Lahat ng Kabanata ng Craving My Best Friend's Dad: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

MELANIEI did not remember how I got back to my room.One moment, I had been standing in that study, my entire world unraveling piece by piece under the weight of truths I never asked for, and the next, I was inside my room with the door shut behind me, my back pressed against it as though I needed something solid to keep me upright. My chest rose too fast, too uneven, and when I tried to take a proper breath, it caught halfway, like my lungs had forgotten how to do something as simple as breathing.What went wrong?The question circled in my mind over and over again, refusing to settle, refusing to let me rest.What did I do?I pushed myself away from the door slowly, my legs unsteady as I moved further into the room. The soft lighting should have felt comforting. The neatly arranged bed, the quiet hum of the space, all of it should have made me feel safe.It did not.Nothing felt safe anymore.My fingers tightened around the documents still in my hand, the edges pressing into my ski

MELANIEMy hand trembled slightly as I lowered the phone from my ear, the call ending far too quickly and yet somehow not fast enough to calm the storm rushing through me. My chest rose and fell unevenly, my breath still unsteady from the panic that had taken hold the moment everything spiraled out of control.Beside me, Allison groaned softly from where she sat, her leg stretched out awkwardly in front of her, a makeshift wrap already secured around her ankle. The bright, sterile lights of the hospital corridor made everything feel sharper, louder, more real than I wanted it to be.“I didn’t want to call him,” Allison muttered, her voice slightly slurred, her head leaning back against the wall. “You didn’t have to do that, Mel.”I turned to her quickly, my brows pulling together.“He’s your father,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the lingering tension in my chest. “Of course we had to call him. He would be furious if he found out later and realized we didn’t tell h

RAFAELSleep had not been as controlled as I preferred.That realization settled in the moment I opened my eyes, the remnants of something vivid still lingering at the edges of my mind. For a few seconds, I remained still, staring at the ceiling as fragments of the dream tried to piece themselves together.Melanie.The awareness came slowly, then all at once.It had not been a clear memory, not something I could fully reconstruct, but I did not need to. The feeling alone was enough. The closeness. The warmth. The way her presence had lingered even in something as uncontrollable as sleep.I had dreamt of her body, of her scent, and of taking her in my study. I dreamt of her moans, her shudders and soft lips calling my name. It was a dream. All a fucking dream.I exhaled sharply and pushed myself upright. This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid.My gaze shifted slightly, and that was when I saw it.The scarf.It rested beside me on the bed, the soft fabric unmistakable, yet my

RAFAELHer eyes focused on the plate, and her hands absentmindedly twirled the spoon in her cup.Her lower lip slightly moved into her mouth, and I saw her other palm balled into a fist.“You’ve not taken your coffee,” I mentioned, trying to kill the silence.She looked up, and her blink showed her return to reality.“Sorry, I got lost in thoughts.” “It’s alright.” I followed up,I watched as she placed the cup on her lips, and I did the same. Her shoulders were frail, and even with the golden jewelry highlighting the beauty of her skin, I could see the hollowness in her face. Her cheeks were fallen, and I could tell she was drifting off.“The boy from the hospital,” I said, trying to make conversation.She immediately looked up, “Who?”“The blonde boy who tried to flirt with you.” I pushed on.I needed to confirm her thoughts.My eyes squinted as her realization sets in.“Oh,” she dropped her cup, “Luke.”“Jake.” I corrected, feeling the boiling in my chest begin to subside.She di

MELANIE“Jake asked you out?” Allison asked, pushing her back on the headboard of the bed.Her hair was tied in a messed up bun, and her tank top revealed most of her tan skin, but she seemed to be healthy.“No. That’s not what I said,” I responded.How did she mistake my words for that?Her eyes were already glistening and her lips were curved in a mischievous smile. I shouldn’t have told her this.Who else would I have told?“What then did you say?” She asked, placing her palm under her chin. “I said we met at the mall when your dad and I went to get a scarf, and he asked for my contact.”“Yes, but he said he would love to see you sometime.”I nodded, in admission. “Yes, he did, but that could have just been out of courtesy.”“I don’t think so,” her shoulders shook. “I believe he likes you.”“How do you know that, Ms know all?”“When I fell off that yacht, he didn’t come to see me. The guy barely acknowledged my presence.”“That’s not true! He brought gifts for you!”“Yes. He brough