“ARE you sure about this, Zoe?” Zoe turned around to face her mother. “It’s the best for us, mom.”“You should ask or talk about everything about Helios—”“Mom, please. I don’t want to hear more about it. Look,” she scans her eyes around their luggage, “—we’re already prepared. This is the best decision, mom. Do you want to get involved with their monkey business? Look how Don Lincoln encounters cruel people who even ambushed him. And who knows if they did the same with Helios—”“Okay. All right. I understand. Since it seems like I can’t change your mind, we better must hurry. Pack your things well, and I will just get back to my room and call your aunt Millie.”Zoe nodded her head.Soon as her mother left her room, she threw herself into the small bed, took a deep breath, and sighed loudly.She stared at the ceiling as her mind traveled to Helios. She’s wondering if he’s already awake. Was he looking for her?She smiled. Why is she wondering about it?HELIOS, who just woke up, wen
WORKING at the café for a while would be safer for Zoe. She has a hunch that Helios will look after her. She doesn’t know, but she has a strong feeling about it.She doesn’t want to see him—oh, who is she lying to?“Don’t worry, sweetie. I will still give you your salary—”“It’s okay, Aunt Millie. I am willing to help.”Millie pouted her lips, which made Iris stand beside her and roll her eyes. “Stop acting like you’re a kid, Millie. You’re already forty-nine. Turning fifty in a few days,” Iris said.Zoe smiled and shook her head. It’s been a while since she last saw her Aunt Millie. She was her mother’s best friend. They both studied and worked in Manhattan, but when Millie’s parents moved to California, she had no choice but to follow.A decade after, her parents died in an accident. Thus, she lives alone.As for boys? Well… Iris said that Millie wasn’t interested in them anymore after her first breakup.Maybe she really loves the man, but they are not meant to be. Sometimes, that’s
ZOE walked towards the counter. “Hi,” she greeted the cashier.The cashier smiled brightly as if she was already expecting her visit.“You must be Zoe, right?”Zoe pressed her lips together and smiled as she nodded.“I’m Cindy,” the girl said and extended her hand.Zoe then reached for it and shook her hands. “Aunt Millie told me that I can—”“Yes, yes. She reminded us. Anyway, it would be best if you met our baker,” she said and gestured for her to follow.She then walked around and stepped in front, following the lead of Cindy.Cindy opened the door, and the aroma boosted soon as they got inside.“Mr. Reynolds…” Cindy called the baker, who was currently mashing a huge dough on the left side of the baking room.“Over here, Cindy,” he said.Zoe’s forehead knitted when she heard that deep voice.Cindy turned to her. “Come on. You need to meet that awesome old man,” she said and laughed.“I heard you, Cindy!” It was Mr. Reynolds.Cindy snickered and covered her mouth.Zoe couldn’t help
“THIS is your fault, Helios. Why would you listen to your father?” Grant’s voice keeps on lingering inside Helios’s mind.He opened up his problem to Grant so that his cousin would help him to find Zoe. And as promised, Grant will look after it.“You’re a son of a mafia boss, a future mafia leader after your father. Yet, you’re scared?”“Fuck!” Helios throws the glass on the wall of his office inside his penthouse.‘Grant’s voice is really troublesome,’ he thought.Helios went mad like this… for a woman. But Zoe is different. She possessed something that enchanted him, and she was hard to forget.Speaking of who, Grant entered his office and clapped his hands soon as he sat on the side of his desk.Helios arched his brow. “What are you doing here?”Grant smiled. “Hmm… visiting my dearest cousin, whose heart—”“Shut the fuck up, Grant. I am not in the mood for your jokes,” Helios cut off the hum of his words.Grant shrugged his shoulders. “Well, if you say so. Anyway, I came with a pi
Zoe’s POVIndeed, it’s strangely different mingling with others. But Cindy never failed to entertain me while we were inside the bar. She finds a seat for us at the corner, where lights were somewhat not passing through.“Drinks here are awesome, Zoe. It would be best if you tried it,” she said as she leaned on the couch.I smiled. “I’m okay with flavored beer. I don’t drink alcohol with higher—”“Come on. I swear you will love it. Let’s try?” she asked, making me shake my head.“You can go. I’ll stay here with my beer,” I said as I raised the bottle.Cindy laughed. “Okay, if you say so. Anyway—oh shit!” she exclaimed when her eyes darted to the entrance, I guess. I followed the direction of her eyes and arched my brow.I saw two men, one with blonde hair, while the other one was black.I arched my brow. “Who are they?”I can’t see any special thing with them. They’re like Helios, and I could smell their luxury.“Girl…” she bit her lower lip when I met her gaze, “The one with black ha
Zoe’s POVMonday morning, I was awakened by the noise of my alarm and greeted by the rising sun, which lights beamed past through the window.My eyes widened when I realized that I had work to do. And I am late!I dashed inside the bathroom to take a quick shower, and afterward, I wore a simple white shirt and jeans. Since it’s summer, the weather is fine, and it suits my clothing… er, I guess?I don’t want to wear any sexy stuff like sleeveless or summer dresses. There’s no way. I am more comfortable with shirts and jeans.When I got out of my room, I smelled freshly baked cookies. I know that Aunt Millie’s cookies smell like that, and we’ve been here in Cali for almost a week now.Mr. Reynolds, the baker, has excellent baking skills so as cooking and I can sense that he likes Aunt Millie. So as my aunt. It’s just that they’re like teenagers who still feel shy with tints of cowardice.Even though mom always teased Aunt Millie, the latter still didn’t accept it. And she reminds me of
Zoe’s POVThe following day, I felt much better, making me woke up early and open the café myself. As aunt Millie and mom took overtime last night, I decided to open the café myself at four.And to my surprise, I saw Mr. Reynolds on the staircase, waiting for the café to open.“Good morning, Mr. Reynolds,” I greeted.He stood up and smiled at me. “Good morning, young lady. You’re up too early. I thought it was Millie who would open the café,” he said, and I could sense the tint of regret in his voice.It seems like I ruined a chance for them.I smiled and tried to ease it. “I’m sorry about that, but Aunt Millie was tired when they got back home last night. I know you’re expecting her—” I halted when I heard Mr. Reynolds’s soft chuckles.“It’s okay, Zoe. It’s no big deal. It’s just that—”“You like her, do you?”I know my question is a little bit personal, but cowardness is a big NO. If he likes her, why not tell her? Besides, I know that aunt Millie likes him too.Seconds passed, but
“ALL I need is an update, Grant! Why can’t you give it to me? I already paid you!” Helios’s thunderous voice boomed inside his office at the penthouse.Grant is standing in front of him. “I am doing my best—”“You all have the sources, but why are you having a hard time locating her?”Grant pinched the bridge of his nose as he met Helios’s gaze.“What you are doing will cause trouble, Helios. You have to think—”“I don't fucking care! All I want is to see her!” he yelled.Grant sighed. “I will look for her again. But I am telling you, it’s so hard. My informant is a skilled one, but still, she’s having a hard time. It seems like someone is hiding her—”“Don’t add bullshit to your shit, Grant!”Grant frowned. “I am your cousin, but you’re telling me those things?”Helios glared at Grant. “Don’t make me say that you’re useless.”Grant let out a soft chuckle. “But you already said it. Whatever, pussy-whipped. I will find your girl,” he said and was about to turn around when Helios spoke.
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