At her work place, May refused to give her information out to a handsome young man. Who knew he would persistently chase after her. When they meet again, a misunderstanding occurs which led to May being kidnapped and transported to another world. In this mysterious world of magic and mystical beings, is it truly a misunderstanding? Does she really want to return home or stay there and explore this new found place?

Next month, Youngjae wasn't sure the right choice is. Youngjae wears his suit for his wedding day. He stays in the front door to greet guests. He sees Minah's parents. Youngjae bows and greets them. 

He looks behind them and doesn't see Minah. Her mother speaks up. "She's not coming." "Ah...I see." He lowers his gaze as she sadly smile. "She's....at the airport." He looks at her. "Airport?"

Her father answers, "She's going back to overseas. She might not come back or so she says." He place a hand on Youngjae's shoulder. "Congrats. You're soon will be a married man." They both head inside the chapel.

(She's leaving...again...) 
...
Minah is sitting in the cab, looking out the window. (The wedding is happening right now.) She sadly smiles. "It's for the best for both of us."
...
It's time for the wedding to start. Youngjae is standing by the altar by the priest. Soon the bride walks down the aisle. Youngjae still have his back on Nancy.

He was thinking about Minah. Nancy whispers, "Youngjae." He jolts and turns around. He sees Nancy right in front of him. (It seems like deja vu.) He bows to his soon-to-be father-in-law. He takes Nancy hand and leads her to the altar.

In Youngjae's mind is full of Minah. The priest asks Youngjae, "Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?"

Youngjae was still in a daze. "Ahem. Mr. Youngjae." He still couldn't hear what the priest had said. Nancy hits him on the arm. Youngjae snaps back and looks at Nancy. 

"Ahem. Mr. Youngjae." He turns to the priest. "What was it again?" The priest sighs and asks him again. "Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?"

Youngjae was supposed to say "I do", but his father's words still remains in his head. [Once you're married to her, you need to erase her from your memory, your heart, and your mind. Are you able to do that?] 

Youngjae tighten his fist and looks at the priest then turns to the woman he's supposed to married. "I can't." Everyone gasped. 

Nancy was shocked. "Y-Youngjae. What are you saying?" "I'm sorry, Nancy." He lets go of her hand. "I can't marry you. My heart is only belongs to her." 

He turns his heels and runs to the exit. "Youngjae! Youngjae! Where are you going?!" Nancy stood there in disbelief.

His parents sighs in relief as Minah's parents did too. Youngjae loosen his tie to take it off and toss it on the cement stairs. "TAXI!!" The taxi pulls up and he gets in. "Airport please. Fast." The driver nods.

He leans back and couldn't believe that he walks out on his own wedding. He laughs.
...
Minah arrives the airport and waits for her flight. Thirty minutes later, it's been announce that her flight got delayed. She sighs as she walks back to the bench and wait. As the clock ticking, she waits and waits. She grabs her luggage and head to the bathroom.
...
Youngjae reaches the airport. He gets out of the cab and pay the fare; he walks inside of the airport. He and Minah walks pass each other. 

She thought she sees him walk by. She turns around but she didn't see him because she had missed it. She tilts her head. (I think I mistook someone as him.) 

She shakes her head. (He won't be here. He's at his wedding.) He looks around but he still cannot find her. "Where is she?" He's afraid that she's going to leave pretty soon.

He thought about what he should do. He then have an idea that it might work. He heads to PA room, where they make announcements. 

He begs the workers to let him use the PA for a bit. They agree and let him.
...
Minah hears her flight was called. She then stands up and grabs her luggage to head to her flight number. [Minah.] Her eyes widen. She turns around.

For sure she hears his voice but she doesn't see him. (It's probably my imagination. He wouldn't come here to stop me from going.)

She turns her heels and continues to walk. She got closer to the speakers.  [Minah. I really miss you.] She stops her tracks as she realizes he's here speaking on the PA system. Her eyes widen. "...No way.."

[For three years, when you left me. I've been missing you like crazy. I want to find you and bring you back but you wanted us to be strangers. I gave in and do what you want me to do. Be a stranger to you. But...it really pains me that I cannot see you.] Tears slides down on her cheeks. 

[I'm sorry that I've been a scumbag to you. I'm sorry that I didn't trust you enough. I'm sorry that I push you away. I'm sorry for listening and hearing from what they say about you. Minah. Please don't go. Don't leave me. I beg you.]

As he talking through the PA, the women in the PA room was in touch about Youngjae's apology and they were in tears. [I'll change so...come back. I...I really cannot live without you. I also know you cannot live without me. I...I really love you, Minah.]

"Stupid. Stupid Youngjae." Minah wipes her tears and turns her heels to the opposite direction of her flight. She heads to the PA room where Youngjae is at. [Give me another chance. Give us another chance. I'll prove to you that you will be the most happiest woman alive.] After a short while, he bows to the workers and left the PA room.

As he exits the PA room, he sighs as he looks at the floor. He whispers, "...She's probably left already..." "How can you be so sure?" His eyes widen as he hears her voice. He looks up and sees her standing in front of him. "..Minah...Minah!" He runs to her and hugs her tightly. 

"..Minah.." She reaches out and hugs him. They hugged each other for a long time. They parted. She hits him over and over. "You idiot! How come you didn't look for me, huh? You bad man." She cries. He smiles and pulls her close to him again.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm a bad man. I'm sorry." He parted and looks at her in the eye. "This time, I will never let go of you. Even if you wanted to leave me. I won't let you go." He places both of his hands on her face to wipe her tears. 

He leans in and kiss her on the lips. She then reaches out and hugs him as they kissed one another. 

THE END!!!

THANKS FOR READING!!!

Youngjae is a next CEO of SET. His parents sets him an arranged marriage with a country bumpkin. There's a rumor that she's dumber than an average kid.

"You've been toying me all this time?" "That's not it." She tries to explain but he wouldn't let her. "You're probably toy with other men. Did you also seduce them in order to get what you want?" She slaps him. "If that's what you think, go ahead." She was about to leave but she then takes out a piece of paper, she rips it in tiny pieces and throw at him."Since you wanted to get rid of me so badly, I'll leave. For now on, we're nothing but just strangers. I'll cancel our arranged marriage. Satisfied?" She left.

AZALEA 

"Ang boring." sabi ko habang pinapaikot paikot ang ballpen ko sa mga kamay ko. Nagdidiscuss ang teacher namin, wala ang dalawa dahil ang isa ay nasa meeting dahil kasali sa Student Council, ang isa naman ay nasa training dahil malapit na ang Regional School Press Conference.

"Hindi ka interesado kasi ayaw mong buksan ang tainga at utak mo sa pakikinig kaya boring para saiyo. Same with love, kaya hindi ka makapagmahal ulit dahil ayaw mong buksan ang puso mo para sa akin."

--

Recess na ulit. Wala ako sa mood pumunta ng canteen dahil wala naman akong kasama. Kaya nandito ako sa classroom, kasama si Jeusse.

"Azalea." Napalingon naman ako kay Jeusse. "Oh ano na naman?" Inis na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Payagan mo akong ligawan ka." Seryosong sabi nito. Tumawa lang ako.

"Liligawan mo ako para ano? Para pakiligin sa una at sasaktan ako sa huli?" bitter kong sabi sa kanya. Totoo naman, hindi ba?

"Wag mo akong itulad sa kanila. We are different. Sabihin mo na kung ano gusto mong sabihin. Say it. Isipin mo kung ano gusto mong isipin. Maybe, one guy make you believed that all guys are the same but a man can teach you that it's not true and it will never be," salita nito.

"—Hindi naman kasi mawawala 'yan sa relasyon. It's normal. Basta marunong tayong umintindi at marunong tayong kilalanin ang mga mali natin at itama ito." dagdag nito sa sinabi niya habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin ng seryoso. 

"Iba ka sa kanila? Sus. Lahat kayo ganyan sinasabi, pero ano? Pare-pareho lang din naman kayo sa huli!" Sabat ko sa sinabi niya. 

"Hindi naman kasi kami pare-pareho, bakit hindi mo maintindihan 'yon? Iba iba kaming mga lalaki. Kung nasaktan ka dahil sa isang lalaki, 'wag mo na akong idamay don. Paano ka makakasigurado na sasaktan kita katulad ng ginawa niya sa'yo?" Naiinis nang sabi nito sa akin. Ngumiti lang ako.

"Heh. Pare-pareho pa rin naman kayong manloloko, magagaling sa mga salita, at mga paasa," pagpupumilit ko. 

"—Mga taong nangiiwan bigla." dagdag ko pa habang nakangisi sa kanya.

