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Avenues of the Diamond (University Series #4)

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PROLOGUE
University Series #1: The Rain in Spain (complete)

University Series #2: Safe Skies, Archer (complete)

University Series #3: Chasing in the Wild (complete)

University Series #4: Avenues of the Diamond

This story contains spoilers for University Series #1, #2, #3.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's
imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This story is not affiliated with UST/ADMU/FEU/DLSU/UP/other universities.

Please be advised that this story contains, TRIGGER WARNINGS,

sensitive content, mature themes and strong language that are not suitable
for very young audiences.
***

"Samantha Vera, can you do a pose for us, please?"

I suddenly stopped walking to smile and look at the group of photographers

waiting outside Chanel's fashion show for Paris Fashion Week. I took my
shades off and put a hand inside my coat to do a pose for them before my
personal assistant called me. I was already late for another fashion show. I
waved at the photographers before walking again and getting inside the van.

I had to do a quick change. I took my top off and wore a dark red dress
before putting on a plastic coat with a black leather belt. My makeup artists
were busy with my hair and makeup. When the van stopped, I immediately
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got off the van, holding my invitation. Photographers flocked again. I waved and
smiled before walking inside the venue.

"Samantha Vera, I'm so glad you came!" The famous designer gave me a kiss on
both sides of my cheek.

"Of course. How could I not?" I smiled at him. "I really like your collection. I
just received the clothes you sent me yesterday and I must say..
What a good job!”

That was my routine the whole week. I hardly ate. I just went to the van if I had time.
The shows were usually back-to-back. On our last day, I only slept for 3 hours so we
could catch our flight back to the Philippines. I chose to arrive early so there
wouldn't be too much media at the airport.

I was wrong, though. My personal assistant, Francine, informed me about the media
after we landed. I didn't have any bodyguards with me. I thought it wasn't necessary
anymore. Good thing the airport security helped me get rid of them. I just kept walking
outside while the cameras were on me.

“Samantha Vera, how's Paris Fashion Week?”

“Ms. Samantha, what do you have to say about the current issue surrounding you?”

“Ms. Vera, is it true that you already have a child?”

I bit my lower lip and went inside the van, refusing to answer any questions.
They were too many and talking about the current issue would just make it bigger.
That will go away too. I got a headache when the van closed.

“They really think Avi is my daughter?” I asked Francine in surprise.

"Yes, Ma'am," she gave me a shy smile. "We can clear it out tomorrow-"
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"No, if you clear it out, that she's the daughter of my friend. In just a few days,
Yanna will be stuck. Just let the issue die down for now." I covered my eyes
using my arms. I hoped the issue won't get worse.

It was a tiring day. When I got home to the condo, I immediately took a shower and went to sleep.
The flight was long and I actually just slept the whole time but I still felt so sleepy.
The next day, I woke up so early because of the doorbell. I quickly fixed my robe
and opened the door.

“You look like that,” Yanna, my best friend, laughed at my face. “Staying up
late, girl?”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring her. I gave Avrielle a smile and gestured for her to
come in. She was wearing a cute dress and a backpack on her shoulders.
Yanna was wearing her flight attendant uniform. She had a flight so she would
leave Avi, her daughter, with me again.

"Be good, baby, ah," she reminded Avi before waving at us.

I closed the door and went inside my room again. Avi was already on the bed,
holding my iPad and searching for some cartoons. I lay down next to him and
closed my eyes, trying to continue sleeping.

I probably slept for two more hours before I went out of bed to make breakfast. Avi
was asleep when I woke up. He had already fallen asleep watching something so I
took the iPad and turned it off before leaving the bedroom.

"Good morning, Ma'am! I'll go over our schedule for today, is that okay?"
Francine called me on FaceTime.

"Yeah, sure!" I said while cooking.

She went over my full-packed schedule for today but I canceled the
meeting with the designer so I could bring Avrielle to the hospital for a
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check-up. I heard her coughing earlier. I just wanted to make sure that she was
healthy. Monthly check-up as well.

"Baby," I tapped Avi's shoulder lightly. "Aunt-Ninang has a shoot today. You need
to eat breakfast now so we can go."

“Pictures?” Avi asked with her small voice. I saw excitement in her eyes
before she got up, smiling. "Yay! I'm going with Tita-Ningang!"

"Come on, let's eat!" I held her hand and pulled her to the dining room.

After eating, I took a shower, did my morning skincare, brushed my teeth, and
put on some makeup. I was wearing a pair of black high-waisted jeans partnered
with a simple maroon tank-top. I also put on my white cropped-top jacket and
black ankle boots. I'll change my clothes again later so I don't have to make
an effort.

"Hello, Avi!" Francine greeted her when we went inside the van.

"Hi!" Avi waved her little hand at my assistant and my make-up artists at the back.

I put on her seatbelt before browsing the internet for some news about me.
They're right. My son Avi is already a mess, especially now that I'm taking him to
the shoot again. I sighed and massaged my head.

"The great Samantha Vera!" The female director welcomed me with open
arms. "Come on, guys! Move! Take care of her!"

I gave her a small hug before I went inside the dressing room. Avrielle was
walking around the studio, getting curious. I smiled whenever the studio
staff played with her. I could hear her cute giggles from where I was seated.

“Your child is cute, Ma'am,” a staff member told me.

My brows furrowed a bit and pursed my lips, thinking if I should deny it or just let
her think that. I mean, I don't care if they think I have a child or what but.. I
didn't want people to believe a lie.
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"She's not my daughter but she's lovely, right?" I asked.

“Shut up! Just pretend, Ma'am,” she laughed. “Don't worry! I'm not judging you!”

"Uh.." I gave her an awkward smile through the mirror. I didn't want to argue
anymore.

Avi was just quietly sitting there, holding Francine's hand and watching me while I was
doing poses for the magazine. After that, like what I said, I took her to one of the best
hospitals in the country. I put on my shades and walked to Dr.'s clinic. wool

"Samantha Vera," I told the lady so she could check my schedule.

She looked at me with wide eyes, shocked, so I smiled at her. He's new here, ah.
What happened to the old lady last month? Retired?

"Samantha Vera," I repeated, smiling, when she still didn't move.

“Oh! Yes!” She panicked. “Come in! Doc is waiting for you! Come on, is this true?”

"Thank you," I said before holding Avi's hand again to take her with me.

"Samantha! You're early, ah!" Dr. Lana stood up and gave me a hug.

“You seemed busy. Shall I just come back later?” I asked. He was talking to someone
on the phone when I entered.

"No, no! There's just a problem with our patient but I already sent someone to check.
You can take your seat now. Hi, Avi!" She pinched Avi's cheeks.

Avi sat on the chair with her hands on her legs, not moving an inch while Dr. Lana
was checking her breathing. She asked her a few questions before jotting down on her
notepad.

"Last time. Open your mouth, baby," Dr. Lana told Avi.
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“Why?” Avi asked.

“Oh, I will just check your-”

She stopped when she heard a knock on the door. She immediately went to
the door and opened it. Her eyes lit up and gestured the man to enter the
room.

"Doc, I'm looking for you in the ward." I stiffened when I heard a familiar voice.

He had the same reaction when our eyes met. The look on my face reflected
his. He immediately looked away and put his hand inside his white coat.

"You.. Uhm.. have a patient. I'm sorry." He was about to leave the room
when Dr. Lana stopped him.

"Wait, I'll introduce you to her! This is Samantha Vera, the model! Do you
recognize her?" Dr. Lana sounded excited.

I was just sitting there on the couch like I saw a ghost. A ghost from the
past, I guess.

I slowly stood up, holding my bag. His dark eyes pierced into mine, closely
watching my every move. He licked his lower lip and looked away again out
of awkwardness. Phew, the air suddenly felt heavier. I guess I'm the one
with the fever, not Avi.

"Sam, this is Dr. Clyden Ramirez. He's a pediatric resident." Wool introduced.

I was breathing heavily so I tried so hard to calm myself. He might say I'm super
affected. I glanced at Avi who was just sitting there, looking around like a well-
behaved kid. Dr. Ramirez also glanced at Avi with a confused look, but he
still gave her a small smile.

"This is Avrielle!" Dr. Lana introduced again.

"Av.. Avrielle," Dr. Ramirez smiled sarcastically, remembering something.

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"Come here, Sam! Say hello!" Dr. Lana gestured me to come over. I awkwardly
smiled at her before walking towards their direction, feeling a little nervous.

"We.. know each other already, Doc." I gave her a smile.

I saw how Clyden's brow shot up out of amusement. He probably didn't see
that coming. Should I just pretend we didn't know each other? I
didn't know what to say! I couldn't lie in front of Dr. Lana.

"Really?! How?!" She looked so amused. "What a small world, huh?!"

"Hi Maui," he looked at me and gave me a small smile. I didn't know if it was sarcastic or not.

I bit my lower lip and looked away, feeling so awkward now. Dr. Lana's
lips parted after hearing another version of my name. She looked back and
forth between us, confused.

"Hello Cy," I looked at him with the same intensity.

"How do you guys know each other?" Dr. Lana asked. "Common friends?
Or maybe at social gatherings?”

"She was my fiancée," Cy answered casually without taking his eyes off
me.

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01
"Congratulations! I am so proud!"

I was holding a bouquet of roses for Via. Yanna was also holding one for Kierra,
and Sevi for Luna. On the other hand, he was holding a bottle of wine for Arkin,
his guy best friend. Today was their high school graduation and I was just watching
there the whole time, smiling. I felt like a big sister watching my younger siblings
reach another milestone in their lives.

“Why don't I have flowers?” Arkin complained. “Favoritism!”

"You're still choosy. You're not yummy." Sevi handed him a bottle of wine.

I laughed at them before giving Via a warm embrace. She reached for the
bouquet on my hands happily. He smelled it before Arkin pulled him to show him
the flowers. Yanna also gave Kierra a hug, she still shook him and they laughed.
Sevi playfully pulled Luna's ponytail backwards, earning a punch on the face.
He laughed before giving her the flowers.

I was standing there, smiling. Just seeing their smiles, I was happy. My heart
felt so full already.

“How are you in Areneyow, Sam?” Sevi teased while we were all eating lunch for
their graduation party. They agreed to just have dinner with their families. Lunch,
time for friends. Time for us.

"I'm still adjusting. It's hard, super but all of them are so nice! I already made so
many friends during ORSEM so I'm doing well, I guess." I shrugged and giggled.

“FEU, how are you?” Via asked Yanna.

“Still FEU.” Yanna shrugged. “It's okay. I get along with my dorm mates so it's just
GG. I'm studying hard.”
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"Crazy, I see you at the pool table." Sevi pointed at her, glaring.

"Oh? Congratulations, you have eyes," Yanna sarcastically answered.

“So you're continuing on to UST? The three of you, right?” I asked Luna, Kierra, and Via.

“Archi is just strong!” Luna happily answered with her fist up. “I'm excited to find a
pogi! Hey, I hope there's a pogi, right? I'm really Thomasian.”

"Damn you, whore!" Sevi suddenly glared at Arkin before reaching for his leg below
the table. I bit my lower lip to stifle a laugh.

"How about you, Arkin? Your plans?" I asked like a mother.

"Gosh, that's UP," Kierra said while laughing.

"UP Diliman." Arkin smirked at me before sipping on his glass.

“Boo! You're so arrogant!” Via threw a crumpled tissue at him.

I continued eating my meal while they were arguing at the table. I couldn't help but
smile, watching them fight each other. I had a hard time moving to Ateneo and
leaving them. I wasn't used to being without them but I can handle it now. I
made a lot of friends to fill up the empty space inside me. I just finished my first
year in college but I was still adjusting to the environment. It was really hard.

“Are you going home?” Yanna, my best friend, asked when I went outside.

We were the only ones left because Luna had already picked them up. Yanna
leaned on the glass wall, holding a cigarette in between her fingers. I stared at it
before shaking my head and scratching my nose a bit.

"That's not healthy, babe," I told her.

“Sorry.” He finished the end immediately before throwing it in the trash. Then, she
gave me an apologetic smile. Yanna had been going through a lot these days
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and I understood why she had to look for other ways to cope.

"If you need someone to talk to, just give me a call." I tapped her shoulder before
leaving. "Love you!"

"Me too!" She yelled, teasing me before I got inside the car. I playfully rolled
my eyes and closed the door.

I went home to the mansion before dinner. I was living alone in my condo in
Katipunan but my parents texted me that they wanted to talk about something
so they had the driver pick me up.

"Here we go again," I whispered to myself when the car stopped in front of the house.

I thanked the driver before getting off the car. The helpers immediately came to
take my bag and shoes, and to help me take off the jacket I was wearing. I just
gave them a smile.

"No need. I can fix my stuff," I told them.

I stopped walking towards the dining room when two unfamiliar men in black
walked passed by me. I followed them until they walked out the main door.
I bit my lower lip and looked down on the floor, shaking my head. So they
were still doing that.. business.

“Mom, Dad,” I greeted, not looking at them before I took my seat. The whole
family was already seated. They were already eating even though I wasn't there.
It's okay, though.

"You won't greet your sister?" Dad asked.

I took my seat beside my half-sister who was 3 years younger than me.
He is Daddy's son outside. When her mom died, she started living with us. My
mom, who was a retired actress, didn't care, though. For my whole life, I had
never seen my parents show affection to each other. Maybe because they
just married for convenience.

"Hi Naomi." I gave her a sweet smile.

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She just raised a brow at me before rolling her eyes. My smile faded and I just pursed
my lips, looking down at my plate.

I really didn't get why she was treating me like a different person. I was always nice to
her. I actually moved to my condo so she could live peacefully in the mansion.
I didn't want her to become uncomfortable with my presence. Another reason was maybe
because I just.. really wanted to leave.

"You texted me that you want to talk about something. What is it, Dad?" I asked him
while eating.

"Remember when I told you that you're going to marry the son of my best friend? The
owner of Ramirez Medical?" He opened it up.

I bit my lower lip, refusing to look at him but I still nodded. That was the reason why
they allowed me to take Bachelor of Arts in Communication and not Political Science.
The condo unit was also part of our deal. I thought they would immediately forget
about it but I was wrong.

"He's already graduating from UP Manila. BS Biology. Cum laude, Maui," dad continued
talking.

"W-and?" I looked at him, expecting him to say more when he stopped.

"He's the real deal. Maybe it's already time for the both of you to meet.
We're attending his graduation party," dad talked with finality. "Just think of it as your
engagement day."

I didn't talk after that. I just finished my food and then went upstairs to my bedroom. I sat
on the bed, holding my phone, thinking if I should tell Yanna, but I didn't want to
add up to her problems. I sighed and called Sevi instead.

[Yo! What's up, Atenean?] He teased.

"I'm getting engaged," I told him.

[Huh?! Hatdog?! What did you drink?!] He was panicking.

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"I'm getting engaged," I repeated, biting my lower lip to stop my tears from falling. "To a
random stranger, Sev. I'm scared. Do not tell anyone about this."

[Wait, are you okay?] He sounded concerned now.

"I have no choice. I already agreed to this before I went to college. I just-I just haven't
realized that it's real, you know?" I sighed heavily. "I'm scared.
What if..”

[What if he's ugly, you idiot! Come on!]

My tears flowed back and I was just so annoyed by what he was saying.
That wasn't my concern! Well, he might be among my concerns but that's not my priority! I
was just hoping that he would be a good guy.

[Think about that, man? You're getting married and she's ugly, has bad breath, has bad
manners, is smart and rich but is a slut?] He started scaring me more!

“Now I'm starting to think about those things. Those weren't among my concerns earlier.”
I massaged my head.

[That's it! See if you like it first and if not, tell your parents, I'll run away from you so
the wedding can't go ahead! Hahaha! I'll run away from you, man! I got you! Use me!
That's how you are!]

"Wow, thank you for that heartwarming plan." I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, that still made
me laugh so thank you."

I have never hated June that much. It was early in the morning, and the helpers had already
entered my room to lay out what I would wear tomorrow. I sighed heavily after taking a
shower, looking at the designer dress on my bed. Mommy had hired a make-up artist.

"You need to look beautiful. You need to stand out in that crowd," Mom told me.
"Remember, Maui. Grace, solicitude, and charm. You have those.
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You should have no fear.”

I didn't talk. I just stared at myself in the mirror. My short brown hair was braided in a half
ponytail, leaving some bangs in front. I was wearing a red sequin bodycon dress ending
inches above my knees. A thin strap was holding it and my cleavage was exposed.
I wore a white pair of heels and also a white fur shawl on my shoulders before leaving
the room.

"How about Naomi?" I asked Mom when I noticed that she was not around.

"She's not going, of course. Have you ever seen your dad introducing that child to his
friends?"

"But we just can't leave her-"

"We can," my mom cut me off. "Let's just go, Maureen."

I looked at the door of her bedroom with concern in my eyes before leaving the house. I
entered the white limousine with my mom, looking outside the window the whole time.
My heart was beating so fast. I actually tried to search for his face last night but there
was nothing on the internet. The only thing is that they are three brothers. All boys.
Maybe they are private people.

"You're going to start wearing a ring today. You should be excited."

I looked at my mom with my lips parted. "We're not married yet. Why should I wear
a ring?" I tried so hard to tone down my voice.

"To show the visitors that you and the son of Ramirez Medical are engaged.
They should start talking about it. Also, so you can show the guys who come to you
something. You are not allowed to fall in love with other guys. That will just complicate
things.”

I am not allowed to fall in love? That was painful. I felt like my freedom was easily
taken away from me. I started plotting plans in my head while we were on our way to
the party. It was a formal one, I heard.
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"Be elegant. You are Samantha Vera," my mom reminded me before we entered the
large mansion.

My dad was already there, waiting for us outside the door. He put his hand on my mom's
waist before we went inside. There were a lot of visitors, mostly grown-up men and
women in formal attire. I could sense some politicians, businessmen and women,
and doctors. A lot of them.

"Senator Stephen Vera, wow! You're late!" A man playfully tapped my dad on the shoulder.

“Couldn't you wait for 10 minutes, Christopher?” My dad let out a laugh. I guess they
were close. "Congratulations! Your son did so well!"

"He's the only son I could trust." Christopher, the old man about the same age as my
father, also laughed. "Oh, is this Samantha?"

"Yes." My dad put his hand around my shoulders to pull me beside him. I gave
Christopher a sweet smile. "This is Christopher Ramirez. My best friend.
The owner of Ramirez Medical. Cris, this is my daughter, Samantha Maureen Vera.”

"Hello, Sir. I've heard a lot of good things about you." I shook his hand, smiling.

"Wow, I really hope so. Wait a minute, I'll just call my son. He was around here a few
seconds ago." He looked around the crowd before he raised a hand. "Cy, get over
here!"

I tried so hard to remain smiling but my lips started to shake out of nervousness
when I realized that the man he was going to introduce would be my fiancé. I followed the
man walking closer. He was wearing a white dress shirt with a black neck tie and a pair
of black slacks.
He was holding a wine glass on his other hand while the other was busy loosening up
his tie.

"This is Clyden, my son," Christopher proudly introduced.

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My lips parted while I was staring at him, trying to look closely at his features. He
was taller than me. His hair was pushed back with wax but some strands were
falling on his forehead. Perfect jaw, nose, and lips. Thick brows and mysterious eyes. He
was conventionally attractive, which didn't sit right with my spirit.

"Senator," he greeted my dad, shaking his hand before his gaze turned to me. He
looked at me from head to toe with his brows furrowed, which offended me to the
core! "Samantha, right?"

"Yes. How shall I call you?" I was trying so hard to act kind. I didn't like the way he
surveyed me from head to toe with his judging look.

"I don't know. Babe?" He answered sarcastically. "Since we're getting married,
right? Would you excuse me, please."

My lips parted in shock when he suddenly left the conversation to greet some of his
friends who arrived. His dad didn't even realize how sarcastic his son sounded! I also
excused myself to drink some wine. I wanted to calm myself so badly.

I talked to some people I know. Some were my schoolmates so they are familiar to me. I
was talking to Carlo and Pierce when Clyden suddenly stood beside me like a
statue. He didn't even do anything but Carlo and Pierce suddenly left with apologetic
smiles plastered on their faces. I glared at Clyden beside me.

"What is your problem?" I asked.

"Let's talk," he said before walking away, gesturing for me to follow him.

I rolled my eyes before following him outside. He was just walking in front of me with his
hands inside his pocket until we reached the pool side. He stood beside the pool with
his back against me. I walked towards him, still holding my glass of wine.

“Son of a corrupt politician.”

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I immediately frowned and looked at him, shocked. Why would he say

that in front of me?! Is he that rude?!

"Actually, I've already rallied against your father. We won't get along," he
said seriously.

"I am not my father." I gritted my teeth. "And don't worry. I don't like you.
You're an asshole who is so full of himself. Because you graduated
as a cum laude?"

“How can you say I'm arrogant? Do you know me?” He raised an eyebrow
at me.

“How can you say we can't get along? Do you know me?” I fired back.

"Why? Do I need to know you?"

“Same with you, asshole.”

We stared at each other's eyes with the same intensity, like we were trying
to see who would give up first. I was always nice to other people but there
was something with him that I just can't ignore! He was getting on my
nerves by just standing there.

"We can't marry each other," I finally said.

“Really.” He sarcastically laughed. “What were you thinking when you

agreed to this, huh?”

"I made a deal. My college program, condo unit, car, many," I answered.
"Why are you blaming me? You agreed too!"

"I can't disappoint." He shrugged. "I was the best son among the three."

"Lame," I whispered, rolling my eyes.

"Lame? Coming from someone who asked for a car and a condo unit in
exchange of her freedom to marry." He shook his head, smirking.
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"You don't know my struggles." I glared at him.

"And you know mine?" He raised an eyebrow.

I looked away from him and just stared at our reflection at the pool. He was looking away
from me, obviously thinking about the whole engagement thing. I was never this
judgmental. I never treated people like how I treated him so I felt so guilty about it. Maybe
I was trying to project my frustrations to him?

I looked at him to apologize. “Hey-”

"Let's just act like we're on good terms," he cut me off. "Let's pretend that we will develop
real feelings, fall in love, get attached, so we could fool them that we have a deep
connection until someone makes a mistake.
Appeal to their emotions. Let's say you cheated on me?”

“Me?!” I immediately complained. “I could never cheat!”

“Me too, no.” He grinned at me. “Ah, never mind. I'll just think of a way.
You know, the more we resist, the more they will push that engagement bullshit
because that's what they are. Let's act like we really like each other for now. Would that
hurt?”

"Okay, then. This may be the last time we will see each other. Besides, we don't have a
reason to do so. I just want to remind you that no one should know about this except of
course the people in this party. I hope this won't spread."

“Let's go inside.” He turned his back on me, seemingly unconcerned with what I
was saying!

I drank the remaining wine on my glass and fixed my shawl before following him. He
suddenly stopped walking in front of the sliding door so I almost bumped on his back.

"What?" My brows furrowed.

