SWEET SINNER (ENGLISH VERSION)

"I'm okay here, Dad, don't worry about me," Erik answered with a chuckle while speaking on the phone with his father, Fidel, who was in Canada with his mother. "Give me that phone, let me talk to that boy," came the voice of his mother, Aurora, which made Erik chuckle softly. "Mom, don't argue with Dad anymore. The two of you are all you've got there," he teased, laughing lightly while continuing to separate his white and colored laundry. "What exactly are you doing there, and why haven't you come back yet? It's been almost a year since you said you’d return. When are you coming back? Your grandfather won’t stop asking when his favorite grandson will be home. Your father and I don’t even know what to tell him," his mother went on, her ranting making Erik laugh softly again. "Mom—" But his mother quickly cut him off. "Why are you laughing at me? Hey, Enrique, have you forgotten your responsibilities here? To your grandfather's business? Your cousin is struggling to handle all the

Erik smiled as he stared at the picture of the woman whose F******k profile he was viewing—none other than Nadine.He quietly gauged his feelings. Does it still hurt? He smiled once more before shutting down his laptop. He was happy now, and he was happy for Nadine as well—as he was for Keira. And from what he could see, Nadine seemed to be happy too. It looked like she had eventually learned to love the man her father had wanted for her, despite the short time they had been together. It had been a year since he was last in a relationship. As he had said before, he wanted to focus on his career first, and that was exactly what he did. It was Saturday, which meant he had no work. He woke up late—as he always did. He needed rest too. Erik headed to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. But he wasn’t in the mood to cook, so he decided to go out and buy food instead. His feet led him to a small eatery. He loved their *sinigang na bangus*, so that’s what he ordered. After eating

Erik let her stay in the living room so they could continue their conversation there. After letting her sit down, he went to the kitchen. He didn't take long and soon returned with a glass of cold orange juice and a small plate of buttered cookies. "My officemate sells these. Try them, they're good," he offered, referring to the cookies on the plate. Mia nodded and took one with a smile. "They really are delicious," she said, suddenly realizing how hungry she was. When she finished the cookie, she took another one. "I'm sorry you had to come all the way here so late just to talk to me. Mrs. Ramos only told me about you earlier today. I didn't know you’d be coming tonight," Erik explained, glancing at the bag of rice, salted eggs, and tomatoes beside her. Mia let out a soft laugh. "I'm the one who should apologize to you. The truth is, I really need a job. The place I’m supposed to work at told me I have to let the bruises and wounds on my face and body heal before I can start," she

"NAY, I have good news for you," Mia said as she found her Nanay Rosita busy watering her ornamental plants in their yard. As always, she pushed open the iron gate and approached her adoptive mother, bowing to take her hand and press it against her forehead in a gesture of respect. "I already know. Your classmate mentioned it to me," her mother said with a smile as she looked at her. Mia’s well-shaped eyebrows furrowed. "Classmate? Which classmate?" she asked curiously. "That handsome young man? Fidel and Aurora’s son?" her mother replied. It was then that Mia fully understood what her mother meant. Along with that realization, an uncontainable giddy feeling surged through her, accompanied by a bright smile she couldn’t suppress. "Ah, are you talking about Erik?" Even though she already knew that was who her Nanay Rosita was referring to, she still chose to say his name aloud. "Yes," her mother said as she put the hose away and walked with her toward the veranda of the ho

PRESENT DAY...As agreed upon the night before, Mia was the one to provide the coffee. She carefully selected the beans from her favorite local roastery, ensuring they were fresh and aromatic. The rich scent filled her kitchen as she ground them, heightening her anticipation for the morning ahead. It wasn’t just about the coffee—it was about the quiet significance of the gesture. She wanted the first thing Erik tasted that morning to be something she had chosen, something that carried a part of her. As she poured the dark liquid into a thermos, she imagined his reaction—the way his lips would curve into that familiar, thoughtful smile, the same one that had always made her heart stutter, even years ago. Mia wasn't sure if she was more excited about the breakfast she would share with Erik or the simple fact that she had made the plan earlier that morning, which now left her feeling unexpectedly lighthearted. There was something about having certainty in this moment, in knowing that he