THE FIRST room had a wide space and a calmly painted wall which is a beige color with a touch of brown. The queen size bed is warm and better. The couch and the red-carpeted floor are well sat perfectly. I put down my shoulder bag on the side table and sat on the bed. Maybe I'll peek into a room later because my view is already fixed on the window. The fresh air coming from the seashore made me flinch. It also reminds me of someone. Someone I couldn't forget, someone I love... but all of it can destroy me enough, but even so I prefer to be close to it, cause 'I know somewhere deep in my heart he is shouting and begging for me. I cut off my gaze out the window and started to lie down to sleep. "Emory!" that voice kept coming back to my mind. I looked where the voice was coming from but I could only see the pounding of the angry wave. "Hezekiah?!" I shouted back. But no one answered, I held on tightly to the railing where I was on one of the ships and the rain was pouring down heavily. They immediately multiplied and became chaotic which I was very worried about. I heard a loud siren. "The ship is going to sink!" shouts rushing people. But I stood still in the middle of the ship. My body wasn't moved even though I was being hit by confused people. "Emory!" I looked up at the man who slapped one of my arms. "The ship is sinking, we need to get out of here." His voice is full of determination especially when he pulls me to wrestle with many people. I could hardly see where I was going because of the crowd, adding that it was late at night and very dark. "Don't panic! Rescuers will be coming any moment now!" Stopped by a uniformed man who guarded the safety vest distributed one by one by some of his colleagues. "What are you saying don't panic?! We'll all die here if you won't give us a safety vest!" shouted the man from behind us. I closed my eyes tightly because of the heavy downpour in my eyes. But I felt Hezekiah's grip on me so I looked up. "It's okay dear, just stay here don't leave." His lip fell on me which I gladly accepted. After that and when I looked at him, I realized that he was also talking to the person who provided the safety vest. I clasped my palms as the crowd became more and more agitated as the ship moved violently. So it can no longer control the people who break the glass to get the safety vest. "Dear," I whispered as he seemed to be covered by the thick man in front of me. I could do nothing but say a prayer and close my eyes emphatically. Due to the continuous movement of the ship, I was out of balance and tossed, I couldn't stand anymore because of the stampede that was taking place. I felt people stepping on my toe and hand so I shouted. I wanted to lose consciousness because my knees hit different parts of my body. But I still tried to get stronger and shouted. "Hezekiah!" I shouted out loud like it was my last breath, my tears were dripping due to extreme fear. At that point, someone pulled my hand upright and hugged me tightly. "It's alright, I'm here Dear," he said as she hugged me tightly, I don't know what else I could cry about at these times. "I'm afraid, dear, that something bad might happen to us," I whispered so he pressed his palms to my two cheeks and stared into my eyes. "Trust me, I won't let that happen, okay?" I nodded at him, inevitably shaking my lips because of the force of the rain and the cold it brought. "Here, wear it." Without saying a word he hugged me with the life vest he tied tightly to my body "W-how about you?" I shouted loudly for him to be heard. I noticed that he was not wearing a life vest like me. "I'm okay baby," he whispered and lightly patted my wet hair before looking around. I was stunned by the anxiety that enveloped me, "No!" I shouted and tried to take off my clothes but he held me tightly. "No! Wear that and don't take it off! Don't worry about me I can swim." He still got me to smile despite everything. "But..." I stubbornly said. "Let's go, let's find some boat." He held my hand tightly again to wrestle with the crowd. We reached the end of the ship where the others wearing life vests were already arguing. Some fall deliberately because of the hustle and bustle of people. I looked at the group of people scrambling on the boat, while some were still fighting just to get first. I sighed heavily, A heavy sigh was also released by Hezekiah next to me as we watched what was happening. "Dear," I whispered after a long moment. Holding his arm tightly. "We need to find a boat. It's hard to go with the waves. The storm is even stronger!" he shouted next to me with the view below. I glanced behind us as the ship turned a little and could capsize at any moment. "Zekiah, we need to find a