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He suddenly offered his hand. I stared at it with so much confusion until he

got impatient and intertwined our hands together. He pulled me with him
inside the house again.

“Oh.” My mom looked so shocked when she saw our hands. "Where did
you guys go?"

"We had a talk, Mom." I gave her a fake smile.

"I see! Wait, where's your ring?"

I looked at Clyden, lowkey asking him about the ring. He looked at me with
furrowed brows, looking confused too until his dad tapped his shoulder.
He looked away from me to smile at his dad.

“Oh! You seem to be doing well, ah!” His dad laughed. “I almost forgot, Cy! Check the
box I put on your side table. Go check it with Samantha.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Clyden pulled me upstairs again. When we reached the last step of the
stairs, he let go of my hand and wiped the sweat on his dress shirt, glaring
and me.

"Excuse me, it's your hand sweating! Not mine!" I defended myself.

"Oh, really? It's your first time holding hands, so how do you know?" He
asked while walking towards his room.

“Your face is thick.”

He opened the door, leaving it open so I could enter inside. I carefully

stepped inside and watched him sit on the side of his bed, holding the small
box from his side table. As soon as he opened it, he looked so annoyed.

“What is it?” I asked.

"Ring." He messed up his hair in frustration, closing his eyes.

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"This is so unfair! Why should I be the only one wearing a ring?!"

I leaned against the wall, standing meters away from him.

"It's two." He showed the box to me. "Corny."

"Ugh! Let's just wear it and remove it after!"

I walked towards him and got the box out of his hand to look at the silver
rings. I could easily tell which one was his, the one with the thicker band and
a square of diamond attached on it. Unlike mine, the diamond in his ring is
submerged.

"It's mine." He calmly got the box out of my hand again to get the ring. He
looked at me like he was waiting for me to do something.

"What?" I asked him, confused.

“Your hand, mine.”

I bit my lower lip and looked around, feeling a little awkward. I still offered him
my hand. He held it softly before putting the ring on my finger. I stared at him
while he was doing that. He was pursing his lips and looking so serious
like it was a real engagement.

“Don't be excited. Put on mine.” He ruined my moment.

"What? Can't you wear it yourself?" I said annoyed.

"I look like a fool. I'm going to wear a ring myself? What am I, alone?" He
rolled his eyes.

I angrily took the ring from the box and took his hand to put it on. He was
looking away while I was sliding the ring on his finger. His hands felt soft on
mine. I immediately let go of it when he put it on.

“There. We're done. We'll just wear this when we're in front of our parents,
okay?” I cleared that out.
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“Why? Do you have a crush on someone else?” He stood up, putting his hands inside
his pocket.

"Many," I proudly said. "And it's none of your business anymore."

I went down to the dining room first and he followed me. Our parents looked so happy when
they saw us wearing the rings. It felt so weird for me. I can't wait to take it off!

“Hey, you're still awake,” I said when I saw Naomi on the sofa after getting home.
I was ahead of Mommy. They were still talking to some politicians.

"How's the party?" She raised an eyebrow.

"It's.. It's a party." I shrugged. "Have you eaten already? I'm sorry we had to leave you here-"

"I don't need your apologies." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

I pursed my lips and nodded before taking my shoes off. I picked it up from the floor before
walking up to the room.

"Sister, did Naomi eat?" I asked a helper.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

"Oh, that's good. Thank you."

I went inside my room to take a shower. While my facemask was on, I sat on the couch
and called Sevi to tell him about what happened today. He said I should call him when I
get home.

[What? Is it ugly?] Sevi asked, laughing.

"Uhm, no," I told him the truth.

[Whew?! Bad breath?]

Machine Translated by Google

"Neither." I massaged my head, remembering how he smelled so good.

"He's also not dirty. I went to his room and it was clean."

[Room right away?! You're welcome, Sam!]

“No!” I denied so fast. "I just ended up there to get my ring! Anyway, he doesn't want to
marry me either so we're just coming up with a plan. I don't know when we'll meet
again. For now, I'll just focus on my studies."

[Is it kind?]

“No!” I answered so fast. "No, he's not! He's an asshole."

[Ah, it looks like a hole in the butt?]

I rolled my eyes because of what he said. I talked to him for a few more minutes
before I ended the call to take off my mask. After that, I went to sleep. The next
day, I woke up so early to go for a morning jog. I was wearing a pair of black
leggings, a black sports bra, and a blue jacket. I tied my hair in a ponytail before
running around the village.

I stopped when I saw Naomi jogging too. I never knew she liked exercising. When
she passed in front of me, she ignored me. She even bumped on my shoulder.

"It's okay!" I yelled to assure her that it was fine, although she didn't even look back
and apologize. Maybe she didn't mean to do that.

I ran for another lap until I saw my sister again. She was about to cross the road with
her earphones in when I noticed a car approaching. I ran so fast and pushed her
back, causing us to fall on the side of the road.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" She yelled at me.

I winced as I sat up and saw that my leggings were torn. My knee was bleeding from
the scrape. Naomi glanced at me for a second before leaving. I sighed heavily,
wiping my sweat.
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I stood up and walked home. I stopped in front of the house when I noticed a
man holding a cute dog on the leash. He was sitting in the gutter and seemed
to be waiting for something. My expression changed when he looked at me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked Clyden.

He stood up and pulled the dog with him. "Summer, sit," he commanded before
letting go of the leash. The golden retriever sat there, watching him like a good girl.

“What?” I asked when I noticed him looking at my knee. “What are you doing
here in front of my house? I thought we would never see each other again?”

“Yeah, you left this and my parents told me to give it back to you in person.”
He took my hand and put my bracelet on it.

"Oh, I took it off when I went to the bathroom. How did you know it was mine?"
My brows furrowed.

“Because Vera engraved it? Assuming.”

Right! I turned the bracelet over and saw my last name on it. He was right. I
almost forgot about it.

"I think you should be leaving now," I told him when he still didn't move.
I thought he would just bring it back? He should have left, right?

“I'll treat your knee first,” he said before going inside the gate.
“Summer, let’s go.”

I frowned and followed him inside. He greeted my mom on the garden before he
went inside, asking the helper for the first-aid kit. I sat down on the couch annoyed,
wondering why he was even bothering!
He's not even a doctor yet!

"I am not your patient," I told him after changing inside the bathroom.
I changed into shorts and sat on the sofa.
Machine Translated by Google

"Yeah, because you are my fiancée," he answered back before kneeling in front of me.

I pursed my lips and looked away while he was wiping the clean cloth on my knee. He was
quiet and serious. It felt so awkward. He finished up and stood up, fixing the kit again. I bit
the insides of my cheek, watching his every move.

"Let's not see each other anymore unless there is a date for our wedding," I told him.

"Unless we have a date." He chuckled.

“Be serious!”

“Yeah, fine.” He nodded and rolled his eyes, looking unconcerned.

"I'll see you soon. And by the way, Samantha.."

“What?”

He looked at my hand and shook his head. "You can date other people. I won't mind."

“Yes, of course. I don't need your permission.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

"But if this will help you sleep at night, you can also date other-"

"I don't date," he cut me off. "I don't have time for that."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

02
"I thought you had a meeting with your people?"

I gave Yanna a small smile when she took her seat in front of me. I asked her to eat
lunch together in Katipunan, my treat of course. We were at Regis. It's been a while
since she's taken the LRT, maybe. Morayta is still a long way from here.

"They postponed it." I shrugged. "Are you okay? You look.. How should I say this?"

She raised a brow before laughing, holding her right cheek with a light bruise on it.
She looked unbothered but I felt so worried. Where did that come from?

“I just had a fight,” she answered, smiling. “It's no big deal.

"Let it go."

"Are you getting bullied?" My brows furrowed, hoping that the answer would be no.

She looked at me for a second before she pursed her lips and shrugged.
He didn't even refuse. I bit my lower lip and put offered my hand above the table for her
to hold it. She looked around before looking back at me.

“We look like we’re dating.” She laughed before holding my hand.

“Why? Why were you in a fight? Who got into a fight with you?” I asked him one question
after another.

“Some guy.” He frowned, looking annoyed at the memory. “I said no and it happened. Let
it go. That idiot was just being insistent. I thought I was doing everything. I'm picky too! I'm
picky! He's so stinky and ugly.”
Machine Translated by Google

“That's all?” My forehead was still furrowed.

“Besides, I have two blockmates who I also fought with. They say I'm flirtatious.”
He shrugged, looking indifferent. “Well, it's true!
I just let it go!”

"You should not allow those people to treat you like that. Being sexually
expressive and active does not make you any less of a woman," I reminded her.
"List down their names. Let's report them to-"

“Leave it,” she cut me off. “I don't want any more trouble. Those things will get
boring.”

"Hi, Sam!" Someone I know from my other org waved her hand. I smiled and
stood up to give him a hug. "What's up? I heard about your engagement with
Clyden. Gosh, my boyfriend was at his party a few months ago."

"Oh, uhm-" I looked away, feeling a little awkward. "Yeah, I guess."

"You would make a great couple! I heard that guy is difficult to deal with.
Anyway, I'll see you around!" She waved her hand again before leaving.

"Engagement?" Yanna raised a brow when I went back to my seat. She

scoffed, feeling a little betrayed. "What engagement?"

"It's nothing," I lied. "I'll get our food now."

“I'll get it.” He abruptly took the number and walked away, angry at me.

I inhaled a large amount of air before exhaling slowly, calming myself. I fixed
my hair and leaned back on my seat while waiting for her. I knew so many
people that I couldn't help but smile as I waved. It was tiring. Maybe I shouldn't
have joined 7 organizations, huh?

“Oh.” Yanna placed the plate in front of me before sitting across from me. I gave
her an apologetic smile but she just rolled her eyes. “Eat now
Machine Translated by Google

"Well, first."

"Hey, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to add to your problems.
See? You have another problem with your dumb bullies so I-”

“I'm telling you everything, ah,” she fired back, not looking at me.

"Okay, I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip. "I already told you years ago about my
engagement to a random guy. Well, a few months ago, I met him at his
graduation party. He graduated from UP Manila. Now he's studying in UP
Med. We don't talk much and last time we saw him he went to my house to
return my bracelet. That's it."

“Pogi?” was his first question.

"Well, that's okay." I didn't know how to answer that one.

"Do you have a picture?" She sounded excited now.

"No! I don't even know his number. The only thing I have from him is this
thing." I showed her my necklace.
The ring was hanging there. I didn't want to wear it but I didn't want to lose it either.

“Hey, that looks expensive, ah! That's a diamond, ah!” She looked closely.
"Let's go, Mars."

“Wait, I think I have a picture from the party.” I suddenly remembered.

I took out my phone and scrolled through my messages with Mommy. She
sent me some exclusive photos from the party, the ones with just my face.
Of course they had a photographer at that party. I scrolled and scrolled until
I saw a picture of Clyden and I talking to our dads. I was smiling but Clyden
was just pursing his lips, nodding to his dad.

“Here.” I showed Yanna the picture. "He's.. Well, attractive a bit."

“A bit?!” Yanna took my phone. “Hello, you're so handsome! I'll just attend the
wedding if you don't want to! I can pretend to be
Machine Translated by Google

"You! Come on, idiot, jackpot!"

"Jackpot, huh? Well, sorry to say, he has a bad personality." I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, God never made anything perfect, right?” She laughed before giving me back
my phone. “Just pray that he's good in bed at least so the honeymoon isn't wasted-”

"No way! I'm not marrying that guy!" I looked disgusted. "We have a plan, don't
worry. That wedding will be canceled."

"That's a shame. He looks more mature than you. Maybe you can call him
daddy." She laughed to tease me.

"Yanna, I'm trying to eat." I pointed at my food, disgusted now.

"Ugh, yes, daddy," she fake moaned before laughing at my reaction.

"He's not even that hot," I whispered, looking at the picture. "I bet you 1000
pesos, he has no experience. He told me that he doesn't date."

“I bet you have no experience but you watch porn so you know-”

"Okay, that's it. This conversation's over. Let's eat," I cut her off.

My second year in Ateneo wasn't that bad, actually. Just more workload but I
could manage it. Like what Clyden and I agreed on, I was allowed to date other
people so I did. I even downloaded dating applications for it.
There was this thought inside me that it might be the last time I could even date
other people.

"Oh my gosh, who's that?" I asked Rylee, my blockmate.

"Who?" She stopped walking to see who I was looking at. We came from
Starbucks so we passed by the football field. "I can't see. Who again, Sam?"

"That guy. The one wiping his sweat." I pointed at the tall and fit guy, wiping
his sweat using the hem of his shirt, revealing his abdomen. Hey
Machine Translated by Google

looked so tired and sweaty.

"Oh, that's Adonis from SOM. I know him because he used to flirt with my
sister." Rylee laughed. "But we're gucci. He's nice."

"Really? Okay, I have a crush on him. Just a little bit." I shrugged before
we continued walking.

In my 3rd year, we met again but he rejected me. Can you believe that? He just rejected
me in front of so many people. I mean, he was not obliged to return my feelings but he
could have rejected me in private, not in front of so many people while I was drunk. No
hard feelings though. We also agreed after that.

"We're good, right?" I asked him when I saw him in Gonz.

We are in line for a shake.

“Hey, Sam!” He gave me a smile. "Yes, we are good, bro. Don't worry."

"I'm going to New lib," Kalix told him before leaving. "Hey Sam."

"What's up, Kalix," I greeted him back.

He just gave me a small smile before leaving with his things. Adonis took his
protein shake before saying goodbye to me and sitting at their table. He was
with Leo and Amethyst but they stood up right away. Maybe they will follow
Kalix to the library.

For the past next months, I became busy with my studies. My dating
decreased but my partying did not decrease. It was my only way I could feel
free. I liked school days more than vacation days since I got to stay in my
condo alone.

"Can I see your grades, Samantha?" Dad asked while we were eating dinner.

I brought my phone out and silently slid it over the table until it reached him.
He looked at my grades with his brows furrowed. I knew I did well.
My grades were no less than B.
Machine Translated by Google

“Why are they so low? Come on.” Daddy quickly handed my phone back.

"A is the highest, Dad," I tried to explain. "These are considered high already. I'm
included in the Dean's list."

"Why do you have a B? That's not very high. You should aim for straight As. You're taking
Comm for heaven's sake. Don't act like it's so hard," he continued. “Everyone can become
a Dean's lister.”

Comm is still hard. All programs are hard. I wanted to tell him that but all I could say was an
apology for not doing better.

"I'm sorry, Dad," I whispered, looking down at my plate. "I'll.. do better next time."

"Honey, you're Samantha Vera. You should not just do 'better'. You should be the best,"
mom joined the conversation.

I looked at Naomi and caught her staring at me. I gave her a sweet smile but she looked
away. I just kept that smile to myself.

I stopped eating when I saw two armed men in the living room. Daddy stood up
immediately and welcomed them. They started talking about business. I bit my lower lip
and tried to continue eating but I felt sick just looking around me.

"I lost my appetite. I'm sorry," I said before wiping my mouth with the table napkin.

I went to my room and laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time. I
opened my phone and saw some news about my dad and his friends. The video of Daddy
shouting at those protesting against him is now viral. I massaged my head and sighed
heavily.

That night, I received bad news about Kierra. I got my things and drove as fast as I could. I
have never felt so mad at someone before. I remained calm on the outside, watching my
friends cry on the floor.
Machine Translated by Google

"She'll be okay," I whispered to Luna. "Kierra is a strong girl. She will be okay."

That was just a wishful thinking of mine. I could never forgive anyone who had
the audacity to lay hands on my friend. What was going on inside her
boyfriend's head? I wish I could know. I really wish I could.

All I could feel was pain. Everyone around me was feeling pain so I had to be strong for
them. Weeks later, Luna broke up with her boyfriend and Yanna.. Yanna got pregnant.
I was so lost. I didn't know what to do anymore.

"Sam, it hurts so much.." Yanna started crying on my shoulder.

"I will be with you, Yanna. We will get through this, okay? We will," I
assured her repeatedly. "I will provide for everything. I can provide for
everything."

“I'm going home to Nueva Ecija.” She cried more. “Don't tell Luna, okay?
Don't tell anyone, not even Hiro, not even anyone.. I want to get out of here.”

“Of course. I promise.”

I had to be strong. I had to be strong for my friends. I was the only one who
could provide help, the only one who could give them strength. I started
keeping all my problems to myself, afraid that I would bother anyone. Sevi was
the only friend I could talk to. He was not suffering from anything aside
from getting brokenhearted by Luna.

[Are you crying?] He asked, concerned.

"No," I denied but my voice broke. "No, I'm not.. I'm not crying.."

[Okay, Sam. You're not crying, Sam. That's right, Sam.] He sounded
sarcastic. [Why? What's the problem? Who yelled at you? I'll beat you up!
Arkin and I are working together, but he's busy so I'll do it alone for now!]
Machine Translated by Google

I wanted to say something about Yanna but I promised not to tell anyone that she was
planning to drop out and go home to Nueva Ecija. Good thing Sevi didn't ask anymore. He
just listened to me while I cried.

[Are you okay?] He asked after the long silence.

"Everything is going to be okay, right?" I asked with a hopeful voice. "I need to hear it
from someone."

[Yes, Sam. Everything will be okay. Whatever you're going through right now, I'm not going
to say it's okay because it's not okay right now.
You can be weak, man. You don't have to be strong all the time, but you have to get up,
right? Fight again! That's it! Mind you, in basketball, rebounding is when you miss a
shot on the first try!]

"You still have to make comparisons," I laughed.

[Luh, I still thought about that, no.] He complained.

“Yeah, right.”

I had no time to feel down. I started searching for some healthy tips for pregnant
women so I could help my best friend. I wanted to remind her every single day,
especially since Yanna can forget. I was actually kind of excited for the baby. I would
treat that child with so much love and care.

"Sam, we're already planning the date for your marriage."

I was staring at the plate for so long. I was so stunned that I couldn't hear what Daddy
said. He had to call my nickname twice to get my attention.

“Maui!” He shouted. "Are you even listening?!"

"I'm sorry, Dad. I was just thinking about.. a lot of things." I gave him a small smile.
"Come again?"

"We have a date for your marriage. Right after Clyden's graduation. He's already in his
3rd year this August. I think the both of you need to start
Machine Translated by Google

seeing each other more often now. Let's say, you could start living
together?"

"What?" I blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Did I hear that right?

Live together? What? Where?! Who will adjust us? Our schools were both
so far away from each other.

"Dad, I think we don't need to-"

"We'll talk about that tomorrow. The Ramirez family is going to have
dinner with us tomorrow. Be prepared for it," Dad cut me off.

That was another stressful night for me. I went up to my room and noticed
that the drawer of my vanity table was opened. My brows furrowed as I
checked my makeup collection. Two palettes were missing.

"Um, Naomi." I knocked on her door.

She opened the door and glared at me, obviously annoyed by my presence.
I gave her a sweet smile before talking.

"I don't mean this in any way but by any chance, did you borrow my
palette?" I carefully asked.

"Are you accusing me that I stole your makeup?!" She lashed out at me.

"Oh, no, no, I was just asking!" I waved my hands in front of me to deny. "I
mean, it's totally fine! I was just wondering."

I also noticed that for the past few months, my makeup in the drawer has
been gradually running out so I always buy another one. I saw her holding
my lipstick and eyeliner last month so I just assumed that she liked
borrowing my makeup.

"I didn't steal your makeup! Now, go away!" She yelled at me.

"If you.. If you want more makeup, you can ask me for some. I can send
you the brands I like and-"
Machine Translated by Google

"I can ask dad to buy me makeup, okay?!"

I bit my lower lip and slowly nodded. That was a lie. She couldn't tell dad
anything. She couldn't tell him her needs and the things she wanted to buy
so I understand why she had to borrow my makeup.

"If you need anything, just knock on my door." I gave her a smile before
going back to my room.

My drawer had a lock on it but I decided to just leave it open. I transferred

some of my new makeup inside so she could choose among them. After
that, I did my night care routine before I went to bed.

The next morning, I woke up feeling stressed. I just realized that I will get to see that
asshole again! Mom was so quick to buy me a new dress for tonight's dinner. Good
thing she didn't hire a makeup artist again. That would be too much.

I waited all day for dinner, not because I wanted to see him but because
I wanted it to be over. I wanted to finally get through it.

"Samantha, be nice, okay?" My mom entered my room.

I was wearing a brown satin dress and black heels. I let my short hair down,
ending just above my shoulders. I looked at the ring on my finger and
sighed. I felt suffocated just by looking at it.

"You can't disappoint Clyden's family. This is your first time meeting his
brothers. You know what to do," she said before closing the door.

I checked my face in the mirror again before I went down the stairs. Naomi
was inside her room again. Daddy didn't let her out anymore since he
had a friend visiting. I felt so bad for her but I couldn't do anything.

"Samantha! Wow, you got even taller!" Christopher greeted me when

I entered the dining room. "What a fine lady. Greet her, boys."
Machine Translated by Google

"Charles," the man offered his hand. I could tell that he was older than Clyden. The
man had his mom's features. The younger one had his dad's.
Clyden was a mix of both.

"Samantha Vera," I introduced myself.

"Colin," the younger brother also offered me his hand. Clyden was just sitting there,
looking uninterested. He looked so calm and composed.

"Clyden, greet her," his dad told him.

The last time I saw him was last year, huh? He got taller, more fit, and more tired. Nothing
really changed in his features but I could tell how tired he was by his eyes. He was
wearing a simple black dress shirt and a pair of gray slacks. He was also wearing
specs. I don't know if there is a grade or not.

He stood up and fixed his sleeves a bit before looking at me. "Hi. Long time no see."

"Hello." I gave him a fake smile. "I missed you."

The side of his lips rose, realizing that I was going along with his plan. Act like we were
getting along with each other.

"I missed you more, love." He put his tongue on the inside of his cheek before smirking.

"Oh, wow, okay. Take your seats." My mom looked so shocked.

He pulled my chair backwards like a gentleman. I knew it was just for show but I still smiled
at him before sitting down. Pretending was so tiring. I haven't even eaten yet and I'm
already losing my appetite.

"How's med school, Clyden? You're in your 3rd year, right?" My dad asked.

"Doing great, Senator." He gave my father a smile.

Machine Translated by Google

Fake. I could tell how fake that smile was. When we first met, he told me how much he
hated Daddy. I couldn't blame him, though. I understood where he was coming from but
the way he said it was rude.

He got principles and I could never blame him for sticking to it.

"He's doing so great in med school unlike these two men." Clyden's dad looked at
Charles and Colin. The two men looked down on their plates.
"Charles didn't even graduate with Latin honors. Colin didn't even pass med school. I
had to pull some strings."

Clyden's grip on his utensils got tighter, showing his veins. I glanced at his brothers
and saw them glaring at him. Clyden remained calm but I could tell that he was
bothered by the conversation.

“Clyden's my only hope.” Christopher laughed.

"I know what you're feeling, Cris. I feel the same way with Maureen." My father laughed.

