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31: MAY I
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2023-03-14 20:52:08Related chapters
The Mate Agreement 32: THE SIZZLING GRILL
“I tried to fix it.” I sigh. “But by trying, I made it worse.”I shouldn’t have called Mr. Ortega to complain. I should’ve just crashed with Bibah or Evin or found another way to share a room with someone else.Anyone else.“It’s just five days.” Bibah reminds, shrugging. The glimmer of the streetlights reflect on the purple holographic abaya she’s wearing, making her look like someone who’s about to walk the red carpet into the Met Gala. Suddenly I’m glad I wore the dress. At least next to her, I’m not overdressed. “And it’s not like you’ll both be spending all day in there.” She adds.I huff. “Just every night.”Bibah giggles, the sound carrying off and being lost into the bustling noise of the night; car honks and chatter, revving engines and the faint barking of a dog somewhere…I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard this much activity, seen this much people all in one place yet going about their own business. It’s almost overwhelming for me. Bibah however, seems to fit right i
Last Updated : 2023-03-15The Mate Agreement 33: SLEEP PARALYSIS
(William Ravenstone’s POV)Ice cracks beneath my feet.I shiver- no, tremble under the force of the icy wind wiping through my hair and my skin like tiny daggers. My bare feet digs into the snow below, knee-deep, and I’m gasping, falling, bracing myself on bruised palms as I make contact with the unforgiving cold.A chill zaps through my bones.I squint up at a sun-less world, the clouds thick and angry, bearing down on the barren, ice-covered earth like harbingers of doom. For miles around me, I see nothing but white mountains, pure tundra.I try to stagger to my feet.I’m stuck.No, no, no, this can’t be happening, I—“Help!” I yell into the wind. It steals my voice. “Help me!” The fear and panic grip my heart even as the cold begins to slow down my heartbeat. “Luke! Luke, please, I’m sorry!” My voice wraps, bends, breaks in my throat.The world around me zaps out of focus, and then everything shifts. The snow under me turns to stone. The mountains and treacherous distance disappear
Last Updated : 2023-03-17The Mate Agreement 34: PAINTBALL COMRADES
William has been awkward all morning, after he’d woken up staring terrified at the ceiling and I had to calm him down. Thankfully I’d been awake. Thankfully I’d been staring at him as he slept like a creep. Thankfully, he’s too preoccupied with being cold and distant to know that I’d been ogling him in his sleep.I stomp up the steps of the school bus, wiping sweat from my brow and momentarily appreciating the blast of cool air that greets me. Acadia Central City is way warmer than I’d expected, than any of us from the Academy are used to. The weather here is on the brink of changing from a cold winter to an abrupt summer, and so the nights are cold, but the afternoons hot. Evin’s words, not mine.We’d been instructed by Mr. Ortega to wear something we wouldn’t mind ruining for the team building activities. Thanks to Wilma, my only fitting wardrobe options included a polo shirt and booty shorts —which I didn’t wear because I’m not mentally deranged.I smooth down the old red My Chemic
Last Updated : 2023-03-18The Mate Agreement 35: SUDDENLY
Jennifer and I trudge back to the rest of the class group after having our score marked down by Jimmy Beiber. With the excitement of winning worn off, an awkward silence falls between us. Every now and then she glances at me, and from my periphery I see her opening her mouth to say something, hesitating, and then shutting up.“Just say it.”She sighs, tugging at the edge of her ponytail before a determined expression settles on her features. She stops walking and turns to me, the orange flag held limply in her hand. “I’m sorry about Ben, although it’s not my fault, and it’s not his fault, and it’s not your fault either.” She takes a shaky breath, looks up at the blue sky. “None of us can control the mates we get. We can only accept them as they are and have faith that the selection is never wrong.” Her gaze flutters back to me, a small, almost sad smile on her face. “I hope you understand that, Isabella. And I hope we can move on from all this and go back to being good friends.”We we
