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Chapter 59
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-04 01:04:49
Kaugnay na kabanata
Rising from the ash Chapter 60
Chapter 60 Justine groaned as she rolled over in bed, her hand instinctively reaching for her phone. The moment she saw the time she quickly panicked. She was late. Again."Damn it," she muttered, throwing off the covers and jumping out of bed. Her alarm had gone off—she was sure of it—but exhaustion had gotten the best of her. Yesterday had been a lot , and she had stayed up way too late, promising herself just five more minutes of scrolling through her phone, which turned into an hour.She dashed into the bathroom, brushing her teeth as fast as she could before hopping into the shower. The warm water should have been soothing, but all she could think about was getting to work before her boss noticed she was running behind. Three weeks into this job, and she had already learned that she always had to be early,even though no one might complain, her sense of duty . She was good at what she did—really good—but being late could easily overshadow that.After throwing on her work clo
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 61
Chapter 61Lecture was finally over in what felt like an eternity for Sophia. She didn’t rush to leave the hall as she was too embarrassed to do so. Instead, she sat back in her seat and watched as everyone made their way out, acting like she was gathering her bags. To her, it was taking longer than usual for people to move out. "You have got to be kidding me," she said to herself. She quickly checked the time—it was 12:00 PM. She still had time before she had to leave for Pappies. Her eyes burned with anger as she watched Maya and the rest of Katrina's friends, the same girls who had held her hands down, walk out of the lecture hall as if nothing had happened. Soon enough, the hall was half empty. She took a deep breath, mustering all the courage she could, and finally stood up to leave. As she made her way down the desks, she was stopped by the professor who had intervened in her bullying. He had been watching her this whole time, waiting for the opportunity to speak with her
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 62
Chapter 62 Lana had been looking for Ryan all day. For some reason, he had not been returning her calls or texts. It wasn’t like they had a fight or anything. This morning, they were supposed to walk to class together as usual, only for him not to show up. At first, she thought maybe he had overslept or was caught up with something urgent, but when she got to school and didn’t see him, she started getting worried She tried to act like it didn’t bother her, but it did. Ryan had been distant lately, and though she tried to convince herself it was nothing, deep down, she feared something had changed between them. Was it because of someone? Ever since Jessie came into the picture and had that weird , Ryan had started acting differently. He smiled less, became more secretive, and now,she felt he was ignoring her completely.Lana sighed, running a hand through her hair as she scrolled through her phone again. Still no reply. She hated how much it bothered her. It made her feel w
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 63
Chapter 63 Ryan finally decided to call his mum ,it took him a lot of hesitation till he mustered the courage to do so, seeing Sophia had not returned any of his messages His data reception was bad so he thought to call him mum instead, it was going to be a short one Ryan sighed as he stared at his phone screen, debating whether to call again. He had already tried once, and as expected, his mother hadn’t picked up. That was nothing new. She always took her time answering his calls. Sometimes he wondered if she did it on purpose, making sure he waited long enough before picking up, just to remind him she was busy.After a few more moments of hesitation, he tapped the call button again. This time, after a couple of rings, she finally answered.“Ryan?” Her voice carried a slight edge of surprise. “I’m shocked you decided to call. Let me guess—you need money? Don’t tell me you’ve already burned through everything on your card.”Ryan rolled his eyes and exhaled sharply. “
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 64
Chapter 64He hesitated before hitting send, he desperately needed to see her. He had dressed so well today in hopes of impressing her, wondering if that last part sounded too eager. But then again, he was eager. He enjoyed talking to her—more than he had expected when they first met and started texting.As he waited for her to reply, he found himself smiling like an idiot at his phone. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling a lightness in his chest that had been missing all day. It was strange how one simple message could shift his entire mood.A knock on his car door startled him out of his thoughts."Hey there Ryan " Lana called out, she had decided to turn around and speak , regardless of her saying she does not want to , she couldn't help herself when it came to him ,her voice softer than it had been earlier.she had intended to scold him for now returning any message or calls , but seeing smile through the window at her , she changed her mind"Yeah, Lana, how are you doing?" he
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 65
Chapter 65Sophia slid on her apron as soon as she arrived at work, tying it tightly around her waist . She needed this shift more than ever—not just for the money, but for the distraction. She refused to sit in her dorm and let the weight of today’s events consume her. Harris, her boss, spotted her the moment she stepped into the staff area, and the relief on his face was immediate. “Sophia! You actually showed up early,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s the occasion? You usually try to squeeze every minute out of your free time before your shift starts.” Sophia forced a small smile. “I just needed to keep myself busy.” Harris studied her for a second, like he could sense there was more to the story, but she didn’t push. That was something she appreciated about her—she could be loud, sometimes annoying, but she knew when to let things be. “Well,” she said, rubbing her hands together, “since your shift hasn’t technically started yet, I’m puttin
