"So how did you and Khloe happen?"Harry's questioned dragged my attention from the raw chicken I was holding with my plastic-covered hands. I looked up only to see all eyes were already staring at me and my girlfriend. Although Arisa appeared to be uninterested, I knew that she was also curious."It just happened," Khloe simply answered, then she flipped the barbecued chicken kebab on the grilling machine expertly. Of course, being a gentleman, Harry insisted to help us while I was the one piercing the marinated chicken, mushroom and peppers into the wooden stick.Apparently, the royals, meaning Arisa, Quinn, and Jane, were waiting for us to serve them. They were just sitting around the fire pit, clad in winter clothing, having a silent battle among themselves. It was already evening and the temperature was getting colder but nonetheless, snow was still out since yesterday."Oh c'mon, please give us some details. We're going to fly back home tomorrow so at least, give me something to
"Khloe is so weak!" Arisa exclaimed as she threw off her arms in frustration.Watching as she paced back and forth in my art studio, I pondered why I told her the truth. Instead of saying: 'yeah, she's fantastic', why did I tell her 'no, we've not done it yet'? However, trying to be a decent girlfriend which meant getting through the right process of wholesome commitment, I stood my ground and declared my sexual status with my girlfriend to my friends."How could she do this to you?" Arisa burst out in disbelief as she placed her hand on her hip."When was the last time you've done it, Ry?" Bailey asked as she scanned one of my paintings on the wall.I rolled my eyes. "Do I have to answer that?""Yes, absolutely!" Arisa hissed. "Because you're being ridiculous right now. You guys talk about love but you're still not at that point of paradise."I leaned against the leather couch, crossing my arms over my chest with a huff. "Oh yeah, how about you and Quinn? When exactly did you guys do
"Okay, Ry. This is the plan," my Captain said as she ushered me into the huge dirty kitchen of Quinn's Mediterranean mansion. But we were interrupted when Fiona greeted me with a happy birthday then complimented the whole concept of my own party which was a black and white theme.I was only wearing a simple white dress. Bailey's choice of clothing for their plan as she claimed that it would be easy access for Khloe. Not that I mind what I wear but I was most comfortable wearing a not complicated dress anyway so it was all good."Hey thanks, Fiona, where's Cathy? I haven't seen her arrived yet?" I asked worriedly. Well, I wasn't worried about Khloe not arriving yet because I knew that she was always late for this kind of setup. Although, I wanted her to make it fast here.Fiona rolled her eyes and jerked her raven-head slightly. "I arrived with them. See for yourself?"I turned my head to see Cathy with Alec in a distance. They were talking among themselves in the crowd with shy smiles
It had been almost twenty-seven hours of pure happiness.Five hours of worries.And nine hours of doubt.The time was ticking, the music box on my nightstand was playing.My weekend had consisted of pure happiness. However, once the weekday started, that happiness turned into a wire of emotions. It had been almost two days since Khloe contacted me.Her last words were 'I'll miss you again.'Her last message was 'I love you.'I didn't see her at school. Quinn wasn't aware that Khloe wasn't there. All she knew was, her sister headed for school in the morning. Yet she wasn't there the whole day.Her absence did things to me.It made me worried. It made me confuse- so insecure.Everything was fine when we went home after our first. We were happy- so happy. The bliss was indescribable. We were like waves of the ocean-so lively and nothing could match against our current.However...There were multiple unanswered calls.A series of unfortunate messages.And several voicemails that being ign
Khloe Summer"Khloe.""Hey, wake up," a soothing voice urged my consciousness to hoist up from the dark silence of my own slumber. Once I opened my eyes, I winced due to the rays of sunlight coming from my window. Its warmth didn't fill the coldness streaming through my blood."You gotta wake up. You're getting late, missy," the same voice said and I rolled over my bed to see my Mom gathering my dirty clothes from all over my room. "And you need to clean your room."I almost laugh bitterly at that. I couldn't even fix my life so why bother cleaning my room if I was busy trying to make it all right? Trying because since I lost from my own insecure silhouette, I'd been doing a lot of mistakes that I couldn't even find a solution to and they were still hunting me or coming back to bite my ass.Rubbing my eyes, I got up, reminding myself that I have to clean my room. It might be the solution to align my own universe. Something good might come of it.Refusing to move from my spot, I took t
Two girls sitting on the floor. Similar eyes hiding a deep forest. The afternoon rays from the roof window of our attic reflected our misery. However, my sister and I had the same heart—so brave and yet so fragile.The first piece of the domino had fallen already and we were both unaware of it. We were too caught up in the world in front of us that we were so oblivious of what was happening beneath. Pieces by pieces, they fell. Every collision brought us into this situation. It was our time to stumble because we were also one of the pieces.We never thought that the greed grows. We never imagined that the vines were surreptitiously spreading underneath our lives.It began with our father— Aston Blackburn.And there were other names— Elric Krause, Nathaniel Valentine, and Malum Colvin.As we skimmed again through the box of our father he left at the attic, Quinn and I had finally realized that there was a dark history behind the old photo which was labeled NAME."Does Aunt Claire knows
