"Ma? Hello to my beautiful mother. Are you still with me?” I just came back to my senses when the person in front of me, Audrey, was waving at me. "It's like you were thinking so deeply a while ago. What's the matter, ma?"“Uh… it's something… you don't have to think about. Just finish what you're eating before we go straight to your singing lesson. Okay?”From her school, we should have headed to Bernard's Singing Studio, and in this case, Audrey suddenly asked me to stop the car to eat at a simple eatery we passed. I even argued with her if she was sure that we were going to eat in this kind of place... well, usually the food in this place is hit by flies before the customer even eats.But then again... Audrey wins the battle against me. So, I just let her eat, but I... she would never force me to eat in this kind of place. I come from a non-luxurious family, but I didn't run to such a place during the times when we weren't out of poverty. Fast Food chain, still possible."I never s
And then one day... something happened in their relationship. After almost a decade of being together, they are getting confused. He opened the matter to me. Even though we are married on paper, as most people we know believed I'm Gwen, but I'm also a friend to him. He can trust me, so he shared his problem with me.His assumption was... in their relationship, there's a third party. Maui was said to have an affair with another man—which was still a big question mark. Because it's not proven. So, I suggested giving their relationship a break—even a short break will help.He told me... that's a great idea. He'll consider it because... even though he was already stressed by Maui's unreasonable attitude... and then now he suddenly thinks that a man is interfering with their relationship. Well... Hen wouldn't think there was anything if no evidence appeared.So, they broke up. So, it's really surprising that after three or four months their relationship was broken... Maui is still meeting
He walked closer to where I was, the exact opposite of my expectation, that he was about to leave my house."But... Thanks for your help. You have been a great help in encouraging me to find my purpose here. Now that I finally confirmed you just have Kris' face, not her soul and identity, should you expect I will stop pestering your life from now on.""I'm not really going to force you to be my wife anymore. By this confirmation happened tonight, I will just learn to accept that she is really gone."With every word he utters, every letter woven and sentences punctuated, I feel the pain and bitterness… by how he pronounced those."You know what... you wouldn't have reached that point..." I met his eyes when I moved my face upward. "That you will regret the things you did before... that you will regret how much you failed Kris as a husband... if only then, Liam... you would have learned how to properly take care of your wife."“And now you're going to chase her… when it’s too late… When
I'm aware he's been used by how sarcastic I become when I take things seriously, so it's not surprising on my part if he's not showing any violent reaction. "I wonder how that woman twisted the truth... so, she could throw dust in your eyes... and believed only in her lies." He stood up with a bang, and the pitcher we were about to break would fall over with just a little bit more. "I don't know what you’re talking about, Kris. I don't understand why you brought Maui into the conversation, and then now you're saying she's a liar. What's happening to you?" "To us..." A long sigh was heaved as I averted my gaze to him. "What's happening to us? We're able to make our attachment strong just now... and then... with your foolish heart ruling your mind and soul... you're coming back again to the woman who hurts you." "I'm not seeing her anymore-" “I know I used to be a fool! That's why the word 'change' was invented for people like me... remember that I do have a brain that is available
"Maybe it's right. I'm not going to get my hopes up, Lucile.”I drowned myself in the equivalent of two pitchers of juice that Lucile had prepared for me when I arrived at her house. She said she doesn't have any alcoholic drinks available, so I'll just have to put up with her orange juice, which is even more sour than her armpit shot."Because I'm wrong too. We both have a clear agreement that there should be no attachment. In the first place, both of our sides have understood that this setup is just for pretending.”"He made it clear to me that I would just borrow my sister's identity in preparation for this day—that I would have the chance to meet Liam again and he wouldn't find that I am still alive.""Everything is clear in my mind. I know where I will end up... not until my foolish heart rules my whole system... and I fell... even though I know despite his flowery words, to catch me if I fall do not belong in his options." I laughed at my own stupidity… which I had let go and go
And Liam just stated the exact reason why I always forbid Audrey to take part on showbiz. I don't want the two of them to cross paths, feel at ease, become close friends... until the connection between the two of them becomes the road to unravel the secrets I have been protected over the years.I don't want Sarah to be the root for her to bring my daughter closer to her real father. No. I can't let that happen.So, even though I really wanted to approach Sarah, talk to her and apologize for not being able to bring her that night, I resisted doing it. It's not the right time yet."Opinions don't count if you're not the parent," I whispered to myself.I assumed nobody was able to hear that since it was so weak the sound I made."Anyway, you? How's life?”"So good, Gwen. Actually, Liam and I are getting busy preparing for our wedding next month. That's why I can't be with Liam sometimes to visit here and visit the state of our partnership with you.""No need to worry about that. Besides,
