BEATRICE:I stared a couple of times at the man in front of me in this fancy restaurant. He wore his business suit while gawking at me, who was all smiles the whole duration of this meetup. He never grew or raised his eyebrows. The way he gawked at me was making me already uncomfortable. What the heck was wrong with him? I just wanted to go right now and let Christina believe that we did not click. This man surely did not want a woman who already had a responsibility to her son or daughter. There was never such a thing as that. Men usually run away from responsibilities. “Would you please stop looking at me like that?” I finally managed to say while playing with my hands at the top of the table. He blinked a couple of times. “Did I offend you?”The problem with this man was that he did not talk, and was only looking at me as if he was a fool. “I don't like it. I did not come here so that you could openly stare at me. Why are you like this? Is this your first time seeing a single
BEATRICE:Josh smiled. “I know you will eventually remember me. I am glad you finally remembered me, Beatrice. Faces like this are hard to forget,” he muttered while wearing a smile on his face. He was not bragging. He sure was handsome and this man knew it too.My forehead knotted. “How come I did not remember you?”He shrugged off his shoulders. “You have different interests. You were into reading while I was in sports. You never visited the stadium. You were always swimming in your books and if not for your friends, you would never watch any sports.”I was not really into sports. I did not understand any of that and when we watched in the past, my friends would just explain the rules of the game and how the team would get points.“Sports? What kind of sports?” Our school was indeed known for producing successful players which eventually competed in international sports competition to the point that some other schools were scared upon mentioning our schools.“Soccer. I remember you
BEATRICE:Was this even real? This was supposed to be an ordinary blind date. I planned on ditching this man after this and reprimand Christina for deciding things like this. But after knowing this man even well, those plans were suddenly thrown out of the window.This man was quite blatant in terms of his feelings. There was no topsy curvy curve. Just pure direct confessions of feelings. I liked how he was straightforward. We were already old and wasting time was no longer part of the plan.“Why?”“I have a long-time crush on you. You were my first love.”“Why?” I pressed.“You’re different from the other women out there. You came from a rich family, yet you don't look down on the poor. You were humble and did not brag about your wealth. Your friends were poor. All of them. I like how you did not choose friends. That you're not picky.”Does he even know about that?“We were rich before, because I have my family. But not right now. I'm already struggling to pay for my bills.”“That's
DRAKE: It was already evening, but Beatrice had not returned. Dammit. My heart had been pounding in my chest like crazy while my hands felt clammy. Is this the right time to go after her? Just to check? This is so unlike Beatrice. How could I stay still and not worry? This kind of situation made me want to put a GPS tracker on her phone just to know whether she was right now. Do you think tracking her would make her happy, Drake? Of course, it won't. It would make her even mad at me. For the nth time, I would occasionally glance at the clock to check the time, hoping that Beatrice would return. She sure was taking her time. Did she enjoy her blind date? It was your fault for being slow. If you were only fast. If you only dated her, this would never happen at all. Stop waiting for some kind of miracle that she would suddenly like you without doing anything. How could I date her when another part of me was guilty of what I did in the past? Did I even have the right to be with
DRAKE: “I'm not a fool and I was not born just now, Drake. You're waiting for her. Too bad. It's too late for you. She was having the best day of her life right now and her returning home this late is proof of that. Beatrice...she never went home this late especially if Grayson is waiting for her," she informed. “But now, she’s late, which surprised me.”Yeah.That woman had a point. She did not usually go home this late. She was always looking after her son. But now...she was suddenly changing. All because of her date? Who was it again? Was he better than me?Of course, he was. If it were you, your ex-wife wouldn't approve of that blind date. I forgot to ask Christina about it.You forget or you refuse to answer? Because she will rob it into your face that your ex-wife no longer cared about you and that she had already moved on from the past?"Who would know? Maybe the two went on a movie date? Beatrice loved watching movies in the theaters. Something she stopped doing when she gav
DRAKE: Marriage proposal? That fast? But they only know each other right now, right? What if the two were past lovers and were starting to rekindle their love? Could you do something about it? My mind felt like it was spinning. The thought of Beatrice being married to someone else felt like I was being stabbed a million times in my chest. It was painful. It was so painful that it was becoming difficult to breathe. Did Beatrice feel this kind of pain as she begged me not to divorce her? If it was this painful, I must be paying for the pain I made her suffer. If this was the only way that would make her return to me, I would be willing to suffer the consequences as long as she will forgive me again. “I don’t believe it,” I commented, trying to forget what I felt right now. A marriage proposal was already a serious thing. “She would marry a man that fast? That was so unlike Beatrice. You were only saying that to anger me. Beatrice had never dated anyone for the past few years and