We continued eating quietly. Clyden did not even talk much. He only spoke when
asked or joined in conversation. His brothers were silent. Their mom was gone but I
saw her last time at the graduation party.

"Where's your mom?" I asked Clyden.

"Hospital," he whispered back.

"What? What happened to her?" I asked worriedly.

She frowned and looked at me. “She's a doctor.”

Oh! Right! They're all doctors in the family! I was a little embarrassed about that.
Luckily, dessert was already served so his attention was diverted from what I said.
Machine Translated by Google

"After Clyden's graduation, we could already push through the wedding. Is that alright?"
Christopher opened up the topic.

I looked at Clyden, trying to communicate using my eyes. He looked back at me with wide
eyes and raised his eyebrows, telling me that he had no choice but to agree.

"That's alright," he answered. I almost kicked his chair under the table.

“How about living together? The both of you should already prepare for that. I don't
want the first day after marriage, someone complaining about each other's behavior at
home.” Christopher laughed.

"Tito, I just have a concern about that. I have a condo near my school so I'm used to
walking. I can't move away from Ateneo," I said in a nice way.

"I also can't adjust. I'm very busy. If I drive every day, it's a waste of time. There's
also traffic," Clyden said seriously.

“Oh come on. Don't you want to be with each other?” My mom joined the conversation.

Clyden and I looked at each other, waiting for one of us to answer. I raised my brow,
telling him to talk, but he didn't.

"Can I just talk to Clyden for a minute, Dad?" I say goodbye.

“Sure, daughter.”

I stood up and placed the table napkin on the side of my plate before walking out of
the dining room. I heard Clyden's footsteps behind me, a sign that he was following me. I
stopped below the stairs so no one could see us or even hear us.

“Live together?! Just kill me, honestly,” I complained to him.

"You think I want you with me too? I don't need your presence while I'm studying," he
fired back.
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"Then say no. Can't you say no to your dad?" I started whispering.

"Can you?" He raised an eyebrow.

I was silent there. I couldn't say no to my dad. Like him, the pressure was on me
and I already agreed to this a few years back. They will use my words against me.

"See? You can't even say no to your corrupt dad." He brought that back.

"I won't force myself to drive every day to school. Do you get that? If one of us can't
say no, then we would have to deal with it. You will adjust to me. I can't live near
your school. That's so far away from mine," I argued.

“I'll adjust you?” He scoffed. “What are you, crazy? I need more time to study.”

"Wow, you really think you're something just because you graduated as a cum laude
in UP and are now studying med, huh? You think you're so high and almighty?" I
raised a brow.

“And you probably think that you're such a princess, huh? 'You will adjust to me'? If
you're spoiled here, change me. You won't get me like this,” he said irritably.

"Wow, can you even hear yourself sometimes? Do you know how rude you are?" My
brows furrowed.

“Yes, I know. Why?” He glanced at me.

I turned away from him in annoyance and walked back to the dining room. He was about
to pull my seat back but I beat him to it. He shrugged before taking his seat beside me.

"We are planning to just buy a house in between Ateneo and UPM to be fair to both of
you. Maybe just go home during weekends? We know how busy you guys are with
your studies." Christopher smiled.

“Lovely!” I gave them a fake smile.

Machine Translated by Google

Cy glanced at me before shaking his head and sipping on his glass. The dinner went
terrible for me. I had to excuse myself after eating.

“Hey.”

"Oh my gosh!" I held my chest in shock when I saw Charles outside the restroom. I
was already planning to go upstairs but he suddenly appeared in front of me. "Hi! I'm sorry
for yelling!"

“It's fine.” He chuckled. "So you're from Ateneo, right?"

"Yes." I smiled at him. "How about you?"

"I'm currently taking my internship but I studied in UST," he answered.

"So.. I see, you're very close with my brother, huh?"

What even made him think like that? I felt disgusted but I had to pretend so I remained
smiling.

"Of course. We're marrying each other. We need to get along."

“Well, if only I did great during college, I would have been the one to marry you.” He
laughed.

I suddenly felt awkward. What was the point of saying that?

"There you are." My eyes widened when I felt a hand on my waist.

"Just talking with your fiancée, Cy," Charles said without any emotion on his face. I
could feel the tension between them.

“I'm not saying anything, Charles,” Clyden said seriously.

"Sure. Excuse me." His older brother suddenly left.

Clyden immediately removed his grip on my waist and just put his hands in his pants
pockets. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him.
Machine Translated by Google

"No one will go home in that house," I told him.

"Sure," he said nonchalantly.

“There are still many processes involved in buying a house, so it still takes a long time, right?
What if they hire helpers for us? For sure they will! Okay, let's schedule who will
go home first. I don't want to-”

“You think so much.” He scratched his head. “You talk so much, but you don’t
say anything.”

"It's better to plan now than panic late-"

“What is your number?”

I suddenly stopped talking. He stared at me for a long time, waiting for my

answer. He caught me off-guard with that.

“Why can't you answer? You don't know my number?” He raised an eyebrow at
me.

"Why are you asking for my number?" I sounded protective.

“I thought we were going to make plans? What do you want? We still need
to meet to make plans?” His brows furrowed.

"I think that's better," I answered.

He laughed sarcastically. "You think I have all the time in the world? I don't even
have time to sleep."

I got out my cellphone angrily and showed him the number. He was looking at it
when I suddenly took my phone away. That was it.
Limited edition.

"I haven't memorized it yet," he complained.

"That's it. Why? You think I have all the time in the world?" I mocked him.
Machine Translated by Google

“Ah, what's this, comp shop? Do you have to pay to extend?” He sarcastically
answered back. “It's fine, Samantha.”

I made a face before leaving him there. I was about to go upstairs but Mommy called
me to say goodbye to Tito Cristopher. Finally, they were going home. I faked a smile and
waved my hand before going upstairs.

I spent almost 45 minutes in the bathtub, thinking about living with that asshole in
one roof. No way. I would rather die.

I brushed my teeth and did my skincare before laying down on my bed, scrolling
through my social media accounts. I liked all the pictures of the friends I follow. There
are so many of them, though.

My eyes narrowed when my phone rang. I received a text from an unknown number.

From: Unknown Number

Ma'am, Lazada, did you order 2?

My forehead immediately furrowed.

To: Unknown Number

I'm sorry, what? What did I order?

From: Unknown Number

Wife.

I pinched my pillow in annoyance when I realized who was texting. I almost blocked
the number.

To: Clyden

How the hell did you get my number I showed it to you for like 5 seconds

From: Clyden
Machine Translated by Google

Memorized it.

I don't know whether to be annoyed or amazed by him. I chose both.

To: Clyden

That fast?

From: Clyden

Yeah. You know what's faster?

To: Clyden

What?

My phone almost fell from my hands when he texted me back.

From: Clyden

Will you marry me, Samantha?

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

03

“You were thrilled there, weren't you?”

I gave Clyden the fakest smile ever before sipping on my mango shake. I asked him to
meet me in Robinsons Manila so we could talk about the stupid house. I heard my
parents talking about it last night. They also have an agent to talk to. I never thought it
would be that fast.

"Why would I be? What's exciting about will you marry me when it comes from an asshole
like you?" I raised a brow.

“Good. Nothing exciting there.” He shrugged before sipping on his watermelon shake.

We were sitting at the table now and facing each other. I chose this place because it was
the closest to his unit. I mean, he was on vacation but he was still living in his unit so I had
to adjust.. for now. I haven't been on vacation since I was taking my practicum this
summer in a media company. The one Arkin was working for. I just don't know if Clyden
has a summer too.

"It's my last year at Ateneo this August, so why bother traveling from that house to my
school?" I said to him angrily.

“Oh, why are you mad at me?” He asked me angrily. “Am I going to buy a house? Do I
want to be with you? No, so take your anger out on someone else. I suggest, just on
your dad.”

"Can you be serious for a second?"

He scoffed before leaning on the table to get closer to me. He stared at my eyes which
made me feel awkward.

“I'm serious. Do you think I'm joking?” He raised a brow.

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“Okay, so this is the plan. I heard before the school year starts for us two, the house will be
ready. We can only go home during weekends. Of course they will hire helpers to spy
on us so we need to go home when we have time-”

“What if I don't have time?” He cut me off.

"Then make time," I said simply.

“Wow,” he laughed sarcastically. “I can't just 'make' time. For some reason,
everyone has agreed that there are only 24 hours in a day.”

I groaned and massaged my head in frustration. He was so hard to deal

with! I've already met a lot of people but he was the most difficult one to
communicate with! I just wanted a nice conversation but it ended up with me
getting pissed off again.

"You know, I think there's something wrong with your attitude," I said bluntly.

"You know what I think? I think there's something wrong with my fucking drink."
He stood up and went to the counter, ignoring my words.

"Good God, please guide me," I prayed silently.

I watched how he talked to the lady at the counter. I don't know what he was
complaining about with his drink, but he didn't seem angry.
This guy, really. When something really goes wrong, he'll say it. He was a
vocal person. He was the opposite of me.

I've always preferred being silent. I was so afraid I would bother people. As much
as possible, I wanted to understand the situation first. I always think what if the
person was having a bad day? What if her mom just died? Or her sibling? Maybe I
can add to their problems.

On the other hand, I also knew my silence could make the situation worse so
when I talk, I choose my words carefully. The most important thing to consider
when dealing with people is choosing the right words to say.
Machine Translated by Google

Because you can't take them back anymore.

"Why? What's wrong with your drink?" I asked when he came back with a new cup.

"I asked for watermelon and they gave me avocado." Clyden sat in front of me again.
"You were saying?"

“Oh.” I suddenly remembered what we were talking about. “About the house. I don't
have a schedule yet so I'll just update you. I only have 15 units next semester so the
schedule is probably loose.”

“Did I ask?” He raised a brow.

I put my tongue on the inside of my cheek before leaning on the table with an exaggerated
fake smile on my face. He bit his lower lip to hide a smirk when I stared at him.

"Is that what they teach in med school?" I smiled sweetly.

"No. Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neurology, Ophthalmology,

Otorhinolaryngology, Medicine, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Neurosci-"

"I get it! Stop it!" I cut him off. "You are the most annoying person I've ever met."

"What an honor." He sipped on his shake to hide his smirk.

I grabbed my bag and cup before standing up to leave. Yes, I should have just texted
him about this. I was right. He wouldn't take it seriously. He didn't have any good
input. I was afraid he wouldn't reply to my texts when we talked about it.

That guy was making my head hurt.

I heard his footsteps and I immediately felt his presence behind me. I stopped
walking to look at him, wondering why he was following me.

"I'll take you," he said casually.

Machine Translated by Google

"Well, I can go to the parking lot alone. I don't need you to accompany me," I told
him. "I have legs. I can move."

"Weh? If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known," he sarcastically answered.

I gave him a hard time and walked back to the parking lot. Good thing he left and didn't
follow me anymore. He was a quick talker.
Pretending to be a gentleman with his hatid-hatid stuff. He was probably just faking it.

"How are you, love?" I asked Kierra when she went outside the cubicle while I was
washing my hands.

“I'm okay, Sam.” She gave me a smile through the mirror. “I can still do it.”

"Did you visit Dr. Bautista? The one I referred to you?"

"Yes. I just had a session last week. Thank you, Sam."

“Always, Ke.”

We went back to our table together. I asked them to have lunch with me while Yanna was
still here. I wanted us to be complete again especially since they had so many
problems now. We needed to see each other for comfort.

"O, I thought Arkin was coming?" I asked Sevi.

“No, he said he had a shoot, eh. The idiot is so angry.” He laughed but also stopped
when he glanced at Via. “You seem to be angry right away, Madam Via!”

“I'm not angry,” Via told Sevi without looking at him. She was busy eating her pasta.

"Luna," Kierra called when she saw her cousin staring at the plate for so long.
Machine Translated by Google

"Huh?" Luna looked around, obviously pre-occupied by something else.

She looked so devastated and it hurt my heart. “Who called me?
"You, Yanna?"

“Nature. Nature called you,” Yanna replied before laughing.

"Let's just drink that, Luna! What are you! That's just a man, you're Luna!"
"There are plenty of fish in the sea, so don't go to the shark." Sevi tried to
cheer her up.

"You, Sevi, are all about drinking. You haven't thought of any solution
other than drinking." Yanna hit him with a fork.

"You're so bad. I got hurt there." Sevi playfully held his chest.
“You have really changed, Yanna. You are no longer the Yanna I knew.”

"You're so artistic." Yanna beamed.

I shook my head and just sat at the center of the table. I was just watching
them argue while eating. I actually missed their loud voices even
though they were all always arguing. Luna was quiet, though. Kierra was
trying so hard to cheer her up.

“Sorry, late!”

A smile was plastered on my face when I saw Arkin walking towards us. I knew he would
come! He texted me earlier that he would and he wasn't the type to ditch his friends. I
gave him a friendly hug before gesturing for him to take his seat.

"Gago is still wearing shades," Sevi teased. "You're dead now! You're still
shades, huh!"

I laughed when Arkin raised his middle finger at him before taking his seat
beside Via. 'That's just the empty space, eh.

"I had a shoot earlier.." I heard him whispering softly.

Machine Translated by Google

I just shook my head and continued eating while smiling. My heart felt
so light when I was with them. They kept my problems away from me. I was
okay watching them have fun. That was enough for me.

"How's your relationship with Clyden? I hope you're doing good," my

mom opened up the topic while we were eating.

"We are on good terms, Mom," I lied. "I'm doing my best."

"As you should," she replied.

"Naomi's already enrolled in Ateneo," dad said before sipping on his glass.
I glanced at Naomi who was silently looking down on her plate. "Political Science."

"Is that what you want?" I asked Naomi with furrowed brows.

"Of course that's what she wants. That's what she put before she took the
test," dad answered for her.

"Yes," Naomi answered in a soft voice.

I just thought she would like something related to arts since I noticed that she was an art
person. She likes filming stuff and photography. I was actually thinking of buying her a
new camera or maybe I could just give her mine.

"Where will she stay?" I asked Dad.

"Here in the house, of course. I hired a driver for her. Pick up."

“Maybe she wants to stay in a condo unit or a dorm. The house is a little
far from the school.” I looked at Naomi with concern. She was quiet the
whole time. She didn't even talk about what she wanted.

"She can't live independently," my mom answered. "She's still a child."

Well, he's not 18 yet, so what Mommy said makes sense.

I was just a little worried about her freedom. The freedom my parents took
Machine Translated by Google

away from me I didn't want them to do the same to her.

After dinner, I went upstairs to knock on her door, holding my camera. She opened the
door with no emotion at all.

"Hey," I greeted, smiling.

"What now? You want to lecture me and act like you really care for me like what you did
earlier?" He said angrily.

"What?" My brows furrowed.

“You're playing 'the good sister' and it doesn't suit you so stop it. Don't interfere with my
wishes.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm.. I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip, hiding the camera behind my back. I felt a bit hurt
from her words. "I just wanted to make sure that you're okay."

"I am okay. Happy? Now, leave." She closed the door loudly so I took a step back.

I sighed heavily before going inside my room again to place the camera back on my
desk. I just left it there, hoping that she would borrow it like how she borrowed my
makeup. She should feel free to use my things. I actually wouldn't mind.

For the next 2 weeks, I was just doing my practicum and earning hours until my dad texted
me to check the house they bought in Manila. I tried so hard to calm myself while driving
to the address. I just hoped that it would be a beautiful house so it wouldn't be too
suffocating to be on the same roof with that asshole.

I parked my car on the side and looked through the window. Was I in the right address?
I took my seatbelt off before I went out of the car to look at the house.

"Wow," I said while looking at the small but modern house in front of me.
The walls are painted white and brown. I could see the stairs through the glass wall.
There are also trees on the side and the garden is beautiful. I opened the
Machine Translated by Google

gate. There are lights on the path leading to the main door. There is also a garage on the
left side.

"Do you want to go inside?"

I turned around immediately when I heard his voice. Clyden was leaning against his
white car with his hand placed inside his Adidas track pants while the other one was
playing with some keys. He was just wearing a simple white shirt with a designer
brand.

"You have the key?" My brows furrowed.

“Is it obvious?” He replied before entering the gate and passing me.

I watched him fumble with the keys before actually opening the main door.
He left it open so I could go inside. He turned on the lights so I could see the interiors of
the house. It was modern. I didn't think my parents would like a modern house.

"I picked this one." He shrugged.

"They let you choose?!" I asked in shock. "They didn't even ask me about it."

"I just suggested. Of course, if I'm forced to live in the same house with a woman I
don't know, the house should be nice. That's a compliment. Maybe I'll like living here,"
he said seriously.

“You have good taste. Thanks.” I smiled before walking around. The house already
had pieces of furniture but it still looked empty. There was still more missing. I went up the
stairs to look at the rooms. There were four rooms upstairs and two downstairs. I thought
the house was small on the outside but it was spacious inside.

I opened the rooms. There is a master's bedroom with a bathroom inside and the other
three rooms were empty. Maybe guest rooms or study
room.
Machine Translated by Google

"You can have the master's bedroom. I can sleep in the guest room. I'll talk to my mom's
designer for this one," I told Clyden when I felt his presence behind me.

"You can have it. I don't sleep," he said nonchalantly.

“You don't?” I turned to him. “How? I can never survive a day without sleeping.”

“Welcome to med school.” He scoffed, looking at the rooms.

I decided to go downstairs and call my mom about the designer she hired for the house.
I agreed to meet her tomorrow. They still have a lot of time to fix. Actually, they can take
their time. I didn't want to live here right away at the beginning of the school year even
though the house was really lovely.

“Are you allergic to dogs?” Clyden also went downstairs.

"No, why?" I asked, puzzled.

"I'd rather live here than in a condo. Dogs aren't allowed there, eh?"
"I'll bring my dogs here." He sat on the sofa and looked at how soft it was.

“Dogs? How many dogs do you have?” I thought Summer was his only dog!

“Three. The other two are still babies,” he said like he was pertaining to his
children.

“I like dogs!” I said excitedly. I really wanted to have a dog but I was afraid I couldn't
take care of it. Since his dogs were babies, it was easier for me to take care of them. They'll
get to know me when they grow up.

I never knew he would have a soft spot for pets. I thought he was the type to hate animals
or something. Cruel people hate animals.

"Even if you don't like dogs, I'll still include them here. Dogs over you," he said bluntly.
Machine Translated by Google

"You really can't talk without being rude, right?" I raised a brow.

"I can, actually." He put his pointing finger up like he was telling me a fact.
"I just like seeing your reaction."

“What reaction?”

"That reaction," he pointed at my face and furrowed his brows to copy my reaction. He
also parted his lips and glared at me. "That one. You look like Hail."

“Who's Hail?” What? His ex-girlfriend or what?

“My Siberian husky.”

I felt the blood going up to my head. I clenched my fist and inhaled a large
amount of air to calm myself down. Did he just compare my face to a.. to a
dog?

"I don't usually say bad words to people so I will say this in the kindest
way possible.. Fuck you." I still gave him a smile after saying it.

His brow shot up as the side of his lips rose in amusement. He couldn't
believe what I said. He scoffed and shook his head, chuckling.

"Gladly," he replied, licking his lower lip a little before smirking.

"What?" My brows furrowed. I didn't get that one.

"No. I'm going now." He stood up and threw the keys towards my
direction so I panicked. Fortunately, I caught it. "You can have them. I have
a spare."

I became busy once more with designing the house. I met with Sasha,
my mom's interior designer, and she helped me get the result that I
wanted in my room. I heard she was also meeting with Clyden to discuss
his opinions, too. Our schedule just doesn't match. It's good.
Machine Translated by Google

I checked the final look of the house before the school year started and it actually
looked so much better now. I didn't know if I should be glad that it was already finished or
not because I will be forced to move in.

“Just try staying there for the whole month. You haven't done much school work since the
semester just started, right, Maureen?” My mom asked while we were seated in the living
room. Two women were doing our nails.

"I'll try, Mom." I sighed.

"I don't like hearing 'I'll try', Sam. The correct answer is 'I will'. Never be uncertain."

I bit my lower lip and slowly nodded. "I will."

I was so stressed out. I wasn't planning to live there during my first week in school so I had
to pack my things quickly in the middle of the night. I made sure I brought all my essentials
before I drove to the house. Our house.
Ugh, the thought bothered me.

I actually wouldn't mind living a little far from my school but having to deal with traffic
every day will be the cause of my death.

I parked my car beside Clyden's car before going inside the house, pulling my luggage
with me. The door was already opened, a sign that Clyden was already there. I was
actually shocked to see three helpers running to help me with my things. Mom is
already hired.

"Oh my gosh!" I jumped a little when I heard a bark.

I looked at the puppy who was on the floor, looking at me. It was a cute chow chow. I
bent down to give it a pat on the head.

“Hello!”

"Maple, come here," I heard Clyden's voice in the kitchen.

Machine Translated by Google

"Can you bring my things to my room, please?" I asked the three ladies and they nodded.
"Thank you!"

I carried the puppy and walked my way towards the kitchen. Good thing the dog didn't bite
me or anything. I think he likes me. I hope so!

"Oh, I thought you were coming next week?" Cy frowned when he saw me.

"I was forced by my mom. Are you cooking dinner?" I asked wonderingly. I saw him
leaning on the countertop, holding a pack of ramen noodles.
"It's already 9 PM. It's way past dinner time."

He looked at the clock and rolled his eyes. “So what? You're just jealous, aren't you? Do
you want it?”

"No, that's bad for my health. Oh, wait, you should know that, right?" I smiled at him.

"Let me enjoy my ramen peacefully, please." He raised his eyebrows.

I shrugged before going upstairs to fix my things. They delivered my things inside the
master's bedroom! I moved to my room. My room was smaller but the space was enough
for me. I put my clothes inside the closet.
There is no bathroom in the room so I have to go out and put my essentials in the bathroom.

“I thought you were in the master's bedroom?” Clyden asked in the hallway.

“No, I have my own room.” I walked past him. I saw him enter his room, just in front of
mine. A cute little husky followed him inside before he closed the door. So no one stays
in the master's bedroom, huh.

After fixing my things, I went outside my room again to shower. I didn't catch Cy coming
out of his room again until I fell asleep. The next day, I woke up around 5 AM to take
a shower. I had to go early since school was far away. My first class was at 9 AM. I
just needed to be safe.
Machine Translated by Google

I was just wearing a simple pair of jeans shorts and a blue striped shirt. I was only
carrying a tote bag when I came down to the kitchen. I was actually surprised to
see Clyden pouring water on the glass. He was up early.

"You have school?" I asked while looking for a sandwich inside the fridge.

"Do I look like I have school?" He looked at his clothes. He was wearing a black
shirt and a pair of black athletic shorts. He was a bit sweaty so I assumed that
maybe he exercised.

“Don't you have class yet?” I curiously asked.

"Tomorrow," he answered before drinking water.

I took a bite on the bread before placing my white hydroflask on the

breakfast table. I took some water and poured it into it. His eyebrows rose as he
watched me pour the water.

