"I thought we wouldn’t make it after what happened earlier, but we still made it. I hope you feel better now that we’re here in a public park."I didn’t look at Louie, I just kept my eyes on the children playing in the playground with their parents. I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous because, when I was younger, Mommy only took me to the park twice, and after that, it never happened again. She was busy with work, Dad was the same, and Kuya wasn’t into the things I liked to do. So it was only Mommy who would accompany me to do or go to the places I wanted. This park witnessed how happy I was during the times I was still with Mommy.Before she died, she even promised me we’d have a picnic here for my upcoming 6th birthday. But promises are meant to be broken. But I guess I’m the reason that didn’t happen."I don’t know if it feels lighter, but I think it’s only getting heavier," I whispered as I sadly stared at the mother and daughter.They were eating ice cream together. I could
"Geez, if I didn’t text you that I was going to meet you, you really wouldn’t come, huh?" Faye said, sounding a bit upset.I just exhaled and took another sip of my coffee at what she said. I didn’t respond, letting her vent out her feelings before I spoke. Because if I replied, she’d just lash out at me more... and her feelings would get worse.Honestly, I’ve become immune to her drama, but sometimes, it’s just so irritating to hear what she says."Do you still consider me a friend? Do you even care about me? Do you ever think about me?" she said dramatically.I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath before responding. "Faye, calm down... of course, we’re still friends. You’re just being so dramatic. I’ve been busy with work, that’s why I didn’t have time to visit you."She crossed her arms and gave me a glare. I secretly chuckled at her reaction."Is it true? Do you think I'm lying?" I said with a laugh, but she just gave me an eye roll in response.She can be so childish someti
I dropped onto the sofa as soon as I got home to the apartment from work. I could feel the intense exhaustion from all the heavy tasks I had to do earlier. And it felt like I couldn’t move my legs anymore because of the long walk I took to get here.I got home late because there were no more tricycles or jeeps when I left the restaurant earlier. I waited for a few minutes until I decided to just walk. The apartment is just about a meter away from the restaurant, but I ended up doing a walk-run combo on the way. So here I am now—drenched in sweat and gasping for breath like I just joined a 1-meter run."Where could he have gone?" I muttered while scanning the apartment. My eyes searched for Louie. I didn’t see him when I arrived.I decided to stand up and head to the kitchen, but when I got there, he wasn’t there either. I looked all over the apartment, but I couldn’t find even a trace of him. I suddenly felt worried about that guy. Around this time, he’s usually just here in the apart
*WAYNE LOUIE ANDERSON POVI recently realized that she fell asleep in my arms. Good thing I caught her. Maybe she suddenly fell asleep because of extreme exhaustion. And perhaps also because she had been crying earlier due to what we talked about.I brought her to her room and slowly laid her on the bed. I tucked her in properly and gently removed a few strands of hair covering her face. And I couldn't stop myself from staring at her because of the things she told me earlier.How could a father bear to deprive his child of seeing her mother at her final resting place? How cruel!"How's the task I'm asking you to do? Have you found out anything?" I asked Deo, but he didn’t answer right away. He looked troubled and didn’t seem to know what to say to me.We're here, just the two of us, at a coffee shop near the apartment. I met with him to ask for an update on the task I asked him to work on. Erina didn’t know that I left the apartment. I snuck out, making sure to do it at night so no on
*ERINA ISABEL TUAZON POVI slowly opened my eyes, but it wasn’t a soft pillow I was holding, it was something hard that I didn’t know what it was.I slept in my room last night, right? But why—oh my goodness! Why am I hugging Louie? Why are we sleeping next to each other here in the living room?!Oh my gosh, what happened last night?"What should I do? How do I remove his arm without waking him up?" I thought to myself.Louie’s arms are wrapped around me, while I’m pressed against his chest. I can’t remember how we ended up in this situation, but I don’t want to know because I’m so embarrassed!"Oh my gosh, his arm is so heavy!"I gently lifted his arm, hoping he wouldn’t wake up so I could get away. But I suddenly gasped when he pulled me closer to him, tightening his hold around me.What should I do now? Wake him up? Suddenly get up or roughly remove his arm around me? Or should I just stay in this position and wait for him to wake up?“He’s really handsome—his face is flawless. His
I'm staring at the white envelope placed on top of the table. I don’t know what to do with it, but I just want it out of my sight.I just arrived at work, but I already feel like going home. I don’t think I’ll be in the mood to work today because of the envelope I received earlier."Erina, are you okay?" Lean asked as she approached me. She immediately sat in the chair across from me and looked at the envelope."You’ve been staring at that for a while. What’s inside? Haven’t you opened it yet?"I slowly shook my head in response and let out a deep sigh. Then suddenly, I grabbed my hair in frustration, both my elbows resting on the table."I'm heading home for now, Lean. I'll be absent today. Please let Boss Yuki know when he gets here that I’m not coming in," I said as I grabbed the envelope from the table and quickly stood up to get my bag. But I noticed that Lean was following behind me.I didn’t want to miss work, but I wouldn’t be at peace if I stayed here. I had to do something t