"You know what? Kayo rin namang mga babae ah. You play all the victim. Kahit na kayo talaga ang mali sa isang relasyon, kaming mga lalaki pa rin ang lalabas na masama. Hindi ba't manggagamit lang din naman ang iba sainyo? Hence, kaya gusto gusto niyo sa mapera, gwapo, para may maipagmayabang kayo. At nung saktan naman kayo ng mga 'yon, nandito kaming mga seryeso at tapat, ta's nang balikan naman kayo, wala pang isang segundo, ipinagtatabuyan niyo na kami. Gagamitin ka tapos pag katapos kang gamitin, itatapon ka nalang na parang wala, ewan ko ba. Kaya 'wag kang mag-asta na ikaw lang ang nasaktan, na parang ikaw lang ang taong nasaktan sa mundo. Hindi mo alam lahat ng pinagdadaanan lahat ng lalaki para isisi niyo lang sa amin ang mga problema't hinanakit niyo sa mga taong binalewala at iniwan kayo." Napatahimik ako sa sinabi niya. That's right... may point siya.

"How can you say that all guys are the same? That's not true. Blaming all of us, men, for your problems and shits, Is like blaming food for being fat, it was never the food, it's the choice. You make all the efforts, and gave your love. And yet, he doesn't even appreciate you and he doesn't even know your worth. Girl, you've just chosen the wrong person." Inis na dagdag nito at tinalikuran ako. Wow. Just wow.

"Ginamit na ako noon para makalimutan ang isang tao. I don't mind being use again for the same reason." ramdam ko sa boses niya na nasaktan siya. Tuluyan na siyang umalis sa classroom. 

••
A/N : Thanks for voting and reading this story! :) Hope you like it.

"Why do I need a paint if you already gave colors to my life?"

***

Azalea Bautista is a 'certified bitter' but not until one day, a man she met on the playground, came saying that 'He will help her forget the past.' Read how this love story of Azalea unfolds. 

Written by Kacchii.

Zuo Cidian spent the whole night in the emergency room, treating patients whenever there was any and reading a book whenever there were no patients.
He only had a few hours left to enjoy Doctor Ling's private guidance alone.
Zuo Cidian treasured the opportunity tremendously. When it was almost daybreak, another patient with Colles' fracture entered the emergency room. Zuo Cidian was so touched that he almost cried. "People of Donghuang are very kind to me indeed…"
When the patient with Colles' fracture saw the doctor's teary eyes, he felt somehow uneasy. "I'm not from Donghuang…"
Zuo Cidian nodded and said, "People of Beijing are very kind to me…"
"I'm not a Beijing citizen." The patient with Colles' fracture became annoyed. "I was sent here by an ambulance. If you guys only treat locals, why did the ambulance send me here?"
"No, we treat everyone." Zuo Cidian immediately defended himself. Judging by the patient's expression, he knew that the patient would definitely file a complaint against him if he did not quickly come up with something suitable to say. This was why Zuo Cidian immediately flashed an earnest expression and started lying. "About this, I've actually been helping my son in rehearsing for a school play. Please don't be angry at me. I've been really busy since I have night shifts too. Moreover, my son's teacher had been rushing me…"
The patient found what Zuo Cidian said relatable. "I know right? Schools nowadays are really horrible. They would give trouble to the parents for no reason at all, coming up with some silly new ideas every day. You know, I only earn a few hundred RMB a day. One day, the school asked all the students' parents to clean up the school compounds. Why would I forgo my meager income just to do something that I'm not responsible for? If I were to participate in the activity, I would even need to take a day off from work. Isn't this ridiculous? I'd rather give them a few hundred RMB."
Never had Zuo Cidian expected that the patient had so much resentment in his heart. He had no way of stopping the patient from babbling away.
A few patients who were receiving fluid transfusion in the emergency room got interested in the conversation too. They started grumbling together with the patient with Colles' fracture.
When Zuo Cidian saw that the patients were chit-chatting among themselves, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. But in the blink of an eye, Zuo Cidian became vigilant again. 'Those who complain about teachers and those who complain about doctors are usually the same kind of people.'
Before he could stop the patients, they had already changed the topic.
"Hey guys, don't you think that hospitals nowadays are really dodgy…"
"I'm still going to complain even though I'm in a hospital right now. Look at the drugs they prescribed to me. I merely suffer from gastroenteritis, but they made me take so many tests. They drew my blood and stuff. In the end, they even prescribed so many drugs to me. I thought that fluid transfusion isn't in trend anymore."
"It's still better for you guys who have a health insurance. I have to foot the bill myself. Oh, by the way, do any of you have ribbons or something?" A buff middle-aged man who looked about fifty years old said. Even though he was muscular, he was soft-spoken, and his voice sounded like music to the ears.
Zuo Cidian walked over with a smile. "Hey, I thought you guys were talking about schools? Uncle, would some bandages do? Is your wrist aching?"
The burly middle-aged man hummed in acknowledgment. He then glanced at Zuo Cidian and said, "You're a pretty friendly doctor, but I don't really like it when you call me 'uncle'. Between you and me, who's actually older?"
"You're older. I saw from your medical record that you're retired, so it's only appropriate for me to call you 'uncle'." Zuo Cidian was very careful with his words and tried his best not to offend anyone. Back when he was working in a town hospital, he had encountered plenty of ill-mannered patients, and whenever he failed to handle one, he would be reprimanded horribly. In Zuo Cidian's opinion, it was easy to appease patients in the city.
Aside from this, he was honing his craft in another hospital's Emergency Department, so it would not be good to cause Donghuang Regional Hospital any trouble.
The burly middle-aged man sized Zuo Cidian up again. He then sighed and said, "Since that's what you say, I'll just treat you as my junior. You know, Doctor Zuo, you should really take care of yourself. If I didn't know that I'm older than you, I would have called you 'uncle' instead."
Zuo Cidian's expression slowly stiffened. "As long as you're happy."
"I'm happy. I'm definitely happy." The burly middle-aged man chuckled.
Zuo Cidian turned in resignation and went to examine the patient with Colles' fracture.
As the infirmary at the Great Wall of China was shabby, he could only carry out a physical examination for the young woman with Colles' fracture. Now that he was working in the hospital, it would be bad faith to not send the patient for an X-ray. He might end up getting sued to the point that he lost everything he had.
Zuo Cidian was busy attending to the newcomer with Colles' fracture. The middle-aged man who had received two strips of bandage was tying them together in a leisurely manner as he lay in the hospital bed.
Soon, the burly middle-aged man had already made two strong knots on the headboard of the hospital bed. He then extended the bandages, forming a circle. He seemed to be testing if the circle was big enough. 
In this very moment, Zuo Cidian was reading the X-ray scans of the patient with Colles' fracture. When he saw what the middle-aged man was doing from afar, he almost had a mental breakdown. 'What the f*ck? Why are you trying to hang yourself and commit suicide in the emergency room? Don't you think that the doctors here are busy enough already? And are you trying to save social resources while you're at it?'
Zuo Cidian rushed toward the middle-aged man at lightning speed. As he was at a loss for words, he yelled, "Don't move!"
The burly middle-aged man extended his hand which was not attached to the fluid transfusion tube into the circle formed by the bandages and did a pull-up. He then slowly lowered his upper body and looked at Zuo Cidian. "I've not trained my chest for quite a few days. The hospital beds here are really sturdy. It won't break."
"This… this wouldn't do either. You're still receiving fluid transfusion." Zuo Cidian slowly left as he spoke. He breathed an internal sigh of relief. 'Fortunately, he didn't turn out to be that much of an idiot.'
Zuo Cidian earnestly treated the last patient with Colles' fracture under Ling Ran's guidance. He then bade farewell to the medical staff members of Donghuang Regional Hospital before boarding the sedan car provided by a pharmaceutical sales representative and heading to the airport with Huo Congjun.
Huo Congjun was in a very good mood, and he talked nonstop as he sat in the front passenger seat.
Ling Ran asked, "Are you done with the conference?"
Huo Congjun chuckled. "Yeah, it was just a small conference. I just had to speak for a bit and participate in a themed forum. All of us sat down and chatted for a while so that younger doctors can draw from our experience, and then the conference ended."
Zuo Cidian whipped out his phone to look at the time. It was not even ten in the morning.
Huo Congjun saw what Zuo Cidian was doing, and he glanced at his watch too. After thinking about it for a few seconds, he added, "The conference started at eight in the morning. A lot of the participants are busy people and have a lot on their plates, anyway, so it's a good thing for them to wake up early too."
Zuo Cidian played along and hummed in acknowledgement.
"The forum was very simple too… Hmm... I merely showed my face there. It didn't really take up much of my time…"
Zuo Cidian nodded a little. This way, they managed to cover up most of the timeline-related loopholes.
Huo Congjun and Zuo Cidian silently communicated for a while. They then put on satisfied expressions and looked at Ling Ran.
"Have you arranged for patients for me to operate on?" When Ling Ran saw that Huo Congjun was looking at him, he asked, "What surgery do most of them need?"
"Most of them need hepatectomy. It's a scheduled surgery, after all. So plenty of patients are receiving traditional treatment as they wait to be operated on." Huo Congjun paused for a moment and asked, "Did you hear what we were talking about just now?"
"About the conference? I thought it has ended?"
"Yeah… by the way, do you need patients who require M-Tang surgery lately? Lu Wenbin said that he wants to carry out M-Tang surgery."
"Yes!" Of course Ling Ran would not say no. Patients got discharged all the time, and since the ward area was empty, he certainly wanted to take in a large number of patients.
Zuo Cidian wriggled uneasily and said in a low voice, "Department Director Huo, can we take in some patients with fractures too? Those with Colles' fracture."
"Sure." Huo Congjun immediately agreed. His favourite thing to do had always been to snatch patients from other departments.