"Are all of you really like that?" he asked in surprise.

“What?” I closed my flask and put it inside my tote bag. I also finished the bread I
was holding.

"Weird," he whispered, shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes before going inside the bathroom again to brush my teeth.
When I came out, Clyden was already putting water on three dog bowls. He placed
them on the floor. I grabbed my bag and my car keys to leave.

"I'm going now," I still told him.

"Should I act rude or act nice today?" He asked me.

"What will you say if I choose the latter?" I raised a brow.

"Be careful," he simply said.

“The other option?”

Machine Translated by Google

“Be careful.” He shrugged.

I bit my lower lip to hide a smirk before leaving the house. I got in the car and drove
away. I travelled for an hour since there wasn't much traffic. I arrived early
for my class so I went to Gonz first to meet my friends.

"Oh, you drove to school?" Rylee asked when she saw my car keys.

"Yeah. I just have this.. situation." I smiled before sitting down. "Anyway, I hope the prof
is nice, right?"

"Heard she doesn't curve." Alex shook her head.

"We're seniors, come on. We should be used to that already." I laughed.

"Good thing the schedule is not that tight, right?"

"This year, I'll get a boyfriend. How about you, Sam?" Delly asked.
"You're close with Adonis. Are you sure nothing's going on between the two of you?
Hmm?"

"Come on! We're just friends!" I laughed. "Speaking of. He's actually on his way here."

“Yo yo, sup, mga tsong! First day na first day mukha kayong maing
pinagmemeting-an, ah! What is it? Spill the tea!” Adi sat beside me, greeting my
friends.

"Adi, can you shut the hell up for a second?" Kalix sat beside him too.
They're not with Leo and Amethyst, huh. Maybe they're still not okay.

“KJ's KJ is so good! That's what it's like when you're broken.” Adonis laughed.
“Sam, long time, no see! I missed you, ah.”

"Missed you, Adi." I chuckled.

We went to our class before 9 AM so we had to leave Adonis and his friends. I
don't have much subjects so we just hung out for a while.
Machine Translated by Google

my friends at the mall I was thinking if I should take out some chicken wings for
Clyden or not.

He would probably give a meaning to it so don't. I haven't read his mind yet. He
was so unpredictable.

"You're going home already?" Rylee asked after a bucket of beer. After the mall, we
drank around Katipunan. I only had two beers since I was going to drive.

"Yes, baby." I kissed their cheeks before waving my hand. "Take care of her,
guys!" And then I left.

It was such a bad idea to go home late since the traffic was so terrible on my way
back. I gathered all the patience I had. I just listened to music so I wouldn't be
bored on the way home.

"Hello!" I greeted Summer when I saw her at the door. She was wagging her tail
so I gave her a pat on the head before entering the house. He followed behind me.
"Oh, hey," I greeted Clyden who was reading a book.

“I think you’re kidding,” he said without looking at me.

He was about to go upstairs but stopped beside me. His brows furrowed when
he looked at me, closing the book he was holding. He was reading so he was wearing
glasses.

"Did you drink?" he asked in surprise.

"A bit," I answered honestly.

He scratched his nose a little, not pleased with the smell. What? Do I smell even
though I only drank beer? It was just two. It didn't affect me, actually.

“You shouldn't drink and drive,” he said seriously.

"Hey, you don't like the smell of beer?" I asked. He was still holding his
nose.
Machine Translated by Google

He sighed heavily before going upstairs. I thought he wouldn't give me an

answer but he suddenly stopped on the steps to look at me.

"I don't drink," he said before walking away.

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

04
“Was that a lie?”

I laid down on my bed, looking at the ceiling and wondering if he was

being serious or he was just trying to fool me. I mean, there was obviously
nothing wrong with not drinking but his face was so hard to read. Clyden
was suspicious that way.

"Why do I even care?" I asked before standing up to do my skincare. "A lie

or not, let him live his life."

I went outside my room to go to the bathroom but stopped when I saw

Clyden in the hallway, rubbing Hail's belly. I smiled at the dog and waved
my hand so it ran to me, wagging its cute little tail. He is probably only
around 5 months old.

"Hello." I bent my knees to caress his head. It was a boy. I saw how Clyden
stood up and looked at me with his hands inside his pockets. He just
showered so I can smell his shampoo and soap from him. "Where did you
buy the dog?"

"I adopted him." His brows furrowed, obviously offended by my term.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's rare." I swallowed hard. The dog had a breed so I just
thought that he personally chose him.

“My friend's husky got pregnant and Hail was the only one who survived.
My friend had to go to another country so he gave the baby to me," he
explained.

"Where's his mom?" I looked at the dog.

“Died two months ago.”

He was so good at talking when the topic was his dog, huh. What a fur dad!
He was like talking about his children. I could see the affection in his eyes.
Machine Translated by Google

Maybe he was telling the truth about 'dogs over you'. I would probably say the
same thing.

"Poor baby." I pouted, still caressing Hail's head. I could tell that he was
enjoying it. He was wagging his tail.

"Yeah." He nodded before holding the knob of his room. "You can take care
of him. I'll sleep now."

"Really?" My eyes lit up. He told me that I could take care of the dog!
I immediately felt like an owner. I would love to take care of his dogs too!

He didn't answer. He just closed the door so I stood up and went inside the bathroom, Hail
following me from behind. I did my skincare before carrying Hail to my room. I put
him on the floor before sitting down on my bed, watching him. I was so afraid that he would
pee on the floor or worse, poop.

"Are you potty-trained, baby?" I asked like the dog would answer me.
"Well, he wouldn't let him inside the room if he's not, right?"

I stood up from my bed when I heard the dog whimpering. I panicked a

little so I wanted to ask Clyden about it but the moment I opened the door,
Hail left my room and began scratching Clyden's door using his paw.

Clyden immediately opened the door and looked down. He was wearing
glasses so I assumed that he was studying. He still has class
tomorrow, though. What is he studying?

"Come in." I actually thought he said that to me but he was looking at the
dog so I felt relieved.

"Where are the others?" I asked about Summer and Maple.

"Downstairs. Hail is spoiled. He likes being with me inside my room," he

said before closing the door.
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Just when I thought that Hail liked me, he went back to his owner's room
immediately. I pouted and laid down on my bed to sleep. I can get his dogs
heart too! They would like me more than him! That was my impossible
goal.

My class will start at 8 AM so I woke up around 4 AM and went straight to the shower. I
brushed my teeth and prepared my things. I was planning to drop by Starbucks on my
way since I took a lot of time getting ready for school.

I was only wearing a purple Adidas cropped top and black leggings
partnered with white shoes. I also wore a white ribbon headband for my
short hair. I went downstairs and walked straight to the kitchen to get my
flask. I only bring a tote bag for my things.

I was actually surprised to see Clyden on the breakfast table with a biscuit
on his mouth while he was pouring water on his container. I opened the
fridge to get a pitcher before placing it on the breakfast table.

"Good morning," I still greeted him. He wasn't rude to me yesterday!

Maybe because he was busy. I hope he's always busy so he doesn't annoy
me anymore.

"Morning," he said in a low voice.

I looked at him when he left the breakfast table to get his black backpack.
That was the only time I noticed him wearing his uniform. He took his white
polo from the sofa and put it on. He was only wearing a maroon shirt
underneath partnered with white slacks.

I was watching him while he was buttoning the polo. The buttons were
placed on the left side from my view. He really looked like someone who
worked in the hospital. He fixed his hair using his hands before looking
around, trying to find something.

I looked at the ID placed on the table. I took it and looked at his picture.
He looked normal. He looked like him. He wasn't even
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showing his teeth. He was just staring at the camera with a small smile
plastered on his face.

University of the Philippines Manila. The Health Sciences Center. There

was a student ID under his name, too.

Clyden Jaile H. Ramirez.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

"Hey, obviously, this is yours." I extended my hand.

He walked towards me and snatched the lace out of my hand without saying
anything. He put it around his neck before taking his backpack again.
He started putting on his white shoes.

"You look clean today," I teased, smirking.

“Do I look dirty without my uniform?” He raised a brow, challenging me

while putting on his shoes.

"No. You just look rude. With your uniform on, you look nice and
innocent." I shrugged before actually pouring water on my flask. I was
supposed to do that earlier. I got distracted a little.

"I am neither." He rolled his eyes before standing up, holding his car keys.

He glanced at his watch while walking towards the door. I closed my flask
and put the pitcher back inside the fridge so I didn't notice that he stopped
at the door, until I looked at him again to check if he already left without
saying anything.

"What? You want me to say 'take care' like a good fiancée?" I raised a brow.

"No. I just forgot to say bye to my dogs." He went back and whistled to call
his dogs.
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I laughed when three dogs came to him, wagging their tails. He kissed the top of their
heads before walking to the door, waving his hand. I stared at him when he looked like
he was in a dilemma.

"Why are you staring at me? Are you also waiting for a kiss?" Clyden
asked, frowning.

"What?!" I looked away and scoffed in disbelief. "Ew, no way! Just go!
You're going to be late in class!”

"Bye," he said before leaving, hiding his smirk.

Like what I said, I went to Starbucks to get my breakfast before actually

going to class. Good thing I arrived early. I hated being late. I waved and
talked to my blockmates before taking my seat. I stood up immediately
when my stuff was out of reach to talk while the professor was still there.

"LK after class?" Rylee asked, grinning. "They said yes already. How about
you, Sam? You can't miss this, dude. You got me drunk yesterday! It's
payback time!"

“Oh, Lan Kwai?” I bit my lower lip and scratched my head a little,
remembering Clyden's words. "I'm driving home, eh. I can't."

"Why are you driving home? Your condo's just there, oh." Michel
pointed outside the window.

"Yeah, but I need to go home tonight. Actually, for the whole month. I'm in
the middle of a.. situation." I gave them an awkward smile, afraid that they
would suspect anything. I don't know if any of them are aware about my
engagement.

“That's sad but okay! I understand! I'll get back at you next time!”
Remember that, huh!” Rylee pointed at her eyes before pointing at me.

“You can't get Sam drunk. Stop dreaming, Ry!” Michael laughed.

"We have an org party to welcome our new members. Are you G with that
one? You need to be there!" Angelica reminded me.
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"Yeah, I'm Mr. Maybe I'll just ask someone to drive for me." I shrugged.

We went back to our seats when we heard the bell for the second time. A sign that it was
already time for class. Our professor also arrived so we kept quiet. This semester my schedule
is the most relaxed because I have papers.

We ate lunch at Macci Up. It was a study hall named Matteo Ricci but they called it Macci
for short. There are two floors so they call the second floor Macci Up and the first floor
Macci Down. Some students had other terms, though.
Matteo Up, Matteo Down. All the same. Usually, you would see SOM (School of
Management) students there but I just loved the grilled cheese being served upstairs.

I smiled when I saw some familiar faces upstairs. It was a little hard to find a table since it
was lunchtime, but I just saw Adonis putting away his laptop. I went to them and put my
hydroflask on the table, reserving the table.

“Wow, you're so fast, huh.” Adonis laughed when he looked at me.

"It's hunger games out here." I shrugged before looking at Kalix and Leo to greet them.
"What's up? Busy, ah!"

"Yeah, a bit." Kalix stood up to fix his things. I couldn't look at him without thinking
about Luna. They were exes. They just broke up a few months ago.

"Hey Kalix," I called again when he was about to leave. He looked even more serious
now, or maybe he was just back to being himself after what happened with my friend.
"She's.. doing okay so far. Don't worry."

He stopped for a second before looking at me with no emotion. "Of course she is," he
said and left.

“Grumpy, right, bro?!” Leo laughed before putting on the bag. “We're going now,
Sam! See you around! Enjoy your sandwich!”
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I left school early since I didn't go to their drinks but the traffic was so dreadful during the
afternoon! I left school early but I still got home late. I still managed to smile when I
saw Summer and Maple playing in the garden.

"Hey, it's getting dark. Let's go inside." I talked to them like they would understand.

I opened the door and called them over. I was actually surprised that they really went
inside. I closed the door again and walked in only to see Clyden watching the news in the
living room. He was still wearing his uniform, minus the white polo so he was left in his
maroon shirt.

"It's your dad." Clyden scoffed, pointing at the television. "I won't even be surprised to
discover that they're actually the ones protecting the rich drug lords here."

"I'm tired. I don't want to engage with that conversation about my dad." I sighed heavily.

"Of course," he said, shrugging. I didn't know if it was sarcastic or not.

I bit my lower lip and looked at him, trying to calm myself. He was just staring at the
television, not minding my glare.

“I don't understand you, really. Sometimes you're nice but most of the time, you're rude.
What did I do to you, huh?” I frowned. “I guess I'm the only one you treat like this.”

"I hate your dad," he simply said, not looking at me. "Actually, your family.
It's pathetic, to be honest.”

"And what about you?" I put my tongue on the inside of my cheek, getting mad now. "You
are more pathetic than my family."

"How so? I do not steal people's taxes." He looked at me with the same intensity.
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I stepped forward, holding on to my bag so tightly. "Can't you see how

pathetic you are? You are trying so hard to impress your father maybe
because you badly want recognition from your parents. It was the only thing
you could do best, right? It's the only thing that can give you validation!"

The annoyance on his face faded when he heard my words. It was replaced
by different emotions but I couldn't point it out. I wanted to stop talking but I
just had to let it all out after enduring everything.

"Go on," he said seriously, waiting for what I would say.

"You can't even say no to your father because you want to play the 'best son'. It's
because you don't care about other people's feelings at all!" I continued.

He stared at me for a moment before biting his lower lip and looking away
like I just hit something inside him so bad. I immediately felt guilty for
yelling those words to him. He turned the television off and stood up,
getting his things.

I wanted to apologize. I was tired from today but it was never an excuse to
use his struggles against him. He didn't even attack me personally. He
attacked my family.

“Hey, I'm-”

"For the record, I fucking hate being the 'best son'," he cut me off. "You
know where that shit got me?"

He looked at me like he was waiting for me to say something but I

remained silent. I sighed heavily, wanting so badly to apologize now.

“Here. In this house. And it makes me sick,” he said firmly before walking
past me.

I was left standing there, dumbfounded and guilty from what happened. I
saw two helpers looking away and trying to go back to their work. I gave
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them an apologetic smile. I felt bad that they had to hear all of it.

"Can you just deliver my food upstairs? Thank you," I said tiredly before going upstairs.

I had a cold shower to calm myself. I couldn't stop thinking about the little argument we
had back there. In fairness, he didn't apologize to me for being rude. It was the only thing
stopping me from apologizing.

"Maureen, what is wrong with you?" I asked myself in front of the mirror.
“You hurt the person. You apologize. Since when did you become a proud person?”

It was so frustrating. I went outside the bathroom only wearing my white robe while
drying up my hair using another towel. I stopped walking when Clyden's door opened
and he walked outside. Our eyes met for a second before both of us looked away.

He walked away so I walked inside my room and closed it, breathing heavily. I
pouted and just waited for my dinner, still bothered by what happened. I tried to
distract myself with doing some research and talking to some friends but it was no help.

I looked at the time. It was already 12 AM when I finished doing my skincare. I

was wearing my pink pajamas when I went downstairs to get some milk, hoping that
it would help me sleep. I stopped at the living room when I saw Clyden on the breakfast
table, reading a book.

When he glanced at me, I turned around and went upstairs again. I probably looked so
dumb but I couldn't care less! It was so awkward! The air around us was so heavy I
couldn't take it. I couldn't be in the same room with him!

I just went to sleep. Good thing I didn't have class the next day so I had a good sleep.
Clyden was gone when I woke up. He was going to school. That was our set-up until
Friday. We didn't see each other much, actually. I would eat my food inside the room
and he would go home late, probably from studying in a coffee shop.
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On Friday night, I just started preparing to meet my orgmates. We'll even take
care of the party. Freshies below 18 were not allowed to come. Poor them. They
could join next year, I guess.

The venue was at my orgmate's village. They have an event center there and we were
allowed to stay until midnight. I drove there and started helping with the set-up. They put
the drinks and food on two different long tables. There are also lights and a DJ. It was
around 8 PM when people started arriving.

"Hey, why are you here?" My eyes narrowed when I looked at Adonis.

“Got dragged by a friend so I dragged other friends, too!” He laughed when he pulled Leo
and Kalix with him. “There's a fee for being outsiders. I got scammed by your org, ah.”

"Well, for the funds." I laughed before giving them red cups. "You can get drinks there."

I was at the door to welcome our members and also to check their names on the list. I was
like a bouncer. We closed the doors around 10 PM so I started joining the party. I was
playing beer pong with my friends. I'm used to them always losing.

"Adi, drive for me if you're sober," I told him.

“Kalix.” He elbowed Kalix. “You take care of me, ah.”

Kalix rolled his eyes before drinking coke. I started dancing with Angelica and Rylee on
the dance floor with a bottle of tequila in my hand. I started making people chug,
including myself. We finished four bottles already so I felt a little dizzy.

"Shoot," I looked at my phone when I saw my mom calling. “I'll take this!”

I immediately left the venue to answer the call. I put my hand on the wall to support my
weight. I was afraid my mom would hear the loud music from inside but I was more afraid
that she would hear my drunk voice.
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"Mom," I greeted using my normal voice. At least, I tried.

[Where the hell are you, Maureen? I went to your house to bring food but you weren't
around.] She sounded mad.

"Oh, I have org stuff, Mom! I'm going now!" I panicked.

[Go home immediately. I asked Clyden where you went but he didn't know.
You should have informed him at least.]

"Yes, Mom!" She ended the call. I sighed heavily before going inside to look for my
friends. "Hey guys, I need to go now."

"Why? Not yet!" Rylee pouted. "Why so early?!"

“It's almost 1 AM, Ry.” I laughed. "I'm going now! Bye, girls!"

I gave them kisses on the cheeks before walking around to find Adonis. I saw him
playing beer pong with Leo so I went to him and tugged on his shirt. When he looked
at me, his cheeks were a bit red.

"Damn, you're drunk?!" My brows furrowed.

“I can take you! Let's go! Let's go!” He was obviously drunk when he got my car keys
out of my hand. “I'm going home! It's noisy here!”

“Dumbass.” Kalix took my car keys. “Let's go. I'll drive.”

"Thank you, Kalix!" I laughed before following him. "Leo, we'll be back! I mean, they will!
They will be back! Hey, Kalix, just leave my car at my condo when you go back, ha!"

Adi lay down on the backseat while I was on the shotgun. Kalix looked a little annoyed
while driving. I closed my eyes a little, getting dizzy again because of the movement of
the car.

"To your condo, right?" Kalix asked.

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"Hey, no!" I woke up. "Here. Here's the address." I showed him my Waze app. "Just
follow."

I closed my eyes again when he didn't say anything. There was no traffic so the ride was
smooth. When the car stopped, I opened my eyes and looked outside the window. Oh,
I was already in front of the house. I took my seatbelt off and opened the door,
only to stumble on the gutter.

"Hey drunk!" Adi held my arm and helped me get up. Kalix got off the car to help too. I stood
up, trying to regain my sanity. "Where? Is this your house?"

"Yeah, there! You can go now!" I said, pulling away their hands but I almost stumbled
again.

“Hey, I’m fine!” Adonis complained and helped me walk again. Kalix held my other arm
and he was the one who rang the doorbell for me.

"You guys can go! I can-" I stopped talking when the door opened and it revealed Clyden
wearing a white shirt and gray sweatpants with specs on.
He looked serious and irritated a bit. “Oh, hi!”

“Are we in the right house?” Adonis asked Kalix.

"Cy," Kalix greeted, surprised. Oh wait! They knew each other, huh?!
Kalix is a family of doctors! Right! Maybe they already met!

"What is it? What is it?" Clyden pointed at me like I was an unexpected package
from an online shop.

"I told you we got the wrong address, bro!" Adonis tried to pull me away but Clyden held
my arm. “Oh!”

"Who are you?" Clyden asked Adi, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh, he's my friend! Ex-crush, actually!" I giggled.

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"Friends! Just friends!" Adonis tried to defend himself. "We're just friends, bro!"

"You can go now. Thanks," Clyden helped me walk inside, holding my arms. I
pouted and sat on the couch while he was still talking to the guys.
I can't hear what they're talking about. Wait, what if he was telling them about our
engagement?!

When he closed the door, I jumped a little on my seat. I adjusted my seat and turned to
him. I couldn't read his expression. Was he angry? Didn't he care? I didn't know! It was
so hard to read him!

"You should have just texted me to pick you up," he said in a monotone.

“What?” My eyebrows furrowed. “Are you serious? We're on a fight!

You are mad at me!”

"Am I?" He raised a brow, pushing his tongue a little on his cheek.

“What? You weren't?” I asked challengingly.

"I am now." He shook his head and went to the kitchen to get a glass of
water.

I thought he was going to drink it but he sat beside me and offered me the glass. I took
it from his hand and drank it, still gauging his mood. I could never expect anything
from this guy so I'm always surprised when he does something.

"My mom went here?" I asked.

“Yeah. She brought groceries and she also tried to spy on us but you weren't around
so she said she'll just come back tomorrow,” she said quickly, watching me drink
from the glass.

"Oh hell," I whispered, massaging my head. "Why are you mad again?"

"I am?" He asked again, raising his eyebrows.

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"You just said that you are." My brows furrowed, getting confused. Was I
hearing things? Did he not say that? Was I that drunk? "Didn't you?"

“I did.” He nodded.

"You know? You're so confusing. You're a mess." I leaned on the couch

and crossed my arms over my chest, looking annoyed now. "You didn't
get mad when I said all those things about you?"

"I did," he answered briefly again.

"I thought you didn't?!" I complain.

"It faded. I have no time to feel mad. To even feel anything, actually. You
can insult me all you want. I do not care." He got the glass out of my hand
and went back to the kitchen to get me another.

"I am sorry that you are the 'best son'," I apologized sincerely.

"At least you were right on the part that my brothers hate me." He sat
beside me again, handing me another glass of water.

"You mentioned earlier that you're now mad. Why? Why are you mad?" I
didn't know if I was even making sense. I was drunk and confused.

“It's 2 AM.” He pointed at the clock.

"And so?" I scoffed. "Were you worried?"

He stared at me for a moment, pursing his lips. I blinked twice, staring back at
him and waiting for his answer.

“Maybe.” He whispered, getting the glass out of my hand. "Maybe I was."

_____________________________________________________________
__________________

:)
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OceanofPDF.com
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05
"What do you mean maybe? Why are you uncertain?"

Clyden placed the glass on the table before glancing at me again, pursing his lips. He
looked like he was trying to think. I got conscious a little so I looked away, slowly
getting sober now. His words suddenly made me sober.

“Why? Aren't you used to it?” He raised a brow. “Maybe I'm not sure.”

"My mom used to tell me that I should never be uncert-"

"I'm not your mom," he cut me off.

I blinked twice when he stood up and opened the fridge to get the pitcher. I was taken
back by his words, even though I knew they were just words. I didn't understand the
great impact it brought.