"A night to remember, huh? Get this sh!t out of here," Quinn grumbled as she tossed the flyer aside and stared at me with a bored look. "I'm not really into this prom shenanigan but you clearly know that my girlfriend would be ecstatic to be asked to prom. And all I want for her is to be happy. However, our lives now are like a freaking action movie and I have to babysit you and ignore my girlfriend for our safety. Care to tell me why we should go to prom?""I think you're safe to go. Not me though," I said with a sigh. "And who I would be asking to prom anyway?"My sister stared at me with sympathy before she shifted her eyes to the soccer field. It was a cold afternoon and my teammates were already stretching their bodies to get ready for the drill. I was sitting at the bleacher with my sister, killing time after a strenuous day."Good luck tomorrow. Kick some butt!"I smirked bitterly. "I'm not even thinking about playing anymore.""Why?!" Quinn looked at me flabbergasted. "This is
Slowly, I woke up feeling lightheaded from a saccharine dream— wrinkled bed sheets, entangled legs and arms, and warm bare body on mine until I realized it wasn't just a dream. I shot up from the realization, finding no presence beside me.I straight away felt disappointed. However, I could still smell her fragrance in my room. Hilary must be somewhere so I rushed out from my bed, gathering my clothes and putting them on.Last night was so surreal. It was a flash of events that I couldn't believe as much as I wanted to save it in my memory. I couldn't imagine that she came into my room and accepted my situation even though she knew nothing about it. Damn, so unconditional.I don't deserve her.As the voice whispered to me, I shook my head before I mentally told myself that there was more to come. More to think about. Quinn let her in which was really dangerous so I better give her some sense. Although so far, it went well for us, there would be always a possibility of Jet finding out
Extraordinary.The day had become extraordinary since I'd met the person who completed my half-empty canvas. My life had changed so drastically as love and struggles forced us to bloom into a broad picturesque of a happy family. Khloe and I were led to a life of imperfect yet seamless routine. Our life opened up to countless possibilities and we created our future together through ups and downs. We both aspired to be a better individual, not only for ourselves but also for each other.After 'the incident', Khloe suffered greatly from trauma and we didn't have a choice but to seek help. I was traumatized too so we went together and helped each other to get healed from the past tragedy. Years had gone by and so we'd grown. Now, I was already the art director of a private museum, the Caslary Art Foundation, that was being financed by Quinn Blackburn for already two years. Not only did it showcase talented new artists, but it was also established for a cause, and that was to help the chil
The harmonious chirps of the birds lurched me out of my daydream, illuminating the polar night before my eyes. The painting had an emotional value in my heart. It was a hidden gem hanging inside a wooden treehouse, an art which was denied from the world. For me, this was more authentic than any art I have ever seen. Because it seen memories and growth. It was seeing the fruition of my existence through the age of time. Its original painter was no longer in this world, and yet every time I stare at it, it would always make me feel alive. Now it was watching me about to step closer to another chapter of my life."You need me?" the familiar voice asked, causing my eyes to avert from the magnificent painting.Mad stood a few feet away from me. And I looked at her dashing presence. She was wearing a long burgundy velvet dress enlightening her feminine persona. Her medium short curls were braided in style. However, I could still feel her menacing presence as she sat on the couch, next to me
*trigger warning*The rain poured out of nowhere, causing me to bolt into the cab in a hurry. Once I was in, I placed the box of art material beside me with a smile. I was certain that Hilary was going to give me an earful of rant for buying her another set of brushes. Last month, I had surprised her when we went to an art gallery of her favorite modern artist. She was so ecstatic to see those modern arts with me. She even managed to buy one of his masterpiece as a keepsake for attending a launching event for the first time.All I ever wanted is to make her happy. Since we moved in together three months ago, our relationship got stronger. Although there were some arguments, we wouldn't let it pass midnight and would just talk it out like a mature couple. We shared our dreams with each other and we adjusted our flaws according to our individuality. We both struggled to manage our schedules because she'd started her part-time job in a library near the university just two weeks ago while
