Eccedentesiast- When someone hides the pain behind a beautiful smile.~AUTHOR'S POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~Exasperated, his anger dissolved in the air as he thundered his way out of the house. It was only for one woman who kept his mind engaged all this time, and she had become something more to push his patience. What was she trying to prove, taking Raya to her grandparent’s house and not informing him? And what the heck is this Encore dance?Is this a new way to torture him?He slammed the car door and pushed the gas yielding his forbearance. The thread of emotions continually piques in his mind one after another, and it turns out he admitted he was at a mistake. He hurt her to a limit to let go of her like this. The grip tightened over the wheel, revealing white knuckles, a clenched jaw, and stiffed features. He turned on the radio in a rush, but it was not the time for his favorite show.Danger love, you are not good for me, darling.Yeah, you turned me away likeI am begging for a dollar.
I loved the way my troubles come to a rest when you are with me, but feared the most when I have to confess the truth.~ AUTHOR’S POV~~~~~~~~~“Two minutes,” she continued lying, waving her hand and passing her goodbyes to Milo.“Ok...” he didn’t look convincing, but he didn’t want to face him. Milo drove out, watching Arlet in the rear mirror waving her hand towards his car, showcasing her confidence. Ruben was on his way.She squeezed her eyes and heaved a low breath. She was alone in the parking lot and didn’t want to go home and face Raya. There was a way going back to that house that she always wished to make her home, and there was another way away from everything. Her feet trembled, but everything inside her wanted to follow the path away from that house, not wanting anyone to know she ever existed. She followed the middle way, and let the breeze lead her way.With her misery, she wanted just to stay quiet, alone, and feel everything she was trying to hide from everyone. Ruben
Savage or reckless love: She was given what she asked for, but isn’t it too early to judge?~Author’s POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“I want to tell you something.” She dropped her hands and closed her eyes to let his voice talk to her. Maybe she will find peace in this illusion of him holding her close.They settled back on the bench. Her curled frame and hung face were ready to accept whatever he wanted to present in his defense. In contrast, he downed his hand over his face and heaved a low breath to let her peek into his heart. Her ignorance fanned his frustration and coated with guilt. He opened a page from his past.“Miles, Brayan, Kathrine, and I were school friends. I am sure you know about Kathrine and Brayan,” he chuckled. Thinking of these two silly people and how they fell still makes him laugh.“We four chose the different universities, but this distance never mattered to any of us,”“I met Roselin in college. She was my junior, and we enjoyed much time together.” He talked, looking
She didn’t know how he felt when he stole the kiss from her lips.~ AUTHOR’S POV~~~~~~~~~~“Mommy,” Raya chirped when she saw her favorite person arrive, followed by her dad. Arlet paced in her direction and hugged her.“How was your class, Mommy?”“Tiring,” suddenly, the aura of this room lightened up with Arlet’s presence. She has become that anointed oil whose blessings will always emit through Raya. Not just her presence, but her compassion also leads her way. She whispered something to Raya.“Yes, Mommy, I had my dinner, took my meds, and everything,”Arlet thanked Kathy and Michael for caring for Raya as they came out and passed their goodbyes.Heading home, Raya was asleep, and so was Arlet resting her head against the window, deeming the coldness of the breeze after the heavy rain. Ruben was satisfied with letting out that boulder in front of Arlet. They discussed all the misunderstandings except the one Trevor told him about her visit to Colin’s brother’s office. He looked i
Just when it started to settle down, I was taken away from you because of your mistakes.~~~~~~~~~Ruben glanced at the file in front of him. His hand trembled momentarily, holding the file and reading the document’s heading.DIVORCE AGREEMENT“Is there anything you want, Mr. Rodriguez?” The attorney added with a calm voice. He did his work at his best. After all, he was the one who made the contract for Ruben to get rid of Arlet in the time of the crisis and make sure she left him after Raya.A wounded heart wanted to protect itself. Some decisions were taken in haste and were now ready; he hated he had to put it out this way, but naïve Arlet didn’t read the terms and signed it.“No, you may leave,” Ruben answered dryly. The attorney stood, fixed his blazer, and clutched his executive briefcase.“Mr. Mark,” Ruben called him again.“Make sure you don’t tell anyone why I called you here,” with a curt nod, the man agreed to the verbal terms and left the room. It’s been over six months s
Never has he ever felt that inquietude what he is going through now.~~~~~~~~~~~“Raya, what happened?” The panic projected in his core, listening to her ululate. He could only hear her cries and the garrulous was helping it, either.“Daddy, Mommy is not here?” Magda took the phone from her hand and replicated the scene in one breath. Ruben hopped out of the car and raced to look for Raya. Every emotion inside him had heightened enough, and the apprehension he was sorrowing from that moment was of a new tangent. What would have happened? She was fine a few moments ago, and where did she go?He has treated her at his worst, but she took everything, embraced it, and gifted him back with love and care. If she left him today, he could never trust anyone. His heart thudded in his ribcage, and his mind was about to burst with all the possibilities of her disappearance. He needed to calm down and check what had happened out there.“Raya,” he kneeled immediately, watching the crowd circling
