JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV
My throat tightens, and my breathing becomes shaky. I try to give Mother Alexandra a warm smile to hide the agony inside me as she smiles back at me softly. I look at Cheryl that is grinning brightly at both of us.
"Welcome in, Come inside," says mother Alexandra. Cheryl bows at her, and we get inside together.
The old wooden stairs that I use to run to my room looks the same. The plain white concrete walls that make the house stand tall slowly changes its color to dirty nude white. I make a twirl to scan the house.
Same as ever, but it will never be the same.
"Ma'am Alexandra," Cheryl calls for my mother. My mother stops and looks at Cheryl with a confused look.
"Cheryl, I have to prepare the table, so please wait at the table," She informs Cher, and she looks at me with apologetic eyes.
Cheryl grabs my hand
THIRD PERSON POVJoenabell goes after her Mom (Cheryl). She dashes out of Ma'am Alexandra's house. She pants heavily and shows determination to see Cheryl. Her phone buzzes in her pocket and checks the message on it."I am at home, Joenabell. I am sorry for leaving you," Joenabell puts her phone back in her pocket after reading the message from Cheryl.She rushes home with a cab.**KNOCK**KNOCK**She knocks on their door because it is locked.Someone inside unlocks the door, "Welcome back home, Joenabell." Karene greets her with an awkward smile on her face. Karene is surprised earlier at Cheryl as if she wants to kill someone. Karene can't help but be scared to Cheryl's wrathful aura."Where's mom?" Joenabell asked heavily while breathing for air.Joenabell feels her feet throbs from running without preparing herself
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV"Joenabell, I know you are Joanabe. You told me, and I believe in you," Karene whines at me with a heavy sigh in her breath."Yes, I know, I want to tell you about my name," I argue back at her whining face.Karene's face looks confused about what I mean, and I just roll my eyes to her face. "Karene, my name comes from the Hebrew word 'Joana' means to be gracious. Then, my mother added the word 'be' means to exist. Why am I not like my name?" I said in a heartfelt way to her."Joanabe, there are things that people can point out about yourself that you can't point out. For me, you are acting as your name, but you are petrified about yourself. Why?" She catches my teary eyes, and I bite my lower lip.I look up to the ceiling and wonder why?"Joanabe, your past is in the past. It has nothing to do with your present. You are now a wh
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POV"Hello?" I pick up the phone while Karene is looking at me happily."Hello, Joenabell?" He softly says through his phone."Hey, what's the call about?" I say and sit on the floor."Don't sit on the floor, Joenabell. It is not a chair," Karene whispers at me and stands up from kneeling. I chuckle because I find it funny I don't know why. Karene helps me to stand up, and I bow to her as thanks. "Joenabell, are you crying? Your voice hoarse." Leonel says, and I touch my throat. Oh, yeah! It hurts."Are you with someone? Who made you cry? Want me to hit him?" Leonel throws questions at me that make me regret picking up the phone.I look at Karene with a poker face. Karene sighs and says, "I think you need to go to your room. Take your time talking to him." I nod, and I rush to my room. I open the door and securely close it. "Are you still there?" I ask in my phone, wondering Leonel is still there waiting for me."Why are you in a hurry?" He asks a question again,
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVLeonel glares at my surprised eyes. I beam awkwardly. I look at Maurice, who is blushing hard at the moment. She must have liked what I said. My eyes stare back at Leonel's deadly grey eyes. I gulp compared to Maurice's reaction. His face doesn't look pleased with all I said. "Ehehehe, sorry..." I cleared my throat, trying to break the awkward situation I am in. I hear Maurice giggle shyly at me. No, at Leonel. I can sense Leonel's going to kill me after this lunch.Leonel still did not say any word. His movements become stiff. I ruin his mood. Great! What have I done to him? I grab Leonel's hand in front of Maurice. I ignore her like it is just the two of us, and I say, "Leonel, I am sorry. I did not consider what you felt. I say something stupid. Please, Leonel, be okay? Your face doesn't look nice to be grumpy.""Pfft... you look so sorry I can't help to break a laugh. Apology accepted. It is fine. Today is my treat, so you better make yourself at ease." He
LEONEL POV"Do you think I can dress like a clown here?" Maurice teasingly asks me. Why will she ruin her face by dressing like a clown in a place like this?"I think you can't," I tell her. I keep checking on the time in my wristwatch, and Joenabell is getting late. I hope she arrives safely."I am excited to meet her," She says in a shaky voice."You will, she is interesting," I smirk while my thoughts run in Joenabell's face."This place is so romantic. How did you know this place?" Maurice's eyes wander all over the place while I look at her scanning face."My mom and dad used to go out here for a date. They took me once here," I explain earnestly. I tap my foot on the floor, getting impatient for Joenabell's arrival.I bite my lower lip. I am worried about Joenabell. Her voice hoarse when I heard her on the phone. M
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVThe middle-aged man who approached me pokes at me to get me back to my senses. "Miss, are you okay?" I get startled, but I give him a nod.I quickly walk away from the place I stand. "JOENABELL!" someone screams my name.I did not turn my back to see who is calling me. All I want to do is to run away from this place. My legs tremble to see Kane watching me performing, so I run faster. I stumble and fall on the floor. Back when I was Joanabe, Kane caught me whenever I fall, but now I am all alone. My tears slide in my cheeks."Joenabell..." *IS KANE FOLLOWING MY FOOTSTEPS?*I quickly face the person calling and see..."Are you okay, Joenabell?" Leonel pants while looking at my face. I gulp to see him here. He morosely stands contemplating in my state. I tried to get up, but I struggle. Leonel rushes to my side and helps me to get up. He grabs my right hand and wraps it on his shoulder. He leans to support my body in standing. I groan in pain. "What the hell ha
KANE POVDID SHE ADDRESS ME IN MY FIRST NAME? AS WELL AS HER MOTHER? DID I HEAR IT RIGHT?This is the first time I see my daughter lashing out to me. I can't believe it. My heart feels like they are about to stop. I did not want my daughter to rebel against us. -Her parents. The way she controls her emotion is different from us. What's wrong with my daughter?"I am sorry, dad. We are both tired. Let's go home. Mom is waiting," Her hoarse voice says. My daughter finds it hard to move her feet. I notice. She is limping on our way here. I carry her in a bridal style. Her eyes look at me in surprise, and I give her a warm smile. Her actions may remind me of Joanabe, but her face and eyes are from us. It makes me happy that she is the fruit of Cheryl's love and my love. I want my daughter to be happy, but I do not want her to end up like Joanabe. It scares me. I have to protect her even if it means to sacrifice myself."You better not let any man carry you like this," I tease her, but she
JOANABE (JOENABELL) POVRise and shine because today is another day. Under the big bright sun, I am cutting dead leaves in our plant. I am in our balcony doing something that is to be done by Karene. I want to help her since the chores are too much for her body. Poor Nanny Karene."You are being called by your father, Joenabell." Karene stomps her feet while walking to me. I look at her in an awkward face. Why is she acting like this? Karene looks like a kid who lost her candy, pouting. I want to laugh at her face, but I don't think that is a good idea."You need to go," She says in annoyance. She stops stomping in front of me."What does he want?" I did not know why Kane calls for my presence. I keep thinking about what I have done. Was it because I sang a song? I shrug and nod at Karene.I walk inside the house and find them (Cheryl and Kane) standing in the living room. "Baby!