Ling Ran, a med school senior, begins to see the world like a game UI. He uses it to pave his way towards graduation, a residency, becoming the greatest doctor in the world... And finally getting a Transformer from his newbie packs? Maybe. We don't know yet.

LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York 

It is quarter to four in the afternoon when I arrived on the airport's waiting lounge for Hendricks' arrival, tumawag siya sa akin kaninang madaling araw para sabihin sa akin na dalawang oras na na-delay ang flight niya.

His supposed arrival at 4 o'clock is pushed to 6 o'clock. It'll be quite a traffic later when rush hour strike so I decided to come earlier. Besides I don't want to be stuck in New York traffic.

Two hours of waiting is not even enough for what Hedricks has done for me, I can't thank him enough when he saved me from the heartbreak I dealt with almost 4 years ago.

I was in deep pain, I was so hurt that I almost died of heartbreak. To think na nilaan ko ang oras ko sa pagsuporta sa kanya sa malayo at nang nakalapit na ako, abot kamay ko na bigla akong hinatak pababa.

Hindi lang naman kasi ako hinatak pababa, ginising rin ako sa katotohanan na imposibleng bumaba ang langit sa lupa.

I shook my head, dismissing the memory that was trying to resurface yet again. I have less than 2 more hours to kill kaya't inaliw ko na lang ang sarili ko sa mga taong naglalabasan at sa mga taong naghihintay rin gaya ko, just letting my mind ease for a brief moment from that haunting memory. 

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal akong nagmamasid sa mga taong nagdadatingan at naghihintay, napa-bumuga ako ng hangin nang mapagod kakatingin sa mga taong masayang sinasalubong ang kanilang mga bagong dating and so naisip kong magbasa na lang.

I reached for my Kindle to read a few pages of a self-help book I started reading awhile back. I thought I need it before coming back home to the Philippines.

Ayoko naman na umuwi na marami pang baong issue na dinala ko na rito noong dumating ako sa banyagang bansa na 'to. I need to leave the issues I have brought here. It's too much if I'll bring what I have brought here back. Baka hindi ko na kayanin pa at bibisitahin na lang ako ng magulang ko sa mental hospital.

I was just in the middle of reading a page when my eyes became so droopy. Inaantok ako at wala man lang akong napulot roon. I hid it back and just took my iPad Mini to connect to the airport's Wi-Fi and check my social media accounts. 

Not much to see. I watch videos of art making in some Instagram users and some calligraphy writing then I got bored again. I scrolled through Twitter for some toxic shitty tweets. Facebook wasn't much help either.

Offline sila Mama kaya't wala akong maka-chat. Checked my Snapchat, none. Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin. Kinuha ko na lang ang earphones mula sa bulsa ng aking sling bag para makapakinig na lang ng tugtog sa Spotify ng iPad. 

I listen to Ariana Grande's playlist by Spotify. Nasa kalagitnaan ng NASA nang manginig ang phone na nasa bulsa ko. Nakatanggap ako ng isang mensahe mula kay Hendricks sa kanyang Philippine based number, was the two hours  up already?

Hendricks:

Phia, I'm here. Where are you? Can't find you in the crowd. Hindi ka pa rin ba tumatangkad? Lol. But seriously, where are you?

I immediately locked my phone, not minding to reply to his text and half-jogged my way to the airport's arrival gate para salubungin si Hendricks.

Narating ko ang arrival gate and there I immediately spotted Hendricks looking around the crowd without his paparazzi in his casual flashy clothes and his expensive aviators from Calvin Klein, the usual Hendricks Smythe get up! 

Looking at him now, I stopped and thought, bakit kaya hindi na lang ako nagkagusto kay Hendricks? Kung siya na lang ang ginusto ko, edi sana hindi ako nagtatago rito sa New York! I won't be far from home. I wouldn't be broken like this.

I shook my head at the thought and I readied my usual smile for Hendricks. I raise my hand and called him out of the open, "Hendricks!" he immediately shot up a glance at me.

Halos matawa ako sa reaksyon niya dahil halata sa likod ng kanyang aviators ay nanlalaki na ang mga mata niyan. Halata na rin kasi sa pamumula ng kanyang pinsgi, tenga hanggang leeg niya na galit, iritable at frustrated na siya!

Natatawang naglakad ako palapit sa kanya, siya rin ay naglalakad palapit sa akin hatak-hatak ang kanyang maleta. Nang makalapit ay inabot ko ang maleta na dala niya ngunit inilayo niya iyon sa akin, "Let's go, Sophia, where's your car?" tanong niya sa akin habang palinga-linga sa mga tao.

I pointed on to the direction of the airport's parking lot even though he wasn't looking to where I was pointing at. He reached for my free hand and guided me out of the terminal's crowd, which really caught me off guard.

Habang binabagtas namin ang daan palabas ng terminal ay pinagmamasdan ko ang kamay niyang mahigpit ang hawak sa kamay ko. Ang nasa isip ko lang ay yung pakiramdam noong hawak niya ang kamay ko, hindi mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko, walang lumilipad na paru-paro sa aking tiyan, wala iyong kilig noong siya ang may hawak ng kamay ko. All I can think about and feel was just shivers telling me that it's not him.

Binawi ko ang kamay kong hawak niya nang makalabas kami ng airport. I smiled awkwardly at Hendricks bago nagpatiuna patungo kung saan ko ipinark ang kotse ko.

We walked the neat, perfectly aligned yet maze-like parking lot of LaGuardia. We stopped right in front the obsidian black metallic Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet.

"What the fuck, Sophia!" he exclaimed when he spotted my Benz in the row of the parked cars, it was the latest launched model of Mercedez Benz that I bought just last week. "You should come back to the Philippines now! You're a fucking millionaire in here already!" I just laughed at what Hendricks just said.

Tinawanan ko lang siya kahit alam ko na seryoso siya sa sinabi niyang bumalik na ako ng Pilipinas. I know that he's serious at what he just said pero inisip ko na lang na biro iyon because I still don't want to go home despite missing my family.

Ang alam kasi nila Mama, Papa at ng buong pamilya ay nag-aral ako rito ng additional course na patungkol sa Art para mapalawak pa ang kaalaman ko tungkol roon.

What they didn't know is that I'm here in New York because I wanted to get away from him as far as possible. The furthest distance away from Malcolm the better!
I just need to be far from him. I need to heal and piece myself back together and I'll be able to do that when he's far from me. 

"Where's the key?" he excitedly asked which revert me back to reality. I fished out the key from inside my pocket and showed him the key on my palm.

Hendricks immediately snatched the keys out of my hand and lift the alarm first before he opened the trunk to place his luggage inside. I told him to drive since I want take a nap, besides he already know where my place is and how clogged the way to my place - especially with traffic rising at every street!

Palabas pa lang kami ng parking ng airport when he quickly shot a glance my way, "Don't fucking dare to call me on a crowd like that again!" he hissed at me, I just shrugged and laughed at him whinning like a kid.

I always make Hendricks lose his cool and go bonkers when he visits me every after 3 to 4 months. We become so close because of that. I was working as his PA for three months before I runaway from the hellhole with his help. I was immediately transferred as his assistant after my contract was done with Malcolm.

I still remembered everything like it was done yesterday, tatlong buwan na akong nagta-trabaho bilang personal assistant ni Hendricks noong sinampal sa akin ang katotohanan ni Malcolm at Zamantha na kahit kailan ay hindi na ako tataas pa bilang taga-bitbit ng mga gamit ng mga sikat.

With Hendricks' resources and his family, I got settled here. Noon ay nakatira pa ako kasama ng pamilya niya pero matapos akong makaipon ng pang-renta ay nagpaalam akong aalis na sa pangangalaga nila. 

I was always struggling with my rent that I have to juggle three to four jobs to hustle for my basic expenses and rent monthly.