They can’t stand each other just because they both love her. ~AUTHOR’S POV~ ~~~~~~~~The reeking airbrushed her nostrils. Arlet blinked her eyes several times when she saw a white light hanging over her head. The luminous glow and the exhausted body reminded her she had fought well enough to get these bruises marking her body and filling the pain inside it. When she returned to unlock the car, someone cupped her mouth from the back and dragged her towards their van. He lifted her over her shoulder and threw her into the back of the van, making her body hit hard, she struggled when they tried to slam the door and kicked, but the man leaned over and slapped her hard, not just once but thrice. Every slap on her cheeks was enough to take away the consciousness but capture the memory.The man was wearing a black mask, and there was nothing she could remember to know anything about him.With heavy eyes, she dropped back into the van when the two of them changed t
Just have a taste of despair.The way his soul trembles when she chose him rather than him.~~~~~~~~~~~The crude light entering through the cupola and mullion’s shadow forecasting on her frame implied it colonized her back to her previous position, shackled to the chair. She looked around to observe the place, only to find it was an abandoned barn and the hope of finding someone instantly died when she looked out of the broken window glass. She was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the green shades of the blanket.A translucent tear fell from her eyes when she sensed an eerie presence behind her frame; the air went cold, and the goosebumps forewarned.“Good morning,” the same crooked teeth feasting on a burger. She could taste the air of the burger on her taste buds. It’s been over sixteen hours since she had nothing. Her bladder was screaming with pain, and so was her belly. Her mouth still had the dry, blood-metallic taste, but the man standing before her was holding somethin
The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow in the room. Arlet slowly blinked her eyes open, her hand instinctively clenched in Ruben’s. She released a warm breath, her gaze meeting his as he looked down at her. Shyly, she lowered her eyes, but he gently lifted her chin to meet his gaze again.“What are you looking at?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.Ruben’s eyes softened, a tender smile playing on his lips. “Nothing,” he replied, his voice filled with wonder. “I was just thinking about how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life.”Arlet’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of emotions. “We’re not supposed to be like this,” she murmured, a hint of hesitation in her voice. The unexpected turn of events, from marriage to divorce and now sharing the same bed again, was not something they had anticipated. But Ruben’s unwavering gaze conveyed a different truth.“Why not?” he questioned, his voice filled with conviction.“Because... we
Not just the silence, but his touch was enough to let her feel what is.~~~~~~~The entrance of the mansion felt like a familiar embrace, as if it welcomed Arlet back with open arms. She glanced around, the memories flooding back. It had been months since she last stepped foot in this house, and now, when she was ready to leave the country, it seemed to call her back. She held Ruben’s hand over her shoulder, supporting him as they walked inside. His touch still had the same effect on her, sending a rush of warmth through her body, just like it did on their first day together.“Careful,” she muttered, looking ahead as they stepped inside.Magda’s eyes widened as she took in Arlet and Ruben’s condition. She remained silent, but her heart swelled with emotions seeing Arlet by Ruben’s side, offering her support.Once Ruben was settled on his bed, Arlet busied herself, arranging the medicines and preparing a thermometer from the drawer. She knew every corner of the room, every little detai
"Sometimes, the chaos that enters our lives also brings unexpected connections and hidden blessings."~~~~~~~~~Arlet stood at the airport, her bags packed and ready to leave. The weight of her suffering and her unresolved feelings for Ruben consumed her. As she called for an Uber to take her away, her heart felt heavy with the knowledge that she was running away from her own emotions.Every step she was taking wanted to ease itself. Everything inside her wanted to stop, turn and go back to him.“Arlet,” a familiar voice came to her voice, and when she turned, it was Milo, a friend who had always supported her through thick and thin. His voice was filled with concern.“You are running away from everything?”Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded, unable to find the words to explain her actions.“Yes, I don’t think I have anything left here,” she added.Milo’s next words struck her like lightning.“Why don’t you accept the fact that you still love him?” he asked, his voice filled wi