The deadly silence of the room enamored the scene underneath my sight. I couldn't hear anything but I was seeing his bare body towering over me, his hands around my neck. The dark shades of his orbs were the roots of evil, anger was prominent as they stared at mine. The air was so rare, serenity was nowhere to be found. My lung wasn't functioning as it tried to seek even an ounce of life.He had a mad smile on his face, relieving himself using my damaged soul. It was sickening, how he moved against my body. I wanted to shut my eyes and just take all the illusion away. I was aware that this was just a nightmare I had no control with. The nightmare that could possibly happen afterward, if all else had failed.At least, there was no pain. But only deadly silence. And once I finally found a chance to breathe, I screamed at the top of my lungs, knowing it would be my key to reality.Once again, I jerked up and raced for a breath of air. Then I quickly moved my eyes to Hilary, but this time
I didn't want to admit it but I was saddened by the news that Mad was gonna leave today. Her job here was already done. Even though I'd only known her for a while, she'd already made a huge impact in our lives and someday, I would have the chance to pay her back for saving my life, that's for sure. Despite her assurance that we were going to be safe from now on, still, I was holding this poisonous threat in my heart. If I was to decide, I wanted Hilary's personal bodyguard to stay with us, like forever. I'd finally considered her as our friend already, despite my irritation towards her the first time we've met. She grew on me along with her insightful advice."Are you sure you don't want us to drop you off at the airport?" Hilary asked Mad, hugging her tight.As usual, Mad felt awkward at the gesture, causing me to smile endearingly at them. "You're squeezing her so hard, waltz. Let her breathe."Hilary stepped an inch away while pouting at her bodyguard adorably. "I'm gonna miss you,
"Are you sure about this?" Quinn asked, glancing at me curiously."I need this closure," I said faintly. It was still early in the morning and yet, the dark cloud was already blocking the rays of the sun. The weather seemed to match my mood at this moment— dreadful and dark. The wind caressing my hair and skin from the open window of my sister's car greatly sent the aroma of the cold daybreak.We were on our way back to our town. I had to do this so that I could see him with my own eyes— that he's gonna be there, confined with his life rotting away. My rage for him was so palpable but somewhere in my heart, I pitied him. In the first place, he was mentally damaged because of the life that was forcefully shoved into him. That Malum tortured and brainwashed Jet's whole existence like a trained lion in a circus. However, we all have choices and Jet chose to be consumed by his own insanity. He let others systemize his own beliefs and his own life. And those choices nearly called upon the
"Hey, you're still staring at your portrait? You love it that much, huh?" Hilary questioned, hugging me from behind. She gently swayed our bodies together side by side, toning the atmosphere into the essence of sweetness.With an unbreaking smile, I eagerly nodded. We were standing in my study room and I'd been gawking at the painting of mine since I came home from my last class of the day. It astounded me to the core that someone painted me for the first time.This work of art that Hilary had given me for my birthday was the best thing I'd ever receive as a present in my whole life. Aside from the fact that it was from perfect her, I was also overwhelmed by the smudges of bright acrylic dyes covering the grudges area underneath my whole feature. It was an absolute abstract of my face tinted with sophistication and beyond."I love it so much. I can't stop staring at it every time I come here," I said, beaming happily.Hilary giggled, kissing me on my shoulder. "I'm glad you do because
A soft caress stirred me awake from unconsciousness. Gently, I opened my eyes to see my gorgeous masterpiece who was holding my hand tightly on her cheek. Her eyes were already submitting to sleep but she was trying to fight it. I was about to reach out for her but a sudden pain at the back of my head halted me."My waltz," I groaned out, breaking her subliminal state to abrupt panic. Hilary blinked as if she was just dreaming. I squeezed her hand tightly to emphasize my presence while I lifted my other hand to touch my head. However, Hilary was quick to stop me, pushing my arm back down."No, Klo. They just put a bandage on your wound," she said, her tone was full of concern.That was my cue to scan the surroundings and I could tell that I was in a hospital room. My memories charged back in my head and it instantly produced a fear within my system. Pushing myself to sit up, my girlfriend carefully guided me as she stood up from her seat."W-What happened?"Hilary sat on the edge of t
"Happy Birthday!! Make a wish!"I timidly smile at them while Hilary raised the cake in front of me. I closed my eyes and only wished for the happiness of all the people I love the most. It was something general but would be worth it anyway in the long run. Opening my eyes, I blew off all the ninety candles and Hilary smeared my face with coffee frosting. I chuckled, giving her a warning look, to which she responded with a wink.Arisa and Quinn clapped as they seated on the other side of the table. We were in the VIP room of the dining restaurant that Hilary had booked for us. The place was already an old restaurant but just renovated months ago so the sophisticated interior looked fresh in the eye. It smelled like a scented paint mixed with the aroma coming from the kitchen. It seemed a popular dine-in stop as I noticed that the area was almost already full. I wondered how she had managed to reserve this private space, knowing that she had already spent half of her allowance for the