DRAKE: CHRISTINA looked at me in disbelief before she laughed. "Why? You're threatened now or is it because your ego could not accept that someone out there like your ex-wife and is willing to take full responsibility to your ex-wife and your son because that was what Josh promised to me. That man had been in love with your ex-wife since they were still in high school and that feelings turned into love until now. Beatrice was his first love, you got that. And nothing could beat first love. So, if I were you, stop being stubborn and get out of her life as soon as possible so that Josh would be able to come here freely." "I am already here, and I am planning to stay for the rest of my life. Beatrice will have to deal with my presence, and I won't allow it that they got to marry that Josh," I declared. Her eyes narrowed and folded her arms in front of her chest. "What do you think are you doing? Making a mess in my sister-in-law's life?" "This is not making a mess, Christina. I am on
BEATRICE:I was expecting that Christina and Drake would be asking about my date. How it turned out. But definitely not about me having sex over some random guy. I wished Christina could stop her mouth for a moment. She was totally embarrassing me. Could I ask the ground to swallow me now? I no longer know what I should do with her mouth. She was too blunt. Christina should be siding with me now. Not with my ex-husband. How could she put me in an awkward position? And how could she blatantly ask about sex while we were still in the doorway? Well, why would I be surprised when that was part of her personality? I should already accept all her strangeness since Everette had long accepted it.But still…I could not get used to it. But my ex-husband was another story. Why would he be asking about such things? What was his right?“Well?” Christina asked, her eyes full of mischief. "Do I have to answer that? It is too personal. I don’t usually share my private sexual activities," I fou
BEATRICE:I was about to tell Drake, but stopped myself from saying out loud. There was already too much that was running on his mind and I could not afford to add more problems to him. “It was nothing, babe,” I replied and leaned on his shoulders, as he continued to drive the long road. Grayson was in the backseat already knocked out. “Nothing that you should be concerned about.”“Are you sure because you seem bothered after talking to your Mom. How did your conversation go? You know what? I made sure that you and your Mom will have some time to talk.”“Really? That's the reason why you left us at the table?”How considerate of him. How could I not fall for him over again? He was worth it. He was worth everything. “Yeah. Your Mom won't talk if there's some audience around us.”And she was able to say everything she wanted when we were alone. “Tell me the company's situation.”He was silent for a moment, before saying, “No need to worry about it. Let me handle it, doll. I will make
BEATRICE:Something about the board losing their trust on you? I wanted to ask, but no words would come out of my mouth.Why was it so difficult to ask him?“Hey. Are you okay?”Are you okay? Why can’t you tell me the truth? Why do you suffer in silence, Drake? Don’t you believe that I could help you, too? We are all in this together, right? Why don’t you let me join your suffering? I want to help you with it. So please…at least let me join you.“I am. How about you?”He chuckled. “I am fine. How about you?”“You’re acting weird, Beatrice. But to answer your question. Yes. I am fine. I am always fine whenever you are with me. I forgot all my problems because there is you, doll.”“Tell me how much the company meant to you.”“It’s my life,” he answered. “I worked hard for it. That was the result of working too much because of our absence, doll. I promised myself that I would make it successful so that when you returned, I could offer it to you.”"You did well, babe. I am so proud of you
BEATRICE:Seeing my reaction, Mom clicked her tongue together. "Based on your reaction, I assume that your ex-husband did not say anything to you about it.""He...He did not, Mom.""The board of directors agreed that if he did not do something to save the company, they will pull off the remaining of these stocks and what do you think will happen?""Worse case scenario, the company will continue to have losses and would eventually file for bankruptcy.""What about his people? Do you think he is fine with that? He will blame himself for what happened and he's the only one who knows what will happen."I clenched my fist. "Why are you telling me these things, Mom?" She shrugged off her shoulders. "I was surprised that you were able to have a child.""When Drake divorced me, I didn't know that I was already carrying a child during that time.""I won't question that child. He took a lot after you which is fine with me.""What do you want, Mom?""You? What can you do to save your ex-husband
