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49: SORROWS SORROWS SLEEPOVER SORROWS
Last Updated:
2023-06-06 23:49:34Related chapters
The Mate Agreement 50: RAINDROPS
The lights are blinding.I stumble through the crowd of dancing bodies moving in slow motion. The bass of the loud party music reverberates into my skull like a drilling machine. My ears are ringing, my heartbeat in my throat.I feel drunk. Maybe I am drunk.I blink back dark dots that cloud my vision and try to remember how I got here, where I am, and what is going on. I look around, squinting, but every face is a blur, every item faded and inconsistent like I’ve been pumped full of hallucinogens.It sounds like it’s raining outside.I whip my head around, searching for a window, but I can’t see any.“Come on, Bella!” Someone shouts over the music, and suddenly I’m being dragged by my arm towards what I can make out to be a stage. I try to pull away, but my body keeps moving. Around me people cheer, clap, and holler, adding to my disorientation.The music slows and the next second I’m on the stage, holding on to a bouquet of tulips like it’s a lifeline. I squint when the spotlight sh
Last Updated : 2023-06-08The Mate Agreement 51: VALENTINES DAY ADVERT
I gasp awake, jolting upright in bed.“About time, sleepy head. Come on, we’re gonna be late for the bus.” Bibah pauses, swiveling around from the mirror to face me, bobby pin poised midway to her wrapped scarf. “You good?” She asks, registering my wild stare and heavy breathing. “Were you chased by a clown holding a red balloon in your sleep?”“No, just fell off a roof.” I reply, then clear my throat because I sound dead. There is a faint pounding in my head. “What time is it?” I ask, flinging the heavy blanket I don’t remember snuggling under, away from me.“Late enough for you to get your ass out of bed.” Bibah replies, turning back to the mirror and properly pinning her hijab. She’s already dressed; clad in a black maxi skirt, a matching hijab, and a dark brown blazer jacket that looks like it was lifted off a rich English professor’s wardrobe. It’s a new look on her but it works, making her appear very dark academic. She glances at me through the mirror. “I know I look good. We l
Last Updated : 2023-06-09The Mate Agreement 52: LUNA AND THE FIRST WOLF
As we walk into the dimly lit gallery of the museum, I am immediately struck by the grandeur of the space. A massive, ancient statue dominated the center of the room, surrounded by smaller pieces of art, artifacts, and relics from various ancient civilizations and moments in history.Bibah wanders off to a large mural on the far end and I make my way towards the towering statue, marveling at the intricate details and the skill of the artisans who had crafted it so many centuries ago. If I’m not wrong, the statue is that of Themis; greek goddess of justice and wisdom, judging from the scales she’s holding up, the sword in her other hand, and the blindfold. But what’s special about this statue is the little cherub perched oh her shoulder, wings extended, donning a blunt arrow and a curved bow, also blindfolded. I think of cupid. I think of the irony of how both justice and love are depicted blind.As I draw closer, I notice a group of my classmates gathered around, listening to a museum
Last Updated : 2023-06-10The Mate Agreement 53: CATAPLEXY
“Is there a reason you’re touching my mate, Truman?”William snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him and resting his chin in the crook of my neck. I can hear him drawing in slow, steady breaths over the erratic beat of my heart.Ben takes a step back, his gaze flickering from Ravenstone to me then back to Ravenstone again. “I was just apologizing.” He explains.A humorless, cold laugh comes from Ravenstone. “I believe apologies are verbal, are they not?” His arms tighten around my torso, not so much that it hurt, but enough for me to feel the tension in his whole body. “So, that doesn’t really answer my question, Benjamin.” He snarls.I’ve never heard or seen him this pissed before.Ben clenches his fists, jaws tightening. A red tinge has found its way to his cheeks, and his nostrils are flared. “Listen Ravenstone—““Walk away, Ben.” I cut in, trying to prevent this from escalating into a disaster, because I can literally feel William’s anger radiating off him. Ben’s
Last Updated : 2023-06-11The Mate Agreement 54: REGRETS
“Are you sure we don’t need to call the doctor?” Mr. Ortega asks with concern, glancing at William and I through the rearview mirror before pulling his attention back to the road and slowing to a halt at a red light.Akio shakes his head. “I assure you there’s no need for that, Mr. Ortega. It’s just a mild fainting episode.” He lies, a small nervous laughter following. “I keep telling Ravenstone to take it easy on the workouts, but…” He trails off, shrugging.Mr. Ortega looks at us again through the rear view mirror like he isn’t quite satisfied with Akio’s assurance.“His workouts are really extreme.” I chirp in, interlacing my hands with William’s, and looking away from Mr. Ortega’s curious stare. Usually, I find it easy to lie, but this is a little different because Ravenstone’s secret is on the line. “But I’ll make certain he takes it easy from now on.”Mr. Ortega sighs, and turns a corner. “Well, if you both insist he’s okay.”Akio shoots me a grateful look through the side mirro
Last Updated : 2023-06-13The Mate Agreement 55: NARCOLEPSY
It’s been over a minutes since Akio has left, but William and I haven’t exchanged a word. He’s in bed with a pillow propped up behind him, staring at anything and everything that isn’t me. I cross and uncross my leg on the couch, sigh, and get to my feet, sick of the silence.“You have narcolepsy.” I say it as a factual statement, walking over to the other side of the bed and carefully placing my purse on it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”He runs a hand through his hair, then down his face and sighs. “I didn’t want your pity.” He mutters, still avoiding my gaze. “I didn’t— don’t want you to see me this way.”“I don’t pity you.” I say, and when he finally looks at me, I hold his gaze cause I know if I look away he’ll know I’m lying. Maybe a little part of me did pity him. But I can’t help it. “Is that what the pills were for? Is that why you push me away?”He sinks into the bed as if my questions are heavy weights placed on his shoulders. “My life is complicated, Isabella. I’m complicated.
Last Updated : 2023-06-14The Mate Agreement 56: BODY HEAT
I blink awake.The room is quiet, dark. William’s arms are wrapped around me, his head buried in the crook of my neck. My cheek is squished against his bare, warm chest. I feel around underneath the sheets for my phone and check the time when I find it.It reads 1:13 am.When did we even get back? How long have I been asleep? My mind is groggy. I check my notifications and find a missed call from Bibah, a missed call from my mom, and texts from Bibah. I shoot her a brief reply that I’m okay, just been asleep.William’s arms tighten around me. He hums something in his sleep and snuggles closer.Well this is nice.This is very nice.But is it just me or is the room literally freezing? I squint in the dim light, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, searching for the heater that’s supposed to be working. It’s familiar hum is absent. Did William turn it off last night when I wasn’t here, or maybe we hadn’t even turned it on in the first place?I begin to untangle myself from William.He murm
Last Updated : 2023-06-15The Mate Agreement 57: HI
It’s surreal; packing my suitcase and saying goodbye to the hotel room that now feels like a second home to me for some weird reason. I stare at the view from the window for one last time. It’s a bright morning, but the sun is yet to take complete dominion of the clear sky, so the weather still retains the chill of the night before. I touch a palm to the glass; it’s cold, and a faint outline of my reflection does the same. I step back and pull the curtains close. “The bus leaves in three.” William reminds me, checking his wristwatch before glancing up at me with a faint, awkward smile. He looks the same as I’d seen him on that rooftop, save for the new choppy haircut and the black hoodie he’s currently wearing, but so much has changed. Before, it felt as if a million walls separated us, but now? Maybe a hundred walls. He’s still a book in a language I can’t read, but at least now the pages are open and I’m learning the alphabets. I smile back. None of us have acknowledged last night
Last Updated : 2023-06-16
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
