Chapter 94: Calling a TruceBrandon’s P.O.VThe weight of every revelation that Scott had just reveled to me came crashing down on me.How had I not noticed any of this?Julia’s parent’s getting a divorce? Julia’s mother turning into an alcoholic? Scott taking up the void that I had left in her life?How had I been so ignorant all this time?What made it worse was the fact that I didn’t remember anything from that time. The whole year, from the time my mother died, to the time that woman, my father’s secretary seduced me into sleeping with her…to the point where I was driven by my irrational hate and anger towards the rest of the world…all of it was one big blacked out blur and I could hardly remember any of it.I tried to remember the times when I had ignored Julia. When I had ignored Scott and Cole and Sagar…But all of it was a blur. N
Chapter 95: Don’t Want TroubleFaith’s P.O.VI didn’t particularly like this feeling of helplessness…not at all. And I wasn’t even worried about myself at the moment.The cops stayed in the room, keeping their watchful eyes on me as if I was going to get up and jump out the window to escape them. Well…unfortunately, this wasn’t some kind of survival episode and I was definitely not into Fast and Furious. Besides, I just had a surgery!How did they expect me to escape when I was barely able to move without support?I kept looking at the clock on the wall, waiting desperately for someone, anyone, to arrive! Debby waited patiently by my side, her hand in mine a kind of reassurance that everything was going to be alright and that help was on its way.However, even though the clock seemed to tick at a snail’s pace and a minute felt like an eternity, I didn’t actually have to wait long before people started pouring into my room.First came my aunt and George, their worried faces instantly l
Chapter 96: ForgivenessFaith’s P.O.VBrandon and I faced Julia alone, Scott deciding to wait outside for the time being.Even though I wanted Brandon beside me, I didn’t show it. Neither did I tell him. Instead, I watched him take a seat on one of the couches on the opposite side of the room, far from me and Julia.I knew he was giving us space, letting me and her settle our differences. It was what was most important. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but miss his presence, his support.No matter how brave of a front I put up…I was still worried about what had transpired between him and Julia at her house.“Thank you…” Julia told me now, her eyes appearing haunted as she looked up at me tiredly. “For not complaining against me…even after everything I did…”I saw tears well up in her eyes as she swallowed hard, her emotions clearly all over the place. “Why? Why did you help me? I’ve been the shittiest person to you…I’ve bullied you, spoke badly about you…tried to steal Brandon aw
Chapter 97: A New BeginningFaith’s P.O.V“Good morning!”Startled, I looked towards the door to see Ethan poking his head in with a wide grin on his face. “How have you been?”“Ethan!” I smiled at his presence, glad to see him. “It’s good to see you. I’m getting discharged today.”“Yup. Just heard the reception discussing that.” He came forwards to stand beside the bed, where I sat already dressed in casual clothing, ready for the nurses to take me out as soon as Brandon was done with the paperwork. “How are you? Bran told me everything…about what happened yesterday.”I nodded, sad that everything had to come to this. “I’m glad everything is over now.” I told him. “And I can start over from scratch. It’s all a new beginning for all of us.”Ethan gave me a look that said that even though it was a new beginning for some of us…there were still lingering feelings left.“At least I still get to be friends with you.” He finally said with a sigh. “But if Brandon treats you bad again…I will
Chapter 98: The First DateFaith’s P.O.V“Finally! Exams are over!” Nik threw her hands up in the air as she did a little ‘happy dance’ before turning to Debby and me. “Let’s go out this evening!”“Go out? Where?” I asked, raising my eyebrows skeptically.Usually, Nik’s idea of going out wasn’t the best of plans. The last time we went out together, not only did she get the wrong address, but we were thrown out of the club since none of us had fake IDs and we weren’t allowed in unless we were twenty one.Now, I watched as Debby nodded enthusiastically to Nik’s proposal, ever the supportive girlfriend…even though I was starting to worry about what trouble they were going to get into this time.“Leave me out.” I sighed, walking down the stairs to join them at the courtyard. “I’ll be heading home first.”“Why? Do you have plans already?” Debby smirked with a knowing look in her eyes.“I do.” I nodded, laughing at her expression. “Brandon asked me out on a date.”“Oh! Really!” Nik looked a
Chapter 99: The PendantFaith’s P.O.VI felt my breath leave my lungs temporarily as I descended down the stairs and there he was…dressed in a black shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbow and black dress pants that fit him like a glove.In his hands was a humongous bouquet of red roses that looked bright and luscious, their fragrance filling the air with sweetness that felt almost like a scene out of a movie.I watched his eyes widen slightly as they landed on me, his lips parting in a small gasp, and his eyes, when they met mine, held promises that made my insides quiver with excitement and my heart almost skip a beat.In all honesty…we hadn't been intimate for a long time now, considering how we had both been through so much…but now, looking at him today, I found myself anticipating the end of the night more than the date itself.Maybe we can just forget about the date and just head to his apartment already?Brandon’s lips tilted up in a small smile and it felt like he knew e