“Can you tell me how you mastered the act of unloving me?” ~~~~~~~~As the days turned into weeks and the weeks stretched into months, Ruben found himself engulfed in desolate solitude. The absence of Arlet, the love he had lost, weighed heavily on his heart. Every passing moment seemed to amplify the void within him.Arlet, on the other hand, had taken small steps towards rebuilding her life. She had found solace and purpose in teaching swimming to children at a local school. It was a way for her to channel her love for the water and share her skills with others. But despite the outward appearance of strength, her heart still longed for Ruben, the one who had held such a significant place in her life. It was hard for her to keep him away from her heart, but she was struggling with that part.Every Friday, Arlet sought comfort and guidance in the peaceful embrace of the church. It became a ritual for her, a sacred refuge where she could find moments of respite from the turbulence of
“As much as it hurts me to admit it, loving you was the most agonizing experience of my life.”~~~~~~~~~~~As they walked, Ruben snuggled his hand into hers, sending the vibes of shiver. The vibrant colors of blooming flowers, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the melodic twittering of birds enveloped them in nature’s embrace. Arlet’s steps became lighter, and a hint of serenity flickered across her face as the healing power of the natural world worked its magic on her broken soul.Ruben couldn’t help but gawk at her, his heart pouring with a mix of admiration and love. Seeing her face light up with a renewed sense of joy brought a glimmer of hope to his own wounded heart. After losing everything, she is the only part he wants to hold close to himself. The weight of their shared pain momentarily lifted as they immersed themselves in the beauty and tranquility surrounding them.“Would you like to have some popsicles?” As soon as they crossed the ice stand, he added, giving a gentle squ
Take small steps forward, to navigate the path of healing together.~~~~~~~~~The morning brought a new beginning to their lives as Arlet found herself waking up to the comforting presence of Ruben, his strong hands still holding hers and her head nestled against his chest. She attempted to shift away, intending to create some distance, but the firm grip of his hands pulled her back into his embrace.“Please, don’t leave,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and longing. “Stay like this. It feels so good to have you close to my heart.”Arlet felt perplexed by his words, unsure of how to respond. She looked up, meeting his gaze, and found herself lost in those beautiful gray eyes she had always dreamed of looking into. There was a mixture of hope, affection, and a hint of apprehension in his expression.“Good morning,” he finally added, breaking the silence that hung between them. His voice carried a trace of uncertainty, as if he was unsure of how she would reac
Let me take care of you.~~~~~~~~~~The beeping of the machine reverberated in the silent room. Arlet’s eyes were closed while the nurse pushed the chart into the box. Since morning, they have kept a close look at her health.The weight of guilt bore heavily upon Ruben as he stood by her bedside, his hand firmly clasping hers. Each passing second felt like an eternity as he anxiously awaited any signs of improvement.Memories flooded his mind, each one a painful reminder of his past mistakes and the consequences they had brought upon him. He couldn’t forgive himself for the way he had treated Arlet, for the love he had failed to acknowledge until it was almost too late. Regret gnawed at his heart as he realized the magnitude of his actions and the depth of his own blindness. He had lost his brother, Raya, to his own foolishness, and now the woman who had loved him unconditionally was fighting for her own survival.The door creaked open, and the doctor walked into the room, holding a f
"In the pages of her journals, he found the unwritten chapters of their love story, revealing a truth he had been blind to: she had loved him since the dawn of her understanding of love."~~~~~~~~~~Ruben made his way out, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy to win her back. She was in complete denial, and he could feel the weight of her anger and hurt. The downpour intensified, soaking him as he stood outside, looking back at the closed door of the house. His lady was inside with their child, and he was left waiting outside, longing to be let in. She didn’t open the door, and he had no choice but to settle against his car and leave the place.Once he reached his own home, haunting memories of Raya and Arlet consumed him. He made his way to his room, where the emptiness echoed in the silence. He sat on the bed quietly, gazing out at the pouring rain, which mirrored the hurt within him. Rubbing his hand down his face, he was lost in his thoughts when his phone buzzed, displaying Reile’s nu
"I no longer yearn for the love you once held, for now, I mirror the indifference you once showed me."~~~~~~Arlet arrived at her parent’s house, a place that had remained closed for so long. However, she couldn’t think of anywhere else that could provide the solace and comfort she desperately sought. This house held a history of love and care in her life, and in her current state of despair, it seemed like the only refuge available to her.Grateful for her parents’ foresight and protection, even in their absence, she appreciated the inheritance they had left for her. The house and a substantial amount in her bank account served as a lifeline, offering a sense of security and stability amidst the turmoil of her shattered marriage.Unlocking the front door, memories flooded her mind, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She was instantly transported back to her childhood, remembering how special she had felt within the walls of this home. With her bag abandoned at the entrance, she s