Semua Bab FLOWER OF LOVE: Bab 1 - Bab 10

“Flor! Wake up!” Flora Amor bolted upright from bed, heart pounding. For a moment, she thought the house was on fire—her mother’s voice was that loud and urgent, echoing through their cramped home as she juggled her wailing six-month-old baby sister. “Get up already! Your father’s waiting for me at the market!” Her mother’s tirade was enough to rouse even Harold, Flora Amor’s younger brother by three years. He rubbed his eyes, stood, and obediently went to help. Flora Amor sat still for a moment, her gaze lingering on her four other siblings, blissfully asleep despite the chaos. From the sala, she could hear her mother issuing orders to Harold. “Buy twenty pesos’ worth of pandesal from Alexa. Give the change to your sister for her school allowance. Make sure your sisters bathe before the water runs out. And before you go to school, take the little ones to Mamay Elsa. Pick them up as soon as you get home, you understand?” “Yes, Ma,” Harold answered politely. Flora Amor’s eyes shi

“Hey, bro, how long are we going to stay here?” Fred finally broke the silence inside Lemark’s car, his eyes fixed on him through the rearview mirror. “It’s been an hour since we got here,” Jay-ar grumbled from behind the driver’s seat, brows furrowed as he stared out at SM City Fairview. “Easy, bro. Lira told me she’s on her way—just stuck in traffic,” Lemark replied casually. “Whoa, bro. I can already see you losing this bet,” Dix teased from the passenger seat. They had made a wager: if Lemark’s new girlfriend showed up tonight and he managed to win her over, they would crown him Master—the ultimate playboy of the year. They’d celebrate at Fred’s house, splitting the expenses four ways and each handing Lemark five thousand pesos. But if he failed, Lemark owed them fifty grand. That was their game—an annual bet to decide who would carry the title of Master Playboy of the Year. The rules were simple and cruel: whoever managed to take a girl’s virginity would win the crown

Flora Amor’s smile stretched from ear to ear as she walked through the lobby of their department. From afar, she spotted Anton looking straight at her. Not far from him were Phoebe and her friends, snickering as they watched the ongoing construction beside their department. “Good morning, Flor,” Anton greeted, raising his arm to guide her. “Beshie, why does your face look all scrunched up so early in the morning?” she immediately noticed, seeing the way his brows furrowed as he stared at her. He studied her closely before forcing a smile. “I missed you, Beshie. You didn’t let me come with you yesterday,” he said teasingly, yet his words carried weight. Flora Amor blushed, recalling what had happened the day before in the stranger’s car. He guided her with a gentle arm. “Who was that guy?” She was about to step inside when he caught her attention. “Huh?” she asked blankly, trying to grasp what he meant. “Who?” she questioned again, furrowing her brows in confusion.

The promised make-up kit from her parents turned out to be just pressed powder and a magic lipstick. Flora Amor was on the verge of tears, seething at her mother. “Well, how was I supposed to know Mamay Elsa couldn’t get one from her manager?” her mother replied casually. “Ma! You are the most disappointing mother ever,” she muttered through gritted teeth. Her mother only laughed, fixing her in front of the full-length mirror. “You’re already beautiful, anak. Pressed powder is enough. Just reapply later when it fades,” she said reassuringly. She dabbed a little lipstick on Flora Amor’s eyelids and cheeks, then brushed pressed powder all over her face. “See? Who would’ve thought that’s just lipstick for your blush?” she said with a smile, admiring her daughter’s reflection. Flora Amor giggled. She hadn’t realized she could look this pretty with just powder and lipstick. “You know, I came home early today just so I could get you ready—so you won’t embarrass yourself in

“Woah, Beshie, you’re blooming today,” Mariel teased Flora Amor the moment she walked into the classroom. Flora Amor's cheeks warmed as a soft laugh escaped from her lips. . She still couldn’t get over what happened last Friday at Anton’s house. Now, she found herself waiting for Dixal to call her name—but he still hadn’t. Maybe he wasn’t around yet. “And you? Why are your eyes so puffy?” she countered, turning the teasing back on her friend. “Stayed up late watching TV,” Mariel replied as she slid into the seat beside her, since Anton hadn’t arrived yet. “Beshie, there’s a new Korean drama on GMA. Have you seen it?” “Goodness, Beshie, don’t ask me that. We don’t even have a TV,” Flora Amor said, slipping her backpack under her chair. Mariel’s jaw dropped. “You don’t even have a TV?!” she blurted. A few of their classmates turned to look at them. Flora Amor nodded. “So what appliances do you even have at home?” Mariel asked curiously. “A fridge,” Flora Amor answe