life vest for you first, so we can jump," I said. But he did not answer. "Zekiah?!" I called. "No more life vest, Dear, but it's okay. We can make it right?" He was still determined to speak. But I was not comfortable with what he said or with my answer. "Promise me one thing! No matter what happens, don't give up," he said in a baritone voice. I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes. "I love you..." he said softly. "I love you too," I answered quickly. He planted a quick kiss and hug me tightly. It was there that the ship shook so hard that we almost stumbled, if it had not grabbed the railings we might have fallen into the water at the same time. "Come on! We need to jump!" I cried out when I saw that the people were already jumping. Even the lifeboat didn't seem to be mapped to me even to ride there because they were already pushing even to the bottom. "No, I can't," I said, terrified of the possible outcome. "Yes you can baby or else we are going to die!" he told me out loud. "No, please let's find some life vest for you!" I looked around again, but like us, almost everyone left there was purely wearing no life best. Trembling I peeked below, the waves strong, some forced to swim while some were drowning. I couldn’t bear to look at some floating corpse because it wasn’t wearing life best. No, I can’t bear to see Hezekiah floating and lifeless, no! I shook my head one after another. "Come on, we have no time Emory!" It calls my name out loud. But I still can't answer when a man pulls me. "Give me your vest if you don't have the plan to jump!" Someone strongly pulls on what I'm wearing. I cried out in shock. But Hezekiah struck it hard and threatened him. "Don't you dare touched my wife!" he clutched the man from me and followed by a blow so he fell to the floor. He turned to me and held my hand tightly. "Jump!" he ordered, so my eyes widened in fear. I also noticed the resurrection of the man who was ready to approach us. "I said jump, now!" I glanced at him and without saying a word I climbed the railing, he did the same and held my hand tightly. "Stop thinking, I'm just here for you!" he smiled at me so my heart pounded and I blinked emphatically. "Haah!" I got up violently with my forehead wet with sweat, tears also gradually fell in my eyes which I immediately wiped with both palms. Dream... Everything is just a dream. "Hezekiah," I said in a low voice.
MY EYES clouded as I watched the strong waves pounding the shore. The cold ocean breeze feels right and yet it brings pain to my heart. I don't know how many hours I just stared at the vast sea. Since I came here to San Marcelino I have come back here to the beach every day. Spending the day seemingly indifferent to what is going on around them. I glanced at my wristwatch and shook it slightly. Another day passed. I don't know how I survived my day without him, without his touch, his kiss, and his warm hug. I feel like I'm going crazy thinking about how I can get through the days to come without him. I decided to just go back to the rented apartment. From the beach, I decided to walk so that even for a moment my brain would be distracted by what I saw. This is not my usual routine but I find it good and relaxing. But suddenly I stopped walking because of an oncoming vehicle. All I heard was a horn before my eyes darkened. *** I could feel the heavy lids of my eyes, but I couldn’t blink
I WANT to hug him tightly and lock him in his arms as before, as before when he still loves me. I wanted to ask him a lot about how he survived and why he married someone else. If he even tried to find me? I wanted to know even more about why he didn’t know me. Maybe he noticed my repeated glance so, he turned to me again. "I'm Gabriel Magnus, and the woman behind us is my wife, Alessandra Magnus." He barely glanced at the rearview mirror where his alleged wife was in the car. I can't help but shake my head repeatedly, I don't agree with what he said. His wife? That's bullshit! "Why?" he chuckled. I quickly glanced at him with a frown. "Ah, nothing. I'm Emory Meredith Grant." There was a sore throat I said before averting my gaze. "Hmm, nice name." I looked at him with shock in my eyes. I wanted to speak again but the car stopped. We are already in the hospital. I was also observed for about half an hour. I also underwent X-ray and CT scans. The wound on my arm had to be stitched up be