BEATRICE:Mom and Dad. I wanted to rush to their side and hugged them until they found it difficult to breathe, hoping that a tight embrace would fulfill the countless years of not seeing each other. Back then, I was still debating on whether I would see them face to face, but now... I was glad that Drake had pushed me to meet them. My heart felt like it weighed a ton. Dad's eyes simmered with tears, while Mom... I did not know what she was thinking. She wore a poker face. Mom was always like that. Unreadable. My other siblings called her Ice Queen Mother, for showing rare affection towards us. I always scolded them for calling Mom that, but they would only say that it was Mom's fault for being smart like that.I was the one who fulfilled the emotions my siblings craved. I thought it was enough, but it was not. Despite Mom's personality, they still wanted to feel her affection. "Mommy. Who are they?""Your grandparents," I whispered.They finally reached our table."Beatrice,"
BEATRICE:Guilt washed over my chest, knowing the tragedy that fell on Zereka's life. Poor child. I should have known that she had suffered. If I did, I should have been patient with her."Oh, my goodness, Drake. Are you telling the truth?""I'm the only one who knows about it, and I hope you will not tell a single soul, doll. She will kill me for sure. The tough exterior was only a facade, because she did not want others to treat her weakly. Deep inside, she was still thirteen years old I saw crying for her Mom's name. Please be patient with her, doll. I know it's unfair to you...""It's fine." Now that I know that child's background, how could I be a bitch? "I called her a bitch. She might be hating me for that.""You also cannot be blamed.""I want to meet Zereka again and who knows? Maybe we will be friends in the end. How about children? Does she want children? Do you think she will like Grayson?""I saw her staking your social media account and stare at Grayson. So, maybe she li
BEATRICE:“I told him I was going,” I explained. "He invited me at first, saying he will have a better chance than him being alone.""Oh, great. Does Everette know about that?"I shook my head. "He did not know anything. If you tell him right now, that's the only time he will know about the plan.""There's only a slim chance that they will invest in his company and do you know the percentage? Only one percent, Beatrice. After what he did to you, for divorcing you, do you think they will forgive you easily? You two became the talk among your relatives. They keep on asking questions about you and your ex-husband. However, when your Mom snarled and scolded them, they became silent. However, the rumors of your separation did not stop, angering Clara even more. Everette and I were witnesses to that. When you disappear from the family, the rumors become even worse.""More than five years had passed, Maybe she had forgiven what happened?" I hoped she did. And if she did not? I no longer
BEATRICE:“Beatrice? Are you still there?”What a bastard.He knows that Christina had her miscarriage, yet he called her?“Yes, I am here. What is it again?”“Is there no chance that the two will reconcile?”Exhaling, I inquired, “Did you call because he asked you?”“I was about to call you even if he did not call. But he got the right timing. He called me first before I was able to call you.”“Christina, the next time he calls you, don’t answer it.”“Why?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity. "Did something happen between you two that I was not aware of?"I bit the inside of my cheeks, debating if I should tell her or not.She's still not fully recovered, Beatrice. what if she will be sent to the hospital again, because of stress?There was a point, there. "N-No. Nothing happened.""So why are you evading him as if he is bringing the plague?""I-It's because of Drake. I have decided that I will give him a chance."I heard her mutter a few curses in the background. With a faint v
BEATRICE:Relax. Don’t fret. Control yourself, Beatrice. You will not lose your control because of that woman.“Did you hear me? She pulled my hair!”“Why would Beatrice do that, Zereka? She’s not the type to—”She sniffed. “You never listened to me, Drakey. You always believed that I was making a scene. That I am lying to you. How could I do that? I love you so much that I will never ever lie to you,” she declared, cutting off his words before he could even finish it. Rude. Every time she said that she loved her brother, the hair on my arms would always stand. It always felt like it had a double meaning. “Do you know what she called me? A bitch, Drake. I’m only eighteen years old and someone already called me a bitch!”“Beatrice. Is that true?”“What do you want to hear, Drake?” I asked. “Tell me so that I will tell you right away. Don’t waste my time anymore.”“Doll… I’m not saying anything wrong. All I wanted is you to tell me your side. I don't want to take sides as much as pos
BEATRICE:If Drake was here, I would never know why Zereka was here. If Drake was here, she would keep on pretending to be the sweet little sister of his. She could fool anyone with that sweet face of hers. "I'm sorry, but you don't have a say on that, too. We have chosen ourselves to love each other and even if a million people would be against our path, our love will remain strong. That includes you, by the way."It was a cheesy statement. I never thought the time would come when I would say those words, but here it was.She threw back her head and laughed. "Love? Are you freaking kidding me? Don't tell me that kind of bullshit. Love does not exist. Only lust." I was taken aback at her curse. My forehead knotted seeing how she bawled her palms into a fist. "Are you perhaps..." Did she perhaps not experience how to be in love? That she did not know how it felt? That she believed it was all lies? Right. I remembered. This woman was Drake's half-sister. And Drake's family had n