The air around New Zealand was one that Dulce had always dreamt of. She loved the place. Right there, on her veranda, she was cooling off in the comfort of the cool breeze that slowly caressed every part of her body. Oh yeah. She was loving the feeling that was with it. Her eyes were shut. In her mind, all she could see was relative peace. Some folks would say that peace was not a relàtive feeling. While some believed that peace, while it might be relative as a word, was not by any means relative as a feeling. But little did they know that peace as it was, was not just a feeling. It was a state of mind. Dulce was in that state of mind now. There was no reason to be troubled. No more reasons for her to be anxious and weary at all times. More reason to be worried about the next second of her life. This was heaven. Heaven could be on earth too. If that was the case, then, this place she was in was the heaven she was living in. They say all worries disappear in heaven. Her worries were
“ Dreams?” Izzy asked, biting a piece of her own roll. The crunchy sound coming from their mouths would definitely arouse anyone close to them to want to have a taste of the cheese rolls. “ That crunchy sound is something else. Dulce said and giggled. “ Well, you can say that again. Though, not every stuff that sounds like this is to be considered as a delicious thing to have a taste of.”“ I don't think I understand. “ Dulce out the remaining part of it and take another one. “ Do you know what a kola nut is?” Izzy asked her. Dulce arched her eyebrows. Kola nuts? What are those? She thought. “ Kola nuts. " Dulce repeated. “ Yeah. Kola nuts. Heard of them before?” “ Uhm. I can't say I have never heard of them before because I just heard of them from you. " Izzy giggled. “ I guess that should be true. " “ From the way you have spoken about it, I already want to taste it too. I guess it must be very tasty. Am I right? New Zealand seems to have a lot of tasty stuff. Like, a lot
Days had passed already. But there was still nothing very certain about the whereabouts of the mysterious lady who had walked into the hotel room of Aspen Mckinney. By now, he should have figured it out, but surprisingly, he was still locked up in it. That was very absurd and unreal. Aspen was not one to be dwelling on what had already passed. Things of the past needed to remain buried right there in the past. While other things of the present were to be dealt with to avoid any mistakes that already took place in the past from repeating itself again. This was a way Aspen lived his life. And it was very good for him. No time to worry so much about what had passed already that can't and will never be restored. But other corrections could be made. But here he was, still dwelling endlessly over that single encounter with Dulce. He still had no way of confirming the identity of the lady. Although Derek had mentioned that the lady that he had tried to help out earlier on was Dulce. T
Dulce smiled to herself to get the weight that was leveled right up to her chest. The very path to start turning her dreams into reality had started or was about to start. After taking a good look at all that had ensued so far, she could beat her chest and say proudly that she had made the best decision of her life by moving away from home. That was the first half of the decision. The second half of it was her having to adopt the dreams of her mother, who she never got the opportunity to meet. What she always did when she missed her mother so much, she would go to a mirror and take a look at herself. Since her father had some time ago made mention of the fact that she looked exactly like her mother, all she needed was to take one more look at herself to see her mother. The picture she had seen was also a good proof that the both of them, and they were a perfect match. Some time ago when her supposed best friend, Gazelle, visited her for the first time and took a look at the pictur
FIVE YEARS LATER. In the business suite of an airplane that was on course in the air, Dulce was seated, having both eyes staring far into the clouds. This was a ritual she always tried to do. Multiple inspirations always came from the simple glance she stole at those clouds. Exactly one year ago, her business company launched a new design for a gown that broke the internet. They had named it clouds. The relative peace with which they moved was so pleasing to anyone that could just fix their gaze on it, even if it was just for a while. Five years had passed already since she left her home. And right now, she was on board headed to the same place that she had disappeared from. The sweet thing was that this time around, she was not going there as the girl that had no ground to start on in the family. No. Five long years had passed already. And right now, she is not the twenty-one-year-old lady that ran her father's business from the back without any appreciation from anyone for th
Aspen Mckinney was now twenty-eight years of age. He had added five more years to his age. Time had passed too. In the past, the younger version of him only kept a small tuft of hair on his jaw. But right now, the older version already looked more handsome than he was with a line of well-carved beards running down both cheeks to meet at the jaw. Those caramel eyes of his seemed to have blossomed even better. His hair was ever-black and striking in rhythm with his fair and smooth skin type. His height seemed to have increased too. Yeah. It was always said the height increment was bound to cease the very moment the individual struck the twenty years mark. But that was not exactly true. One was meant to stop growing that much around then. However, one was bound to keep adding little cubits till growth ceased completely. It was a sigmoid curve. The early stage marked the last phase where people didn't grow much as little children. Then, the last phase of rapid growth followed before