I was always thankful whenever Hendricks would loan me money for my studies, then he would visit me regularly for the past three years. Minsan pa ay kasama niya ang magulang ko sa pagbisita niya. 

We're friends naman pero there's always high and thick walls between us. Ayoko lang na masaktan ako ulit at masaktan rin siya. I was healing and fixing my broken self, I don't want to hurt people in the time I'm mending.

He, Hendricks, helped me took a scholarship in NYU to study more on Arts, and just last year I finished the 2 year course and had my very first exhibit 3 months later that earned me my first million dollars.

It was funny that someone would buy six paintings for one hundred thousand dollars a piece. I was so thankful for that person. She made my life comfortable here. 

For the past 3 years that I spent my days here in the Big Apple it actually earned me my green card - of course with the help of Hendricks' family again, and with hard work I've quite established so much for myself in a city with a high cost of living.

I become an artist that paints and/or sculpted my feelings - what I really feel, and quite surprisingly many people can relate to what I've created, that these people are willing to pay for it in a reasonable price or in a over the moon, insane price!

I sighed and glaced over to Hendricks, who's seriously driving, "Okay Dricks, I won't do it again," I told him and played with my seat's belt. "But I just wanted to get your attention faster and it did, right?" I sarcastically said and watched him drive.

He then sarcastically laughed, "Yeah! and you didn't think that maybe someone is out there or whatnot knows about who I am and they'll share it on their social media that I'm here in New York." he quickly glanced at me and went back looking at the road.

I silently thought about that. It never occurred to me the scenario such as that. "I'm sorry," I whispered as I look out of the window. 

"Sophia, I'm trying so hard not to get noticed, paalis man o pauwi ng Pilipinas, he's getting all suspicious of my trips. Ayoko na mahanap ka niya, because you made me promise right?" I turned back at Hendricks and stared at him.

Who's getting suspicious? Malcolm? For what reason? Eh siya nga ang dahilan bakit ako nandito ngayon sa New York! Siya nga ang dahilan bakit hindi ako makauwi ng Pilipinas at hindi ko makasama ang mga magulang ko.

I reached for Hendricks' hand on the steering wheel, "Thank you so much, Dricks! You don't know how much I'm thankful for what you've done for me," sinserong sabi ko, "Ayoko at hindi pa ako handa para bumalik ng Pilipinas." dagdag ko bago ko ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsadang dinaraanan ni Hendricks patungo sa bahay ko.

Then, without Hendricks' permission I took a nap.



We arrived in front of my house within I don't know how long, all I know is that Hendricks skillfully parked my car inside the garage. Ginising na lang niya ako para bumaba na kami ng sasakyan at para tulungan ko na siyang ibaba ang mga gamit niya sa trunk para ipasok na sa loob ng bahay.

Mabuti na lang ay hindi niya ako pinatulong sa kanyang luggage kanina dahil sobrang bigat pala niyon. It must've been embarrassing if I tried lifting it kanina. 

"You didn't grow an inch, Phia..." komento ni Hendricks nang makalabas kami ng garahe at papunta na kaming entrance ng bahay ko. "New York has a bad reputation, with all the robbing and real heinous crimes... you're not safe here, it's better-"

"To go back home in the Philippines?" I cut him off. I smiled and shook my head, "Still, No."

I am five foot two inches by height, and I'm aware that I'm quite small for a twenty five coming twenty six years old lady living alone in New York. But my security is topnotch since I had hired people to have it made.

I know the dangers of living alone. I have read news and articles about it. May pepper spray ako, taser, **** whistle and many protection that can help me.

"Welcome back to my humble abode!" sabi ko nang binuksan ko ang pinto.

Hendricks admired my place, "You renovated the place!" he noticed. I smiled. I got every inch of this apartment renovated when I paid my last mortgage. Pagkatapos ay ako na ang nag-disenyo ng bawat sulok ng bahay na 'to.

"Contemporarily chic, huh?" pagmamayabang ko. 

"Yeah," he answered absentmindedly. "How much have you paid for this place?" he asked when we're both settled on the couch.

Tinignan ko siya, "Just the house or over all?" tanong ko, "You know, with all the renovation, security and furnitures?"

His jaw dropped, "What?" he asked again, surprised.

Minata ko lang si Hendricks, he sighed, "Just the house." he said.

I glanced at him, "$1.4M" I told him and smiled.

"Seriously?" he exclaimed, then he slapped my hand.

I snickered, "Yes, Hendricks, seriously." then I slapped his arm back and  laughed at his reaction. "I have all this because someone paid ridiculously high for my six paintings during my first exhibit." 

"What the actual fuck!" he exclaimed and gave me another slap on my arm. "Well, you have to thank that person because you've finally got a say in life now, you can go back and face what you left back home for the last years." I stared at him. 

Umiling ako, "I don't know, Dricks." I hesitated, I feared. "I don't know kung kaya ko bang bumalik. I'm afraid to go back to where my young heart died." I voiced my fears.

"That's the very reason I want you to go back to the Philippines." Hendricks said, "It's time for you to face Malcolm Hinge Humphries." I swallowed at what he just stated.

Napailing-iling na lang ako. I don't want to go back. I don't want to meet him again. I don't wanna see Malcolm Hinge Humphries ever again.

TAGLISH | R13+

Midnight Lullabies Series #1: Sophia Kristalene Grande

Sophia Kristalene Grande is on her best state of mind, living her best life in NYC, doing the things she loves and earn grands from it. Everything is smooth sailing 'till an issue made her life derailed, and fixing it will cause her to go back to where it should be fixed - The Philippines.

Ayaw man niyang bumalik, kailangan niya. Para malinis hindi lang ang pangalan niya kundi pati ng kaibigang nasangkot sa eskandalo. Going back means revisiting the places on which her young heart once died. Reliving the love she wished to have, reimagining the love Malcolm Humphries once made her feel and shown her.

Pero bakit ganon? Nothing makes sense. She now questions what she failed to notice before. Malcolm showed her the love she never imagined, he showed even better that can't be compared on her wildest dreams but everything failed. It doesn't add up to its downfall.

But what you don't know won't hurt you, and what she found out gutted her. It pained her even more than when she was ignorant.

New friend






Bryce Bernardo POV




Mahaba-haba rin ang biyahe papuntang Cagayan de Oro. Sa tansiya ko nga kung galing kayung Butuan City mga seven hours rin ang biyahe papuntang Cdeo. Pero bahala na at least kasama ko ang babaeng gusto ko ngayon.

Nandito kami ngayon sa isang lugar dito sa Misamis Oriental. Lahat ng mga pasahero bumaba na maliban sa amin. Naiwan kasi kaming dalawa dito, kumakain ng packed food na binili ko sa isang fast food chain.

"Masarap ba?" Tanong niya.

Ang hina niyang kumain halos nakaka dalawang packed na ako tapos siya halos hindi pa siya tapos kumain. 

"Oo naman. Paborito ko kasi 'tong burger steak eh lalo na 'tong peach mango pie." Sagot ko sabay kagat sa peach mango pie na binili ko.

Tumango naman siya sabay kuha sa inumin na binili ko rin . "Ako kasi ang paborito ko is yung sa Mack&Jey Restaurant sa QC ang sarap ng pagkain do'n. Palagi kaming kumakain dun with my squad." Aniya na natatawa pa kasi parang may naalala siya.

I just smiled at her. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagkain. Sarap talaga ng peach mango pie nila. Maya-maya bumaling siya sa akin.

 "Ang sarap siguro ng buhay mo no?" Aniya.

"Hindi rin. Nung nandun pa ako kay daddy palaging limitado ang mga kilos ko pero no'ng umalis na ako kay daddy at lumipat ako kay mommy. Malaya na ako pero ewan ko ba kay daddy pinapahanap pa rin niya ako kasi gusto niyang bumalik ako sa kaniya. He wish!" Sagot ko.

"Mahal ka no'n maniwala ka sa 'kin." Sabi niya sabay ngiti.

Tinignan ko lang siya saglit. "Sana nga pero hindi eh, iba si dad eh. Gusto pa niya na ako ang mag mana sa mga ari-arian niya." Sagot ko.

"Ayaw mo pa non? Mapapasayo ang lahat ng kayamanan ng daddy mo." Aniya.

I sighed at her. "Hindi ko kasi gusto ng ganun eh. Gusto ko kasi 'yung sariling sikap ko kaya ako nagkaroon ng ganong bagay." Sagot ko.

Tumango naman siya. "Iba mo rin no? 'Yung iba nga diyan kahit ayaw nila pinipilit pa rin nila 'yung sarili nila para lang sa mamanahin nila." Aniya.