The top of my head was filled with question marks, and still I'm undecided to do the job... but the people who are with us here on the set encouraged me to do that as well speed up the work.Ugh! Why so slow to pick up simple instructions of this model we got?I took off my coat and let it fall to the floor. Only the black long sleeve see through was left on my top, revealing my flawless body to the audience. I took Lea's place earlier and put one of my legs on the chair. I curved my body, showing to the camera my perfect crescent hips.Glancing at the camera with my seductive eyes, I turned my back while facing in front, butt out while my knee popped on the chair. Two hands are slanted on the armchair as I want my butt to do all the talking. And finishing the pose with my fierce-look."Well done! That's the pose I want to take a picture of," commented the photographer while I was fixing myself after demoing that pose earlier."Thanks for that, Miss Gwen.""No worries." My eyes search
"The baby is very healthy in your womb, Maui. Just continue eating healthy foods for the week before you give birth, there will be no complications."Is it called a mistake to God that I feel annoyed to know that her baby is healthy? Well... I know it's a very huge mistake to wish for an accident to happen to Maui one day—that will cause her to miscarry the baby. Then when that happens, she and Hen will fight... and completely separate and lose connection with each other.Pft. I think I’m so bad."Don't worry, Doc Marissa... My partner feeds me healthy food. I'm not being neglected... both my baby and I. So, I can assure you there will be no complications.”Whoa. She’s so lucky that she’s been taken care of. And that Maui is being loved back by the man she loves. Probably I can experience the same."Yes, by the way. You're really lucky to-""We’ll go ahead, doc. Thank you for your time."She didn't let the doctor finish speaking, and she immediately got up from the chair and left the
"I am supposedly calling you for an emergency family meeting about what I heard from Echo, son," my mother said to me after recovering from the shock Henrix and I brought to her."But I don't have anything else to worry about, eh! If this man is responsible for you and is willing to marry you, I don't have a problem."All thanks to the Lord, Henrix and I moved ahead of Echo. Although that bastard has already informed my mother that I am pregnant, good thing we have settled everything down to the venue and props just to make Henrix's outdoor proposal to me look realistic.Mama also arrived on time in front of the house that I built-not for Henrix and I, if not for myself-and she was able to witness our show."You can count on me, Tita Miriam. I'm not like other men who run away from their responsibility to women," I heard the reply of Hen next to me. I tightened my grip on his arm."So, when do you plan to get married?" asked my stepdad. "We're not rushing you to get married that's why
Becoming selfish or not, the situation right now is indeed a hard choice. I think about the welfare of the child in my womb, and at the same time, I shall not ignore the fact that for the sake of the baby, I will suffer.So, I have come to a very complicated decision."I understand if you find it difficult to give in to me, Hen. But I have no choice," I pleaded.I secretly met Henrix in a bar near his house in the middle of the night."The weight of the two options I have now. I can't afford losing the other one out of my hand."I tried to gamble. Instead of letting Echo get ahead of me in making a move to inform my parents about my situation, I should be the one ahead of him.Since Echo is known to be the son of my mother's college friend, Echo is close to my mother. And he has the access to ruin my life by telling lies anytime he wants.The only way to stop him is to step ahead of his plans.So I'm asking for Henrix's help that for the meantime, he acts as someone intimately in love
"A country we can trust if you wish to continue aborting the baby is in New Zealand," Doc Nerissa, an OB Gynecologist, premises. "Because in that country, they passed a bill wherein they treat abortion only a health issue not a crime. This is the safest route you can travel, Maui.”I didn't go home immediately after my round because I deliberately made Doc Nerissa here on the third floor of the hospital in his clinic. At this point, I think I really need some advice from the professionals.I'm afraid to make a decision on my own. As much as possible, I wanted to make a decision that I would not regret later."I've got to start packing my things, do you think, Doc?"I am still struggling to this day whether I will continue with my plan or not. So, I ended up heaving a sigh in front of her."Only if you're very sure about your plans. Are you sure about your plan, Maui?” She is asking me like she wants me to have a second thought."For most women, a baby is a blessing. Many of them still
