INICIAR SESIÓNPatricia
“My baby,” my mum gushed, opening her arms wide as she neared me. “You don’t know how glad I am that you’re here.”
“Mama,” I matched her energy, falling into her embrace. I mean it was impossible with the way she was so bubbly. It reminded me of when I lived here, never lacking pampering from my mother when I needed it. “I’ve missed you,” I told her, genuinely.
She pulled back to look at m
EthanI flinched and stepped back. Of all things I had time to think of, I wasn’t expecting this. She was sitting upright in the bed, her legs still under the covers, a few tissues scattered around her. All the colour in her face had gathered up at her nose and her hair was spread messily around her. She had an innocent, childish look on her face as she stared at me. “Hi,” she croaked.I broke out from my shock and recomposed myself. “What happened?”She opened her mouth to reply, but that turned into another sneeze. She groaned and wiped her face with another tissue.I looked around, drawing a conclusion myself. “You forgot to change the sheets before sleeping in.”“I cleaned this place just a month ago,” she explained. “I don’t understand how it’s this bad.”From the sound of her voice, I knew it was worse than she was letting on. She had practically unknowingly inhaled dust the whole night. I couldn’t begin to imagine how she was feeling.“Damnit Tricia,” I sighed, getting closer.
PatriciaI buried my hands in my hair and collapsed in a nearby sofa, curling myself in it. I had to calm down.‘Think about better things. Think positive.’ I repeated that to myself severally, and before I knew it, it was already dark. I had stayed in that position for a whole hour without actually feeling that much time passing. My legs had even fallen asleep. I massaged them for a while and then got up to go upstairs.Ethan hadn’t come downstairs since, so he was probably in our bedroom. I didn’t know if it was a good thing for me to be in the same space with him right now, but I headed there regardless.I was expecting him to be asleep. He was in his nightwear alright, but he was just standing in front of the window, gazing at the view outside. There was no way he couldn’t have heard me enter the room, but he didn’t react.The ambience was depressing, and there I confirmed it wouldn’t do both of us any good if I was here. I was holding something back from him, something he deserve
PatriciaOne step forward, two steps back. That was all I could think about in the silence of our drive back home. Ethan hadn’t said anything from the time we met in the office till now. All I managed to get from him were monosyllables and curt nods. His withdrawal hurt more than I thought possible, I knew he could tell how I was feeling. Deep down I had an inkling on what this was all about. I was hoping still, that I was mistaken.“Is everything alright?” I tried.“Mm,” he hummed, eyes focused on the road.Not knowing what to make of this reply, I switched my course. “What do you know about Jessica getting fired?”He scoffed, the most he had expressed himself since. “A lot.”“Did you… speak to my boss?”“I did,” he confessed casually. “I made it clear to him that I couldn’t have you working in a place that threatened your wellbeing.”He did have that kind of influence, so I didn’t doubt a word he said. I was uneasy about his confession, but I was more grateful than sorry for Jessica
Patricia’s POV“What was all that about?” Betty asked the minute I caught up with her.I shook my head, waving it off. “Nothing too important.”Yet, I couldn’t help but replay the whole conversation in my head. He could apologise a hundred and one times for someone else, but it was a task for him to acknowledge the pain he had caused me. Unbelievable!“Have you seen Jessica around today?” I asked, continuing smoothly from where I was interrupted.She frowned at me. “You haven’t heard?”I dipped my brows, urging her to continue.“She was sacked, very publicly, I might add, a while after you left yesterday.”My steps slowed. I never imagined this could lead to her losing her job permanently. “Goodness,” I muttered to myself.“Nah, she deserves it,” Betty interjected quickly, smacking her lips. “She has always been so stuck up.”I stared at her in shock. “You don’t even know her.”“I don’t need to know her to see she’s a bad person. And after what she did to you, who in their r
Patricia The meeting pulled through from afternoon to evening, and by the time we were dismissed, we were all tired from the back and forth that almost led to an argument after the presentation. Something that could have been avoided were the CEO present the previous meeting. But who were we to point that out? Apart from that minor irritation, the day had been better than I had anticipated. I had expected people to stare at me, and stare they did, but they weren’t judging. They only looked at me as if they were looking for answers to some mystery, to know what was in my head perhaps, and when I caught their eyes, they looked away sharply with hints of smiles on their faces. It was just plain weird. And then it got annoying, because I also caught Bryce stealing glances at me throughout the entire four hours of the meeting. I could tell he had something to say to me, but I wasn’t waiting to find out. The moment we had the clear to leave, I sprang out of my seat and rushed towards B
PatriciaMy brows dipped as I stared at the place he tapped. He was suggesting I lie right beside him. Was he really okay with that? Or was it just to pamper me for today?When he realised I was hesitating, he smiled and nodded. “I’m being serious, yes. Come closer.”I didn't think much afterwards and just scooted closer, until we were close enough to cuddle. I propped my head on my arm and hugged myself with the other, so I didn't end up ‘mistakenly’ touching him. Sure, he wanted to kiss me earlier, but that spell would've worn off by now.“Stop overthinking. Let's call a spade a spade, alright? She did what she did because she really doesn't like you, and that’s what it is. I know it’s hard to believe, because of how close you two were, but what you saw today is the truth about how she really feels about you. Don't make excuses for her.”I wiped my face to make sure there weren't any te
Ethan’s POVWhen she realised I was looking at her, she laughed nervously and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s uh…been a while…hasn’t it?”I shrugged, hoping to appear nonchalant. “I guess.”She didn&rs
Patricia“Alright honey, I’ll give the phone to grandpa now, so don’t be shy to read him the poem you wrote for him,” I told Nellana, while making sure the phone didn’t slip from my fingers. I wouldn’t have drunk that much if I knew the wine was that strong.I didn’t enjoy wine much, but I guess I
PatriciaI stepped closer, but I still didn’t look him in the eye.“Clearly, you’re aware that I know what’s going on between you and my son.”I nodded slowly. “I understand if you preferred for me not to be here.”&ld
Ethan“Yes,” the word came out of his mouth smoothly.“Dad!”“Then why are you together. How do you think this is going to work if you don’t?”I exhaled heavily and run my hand through my hair, turning away from him be