I just smiled at her. "Kung pipilitin mo kasi kahit ayaw mo naman, para mo na ring niloloko ang sarili mo." Sagot ko.

Tumango naman siya. "Okay, iba ka nga." Aniya sabay inom sa drinks na binili ko.

Ilang oras rin ang nakalipas bumalik na lahat ng pasahero at umalis na kami sa lugar na 'yun. Binalot ulit kami ng matinding katahimikan. Pasimple naman akong tumingin sa kaniya. Ang ganda niya talaga kahit tulog siya. Humarap ako sa kaniya at tinitigan ang presensiya niya. 

"Sana ako nalang." Mahina kong bulong.

Napansin ko namang gumalaw siya. Umayos naman ako sa pagkaka-upo. Maya-maya huminto kami sa isang terminal sa isang lungsod. Mukhang next nito Cagayan de Oro na.

Ilan lang ang sumakay pagkatapos umalis na kami do'n sa lugar na 'yun. Si Marian naman natutulog pa rin gusto ko sana siyang gisingin pero alam ko namang pagod siya. Kinuha ko 'yung telepono ko at dinial ang numero ni Jeorge. Sinagot naman niya ito.

"Tang*na mo Bryce!" Mura niya sa akin.

"Gago ka! Balak mo bang gahasahin si Marian ha? Wala kang kuwenta Jeorge! Hindi siya karapat dapat sayo. Hindi ko hahayaang mapunta siya sa kagaya mong demonyo!" Sagot ko.

"Hoi! Tandaan mo 'to. I will get her back from you. Sa ngayon magpaka saya ka muna sa piling niya pero sa araw na kukunin ko na siya sayo wala ka ng magagawa Bryce. F*ck you!" Sabay patay niya sa telepono.

"Napakalaki mong gago Jeorge!" Mahina kong sabi.

Itinago ko 'yung telepono ko sa bulsa ko. Napansin kong gumalaw siya, mukhang gising na siya. Umayos ako sa pagkaka-upo ko at itinuon ko ang tingin ko sa glass window ng bus.

"Nasaan na ba tayo?" Tanong niya sabay hikab.

"Nandito na tayo sa Bugo kunting tiis na lang dadating na rin tayo sa Cagayan de Oro." Sagot ko.

Tumango naman siya. "Okay," Tipid niyag sagot.
"By the way uuwi ka bang Manila? Sasama ka ba sa 'kin?" Dagdag niya.

Tumango ako. "Yes, kasi si mama naghihintay na 'yun do'n sa 'kin." Sagot ko.

Tumango naman siya. "Okay." Tipid niyang sagot.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami tungkol sa mga buhay namin. Grabe! I thought Jeorge was her first love pero 'di pala. She had first love before but because of a horrifying tragedy her man was found dead inside on the car. She whimpered and she was in too pain at that time. She thaught herself to not in love again but she was to weak to defeat that. He gave herself to Jeorge but not her virginity of course ibang usapan na 'yun. 

Ako naman, I shared my story to her about how's my life with dad and how's my life with mom. It's quite new for me sharing my life story towards other person but it's okay she's not new to me.

"Sorry nadala lang ako sa emosyon ko." She said while wiping her tears.

I just smiled at her. "It's okay. You need to let it out or else you will be stuck at it...FOREVER." Sagot ko sabay pahid sa mga luha niya.

"It is my fault why he was died, k-kung sana 'di ko siya pina bili ng ice cream baka 'di pa siya patay ngayon." She said.

I hugged her. "Pshh. Hindi mo kasalanan, okay? Aksidente lang lahat wala kang kasalanan. Stop blaming yourself." I conceded.

Gumana naman ang ginawa ko dahil 'di ko na siya narinig na umiiyak. Bumitaw na ako sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya at hinarap siya.

"Hey, listen to me." Sabay tingin ko ng diretso sa kaniya.

I saw her stunned. I just look at her eyes. "Listen to me. It's not your fault, okay?" I said.

I saw her nodded at me. I just smiled at her. "Good." I replied.

Muli kaming binalot ng katahimikan buti na lang talaga malapit na kami sa Cagayan de Oro. 


— — —


Nakarating na kami sa Cagayan de Oro actually we're here at the entrance of the airport. It was really exhausting but sulit naman kasi kasama ko naman ang babaeng gusto ko maka sama.

"So pano? Tara na?" Pag-aaya niya.

Tumango ako. "Let's go." Sagot ko.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng airport at laking gulat ko na lang ng may mga taong naghihintay sa pag pasok namin. I roamed my eyes at the crowd at nakita ko na naman ang mga prest. Damn! Pati ba naman dito? Seriously dad?

"Mr. Bryce Bernardo? Totoo po ba na magpapakasal na kayo ni Ms. Stella?" Tanong ng prest.

Pumasok lang kami ng tuluyan na para bang walang prest sa dinaraanan namin.

"Excuse me." Walang gana kong sabi.

Pilit pa ring pumupunta sa gawi ko ang mga prest buti na lang may mga guards. I held her hand and she was aghast about it I just gave her a wink then we rushed out of them. 

"Grabe ang sikat mo naman." She uttered.

I just sighed at her. "Sikat? 'Di no!" I responded.

"Sus! In denial." Aniya.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Kumuha kami ng ticket papuntang Manila and we're both surprised when the girl hiss at us buti na lang nakakuha ako. 

"OMG girls. Bryce Bernardo is here but...who's that? A girl?" Rinig kong sabi ng babae sa mga kaibigan niya.

"I know that girl wait," Sabi ng kaibigan niya sabay kuha sa phone niya na para bang may hinahanap. Tumingin siya sa gawi ni Marian. "I knew it! She's the daughter of senator Julios Lastimoso. She's Marian Lastimoso the heir of La Amigos Inc." Sabi ng babae sabay baling sa kaibigan niya. "That girl is a high profiled person girl. Don't you dare to touch her or else you will be bragged off." She added.

The girl sighed in annoyance. "Maka alis na nga." Aniya sabay alis.

Bumaling ako sa kasama ko na walang pakialam sa pinagsasabi ng babae. Focus lang ito sa phone niya, plagi naman eh.

Nandito kami sa waiting area. 9AM pa kasi ang flight namin at alas otso pa kaya wala kaming magawa kundi maghintay. A short time later tinawag 'yung plane number namin for boarding. Tumayo kami at sumakay sa isang shuttle. Thank God kasi pagka alis namin sakto rin naman ang dating ng mga prest.

Maya-maya nakarating na rin kami sa plane. Bumaba kami sa shuttle at umakyat papasok sa eroplano. Pagka-akyat namin sa eroplano nagulat kami kasi puro banyaga ang nakikita namin. 

Bumaling ako sa kasama ko. "Hey, do you think tama 'tong nasakyan natin? Tignan mo naman oh. Puro banyaga." I uttered.

"Ito namang nakalagay sa ticket eh. Eh 'di ito na." Sagot niya.

I just sighed at her. Oo nga naman.

Umupo kami sa airlines seat. Naka upo ako ngayon sa tabi niya nasa gilid kasi siya ng window naka upo at may foreigner na nakaharang sa amin. Damn! This man!

I gazed the guy. He's tall and...handsome, I guess. I think he is a british. Nakakainis naman oh. I saw him conversing to Marian at tumango tango lang naman 'yung kasama ko. Dang! He's getting into my nerves.

"Ah okay. Nice to meet you Marian. By the way I'm Stephen I'm from London." Rinig kong sabi niya.

Nanggigigil ako sa briton na 'to ah! Nakaka kulo siya ng dugo. 

"Nice to meet you too Stephen, by the way if you don't mind that guy, his name was Bryce." Sabay turo niya sa akin.

Bumaling naman sa akin yung Stephen sabay kamusta. "Oh! Hi Bryce nice to meet you. If you don't mind to ask you this." Pumunta siya sa tainga ko. "Do you love her?" Pabulong niyang tanong.

Nagulat naman ako sa tanong niya. Nakakahalata ba siya? 

I remained silent. He chuckled. "Silence means yes." Aniya.
"Court her bro before it's too late." He whispered.

I thought he was my enemy but I was wrong. He's my adviser instead. 

"I'm scared bro." I whispered.

He sighed at me. "No, you shouldn't be scared bro. No matter what happen just trust yourself. Even she will reject you it's okay that's life then." Aniya.

Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya. "I'll try it bro. Thanks for your advice." I replied.

He just smiled at me. "By the way can I get your phone number?" Tanong niya.

Tumango naman ako. "Sure, here." Sabay abot ko sa calling card ko.

Kinuha niya naman ito. "Thanks. If you want more advice from me. Don't hesitate to call me. I'll answer it as quick as I can." He said.

Lumipad na ang eroplano at hindi man lang namin namalayan 'yun. Napasarap kasi 'yung kuwentuhan namin ni Stephen. He's nice than I think.

