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
“Where were you?”- And there his world stopped.~~~~~~~~~~~“Did you find something?” Kathrine exited Arlet’s room. Her torn, mucky clothes told the truth she had mourned in these last few hours. Desperately waiting outside, Ruben skimmed at her, sizing up in despair.“I don’t know.” “How is she?” Kathrine projected a low gust and stepped close to him.“Still unconscious, but I am glad you found her before anything bad happened. I am wondering who would want to hurt her?” They turned, and he circled the perimeter of the railing, tungsten his head, watching Michael, Kathy, Brayan, and Raya waiting silently.He asked himself: Who would want to hurt her like this? Why would someone want to be brutal with an empathetic person like her?“It was Milo who found her.” Even if it hurts, he has to abide by the truth. It was only because of Milo. Arlet was safe, napping inside. His glossy eyes flickered. There was nothing left to add here. Kathrine hugged him as if he needed to know someone was
And that’s the problem with a bleeding, loving heart.It misreads the care as love, and closeness as….~~~~~~~~~~~~Ruben shut his eyes only to see her bewitching azure orbs filled with tiny precious crystals. He saw the tear make its way towards her cheeks and disappear as it painted pink on her glossy lips. Her thick lashes were numb, and those sparkles were dimmed, asking him the same question.“Where were you?” Those eyes always showed hope, and scintillated were drowned with disappointment.“I was scared.” the failure of not finding rolled down, and an urge to not stop that tear on its way surged in his chest.“You lost me.” with those words, she stood and stepped back.“Arlet...” he called, stretching his hand, but she was not ready to accept it.“No more games, Ruben,” she eluded with those tears, and the freedom she found drifting away from him was well written on her face.“Come to me; where are you going?” he followed her, but in what seemed an eternity, his hand gripped her
Ask, and it will be given to you.Knock, it will be open for you.And seek, you will find it.~~~~~~~~~~~~The morning strikes on the sheer curtain, but not the shimmering lights; instead, the roaring clouds brought the brisk water pouring on the windowpanes. Ruben fluttered his eyes and welcomed the gloomy weather flaring its arms outside the window. The splattering of water scrubbed everything and made him ponder to look in the direction where his eyes always used to find Arlet.But she was not there, nor was the residual of her presence. Her bed was made, and cushions were arranged perfectly on it. Ruben stroked his face down through his hands and heaved a low breath. His side of the bed was cold, but it felt barren today when she decided to get up and suffer alone in her despair. His feet unintentionally made their way toward the couch, and his hand extended to clutch a cushion.Her fragrance still lingers on it, questioning why he didn’t respond to her back. He was scared to argu
He loves her… she loves him…But the story is not simple to understand.~~~~~~~~~~~~The gloomy clouds stopped pouring the water and let those little shimmering lights pass through them. The soil seemed to its richest tone, having bathed in the rain, and the little puddle built its own reservoir to hold the habitat of tiny creatures.“Mommy, it stopped raining. Can we go out?” Raya loomed over the window, intently looking towards the Gazebo they used to sit in and enjoy the view. Raya turned, and a smile knitted on her frown face, watching her mom was ready to spend time with her with canvas and colors.“Wow, we will paint,” her applause resonated in the room, followed by a chuckle. Ruben saw Arlet was trying to ignore his presence. And why wouldn’t she? He has done nothing good to her. He stood there watching these beautiful girls wandering towards Gazebo through a gravel pathway. His eyes are fixated on Arlet, who is trying to get rid of his lingering eyesight as far as possible.“M
He trusted him, but his actions speak more than his words.~~~~~~~~`Meetings after the meeting, Ruben got invested for the entire day. The evening comes earlier than expected. There was no such news from the kidnappers, but it somehow excites Ruben to see how Arlet and his relationship took recent turns after this incident. Thanks to Brayan, who pushed Ruben to pursue his feelings, but they also needed to talk to Miles. Glancing at the laptop screen, Ruben saw the time for the third time in the last few moments.“Is everything alright with him?” With a slight frown, he questioned Brayan, who was busy arranging the documents. Brayan looked up to answer his terms, but his eyes landed on the ajar door where Miles was about to step in.“We have to talk to him after this,” Ruben looked over his shoulder and watched Miles entering with a vague demeanor.“Hey, Miles, how’s everything?” he dropped his shoulder and, with arched brows, skipped Ruben’s concern and answered Brayan.“Can we finis
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