A week had passed since the incident. Most of the victims had already been discharged from the hospital and are now just resting in the comfort of their homes. Harries advised them to visit a psychiatrist and get therapy for a month at the very least. The explosion incident is no little matter, and she knows that they need to get treated right away or that night will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Brian had gotten a little better, and he had joined the search team for Johannes. News of Johannes being missing had stirred up the entire country, and his face was everywhere. They had even put a reward to whoever it was that would see him and bring him back. The Alejandros are doing everything in their power to look for the youngest. They are all still hoping that he survived that explosion. He is Johannes Alejandro, and they all know that he will come back for Nathalie. He had been planning everything, and Johannes was a man of his word. He will surely return and complain that
“Is there any good news from your side?” Brian took the bottled water from a staff. He pinned the phone between his ear and his shoulder so he could open the cap. He had been looking for his brother for a week now, and he could not get any lead of where he could have been sent off by the sea. They traced all the possible places he could have been, but not even a shadow of him could be seen. Looks like it was no good with Joshua’s side, either. He had personally requested Joshua to allow him to look for his brother, though it was a little dangerous given that there was a coming hurricane in the country. That made the whole situation worse than it already was. If that hurricane landed on the country, they would have no choice but to postpone looking for Johannes since it would be dangerous in the ocean. [I found out about a victim last week, around the time that Johannes went missing. We would go there tonight to check,] Joshua told Brian. Joshua was actually hesitating to say to him
Nathalie's POV I could feel my whole body protesting while I took every step. I glanced at myself at the glass door that I had walked past. I should be safe to get out of the hospital. My hair is tied up, and I am wearing a civilian. I actually got it from an open room I walked by earlier. I didn't mean to steal their clothing, but I had no choice. I have to get away from here. I have to meet her. I have to meet Vie. I walked again and had to look down when I heard Harries's and Brian's voices going in my direction. How I thanked the set of clothes for having a baseball cap with them. I could hear the care in Brian's voice when he asked about me. He really loves his brother. Look at how thin he is from the last time I have seen him. Brian, who would always tease me when his eyes set on me, is no more. But I need not their pity. I need Johannes. It had been two weeks, and they could still not find him. What if there's no him to look for in the nearby islands? If it was Vie,
“What? To Vie? Why would she go there?” Brian pulled his car to the side so he could listen better to what Clinton was telling him. [It’s a long story, just check the address I’d send you,] Clinton dropped the call, and a text message soon followed. Brian immediately drives to the place, ‘Please, don’t get hurt, Nathalie!’ “Nathalie!” Brian caught her just in time before she fell to the ground. Nathalie looked so pale that it worried him. “J-Johannes...” Nathalie mumbled and passed out. Brian cursed under his breath and immediately took her to his car. Brian notified Harries that he got Nathalie back, but she looked like she was in pain. Nathalie would occasionally groan on their way to the hospital, and Brian would drive faster every time that happened. Harries was panicking while she waited for Brian in front of the hospital. She had everything ready just in case Nathalie’s condition was worse than she expected. Harries had Brian explain briefly what he observed of the woman, and
"Stop it, Nathalie," Clinton told her. Nathalie pulled her hand from Vie's grip, but the woman suddenly fell to the ground. Some of the people watching gasped at the sight. Clinton covered Nathalie from the photographs that were starting to gather. "Shit. Make sure everyone here doesn't leak anything about this," Clinton told his aide. He was about to bring Nathalie back to her room when the woman spoke up. "Acting weak, Vie? Is this how you got everything you wanted thus far? Huh!?" A fiery rage is evident in Nathalie's eyes. She pushed Clinton to the side and was about to slap Vie again when a hand pulled her, forcing Nathalie away from the pitiful woman on the floor. "Vie? Vie? Why? Does it hurt anywhere? Look at me," it was Samuel, who just came from the comfort room. He rushed to the place when he saw Vie on the ground. He glared at Nathalie, "It's you again, Nathalie Taylor. What the hell is your problem? Can't you see that Vie is unwell?" "Unwell? This is why you looked fool
Vie’s POV I was always commended for being such a healthy and active child when I was a kid. My sister was born weak. I envy her. She always has the attention of our parents, the care of our friends, and the love of Johannes. Someone who’s always looked after. A pitiful woman who would need someone’s assistance to survive. That was why I often act as weak. When I realized how easy it was for vulnerable people to live in such a world, being protected... carried to where they wanna be, I started seeing myself as weak. But if I knew it would be this suffocating, I would have never had such a thought as a young child. It had been an hour since my encounter with Nathalie Taylor. I knew she was confined to this hospital because that was what the report mentioned. Still, I was surprised to bump into her. That was not part of my plans. My plans... That stupid fucking plan ruined everything for me. I wonder if I had been impatient. Maybe I was too restless and did not plan everything thor