This chapter intend to elaborate what happen to Maui after revealing her truth.---"How many times do I have to tell you that you can't just come here to my condo, Maui?! Have you forgotten the danger you might cause to me once people around here keep seeing us together?!”I just bowed my head and tightly held the strap of the shoulder bag I was carrying. Echo let me into her condo unit but we were only here behind the door. He said it's dangerous if he talks to me outside because he's afraid of the possibility I might be the cause of his image falling off the ground."You need to know something, that's why I'm here. It's not my intention to cause trouble, Echo." My voice is shaking.I was nervous to continue speaking because just from Echo's eyes, I could read that she couldn't accept what I had to say."Go straight to the point, Maui! Don't waste my time!”The nervousness I feel is increasing even more now that Echo's voice is raising me. He is desperate to get rid of me and I will
Gwen has already left me. And it took me years to forget her completely. I may have fallen for the same woman who has her looks too, but still there is something in Kris that makes me love her. Something that I didn't see in Gwen before - the fighting spirit that Kris has. "Exactly. Make sure you don't even think about what they will say. If they are not our family, their opinion doesn't count." I placed my hand on her head and kissed the top of her head. "I love you." The first 'I love you' I have told her... ever. "Until my last breath..." She looked up at me. "I will love you too." ***** LIAM After two years... "Here's your baby..." I handed to the mother the little baby that we had put in her diaper. "You're a mother of two now... Kris." She cried and took her baby from me. As a mother who is about to glimpse and tickle her child for the first time, I understand the story behind Kris's tears. She must be... really acting like this even before she gave birth to Audrey. "Tha
"Aether Entertainment is not complete without Miss Gwen–the one that served to be our mother. She honed our skills to make us shine and be talented, just by how you see us now. So, even just by the project we did for her we can show that with the things she is facing now, we wanted to show her she's not alone." That's a very sweet message I heard from Tanya. "And as we represent the other artists that's part of this project, we may show you the art of love." (Two voices, One song started to play) Along with the music video playing on the big screen, Tanya and Coreen sing along to the lyrics of one of the songs that have shaped our hearts. Right now, Kris is just staring at the huge screen while watching the music video... and it's absolutely pretty that Corrine's company makes use of some clips of Kris and me... which seem to be among the ones they took as they invade our privacy . While I was in the middle of enjoying the melody I was hearing, my heart suddenly dropped when I fel
"We're here to visit Miss Gwen. Where is her room, Doc-" I turned to face the woman who’s asking, and realized it was Tanya and Corrine. Both of them are wearing glasses. The only difference they had is Tanya is wearing a puff crisscross back dress in white color and she pairs her outfit with strap trendy flat sandals in beige color. While Corrine's outfit is always simple yet classy. She wears a solid cut out Mandarin collar dress and paired it with a black minimalist metal decor point toe slingback pumps. In other words, Tanya's outfit is how SHOPEE app users dress, while Corrine is for SHEIN's users. "I'm just reminding you that she doesn't remember or recognize anyone," I said to the two before they entered the room. And they retreated at the same time. "She has suffered a minor internal bleeding on her brain. As a complication, she lost her memory. But she has short-term memory loss." "There's still no definite time as to when she will regain her memory," I added. "So... sh
I thought before I went back to the hospital, I would pass by Lucile's funeral first. I can't just not show myself there and exhibit my greatest sympathy because of her family's loss. Even though she committed many sins in Kris and I's life, I still have at least a percent of gratitude for her for offering a friendship to Kris... even if it's not true. "My condolences." I don't know the old lady I met, but I guess she's one of the family members of the Soriano's. So, I proceeded to the long coffin and placed the flower I bought on top of it. Now... as I was able to see the dead body of Lucile, confirming she was really dead, I feel a mixture of sadness and joy. Maybe she has run out of time to change, but then... she deserves it. To me that she is in arrears, it's really funny that the demon's minion has picked her up. However, I was also sad because she will not be able to continue the only right thing she has done in her entire life--to save the lives of the stray dogs and cats.
She was walking back and forth tensely. "My concern is that they will know the location of this place. What if... they take all my pets from here? I can't accept that I took care of them and kept them alive only to die at their hands!" Oh shit. Because Liam and I didn't say anything to Hen that he should bring the police when he comes here, eh. "You go through there," she pointed to the back side of us and there was a door there. "Take that road out here. There's a car parked there and... get in it. It's more of a hassle if you take your car in front. The police will be here at any time." "Come with us-" "Not anymore, Liam." Lucile gave us her weak smile. "As long as I live, I will not let the police set foot on my territory. Until my last breath, I will protect them." The dogs and cats here are noisy and playing happily, they are very lucky to have Lucile. That even if I wanted to try to convince Lucile to just run away, I knew I would only fail. Because right at this moment, the