"I don't need water now. I want to sleep." I stood up to go upstairs but I suddenly felt
dizzy.

"Alcohol dehydrates you," he answered back, placing the glass on the breakfast
table.

"Oh, really?" I walked towards him when he gestured for me to sit beside the breakfast
table, with a high chair. I placed my elbow on the table and my chin on my palm.

"Yeah. You know the pituitary gland?" He pointed at his head. "Well, it secretes a
hormone called vasopressin or the antidiuretic hormone. It basically regulates
the fluid in the body by controlling your urination."

"No. I don't know a thing about that." I giggled. "I'm good with names, though! Want
me to try? Oh, wait, are you finished?"
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"Alcohol prevents the release of that hormone so you urinate more than you drink, the
reason why it dehydrates your body. Plus, if you vomit, you will lose more fluid." He
slid the glass over the table until it reached my side.
"Actually, I don't know yet if water will help since you will take this out, too."

"What you're saying is starting to scare me. You know that?" I rolled my eyes and
drank the water in one shot. "You really don't drink?"

"Occasionally," he answered properly this time. "You must know by now that I'm
not allowed to have fun. You already met my dad."

"Well, you can have fun without alcohol." I shrugged. "It's really not everything,
you know? You can have fun playing with your dogs. You can have fun watering
the plants, or cooking? Baking? I don't know! Or just by simply taking a nap? You can
also have fun playing games on your phone!
Or you can have fun with your friends. I'm sure you have friends, right?
You can have fun by just spending time with them or talking about the things
that don't really matter-”

“You're a chatterbox, aren't you?” he asked in surprise.

I bit my lower lip to hide a smile. “Alcohol.”

“You have a voice, don’t you?” He straightened up and put his things away on the
table. He was studying earlier before I came home.

"What?" My brows furrowed. I wanted to ask him about what he said but he already
left with Summer following him from behind. They went upstairs so I was left
alone in the kitchen. I drank water again before going up to my room. I showered
and did my night care routine before going straight to bed, getting so sleepy.

I slept peacefully that night because it was Saturday tomorrow and I didn't have
school but of course! Of course, someone had to ruin my beauty sleep!

"What the hell," I whispered when I felt something on my palm. When I opened
my eyes, I saw Clyden carrying Hail and making him lick my hand.
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My brows furrowed and looked at him with so much confusion. He was

wearing a simple navy blue shirt and a pair of black jogging pants. He
looked fresh in the morning. I could smell his shampoo and soap so it
was obvious that he had just taken a bath.

“Wake up there. Your parents are downstairs. Let's move rooms,” he

said so fast I couldn't catch up.

“W-what?” I looked around, still confused. I just woke up and my brain wasn't
working yet. I couldn't take any information inside.

“Your parents are downstairs. What? Do you need English?” he said annoyed.

“Oh shit!” I hurriedly grabbed my necklace from the side table and followed
Clyden out of the room. He dropped Hail off in his room before walking back
down the hallway.

He opened the master's bedroom and gestured me to lay down on the bed.
I quickly removed the comforter before lying down and covering my body.
That was the only time I realized that I was wearing nothing but my blue
nighties.

I covered my chest. I wasn't wearing a bra! I was just wearing panties! Good
thing my nighties were knee-high.

"Your ring! Where's your ring?" I panicked, sliding the ring on my finger.

Clyden showed me his hand before turning on the air conditioner. He was
wearing the ring earlier. When we heard footsteps on the stairs, we looked at
each other with wide eyes.

"Come here! What the hell!" I panicked.

He looked at the door again before walking towards the other side of the bed.
I was about to close my eyes to pretend that I was sleeping when he suddenly
wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
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"What the fu-" I immediately closed my mouth and my eyes when the door opened.

"Oh, they're still sleeping. How lovely." I heard my mom's voice.

"You smell like alcohol," Clyden whispered to me.

I nudged him secretly but he just tightened his embrace around my waist. I bit my
lower lip to stop myself from talking.

"Let's just wait for them downstairs," my dad said, which made me celebrate
silently. When the door closed, Clyden quickly let go of my waist and got off the bed,
looking disgusted. I adjusted my seat and looked at him annoyed.

"So what now?" I raised a brow.

"I don't know. Having that old man in this house makes me want to jump off the window,
honestly." He rolled his eyes, getting more irritated now.
Somehow, I was starting to get used to him badmouthing my father. He probably said
worse behind my back but I couldn't blame him for that.

“It's fine. I'll just go downstairs. I'll just tell them that you studied all night so you're still
sleepy.” I got off the bed and fixed myself.

"You're not wearing a bra?" he asked curiously.

My eyes widened and looked back at him, suddenly remembering that I wasn't wearing
a bra. I looked down on my chest to see if it was that obvious.

“Don't get me wrong. I don't care. I'm just asking in case you forgot-”

I immediately ran out and went back to my room. I locked the door and changed my
clothes. I put on shorts and a plain white shirt before washing up and going downstairs.
I even met Clyden going back to his room but I ignored him. I was a little
embarrassed. Did he see my.. Did he? Or did he feel it when he hugged me?
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"It's okay, Sam. He doesn't care. That's right! Women can go out without wearing a bra," I
assured myself to hide my embarrassment.

"Maureen! You're finally awake!" My mom was sitting at the breakfast table, eating
pancakes.

"I forgot that you were supposed to visit today. I'm sorry, Mom." I greeted her with a kiss
on the cheek. Dad just gave me a small nod. "Clyden is still asleep. He studied all-"

“Good morning.”

I frowned and turned to Clyden who was behind me. He shook my dad's hand, looking
straight into his eyes before smiling at my mom. Then, he turned around and washed
his hands in the kitchen.

"You don't have classes today, Clyden?" My dad asked.

"I don't," he answered briefly, still turning his back. He didn't call my dad 'Senator' this
time. He just refused to acknowledge him, which was fine with me. I understood that.

"Do you need anything else here, Maui?" My mom looked around the house.

"Babe, can you get me the towel right there?" Clyden suddenly pointed at the towel
placed on the countertop near me.

I took it and walked over to him. He wiped his hands and folded the towel before placing
it back next to the sink.

"No, Mom. I'm-" I stopped talking when Clyden suddenly held my hand and intertwined
it with his. "I'm f-fine. We're fine." I stuttered when I felt his thumb brushing against mine.

"I can see that." My mom looked down on my hand. "Well, I think it's time for us to leave."
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Clyden pulled me closer until my body was directly beside him, leaving no
space between us. He let go of my hand and grabbed my waist, pulling me
closer to him. His elbow was placed on the countertop, keeping his
balance.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered on the side of my face.

My eyes widened before I awkwardly gave my parents a glance. Clyden

was acting like I was the only person in the damn kitchen! My mom looked
at my dad like she was trying to communicate using her eyes.

"I can't wait to marry you," Clyden whispered again in a low voice.

"Uh, we're going now. Take care, Maureen and Clyden." My mom
awkwardly looked away to give us privacy. Daddy tasted it before
taking his things. I didn't know if he was pissed or not. He was not the
protective type.

“Thank you for visiting us, Mr. and Mrs. Vera,” Clyden said formally.

I immediately let go of Clyden to walk Mommy to the door. I gave my

mom a kiss on the cheek before they went inside the car. I waved my
hand for the last time and went inside the house. I was about to yell at
Clyden but when I turned around, he was already right in front of me.

"It worked." He chuckled, still looking outside.

"What the hell is your problem?" I pushed his chest away from me. He was
too close! That was the only time I realized that I was holding my breath
earlier. "Why would you say words-"

"-that could make you blush?" He tried to finish my sentence.

"I didn't blush!" I denied, walking away from him.

"Oh? You're really excited, aren't you."

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He followed me to the kitchen to get a mug. He was probably going to make coffee
for himself. I noticed that he liked drinking coffee.

"What makes you think you can thrill me, huh? You're not my type and I don't like you." I
rolled my eyes while pouring water on my glass.

"I like you but I don't like you," he casually shot back.

“What?” I stopped pouring water to look at him. “Did I hear that right? I am your type?”

"You heard it, you'll have to repeat it."

“What exactly is your type?” I asked curiously. “How did you say I was your type?”

His back was to me because he was busy with the coffee maker so I couldn't see his
reaction. I thought he wouldn't answer so I was surprised to hear him talk.

"See? You can feel it." He scoffed sarcastically.

"I knew it. You were just being an asshole again." I scowled. I couldn't say that I was
disappointed. Well, maybe a bit. What did I even expect from this guy?!

I just ate the pancakes that were ready on the table while he was having coffee in the
living room. I had the whole day free so I decided to do some exercises inside my
room. After that, I took a shower and went downstairs for lunch.

"Hey, I'm so sorry for what happened last night and thanks for taking me home!" I was
talking to Adonis on the phone.

[That's not it! Kalix was the one driving, not me! I was drunk too, eh! Bad luck, bro.]

"Oh, did he leave my car in the condo? I have the key on my side table."
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[No! We just grabbed it because the guy you were with said we should leave the
car! What's his name again? Cyanide? Ah, Clyden?
I forgot! He just introduced himself to me.]

"I'm just curious. What did you guys talk about last night? Did Clyden say anything?"
Clyden glanced at me when he heard his name. He was watching a medical drama
in the living room.

[No, he just said hello to Kalix and then told me that if he saw me again, he would
smash my face.] I gasped. Adonis went silent on the other line before he laughed so
loud. [Just kidding! He didn't say that!
Hahaha!]

"That still sounds like something he would say." I glared at Clyden.

He must have noticed that's why he looked back at me and raised his eyebrows
at me.

[He's kind, isn't he?!]

"What?!" I laughed sarcastically. "Oh, dear, you don't know what you're saying.
Never trust someone based on their looks alone."

“Are you talking about me?” Clyden asked, narrowing his eyes on my direction.

"Of course not!" I exaggerated my reaction. "Why would we even talk about
you? Are you that important?"

"Yes, because I heard my name. Come on, Samantha. I prefer being lowkey." He
smirked.

“Ew!” I rolled my eyes. "Hey, Adi. Thanks again! I need to go!"

I went to the dining table after ending the call and noticed an empty plate in front of
me. I looked at Clyden who was still busy watching a show.

"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked him.

“Why? Are you concerned about me?” He asked casually without looking at me.
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"Maybe," I mocked his words last night. "Maybe I am."

“Oh, done?”

I just ate. Fine! I won't bother him anymore. I finished eating and
went outside to play with the dogs.
Summer rested her chin on my lap while Hail was trying to fight the grass.
Maple was just running around.

"Your dad is so hard to read, you know?" I told Summer.

She looked at me with her adorable eyes so I gave her a smile. I really wanted
a dog back then but Naomi was allergic so I couldn't. Oh, Naomi..
I kept thinking about her again. I hoped she was doing fine.

"Do you love your siblings?" I asked Summer while looking at Hail and Maple.
"Of course you do, right?"

“She does.”

I immediately turned to Clyden. No wonder why Summer suddenly stood up. Hail and
Maple also ran to him, wagging their tails. There he was, the daddy of these three dogs. He
bent down to caress the heads of his children.

"I'll go home tonight to check on Naomi," I told him.

He just nodded and didn't answer. I stood up and went inside to go to my room. I
grabbed my things before going downstairs and going out again. Clyden was still
in the garden, playing with the dogs. I stopped when I caught a glimpse of his
genuine smile.

He looked better smiling.

"I don't know if I'll go home or not," I informed him.

“Weird. Why are you telling me that?” His eyebrows furrowed and he looked
at me.
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"My mom told me to inform you. Don't get too full of yourself." I smiled before going to
my car. I opened the window to wave at the dogs before I drove away.

It wasn't a long drive to the mansion so I arrived earlier than expected.

When I went inside the house, three helpers ran to me to help me again with my things
but I waved my hand to stop them. I took my shoes off and put on my house slippers
before going upstairs.

"Where's mom and dad? Are they around?" I asked.

"Just on my way home. I just went somewhere."

I nodded and went to my room to place my things. I noticed that my drawer was left open
so I quickly checked what Naomi borrowed this time. I smiled to myself when I
saw 3 of my new lipsticks missing. Well, I bought them for her so it was fine. I also
checked the camera to see if she took photos.

"Oh," I whispered when I saw the photos she forgot to delete.

It was during their ORSEM or orientation seminar. She took pictures of people but
none of herself. It was nice to see her with friends around. She should be out there
making friends. I didn't want her to feel like she was alone.

I went outside my room to knock on hers. She opened it immediately but frowned
when she saw me.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked, smiling.

"Why are you here?" She didn't answer my question.

"Oh, I just want to.. Uh.. Give you this camera. It's yours now." I handed her the
camera slowly, a little afraid of her reaction. Her eyes widened a bit when she glanced
at it, probably realizing that she forgot to delete the pictures. "No worries. You can
take it."

"I don't need it," she said in a monotone.

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"I also don't need it so you can have it-"

"Stop giving me the things you don't want anymore, okay?!" She yelled at me. "Are you
trying to offend me or what?! Just leave me alone!"

I blinked twice, a little taken back from her words. She closed the door on my face so I
stepped back, still surprised. Did that offend her? Oh my god, I felt so bad. Is that the
outside of him? I couldn't blame her, though. I used the wrong words.

I pouted and got a piece of paper. I wrote 'I'm sorry' before sliding it on her door. I knew
she wouldn't open the door for me again so I just went back to my room to place the
camera back.

"Samantha, honey?" My mom called so I went downstairs. "Hey! Why are you here? We
just saw each other earlier this morning."

"I just tried to check on Naomi," I answered honestly.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. She's doing fine! She's probably enjoying her new school because
she finally has something that you have." My mom laughed.
"You know that kid. She's just so jealous of you."

“Mom, don't say that,” I said seriously.

"What about it, honey? I'm just telling the truth. Don't you agree?" She laughed again,
placing her shopping bags on the couch. I stared at it for so long before shaking my
head.

"Mom, I'm thinking if I should start.. applying for a part-time job?" I bit my lower lip,
getting nervous.

"What?" Like what I expected, she looked at me like she was ready to snap.
“Why would you? Do you need money? Isn't your allowance enough?”

"It is more than enough, Mom. I'm just-" Guilty. "Never mind." I gave her a forced smile.
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"Never say that again. Don't even let your dad hear that, okay?" She
caressed my cheek before going upstairs, leaving me standing there in the living
room.

I sighed heavily before leaving the house. I couldn't stay there for too long or I
would probably lose my mind so it was better for me to leave. I just texted Mom
that I was in a hurry. That night, I drove all the way to Nueva Ecija to run away
from my thoughts.

"Are you home?" I asked Yanna on the phone.

[Son of a lamb, Samantha. What time is it? Of course, I'm home!] I smiled
when I heard her voice. I missed my best friend.

"I'm already near," I informed her.

[Huh? What's near?] She sounded so confused. [Pucha, are you coming here?
Are you feeling down? How are you going home? It's getting late, ah!]

"Yanna, you know what?" I paused for a moment to laugh. "You are
sounding like a mom now."

[Hey there!]

It took me so long to end up outside her house, parking my car beside the gutter.
I checked the time when I saw Yanna sitting on the stairs outside, probably
waiting for me. He has a blanket over his shoulder and a mug next to him. I
laughed when I saw her face.

"You should have just waited inside. That's bad for the baby!" I went inside the gate
and walked towards her to hold her tummy. "Oh my gosh, the baby bump. It still
feels so weird."

"What's the problem?" She suddenly asked. My smile also faded away.

“Nothing!” I sat beside her and looked at the dark sky, admiring the stars and
the moon. "I just missed you!"
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“You came all the way because you missed me? Are you my boyfriend?” Yanna
raised a brow, laughing. “What is it, Sam?”

“Nothing!” I denied again. "Come on. I just wanted to make sure that the baby is
okay, and also you! Are you doing well?"

"Er, you?" She asked back, refusing to answer my question. "Are you doing
well?" She glanced at my ring.

I bit my lower lip and sighed heavily, giving up now. I didn't know how to explain
what I was feeling at that moment. I just felt so lost, confused, and maybe guilty
for being a part of that.. family.

"I just feel so bad," I whispered. "I just feel so guilty that I'm living like this, you
know? When there are people who.. You know.. I just feel pathetic.
Maybe I need to start earning my own money?”

“How?” She asked now. “Your parents won't let you.

"Your house is like a prison, huh? It's a good thing you were allowed to leave there..
But you think that? The price is still your freedom."

"Maybe I should start modeling?" I asked her as a joke.

“Yes, it is. It suits you.” She looked at me from head to toe. “Hey, it suits you! You
have potential, I promise! I can see it!”

"That was a joke, Yanna. Don't take it seriously." I playfully rolled my eyes.

“I used to just joke about 'I'm pregnant' but look what happened.” She pointed
at her tummy before letting out a laugh.

She was trying to hide her pain with that smile and I was the only one who could
see it. She could also easily read me. It was hard to hide things from her when we
could see each other's eyes.

“Have you thought about naming the baby?” I asked her.

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“Hmm, when it's a boy, Alex.” She looked up, thinking. It was obvious she had
just thought of that.

“When it's a girl?” I asked.

“When it's a girl.. Alex.”

"Can you be more creative?" I complained, laughing. My laugh turned into a smile
when she leaned her head on my shoulder, trying to find comfort. I knew she
was having a hard time. The baby alone was giving her flashbacks about the man
she loved. "Do you miss him?"

“Sobra,” she whispered, looking at the sky. “It's morning there, right?”

"Close to noon," I answered, holding her hand. "What does love feel like?
It's weird, right? You used to tell me before that you have absolutely no idea
what love means but here you are.”

“I still can't explain love, Sam.” She sighed. “Maybe letting go is the symbol of my
love.”

"I wish I could freely love someone without thinking about my

engagement." I looked at my ring. "I envy you. At least, even if it brought you
pain, you were free to love. You were free to experience happiness on your
own."

“Why? Don't you like doc?” She asked, laughing.

"He's so annoying, Yanna! Why did you have to make me remember his
face?! I'm so annoyed. You know what? Ever since we started living together,
he just-"

“Live together?!” He adjusted his seat, surprised. “And whoa whoa, Samantha.
"Did you go on a rampage? Now? Wow! I've only seen you like that today, huh?"

“It's because I never met someone who's as annoying as he is. If you were in
my place, you would probably feel the same way. Actually, you might have
punched him but I am still calm. I am calm,” I convinced myself.
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"I don't know him yet but I think you two are a good match," she teased,
smirking.

"Don't ever say that again." I stood up, ready to go. I wasn't really planning to stay. I
just hoped that I wouldn't get sleepy on my way back. "I think I need to go home
now."

“Home?” She repeated.

"To the house," I told her.

"To him," she teased again. It was starting to get annoying.

"Whatever. Take care, okay?" I reminded her before walking away. "Don't forget to
eat healthy food! Take care of the baby! If you need anything, contact me,
okay? I'm one call away! I can drive all the way here again."

“Yes, Sam! Bye!”

"Love you!" I said before getting inside the car.

I took a deep breath before driving away. It was a long long way home but I managed
to stay up. I also stopped by a gasoline station to buy coffee.
I was a little sleepy when I got to Manila, then I had to drive all the way to the
house. I wondered if Clyden was already asleep.. or was he waiting for me? No,
maybe he thought I was sleeping in the mansion.

I was already sleepy when I parked in the house. I saw the light on by the stairs
so I assumed that he was still up. When I opened the door, Summer came
running to me, wagging her tail.

"Hello!" I greeted her using my baby voice. It was the voice I used when talking
to children. I caressed her head and looked around.

“Did you drink again?” I almost jumped when I heard Clyden's voice.
He just came down the stairs.

“Oh, you're not asleep yet?” I asked.

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“Do I look asleep?” he replied back.

I laughed, already getting used to his attitude. He was wearing a black

sweater and a pair of gray sweatshorts. Will he sleep tonight? He wasn't
carrying a book and there was no book on the table either.

"Why is Summer still awake?" I looked at the dog.

"What do you think?" He raised an eyebrow. "She's waiting for her mom."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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06
"You waited for me, baby?"

I bent down and gave Summer a pat on the head. She stuck out her tongue so it looked
like she smiled at me. I looked at Clyden again and saw him walking towards us with
his hands in his pockets.

“Where are you from?” he asked seriously. “I called your mom and she told me that you
didn't stay for dinner.”

"You called my mom?" I raised a brow.

“Yeah. Am I forbidden to do so?” he asked me sarcastically.

He stopped walking in front of me and tapped his leg twice to call Summer.
The dog immediately stood up and went to him, wagging her tail. He bent down and
held Summer's face in his hands.

"You also think that Mom should inform us where she's going right?" He asked the dog.

I scoffed and looked away, trying to prevent letting out a laugh. "Didn't you call me weird
earlier when I told you where I was going?"

"I thought I wouldn't care," he said, glancing at me.

"So you care?" I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling.

Clyden looked a little taken back from my question. He stared at me for a moment before
pursing his lips and looking at Summer again. He caressed her head like he was combing
her fur. The golden retriever liked it so much.

"Is Mom cheating on us?" He joked, asking the dog again.

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"Hey, that's such a bad accusation!" I defended myself, scowling. "I went to my
best friend's house in Nueva Ecija. It was a long drive so I got home late.
How about you? Why are you still awake?"

"I won't sleep tonight," he simply said, standing up and putting his hands inside
his pockets again.

“Why? Are you still studying? It's Sunday so you don't have school tomorrow. I
mean, later since it's midnight.” I looked at my digital watch.

"My body clock is messed up." He shrugged, going to the kitchen to look for something
to eat, taking himself out of the conversation. Summer followed him there.

I already felt so sleepy though I drank coffee earlier. It didn't seem to have
any effect on me so I already went upstairs to take a quick shower, did my
skincare routine, and went to bed to sleep. Luckily nothing ruined my beauty
sleep the next day. I woke up around 12 PM because I had gotten some sleep.

I went to the bathroom to wash my face and made sure I was wearing the right
pajamas before I went downstairs. I was just going down but Clyden was going
up so we ran into each other. He looked tired and sleepy, still carrying his
books. His specs were hanging on the collar of his shirt.

"That was good." I stopped walking.

“Good night,” he said and passed me.

I laughed and went to the dining table to eat my lunch. The food is ready there. I
didn't see Clyden's plate so I assumed that he didn't eat again or maybe it
was put away? I looked at the helper waiting for me to finish my food.

"Did he eat?" I asked her while smiling.

“He was just having breakfast, Ma'am,” she answered back, smiling.
"She cooked pancakes for herself. Ah, quite a lot."
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"So there's something left. He probably thought you'd wake up early."

“Oh, where is it?” I asked curiously.

"He fed it to the dogs."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. That was something he would really do.
Sounds so much like him, huh. I can't believe I could now tell what he
would and wouldn't do. I was starting to realize that maybe he wasn't that hard
to read. Being sarcastic was already in his personality, as well as being soft
with his dogs.

