"Kuya, why did you call?" I immediately asked when I answered his call.I wasn’t expecting a call from him this morning since we already saw each other and talked yesterday. I was still getting ready for work when he suddenly called, so I stopped what I was doing for a moment."We already talked yesterday. What else do you have to say to me?" I said with disinterest while I was fixing my things inside my bag.[Please listen to me very carefully]I was confused by what he said, and I suddenly stopped what I was doing. His voice was very serious, and I didn’t know why.What’s going on with him?[Didn’t you and Louie just recently become a couple? How many months were you together before you made it official?]I was confused by his questions. Why did he suddenly bring this up? I thought he didn’t have any issues with Louie anymore. But what’s this now?"Kuya, why are you asking? Don’t tell me you’re wondering why I suddenly have a boyfriend?"Gosh! If this is how that idea was going to t
It was already three in the afternoon, and I decided to leave for a while to meet up with Faye. Louie didn’t allow me to go out because of what happened to me last night, but I insisted, and he had no choice but to let me. So I quickly got dressed and left the apartment earlier before he could change his mind.I still haven’t opened the package that arrived earlier, but I found out who it came from. It was from Mommy’s sister in Germany. She couldn’t come yesterday because she was busy with work and had no one to look after her child—my niece. I have no idea what’s inside the package, but I think everything in it is for me.“It’s good you finally arrived. I’ve been waiting here for a while,” I said, but there was a hint of annoyance in my voice.I just planned to tease her a bit so she’d feel guilty for making me wait so long, and so I could get a free snack from her.Clever of me, right?“Sorry if I’m late, we had a group meeting earlier for the reporting,” she replied, before sittin
Why am I seeing a white ceiling? Why does it feel like I’m in the apartment?I immediately sat up from the bed and looked around. I really am in the apartment, but how did I get here?Just a while ago, I was still at the party, and Dad was giving his birthday greeting. So how did I end up here? How did I get home? And what time is it? Is it already morning?“Oh my God, why am I in sleepwear?!” I exclaimed in shock when I saw that I was wearing different clothes.Who changed me into this? Oh my God, was it Louie?!“This can’t be—”I stopped talking when the door suddenly opened, and Louie came in carrying a tray of food. When he saw that I was awake, he immediately smiled at me, but I couldn’t show any emotion in return because I was still confused.“It’s good you’re finally awake. I prepared breakfast for you. Here, eat while it’s still warm,” he said as he reached my side. But I didn’t respond. Instead, I just stared at him, and he noticed it.“What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Do I nee
“Ugh, your brother’s party is so boring,” Faye said lifelessly as she sat beside me.Good thing we weren’t seated at the same table as Kuya Erick. That was my choice, because I didn’t want to sit at the same table as my father.I let out a small laugh at what she said, but I noticed the same thing. Light background music, drinking, and guests each engaged in their own conversations, but all just about business. This wasn’t new to me, because ever since I was a child, this is exactly how parties always went.Almost all of the guests my older brother invited were from the business world, so the party felt dull and not enjoyable. That’s why I just wanted to go home and rest at my apartment.“That’s why I was having second thoughts about coming, because I knew this is exactly how it would turn out. But if it weren’t for you, if you didn’t come, I wouldn’t have come either,” Faye said again, but the boredom was now obvious in her voice.“It’s like it’s my fault now, huh,” I said with a lau
It was just Derick, I thought it was someone else. He was with Faye, who was smiling widely at me now, but it looked like she was looking for someone. And I already knew who... Louie."Have you been here long?" Derick asked when the two of them finally reached me."Uhh, yeah... maybe about 30 minutes," I replied.Faye immediately came up to me and hugged me, but she looked at me teasingly once she pulled away. I already knew why."Where's your boyfriend?" she asked teasingly, poking me in the side.She's crazy—she was the one who came up with that idea, yet she's also the first to tease me about it. But I never even got to do her suggestions because Louie already took the initiative to do it even before I could say anything to him."Boyfriend? You have a boyfriend, Erina?" Derick asked, which caught me off guard.I immediately turned to look at him, but his brows were already furrowed, and his face was filled with confusion.I didn’t want to lie to him because he’s one of the people I
"Kuya..."He only looked at me when I called him, but his eyes kept shifting back to Louie, who was now standing behind me.Now I’m scared to introduce Louie to him—what more if Dad shows up?“Hmm? Uh, I’m glad you made it. I’m really happy you came,” he said, then pulled me into a tight hug.I returned his hug, then handed him the gift I bought once he pulled away from our embrace.I smiled at him. “Happy birthday, Kuya. I hope you’ll like it,” I said, and he immediately took it from me and thanked me.“Thank you, Erina. I’ll open this later.”I think this is the right time to introduce Louie to him.I gathered my courage before turning to Louie and gently taking his hand. I led him closer to Kuya, who was now staring at him intensely."Umm, Kuya, everyone... I’d like to introduce him to you. This is Louie, m-my boyfriend. Louie, this is my brother Erick, and the rest are my relatives," I said hesitantly.I looked at all of them—they were all smiling, except for Kuya, whose gaze towa