grinned only to s
Bryce flew back to the Philippines since his Dad wants to formally announce that he will be the new Chairman of McClove Holdings Corporation. His father built the company using his own inheritance from his grandparents. Their family business got bankrupt three times because of their greedy competitors. Luckily, when his Dad helped an old man to buy his meal in a fast food stall without asking for anything, the same old man helped him out to get loan from his own bank. It happened that the old man is a multi-million are and he didn't have any family to inherit his own business. Coincidentally, it's the same time when his father's family diswoned him because he took Business Administration Major in Marketing Management although his family wants him to take Neurosurgeon course. In fact
Nia woke up when her alarm rings. She's expecting to see Bryce on the other side of the bed since its only seven in the morning but all she saw is the shadow of his head on the other pillow. She lazily remove the pink ruffled comforter around her and suddenly, she felt a sting on her head. Maybe because she didn't have enough sleep. She took off her clothes and while on shower, she remembered that last night is the most memorable night for them and Bryce. At last, they made their relationship official! She felt more secure now that she heard Bryce and Scott's man-to-man conversation about marriage. She knew in heart that Bryce is a responsible man and he wouldn't promise to do anything that he cannot do in the future. She continue doing her morning routine and gathered all her files needed for the dress pattern that she need to pass to the factory. She'll just see Bryce later after office hours. "Hey, darling! I prepared some sandwich for you si
After the heated passion cool down, Bryce put her on top of his left shoulder, making his arm her pillow and his other hand is stroking her disheveled hair. "I'm sorry, I'm not able to contact you when you left. I'm dealing with the mental break down I had. I felt like I'm a robot back then that I need to do everything that is on a scheduled routine. My life is a mess. I don't know how to explain it further but I hope you'll forgive me, Nia. I didn't intent to leave you when you need me the most." His eyes looks like its pleading for forgiveness. "You're mom told me everything before I went back here. I trust her words that she'll support us if we are fated to meet each other someday. To be honest, I felt hurt when I didn't get anything from you everyday for the last couple of years. I thought if I will let myself be drowned on the negative side, how can I meet you again? I also had my own dose of breakdown. I can't tell anyone even mom how I feel for the last two an
Bryce hungrily kissed her until she started to respond to his kisses. He reclined Nia's chair for him to properly have an access to his face without breaking the kiss. He just stopped when both of them need to gasp for air. His heart beats rapidly, making him more nervous because he knew they still need to talk later. Bryce scanned her face as if memorizing every inch of her pores and face blemishes. He missed watching her face up close like what he usually do before they part ways unexpectedly. His mom explained that she's uncomfortable because she send her away without letting him know about it. Even without any explanation, he knew that they will part ways eventually but he didn't expect for it to happen when he's unstable. Bryce had a mental break down during her rescue operation and he didn't know how to handle it. He is actually contemplating to ensure her safety and at the same time, he wants to put an end on his past that is still haunting him
When Nia saw Bryce, she didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to approach him since change is clearly showing on his appearance. His hair is now shoulder length. He had a mustache and he is wearing black ripped jeans with black shirt and black leather jacket with chains as a design. The comfort Nia felt before with his company are all gone now. Well, what would she expect on the three years that passed by? Even on her own life, there are a lot of things that had happen and it might be the same for him. "Bryce?" Her tone of voice is unsure but because of her rapid heartbeat, she knew she was right. It's him! Bryce only scan her from head to toe while his brows are in thin line. He might be wondering who she is or maybe he already completely forgot her. Nia rolled her eyes, got her beige Prada bag and went out of the room when he didn't even respond or show any recognition on his
Three years quickly passed by since Nia went back home. At first, she knew that she'll have a difficulty to came back with her normal life after she met Bryce. Her Aphasia is not easy to be cured as Doctor Fender said. She undergo several test like physical and neurological exam that test her strength, feeling and reflexes. She had several CT scan and MRI to know the cause of it. There are several cause of aphasia but on her case, she had brain stroke and it's due to stress or trauma. Her doctor recommended to have speech and language therapy. This treatment is carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT). Although, sometimes aphasia improves on its own without treatment. She just finished her last therapy five months ago and she's able to speak again. Three months ago, she accepted the fact that she's a multi-million daughter of a fashion designer and she's studying fashion design online--as per her mother's request for her to know abou