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Rising from the ash Chapter 66
Chapter 66 It was almost time for Sophia to return back to her counter, she was not willing to return to it,she felt herself remembering her social anxiety and it returning, the deal with Katrina had unlocked memories she didn't know still existed she had not felt that way since she was little her grandma and a lovely teacher from her junior school helped overcome it, it wasn't easy but she was just realizing that she didn't overcome them but instead locked it away There was a time Sophia sat quietly at her desk, trying to make herself as small as possible not to be seen by anyone or even be noticed . It was a habit she had developed over time—a way to go unnoticed, to avoid the cruel words and stares of her classmates; she didn't know her parents,never knew what happened to them at any point , just knew she grew up without any ; her only guardian was an elderly woman , her grandmother Junior school was supposed to be a place of learning, a place where children made friends
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-09Rising from the ash Chapter 67
Chapter 67As Sophia stood behind the counter, her mind wandered to other childhood memories, the ones that made her smile. She remembered the afternoons spent in Grandma Margaret’s garden, before they took away the house and when grandma was Still healthy, they would plant flowers and listen to stories of when her grandmother was a young girl. “You know, Sophia, when I was your age, I was just like you,” her grandmother had said, kneeling in the dirt beside her. “Quiet, unsure of myself. But then I realized that I didn’t have to change for anyone.”Sophia had looked up at her, surprised. “You were shy too?”“Oh, terribly,” Grandma Margaret chuckled. “But I found my strength in time. And you will too.”Another memory surfaced—one of the nights she couldn’t sleep because the whispers of the bullies echoed in her mind. Grandma Margaret had stayed up with her, giving her warm milk and telling her stories until she finally drifted off to sleep Then there was the day Miss Evans gave her
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-09
Pinakabagong kabanata
Rising from the ash Chapter 91
Chapter 91She really didn’t want to run into him tonight. It wasn’t like she had done anything wrong—she had just turned down seeing him today, and that wasn’t a crime, she felt bad for that. But if he saw her here, at a party, after telling him she was staying in? Yeah. That was going to be awkward and it sound be very dishonest on her part She could already imagine the teasing.Oh, I thought you were studying, Sophia?And worse, she wasn’t sure how she would explain it. She had planned to stay in, but Olivia and Mia had been too persistent. And maybe—just maybe—she had wanted a break after all.But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was avoiding Ryan at all costs."Hey, are you okay?" Olivia asked, noticing Sophia’s silence.Sophia quickly forced a smile. "Yeah! Just, uh, just checking something on my phone."Olivia nodded, clearly not suspicious. "You sure you don’t want to dance?""Positive," Sophia said quickly. "You guys go ahead.""Okay, suit yourself!" Olivia sh
Rising from the ash Chapter 90
Chapter 90As soon as they stepped through the open gates, the music seemed to double in volume, the deep bass vibrating through the air. The place was already packed, with people scattered across the front yard, laughing, drinking, and dancing. The energy was high—this was clearly the party of the weekend. Like the whole school was invited Sohpia hoped she wouldn't come across someone like Katrina or even worse ryan"Damn," Olivia muttered as she took in the crowd. "The person throwing this really didn’t hold back."Mia grinned. "I told you. Looks like The guy goes all out." Just as his girlfriend always bragged Sophia glanced around, already feeling slightly out of place. Parties weren’t exactly her thing, and the sheer number of people was a little overwhelming. They were all putting on expensive jewelry, carrying the biggest of phones they were clearly the wealthy type but she was not going to be swayed. She adjusted her dress slightly, trying to shake off the discomfort."Alrig
Rising from the ash Chapter 89
Chapter 89As soon as the ride pulled up outside their dorm, Sophia, Mia, and Olivia went downstairs and piled into the backseat, squeezing in together. The energy in the car was already electric, and Mia was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement."This is going to be so fun," she said, clapping her hands together. "I can't believe this is, like, our first official girls’ night out!"Olivia, who was sitting on the other side of Sophia, grinned as she pulled out her phone. "Alright, come on, girls, we have to take a picture before we get too distracted."Sophia groaned but leaned in anyway, knowing there was no escaping it. Olivia switched to selfie mode, angling the camera so all three of them could fit into the frame."Okay, everybody do something cute," Olivia instructed.Mia instantly threw up a peace sign, Sophia gave a reluctant but amused smile, and Olivia pursed her lips playfully before snapping a few pictures."Let me see," Mia said, leaning over Olivia’s shoulder
Rising from the ash Chapter 88