After I finished eating, I did a quick exercise before I went upstairs again to
take a shower. I passed by Clyden's room afterwards and it was very quiet
inside so he was probably sleeping. Hail was probably with him because
when I went outside, I only saw Maple and Summer.

"I'm your mom now." I grinned while pouring water on their bowls.

The fact that Clyden referred to me as the mother of his dogs still wouldn't sink in. I guess
he was already slowly accepting me as a person and not just as the daughter of the
politician he hated to see or to even interact with. I understand, though. I understood
why he would act like that. Sometimes, I also couldn't bear to be in the same room as Dad.

I can't imagine that the money I was using to study in a prestigious school
came from the people's taxes and also from their secret business. Maybe I
was trying to mask off my guilt with joining so many organizations that
were made for the welfare of people. I started volunteering, donating, and
doing charity work maybe because I was guilty and I wanted to do
something to bring that money back to the ones who should benefit from it.

"I can't wait to become independent," I told Maple like he would

understand. "Maybe if I have the strength to talk back to my parents."

Maple looked at me for a second before barking. I jumped a little from my

seat, a little surprised but also laughed after a few seconds. Maybe he was
trying to teach me how to use my voice, huh?
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"What a smart dog. If only it could be that easy," I whispered.

I stood up when my phone vibrated. I thought it was just a notification from Instagram but
it was a text from my Dad. I stared at it for so long before gathering the courage to
open it. I already knew what it would say. My dad never texted me 'how are you' or 'are
you eating well'. His messages were always related to business, politics, or the
engagement.

From: Dad

We're going to have dinner with Clyden's family tonight at their mansion. 7 P.M. Dress
nicely.

I texted him 'okay' before going inside the house to wake Clyden up. It was already 4 PM
so we needed to get ready. He probably didn't know about the dinner because he was
asleep. I felt sorry for him because he only slept for four hours now but I had to wake
him up.

I stopped in front of his room and held the doorknob, still having a debate with myself.
Should I just knock and wait for him to open the door?
Will he hear me? I haven't even entered his room yet. I had no idea what I would see
inside.

I tried knocking three times. "Clyden, wake up. Dad texted me about dinner tonight,"
I said as loud as I could but there was no response.

"Hey, I'm going inside now." I inhaled a large amount of air before opening the door. I
was a little surprised that he didn't lock it.

I looked around his room before stepping inside. I heard the little bell on Hail's collar
when he ran towards me, wagging his tail. I carried him before looking around again,
admiring the interior design of his room. I could see white, dark blue, gray, and dark
brown wood.

The shelves were in dark brown wood, as well as his closet. He had a white study table
with his laptop on it and a gray swivel chair. The walls were painted white so his
room didn't look that dark. Clyden was covered in his
Machine Translated by Google

dark blue comforter while sleeping. It's cold inside because the air conditioner is on.

"Hey, Clyden." I tried waking him up but he didn't even flinch. He was even sleeping with
his gray hoodie on. He looked so peaceful, like no one could ever hurt him.

I didn't know how to wake him up so I put Hail on the bed. The dog immediately went
to him and started licking his face. I laughed when Clyden's brows furrowed as he tried
to touch his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, still a little confused.
When he saw Hail, he let out a small smile.

"I'm sorry I had to wake you up. We're going to have dinner at your place tonight," I informed
him.

He looked at me like he knew I was there. He wasn't even surprised and just sat down. He
took his hoodie off and went off the bed, placing Hail back on the floor. He reached
for his phone on the side table to probably confirm what I just said.

"Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes and massaged his head.

"Get ready," I told him before leaving his room.

I already showered so I just started doing my makeup inside my room. I just did a simple one
since it was just us. My look was fierce with my smokey eyes and red lips. I had to match
my red off-shoulder bodycon dress tonight. I let my wavy hair down and put on two
diamond hair pins on the side.

I finished getting ready around 5:30 PM. I wore a pair of black heels and got my black
purse out of the closet to complete the look. When I went downstairs, Clyden was already
in the living room, waiting for me.

He was wearing a black dress shirt with two buttons opened and sleeves folded up to his
elbows. It was partnered with gray slacks and a black belt. He also fixed his hair to the side
with a strand falling over his forehead. He had
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his pair of specs on and a silver watch. He looked like he was ready to go to
a formal party.

"Hey, let's go. Are we taking your car?" I asked because I felt lazy to drive
after yesterday.

His gaze went from his phone to me. He stared at me for a moment before
standing up and putting his phone inside his pocket. He just nodded and
walked out of the house without saying anything.

“We'll be back!” I told Summer and Maple before leaving the house.

It would be my first time to ride on Clyden's car. He owned a white Mazda 6

Sedan. It was actually simple, something he would own. I opened the
shotgun door and went inside only to smell a familiar perfume. It was his.

"Honestly, I thought you would own a Lexus or something," I said when he

started the engine.

"What am I going to do there? Flex? I'm just going to school," he said

seriously while waiting for the engine to warm up.

I put my seatbelt on when he turned the gear into reverse and started taking
the car out of the garage. The car was so quiet that I felt a little awkward.
I'm not used to being quiet so I looked at the mini screen in front, planning to
play some music.

"Can I connect?" I asked him.

He just nodded and didn't bother talking. I had no idea how to connect to his car so I
just fiddled with the controls. It was looking for a password so I looked at him, biting my lip.
He looked like he was deep thinking and I didn't want to bother him.

"Ugh." I fake coughed. “It's looking for-”

I stopped talking when he offered his hand. My brows furrowed and stared
at it for so long, wondering what it meant. I looked away when I realized
that he was asking for my hand. What? Why would he ask for my hand?
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"Uh, okay." I slowly put my hand above his, feeling a little awkward. He glanced at me
with parted lips and furrowed brows like I did something stupid.

“I'm asking for your phone,” he said seriously while driving.

“Oh my god, I'm sorry!” I immediately withdrew my hand and placed my cellphone in
his palm. I was so embarrassed I had the urge to jump out of the damn door! He chuckled
when he saw my reaction.

"You didn't say you wanted to hold hands," he teased, smirking.

I just blinked and waited for him to type the password into my phone. Good thing there
was a stop light so he handed my phone back to me after connecting to bluetooth.
I started playing some music to make myself a little comfortable.

Both of us were silent the whole ride so it was really awkward for me. As much as I
wanted to talk, I didn't want to distract him while he was driving.
I silently celebrated when the car stopped in front of their house. Finally, the end of my
agony.

Oh, wait. There's still a ride home! My god!

"Sam," he called me when I started walking, leaving him behind.

I stopped and looked back at him, raising a brow. He gave his car keys to a man before
walking up to me, one hand in his pocket. He stopped in front of me and lent his hand
again. I was about to reach for my phone when he suddenly held my hand and pulled
me inside the house.

He intertwined our hands together while walking so I got distracted from looking around
the house. It was like he already knew where his parents would be. Everyone was
already in the dining room when we arrived. His parents, his brothers, and my parents.
Naomi wasn't around again. They left her.. again.
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"Darling," my mom called. She stood up and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi Clyden. Take your seats."

Clyden pulled a chair for me before he sat down, ignoring my dad and his
family. His brother, Charles, was on my right side and his other brother,
Colin, was in front of Clyden. They were all silent like they were strangers.

The dinner was already served so we started eating quietly. The only ones
talking were my parents and his parents. I looked at Charles when he
accidentally dropped his fork below the table. I pushed my chair back when
he went down to get it.

"I'll get it for you," Clyden stopped his brother.

"I can do it, Cy." Charles gave him a smile.

"It's on my side. I'll get it." Clyden pulled the table cloth up before getting the fork just in
front of my feet. He put the fork back on the table and wrapped it with a tissue
before handing it back to his brother with no emotion on his face.

"Thanks." Charles said, getting the fork out of Clyden's hand.

His parents were watching them for a bit until my dad talked again so their
attention went to him. I glanced at Clyden who already went back to eating.
Colin looked like he didn't care about the tension between his two brothers.

"Cy, honey, can you ask for an extra fork in the kitchen for your brother?
And also tell them to serve the dessert," Clyden's mom told him.

"He can't get one for himself?" Clyden sounded pissed.

"I'm not asking you to get one for me. It came from mom," Charles
answered back. The table suddenly went quiet.

"See? He doesn't need it," Clyden told his mom.

"Okay, honey. Oh, they're already preparing for the dessert. I guess there's
no need to go to the kitchen." His mom smiled at him after looking at the
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kitchen side.

"Shouldn't you be scolding him about his attitude?" Colin asked. I bit my lower lip and
looked at Clyden who silently put his utensils down on the plate.

"Shouldn't you be studying harder to pass med school?" Clyden raised an eyebrow.

"Enough," their father tried to cut the conversation.

"See how disrespectful he is?" Charles joined in. "He deserves to be scolded in
front of everyone like what you do with us. You always let him get away with it just
because he has good grades and he's successful. I call bullshit on that one."

"You're the oldest but you sound like a kid," Clyden calmly said. "I call bullshit on that
one," he mocked again.

“What an asshole!” Charles complained and stood up.

“Enough, Charles!” Their dad yelled now.

"Oh, how's the internship, by the way? I can't imagine you doing well in the medical
field." Clyden sipped on his water and raised an eyebrow.

"Enough, boys! Oh my god, I am so sorry for this," Clyden's mom apologized to

my parents. I bit my lower lip and stared at Clyden again who was obviously pissed off now.

"I think we need to go. I'm tired and I still have school tomorrow," I told his parents and
my parents.

"Right. Thank you for lending time, Maureen." Clyden's mom gave me an awkward smile,
probably embarrassed that I had to witness what happened between his sons.

"Love, let's go?" I stood up and looked at Clyden.

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"Sure," he replied in a low voice. He wiped his mouth with the table napkin before standing
up to put his hand on my waist. "Thanks for having us."

My dad looked so unhappy with what happened but he still gave us a nod before we left.
Clyden's hand tightened on my waist when we reached his car. I stopped walking so I
could face him. He noticed that I wanted to say something so he closed the door again
and leaned against it, waiting for me to talk.

"Uh, are you okay?" I asked.

"Of course," he answered seriously. "Why wouldn't I be? That used to happen
every day."

"Maybe we should be calm next time?" I suggested, giving him an awkward

smile.

"I am calm," he pointed out. "Don't I look calm to you, Sam?"

"You look mad," I told him honestly. "Are you mad because your mom asked you to
get a fork for your brother? That's where it started, right?"

He looked at me for a second before he scoffed sarcastically. “Am I that insignificant in

your eyes?”

I didn't talk, afraid that it could just worsen the situation. I really tried to stop myself
from talking because I knew it wouldn't help. I wanted to comfort him but I also
wanted to know the reason why he suddenly snapped. I didn't know what to do.

"Just get inside the car," he said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Maybe you need to cool down for a bit. It's not good to drive when you're mad," I calmly
said but he probably took it the wrong way because he looked at me again with his
brows furrowed.

"You know-" He stopped himself from talking and just shook his head.
“Never mind.”
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"What? Tell me." I got curious. Was he going to insult me or was he about to say
something with sense? I wanted to know. He shouldn't stop talking like that.

"Nothing. I was about to throw out a sarcastic remark but I realized that sometimes,
it's better not to open your mouth." He opened the door again and looked at me. "That's
what you're good at."

“Was that an insult?” I asked, puzzled. I couldn't read his tone.

"Maybe it's in between a compliment and an insult. It's like the phrase 'I hope you get
what you truly deserve'. It sounds like a good thing for good people but a bad thing for
bad people. You choose." Then, he went inside the car.

I turned around and got into the shotgun seat. I put on my seatbelt and connected my
phone again to play some calming music. Although he was mad, he still drove smoothly.
I was actually expecting him to speed up but he remained calm and composed while
driving.

“Can I play KPOP?” I asked randomly.

“Why not?” he asked back.

I gave him a small smile but he didn't glance back at me so I just looked away and
played an acoustic K-pop song. I mumbled the lyrics while staring outside the
window, waiting for us to get back home. We were silent again like we were in the middle
of a fight. Did we fight? He was too calm that it was confusing.

"Are you mad at me?" I suddenly asked.

“No,” he replied shortly.

"Are you mad at your brothers?" He shook his head again. "Your parents?"
He didn't answer this time. "My.. My parents?"

He glanced at me for a second before nodding. "I have no compassion for politicians
like your father. I'm saying this as early as possible so you
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"would know."

"It's okay." I nodded. "I understand. Maybe I was just in denial back then.
No one actually talked about my father like that in front of me. I was surprised."

“Are you used to people around you making fun of you?” He raised a brow.
“I hear you have a lot of friends. Have you ever wondered how many of them are true to
you?”

“It's okay. It's their choice if they would want to be a dick to someone who treats them
nicely.” I narrowed my eyes at him so he knew I was targeting him.

“I know you're kind, but sometimes, being kind isn't enough.

"Being kind is different from being caring," he told me.

"Is that.. political?" I asked, getting a little confused. I didn't get the meaning
behind his words.

"Everything is." He chuckled. "You shouldn't be nice to everyone because if you are
nice to oppressors, then you are ignoring the cry of the oppressed.
At least, for me.”

That was the last thing he said before we went silent again. I reflected on his words
the whole ride. That was when I realized that I could really learn a thing or two from
Clyden. Maybe he wasn't just a sarcastic asshole.
Maybe he could actually be helpful. Maybe there was something wrong with me
that I needed to fix? I couldn't point it out yet.

The next day, I had to wake up early again for class. I took a quick shower and
brushed my teeth before I went downstairs wearing a black tank top, a mustard-
colored jacket, a pair of mom jeans, and white shoes. I went straight to the
kitchen to pour water on my flask.

"Hi," I greeted Clyden when I saw him toasting bread. "Did you sleep?"

"A little," he answered back.

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He was already wearing a white shirt and a pair of white slacks. His white polo was in
the living room. He probably hasn't worn it yet because it might get dirty. He
already fixed his hair to the side like last time. I looked at his hand when he took the
bread out of the toaster.

"You're still wearing the ring," I pointed out. Maybe he forgot to take it off.

"I always do," he replied, putting the bread on the plate.

"W-what?" I blinked twice and looked at my necklace, where my ring was hanging. I
didn't know if I would get embarrassed that I took it off. I was the one doing the right
thing!

“I might lose it,” he explained. “No one cares if I have a ring or not.”

“Really? I'm pretty sure some women from your school would actually like you.” I closed
my flask and put it inside my tote bag.

"Why? Do you think I'm easy to like?" He asked laughing but with a hint of sarcasm in
his voice.

"Why? Are you also rude to them like how you are to me?" I asked while putting the
pitcher back inside the fridge.

He didn't answer. He just finished his food and went to the bathroom to brush his
teeth. I also took my yellow ribbon headband and also my car keys to leave. I called
the dogs so I can say goodbye to them.

"Bye!" I kissed Maple's head, then Summer's, and Hail's. Clyden raised a brow when he
saw me kissing his dogs goodbye. "I'm going now," I told him.

“Me? You're not going to kiss me?” He teased, hiding a smirk.

“Ew!” I rolled my eyes and waved my hand again before leaving the house.
“Bye!”
Machine Translated by Google

I arrived at school a little early so I decided to just buy a salad in Gonz. I

saw people I knew from table to table so I got a little confused where I
would sit. Good thing I saw Adi so I just sat at their table while it was not
time.

“Hey, Kalix, thanks for the ride home,” I began.

“You guys are together?” He asked directly. I frowned, confused by what he

said. “Clyden.”

"Oh, uhm-" I looked away, unable to talk. “Well, it's-Uhm-”

"It's okay. No need to tell me," he assured me. "You're in good hands
though. You'll learn a lot from him."

“Why, bro? Is that a professor?” Adonis asked curiously. “He looks older
than us, doesn't he? Isn't he?”

"Dumb ass," Kalix replied, shaking his head. I laughed because he just
refused to answer Adi's question.

"Giselle! Hi!" I stood up when I saw her with a shake on her hand. She
stopped walking when she saw me. "What's up? You're getting so busy
these days. I saw some of your commercials."

"Samantha!" She kissed both of my cheeks before smiling. "No way. I

can still handle the schedule. It's a bit looser since I'm a senior, right?" She
laughed.

"It must be hard to be a student model? I'm thinking if I should start

modeling," I joked.

"Oh my gosh, Sam! It suits you!" She looked at me from head to toe. "You
know, if you need help, I can refer you to a lot of people. I can see that you
fit in the industry. You have my number, right? Just give me a call!"

"I was just kidding, Selle. My parents would never let me." I laughed. "But
thank you."
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"Just give me a call. I know where to take you. Anyway, I still have class so I think I need
to get going." She checked the time on her phone before kissing my cheek and walking
away. I gave her a smile and waved.

"She's so nice," I told Adonis. "You know her, Kalix, right?"

“Yeah,” Kalix replied nonchalantly. He was just busy with his phone.

The whole day was just a usual school day. Nicole and my other blockmates went to UP
Town Center for lunch and then we went back again for our last two classes. Monday so
no one asked for a drink but on Friday, we were already set to go to a club.

"You're going home, Sammy?" Nothing asked.

"Yeah. I need to do the paper. Bye, babes!" I kissed their cheeks before going to the
parking lot. Somehow, I was already getting used to driving every day. I only regret
the gas. What a waste of money.

When I went home, Clyden wasn't around so I assumed that he was still in school or
probably studying outside. I went upstairs to take a shower before going to the dining
room to eat my dinner. I was just wearing a white shirt and a pair of red dolphin shorts.

I stopped eating when the dogs started running to the door, a sign that Clyden
just arrived, I guess. I heard the engine of his car and in just a few minutes, he already
went inside the house, still wearing his uniform. He smiled and gave the dogs a pat
on their heads.

“Hi,” he greeted them.

"Hey," I greeted while seated in the dining room. He glanced at me and gave me a
small smile before looking at the dogs again, playing with their faces.

I continued eating silently, still thinking about what Giselle said. I looked up when
Clyden sat in front of me, unbuttoning his white polo to reveal his
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shirt underneath. He didn't even look tired from school.

“What are you thinking?” he suddenly asked.

"What?" I was confused. How did he know? Was it that obvious?

"What are you thinking? You look like you're having a dilemma." He shrugged
while getting rice to put on his plate.

“What if I become a model?” I asked. I laughed so he wouldn't take it too seriously.

It was just a random thought.

He stared at me for a few seconds before putting his utensils down. He

crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head a little to the side, still
looking at me like he was rating me from one to ten.

"What?" I asked nervously. "Was that a no? Don't worry. I was just
kidding-"

“That sounds good.” He nodded and smiled. "It's up to you."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

07
"Did you just smile at me?"

I pouted my lips to prevent forming a smile. He looked down on his plate

and started eating like he didn't hear my question. I just shrugged and ate
with him while thinking about his answer to my question earlier. Is it really
something for me? Ever since I met him, I knew he was an honest person
so his opinion was really important to me.

Clyden was the type to let people know if they were doing the right thing or the complete
opposite of it. I can't say that I knew him better than anyone but for days that we had been
together, I could say that he was a very vocal person.

If he thinks I could be a model, then maybe I could start with something,

huh? It looked like he didn't have any plans on taking it back. I actually
stared at him, waiting for an insult to come but he didn't say anything.
Instead, he looked back at me and raised a brow, probably asking why I was
staring at him without saying a word.

"Thanks," I whispered, giving him a sincere smile.

"For?" He stopped chewing to wait for my answer.

"For saying that it sounds good. I know you don't like it but your words
boost my confidence." I chuckled. I know he doesn't want to make my head
bigger but I really felt confident with his answer. "So thanks. I just hope it's an
honest opinion."

"When did I ever lie to you?" He asked, his eyes piercing into mine.

"Oh god, you're sounding like a total romantic now. Let's just eat." I
laughed the tension off. I felt a little conscious with his stares so I just
looked down on my plate and tried to continue eating.
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The servings I take are small and I usually ate less rice just to keep myself fit. He
probably noticed that because I caught him looking at my plate like he wanted to say
something but decided not to. I finished eating before him so I stood up and cleared
my plate.

The next day, I woke up a little early since I also slept around 9 PM last night. That
was the earliest hour I could reach. When I went downstairs, I hadn't showered yet. I
was planning to eat breakfast first since I got plenty of time. I wasn't completely expecting
Clyden entering the house in an athletic shirt and a pair of shorts, sweating.

"Hey. You're.." I looked outside the window and it was still dark. "..up early. Or did
you not sleep at all?"

"I did," he replied shortly before he started walking towards the breakfast table.

He took his airpods off and even his digital watch. He was also holding a dark blue
tumbler but it was already empty so he got another glass from the kitchen. I was planning
to cook for breakfast so I checked the fridge for food.

"Any breakfast in mind?" I asked casually.

"I'm actually surprised that you know how to cook." He laughed sarcastically.

I scowled and glared at him before taking out eggs and bacon from the fridge. I
didn't like rice for breakfast so I took out bread instead. He sat on the high chair while
drinking water and probably staring at me because I could feel it from my back.

"Why do you keep on staring at me? Don't tell me you like me," I joked, laughing a bit.

“No, of course not. I was just wondering where you learned to cook. Aren't you
a senorita in your house?” When I glanced back at him, he was already looking so
curious.
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"That's the skill you will acquire when you take your friends home in your condo and treat
their hangover the next day." I laughed again, remembering my girls. "We used to party
every week."

"Do your parents know?" He raised an eyebrow.

"They would. Somehow, they always end up knowing." And then I would get an hour of
sermon. I had no choice. Partying with my friends was my escape. It was the only time I
felt free from the chain my parents put on my neck. It was the only time I could breathe.

He didn't talk after that. While I was busy cooking, I didn't even notice that he already went
upstairs to shower. I finished cooking when he came down again, now wearing his uniform,
except the white polo. It's still on the hanger. He really looked so clean in his uniform. I
couldn't get over it.

“Do you have time to eat?” I tried asking. I don't know his class schedule but he always
leaves early and sometimes he doesn't even come here for breakfast.

"I guess." He put his bag and polo down on the sofa before walking towards the breakfast
table where I was seated.

"I thought you're such a busy person that you just can't 'make' time," I mocked,
smirking. I could still remember everything he said to me back then.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were desperate to eat with me." He smiled at me sweetly but
it was fake.

"I don't even think about having breakfast with you. Not even once," I replied, also
giving him a fake smile.

“Really? Why did you put two plates on the table?” He was smirking now while
pointing at his plate. “Hey, you're still busy, Sam.”

"That's not for you. That's for Summer." I glared at him. "Summer, come here!"
Machine Translated by Google

“I'm sure as hell Summer doesn't like bacon.” He playfully bit on the bread and raised his
eyebrows to tease me.

I didn't know that. I also didn't know if I would believe him. I just rolled my eyes and
started eating so I could already take a shower. I left him there to go up after eating. I
didn't want to be late for school.

