“YOU KNOW? I don’t know why you come here every day. Did you want to work as a waiter at our café or as a bodyguard to keep an eye on us?” Zoe asked Helios.When she went downstairs early in the morning, she saw Helios again in their living room. So, she had to ask the man why he had to be there all the time.“Good morning to you, my sunshine. And of course, to this beautiful young angel,” he added as he kissed Hela Selene on the cheek. She is currently holding her daughter. The little girl then reached out her arms to Helios. It looks like she wants him to carry her.Helios didn’t want to let the little girl down, so he reached out and picked her up in his big arms.Zoe thought, “Sunshine, my foot.” But deep inside, she was flattered by it.Zoe doesn’t want to give him her daughter, but she realizes that the little girl also needs her father’s care. Even though she won’t admit it yet, it looks like fate is bringing them together.“Can... can I carry her for a little while? You can ke
WHEN THINGS were all done, Helios started walking and Zoe followed him. He pulled something out of his right pocket while his left hand was holding their daughter—it was a key. He then tapped the button, and the light of the silver car parked in front of their house blinked twice.It's an Audi S5. A luxurious car that cost a bunch of fortune. A family he will build is so damn lucky. Zoe hopes that it's her whom he wants to share the rest of his life."Nice car," she exclaimed. But the guy has no response.She opened the door at the back seat and put down the carrier. Helios then put Hela inside and adjusted the child's seatbelt."She has stuff like this?" the man asked suddenly and talked about the carrier. Zoe then nodded. "So, I'm concluding that you will accompany me in front?" he asked and let out a playful grin.'Damn!' She's afraid that the man was right. Why did she bring it if she could just carry the little girl?"A-Ah, of course. Besides, it would help if you didn't treat me
SUNDAY MORNING, Mrs. Levine invited Zoe to attend the mass, but Zoe couldn’t leave her daughter. And her mother suggested then that she would call Helios and let the man watch over her daughter.‘Helios again,’ she thought.What does her mom want? That she will entertain Helios again? That fast? Zoe doesn’t like it; Helios must exert some effort to win her.She doesn’t want to think about them because of what she saw at the mall the other day. Should she tell Helios or not? But she promised herself that she wouldn’t bother Helios.What if that man would bring trouble to her? The way the man looked at her, it seemed like he wanted her dead.“Mom, I can’t go with you. Hela also has not been baptized yet, and don’t try calling Helios. You’re just going to bother the man again.”Her mother laughed. “Oh, you’ll still end up with him, trust me. So, why prolong the process?”“Mom… some things shouldn’t be rushed. Just go, mom. The mass will be about to start. Don’t let aunt Millie wait for
TODAY is the day that she chooses to talk to Helios. Zoe called him earlier to come over. It was quite demanding, but she was still afraid to go out because there seemed to be danger awaiting them outside. And Helios never disappoints her because the man came minutes later after the call.Zoe then invited the man to their garden. She left her daughter to her mom and dad.“How’s your day?” she asked.“Fine,” he replied without breaking their eye contact.She then suddenly drank from her glass of juice.“Hmm…” she put down the glass she was holding. “I asked you to come because I have something to tell you.”He crossed his legs and rested his arms on the armchair. “About what?”She gulped, and her heart started to pound fast as nervousness outgrows. “About Hela.”“How about her?”She sat properly. “Wait—are you mad?”Helios heaved a deep sigh. “No, I’m just exhausted.”“Did I pick the wrong time? Are you busy? Did I bother you?” she asked.“I’ve got piled of documents to review and sig
IT WAS two o’clock in the morning when Zoe regained consciousness. She was surprised when she saw who was holding her hand. Seeing his face brought back the pain she felt last night. She pulled off her hand from Helios’s grip.Helios then sat straight when he felt her move.“You’re awake,” he said in a hoarse voice.“No… you’re just dreaming,” she replied sarcastically.“Look, baby... that kid is not my son. Amanda is just using the young boy to ruin us,” he explained.She averted her eyes. She doesn’t like the emotion she sees in Helios’s eyes.Helios grabbed her left hand, but she just hid her hand at her back.“I want to be alone. If… if you don’t mind,” she said in a low voice.“I won’t leave you, not until you hear me out,” he pleaded.“What else do I need to know?” she looked at him. “Does the truth I heard wasn’t enough?”She wants to cry. She fucking wants to cry. But it seemed like her eyes were tired of letting go of the tears.“That’s why I’m sitting here, beside you. If yo
ZOE LOVES the game, pretending. But right now, she can’t guarantee herself if she wants to act like she and Amanda were okay. Because literally, they’re not.It irritates her how Amanda moves, talks, and even smiles—it seems mendacious. Fake. If only she didn’t give respect, she might have knocked her cousin down and kicked Amanda’s ass out of the house.Amanda must be thankful that she’s trying to control her temper. Zoe may loathe her cousin, but not the little angel beside her. Amanda’s son had nothing to do with her mother’s mess.The kid is innocent. His mother is not.“So, where did you stay when you were cast out of here?” Zoe emphasized the words’ cast out.’Amanda then looked up and put down the spoon she was holding, and she smiled at her.‘Bitch.’“I was in Paris.”Zoe was fed up with her daughter first before turning to her sister. “So, you were enlightened not to end the life of your innocent child, am I right?”“Zoe!” Iris and Millie uttered in unison.She shrugged her s
