Raina and Jacob rushed to Noelle's aid as she was still crammed on the floor out of fright. They unknowingly bumped their heads as they rose back to a standing position and staggered from each other, "Sorry..So…sorry," The two adults who felt tense after seeing each other stammered. Raina's heart was beating rapidly at the realization that this man standing before her was the first to point out Noelle's resemblance with her real father, Jude. She had reassured herself throughout the years that if anyone made such a statement, she would shun them by replying that it was normal since their father was Jude's Uncle. But nobody had acknowledged that and only shot her kids with sickening glares. Raina couldn't raise her head as she nervously played with her fingers and chewed on her lips. She could recall that the both of them never had a pleasant warm-up years ago. Her stomach grumbled at the sudden heat that emitted in it, "I guess you are here for Jude…you can have a sit" She pointed
"Everyone is striving to rebuild themselves after acknowledging that it's normal to make mistakes. No one is perfect. We are all human beings who deserve to be happy, but it wouldn't work out if you are extremely self-closed. I thought I liked you just as you might have heard the rumor about my silly crush when I was in High School." Jacob sighs while Raina looks at him. "I was envious when you chose Jude without knowing your relationship would end disastrously. I hated you. I truly despise you after hearing the possible reason why you left with his uncle. Over the years, that unpleasant feeling melted like a piece of heated ice. Was it the pressure from the internet or your father that made you go? That's a personal issue, but I wouldn't deny myself that what I'm seeing with your appearance isn't what I expected. It gives off karma and my body still keeps tugging me that it isn't the way people assume. That there was more to you leaving without a proper goodbye to my friend" Rain
Raina sniffed indignantly, patted her wet face with her two hands, and exhaled heavily. "Weeping like this will not change anything." She gulped in fear as she wriggled towards Jude in his sleeping position. Her swollen eyes from crying became glossy with admiration at his peaceful aura. Marveling everything about him for what seemed like thirty minutes, she spread her legs out and tightened her thighs together in a horizontal position. Limping closer, she carefully raised his head to her lap. She slowly thrusts her hands into his hair until she reaches his scalps, and begins to softly massage from his head down to his face. A few on his shoulders before going back to his head again. She felt it was equivalent to cuddling. Raina quit when he grunted uncomfortably. In the blink of an eye, a smile formed on her lips when he adjusted to position his head on her lap in a more relaxing way. She sighed in relief when his body lost guard by slumping his tensed shoulder and how his grip
"Are you ashamed because I, of all people, witnessed you drag yourself out of your bed just to swim among alcohol bottles?" She displayed her stained teeth. Jude's jaw hardened at her revelation, but it also immediately made his brows furrowed in confusion as he watched the weirdo sitting opposite him. He placed his hands on his waist, shutting and opening his eyes in extreme disarray. He felt the urge to destroy things as the veins in his neck popped out while he gnashed his teeth to control himself. "You won't believe that I was chanting my last prayers when you ran after me yesterday night. There is nothing wrong with you though, just some complicated ailment that could be cured if you are determined. See…I didn't even flinch since last night I saw you behave like a real Alpha going wild. I'm not saying it is something you should be happy about, but it's just not worthy to be this angry for. Especially for someone willing to stay,..." "What the hell are you insinuating? Are you
"What do you think you are doing, Raina?" Jude scowled and dropped his hands. He was still astonished by the fact that she was standing there when he assumed her to be unconscious a few minutes ago. "Was I lying? You don't have to pretend as if something you did with your own hands affected you." Raina pointed to her mouth. She staggered backward when her legs loosed balance for a second. The twins concentrated on helping her as they pulled her with their tiny hands. Their faces were disgruntled with concern. When Raina had blacked out from stress earlier, she wasn't entirely unconscious, which had made her wake up. She had forcefully stretched her body on the bed while muttering prayers for a little resilience. After a while, she made an effort to get up, which she did smoothly. She was walking out of the room when she stepped on the business card Jacob had given her the night before. She had ignored it and continued to limp towards the room's entrance when his words echoed in her
Jude's delightful mood deteriorated as he reread the message. He felt the urge to reply to his mother by telling her that he wouldn't be able to go to the blind date, but he recalled his promise, his parent's insistence to relocate Raina and the twins, and also, he wasn't prepared to be reminded about how she resigned from her work just to take care of him years ago. He slowly obliterated his annoyance by wiping his face with his left hand and maintaining steady breathing. His phone began to ring. He felt a knot in his stomach when he picked up the incoming call and the person introduced herself as Beatrice. She seems cheerful and a bit calm, "Mrs. Alexander sent me your phone number." Silence. "I should be expecting your arrival at the restaurant, right?" Beatrice asked. There was silence as Jude shut his eyes and answered, "I guess so,"Beatrice laughed awkwardly and replied in a fake feminine voice, "I will be there after meeting up with your friend's fiancee in a few hours. B
Raina wasn't certain if she could trust her instincts on who the ladies were. She scurried out of the room towards Jude's space, ignoring how she almost tumbled on the floor. "Where did he go? Has he gone out?" She sighed in frustration when she couldn't find him there, Her face was squeezed in disappointment as she scratched her head. She tiredly stride by the walls until she got to the living room. "Noell…" Her eyes darted at the comic scenery going on the couch. She tiptoed closer to confirm that Jude's face was smudged with several shades of mascara and makeover. She could only describe the result as painting a clown, but her ignorant daughter was grinning with pride at her work. Raina watched in wonder as Noelle continuously patted Jude's head, imitating a hairstylist. "When did they become this close?" She thought. "Perfect! Let's take some selfies on your phone," Noelle claps her hand excitedly. She took Jude's phone and placed it in his hands, but he wasn't moving as he fli
Gabrielle had excused herself to make an important call when the whole terror remarks towards Raina flared in the building. She hurried to the space where they were doing the meeting, "OK, ladies. I'm sorry about that. Where were we…" She halted on the spot at the sight of her long-time best friend who had left years ago without goodbyes. The same friend she had made her father promised to enroll in the same college. Gabrielle knew that her friend's family was suffering from a financial crisis. She had run happily towards Raina's thatched home with the admission letter while imagining how happy Raina would be, only for the neighbors to tell her that they had relocated the night before. Gabrielle couldn't believe her confidante who had stayed with her through her broken eras, spent time with her like they were sisters, encouraged her through her studies, and made life a little more bearable after her parents' divorce could break the lifetime bond they had promised each other.