I went downstairs wearing a pink Ralph Lauren polo and a pair of white denim shorts.
I tucked my shirt in and wore a belt. I partnered it with a pair of white shoes and a tote bag.
After pouring water in my flask, I already went out and saw Clyden opening the door of
his car.

"You don't have a headband now," he pointed out.

"I didn't know you like paying attention to my school outfit." I smirked at him. "But actually,
I have." I reached for the pink bandana in my bag to show it to him.

"Good for you," he said before going inside his car and closing the door.

I also went inside my car to start the engine and waited a few minutes for it to heat up.
Clyden went out of the garage and I followed. Before we went in different directions, I
opened the shotgun window and stopped beside him
car.

"You're ugly," I said, smirking.

I was surprised when he rolled his window down and rested his arm on it, lowkey
showing me his middle finger while his eyes were fixed in front.
His other hand was holding the steering wheel. He was even wearing a pair of sunglasses
like he was off to a vacation. When I laughed, his lips formed a playful smile.

"Bye, asshole!" I said before rolling the window up again and driving away.

I arrived in school just in time for my first class. I entered the room at the same time
as the professor so I didn't have time to talk to Raylee. I just
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silently sat there with my notebook, trying so hard to listen.

"Come on! ISO?" Michel asked us. We were trying to come up with one
solid decision on where to eat our lunch today. ISO has a canteen but it was
too far and the heat was no joke today.

“Sam doesn't like it for sure. It's hot.” Raylee laughed. “But I also don't like
Gonz. I'm fed up. Is there no other choice? It's so hot.”

“JSEC is full.” Nicole looked at her watch. "And probably Matteo Up.
How about Regis? We got plenty of time.”

"Uh, not me. I'll just stay for an hour." I gave them an apologetic smile. In
the end, we just ate at Regis, hoping to find a table.
Luckily, I knew some people and they lent us their table after they finished
eating.

I was eating my salad quietly while Raylee and the other girls were talking
about the thesis. When I noticed that they suddenly stopped talking, I
looked up and saw them staring at a freshman.

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked.

"Hey, are you taking pictures of us?" Lea asked the freshman. My eyes widened
when I looked back and saw Naomi holding my camera. She was standing there, alone,
but I could see her friends on the other table, trying to call her.

"I am not," Naomi answered. When she saw me, she scowled and rolled her eyes.

"Did she just-" Nicole looked so confused. "Did she just roll her eyes?"

"Hey, just let her go," I told them, getting stressed out.

"Sam, she took a picture of us without our consent. There's still a flash. That's
not right," Ayessa said. "What if she's going to use it for other purposes?"
Machine Translated by Google

"Like what?" Naomi replied, walking towards our table. "Do you think I'm going to crop
your photo, make a fake account, and flirt with old men using your face? Now that gives
me an idea."

"Oh my god," Raylee whispered. "Why is she so rude?"

"Girls, just let it go. I'll handle it, okay?" I stood up and got my things. I was already
running late to my org meeting and this thing with Naomi wasn't helping.

"Do you know her?" Michel asked, her brows furrowed.

"Kind of," I stuttered a little before pulling Naomi's arm away from our table.

When we got away, she suddenly pulled her arm away from me. I made sure my
grip wasn't tight but she still looked hurt. She glared at me and handed me the camera,
hitting my abdomen with it.

"Hey," I calmly said, holding her hand so she could take it away from me.
"I'm sorry about what happened. Can you just please delete the photo?"

"I didn't take a picture!" She yelled at me. “See it for yourself!”

"Oh," I whispered, not knowing what to say. Were my friends lying? I took the camera
from her hand so I could check it myself but she looked so offended.

"You really had to check, huh?" She laughed sarcastically. "Of course you will believe your
friends more. You can't even tell them that I'm your sister!"

Oh my. I was so shocked that I almost lost my grip on the camera. I looked at her with so
much confusion until I felt the need to apologize. Hiding her wasn't my intention at all.
She bit her lower lip and looked away. I could see anger in her eyes and a hint of pain.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I just thought you wanted us to treat each other like strangers in
school," I said softly, giving the camera back to her.
Machine Translated by Google

“You couldn't even defend me back there. I think it's really better if we just act like we're
strangers.” He took the camera and passed it to me.

I was holding my breath for a moment so when she left, I was panting a little. I bit my
lower lip and watched her go back to their table. I gave myself a pat on the shoulder
and a smile before leaving. I wanted to assure myself that it was fine but I felt guilty that
maybe she also felt like I was hiding her, like what my dad did.

"Oh god, I'm the worst," I whispered to myself.

I had two org meetings that afternoon and two more classes before I went to Starbucks to
buy myself a drink. After I came back, I passed the football field and I saw Adonis kicking
a ball up repeatedly using his feet. He stopped to give me a wave.

“Are you going home?” he asked.

"Yeah! Friday, don't forget!" I reminded him about the party.

While I was on my way home, I made a few calls to my friends just to ask them if they
were available for the party this Friday. I was actually hesitant to call Arkin because he
was already too busy. I haven't seen him for a long time.

[Hello? If that's a drink, I'm not interested.] Luna opened it to me.

"Please? Don't wait! Just go present yourself! I promise Kalix won't come. He
already told Adonis that he wasn't available so don't worry!" I tried to convince her. "Also
ask Kierra about it! I need her to attend! Maybe it's already time for the both of you
to get a guy or what!"

[Kierra!] I heard her shout. [Friday! BGC. Sam said that the answer is not allowed if it
is not 'yes'. You have no choice. I'm just informing you, sis.]

"Thanks, Luna! Love you!" I said before ending the call. I called Via next but she was
out of reach so I just left a message. I called Sevi instead.
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[What's up, Samantha? When you call, I get nervous because I know it's a call for
alcohol waiting to be drunk.] Sevi answered the call.

"You know what? You're right." I smiled. "Friday. BGC. It's a big party.
You know you'll meet your future girlfriend there. Oh, by the way, Luna's
attending.”

[Hey, I've moved on there! But are you sure I'll have a girlfriend there?
Have you invited many people? Maybe with all that, I still haven't found
anyone!]

"Oh come on! If it's meant to be! Just have fun, ah!" I ended the call
immediately so he wouldn't have time to protest.

I also invited some LaSallian friends like Shan, Helen, and others. It was
going to be a big party since Raylee reserved the whole damn club for us.
Her family was the owner so it was easy. We invited people from different
schools. Thanks to me, I knew a lot of people.

When I arrived home, Clyden was already there, studying with his specs on.
He was wearing a blue sweater and a pair of black shorts. I greeted the dogs
with a smile on my face no matter how pissed I was because of traffic. I
caressed their heads and carried Hail. He was the only one I could still carry
since he was the youngest.

"Hey, I'm going to have a party this Friday. I'm just thinking if you want to
come?" I stood beside him, trying to look at what he was reading.

"I'm a student," he answered briefly.

“Okay!” I shrugged and put Hail down before going upstairs to take a
shower. I already expected that answer from him. He just couldn't leave his
studies for a minute and I also didn't think I could act normal if he went.
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I ate dinner without him. He was too busy studying that he probably forgot to eat dinner
but I also didn't want to bother him. He looked like he had a bad day. He's too serious,
huh. I admit that he still looked good even when he was mumbling random words
under his breath, probably memorizing something.

I stopped eating when I heard a car pulling up in front of our house. I stood up and opened
the door to see who it was. On the other hand, Clyden looked uninterested.

“Oh, Charles!” I looked at him with surprise. I wasn't expecting a visit from him so I looked
back at Clyden who probably didn't hear what I just said.
"What's up? What brings you here?"

"Oh, Mom sent me for an errand. She wanted to bring some food from Japan,"
Charles said, holding two paper bags. "She went there yesterday."

"Come in!" I smiled and opened the door wide to give him a way.

"Hi brother." Charles let out a smirk.

Clyden looked at him with furrowed brows, like he wanted to kick him straight out of the
door. He took his glasses off and stood up to get the paper bags out of his brother's hands.

“I said I'll just get these tomorrow, right?” Clyden said under his gritted teeth.

"It's fine. I also wanted to see what your house looks like. Can I look around?"
Charles gave me a smile so I nodded. Clyden put the paper bags on the breakfast table
while Charles was walking around the house, admiring the design.

"Where are the bedrooms?" Charles asked. "Sam, can you show me around?"

"No, she can't," Clyden answered for me, glaring at his brother. "But I can.
Come and follow me upstairs.”
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I blinked twice before I went back to eating. I finished quickly so I packed up

and followed them upstairs. They were nowhere to be found so I checked
the balcony at the end of the hallway of rooms.

"What the fuck do you want?" Clyden sounded pissed.

"Oh, come on. Like I said, I was doing an errand for Mom and I wanted to
see the house. Why are you so mad? Besides, this house should really
be mine, right?" Charles laughed.

"Well, you already let it go so the best you can do right now is to fucking
dream." I heard a bump on the wall, like he pushed Charles against it.

"You're living my dream, Clyden. Don't let your engagement fall off. You
got a great woman with you." I heard him push Clyden away from him.
"Watch your back. Maybe I could finally get even with you."

I heard footsteps so I immediately ran inside my room to hide. I waited for

a few seconds before I opened the door and saw Clyden in front of me. My
lips parted and stepped back a little because of guilt. It was really not my
intention to eavesdrop!

"Hey!" I smiled at him. "You're there! Where's your brother? Has he come
home? What are you doing in front of my room? Do you want to say
something?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?" He frowned.

"Oh, right!" I let out a fake laugh. "So what are you doing in front of my
room? Do you need anything?"

“I'm going to my room.” He pointed at his room with his brows

furrowed. “You're acting weird.”

"Uh, where's your brother? Has he gone home?" I asked and he nodded. "Hey,
listen. I know it's personal but if you have any problems with your family or friends, you
can talk to me. I am a great listener!" I gave him a sweet smile.
Machine Translated by Google

"For sure. You even heard what my brother and I talked about on the balcony."
He chuckled before entering his room. My smile immediately disappeared.

This asshole! He knew I was there and he just let me act so weird when I opened my
door! I felt a little embarrassed and guilty but he seemed okay about it so I just went
back to my business. I did a paper and also studied for a quiz tomorrow.

When I heard a knock on my door, I immediately closed my laptop and stood up. I
was expecting the helper because I asked for snacks but instead, I saw Clyden holding
my lace on his hand. My brow shot up, wondering where he got it.

"Samantha Maureen Vera," he read the name on my ID. I never knew my name would
sound that good.

"Yes, that's my name. I hope you remember," I said sarcastically. I was about to
snatch my lace out of his hand but he moved his hand.

“Maui,” he called me.

“Only my family gets to call me that. Now, give me my ID” I frowned and tried to reach for
the lace again but he raised his hand. I looked at him annoyed. Seriously, what's his deal?

"I'm your family," he teased, smirking. "Your husband, to be exact."

"Nice try. Except that we won't last until the day of our wedding. Dream on." I gave him
a smile before getting the lace out of his hand. Finally, he let it go. He looked like he
enjoyed pissing me off.

“Are you sure?” He bit his lower lip to hide a smile.

"Why? Do you like me now?" I stepped closer to him and raised an eyebrow. I could now
smell his masculine scent.

"Do you?" He asked back, making a step forward.

Machine Translated by Google

He was too close to me so I stepped back to my room. He pushed the

door and went inside, still staring at me. I didn't want to lose so I stared
back at him and tried to read what he was thinking, but my mind couldn't
get off the fact that he was standing inside my room. My room!

“No, I don't like you,” I replied flatly.

"Then the feeling is mutual." He smiled and pinched my cheek before

leaving my room, leaving me dumbfounded.

“What the hell,” I whispered, panting a little. I held my chest and took
a deep breath to calm myself. For some reason, what happened was
intense for me. I couldn't explain why.

I tried to go back to studying but I was so distracted so I decided to go

downstairs. When I opened my door, Clyden also came out of his room. I
quickly closed the door and went back to bed. That was a dumb move
but I just couldn't be near him right now!

The next morning, I decided to take a quick run around outside. My class
is still at 10 AM so I still have a lot of time. I saw some people I knew so I
would stop running to wave at them.

“Sam?” I stopped again when someone called me. "Hey! Have you received
your invitation for my debut? You didn't send me a reply."

"Elyse!" I smiled at her. "Oh, no, honey. I moved out of the house. I didn't
get the invitation. Message me the deets and I'll check my schedule."

"Oh, that's unfortunate." She pouted and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. If you
can't come, it's okay. I'll fill in your position. I know we're not even that
close. It's just that my brother wants me to invite a lot of people. He thinks I
don't have any friends! Ugh!"

"It's fine! Oh, hey, we have a party this Friday," I said but also stopped
when I realized that she was still a minor. "Oh, nevermind. I invited your
brother but I think I can't invite you yet."
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"Oh, god. Don't worry," she said before running again.

Elyse was a sister of a friend from La Salle. The kids were starting to grow
up now, huh. I kept on receiving debut invitations from the younger siblings of
my friends. I tried my best to attend all of them but sometimes, it just
wouldn't fit my schedule. Org stuff, studies, and parties. That reminded me of
Naomi's birthday.

"Oh, she's turning eighteen," I whispered. "And I still haven't heard about her
plans."

I made sure to ask my dad about it later this evening. He texted me to have
dinner tonight. He didn't say I should bring Clyden so I was just planning to go
alone after class. Speaking of him, when I went back home, his car was
already gone so we didn't meet this morning. What a relief.

"Sam, we're going to have a few beers," Raylee told me after class. "Are
you going? Just over there near Army Navy."

"No, I have a family dinner tonight." I gave them an apologetic smile.

"You're drinking less these days, ah, new life?" Ayessa teased.
“You're a bit blooming too, ah. Let me guess! You have a new boyfriend?!”

"W-what?!" I exclaimed but I just sounded so defensive.

“Sam with a boyfriend doesn't add up well. He never gets past the 'crush'
stage. When he likes her back, she tends to lose interest and end up
ghosting the guy so I think that's a no.” Raylee shook her head in disapproval.

“Hey, I'm past the 'crush' stage! Well, just until the 'dating' stage,” I defended
myself.

The last boyfriend I had was in high school and it wasn't even serious. I got
strict parents so having a boyfriend wasn't really on my mind, plus the
engagement thing. I didn't want to break my own heart, knowing we
wouldn't even end up together.
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"So you don't have a boyfriend? How about that guy friend of yours from
UST? The captain? Are you sure you don't have a thing for him? He's good
looking!" Nics joined the conversation.

"Sevi?! Oh, god, no!" I denied. "I mean, he's nice, yes. He's attractive, yes.
But he's my friend. It can't happen. Never. That's so awkward.”

“How about Kalix from SOM? You're friends with him too!” Michel gave me
a teasing smile.

"What?!" I made a disgusted face. "Oh my god, he's my friend's ex!

Come on, guys! I'm completely fine!"

"This Friday. I'm getting you a boyfriend." Raylee winked before I

walked away, laughing.

That night, I drove my way to the mansion for dinner. The helpers
welcomed me again by getting my things from me but I shook my head. I
took my shoes off and wore the house slippers before walking towards the
dining room. They were already eating without me again. I just quietly sat
down and placed my bag on the empty seat beside me.

"Hi Mom, Dad," I greeted. The food was already served on my plate so I
just started eating.

“Where's Clyden?” My mom looked like she was expecting him.

"Oh, Dad didn't tell me that I should bring him." I looked at Dad. "And I
think he's also busy with his studies."

"You should always bring your fiancé with you, Maui," my dad said. "He is
your future husband, after all. You need to get along with him or force
yourself to get along with him. Do not let him back out of this
engagement. You need him."

No, I don't. I wanted to say that but I knew it would just disappoint my dad
so I just gave him a small smile and a nod. I looked at Naomi who was
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seated in front of me, barely eating her food.

"Naomi, do you have any plans for your birthday?" I smiled at her. She
looked at me in surprise. She probably didn't expect me to remember her
birthday.

"We already talked about it. No grand party. Just a little get together with
her friends. Not in the house, of course," dad answered for her.

"But it's her debut." My brows furrowed. "It should be grand if she wants it to be."

"Oh, no, honey. Just because your debut was grand doesn't mean she
should also make her grand. A little get together with her friends can
do," my mom said, wiping her mouth with the table napkin.

Naomi was quiet the whole dinner and I felt like she wanted me to stop
talking about her birthday so I did. After we ate, I kissed mom and dad on
the cheek before leaving the dining room. I said I needed to go back early
so I could study.

"Sam." I stopped when Naomi called me.

I looked at her and gave her a smile. "Hey, what's up?"

"Can you please just stop talking about a grand party for my debut?" She
looked irritated. "You don't know a thing about me. You don't know what I
want so stop acting like you do!"

“Naomi!” My eyes widened when I saw my mom behind her. "What an

ungrateful child! You actually need to thank your sister for bringing up your
birthday because almost all of us already forgot about it!"

"Mom!" I yelled to stop her.

"Don't raise your voice at me, Maureen." She gritted her teeth before
facing Naomi. "And you. Your room. Now. You're grounded."
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"Mom, don't do that to her. Don't just jail her inside her room," I calmly
said. At least, I was trying to be calm.

"Yeah, like it would even make a difference," Naomi said before running
upstairs.

"I am so disappointed with that child." My mom rolled her eyes. "Don't
make me feel the same with you, Maui."

I massaged my head and sighed heavily, getting so stressed out. I wanted

to follow Naomi upstairs but I knew she wouldn't like to see me so I just left.

When I arrived home, I still managed to let out a small smile for the dogs
before walking to my room. I closed the door and covered my face as tears
started to run down my face. I felt so helpless. As much as I wanted to do
something, I just couldn't and it was so frustrating.

I jumped out of surprise when I heard a knock on my door. I quickly wiped

my tears with the back of my hand before twisting the door knob. Clyden
parted his lips when he saw my face. His fist was still in the air from
knocking on my door.

“Hey,” he said softly.

"Yes?" I tried to smile at him.

"Let's eat." He looked away and bit his lower lip.

"I'm already sister." I was about to close the door but he pushed his hand over it to stop
me. I looked at him and waited for him to say something. He looked like he wanted to.
"What?"

"Do you need a hug?" He asked, looking away from me.

My lips parted in shock, trying to process his offer. I couldn't help but laugh
at him. That wasn't what I expected him to say.

"Can you give me a hug?" I teased.

Machine Translated by Google

My smile faded when he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, resting my
head on his chest. I blinked twice and swallowed hard as my heart started to race. I
could smell his scent from his sweater. For some reason, it felt so comforting.

"I can feel your heartbeat but I'll just pretend that I can't," he whispered.

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

08
“That’s not mine.”

I heard him laugh again before tightening his hold on my shoulders. I felt
embarrassed but I still rested my head on his chest, trying to stop my tears
from falling. I wanted to cry, I really did, but he was distracting me. It was
as if all my tears had receded when he hugged me because of the shock. I
wasn't expecting that he would actually do it.

"You can let go now," I whispered. My words were muffled because of his hold.

He did let me go but his hand remained on my shoulder while the other one
tried to hold my chin up so he could see me clearly. I pouted my lips
because they were shaking a little out of nervousness. Clyden's eyes pierced
into mine like he was trying to read my thoughts.

“What happened?” he asked.

“It's nothing.” I gave him a smile and held the door so I could close it. He
looked like he wasn't convinced with my smile so I smiled wider to look
happier. "I swear, it's nothing."

"You like lying," he pointed out. It was not a question. "Why? Do you think it
would burden me? That I got my own problems too and you think
opening up about yours will just add up to it? That's how you think, right?"

"Are you aspiring to become a therapist?" I raised a brow. Everything he

said was all right.

"No. I want to become a pediatric surgeon," he corrected me, letting out a

small smile. "What about you? Do you know what you want to become or
are you also waiting for your dad to tell you?"

I didn't talk because I didn't know what to say. How can he hit all the right
spots? Was he a mind-reader or what? Everything he said was exactly how
Machine Translated by Google

my thoughts were. That was the time when I realized that I also didn't know
what was ahead of me. I was so used to making my dad decide on what
will happen to my future that I already forgot how to make a choice myself.

"You want to be a model?" He asked now, remembering what I asked

him last time. "Then pursue that. What's stopping you?"

"My parents won't like it. They want me to focus on my studies before
getting a job or a career. M-maybe if I finish college, I could pursue that. I
don't even know if I want that." I looked away.

I envied him because even though he had problems with his family like me, he still had his
life together and good thing he wanted to become a doctor himself. It was different for
me because my dad originally wanted me to enter politics. The only reason he let me
study Comm was because it would help me acquire skills I could use for campaigns. That
wasn't what I wanted.

So what about what I want? What do I really want to become? I also didn't
know. I wasn't sure of anything yet. I wanted to decide after finishing
college. I could try working in a media company but I was also not that
passionate about it.

"My friends are all so sure, you know?" I chuckled and bit my lower lip
before looking away. "And I can't help but feel a little jealous. They are so
sure with the programs they took and their future is already set and served
in front of them like food. They got clear goals. They want to become
architects, engineers, directors, lawyers, and here I am.. Still lost."

“Hey, you don't have to make a decision right away. You don't always
know what you want to happen. It will take some time to make a big
decision for yourself.”

"But all of you are so sure about what you want." I looked down and played
with my nails. I was getting nervous for no reason.

"Maybe you just need time to figure it out. Try other things. Modeling,
painting, singing. I don't know. Get out of your comfort zone. Maybe at
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at some point you will find yourself enjoying what you do. Pursue that one.”
He leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest.

I can't believe we were actually having a serious conversation outside my room. We

were both standing at the door. Some would go out for coffee or maybe talk about it over
dinner, or after a few drinks. We were standing in front of my room.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the party this Friday? You look like you can say
more when drunk." I laughed when I imagined him uttering some medical terms after
a few drinks.

"Do you want me there?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't really 'want' you there. I mean, if you can go then you should go. If you can't, then
don't. It won't make any difference. It's a party! We might also lose each other in the
crowd. If you're going, you can also bring some friends. I'll tell you the address." I took
out my cellphone to text him even though he didn't say anything.

“Enough of this club talk.” He put his hands inside his pocket and stood in front of me.
“Remember this. It’s okay not to know yet than to insist and make a mistake.”

That was the last thing he said before he went back to his room. After taking a
shower, I took some time to think about everything he said while staring at the ceiling.
I was re-evaluating my life choices at this point. If only it was that easy to make a
decision for myself but my parents were expecting so much from me. It wasn't my
money after all.

The next morning, I accidentally turned off my alarm while sleeping. Good thing Clyden
went inside my room to wake me up.

"Don't you have class?" He asked. I felt something heavy on my tummy so I opened my
eyes again, only to see Clyden beside my bed and Summer standing on top of me.
"Summer, get down."
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"What time is it? Oh my god!" I immediately sat down and held my head. Oh
my gosh, I overslept. I did, right?! Clyden was already wearing his uniform and
he looked like he was already about to leave.

"Relax. It's only 6 AM." Clyden looked at his watch.