THINGS HAPPEN unexpectedly, and there’s no doubt about that. But all we could do to blend in is to accept the fact that we can’t bring back what was already happened. All we have to do is move on because that’s how life goes. The world is round, so in your life, we may sometimes in the top, and we may sometimes be below. We may experience all-day happiness, and we may share all-day sorrows. We must always look on the bright side. That’s all we can do to help ourselves to move on. Accept. Move on. Life circulates. Then it will produce peace and harmony.Life is more challenging when we struggle. And Zoe realized all things within when Helios told her to trust him.Since the day that day, the guy has always come along. He always visits them after his work. Zoe felt pity for the man because he would have to drop by just to see her daughter. She knew that the man was busy all day and he seemed tired, but he was just hiding it behind his smile. Yes, Helios smiles a lot in front of her dau
AFTER DINNER, Zoe and her daughter went to her room, and Helios followed them. She then told the man to watch over her daughter as she took a shower. The man agreed, and he played with her daughter while waiting for her.“Da-da,” said the little girl, and Helios smiled.“Can you say it one more time, sweetie?” asked Helios tenderly.The little girl giggled and tried to reach Helios’s face. Helios then moves closer to her daughter. “Da-da!”Helios laughed. He took the child out of her crib and lifted it. He kissed the child on the cheek, and the child imitated what he did, which made him even happier.The scene was melting Zoe’s heart. She had just come out of the bathroom and was wearing her nightgown.“You seem to have fun?” she said.Helios turned around and faced her. At the same time, her daughter is leaning on the man’s shoulder.“I think her first word is da-da,” he said.Zoe smiled. “Yes, and it’s kind of frustrating. I was the one who carried her for nine months… took care of
ZOE’S POVStanding in the hallway, in front of the open door… is Helios. He was holding our daughter’s hand.Is my third eye open as well? I did the sign of a cross and closed my eyes. Lord, God, I may badly want to see him, but this shocked me. I opened my eyes, and he was still there.I also heard the seemingly suppressed laughter of those with me inside.He smiled at me, which made my heart thumps so fast that I could even overhear it. Astonishment registered on my face. Confused…What is this?"Mommy, daddy!" Hela shouted.I looked down at the bouquet of roses that he was holding. It has assorted colors.What’s going on? I turned my gaze to my parents to find an answer. But they just nodded.I backed away when Helios started to walk inward. Our daughter was still next to him, smiling. Helios’s face remains calm as he slowly walks toward me.He stopped a few inches away from me."Baby," his soft voice almost feels so unreal.I shook my head. My vision started to blur again. My hear
ZOE’S POVWhen we got inside the hospital, and inside Helios’s room, I fell on the floor, crying incessantly. They were all inside Helios’s room. Helios is already covered with a white blanket. The apparatuses are also gone.I no longer knew who had pulled me up and led me near him.He gave up!He didn't fight for me... for us.God never answered my prayers.Why?Why do I have to feel this agony?Why do I have to experience this epic romance? I thought things like this would just be in a movie.I immediately hugged his corpse.Corpse?No. I didn’t know what to feel as I hugged his body. Why didn’t he fight for me… for us? Why did he let this happen? Did he not miss us? He promised me. He’s a fighter, but why?“Why?! I screamed. “Why did you leave us? Why did you let go?! You promised that you were going to marry me. You’re being unfair! You’re leaving me alone again while I deliver our child. I want… I also wanted to you—"“Zoe, calm down. Breathe, sweetie. Slowly… Something might hap
ZOE’S POVSIX MONTHS.Six months had passed swiftly, but Helios was still not waking up. There’s still no progress. And I almost wanted to give up, but I knew he was trying to fight. He’s trying to come back for me… for us. And every single thought of losing him almost tears me apart.How many medications have been injected into him? I lost count.I pray every day, especially when I’m on his side, holding his hand, pressing it, and talking to him. I know there’s still hope. And I believe a miracle could exist.Our daughter turned one about a month ago. We celebrated it inside his room, trying to lighten the atmosphere that day, but even if we tried hard, we all knew we couldn’t. We can’t be happy, seeing Helios lying on this hospital bed, apparatuses plunged into some parts of his body and sleeping so sound that it gives a false alarm—that he will let go at any moment.Damn it! May God forgives me. Many people out there wanted to take themselves for useless things. Why should it be hi