I saw Marian glared at me a glimpsed but I just snoot and smiled secretly.

"Bro, when you were arrived in Manila. Don't forget to call me and I give you some tips on how to court a girl." Bulong niya sa akin.

Tumango lang ako. "I will bro. By the way do you have a girlfriend? Sorry to ask that I know it's confidential, sorry." Sabi ko.

He chuckled at me. "It's okay bro, actually yeah...I have, but she's not here. She's in Italy we're in a long distance relationship but don't worry about me. I'm okay." He said while his eyes were saying he's not.

"Oh! That's good." Sabi ko nalang.

He just smiled at me.



Continue reading :)



Hi there, thank you for reading this chapter. Thank you kasi umabot ka sa pahinang ito. For opinions and suggestions just comment below and I'll answer it. Thank you :)

Spread this story guys.


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@ Primo Magnus

A girl who always craving for something. Something strange for her. But what if she fell inlove to a stranger in just a night. That's make her a night to remember.

#Romance
#ANTR

"Take care, babe. I'll be missing you." Ani ni Troy ng ihinto ang kotse sa parking lot ng kumpanya. Aalis kasi ito papuntang Singapore at isang linggong mamalagi doon dahil may kailangan itong kausaping mga investors.

"Bakit kasi ayaw mong ihatid kita sa airport?" Malambing niyang wika saka ipinulupot ang braso sa leeg nito.

"Baka di na aq makaalis, babe." Makahulugan nitong ani saka sinakop ang mga labi niya.

"Take care." Ani ni Al dito saka muling kinintalan  ng maliit na halik sa labi si Troy saka bumaba sa sasakyan.

Dahil hindi pa gamay ng bagong Vice Chair ang trabaho nito ay si Al na muna ang nilagay na OIC ng kumpanya.

Hindi na siya kumatok sa opisina ni Matt dahil bahagyang nakaawang naman ito.

"You look so stressed in your first day of work, Matt." Bungad niya dito ng mapansin na tila malalim ang iniisip nito. Agad namang umaliwalas ang mukha nito ng makita siya at ngumiti.

"Hi, Miss Bellafranco. Today ang pagpunta ni Troy sa Singapore, right?" Ani nito na umupo ng diretcho at tumunghay sa kanya.

"Yes. And I'm here as the OIC." Sagot naman niya.

"I know that and it doesn't matter. No, in fact, I am very ok with you to be the OIC. I'm just new here. I have to learn." Balewala naman nitong ani na binigyan pa siya ng isang kindat.

"Thanks for the understanding.Just call me Alaire or Al, Matt." Ani niya.

"I prefer Alaire." Nakangiti naman nitong ani.

"So I am actually here to personally explain to you the works na naiwan ni late Vice Chair." Paliwanag niya na sinenyasan ang sekretarya na hila-hila ang isang push cart na puno ng mga papeles.

"Whoa!" Natatawang reaksyon ni Matt na makita ang gabundok na files.

"I will not ask you naman to finish studying everything today, Matt." Natatawa din niyang ani.

"Thanks, Alaire! After reading these, maybe I could give na my contribution." Masigla nitong wika.

"Don't pressure yourself, Matt. So iwan na kita, ha. If you have some questions, just call me or see me in my office..or call the departments involved." Paalam niya dito. Tumango naman ito at kumaway pa pag-alis niya.

"How are you, babe?" Maya-maya ay tumawag na si Troy sa kanya.

"Busy. I've talked to Matt na and gave him lahat ng trabaho na naiwan ni Vice Chair." Pagre-report niya dito.

"Alright, but don't get too close to him babe. I don't like the way he looks at you." May pagseselos na tono nito. Bahagya naman siyang napatawa sa sinabi nito.

"Really? So nagseselos ka nyan?" Nangingiti niyang bulalas.

"I just don't like other men to look at you  the way I look at you." Makahulugan nitong ani.

"How's that?" Napapantiskuhang tanong niya dito bagamat alam niya ang ibig nitong sabihin. Maging siya ay bahagyang naiilang sa mga tingin ni Matt sa kanya.

"Just listen to me, babe. Don't get too close to him, ok?" Malambing nitong wika.

"Fine." Wika niya na bahagyang natatawa.

"Anyway, I know lunch time na dyan. Wag kang magpalipas ng gutom, babe." Pagpapaala nito.

"Yes po, sir. O siya, I'll call you later. Matt is here." Ani niya ng iluwa ng pinto ng opisina niya ang nakangiting lalake.

"Wait-" Wika ni Troy ngunit napatay na niya ang cellphone kaya di na niya narinig pa ang gusto nitong sabihin. 

"Matt." Baling niya dito.

"Have you eaten your lunch?" Tanong nito.

"Actually, hindi pa. Why?" Tanong din niya.

"Wanna join me? Treat kita." Nakangiti nitong yaya na pinapungay pa ang mga mata.

"Don't get too close to him, babe." Tila biglang nag-echo ang boses ni Troy sa isipan niya saka sinalubong ang mga nakikiusap na mga mata ni Matt.

"Please, join me Alaire. Think of it as my treat for my very first friend here in the company." Pagsusumamo nito.

Napangiwi naman siya ng maramdaman ang pagkalam ng sikmura.

"Ok." Tila napipilitan niyang wika. Kitang-kita niya ang paglawak ng ngiti nito.

"So we're friends now, right?" Masiglang tanong nito.

Natatawang tumango na lamang siya at sumunod dito palabas ng opisina.

Alam ni Al na wala siyang magagawa kundi pakasalan si Troy- ang lalakeng kalaban noon ng kanyang kumpanya at ang itinuturing niyang mortal na kaaway mapanegosyo man o sa personal. 

Ngayong pagmamay-ari na nito ang kanyang pinakamamahal na kumpanya, kaya ba niyang ibigay maging ang kanyang sarili dito upang makuha lang ang lahat nang nawala sa kanya?

***********************************************
(Basahin ang kapanapanabik na istorya nina Al at Troy sa "Hate Me or Love Me" Don't forget to rate it, give your positive review & some power stones. Thank you!)


HATE ME OR LOVE ME
Copyright by B. M. Cervantes
All Rights Reserved, 2020

The doorbell rang. Not just once but an ample of times. It was buzzing louder as the sound reach her ears. She slowly opened her eyes and felt the sunlight has somehow hurt, as it passes through the bare windows.

But the eerie sound had been unstoppable. As if the person behind got some grudges.

Eventually she got up from bed but took a few moments to reach for the door.

She doesn't have any sense of urgency during that walk. A very slow pace made her even lazier to hold the knob. When she finally opened the door, Sowon was not prepared for Joo Ji Yeon's frustrated face.

"Masyado pa kasing maaga... Ano bang ginagawa mo dito?" She said as she walks  back carrying her shoulders down.

"Maaga pa ba sayo ang 11AM?" Her tone is a bit frustrated as if Sowon missed an important schedule.

But Sowon did not give any reaction. In fact, she was not interested to listen because she is already hibernating across her bed.

Her life for the last 10 years had been all about sleeping, eating and travelling. She is also starting to gain weight by her unhealthy lifestyle. But it doesn't matter. As long as she loves herself. She does what makes her happy. Opinions of others didn't matter. 

Until recently her interest on Novels began to rise up because of this anonymous Author. When she started reading, she couldn't stop anymore and just keep on loving it.

Meanwhile Joo Ji Yeon, her Manager slash Bestfriend noticed something unusual.

So she decided to touch her forehead.

"Hey!" But she complained with a dizzy tone.

"Kaya mo ba?" Ji Yeon thoughtfully asked.

"E~~" She prolonged the 'e' sound.

"Edi tumayo ka na dyan." She answered ruefully because she wanted to help her.

She watch her enter the shower room slowly then closes the door softly.


After a few hours, She came out wearing a white shirt underneath her plaid coat. Ready to leave the city to move to another place.

Nam Sowon is a Model and Influencer. That gives her the reason to travel everywhere. With much confidence and satisfaction each time she visits a place. But today, she felt heavy as they leave Faroe Islands.

On the next five hours they arrived at Berlin and going to stay here for seventy-two hours. Before leaving again for Brussels, Prague and back to Berlin. 


Pagdating nila sa kwarto niya, tama lang na nakahiga siya sa kama nung tumunog ang phone ni Ji Yeon na nasa bulsa.

"Hello! Yes. Ako nga.." Nag-mouth siya ng katagang 'About publisher' nung magtanong si Sowon kung sino yun saka tuluyang lumabas.

Noon naman ay napabangon siya at naghalwat ng luggages para mag-shower.

Matapos makipag-usap sa phone ni Ji Yeon, siya naman din paglabas ni Sowon galing sa dresser na nakabihis na ng silk pyjamas.