I AlSO glanced down the windowsill where the small picture frame was. My lips twitched as I recognized the man in the photo. He smiled broadly as he hugged the woman from behind. Even a few shots had him there with wide smiles. I want to cloud my eyes because of the pain that is dying in my heart. My system would not accept it, even though I knew he was in good shape after all I still could not accept what his life had become now. I couldn't help but caress its face in the photo, at least here to relieve the pain in my heart that I have been hiding for several years. But suddenly I was startled by a sneeze so I looked up at the man on the third step of the stairs. I quickly returned the picture frame to its previous position as I realized here was his attention. "Ah, you got a good shot here." My hand is the sense that averted my gaze. I also avoided looking at the white T-shirt he was wearing and khaki shorts. It didn't answer instead it walked closer to me so I arranged for us. I sme
"REALLY, are you sure about this? Do you want me to hire you as a servant?" she asked with eyes widened at me. I glanced at Gabriel who still had a blank face before nodding at him. "If only I could?" I hesitate to smile at them. "You said, you were on your vacation. Why did you think of applying to us as a maid?" Gabriel looks at me full of curiosity. I immediately thought of the reason for this. I also don't plan to apply as a maid but it looks like I'm exhausted so I'll stand up. "I'm a little bored because I'm at home, besides my husband isn't here and I've left my job on Queensland Island so I also need to earn some money somehow. I also plan to resign from my job because the company is not doing well. " I'm lying. I noticed that he lowered the cutlery and leaned back in his chair so I swallowed. "I don't get it, you said you had a job left in Queensland and you're here for a vacation and then you said you wanted to come in as a maid?" He folded his arms as he measured my gaze. "E
"REALLY, are you sure about this? Do you want me to hire you as a servant?" she asked with eyes widened at me. I glanced at Gabriel who still had a blank face before nodding at him. "If only I could?" I hesitate to smile at them. "You said, you were on your vacation. Why did you think of applying to us as a maid?" Gabriel looks at me full of curiosity. I immediately thought of the reason for this. I also don't plan to apply as a maid but it looks like I'm exhausted so I'll stand up. "I'm a little bored because I'm at home, besides my husband isn't here and I've left my job on Queensland Island so I also need to earn some money somehow. I also plan to resign from my job because the company is not doing well. " I'm lying. I noticed that he lowered the cutlery and leaned back in his chair so I swallowed. "I don't get it, you said you had a job left in Queensland and you're here for a vacation and then you said you wanted to come in as a maid?" He folded his arms as he measured my gaze. "E
THEY STOPPED because of my constant coughing. "I'm sorry!" I said as I wiped my lips with a tissue towel. "It's alright, just slow down, Meredith." Alessandra laughed while saying that and I nodded to her. But I couldn't import my cutlery anymore because of the dark look Gabriel shot at me. They are no longer on the table but the pain they left behind is still here. I also didn't feel like putting away the food we ate and washing it without myself. "Meredith?" I quickly turned to Alessandra who was carrying a shoulder bag. "Meredith, I'm leaving, if you want, just go with Gabriel to get your things from your house?" "No, I can manage I'll just finish my work here." I refuse as I wipe my apron by hand. "Hmm, it's up to you, maybe I'll be late so I can go home later as much to do at the resort today." "Be careful." I smiled at her slightly. "So, I'll go first?" She glances at her wristwatch before turning away. I followed her and finally sighed. I also stared at my dishes for a few minut
"MEREDITH?" I heard a painting knocking on the door. "Did you eat your dinner? Let's have dinner together!" Alessandra told me behind that closed door. I sat up in bed and quickly wiped away my tears. "All right, go ahead, I'm still full!" I answered. "Is there something wrong? Are you feeling bad?" she asked me. I couldn’t help but exhale violent air from my chest before answering again. "I'm okay," I said coldly. I looked at the door when I heard Gabriel's voice calling his wife. "Alright, don't forget to take your medicine, okay?" she ordered after I heard her footsteps away from the door. I went back to lying down and hugged the pillow. At that point again my tears dripped because of the overweight feeling. As I heard from outside their laughter and flirting. I could not bear the pain that was delicately cutting into my heart. I spent a few hours before I decided to leave the room. Hugging my own clothes. I went straight to the kitchen to join them in eating, but everything was cle