Last Updated : 2023-03-19The Mate Agreement 36: PICKY EATER
Well this is awkward.William Ravenstone is sitting next to me, Bibah and Akio across us like it’s a double date. We’re in a restaurant downtown, a few blocks away from The Sizzling Grill and the hotel, where we would've been getting out of our paint-splattered clothes and resting our sore muscles, if it weren't for Akio’s insistence on being hungry and Bibah patronizing him.Well to be honest I’m sure all four of us were hungry, but I didn’t want to grab a late lunch in post-paintball clothes with William in a cramped booth next to me.“What’s taking so long…” Akio complains, his leg bouncing under the table, his neck craning towards the corner our waitress had rounded and disappeared almost ten minutes ago.“Maybe if you hadn't ordered half the menu, our food would be here by now.” I glare at him, crossing my arms.He pouts, looking to Bibah for help but she simply shrugs, and goes back to tapping vehemently on her phone screen. Three empty bottles of water were arranged on the tabl
Last Updated : 2023-03-21The Mate Agreement 37: POISON
I finish eating my fries dejectedly, unable to savour or enjoy them because I’d lost my appetite. And yet, I’m still hungry. Opting for something healthier, I take Bibah’s fruit bowl that she’d left behind, contemplating asking the waitress for any type of alcoholic drink they might have. I sigh, glancing over at William who’s still asleep. Maybe it’s best to stay sober. Three spoons of sliced watermelons, apples and grapes later, I lose my fancy for it too. I drag over a plate of untouched spicy noodles, removing the chopsticks from the napkins and tasting.It’s no longer hot, but it’s not bad, I guess.“Enjoying the meal?”I look up at the waitress who had asked; all blond hair and pearly white smile, the same girl that had served us our food. She has a heart-shaped face and an air of natural sweetness, like a Southern Belle.“Um, yes, thank you.” I answer politely, trapping more noodles in the chopsticks and hoping she gives up on being polite and making conversation.Unfortunately
Last Updated : 2023-03-22The Mate Agreement 38: THE GIRL WHO SHOULD'VE DIED
It never should have happened that way. We never should have gone out that day. But I’d insisted. And because I insisted, Wilma insisted. Our father could never say no when both his daughters teamed up on him. If only I’d changed my mind. If only the prospect of going to the mall for some silly clothes had felt distasteful to me. If only I hadn't insisted on riding in the backseat with him.It had been raining, heavily. The kind of rainfall that sounds more like a storm; wind howling, windowpanes trembling, and the droplets hitting the roof, the glass, the earth with a vengeance. Mom had been too lazy to join us, curled up in bed with a romance novel and a mug of hot mint tea. Maybe that’s what had saved her. If only it’d saved Dad too. If only he’d been adamant on being left alone in his office, playing chess and sipping whiskey.But no amount of wishing, no amount of ‘If onlys’ can change the past. I’m powerless to stop it. All I can do is remember.I’d been annoyed with Wilma when
Last Updated : 2023-03-23The Mate Agreement 39: EDIBLE
I’m vomitting.That’s not even the wild part. Listen to this.I’m vomitting, and William Ravenstone is holding a large bowl under my face. I can smell the pungent, acidic odor of whatever I’m throwing up, like rotten cheese. I throw up more. His wrist is holding up my limp head, my hair gathered in his fist.“This is gross…” I groan in-between heaves. “It’s so- I’m so-”“Shh,” he replies, and I fall back into slumber, shuddering and gasping while he wipes my face with something cold and damp.Time passes.I think time passes, although I have no sense of it.The clock says 3:05 A.M when I sit upright again. A wet compress falls into my lap. I glance over and jerk in surprise at the weight on the bed next to me.“How are you feeling?” William asks, shifting a chess piece on the chessboard in his lap. He’s sitting against the headboard, lit up only by the glow of the lamp next to him on the nightstand. I notice a stack of medications arranged there neatly too. My gaze moves back to the c