Nathalie’s POV I stared at the house with bitterness. “Don’t get too disappointed, Nathalie. There’s still a bunch we could pay a visit,” I smiled to let her know that her kindness reached me. “Careful,” her warm hands helped me until I sat down. I did not know pregnancy could be this hard. Samantha handed me a bottle of water and a sandwich. “Should I go with you to your check-up tomorrow?” “I know you’re busy, Sam. You don’t have to do this for me, really,” Harries nagged me to have a weekly check-up. She’s been a little overreacting since the incident with Vie, but I could understand. I had cut it to every two weeks. I could not visit her that much since I was also busy looking for Johannes. Six months... it had been that long since I last saw him. The engagement ring he proposed with itches my ring finger every now and then. My pregnancy is challenging since the baby is quite sensitive. Even minor accidents could cost him his life. Yeah, Harries told me it’s gonna be a bo
Clinton was about to enter the room when he heard the two best friends arguing. He did not mean to eavesdrop, but he could not step away as well. Harries saw him outside but did not tell him off. She just walked out in a fast manner. 'She must be really pissed,' Clinton knew how level-headed Harries was because she's a surgeon down to her core. It even surprises him how the woman could act so calm every time, but this must be her limit; this must be the end of how much Harries could tolerate."Are you alright?" Clinton placed a paper bag on the table. "It's a salad from Ysabel," now that he's appropriately seeing Nathalie, Clinton could understand where Harries's anger comes from. She had been standing as Nathalie's guardian since then and must be mad that the woman does not care about her health well enough. Nathalie had always been that way, though. She would always treat herself the least. Looking at how she had thinned from the last time Clinton saw her, she must be working hard
“Where are we going, Dad?” Julian asked his father while still yawning. He had just woken up from his afternoon nap when his father picked him up from his grandparent’s mansion. Julian Nathaniel Alejandro, Johannes felt proud while staring at his son’s ocean-blue eyes. “We’re going to the cemetery,” “Is Mom there?” Johannes looked at him with sad eyes and smiled, “Yes, Julian. We’re going to see Mom there,” Johannes fixed his son’s seatbelt and started the car’s engine. It had been seven years since Nathalie birthed Julian. He’s a big boy now who hates it when Johannes kisses him on the cheek. He used to giggle when his father did it, but now that he turned seven, he would glare at Johannes whenever he did that, especially when they were in a public place. Julian looked like Johannes, but his eyes took after Nathalie. Those deep blues of ocean that always enchanted Johannes. He could not help but stare at them whenever he had the chance. “Are we going to visit Abuelo too?” the
“Uncle Ken,” Yohan sat beside him. Johannes was still staring at the door where the woman had left. The harsh sound of the rain was worrying him. ‘Nathalie hates the rain,’ he thought to himself. He furrowed his brows and realized that the fact that the woman hated the rain popped up out of his head out of nowhere. Was it a memory? Did he remember that from the past? “Uncle Ken?” Yohan called him again since Johannes did not respond the first time. Johannes then looked at him and messed up his hair. “Come here, bud,” Yohan sat on Johannes’s lap and lowered his face. Yohan rubbed his hands against each other and then looked at Johannes with teary eyes. “Did Mama make a mistake to Uncle Ken?” he asked, crying now. “Yohan is the bad boy because I lied,” “What?” Johannes asked, furrowing his brows now since he could not understand him all too well. Yohan jumped from his seat and took something from his pocket. “Yohan was mad when he learned that you were getting married. I thought
One week had passed since Nathalie and Johannes had a check-up. Nathalie is fine now, but the latter seemed different. Johannes stared at her sleeping figure. He had been doing this for almost a week now. After what he witnessed last time, Johannes always found himself inside her bedroom. Staying beside her while Nathalie cries in her sleep. Johannes could not understand what it was that pulled him to the woman he had lost memories of. Should he open himself for her, or should he cut every string connected to her? Johannes could not decide. "Nathalie... Nathalie Taylor," he muttered *** The chairman handed over the folder to General Smith. He’s a companion he had when he was just starting out, thus, confirming the trust between them. “We had been trying to figure out these cases before... I can’t believe such a young woman could do all these evil things,” “She’s crazy, Smith,” “Are you sure you want to hand it over to us?” General Smith asked the chairman. Miraflores Alej
"You're here again," Yael tried to get up but gave up when she felt an exhausting pain inside her stomach. It was so painful that her eyes teared up. Johannes panicked and ran to her. Worrying, he told Yael, "This is why I always come here. I told you you don't have to get up when I come here. How could you be so stubborn!?" He shouted to the poor woman. Yarl stared at his enraged face and then averted her gaze, "I told you you don't have to come here... you... you found your home, Johannes," "Ken. You gave me that name. Use that," "Johannes—" "Are you really trying to make me mad? Johannes here, Johannes that! I fucking cannot remember anything related to that name, so damn it, just treat me as that penniless Ken before!" Johannes frustratedly told her. Yael had realized her mistake. She stared into his eyes and tried to read his confused emotion. Yael had met Johannes when he was still in the hospital. She assisted Johannes back then, and he had felt indebted to her kindness.