Chapter 100: To the FutureFaith’s P.O.VInstead of answering me right away, he took the pendant from the trey and went behind me to place it around my neck, securing the clasp behind my back. The cool metal fell around my neck easily, and a sense of nostalgia overwhelmed me as I remembered my mother wearing it all the time.But I wasn’t allowed to dwell on the nostalgia for long since I felt his warm breath fanning my skin before I felt him lean down and place a tender kiss on my shoulder.“I didn’t want to give back the pendant…because when you weren’t with me, when we weren’t together, this was the only thing that connected me to you.” He whispered against my ear, his arms coming around me to wrap around my middle. “I threw it away once…when I thought you were too good to be with me, that I didn’t want to taint you with my darkness…and it was right here, at this very beach. But the waves gave it back to me; almost like it was fate…they didn’t want me to lose the only good thing in
Chapter 101: Happy Ever AfterFaith’s P.O.V7 Years Later…“And the award for the best male in a leading role goes to…”I waited as the camera flashed to all the actors in the lineup that were nominated in the award ceremony, my anticipation at a fever pitch as I was literally at the edge of my seat, waiting for the results.But just as the host was about to announce the name of the actor…the TV screen went blank.“What the…?”I turned around to search for the remote, but even when I tried to turn it on, it didn’t work.It was only when someone cleared their throat, quite loudly, in the room, that my attention finally snapped towards the door and I found Aunt Kathy standing there with the cable in her hands and her other hand on her hip as she gave me a narrow eyes glare.“Faith…” Her voice was dead serious as she fixed me with her ‘look’.“Yes?” I grinned sheepishly.“What day is it today?” She tapped her heeled foot on the tiled floor, her light pink gown reaching her knees, the ski
Chapter 101: Happy Ever AfterFaith’s P.O.V7 Years Later…“And the award for the best male in a leading role goes to…”I waited as the camera flashed to all the actors in the lineup that were nominated in the award ceremony, my anticipation at a fever pitch as I was literally at the edge of my seat, waiting for the results.But just as the host was about to announce the name of the actor…the TV screen went blank.“What the…?”I turned around to search for the remote, but even when I tried to turn it on, it didn’t work.It was only when someone cleared their throat, quite loudly, in the room, that my attention finally snapped towards the door and I found Aunt Kathy standing there with the cable in her hands and her other hand on her hip as she gave me a narrow eyes glare.“Faith…” Her voice was dead serious as she fixed me with her ‘look’.“Yes?” I grinned sheepishly.“What day is it today?” She tapped her heeled foot on the tiled floor, her light pink gown reaching her knees, the ski
Chapter 100: To the FutureFaith’s P.O.VInstead of answering me right away, he took the pendant from the trey and went behind me to place it around my neck, securing the clasp behind my back. The cool metal fell around my neck easily, and a sense of nostalgia overwhelmed me as I remembered my mother wearing it all the time.But I wasn’t allowed to dwell on the nostalgia for long since I felt his warm breath fanning my skin before I felt him lean down and place a tender kiss on my shoulder.“I didn’t want to give back the pendant…because when you weren’t with me, when we weren’t together, this was the only thing that connected me to you.” He whispered against my ear, his arms coming around me to wrap around my middle. “I threw it away once…when I thought you were too good to be with me, that I didn’t want to taint you with my darkness…and it was right here, at this very beach. But the waves gave it back to me; almost like it was fate…they didn’t want me to lose the only good thing in
Chapter 99: The PendantFaith’s P.O.VI felt my breath leave my lungs temporarily as I descended down the stairs and there he was…dressed in a black shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbow and black dress pants that fit him like a glove.In his hands was a humongous bouquet of red roses that looked bright and luscious, their fragrance filling the air with sweetness that felt almost like a scene out of a movie.I watched his eyes widen slightly as they landed on me, his lips parting in a small gasp, and his eyes, when they met mine, held promises that made my insides quiver with excitement and my heart almost skip a beat.In all honesty…we hadn't been intimate for a long time now, considering how we had both been through so much…but now, looking at him today, I found myself anticipating the end of the night more than the date itself.Maybe we can just forget about the date and just head to his apartment already?Brandon’s lips tilted up in a small smile and it felt like he knew e