We were both just sitting on the bed, but neither of us attempted to speak. I didn’t want to start either because I felt shy and awkward around him. And the reason for that—the hug he gave me earlier.I was supposed to ignore it since it didn’t really mean anything to me. But I couldn’t help but wonder why he hugged me, especially since we’re not that close yet. It wasn’t really a big deal to me, in fact, it actually made me feel a bit better.Could it be that he doesn’t feel awkward around me anymore? Well, we did sleep next to each other last night—wait, no! Erase… erase, I shouldn’t be thinking about that. That was a mistake—it happened because of me.“Umm, are you okay now?” he asked, breaking the silence that wrapped around us.I immediately turned to look at him and saw him watching me. I simply nodded in response and gave him a small smile.“Are you sure?” he asked again, and I could hear the concern in his voice.“Y-Yeah, I’m okay now… you don’t have to worry,” I replied, quic
"Sorry about this, Louie. Your clothes got dirty because of my clumsiness," I apologized as the two of us walked home to the apartment.I was too embarrassed to even look at him because of what happened earlier at the park. Now people we passed by on the street kept glancing at him because of the ice cream stain on his clothes—which was entirely my fault."It's okay, I don't mind," he said before smiling at me. But I still couldn't shake off the embarrassment I felt.After twenty minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the apartment. He headed straight to the kitchen while I went to the bedroom to change my clothes. I wasn’t going to work anymore—I had already informed the restaurant manager earlier that I wasn’t feeling well and wouldn't be able to come in."Uh, Louie... hand me your shirt," I said when I got to the kitchen.He was in the middle of washing the dishes but immediately turned to look at me when he heard my voice. He was still wearing the shirt stained with ice cream,
I just finished my shift at the restaurant and I’m on my way out to head home. My head hurts and I feel like I’m coming down with a fever. I don’t know why, but I think it’s because of the heavy tasks I did earlier.Aside from serving the orders, I also helped carry supplies and stocks to the kitchen. I also got sweaty and then caught some rain earlier, so maybe that’s why I’m feeling this way. I really need to rest once I get back to the apartment.“Hello, Faye…” I said as I answered her call.I’m currently waiting for a jeep to take me home. I wanted to just walk to save money on the fare, but my body can’t handle walking anymore.[I already called Kuya Erick about what you gave me earlier, but he refuses to accept it. He wants you to be the one to return this to your dad.]I let out a sigh and rubbed my forehead. What Faye was referring to was the money Dad had given me. I had planned to return it to him.[So, what’s your plan? What are you going to do with the money?]I had asked
I sat quietly on one corner, thinking. I’m at my second job now, but I feel like I just want to go home because of everything I found out yesterday.I don’t know who to believe between the two of them. But I have to set that aside for now before I drive myself crazy thinking about it. I forced myself to focus on work, trying to push away the thoughts about what I discussed with Aunt Helen."Erina, table 4..."As soon as I heard my name, I quickly stood up and took the tray from Ate Mica. She’s also a waitress, but she started here before me. She’s kind and very hardworking, and she’s one of the people I look up to when it comes to work."Okay, Ate," I said, then left the kitchen to deliver the order to table 4.I walked slowly, careful because the tray was loaded with food, and it looked expensive, so I had to be extra careful. But I suddenly stopped when I got close to the table where I was about to deliver the food, as I saw someone I didn’t expect to see here and definitely didn’t
"Sorry about this, Louie. Your clothes got dirty because of my clumsiness," I apologized as the two of us walked home to the apartment.I was too embarrassed to even look at him because of what happened earlier at the park. Now people we passed by on the street kept glancing at him because of the ice cream stain on his clothes—which was entirely my fault."It's okay, I don't mind," he said before smiling at me. But I still couldn't shake off the embarrassment I felt.After twenty minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the apartment. He headed straight to the kitchen while I went to the bedroom to change my clothes. I wasn’t going to work anymore—I had already informed the restaurant manager earlier that I wasn’t feeling well and wouldn't be able to come in."Uh, Louie... hand me your shirt," I said when I got to the kitchen.He was in the middle of washing the dishes but immediately turned to look at me when he heard my voice. He was still wearing the shirt stained with ice cream,