It had not been up to three hours since Dulce alighted from the airplane. After a tumultuous time spent in the air, they were now subjected to another moment of wait. They had been waiting for a while now. The supposed driver that was meant to take them home was not yet anywhere close to the airport— at least, not within the range of the vision of eyes. Dulce was trying so hard not to get irritated by such illicit behavior. Why would someone dare to keep her waiting for more than two hours and slowly approach the three-hour mark?Oleta and Zigfrid did not care so much in the past hours. But now, they were already frowning. Even though the kids both clutched cups of ice cream, it still was not enough to suffice for the frustration that was slowly growing in their hearts. If the adults could get that frustration on their faces, how much more? To crown it all, Dulce was yet to let anyone recognize her. No one knew it was her. Her face cap and sunglasses did a good job of masking
A few more days had passed already. And the appointed date was fast approaching. He had concluded work and was on his way back when stopped at a boutique. Aspen wanted one major thing when it related to his business. And that was, simply out in a nutshell, expansion. He wanted to keep expanding. That was everything to him. He believed in growth. And he had always fought for a way to grow. One of his favorite quotes stated that to live was to learn and the day one would stop learning, one would stop living. Yeah. It did not imply an actual death. However, living and just merely existing had a thin line but a huge difference between them. From the time his father handed over the company till now, he had expanded it many times. And here again, he wanted to expand more. He wanted Mckinney industrials to venture into the art of manufacturing fabric and other materials that are in high demand for the production of every wearable clothing. As a wise and forth-sighted entrepreneurial
A month had gone by and everything was finally settling in. Dulce had moved into a new apartment with the kids and their nanny, Cynthia. Her former apartment brought her nightmares."Zig! Olletta! where are you guys?" she yelled. She was trying to get ready for her first date with Aspen and also prepare the kids for a weekend with their grandfather."Over here," Zigfrid called out from somewhere near the stairs, sounding tired. "We can't find Olletta. Have you seen her?""Hang on," Dulce said as she ran upstairs. She opened her bedroom door and immediately saw a pile of clothes on the floor."Mom! Where have you been?! You gotta pick us up in fifteen minutes!" Olletta cried.Dulce sighed. "Look, kiddos, we can't go to the mall today, because of our schedule.""But, it's summer!" Olletta whined."I know. But your grandfather is coming in to pick you and your brother up. Mummy wants an alone time with your dad," Dulce said, trying to convince Olleta. Olletta frowned slightly. "That sou
Eventually, she managed to calm down. Once she did, she pulled away from him. Her tears were still streaming down her cheeks."I'm so sorry for running away, papa," Dulce muttered.He smiled sadly. "It's okay. But, you know you had a choice in all of this. It's not your responsibility to be in this. You don't have to apologize for that," he reassured."I know. I just...," She trailed off."What is it sweetheart?""I mean, I didn't tell you the real reason I left. I just disappeared and I always felt bad about it. Even when I came back, I didn't come to see you.""Why?" he questioned.Dulce hesitated at first before answering her father. " I was afraid."He arched his brow. " Afraid of what?""I was afraid you'd hate me."Aspen, Derek, Cynthia and Mrs Cassy McKinney filed out of the room immediately they saw Dulce and Theodore having a father and daughter moment. They didn't want to interrupt.Once they were gone, Mr. Theodore Florencia approached his daughter once again. He gently car
"Yes ma'am," Cynthia said, her head slightly bowed."Why do you..." she wheezed a little. Cynthia reached out for the water and gave it to her. "Thanks. Now, why do you look like you were used as a punching bag?" She chuckled weakly.Cynthia sighed. "That isn't important right now. We'll talk about it when you're better," she said."Yeah," she replied slowly before coughing. She cleared her throat and swallowed hard. The doctor came closer to check her pulse."Everything looks fine to me. She's awake now and she seems alert enough to understand us. So I'd say it's safe to say she's going to be completely okay," the doctor confirmed. "We should get her discharged in a few days, but I want you to bring her back next week. She needs rest."Derek nodded. "Okay, doc."Dulce stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Derek and Aspen together and another stranger with them."Uhhh..." she slurred her words."Derek, why... are you here... wit
