WHEN HER mother left them, she thought that she couldn’t continue moving forward. It was hard living each day knowing that the love of her life wasn’t there and wouldn’t come back though she needed her the most. She was at the point of giving up, but her siblings reminded her to keep moving forward and that she was not alone and she was not the only one in pain. They gave her the strength to wake up each day and motivated her to try the best that she could and keep on fighting no matter how tough life was. She thought that there was no greater pain than losing her mother to death. But here she was now, mourning for her lost love. Only this time, he was not taken from her because of death but of his own will. Perhaps he fell out of love, or he didn’t love her at all, to begin with. Nick had done an excellent job of breaking her heart. Despite that, she still finds herself wanting his presence as days pass by. She wanted to see him, to hold him, to beg him never leave

YEARS LATER"IT'LL be a big opportunity for us if we win this project, Ally.""But, there are five participants in this project. We might not win it, some of them came from bigger firms," she commented with a shrug."We will win this!" Ashton declared with confidence. He was always confident and optimistic and she admired that."By the way, where's your secretary? Bakit ako na naman ang hinila mo rito? May trabaho pa akong naiwan.""I fired her, Ally. She tried to flirt with me in any possible way, besides, I need you there. You could be an eye candy to please the clients," he answered while grinning playfully. "You might meet a man that you like, maybe some handsome businessman," Ashton teased."Or maybe some old fart," Alessandra, then rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Why? Don't you want that? I mean an instant fuck?" She winced at her choice of words.

Nanghihinang napasandal siya sa pinto pagkapasok sa loob ng banyo. Kumakabog ng malakas ang kanyang dibdib dahil sa kaba, kinakabahan siya sa hindi mawaring dahilan.Tiningnan ni Alessandra ang repleksiyon sa salamin. Hindi malaman ang dahilan kung bakit nagtagal siya kanina sa pag-aayos sa sarili at pagpili ng damit na isusuot.Maybe because you want to look beautiful in front of Nicholas Villarama? tudyo ng isang bahagi ng kanyang isipan.No! I just wanted to show him what he lost! And that I am not the old naïve Alessandra, she reasoned out.Inayos niya ang sarili at lumabas ng banyo kapagkuwan. Gulat ang lumarawan sa mukha ni Alessandra nang makita ang isang pamilyar na bulto na nakasandal sa dingding at tila ba may inaabangan. Bumuntung-hininga siya upang kalmahin ang sarili, hindi niya gustong mapahiya sa harapan ng isang Nicholas Villarama. Hindi na siya kagaya ng dati na gina

BINIGYAN niya ng huling sulyap ang sarili sa salamin bago lumabas ng kanyang silid at bumaba. "Wow, ang ganda mo, Ate!" puri ni Adeline sa kanya sa nagniningning na mga mata. "Thank you." Ngunit pinutol ni Niccola ang kasiyahan ng magkapatid. "Mommy, you look so pale in red! And look at that dress, it's so maikli. You should change, or much better, do not come nalang kaya sa dinner date mo with your friend." "Niko, we've talked about this already. I'm just going to have dinner with a... friend." "But I didn't allow you to have dinner with him!" She blew a deep sigh. "Baby, you don't understand." "No! You don't understand me!" iyon lang at umiiyak na pumanhik ang bata sa apat na baitang na hagdan at pumasok sa silid nito. "Ako na, ate. Enjoy your date with Mark," agap ni Adeline nang akma niyang susundan ang anak. "Go."

"YOUR daughter is recovering fast. Mabuti at nadala niyo agad siya sa hospital. Dengue is lethal if detected late, the fatality rate of dengue these days is increasing. It was good that you brought her here to the hospital quickly.""Thank you, Doc."Nang makaalis ang doctor ay napatingin si Alessandra sa anak na nakahiga sa kama. "You heard that, my brave sweetheart? You'll be okay soon. And when you are fully recovered, we will do anything that you want to do.""I—I want to go to the beach, mommy," sagot ng bata sa mahinang boses."You will go to beach when you recover," sabat ng isang boses. Napatingin sa Alessandra sa nagsalitang iyon, si Nick! Kakapasok lang nito sa loob ng hospital room ng anak nila at narinig ang kanilang pinag-uusapan."T-thank you, Mr Nick," sagot ng bata sabay gawad ng ngiti sa binata. Napatingin si Alessandra sa kanyang anak na puno ng katuwaan ang maputlang mukha."No worries, sweetheart. I have a summerhou