Chapter 98: The First DateFaith’s P.O.V“Finally! Exams are over!” Nik threw her hands up in the air as she did a little ‘happy dance’ before turning to Debby and me. “Let’s go out this evening!”“Go out? Where?” I asked, raising my eyebrows skeptically.Usually, Nik’s idea of going out wasn’t the best of plans. The last time we went out together, not only did she get the wrong address, but we were thrown out of the club since none of us had fake IDs and we weren’t allowed in unless we were twenty one.Now, I watched as Debby nodded enthusiastically to Nik’s proposal, ever the supportive girlfriend…even though I was starting to worry about what trouble they were going to get into this time.“Leave me out.” I sighed, walking down the stairs to join them at the courtyard. “I’ll be heading home first.”“Why? Do you have plans already?” Debby smirked with a knowing look in her eyes.“I do.” I nodded, laughing at her expression. “Brandon asked me out on a date.”“Oh! Really!” Nik looked a
Chapter 97: A New BeginningFaith’s P.O.V“Good morning!”Startled, I looked towards the door to see Ethan poking his head in with a wide grin on his face. “How have you been?”“Ethan!” I smiled at his presence, glad to see him. “It’s good to see you. I’m getting discharged today.”“Yup. Just heard the reception discussing that.” He came forwards to stand beside the bed, where I sat already dressed in casual clothing, ready for the nurses to take me out as soon as Brandon was done with the paperwork. “How are you? Bran told me everything…about what happened yesterday.”I nodded, sad that everything had to come to this. “I’m glad everything is over now.” I told him. “And I can start over from scratch. It’s all a new beginning for all of us.”Ethan gave me a look that said that even though it was a new beginning for some of us…there were still lingering feelings left.“At least I still get to be friends with you.” He finally said with a sigh. “But if Brandon treats you bad again…I will
Chapter 96: ForgivenessFaith’s P.O.VBrandon and I faced Julia alone, Scott deciding to wait outside for the time being.Even though I wanted Brandon beside me, I didn’t show it. Neither did I tell him. Instead, I watched him take a seat on one of the couches on the opposite side of the room, far from me and Julia.I knew he was giving us space, letting me and her settle our differences. It was what was most important. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but miss his presence, his support.No matter how brave of a front I put up…I was still worried about what had transpired between him and Julia at her house.“Thank you…” Julia told me now, her eyes appearing haunted as she looked up at me tiredly. “For not complaining against me…even after everything I did…”I saw tears well up in her eyes as she swallowed hard, her emotions clearly all over the place. “Why? Why did you help me? I’ve been the shittiest person to you…I’ve bullied you, spoke badly about you…tried to steal Brandon aw
Chapter 95: Don’t Want TroubleFaith’s P.O.VI didn’t particularly like this feeling of helplessness…not at all. And I wasn’t even worried about myself at the moment.The cops stayed in the room, keeping their watchful eyes on me as if I was going to get up and jump out the window to escape them. Well…unfortunately, this wasn’t some kind of survival episode and I was definitely not into Fast and Furious. Besides, I just had a surgery!How did they expect me to escape when I was barely able to move without support?I kept looking at the clock on the wall, waiting desperately for someone, anyone, to arrive! Debby waited patiently by my side, her hand in mine a kind of reassurance that everything was going to be alright and that help was on its way.However, even though the clock seemed to tick at a snail’s pace and a minute felt like an eternity, I didn’t actually have to wait long before people started pouring into my room.First came my aunt and George, their worried faces instantly l
Chapter 94: Calling a TruceBrandon’s P.O.VThe weight of every revelation that Scott had just reveled to me came crashing down on me.How had I not noticed any of this?Julia’s parent’s getting a divorce? Julia’s mother turning into an alcoholic? Scott taking up the void that I had left in her life?How had I been so ignorant all this time?What made it worse was the fact that I didn’t remember anything from that time. The whole year, from the time my mother died, to the time that woman, my father’s secretary seduced me into sleeping with her…to the point where I was driven by my irrational hate and anger towards the rest of the world…all of it was one big blacked out blur and I could hardly remember any of it.I tried to remember the times when I had ignored Julia. When I had ignored Scott and Cole and Sagar…But all of it was a blur. N
Chapter 93: Unexpected Confrontations Brandon’s P.O.V The plain white walls of the six storied apartment building brought on a bittersweet avalanche of memories as I got out of the elevator on the second floor and walked down the almost familiar hallways before coming to a stop in front of the same door where I had stood in front of countless times before. Memories from the past came rushing back in waves, making me recall all the times I had stood in front of this very door, sometimes with an expensive bouquet of roses in my hand and sometimes with takeout from a fine dining restaurant. How many times had we slammed these very doors? Sometimes in passion, sometimes in anger and sometimes in dejection? Time was indeed a funny thing, wasn’t it? Because once, when these same emotions had threatened to engulf me in agony…now they were like fleeting images at the back of my mind, hardly evoking even a quarter of the same emotions that I had once felt for the woman who lived behind the