“I have nothing to say,” Nicole answered without hesitation. “I might admit to some of them but some are just made off. They know I don’t waste any effort to clear their thoughts about me, so some are taking advantage of it. And honestly, I don’t really care. I know the truth, I find peace in it. I can’t be too greedy, can I?”Mike just chuckled at how Nicole responded. He did not insist, he did not pry and he was even more amused at how Nicole shrugged her shoulders about what people thought about her.Nicole did not justify her actions either. She may have her reasons, but it was not sensible enough to defend her behavior towards others. Because she was retaliating against her parents when she started expressing her ill-natured way of behaving. They stayed a little more and waited for Mike’s breaktime to end, chatting about random topics. Mike asked about her birthday.“I don’t know what to give you for a present so, I haven’t prepared one,” Mike bashfully stated. “I am sure you ar
Nicole watched Mike walk away. Fadz Ling was worried his little Boss would be the campus' bugs and mosquitos' dinner blood for that evening, so he dared to call for her attention when he was sure the guy who sent Nicole to her ride was almost unrecognizably far from their location as the darkness of the night ate him in. "Boss?..." Nicole sighed as she turned to look at her bodyguard, who sounded too worried about her. "Fadz Ling, I need to know where the Dean is right now. But before that, I need something to offer as a bargain he won't get to refuse. Can you handle that for me? Or do I have to ask someone else to do the task?" Nicole did not beat around the bushes. She wasn't going to conceal anything from her security team leader. She needs something, and if Fadz Ling cannot provide that service, he only has to tell her honestly, and she will deal with finding someone else. "Boss, may I ask what kinds of bargains we have to find?" Fadz Ling was astounded, but he did not show
"He is in his office right now; as far as I can see, he is not in a very good mood. I thought I have to give you a heads up," the guy informed Nicole after a few minutes upon letting him know the name of the person he needed to find first. "Now find me the Dean," Nicole did not even wait for Justin to say anything before she decisively cut the call. Nicole was confident Justin knew the second person she had asked to be found. It wasn't the first time she asked Justin to monitor where the Dean was to make sure her wild antics did not get witnessed by the Dean himself. It would be easier for her to handle her issues if the Dean was out of the picture. So, as much as possible, Nicole does not move blindly when she knows she is going to get into trouble. Nicole stepped out of the car to head to where Mister Chadwick Gibson was. The moment she opened the car door, Fadz Ling hurriedly ran to her side to assist his Little Boss. "Boss, my man said the Dean is at a Chinese restaurant havin
“You mean to say, the General Ipkiss of the Secretary of Defense?” Chadwick Gibson asked with widened eyes in astonishment and a triumphant smile. “Is there any other General Yussef Ipkiss in this country? Please educate me,” Nicole made her face look worried she was mistaken. “If you can ask for his help, I am very sure no one would dare threaten my department and make any of my staff lose their jobs,” Mister Gibson clapped his hand as he answered. “What do you want me to do?” Chadwick Gibson may be older than the student right in front of him, but with how powerful this girl’s background can be, she is untouchable and it would be like hitting one’s head into an unbreakable wall if anyone dared to go against her. “Well, I guess we have to deal with the issue lightly first. If our efforts fail, then that is when we call for backup. What do you say, sir?” Nicole answered politely. Mister Chadwick used to be a swimming athlete. According to the school’s introduction of its swimming
“I don’t know how to do that right now,” Mike answered. “I don’t know how to slow down. Because I am worried I’m in facing homelessness. And it might even happen sooner than I could ever dare to imagine, so bear with me. Please….?” Mike gave his friend a pitiful look then he chugged the left of the beer in his bottle and finished it, bottoms up.“Man, if your brother knew you’re here,” Justin worriedly uttered. “He will think I am dragging you to my wicked ways. Not that I mind when people misinterpret or judge me, but not your big bro, man, you know that, right?” “I am sure he wouldn’t even notice this….” Mike sighed. Then, he glanced at Justin and mumbled. “I just wish he has somewhere or someone he can go to and share his thoughts with, just like I have you….”Mike shook his head and was about to chug on his drink but realized it was already empty. Mike looked at the cooler. It was a few steps away from where he was slumped on the floor and the need to get up to get another bott
“What the hell are you talking about?!” Mike asked indignantly. “Who’s into men?!” “You!” Justin replied in the same tone. “Aren’t you?” “Not that I am against anyone who has their preferences with genders, but I am happy with being into women. I don’t have any idea what makes you think I am into men,” Mike chuckled as he tried to clarify whatever misunderstanding his friend Justin had in mind. Justin was confused. He stared at Mike for a while and when he noticed his friend was not fazed at the words he just said like Mike was more than confident he knew what his gender preferences are. Justin cleared his throat and made his thoughts known to Mike as if he was confused himself. “Well, you mentioned earlier that a friend of yours saw what happened, right?” Justin started. “Yes, and?” Mike answered after a gulp of his beer. “And you said that you knew this friend did not want you to touch someone else’s lips, right?” Justin eagerly argued. “Yes. Because I know my friend is a po