Nathalie’s POV I was about to get inside the mansion when I saw a familiar figure, but I doubt it was him. It would be impossible to see him out of his cave. “Nathalie Taylor!” I turned around and saw Harries waving at me. It had been so long since we last saw each other. She even nagged me because I was behaving unlike myself these past few months. “Harries!” I hugged her, and she kissed me on the cheek. Harries still treats me like a child, really. I motioned her to sit on the chair and asked a waiter to serve us food. “How was your trip?” “Terrible,” I furrowed my brows; this woman loves traveling like how she loves medicine. To hear her condemn her last trio like this, something must have had occurred. She rolled her eyes when a man greeted her with a kiss. Now I get it. Harries must have felt upset with her husband, Loki. He’s a businessman like Johannes though he majored in the medicine industry, the reason why he eventually met my best friend through the same acquaintanc
Cohen’s POV I could swear I never intended to attend this fucking party. There were a lot of familiar faces though I am sure that they didn’t know who I was. Sebastian is doing his thing of introducing me to everyone he knows, which is practically everyone at this event. “Sebastian,” “Hmm? Wait. Mr. Alfredo! Hey! Long time no see. How is it going with the firm?” he chatted with yet another man in a suit. Sebastian seems friendlier than the last time I saw him. I distanced myself a little since it would be a nuisance if he asked me to talk to his acquaintances. I sat by the bar, and the bartender gave me a tequila. I smirked and greeted him with proud eyes. He dares challenge me? Well, I have a pretty high tolerance when it comes to these types of drinks. I was enjoying myself when the host announced that the party was about to start. I could vomit at the sight of the host of this event. What the hell? Is this party about them? Sebastian, you idiot. I should not have mentioned Nath
Cohen’s POV It felt strange waking up on a soft mattress. It had been a long since I last slept in one. I don’t know why it feels empty though this room is not even that big, to begin with. It’s cold, really. Winter is knocking on the corner of this house. I stood up after lazily staring at my ceiling for hours, trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me today. It should be another day when I should visit the eatery and cook for them, but for some reason, I picked up my phone and told them I’d have to take a leave for today. When I went to the kitchen, Caleb was already there, cooking breakfast. He glanced at me and smirked, “Fancy seeing you wake up late,” I ignored him and went to make my coffee. He seemed to be in the mood today that he irritated me this early. “Where’s mom?” I sat on the edge of the table as I looked at him over my cup of coffee. Caleb turned around and shrugged his shoulders. I furrowed my brows with that. “You don’t know?” “No, I mean, she asked me
"A party?" Ken just reached home after visiting Yael in the hospital. He did not want to leave her, but his family insisted that he stays at home. Yohan was with a nanny since he wanted to stay beside his mother. Johannes stared at his parents with a confused expression, "What party? Do I have to participate in one?" he asked again, removing his coat. It was snowing outside. The first snow was last night, and the whole city was covered in white the following day. Joaquin and Beatrice smiled at Johannes, "This is to celebrate your return, son," Joaquin said. Ken furrowed his brows and sat on the couch. He stretched his neck. When he opened his eyes, he looked at his parents and shook his head. "I hate parties." "You don't even remember that," Clinton, who came from the entrance, interrupted his cousin's refusal. Clinton gave Beatrice a box of a new set of tea from China. The woman smiled at him and then turned to her son again. "Clinton is right, Johannes," "Ken. I told you to call
Nathalie visited the orphanage again when she felt well. She brought a lot of toys and food that she bought from the market. The kids were happy to see her, chanting the fairy song they had made to dedicate it to her. Nathalie was looking around, and Olivia noticed that she was looking for something, “Are you looking for something, Nathalie?” “Oh, ahm... I... I was just wondering where Yael and Johannes—I mean Ken are,” she shyly replied. She had heard from the nurse that Yael had been discharged, so she assumed that the woman was already feeling better. Nathalie thought they would be here since it seemed like Johannes liked being around the children, but afternoon came, and there was no shadow of him, Yael, or her son. “Yael? Oh dear, you haven’t heard the news yet? She was brought to the city to have medications, her illness relapsed, and she needed better treatment,” Olivia told her. Nathalie was shocked. She could not utter a reply and just forced herself to smile. Nathalie we