"Matutulog ka na?"

"Bakit? Bawal?"

Batid ni Ji Yeon ang pagod niya sa paglalakbay kaya hindi na siya sumagot. At hinayaan itong makapagpahinga na.

"Papatayin ko na yung malaking ilaw."

Ngumisi lang siya bago dumapa para abutin ang switch ng reading lamp.

Pagtingin niya kay Ji Yeon nakatingin ito na parang sinasabing akala ko ba matutulog ka na? Ngunit magbabago yun nung mapagtanto niyang hindi siya dapat nagtataka.

Yumuko siya dito hindi para magbigay-galang kundi upang itago ang mukha bago tumuloy sa loob ng shower room. Nahihiya siya sa inasal.


Kinabukasan namamaluktot pa sa higaan si Sowon nung gisingin siya ng tumutunog na alarm sa phone.

Dahil dun napilitan siyang bumangon at kumilos. Ilang araw din siyang meron sedentary lifestyle kaya ngayon babawiin niya.

Lalabas siya para mag-bisikleta at para bisitahin na rin ang kaibigan niya sa pub.

Pagbaba niya sa lobby nagtungo siya sa clip parking kung saan nandun ang isang aqua blue deluxe bicycle.

And after a few seconds, she left the place.

Then pulled the break when she reached the fifth street. She looked upwards the facade of an old establishment sitting along the empty alleyways. It's an old English pub owned by a German who got a teenage daughter.

She needed not to hear what kind of music they play in there but she knows enough that a smile escaped her lips.

Two weeks ago, Sowon meet the Young girl whom she stopped from running away. Hearing her side of the story, she advised the Young girl to go back home and convinced her that leaving home would not be a great solution. 

Apparently she listened to her unnie who knows best and Sowon is taking pride of it. Although it's not one hundred one percent sure that this would not happened in the future. But least she did something to prevent.

After watching them having a father-daughter talk, Sowon pedalled away as she purposedly smile from ear to ear. 


She was not expert in terms of family matters but it's the future that pushed her to do it.

Sowon recognize her ability after loosing a loved one. Since then, she told herself she won't get in the way of others but each time she sees someone could be a victim. Her conscience always knocks her off.

Even though there are times when her life was put in danger.

As a matter of fact, before leaving Faroe Islands she almost got stabbed after jumping between two guys.

Because of that, from time to time, Ji Yeon keeps on nagging about it. On her part she didn't feel any regret because she prevented an old man from getting hurt.


Before reaching the end of the alleyway she noticed from her watch that she got a call from Joo Ji Yeon. She quickly tapped the screen as she pedalled slow.

Where are you?

"Pabalik na sa Holterbach Hotel."

You go straight to the lobby once you arrived. Someone is waiting for you.

"Who?" She asked innocently.

You'll know soon. I'm hanging up.

When she heard a beep sound she smirked. She always does it even though she hates it. Sowon told herself while focusing on the road. 

It is a beautiful morning here in Berlin and the roads where not yet full of moving vehicles. There are still few people walking along the streets enjoying a fine weather.


As she pulled to halt her bicycle, she saw one  decent man inside the empty lounge of Holterbach Hotel. Sowon looked straight ahead when she left her bike on a stand.

The automatic doors opened when she stood near the entrance. She strode inside the huge lobby with round tables and couches on the left. Her feet halt when she reached the table where a man wearing a black jacket was having coffee, sausages and pancakes.

"Breakfast?" The man grinned with pleasure.

"I'm done." She rolled her eyes before taking the seat across him. She dropped her weight on the sofa chair.

The man's bright aura turned gray when he  observed her mood. She seem to be fine earlier but is not pleased to see him.

"What are you doing here?" She asked while looking intensely and uninterested to know the answer. But she needs to talk unless she wanted to have an eye contact contest.

"I just want to inform you that I'll be leaving for Ljubljana today."

"Auf Wiedersehen! Gute Reise!" Even if their conversation did not take long, Sowon felt the burden to last even for one second. She treats their meeting a waste of time. She has important things to do and catching up with him is not her priority.

"I know you hate me so much. But Dad said that I should look after you."

After hearing those things she stared fairly into his deep hazel eyes that were evasive.

"It's been decades since he last resort to reaching out to me.. and I thought that was the end of our daughter-father relationship." She laughed in a fashioned manner before jumping into her feet and grinned ruefully. Sowon made sure that she was on top of her emotions. But this guy is messing up with her.

"Guess he found some dog to rely on." She purse her red lips and walked away.

The man fell into silence. As he searched for a way to restore his shattered pride.

Han Yi Jeong is not the type to go overboard but today he did. He expected too much of Nam Sowon who hated him from the very beginning. He exposed himself to getting more hate from the lady and now Han Yi Jeong is out of words to describe how awful he felt after being technically rejected.

Meanwhile, Sowon head back to her hotel room and shut the door behind disappointed. 

She can't help but frown while thinking about her evil step mom and her evil son who continues to devour her Father's wealth after destroying a happy family by killing and lying.


"Don't entertain negative thoughts." She mumbled down as lay across the mattress.

Then she rolled on her side and stare at the ceiling while scribbling in silence. 

Suddenly her phone rang. It was Joo Ji Yeon.

"Yeah?"

How are you? She asked innocently as if she didn't know the situation.

"Same." 

Why did I asked? How stupid! Joo Ji Yeon told herself as she responded on a lighter note.

Ah you'll be delighted with my news.

"Spill it." 

May update na sa publisher!

"Really? Nandito na siya??" 

Muntik na siyang mapahiyaw sa sobrang tuwa.

Yuh~ ang sabi pa niya baka daw mag-spend siya ng gabi sa AdmiralBrücke.

"That's good! Keep on updating me."

Alright! Bye!

Pagkababa niya ng phone bumangon siya. Bago tumili ng matining.

"This is it Nam Sowon!"


Pagdating ng elevator sa lobby, tama lang na nakalabas siya nung mawalan siya ng malay tao. Maraming foreigner at local tourist ang nakasaksi ng pagkahimatay niya.

Kaya agad siyang pinagkaguluhan ng mga tao. May tumawag na din sa hotel staff ng lumapit ang isang lalakeng nakasuot ng asul na sneakers at binuhat si Sowon.

Sinundan lang siya ng tingin ng lahat kabilang na si Ji Yeon na nakasalubong niya palabas.

"Wait!! That's my friend!" 

Sigaw ni Joo Ji Yeon nung mapagtanto niya na si Sowon ang buhat ng binata. Kasabay nun ang pagsunod niya bago siya harangin ng dalawang Alemang lalake.

"No. You stay here lady." Sagot sa kanya nung isa na parang nang-iinis pa.

Kaya wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi sundan ng tingin ang tatlong kotse na umalis dahil na rin sa takot dun sa dalawang lalake.

Ang nasa isip niya nung sandaling yun baka mga tauhan sila ng Papa ni Sowon.


"Hihinto ba tayo?" Tanong nung lalake sa passenger seat ng pangalawang sasakyan na itim na umalis sa hotel.

"Hindi na. Pasundin mo na lang siya."

"Okay po." 


Makalipas ang ilang minuto tumawag nga ang hospital na pinagdalhan kay Sowon.

Noon din ay wala siyang inaksayang panahon.

Agad siyang nagtungo sa hospital at naabutan si Sowon na nasa emergency ward.


"Kamusta ka na?" 


Alam ni Sowon na hindi talaga yun ang gusto niyang sabihin. Kita naman sa mukha niya yun. 

"Maayos nako." Matipid niyang sagot pero ayaw niyang tumingin sa mata nito.

Magsasalita pa sana si Ji Yeon pero biglang lumapit ang lalakeng nagdala sa kanya dito.

Nung makita niya ng maliwanag ang mukha ng binata natulala siya at walang nasabi.

"Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo?" Tanong niya na may ngiti sa labi.

Matagal silang nagtitig ng binata. Hindi kasi siya makapaniwalang magkikita pa silang muli.

"Hm.. guess you're doing good, right?" 

Sa puntong yun bahagyang tumingin si Sowon kay Ji Yeon na parang inuutusan siyang umalis.

Ngunit naunahan siya ng pagsasalita niya.

"Kung may kailangan ka pa, just reach me through my Secretary." Inabot niya ang card kay Ji Yeon na merong contact number ng isang nagngangalang Hwang Bum. 

Nung mabasa niya yun umiling siya ng bahagya kay Sowon bago umiwas ng tingin.

"I'll go ahead."

"Sandali." 

Paalis na siya nung bigla niyang maramdaman ang paghawak nito sa laylayan ng blazer niya.

Nanginginig at halatang nagpipigil siya ng emosyon nung sandali yun.