Nicole was not sure she heard the other person on the line correctly. It was a name only one person called her and still does, actually. It was a nickname only Mike dared to make for her, and hypocrisy aside, Nicole loved to hear Mike call her that way. The boldness in the man’s action to ignore Nicole’s words of rejection to be called by that name amused her, thus making Nicole tolerate Mike’s disobedience. And disobedience is something Nicole does not tolerate at all until Mike came to the surface of her bratty lifestyle. She tried to focus on listening, but two men’s voices were audible from the other end of the phone call, so she was having difficulty admitting that the person who called her “Nicky” was the same person she had in her mind right now. Unable to identify the person by listening to his voice, the two guys seemed to be arguing about who to speak with Nicole over the phone to clarify both their sides to the lady; they both groaned in frustration when the line was sudd
“Why would he drop dead?” Justin asked in astonishment and disbelief combined. Justin was somehow pretty aware that Nicole Parker can do so much, such as hire someone to assassinate anyone she might wish to disappear in the face of the earth. He was excited and aghast to witness such capability, even through words alone. The power she possesses in Justin’s eyes and understanding is overwhelming. ‘Pack!’“Fuck!” Justin groaned when he felt another slap had landed crispily on the back of his head. Unlike earlier, when he first felt the slap on his head, he did not see who lifted a hand to do so. This time, he had his eyes on Nicole as if he was too eager to see her reply to his query, so he saw everything. From the moment Nicole raised her right arm to when her hand swung open, and her palm landed on Justin’s head, Justin and Mike saw all of them. Bu Justin did not even get the moment to think about avoiding Nicole’s hands. He seemed to be taken by great surprise that he was only a
“Really?” Jude Parker said. “I didn’t hear the sound of it.” “When did the two of you leave the room?” Nicole asked worriedly. “When Chris said she needed to pee,” Mac answered innocently. “I see,” Nicole answered. “Did you ask for help from the nannies?” the mother asked gently. “Mac helped me. Right, Mac?” the little girl widened her eyes to her bother as if telling him to just agree. “Ah, yeah. Right!” Mac answered after nodding with his eyes closed to Chris as if affirming Chris’ words to be true. But their actions made the people around them doubt that whatever they were saying was the entire truth and nothing but the truth! “I have to welcome my guest,” Jude said. Then he turned to Lisa and the twins. “Do you mind if you guys come with me?” “Let’s go!” The twins answered excitedly. “The two of you should take your time. Mike, she cannot walk with speed yet like we normally do. Can I entrust her to your care or shall I do it myself?” Jude asked seriously. “Please,
“First things first,” Jude said. He fished his phone out of his pocket and right in front of everyone at the table, he dialed a number and spoke like he was alone in the room. “My friend, am I not going to beat around the bush.” Jude’s words obviously expressed closeness to the person he was talking to. Not just by the tone and informality of his words, but by the loud cackle he made after saying them with a radiant smile sporting his face. But with only himself hearing the response of the person he was speaking to over the phone, only Jude’s voice could be heard by everyone with him in the room. “I am in darn need of your help, right now. And that means to say I need your presence right here in my place. I will send you the address—”Jude took a halt as if the other person said something to make him pause from his words. But the older man just laughed even louder than earlier he did. “I know, I know. Of course. Yeah. Yeah—” He halted again for a moment but reasoned with a boistero
Third Person's POVThe family of four, Mike, Nicole, Mac, and Chris, along with the older couple Lisa and Jude Parker had a wonderful meal. But of course, it didn’t end there. The whole day they had a blast. From the dining room where they had the most enjoyable brunch meal one could ever ask to experience, being with their beloved ones, the whole family moved to the air-conditioned gazebo in the backyard to enjoy their dessert. Aside from Chris, who chose to eat the cake first before eating the meal as her request, although it had been her habit to eat their servings before eating something else which made her take just a bite of the cake and eat her meal like everyone else at the table, everyone had the taste of the cake at the fancy resting room in the gazebo after their brunch. then they moved to the family recreation room or more of the kids’ play gallery to watch the twins play. “I am glad you all liked it,” Mike stated timidly. “This bakery is not unfamiliar to us, actually,