"I JUST don't want Alessandra to worry when you get sick," he said, looking down at the food again. I bowed at what I heard. I knew it! I bit my lip hard. Once again I swallowed the pain of his words. "Excuse me." I almost whispered in the air before I stepped my feet out of the kitchen. I carried the pail of water to the back of the house and sat on a bench facing the oval-shaped swimming pool. I also don’t know why I’m carrying a pail. I feel exhausted. I already felt tired because of the cleaning. I raised both my hands and frowned. I got sore in my hand, I could feel the tenderness of my back and the pain in my head, it's getting worse every day. Since this is not what I am used to. I left my wealthy living on Queensland Island to enter as a maid here. We had twenty maids and three drivers at my Mansion. There I did not experience even handling the dishes, even cleaning and using a reed I did not do. I felt my tears dripping which I immediately wiped away. It doesn't matter when my
"Nice... I love the party..." His one hand was inside his pocket while the other was holding the glass of cocktail juice, sipping on it coolly. "I wanted it simple and solemn. I didn't invite big names and personalities," I said. "Is he invited? Did you inform him?" He asked smoothly. But before I could even answer him, my eyes caught that man walking inside the entrance of the gate. My heart was frozen by his surprise appearance. Looking so magnificently hot and seductive in his navy blue long sleeve polo that folded up to his forearms. He never failed to clutch my heart out and leave me breathless. I watched him cross the crowded people while his eyes never left mine. I wanted to stare at him more, but it was cut off when I heard Ellwood clearing his throat beside me. "Whatever speech you have boiling, I don't wanna hear it," I said through my tight lips. I heard him chuckled lowly before leaving me alone and greeting Hezekiah. "Dude, long time no see... I'm glad you came." E
I realized a lot of this when Alessandra and I had a talk. I left her with a light heart and there's no anger left inside. Even before, I already forgave her.I halted from my tracks when I felt something wet gushed on my thighs. Then my stomach rumbled in pain."Oh God!"I quickly walked to the car. My delivery seemed earlier than the due date? I thought I could still drive but I can't take the pain.I was left with no choice but to call Ellwood."What?! We... wait, where exactly are you?!" he frantically said.I told him the exact place and after only a few minutes, I heard his car nearing.I woke up in a child's loud cry. I slowly opened my eyes and looked for the baby."Hey, wonder woman."My eyes lifted to Ellwood. I can't help but to smile.Beside him was a man carrying a child. My tears started forming at that scene."You're here?" I uttered in my low and weak voice.Ellwood glanced at Hezekia
"Were not yet through, my wife," he spoke in a rough voice, making sure he has control over me."Please just fucking let go off me..." I thought it would come out as a hard tone, but it came out almost like a whisper in the wind."I know you've been dreaming of me last night, every fucking minute of your night. I know deep there inside, you wanted this much to happen as much as I want you..." His soft tone vibrated all over my nerves."No. I don't... I can't!" I sterntly said. Tears formed around my eyes but I didn't let it fall."As much as I wanted to be near you or being with you. I just can't... I couldn't, Hezekiah." I slowly shook my head."It's not that easy. Alessandra is alive and your child... your child you chose over me!" My voice already cracked but I still my managed myself."No, Sweetheart," he whispered softer now."Please..." I struggled to get off of his hold but he didn't let me."Just one more chance, sweeth
"What time is the ribbon cutting again?"I was talking about the opening of the Jewelry shop Hezekiah built. He also invited me to the mall in Manila that just got finished, but I couldn't go because it's too far. I decided to just go to the new branch of the company because it doesn't sit right that I couldn't attend this event, too."10 am in the morning, so may you still have time to think about it again." She rolled her eyes and stood up."Come on, Zuay! I know it's not you..." I teased. Even if she said that she hates Hezekiah, I know she's still hoping for us to get back together again."Tss... I better go back to work." She turned around and and left my office.After she closed the door, I leaned my back against the chair. I gently caressed my baby bump and closed my eyes.He shouldn't find out about my pregnancy. Not because I don't want to give him his rights as a father, but because I'm scared of the result once he found out.