Last Updated : 2023-03-24
Latest chapter
The Mate Agreement 111: EPILOGUE
I can't help the grin as it stretches across my face. Even when I tone down my teeth display for the camera, my giddiness makes my grin return to its full glory.These are the kind of joyful moments in life when everything aligns perfectly, and the future gleams with a brilliance that outshines the sun.Similar to tiny fireflies, the fairy lights surrounding us emit a soft glow in the approaching evening. My gaze shifts to the rows of people smiling and mingling, the white roses gathered in their transparent vases, the band playing an old classical melody that Akio Kamio has cherished for most of his life, and ultimately to Bibah's radiant smile, outshining even the stars in the sky.Bibah stands gracefully in her wedding gown, a vision of elegance and modesty. The gown's creamy hue complements her radiant complexion, and the intricate lace patterns and delicate beadwork trace enchanting designs across the fabric.Her head is adorned with a delicate hijab, carefully draped to frame her
The Mate Agreement 110: THE END
The idea of dying... it's like staring into a dark abyss, wondering what lies beyond. Am I ready for it? Is anyone ever truly prepared to let go of everything they know? It's as if life is this intricate tapestry, woven with memories, experiences, and dreams, and death is that final thread that could unravel it all.I've heard people say that death gives life meaning. That the inevitability of our mortality forces us to seize the fleeting moments and savor them. Is that why we laugh, love, and strive to make a mark? To counteract the impending darkness?But what if it's not about the mark we leave, but the mark we've made on ourselves? Like, how every heartbreak, triumph, and mistake molds us into this intricate sculpture of a person. And maybe death is the moment when we step back and see the whole masterpiece.It's terrifying, though. The unknown. The thought of losing consciousness, of the world carrying on without me. Will I be forgotten? Will my laughter fade into the wind, like
The Mate Agreement 109: PREMONITIONS OF CHAOS
The mountain top stretches out before us, bathed in the silvery glow of the moonlight. Jagged rocks and hardy shrubs dot the landscape, offering scarce cover. The air is crisp and thin, carrying with it a sense of anticipation. A veil of darkness conceals the treacherous precipices that lie beyond the edges.My heart races as we stand on the precipice, the night sky a blanket of twinkling stars above. The wind whispers of secrets yet to be revealed, as William's gaze scans the vast expanse. This was the kind of place he used to love—a rooftop under the sky.His eyes narrow, a flicker of recognition passing over his features, like a spark trying to ignite a long-dormant memory. I hold my breath, hoping that this moment will be the catalyst, the key to unlocking the past he's lost.Before my thoughts can fully settle, a guttural shout splits the air, shattering the tranquility. My head snaps towards the disturbance, and my heart lurches as seven figures emerge from the shadows, armed wi
The Mate Agreement 108: MOTORBIKE
“Are you sure this is the place?”“Absolutely.” I whisper back at William, uneasily glancing around the empty expanse of the beach. It feels like we’re about to break into a bank and steal cash. “Unless she invited me for breakfast in a friend’s apartment, then I guess we’ll be knocking on a strangers door.” I add in a rush of huffed out breath.William looks skeptic. “Isabe-”I step forward and press the ringer, cutting off William’s words. Time had passed us by while on the boat, and now it’s past the normal curfew of the resort. The demarcated areas outside the resort -including the mountain we’d impulsively decided to go to- were now closed off for the day. Since Tamie has been here her whole life and her family owns the resort and I somewhat feel as if we’re friends now, I thought that maybe asking for her help would be a good idea.Silence continues to answer me.“Mochi definitely came out of here.” I mutter, frowning at the whole modern shack like it had personally offended me.