Mike’s POV“Oh, that cake….” I mindlessly murmured when we arrived at the dining table and saw the design of the cake that I bought for Mac. The very same reason I had to run back home because I realized halfway down the stairs of my apartment building that I was not carrying anything in my hand aside from my phone. “I believe this is from you,” Mister Parker said as I timidly stood after I assisted Nicky to sit properly and comfortably on her chair. “But Fhadz brought it in when Mac realized you guys left the cake in the car,” he continued. I nodded as I smiled shyly. I had guessed Mac was from a well-off family. That was one of the reasons why I was hesitant to grant his request when he said he was inviting me to his birthday party. The same reason why I was cautious and conscious of what gift to bring him so I wouldn’t be attending his birthday party with empty hands. “I am not sure what to buy and bring for Mac to his birthday party and I have not been to any children’s party
Nicole’s POV“Dad, you might have to carry Mom to the dining hall,” my bubbly daughter said to Mike.“Huh?” Mike grunted.He seemed flustered for a moment. But before Chris could say anything to acknowledge Mike’s very brief expression, Mac explained to Mike for Chris as if they were telepathic about what Chris was going to say to elaborate on her words.It amazed me how my toddlers could communicate in such a mystical way, even in other instances where they seemed to have the same idea and thoughts. I guess I will never know such things on my own because I never had and never will I ever get the chance to have a twin sibling in this lifetime.“Mom has been in a wheelchair for years, but she started taking treatment and therapy a few months ago. I think she is a bit shocked to have you around today. Her legs must have frozen again. She can’t walk,” Mac spoke indifferently.“What do you mean?” Mike asked, frowning. More than any other emotions, I saw pain and regret in his eyes as he
Mike’s POV“I am glad you didn’t know. See, you are graduating from your chosen course. While I am still taking my degree,” Nicole laughed softly, comforting me. My chest hurt like crazy, but the fact– although it was unbelievable, that Nicky was comforting me appeased me as well. Her simple words, the mere sound of her voice, the mere scent radiating from her body–even from her breath, they all soothed me like magic. Yet, again, I could not keep the sound of my muffled cries from being heard. But Nicky continued. “I had to take a longer break than usual maternity cases due to the accident.”The last word she mentioned pierced my heart fiercely again. I blame myself so badly for shutting myself out from anything that had to do with Nicky. I begged Justin not to mention her name or anything about her. Now, even if Justin knew about what happened back then, I can’t blame him for not telling me. This thought made me groan in pain even more.“Don’t despair so much. We got who the crim
Nicole’s POVI struggled to collect my composure. I was drowning in different emotions. I have always feared to meet Mike after parting ways with him saying I was going to study abroad when all the while, I wasn’t planning on leaving the city, let alone the country. And when I got into an accident, my condition made that decision even firmer. Well, I could have had chosen to get treatment from somewhere with better medical facilities and assistance to ensure everything would be next to perfect, but I did not want to be farther than how I already was from Mike, so I preferred to stay and asked my parents to hire the best in the field of medicine to take care of me personally at the comfort of my home when I was able to be sent home for further recuperation. But now that Mike was right in front of me, there was only one emotion that felt so immense and potent to care about anything else. My heartbeat was pounding my chest so wildly, I had lost control on what words slipped out of my l
Mike’s POV“Dad!!!!”“I missed you!”These words scared me like hell. But who could blame me? I was standing in the yard of a fancy house without a doubt that this property belongs to someone rich. But to call me “Dad” by a girl, a cute, sweet, and adorably lovely little girl, I was afraid the real dad would show up in front of me and give me a punch right on my face. Okay, maybe that would be too much, to be violent. But I don’t think I will like even the thought of my child calling someone else “Dad” instead of me. “Let’s get inside,” said Mac, after introducing the girl as his twin sister. With the little girl named Chris in my arms, I walked along with Mac when he started heading to the front door of the house. Everything in the surroundings was unfamiliar to me. I don’t think I have even been here in this house before. The interior of the house patently showed luxury and kids friendly, including the wallpapers, the guarded corners of the sharp-edged furniture around it, as we
Nicole’s POV“Let’s get inside.”From inside the house, I heard Mac said after my daughter bolted to meet her dad. I couldn’t move. “Sweetie, are you alright?” My dad asked gently. I nodded. “You don’t look like you’re alright to me, though,” my dad whispered. “You’re so pale, dear. Would you like to go on with the plan or join the kids when you’re ready?” My mom was obviously worried for me. I’m not so sure I was ready. When Mac said he was going to pick up Mike, I was hesitant, yes, but I could tell I was just half-hearted. However, when I heard the sound of the vehicle approaching our yard and stopped there, my heart started pounding. Now, my legs, which had been back and almost perfectly normal, wouldn’t even budge. Not just that, because my stupid legs were shaking out of control! I couldn’t even get up from where I was sitting while waiting for my son to return home.“Wait, Mac, are you sure I will survive if I step inside your house?” Mike asked Mac with the sound of playf