Theodore was shocked at the turn of events. He couldn't believe that he supported Becker. The very man who was behind his daughter's predicament. He couldn't believe that he almost fell for his bullshit.The thought of strangling Becker crossed his mind. He wrapped his hands in a fist as he paced up and down the court's hallways."Fuck!" he said, muttering under his breath. He was so angry and disappointed that he could hardly see straight. After a few minutes, he calmed down and took in a few deep breaths, attempting to calm himself down from his rage. He didn't want the others to know how agitated he was by the situation. No doubt they'd pity him, and that made him even angrier. "Fuck," he repeated, this time quietly. He ran his hand through his hair in an attempt to clear it out of his eyes.``Damnit, damnit, dammit...I shouldn't have been so easily swayed." The last thing he wanted was to make it seem like he had fallen for Becker's lies.Theodore tried to focus on calming himself
The defence calls Ms Cynthia, the nanny to Ms. Dulce Florencia's children, to the stand," the defense attorney said, beaming with pride.Everyone began muttering among themselves and the courtroom buzzed with excitement and speculation about whom it might be. Cynthia tried her best not to gulp nervously but judging by the glances people were sending her way, she failed miserably.As soon as she reached the stand, a familiar voice erupted from the spectators section. "How dare you show up here without telling anyone?!" The voice belonged to a female reporter. "Are you aware that you are a witness to a crime! I bet you're here for the money!" she screamed angrily."Excuse me?" Cynthia snapped. "What do you mean by that? Did this reporter just assume that I was here because of some money? Do you think this is funny?!" Cynthia yelled furiously.Everyone hushed and fell silent. People stared wide eyed at Cynthia, waiting to see how she was going to react. Cynthia stood there, breathing hea
At the crack of dawn, Cynthia had struggled her way out of bed. She ruffled her hair a bit so she wouldn't be recognized before stepping out of her ward sneakily.As she passed the corner of her ward's hallway, a smooth feminine voice stopped her. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach."Hey! Checked the patient in Room 3?" the voice asked. Cynthia turned and a nurse stood before her."Uh..." She stuttered."Oh, my bad. I assumed you were a nurse," the nurse said.She smiled kindly at Cynthia before gesturing for her to keep going. Cynthia continued on her way. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slipped into the hall towards her destination.She didn't want to be caught unawares and. so she put up a straight face and walked briskly out of the hospital, avoiding conversations of any kind until she got to the road.She glanced around her and relaxed. No one was here.With an air of confidence, she began walking down the sidewalk. Her mind raced over what she might need to do nex
Ms Linda, I wish I could reveal everything to you but I can't. I'm grateful for what you and your daughter have done for me," Cynthia said, wishing they wouldn't ask her more questions.She didn't know the answer to any of them and she wasn't sure she wanted to. All it did was make her want to disappear even more than she already did. "But, I still have things I need to deal with and I need your help.''The girl's mother nodded, accepting her words at face value."What is it? Name it," Linda encouraged her to speak freely."Well...I don't really know how to explain this..."she trailed off not knowing where to start. "But I need to make a call and I was wondering if you could lend me your phone for a few minutes."Cynthia wasn't sure if they'd agree to her request but she needed to ask anyway. Her life would be in danger if anyone ever knew that she was alive."Oh, Cynthia, of course we'll let you borrow our phones to make a call. How about five minutes? You know you just got up and you
"Oh my goodness!" a young girl of nine years old gasps in shock."What is it again, Maya? See something amusing again?" the middle aged lady questions."Mum, look!" she says and points in the direction of Cynthia. Cynthia was walking haphazardly along the road, clinging on to dear life and praying that a miracle happens. "The poor lady looks like she could use some help.""That's because we're not helping." the girl's mother says, as she drives the car closer towards Cynthia, who was trying hard but failing to hold herself up. "We can't just abandon the lady like that . She looks so helpless," Maya reacts sadly."Yes, yes you can," her mother, Ms Linda warns sternly." I can't believe you right now, mum!" the little girl says sadly before folding her arms. together and looking at her side of the window, not wanting to see her mother drive past the wounded lady without helping.Ms Linda scoffs. "Oh come on! I'm just messing with you. Of course we'll help her. Hopefully she's okay but
"Get up you slut!" one of the thugs said.It had been days since Cynthia was constantly tortured and her body showed proof. The marks on her body were enough to leave scars. A lot of bruises and cuts had formed over time. Her clothes were torn, dirty, and her hair messy. She was just lying there on the floor with no energy at all. One of the thugs kicked her face. "Get up or we're gonna fuck it up!" Another thug said angrily. He didn't mean it seriously though; he was just angry because she wasn't moving. Cynthia looked around trying to gather herself as much as possible but she couldn't muster up any strength. She was still too weak, too exhausted even. There weren't any other options though, so she stayed limp. The thugs grabbed her arms harshly and pulled her up.They threw her across the room. They kicked her once before hitting her in the stomach. Cynthia groaned from pain and tried to curl into a fetal position. She wanted to die right then and there. But if she died then the