I chuckled lightly, "We already talked, he went to Galla a few days before I flew black here. He asked for my forgiveness and a chance, but–""No, no, wait... you mean, you two talked and you didn't even mention your situation?"I slowly shook my head.My gaze lifted to him when he held my hand above the table."You should've told him that you are pregnant."My lips quivered while staring at him. I didn't expect him to say that. I know he didn't like Hezekiah for me even way before. Why does it seem like the world just turned upside down?"No, I can't..." I shook my head again.His eyes lingered on me. He slowly caressed my hand and looked darkly at me."I want to show you something..."We didn't finish our food because we quickly walked our way to his car.I didn't ask where we were going, but based on the path we're taking, I think I know where it will be.When his car stopped in front of Cervantes
Carrying the bottle of wine and long glass, I walked my way to his cabin. I know the risk of taking this chance, but I have to do this to clear things out. What's about to happen may exceed my expectations, but I don't want to worry about it now. Clad with the tiny speck of courage left in me, I raised my hand to knock on his door. The door opened and I saw shock registered on his face when he saw me but composed himself right after. "Uh, I–I ah..." I quickly raised the bottle of wine and the long glass. Instead of saying anything, he just got the bottle and glass from me. He pulled the door close which made me step back... "Didn't you enjoy your wine?" His voice flowed calmly. My breathing hitched as he stepped closer, not wanting to be inches apart. "Yeah, we need to talk." I finally said. We're now facing each other in front of the small table of his cottage. He poured himself a glass of wine and took it all in one g
From a distance, I could already see Ellwood at a corner of the restaurant. He glanced at me and slid his phone on his pocket before standing up. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation." I said formally before offering my hand for a handshake. "My schedule is not that tight today," he said and sat down. I signaled the waiter to serve the foods and drinks I reserved. "I wanna go straight to the point. I want to pay all of the Cervantes' debts on you and your family. Even the interests and your effort and swats on the company. Name it, I'm ready to pay." "I better get going, dear." Aling Sita stirred me from my thoughts. She's probably finished cleaning the vacant cottage. "Why don't you join me in breakfast?" "Thank you, dear, but I have to clean a lot of rooms. And I already had my breakfast earlier, " she said. I glanced at the cottage beside mine before turning to him again, "Is someone gonna rent the vacant cottage?"
"How are you, you went late, huh?" He put two beers on the table and sat in front if me inside the cottage."I just worked overtime. Are the kids asleep?"He seemed to not believe my reason because his eyes went to my swollen lips."Yes, they have school tomorrow."Silence ensued between us."Is it about Emory?"My jaw clenched as I drank off the bottle of beer I'm holding."You won't come here at this late hour if you're problem is not that heavy," he said.I only shook my head and continued drinking."Come on, it's just women. Why don't you leave the other one? Problem solved!" I heard him chuckle before holding his own bottle of beer .I chuckled, if only it's that easy, I would've done that before."Why? Do you love both?"I licked my lips, not knowing what to answer, "You have a lot of questions." A smile appeared on my lips because of his nosiness."I'm serious. I know you love someone more that the other."I shook my head on him. "If
I carefully sat on a chair near her and watched her sleep in slumber. My eyes went to her baby bump. If I'm not mistaken, it's her due month. I can't help but to smile bitterly. I slowly raised my hand and caressed her stomach. If my child didn't die, it's probably my due month, too. Again, the splinter of pain in my heart intensified. I could still feel here inside, digging and buried deep right into my heart. Endless, as if the pain will never stop. "Emory..." I quickly turned to Alessandra's voice. I also quickly removed my hand from her stomach. "H-Hi, how are you?" I said as I cleared my throat. She smiled timidly, "You're here..." she said in her weakened voice. I didn't answer. I also want to ask myself why I decided to come with Marcus. But when I looked into her eyes and watched how she suffered from all of this, I also wanted to question all I went through and ask if what she experienced was actually more painful than