We were both just sitting on the bed, but neither of us attempted to speak. I didn’t want to start either because I felt shy and awkward around him. And the reason for that—the hug he gave me earlier.I was supposed to ignore it since it didn’t really mean anything to me. But I couldn’t help but wonder why he hugged me, especially since we’re not that close yet. It wasn’t really a big deal to me, in fact, it actually made me feel a bit better.Could it be that he doesn’t feel awkward around me anymore? Well, we did sleep next to each other last night—wait, no! Erase… erase, I shouldn’t be thinking about that. That was a mistake—it happened because of me.“Umm, are you okay now?” he asked, breaking the silence that wrapped around us.I immediately turned to look at him and saw him watching me. I simply nodded in response and gave him a small smile.“Are you sure?” he asked again, and I could hear the concern in his voice.“Y-Yeah, I’m okay now… you don’t have to worry,” I replied, quic
I'm staring at the white envelope placed on top of the table. I don’t know what to do with it, but I just want it out of my sight.I just arrived at work, but I already feel like going home. I don’t think I’ll be in the mood to work today because of the envelope I received earlier."Erina, are you okay?" Lean asked as she approached me. She immediately sat in the chair across from me and looked at the envelope."You’ve been staring at that for a while. What’s inside? Haven’t you opened it yet?"I slowly shook my head in response and let out a deep sigh. Then suddenly, I grabbed my hair in frustration, both my elbows resting on the table."I'm heading home for now, Lean. I'll be absent today. Please let Boss Yuki know when he gets here that I’m not coming in," I said as I grabbed the envelope from the table and quickly stood up to get my bag. But I noticed that Lean was following behind me.I didn’t want to miss work, but I wouldn’t be at peace if I stayed here. I had to do something t
*ERINA ISABEL TUAZON POVI slowly opened my eyes, but it wasn’t a soft pillow I was holding, it was something hard that I didn’t know what it was.I slept in my room last night, right? But why—oh my goodness! Why am I hugging Louie? Why are we sleeping next to each other here in the living room?!Oh my gosh, what happened last night?"What should I do? How do I remove his arm without waking him up?" I thought to myself.Louie’s arms are wrapped around me, while I’m pressed against his chest. I can’t remember how we ended up in this situation, but I don’t want to know because I’m so embarrassed!"Oh my gosh, his arm is so heavy!"I gently lifted his arm, hoping he wouldn’t wake up so I could get away. But I suddenly gasped when he pulled me closer to him, tightening his hold around me.What should I do now? Wake him up? Suddenly get up or roughly remove his arm around me? Or should I just stay in this position and wait for him to wake up?“He’s really handsome—his face is flawless. His
*WAYNE LOUIE ANDERSON POVI recently realized that she fell asleep in my arms. Good thing I caught her. Maybe she suddenly fell asleep because of extreme exhaustion. And perhaps also because she had been crying earlier due to what we talked about.I brought her to her room and slowly laid her on the bed. I tucked her in properly and gently removed a few strands of hair covering her face. And I couldn't stop myself from staring at her because of the things she told me earlier.How could a father bear to deprive his child of seeing her mother at her final resting place? How cruel!"How's the task I'm asking you to do? Have you found out anything?" I asked Deo, but he didn’t answer right away. He looked troubled and didn’t seem to know what to say to me.We're here, just the two of us, at a coffee shop near the apartment. I met with him to ask for an update on the task I asked him to work on. Erina didn’t know that I left the apartment. I snuck out, making sure to do it at night so no on
I dropped onto the sofa as soon as I got home to the apartment from work. I could feel the intense exhaustion from all the heavy tasks I had to do earlier. And it felt like I couldn’t move my legs anymore because of the long walk I took to get here.I got home late because there were no more tricycles or jeeps when I left the restaurant earlier. I waited for a few minutes until I decided to just walk. The apartment is just about a meter away from the restaurant, but I ended up doing a walk-run combo on the way. So here I am now—drenched in sweat and gasping for breath like I just joined a 1-meter run."Where could he have gone?" I muttered while scanning the apartment. My eyes searched for Louie. I didn’t see him when I arrived.I decided to stand up and head to the kitchen, but when I got there, he wasn’t there either. I looked all over the apartment, but I couldn’t find even a trace of him. I suddenly felt worried about that guy. Around this time, he’s usually just here in the apart
"Geez, if I didn’t text you that I was going to meet you, you really wouldn’t come, huh?" Faye said, sounding a bit upset.I just exhaled and took another sip of my coffee at what she said. I didn’t respond, letting her vent out her feelings before I spoke. Because if I replied, she’d just lash out at me more... and her feelings would get worse.Honestly, I’ve become immune to her drama, but sometimes, it’s just so irritating to hear what she says."Do you still consider me a friend? Do you even care about me? Do you ever think about me?" she said dramatically.I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath before responding. "Faye, calm down... of course, we’re still friends. You’re just being so dramatic. I’ve been busy with work, that’s why I didn’t have time to visit you."She crossed her arms and gave me a glare. I secretly chuckled at her reaction."Is it true? Do you think I'm lying?" I said with a laugh, but she just gave me an eye roll in response.She can be so childish someti