Chapter 88The ride to Zach’s place was mostly quiet, save for the occasional song playing from Ryan’s playlist. Lana sat in the passenger seat, her legs propped up on the dashboard as she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone. The party wasn’t starting for a few more hours, but since Zach was one of Ryan’s oldest friends—despite their history—he figured it would be easier to arrive early and get settled in before the place got too crowded. Lana, on the other hand, had her own reasons for tagging along early. She had packed her party outfit in a bag, planning to change at Zach’s instead of getting dressed at home. There was no way she was going to sit through an entire car ride in a tight dress and heels. She wanted to look perfect for it , and for Ryan also , she figured since he would be without a companion there, she could be like his plus one and she sure as hell wanted to look good for it As they pulled into Zach’s driveway, Ryan took a deep breath. He didn’t particularly
Rising from the ash Chapter 87
Chapter 87Justine shrugged, pretending to be indifferent even though her heart was hammering. “Well, yeah. I mean… was it weird for you?”Matt’s smirk deepened, his expression softening. “Weird?” he repeated. “Not even a little.”Her stomach flipped at the certainty in his voice.He tilted his head slightly, studying her with that same unreadable intensity. “What about you, how did it feel to you ?”She held his gaze, her lips curving into a small smile. “Not weird at all,it felt good if I am Being honest,” she admitted.Something shifted between them at that moment. The tension that had hung heavy in the air now turned into something else—something warmer, more electric.Matt leaned forward slightly, his voice lower now. “So… does that mean you liked it?”Justine felt heat on her neck, but she refused to look away. “I did.” She hesitated, then, with a small laugh, added, “Do you Want to do it again?”Matt exhaled a soft chuckle, shaking his head in amusement. “Are you sure about wha
Rising from the ash Chapter 86
Chapter 86Eleanor Walsh sat in the guest room, her hands folded in her lap, staring blankly at the window. It was almost midday and the sun was still out , but it did little to warm the kind of feeling inside her. She had been avoiding David since yesterday’s disastrous meeting, knowing full well that if they spoke, it would turn into a full-blown argument.She could still hear his voice from the boardroom, practically spitting in rage when she shut down the deal. “Do you even understand what you’ve done?” he had asked through clenched teeth as the investors left, their expressions unreadable.Yes, she understood perfectly. She had stopped him from making what she believed to be a huge mistake.David had been so furious that he hadn't even ridden home with her. Instead, he had taken a private car somewhere—she had no idea where, nor did she care to ask. It didn't matter to her at that moment. When he finally returned home, it was well past midnight. He had walked into their bedroom w
Rising from the ash Chapter 85
Chapter 85It wasn’t until close to noon that Sophia and her friends’ order finally arrived. By that time, Olivia had complained no less than ten times about how hungry she was, dramatically falling onto the bed and groaning every few minutes.“I swear, if that food doesn’t get here in the next five minutes, I might actually pass out,” Olivia whined, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in her pillow.Mia snorted. “Relax, Liv. You act like you haven’t eaten in days.”“I might as well have! You don’t get it—I woke up starving, and Sophia’s generosity is the only thing keeping me alive right now,” Olivia said, turning to Sophia with puppy-dog eyes. “Thank you, by the way. I will never forget this.”Sophia chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic. It’s just breakfast.”“No, it’s the breakfast,” Olivia corrected. “The one that will bring me back to life.”As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door, making all three girls pause for a second before Olivia sat up on the bed.“
Rising from the ash Chapter 84
Chapter 84A short while later, Justine stepped out and Matt led her to his car. She was trying so hard to ignore the fact that she was very nervous . He opened the door gently for her and she stepped in. They drove in comfortable silence, the radio playing a soft tune. The drive was a quiet one.Soon they arrived at his apartment, she wasn’t sure what she expected, but his place was surprisingly… homey. It wasn’t overly fancy, just warm and inviting. Like a bachelor wealthy enough to put up such a set up “Make yourself comfortable,” Matt said, setting the pizza and wine down on the coffee table.She sat on the couch, hugging a throw pillow as he grabbed two glasses and poured the wine. I don't know if I should say thank you for inviting me over but let's begin then "So, what movie are we watching?" she asked, accepting her glass.Matt smirked. "That depends—are you a rom-com kind of girl, or do you secretly enjoy thrillers?""Thrillers, obviously," she said without hesitat
Rising from the ash Chapter 83
Chapter 83Lana nodded, keeping her face neutral. “Sounds fun and you kind of look happy”Ryan narrowed his eyes at her. “That’s it? I thought you were going to drag me or at least drop one of your sarcastic remarks Lana shrugged, looking out the window. “What do you want me to say, Ryan? You’re clearly into her.”Ryan tilted his head. Something about her tone made him pause, but he brushed it off. “Yeah, I guess I am. She’s different, you know?”Lana forced a small smile. “Is it different?”Ryan nodded. “Yeah. But she turned me down today when I asked her to meet up.”Lana raised an eyebrow. “Ouch,that must hurt your ego.”Ryan sighed. “Yeah, but she said she had to catch up on notes, so it’s not that deep.”Lana scoffed. “Ryan, you have to start reading between the lines. Girls don’t always say what they mean.”Ryan smirked. “Oh? And what exactly do you mean when you say you’re ‘not into anyone’?”Lana froze for half a second before rolling her eyes. “Oh, shut up.”“No, seriously.