The Mate Agreement 107: SPEEDBOAT DINNER
“Maybe we should call it a win win and stop here.” I suggest, leaning back as the last few chuckles escape me, my laughter finally subsiding.William raises a triumphant eyebrow as he rearranges the chess pieces back to their normal starting formation. “Giving up already?” He taunts, smirking.“You wish.” I reply, rolling my eyes before sighing. “I’m just tired of staring at the pieces.”We have been playing cheating chess since after breakfast when I got back to the suite from my conversation and walk with Tamie. William had brought his chess board along from the pack estate, and had suggested we play it, in hopes that he might remember something again. There has been no luck in that area, but at the very least, we’ve had an unexplainable amount of fun as the hours flew by. We fixate on morals of the game, creating new rules, and finding more ridiculous ways to justify breaking the classical rules of chess.The sun is setting now, painting our beach-side view of the window a brillian
The Mate Agreement 106: LUCKY GIRL
The very next morning, I wake up early, get out of the ball dress I ended up sleeping in, and took a quick shower, changing into more comfortable beach shorts and a loose tank top.When I leave the bedroom, William is still curled up in the sheets, sleeping. I call the room service and other an elaborate breakfast, hoping to return the heartwarming gesture he had done to me when we got here.Out of the breakfast of waffles, fruits, and a jug of a fancy cocktail blend fresh from the Island’s own produce, I only manage a single waffle before leaving the suite and closing the door softly behind me.Now, where the heck do I start looking for Tamie?I go out to the beach, taking the trail where William and I had first seen her walking her Pekingese dog. Well, more like where we saw her dog about to drown and rescued him.It’s a sunny day, the sand warm as the soft, fine grains slip in and out my flip flops. The ocean’s waves laps eagerly at the shore, and I squint into the far distance, in
The Mate Agreement 105: YOU’RE KINDA HOT WHEN YOU NAG
Leaving the chaotic ballroom behind, we retreat to the quiet safety of our room. The tension of the night still lingers between us, though now it's wrapped in a cocoon of slight awkwardness.William doesn’t say anything, still steaming with remnants of his anger, and neither do I, as we enter the bedroom and he shrugs off his jacket. I notice a few specs of blood staining the front part of his white shirt.“You shouldn’t have done that.” I sigh, retrieving a first aid kit from a nearby drawer, sitting him down at the edge of the bed and gently begin tending to the cut on William's lip, my touch both soothing and reproachful.He winces at the disinfectant that touches the small split flesh where the silver rings had made impact."Oh, now you can feel pain?" I chide softly, dabbing the wound with an antiseptic swab. "Stop being such a baby. I know you were defending me, but there are better ways you could’ve handled the situation."Like poisoning the bastard.Or gutting him in a dark al
The Mate Agreement 104: LOST TO WHIMSY
We spend the rest of the night and the following day simply talking and exploring. William asks a lot of questions about our time in Acadia Academy, and I try my hardest to answer him to the best of my ability, although none of my answers end up triggering his memory.Soon, the night of the ball arrives.Preparing for the ball is a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement. The vibrant energy that courses through me is infectious as I carefully choose my attire for the evening; my makeup already done and my hair painstakingly pinned up into an updo. The dress, a delicate masterpiece of flowing midnight blue silk, shimmers with an iridescent glow in the soft light of our suite. Its off-shoulder neckline adds a touch of elegance, and the intricate lacework along the bodice and hem hints at the craftsmanship that went into its creation. With every twirl in front of the mirror, I feel like a character from a fairytale.I don’t even remember when I bought the dress.The air is electric as I
The Mate Agreement 103: IMMERSED
I gradually stir from my peaceful slumber, the room cast in a gentle twilight as the sun dips below the horizon.I yawn.How long have I been asleep?As I stretch and sit up, I notice a beautifully arranged plate of dinner on the nearby table and a goofy smile overtakes my face. William must’ve kept it there for me. I glance around the bedroom and the living room for the second time, looking for him, but I don’t spot him anywhere.Where did he go?My stomach rumbles in response to the inviting aroma of the garlic butter stake and potato skillet, and I find myself savoring the delicious flavors as I sit at the edge of the bed with the tray and devour the food.Sated and content, I decide to take advantage of the cool evening air and to also look for William. I change out of my t-shirt and jeans into sleeping shorts and a bralette, despite the cool weather. The sliding glass door leads me to the terrace, where the world is adorned with the soft glow of moonlight. My gaze is drawn to the