“WHAT a cute family?!” shouted Bill and laughed. “Do you think things will be easy just like that? I’m not a fool, Helios. If I die, I will drag you down. And I’m going to take this building down. Now, let’s play, finding the bombs,” he said and grinned.“Helios...”Helios kissed Zoe on her forehead, “Everything’s going to be fine. Let’s get you out,” he said. “Don’t let them escape. Take all of them out of this building!”They were about to leave when Amanda screamed. Her sister’s attention was on Beige. Helios turned to them.“Sir, the bomb in him is activated,” one of the assassins said.“I told you. I’m not a fool, Helios!” shouted Bill, who the two men were holding.Her eyes widened as she trembled because of fear. The timer is only one minute and twenty seconds. Her eyes were enveloped by tears again, as she was afraid of what she was seeing. But Helios led her out. Her chest was heavy as she left the place.“Helios, where’s Sam and Cindy,” she asked between her sobs.“Grant to
BILL came out from an old room and laughed as he pointed a gun at Helios.“Hello, Helios,” he said demonically.The man stopped a few meters from where Helios was. “So, Helios… let’s start some convo, shall we? How are you, my brother?” asked Bill as the muzzle of the gun still aimed at Helios.On the other hand, Helios remained calm that even if he wanted to blow Bill’s head off, he couldn’t because his loved ones were inside.“I’m not your brother,” he replied emphatically.The man laughed. He put down his gun, and his men pointed theirs at Helios.Zoe wiggles and tries to speak even though Helios can’t understand them. Helios glanced at her, and pity registered in the young man’s eyes. And his heart pounded fast when he saw his daughter lying on a wooden table, sleeping as Bea patted her.“Do you like what you see, Helios?” asked Bill.Helios turned to Bill. “No. Let’s end this. Let them go, and you can have me. I’m the only one you need, right?” he said and gritted his teeth.Bill
“I’m begging, Bill. Please, let us go. And please, let me hold my daughter,” Zoe pleaded.Her heart was almost broken because of the constant crying of her daughter, who Bea was holding. They give her milk in the bottle, but her daughter is still dependent on her—she’s breastfeeding the child.How cruel will they be?“B-Bea, please, let me hold my daughter! Let me go!” Her voice was cracked, trying to hold back her tears. “Let me go… let me go,” she said, almost whispering.Bill just laughed while he could see her suffering. What a demon!“That’s right. Feel my wrath, Zoe—Helios’s kryptonite that can serve to be the source of his death,” he said and devilishly laughed along with her daughter’s loud cries.“L-Let me hold my daughter…” she said weakly. She felt dory for her daughter, who won’t stop crying.She doesn’t know where they are. They were immediately blindfolded when they saw the driver on their way to Batangas. When those demons removed their blindfolds, they saw tall trees.
HELIOS went out early to visit Grant’s twin brother, but those guards outside Gunner’s room were already dead when they arrived. They didn’t see any gunshots because all his men were drugged to death, and Gunner was missing.“Damn that, Bill!” Grant murmured as he punched the wall.Ali approached him and touched his left shoulder. “Calm down, Grant. Don’t let your rage eat you.”“How the shits I can calm down? He took Gun—he took my brother!”Helios then let Ali calm his cousin. He massages his temple. Bill is getting on his nerves.“He already found out that we knew his plan and Gunner’s betrayal! And I’m sure he’ll kill Gun! That psychopath will think that Gunner talked about his plans to us. Fuck!”"We need to go back," said Helios."Where to?" asked Calyx.“At home,” Helios replied and twitched the doorknob, and went out of the room. He pulled out his cell phone and called someone to remove the corpses inside the room before the police could see them.When he hung up, his phone ra
THE NEXT day, Helios and his friends leave early. Cindy and Sam decided then that they would stay for a while.“You didn’t come down last night, huh, Zoe? What did you do inside the room?” asked Cindy, carrying her daughter. After bathing her daughter and dressing her, Cindy immediately took the little girl.“Yeah. You left us with those jerks downstairs,” Sam complained while busy tying her shoelaces.Zoe was delighted that Sam could get along and erased the awkwardness.Zoe just shook her head and returned things to her daughter’s bag. “We just talked,” she replied.“Really? Just talking… no touching?” asked Cindy.She rolled her eyes and shook her head.“Ah, that’s why there are hickeys on the top of your left chest and neck?” asked Sam and grinned.“Oh. My. Gosh! Is that hickeys?” uttered Cindy and laughed along with Sam.At that time, she wants to be swallowed by the ground. When she finished, she acted as if she was not affected by the teasing from her friends.“We will be going
IT WAS ten o’clock in the evening when Helios got home. Zoe’s friend is still in the house, and both decided to do a sleepover. Hela Selene was already asleep upstairs. She’s with their maid named Bea.Helios went home not alone. He’s with this guy named Ali, together with Grant and Calyx. She smiled when she saw the reaction of her friend, Cindy. Cindy spits the water she’s drinking when she sees Calyx.They were busy watching when the men arrived. Cindy is at the edge where she back faces the main door—she didn’t expect the arrival of Calyx.Helios approached her and kissed her on the forehead. “Where’s Hela?” he asked.She was about to answer when Cindy and Sam started to tease her. They’ve repeatedly been saying the words, ‘long table’. At the same time, Helios's companions began to whistle.She shook her head and smiled. Then she looked at Helios again. “She’s already asleep. What took you so long?”Helios sat down beside her, and he put his arm around her. He leaned the back of