"Nandito ba siya?" 

Alam niyang kahit nandito siya hindi rin niya malalaman ang sagot mula dito. Kaya hindi siya nag-expect na sasagot siya ng tapat.

"I'm not at liberty to answer you."

Subalit iba pa din talaga nung marinig niya ang sagot. At napatunayan niya lang na sa loob ng sampung taon walang nagbago.

Nalungkot siya sa masakit na katotohanan.

"I'll go ahead Ms Nam." 


Pag-alis ng binata agad na tumayo sa tabi niya si Joo Ji Yeon na nag-aalala sa kanya.

"Galit pa din ba siya?"

"Hindi naman siguro." 

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Hindi ka naman 'niya' dadalhin dito kung galit pa 'siya' sayo." 

Sandaling napaisip si Sowon doon. Bago siya unti-unting napangiti sa Manager.

"May tama ka."

Wala naman masama kung manalig siyang magkikita sila ulit. Gayunpaman hindi niya maiwasan mag-isip ng kung ano-ano.


Habang nasa daan sila bigla na lang pumalahaw ang tawa niyang malakas.

"Bakit po Sir?" Tanong ng katabi niyang lalake.

"Do you believe in serendipity?"

"Hindi po Sir."

"Why?" 

"Sa tingin ko po kasi nangyayari ang mga bagay na paulit-ulit dahil ginusto natin."

"Tama ka.. but somehow, you need to believe in magic." Ngumisi siya sa rear view.

Hindi na sumagot ang Secretary dahil hindi rin siya naniniwala sa magic.

Sa isip niya marahil kabilang ang Secretary sa iilang tao sa mundo na hindi tumataya sa pagkakataon. Kasi kung iisiping maigi bakit ka ba maghihintay sa isang bagay na hindi mo alam kung mangyayari o darating?

At ang chances ay mananatiling chances hanggang sa may mangyari. Hanggang sa ang pag-asa at pangarap mo ay maging realidad. Doon ka lang mag-uumpisang maniniwala.

Kasiguraduhan para naman hindi ka magmukhang tanga. 


Napabuntong hininga siya nang malalim matapos sabihin yun sa sarili.

"Vice President, tumatawag po ang kapatid nyo." Kinuha niya ang phone sa kamay nito.

"요브시우!  내..."

Nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap nila hanggang sa makarating sila sa airport. Dito ay naiwan na ang mga bodyguards at tanging Secretary lang niya ang sumunod sa kanya.

"I am going to Ljubljana now. See you then!"

Pagkababa niya ng phone inabot niya ito sa Secretary bago nagwika ng ganito...

"He's arriving in a few minutes." 

"Nakaabang na po ang Security sa pagdating niya. Inutusan ko na rin po airport authorities na i-lock ang gates 5A-8D."

"Mabuti naman. Tara na?"

Matapos dumaan sa check-in counters at immigration nagtungo sila sa VIP Lounge at doon naghintay ng boarding announcement.

Pero makalipas ang ilang minuto dumating isang eroplano galing Incheon.



To be continued...

One unforgettable story that you surely don't want to miss. When everything is based on possibilities or chances. How do you know when you have reached your moment? 



During 1970. Yu Sejan and Yu Sejin are twins who share the same ill-fated love story: 'If they can be together at this time, we should be together in another time.' 

So after 49 years, Kang Hwan and his twin Kang Jun strive to end up with Nam Sowon, an A-Lister Actress who has a dark past and Park Eun Hee, a famous contemporary romance book author who struggles to fit in and enjoys life in seclusion- She also keeps forgetting things like paying taxes, etc. but she can't forget how Kang Jun had hurt her.

In this world, full of surprises. How do you know if your moment has come? 

In this world, full of darkness. How do you know if you have come into the light?

In this world, full of questions. How do you know if your questions have answers or not?

In this world, full of lies. How do you know if someone is lying to you?

In this work, full of bitterness. How do you know add sweetness to your wounds?

Things like these are all defined by love.

Discover all the Peculiar things in life.


--The Author struggles to complete this. Please bear with me

A man in a sheriff's uniform was staring at security camera footage. Benjamin watched the servers disappear one by one within a couple of seconds. As the lead detective in the County; he had no idea how the hell this happened. His first guess was that the footage from the cameras was fake. The servers were already gone and the footage was on a loop. However, all of the students had visited the facility and seen the servers. There were no tunnels underground and no aircraft in the air. He wrote the most ridiculous crime scene report of his life. 

Fortunately, nobody blamed him. The whole town was shocked by what happened. ER games sent an army of private investigators to find the culprit. They stumbled on the same roadblocks as the sheriff's department and placed the investigation on hold. 

Benjamin walked into the chief's office and submitted the report. The police chief looked over the report and frowned. 

" We should classify it as a heist." The chief ordered.

" We do not know what happened. I cannot classify the incident as something that it is not." Benjamin replied. He knew that the chief was being pressured by ER games to classify it as robbery for the sake of insurance money. But he did not think it was a good idea to lie on this particular report. 

The chief sighed " Your right; the FBI regional office called. They will come over to start an investigation. Soon the case will be off our hands." He could not do anything shady about the report now. It looks like his remote County might get famous in the future. He wondered just who stole all the server and how the hell they did it.

Austin, Texas

Michael was sitting in his room while reading the police reports from the incident at the Server farm. He had full access to the Taylor County sheriff department and read all the reports. They had no clue who was behind the incident. Michael was confident that he did not leave any clues behind but he had to make sure. 

The substitute teacher identity was entirely made up. Michael hacked into the school district network and added himself as a verified substitute teacher. Then all he had to do was use his persuasion skill on the principal to convince him to pick Michael for the field trip. Even if the police tried to investigate the identity they would be at a dead end because there was no such person in the world. 

Of course, there was also the risk that the FBI could pick up the investigation. However, Michael was monitoring the FBI database too. He would be the first person to know about all of their findings. Besides, there was nothing to point towards him, so Michael would never end up as a suspect in the first place. 

After verifying that nothing could be traced back to him. Michael turned his attention to the servers he got from ER games. He wanted to use them for his own games; However, the servers were custom built for ER games by Pintel. If he decided to use them, then in the future he would have to maintain them. There was no way he could buy replacement parts from Pintel without alarming them. Therefore, he decided to use the recycle function. The system offered him 550 million credits for the servers; Michael decided to take the offer since it was close to the actual value. 

Michael felt satisfaction when he saw the credit balance increase. However, he wasn't done with ER games. Michael had been thinking about the development of games. With his skills, he could easily make revolutionary games in a couple of days. However, he did not have enough original ideas. So he decided to just use the games developed by ER. Their top games were actually spectacular if you take away the pay to win features. 

Michael started cracking all their games and uploaded them to the game engine. He then overhauled the games giving it a completely new look and changing parts of the storyline. Michael was confident that he changed the games enough to avoid lawsuits. If one compared the two different versions; the developers at ER would look like amateurs compared to Eminence gaming. The judge might even mistakenly think that ER games were the one making cheap ripoffs. 

It took Michael two days to upgrade 15 of the top games developed by ER Games. He was confident that after he released the new versions of the game; ER games would eventually shut down. This way Michael would get his revenge and he could use game ideas that were already popular. Michael took the games to Cindy first to have her make sure that they could avoid copyrights. 

Cindy was 99% sure that the courts would not hold them responsible for copyright violations. That was good enough for Michael. Besides, he was pretty sure that ER games would be busy trying to solve their server crisis. 

Michael handed off the games to Jennifer and told her to release one every month. Of course, each game also had dozens of expansion packs that would keep the games alive for years. 

After dealing with the pile of work that was stacked up in his office. Michael drove to the airport and took a flight to California. He needed to finish what he started and deal with the big boss of ER games. Michael had already hacked Wilfred's phone and was constantly tracking his location. 

Wilfred was lived in a gated community near the Headquarters of ER games. Michael got off the plane and took a Wubur to a store near Wilfred's house. He went into the bathroom and took the camouflage potion. Michael ran as fast as he could to Wilfred's house. The house was built in an estate within the gated community. Fortunately, the neighbors were far enough so that they would not hear any noises. 

Michael used a lockpicking set he bought online and broke into the house. He found Wilfred sleeping in bed. Michael woke Wilfred up after tying him to the chair nearby. 

Michael enjoyed seeing Wilfred's face turn pale when he woke up and realized the situation he was in.

Michael was just an ordinary boy living in modern-day America. He grew up in an orphanage with a bleak future. One day he acquired a mysterious package only to inherit a system. Join Michael as he changes his fate and conquers his destiny; armed with a mysterious system that tries to convince him to take over the world.

This is my first novel so I would appreciate any constructive criticism and support.


This novel will also be posted on RoyalRoad.

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