“YOU should have fun, Mich.”Those were Megan’s last words that lingered in her head after their phone call that morning. Her best friend checked up on her and wanted to know how she was, especially since she was going through a sensitive pregnancy journey.Michelle didn’t know how the hell she’d have fun in the four corners of her bedroom. In fact, she wasn’t sure if she could still be happy at that point in her life.She was barely alive, barely breathing, yet she was trying to live for her children because she had made a promise to Ethan. Regardless of what her emotions were, Marsha and the second baby were her top priority.Fun. Michelle looked for a fun thing to do while Marsha was playing with her grandfather.Michelle sighed heavily. Her feet guided her to the garden. The beautiful flowers in the little garden next to their house had bloomed over the past painful weeks. While the rest of her world had crumpled after the disappearance, this part of their home remained colorful.
“DO you want some music?”Michelle was gazing out the car window. Her arms were both resting on the window frame. She could see the sunset on the side of the road as she peered through the window.She was just in awe of its beauty. She began to feel more at ease, and a small smile appeared on her face. Every part of her body seemed to experience magic at that precise moment.She nodded her head in response to Jacob’s question. The man then turned on the radio and left her to her own thoughts as he focused on the road.The romantic music began to play. She listened to it and made the most of the moment because she knew that as soon as she entered her bedroom, the anxious sensation of being by herself would return.“Do you feel better?” She heard Jacob muttering under his breath.She turned to him and gave him another nod. “I feel better that we bought so many stocks of food. My cravings are getting out of hand.”Jacob chuckled a bit. “Pregnancy cravings seem appealing.”“Or you can say
THE NEXT morning, Michelle and Marsha went to her OB-GYN for a follow-up checkup. The baby in her womb was healthy, and they’d be able to know the gender by her next follow-up.Marsha was there when they watched the monitor for her ongoing ultrasound. Michelle couldn’t help but be in tears as she noticed how happy her daughter was to see the little blip inside of her womb moving. She couldn’t wait for her new baby to come out of her and see the world and what it had to offer.After going to the hospital, she treated Marsha to a nice ice cream shop. It had been a while since the last time they went on a date together. The last she could remember was when they were still in Italy. It seemed like their situation went back to how it was back then in another country. The only difference was how she felt about Ethan.“Do you think Daddy will still come back, Mommy?”Michelle’s lips parted when she heard Marsha’s question. The little girl looked at her while she took a spoonful of ice cream.
“HE’S BLIND…”Ellaine bit her lower lip as she spoke with her accomplice on a phone call. She peered through the slightly opened door and saw Ethan sitting upright on the bed. His eyes were focused on his front, yet she knew the man was not able to see anything.She then took a few steps back to ensure the man wouldn’t hear her.Based on how Ethan described his surroundings—which he said to be so dark—she figured out that his eyes had some serious damage after the plane crash.But that wasn’t just an interesting fact she had seen from him.There was something else which made her even happier.“But that’s not what makes the situation more fun,” she paused, allowing herself to laugh as she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “He doesn’t seem to remember his name. When I asked him if he remembered a woman whose name is Michelle, he looked confused. He can’t seem to remember anything.”“You must be over the moon then…”She laughed giddily. “Of course. That means I can replace his goddamn
MARSHA’S laughter could be heard from the garden. A small Pomeranian was playing with her, chasing after her as she ran around that vast corner of Steinfield’s residence.Michelle smiled, watching her daughter having fun. With her arms crossed against her chest, she turned her heels towards the old woman sitting across the table. Selene Steinfield looked so sophisticated in her all-green outfit and aviator that complimented the makeup and shape of her face.Her expression softened as she looked at her mother-in-law, who appeared to have become quiet since that day her second son went missing. Michelle licked the bottom of her lips and walked closer to the table, taking the available seat next to Selene.“Jacob told me you’ve been staying in this house for so long. You never go out and let your doctor see you here instead. Are you okay, mom?” she asked, her voice low with a hint of concern.Selene swallowed before she sipped on her tea. Michelle watched her every move, waiting for an a
MICHELLE stayed at Jacob’s side, looking after him until his fever went down. Before she realized it, the morning already came and it sunshine blinded her closed eyes.Her forehead creased. Seconds later, she opened her eyes and found herself lying on the bed. She sat upright and looked everywhere. Jacob wasn’t on the bed anymore. She stood up and was about to go out to find him when she heard the pouring of water from the bathroom. She sighed in defeat, realizing that the man had taken a bath when he was supposed to be resting on the bed.“Damn it. Jacob, did you just take a bath?!” she asked, annoyed and slammed the bathroom door in frustration. “You’re supposed to rest, mister!”She heard the man’s playful laugh from the inside. Crossing her arms against her chest, she leaned against the wall next to the bathroom door and waited for Jacob to come out. However, she regretted it right away when a minute later, Jacob went out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
“JACOB is sick,” Michelle informed Megan over a phone call.“That sounds interesting,” Megan said, seemingly shocked. “I didn’t know that brute isn’t germ-free and still could get sick.”She shrugged and sighed afterward. Megan knew Jacob so well as they had businesses with the man. They became close and treated each other as friends.“So you’re there, staying to look after him.”“That’s right,” Michelle answered and bit her lower lip.She leaned her back against the cold fridge door, still contemplating in her mind whether it was right for her to take care of Jacob or not. Her conscience seemed to be guilt-tripping her for some unknown reason and she didn’t like how it felt.“Do you think it’s okay?” Michelle asked her best friend.“Yeah, sure. Why? Is there a problem?” Megan asked curiously. Her tone didn’t sound like she was putting malice in their situation like it was totally okay and shouldn’t harm her married life with Ethan.Or was she the only one putting malice in her effort
“BABY, what are you doing here?”Ellaine’s sweet voice lingered in the air. She closed the distance between her and Ethan, hugging the man who was standing up at the open door, gaze locked on oblivion.Ethan was holding a cane to guide him as he walked around their apartment. Apparently, the man has grown tired of sitting on the bed and wondering what his life was like prior to getting blind and having amnesia. Ellaine didn’t stop him from moving around the apartment as she was trying to gain his trust.She wanted to make him believe her version of a story, and to do that, she needed to make him feel that she understood him better than anyone else. Any form of disapproval of any of his wants could only lead to him doubting her, which she didn’t want to happen.Ellaine hugged him from behind. Her hands were wrapped around his waist, going to his firm, well-shaped abs. She bit her lower lip while she shut her eyes, and couldn’t help but feel the growing desire within her groin area.Nee