"Just yet?! My class starts at 8 AM today! What the hell!" I immediately ran to
the cabinet to get some clothes before going inside the shower. I was already
panicking because I knew the traffic would get in my way again.

I didn't have time to eat breakfast anymore and when I went downstairs,
Clyden was already gone. How unfortunate that I had to stop by a gasoline
station to refill my damn tank. I wasn't used to being late! I was always early
so it stressed me out.

"Sammy!" Raylee called when we saw each other at the parking lot. "Omg,
you're late too?! Come on, let's go together! We're doomed! You want
some?" She offered me her Starbucks paper bag. The filling is probably bread.

"You even had time to go to Starbucks." I laughed while walking. "I'll just get a
bite later. We need to hurry up."

“Come on! You don't have any cuts yet so it's okay. It's only half a cut late!
Relax and admire the trees.” Raylee laughed, closing her eyes and acting like
she was connecting to nature. I pulled her hand away so she could catch up.

When we arrived at class, good thing they weren't doing anything

important. There was only a meeting with groups so the prof did not really
record attendance that day. Raylee offered me her bread and I took a bite
while writing on my notebook.

"Why can't you just go back to your condo? Did you sell it?" Ayessa asked while
we were at JSEC (John Gokongwei Student Enterprise Center) eating lunch. It
was like an open canteen full of SOM students. There are many stalls around
and you will pick where to buy.
Machine Translated by Google

"No. It's still mine and my things are still there. I just can't go back now.
Maybe after a few weeks. Let's see! I can't get used to dealing with this damn traffic
every day.” I massaged my head, remembering how frustrated I was earlier.

"Why can't you go back?" Mich asked.

"She's in a situation that she can't tell," Nicole answered for me. "We already heard
that answer, Sam. Are you having problems with your family or what? Or are you living
with your boyfriend?"

"What?! Boyfriend?!" I stuttered. My reaction was probably exaggerated but I couldn't

help it. "I don't have a boyfriend. I don't have plans on getting a boyfriend. I can be
alone forever. I'm too busy with my studies and my parents won't-"

“Wow, so defensive!” Raylee laughed out loud. "Ang fishy, huh! I'm starting to smell
something. Hmm, Samantha is hiding something."

“No!” I denied, shaking my head. "Come on. Stop trying to find me a love life. I'm
fine! Worry about yours, Ray."

“Are the Comms still supporting JSEC?” I looked at Adonis who was just walking by with
Kalix. He laughed when I hit him with an envelope. “On to Friday, ah!”

"Have fun," Kalix said while reading something.

"Luna's going," I told him, smiling. I saw how his eyes stopped reading to process what I
just said. "Well, I'm just informing you."

"Add that to the reasons why I shouldn't go," he replied, still not looking
and me.

I chuckled and gave Adonis a look. He shrugged and rested his arm on Kalix's
shoulder to tease him about it before they walked away. Raylee and I started finalizing our
guests for the party on Friday before we went back to class. I had org stuff after so I
went home late.
Machine Translated by Google

"Hello!" I greeted the dogs when I went inside the house.

All of them were running towards me, wagging their tails. I bent down to
caress their heads while looking around to find Clyden. I couldn't see him
anywhere and it was already late.

"Where's Daddy?" I asked Summer like she would answer. I didn't see his
car outside so he was probably still out.

I took a shower and did my skincare before I started studying for tomorrow.
I kept on glancing at the clock, getting a little worried about him. What if he
got into an accident? I had to check the news. Nothing is written. I didn't
want to text him because he might tease me about it.

I didn't sleep much. It was around 6 AM when I went inside the bathroom to take a shower.
My class will start at 9 AM so I still got plenty of time. I was wearing a simple white
off-shoulder romper and a pair of black sandals when I went downstairs. I placed my bag
on the breakfast table and looked around.

"Did he go home last night?" I asked a helper.

“We didn't notice, Ma'am. His car was still missing when I woke up
this morning at 5.”

I nodded before eating. I looked at my phone and checked if he texted me

but he didn't. I pouted and quickly finished my food so I could go to
school early. He wouldn't go to school that early, right? So he probably
stayed outside all night.

"Hey, what does it mean when a man stays outside for the whole night?" I
asked Raylee after class.

"What else? He's smashing someone." Raylee giggled. My smile faded and
I stopped walking to stare at her with wide eyes.

"You mean he's having sex?" My brows furrowed.

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"I'm kidding! Why are you even asking me about what a man would do?
I'm not a man!” She laughed again. Are you having problems with your secret boyfriend?”

"I don't have a secret boyfriend!" I denied again. She looked like she wasn't even
convinced. I shook my head and continued walking, trying to get my thoughts out of my
head. "I guess I'll just see you later."

"See you! Don't even try ditching!"

I went inside my car and drove home. I raised my eyebrows when I saw Clyden's
car at the garage. So he was still alive, huh. When I went inside the house, I saw him
leaning against the countertop in the kitchen, waiting for his toasted bread. He was still
wearing his uniform and his pair of specs.

"Do you want bread?" Clyden asked when I glanced at him.

"Hi babies!" I greeted the dogs to purposely ignore him.

I kissed the top of their heads before I went upstairs. I heard him call for my name but I
didn't look back. How casual of him to just ask me if I wanted bread after being gone for
one whole day?!

I started getting ready for our club night after taking a shower. I blow-dried my hair before
I started putting on my makeup. I tried to make it simple but fierce because I knew it would
just fade later. I braided my short hair in a half-ponytail before putting a pin.

I was having a dilemma on what to wear so I just sat on my bed, staring at two dresses.
In the end, I just wore the beige v-neck dress ending inches above my knees. It was
fit on my body and the thin strap revealed my arms and collarbones. I partnered it with
diamond earrings and white pair of heels.

I put my things inside my white purse before spraying perfume and going out of the room. It
was already 8 PM and Raylee and I needed to go there early so we could see if everything
was ready. The party will start around 10:30 PM.
Machine Translated by Google

When I went downstairs, Clyden was in the living room, playing with the dogs. When he
saw me, his eyes quickly surveyed my body from head to toe. I glanced at him for a
moment before rolling my eyes.

"Are you angry?" he asked in surprise.

"No," I replied while walking towards the main door with my car keys on my hand. He
already showered but he was wearing sweats so he was probably not going to
the party.

“Why aren't you paying attention?” He asked again when I was about to walk out the
door.

I stopped and glared at him. He raised his eyebrows and held his chest
dramatically when he saw my threatening look. He looked around and pretended
that I was glaring at someone else but him.

“Mommy is mad at you,” he told Summer.

I rolled my eyes and went out, ignoring him. I just drove to Raylee's club. It was still traffic
so I arrived a little late inside. It was pleasing to see an empty club waiting for its guests.
The party was going to be chaotic but chaotic for me was fun.

It wasn't totally free. The guests can pay how much they want but since we invited some
people in the same social circle as Raylee, I was sure we would get enough. I sat
on the high chair and asked the bartender for a martini while waiting for the party to
start. I rolled my eyes when I received a text from Clyden.

From: Clyden

Summer wants to ask why you're mad at her

I drank the cocktail in one shot and ignored his text. So his phone was working,
huh? He just chose not to send me a message to tell me why he was out all night and
all day.
Machine Translated by Google

"Why do I even care?" I whispered, ordering another cocktail. "It's not like he
really had to tell me, right? We're not even friends."

"Who are you talking to?" I almost jumped on my seat when Sevi suddenly
appeared on my side. He was already with Via.

Sevi was wearing a simple dark green short-sleeved polo with two buttons
opened and a pair of black jeans. Via, on the other hand, was wearing a
brown cropped top sweater and a pair of white high-waisted shorts.

"Hey! You didn't text me." I gave Via a kiss on the cheek before she sat beside
me, looking serious. I turned to Sevi and lowkey gave him a look, asking why
Via was in a bad mood.

“Arkin,” he whispered.

My mouth formed an 'o' before nodding, giving Via a secret glance.

Originally, Arkin was Via's bestfriend even before she met us so the reason
why Arkin started hanging out with us was because of her because ever
since she went to college, she's been so busy. Via and Sevi are the only ones
she's always with.

"Come on, Via. I'll get you a drink. You should have fun!" I nudged her and
ordered a drink for her. "Actually, let's go to the couch. It's better there.
Follow me.”

I stood up and looked for the best spot in the club. That was the only time I
realized that some of the guests were already inside. The tables are getting
quite full but good thing I had one reserved for my friends. Via and Sevi sat
down while I was ordering drinks.

“Ouch!” I almost hit Luna with my purse when she suddenly pulled on my hair.

I laughed when she gave me a smile and a peace sign. She was wearing a
black tank top and a pair of high-waisted jeans. Kierra was with her, wearing
a white off-shoulder and black leather skirt. She was looking
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around like a lost girl. I gave them both a kiss on the cheek before they sat on the couch.

"Hey, Luna, kabado," Sevi teased, laughing.

"Hey, it's Sevi, yesterday." Luna glared at him.

"Don't worry, Kalix is not going," I assured her. "So feel free! And also, Kierra,
if you feel uncomfortable, I can take you home anytime, okay? Just wait for your
drinks. I'll greet some of my friends."

I went out and welcomed some people I knew. Actually, I knew almost
everyone who attended. I was the one who invited them anyway. I went from table
to table just to make sure that everyone was having fun but every table I went to,
they were shooting shots at me. My alcohol tolerance was high so it was okay.

"Isn't there anything to fix there, Sam?" Mich asked, holding a shot glass on her
other hand. "Oh, is your Thomasian friend around?"

"Sevi?" My brows furrowed. "Yeah, sure. I can introduce you to him.

Follow me!”

“Hey, me too!” Nicole chased after him.

I was describing Sevi's personality to them while we were walking but also stopped
when Nicole and Mich started whispering to each other. I looked around to see
the person they were staring at.

"You invited him, Sam?" Mich asked me.

"Who? Shan?" I laughed when I realized what was wrong. "I'm so sorry! I forgot
that he almost dated half the population of women in Manila including the
both of you."

"Damn. I can't believe he played me like that." Nicole rolled her eyes.
“Anyway, where is your friend? Introduce me!”
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Shan was with his friends. When they saw me, I just gave them a wave before
pulling the two girls away. We stopped in front of the couch where Sevi was seated.
He was busy talking to Via so he didn't even notice me.

"Sev," I called. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows in confusion. "I would
like to introduce you to my friends."

“Oh.” His mouth formed and 'o' before standing up, panicking a little.
Michel's lips parted when she realized how tall Sevi was. Mich was like 5'2 so it was
funny. "Hello! Sevi, by the way."

I got called by a friend so I left them to get to know each other. I started going around
with two bottles in hand to make people drink until I reached the dance floor. I started
dancing with Raylee but the smile on my face faded when I remembered Yanna. I
missed her so much, especially at times like this. She used to get all the guys with her
moves.

"Sev!" My smile went back when I saw him on the dance floor with Luna.
They were laughing about something while dancing. "Where are my friends?"

"I can't type, Sam! I'm speaking English! I'm stupid," Sevi joked.

“He said he doesn't like your pussy. That's a judge, right? That's bad manners,” Luna
joined the conversation.

"You said before that you didn't like Ateneo people because they were rich. Now,
you're going to cry because of an Atenean right there," Sevi retorted.

"Let's dance! Come on!" I started pouring tequila on Sevi's mouth before I asked him to dance.
I put my arms on his shoulders and playfully moved my hips to tease him. He rolled his eyes
when Luna laughed at his reaction.

“If I can’t find a date today because of you, ah,” Sevi threatened. “They might think
you’re my girlfriend, Sam.”
Machine Translated by Google

I mimicked his pouting face before putting my hand on his cheek. "Oh, poor you."

“Maureen.”

My eyes widened when I heard a familiar voice. I immediately let go of Sevi and
looked at Clyden who was now raising his eyebrows. He was wearing a dark blue dress
shirt that was tucked inside his black jeans with a leather belt on. His hair was fixed to the
side with some strands falling over his forehead.

"This is fun." He scoffed sarcastically before walking away.

"Oh god," I whispered, holding my head.

“Is that him?” Sevi whispered on my ear so I could hear him. I nodded, still shocked
that he really came to the party. “Gagi, follow me! He must have gotten angry! You're
dead now!”

"Couldn't you be the one who died, Sevi?" Luna grinned.

“Hey, don't do that, man!” Sevi held his chest, getting scared now.

I inhaled a large amount of air before leaving the dance floor to find Clyden in the crowd. I
was still holding a bottle of tequila when I saw him sitting on the couch with probably
some of his friends. Three men and two women.

"Cy," a man nudged Clyden when he saw me approaching.

Clyden glanced at me before looking away to get his bottle of water. I smiled at his
friends when I stopped in front of their table. They also gave me a smile but they felt
awkward for me because Clyden was completely ignoring my presence. He couldn't
even look at me.

"Cy," the man nudged him again.

"What?" He glared at his friend before getting the glass of whiskey. The man gave me
an apologetic smile when he looked at me.
Machine Translated by Google

“Eva, maybe you want to use the restroom,” the man told the two women.

The woman looked at him before glancing at Clyden. She was still hesitant
when she stood up and asked her friend to come with her. She leaned and
whispered something to Clyden before smiling at me and leaving.

"Let's order," the man who was nudging Clyden stood up and asked the other two men
to come with him, leaving me and Clyden alone on the couch.

I sat beside him and poured tequila on an empty shot glass so I could drink it
in one shot. He was looking away, still holding his glass of whiskey. I
poured another one and another and another until I reached my 9th shot.
He still doesn't say anything.

"What? You came here to ignore me?" I looked at him, getting a little dizzy
now.

"Like what you said, the club is big. It's normal for us not to see each other so
why are you here?" He said that without looking at me.

"I was the one who invited you here. Why didn't you tell me that you will
come?" I raised a brow, drinking my 10th shot.

"Maybe if you stopped ignoring my messages and calls, you would know," he
said under his gritted teeth.

That hit me. I took my phone out of my purse to check if he was telling the
truth. My lips parted when I saw 14 messages from him and 21 missed
calls. I didn't even notice, huh. I was too busy going around.

"You can text, so why couldn't you inform me why you were out all night?" I
glared at him.

His brows furrowed in confusion but I saw how his reaction changed when he
realized what I was talking about. I poured tequila on my glass again and drank
it in one shot without a chaser. I also took the Black Label to drink. He was
pissing me off.
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He sipped on his drink before carefully putting the glass on the table. "I was
out all night studying so I could go to your party."

I didn't talk. I just bit my lower lip and looked away.

"I slept in my condo for a few hours and also showered there before
attending school. I didn't know you were waiting for my text. I wish
you had called me," he explained.

"Why would I call you? You might tease me about it." I rolled my eyes. I
was about to pour Black Label on another glass when he stopped me.
“What?”

"Are you drunk?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"Hi!" A woman suddenly approached him. The girl had two friends with her just
to cheer her on. She gave Clyden a shy smile, totally ignoring my
presence. I tried to remember her name but my mind was going to other
places.

She offered her hand. “I'm Jani-” She stopped talking when Clyden showed
his hand. The one wearing the ring.

"I'm married," Clyden said in a low voice, his eyes not leaving mine.

The woman's smile faded before walking away with her friends, obviously
disappointed. I looked away and drank another glass. That was
embarrassing. Why would he say that? Poor girl.

"Are you drunk?" Clyden asked again.

“No!” I shook my head and stood up just to prove a point but I ended up
stumbling in his lap. My eyes widened when I realized our position.

"Let's go home," he whispered, holding my waist to push me up.

I stood up and tried to regain my balance but my vision was already

spinning. He held my arms and guided me out of the club, holding my purse
Machine Translated by Google

on his other hand. I smiled and waved at people playfully while he was
pulling me away.

“Oh, come on! It's too early to come home!” I pulled my arm back.

He closed his eyes for a moment and massaged the bridge of his
nose before looking at me again. I fell against the wall, giggling. He reached
for my arm but I pulled him with me instead. He put his hand on the wall
to support his weight.

"We need to go," he told me again, looking around.

"I'm your type, right?" I put my arms on his shoulders so I could pull him closer to me.
He pursed his lips and looked away from me, feeling a little awkward.

"Don't do this here. Let's go home." He tried to take my arms off him.

"The man earlier was my friend, by the way, I was just teasing him." I
giggled, remembering Sevi's face.

“I don't care.” He went closer to me and held my chin up. “Because I know
you're coming home to me too.”

I snorted and straightened up, only to fall on his chest. My arms

automatically wrapped on his waist for support. He stiffened and held my
waist, stepping back a little. I felt my heartbeat racing again.

"Can you feel my heartbeat?" I asked, laughing. “It's so loud and fast,
right?”

His grip on my waist tightened. When I looked at him, he was already

staring at me.

"Are you sure it's not mine?" He seriously asked.

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:)

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

09
"Samantha, can I ask a question?"

I was staring at Clyden for too long until someone called me. My gaze immediately
went from him to the guy. My vision was a little blurred so I shook my head and closed
my eyes before opening them again, seeing Shan in front of me.

"Oh, here's the playboy!" I laughed so hard I almost fell backwards but Clyden wrapped
his hands on my waist to support my weight, pulling me closer to him, our bodies
bumping into each other. He looked at Shan and raised an eyebrow.

"I just want to ask a question, man." Shan sounded defensive, moving his hands up.

"Ask her tomorrow. She's drunk," Clyden replied, trying to put me in my place because I
was moving too much.

"I think she can answer my question better when drunk." Shan smirked before looking
at me. "Do you really not know where Yanna is staying?"

My brows furrowed with the mention of my best friend's name. I looked away and bit my
lower lip, trying to go back to my senses. I knew Yanna was in Nueva Ecija and I was
pretty sure Shan was asking that for his best friend who flew to Florida, leaving Yanna
behind.

"She's-" I was going to say 'not here' but Clyden covered my mouth with his other hand,
afraid that I would accidentally say a secret while drunk.

I would never do that to my best friend even if I drank nine bottles of alcohol. Yanna made
me promise not to say anything to anyone so I wouldn't, not even Luna so why would I tell
Shan? But of course, I really appreciated Clyden's gesture.

"She's what?" Shan asked again.

Machine Translated by Google

"Don't take advantage of her state." Clyden glared at him before wrapping his
arms around my shoulder to pull me away. Shan sighed and nodded
before stepping aside to let us pass.

"I hope you also won't." Shan held Clyden's arm to stop him from walking
away. Clyden's brows furrowed before moving his arm away with force,
glaring at Shan who was probably just protective of me because I was being
taken care of by someone he wasn't familiar with.

"What's your problem?" Clyden stepped forward, obviously getting pissed

now.

"Bring her back to her friends. Where are you taking her?" Shan tried to reach
for my arm but Clyden lightly pushed me to his back.

"We're going home," Clyden said seriously. My eyes were so wide that I had
to look around to ask someone for help. They looked like they were about to
punch each other.

I massaged my head again, hoping that the spinning would stop. Damn, I
drank too much. “Shan, it's fine-”

"Do you know this guy, Sam?" Shan asked me now.

"I am bringing my fiancée home. Do you have any problem with that?"
Clyden put his tongue on the inside of his cheek and raised his eyebrows.

Shan looked so confused when he glanced at me to confirm it. I gave him

an apologetic smile before showing him my necklace with the ring on it and
making a 'shh' sign. Clyden even bumped on his shoulder when he pulled
me away to exit the club.

"Where did you park?" Clyden asked when we arrived at the parking lot. I
pouted and looked around, trying to remember where my car was.

“Where's yours?” I asked him.

“I left it at home. I was just going with Ridge,” Clyden answered while
getting my car keys inside my purse. He unlocked the doors and
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followed the sound.

He opened the shotgun seat for me before putting his hand on the top of my
head so I wouldn't get hurt while trying to get inside the car.

“Who's Ridge?” I asked while he was putting my seatbelt on. His face was so close to me
I could still smell the whiskey on him. "I thought you don't drink?"

“Ridgen, that guy from earlier. My best friend,” he replied. “Don't move.”

"You smell like whiskey. Are you sure you don't drink?" I asked again
when he didn't answer. He stared at me after putting my seatbelt on. I had
to look away because it felt so awkward.

"I said I do. Occasionally," he whispered, still staring at my face. I felt

conscious so I pushed his face away using my hand.

He closed the shotgun door and walked to the other side of the car until he
was already beside me, starting the engine. I closed my eyes when I felt the
car move. I was getting dizzy again from the motion.

"I didn't meet your friends," he said while driving.

"It's okay. I met yours but I don't know their names," I said, my eyes still
closed. "And my friends don't know that I'm engaged so I think it's better
that we leave without saying goodbye. I don't know how to introduce
you."

"Really," he said without any emotion. I opened my eyes and I saw him
licking his lower lip. His eyes were looking at the road furiously but his
body looked so calm.

I closed my eyes again and when I opened them, we were already in front
of the house. Clyden opened the door and helped me get out of the car
by holding my waist and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I can walk you-" I covered my mouth when I felt my stomach turn.
Machine Translated by Google

I ran inside the house until I reached the bathroom on the 1st floor.
I knelt down and threw up in the toilet bowl. God, my stomach felt so bloated and my
body felt so hot from the alcohol. I could still smell and taste the tequila. I shouldn't
have followed the shot!

"Alright, drink more," Clyden whispered when he went inside the bathroom. Oh, I left it
open by the way.

He stood behind me and held a handful of my hair while I was waiting for another turn
from my stomach. “You just wasted money. Drink it and then throw it up too,” he
said.

"What do you want me to do, huh? Swallow my vomit?!" I screamed before I threw up
again. I heard him laugh before pulling on my hair again so my head won't fall on the
toilet bowl.

"You're disgusting," he said.

I flushed it before standing up to hug the sink this time. He opened the faucet and
washed my face for me before damping a clean towel on my face. He stopped when
he realized that I was already staring at him.

"Why are you being so nice to me now? When I first met you, you were so rude," I
murmured, drunk.

"I was rude because I hate your family," he explained before looking away to put the
clean towel back to its place.

"How about now?" My voice sounded demanding because I was drunk. It also sounded
like a kid. Oh my god, was that me?

He held my chin up and looked straight into my eyes. "You are not your family," he
whispered.

I was about to answer when he easily scooped me up with his arms and carried me bridal
style. I tried to move but I was afraid that I would fall on the floor so I just stayed still until
he reached my room. He lightly kicked the door
Machine Translated by Google

and tried to find my bed in the dark. He couldn't turn the lights on because
his hands were carrying me. I suddenly felt conscious. Was I heavy?

"Ouch," I groaned when he tripped and fell on the bed with me. Thanks to
the light coming from the window, we saw each other's reaction. My lips
parted when I realized how close he was to me. He pursed his lips and
looked away, letting go of my waist.

"Where are the lights?" I didn't feel his weight on me anymore so he

probably stood up already. I heard some footsteps and in a blink, the
lights were already turned on. I looked so dumb on the bed with the hem of
my dress rolled up, revealing my cycling shorts.

"I don't want to go to bed without taking a shower. I feel dirty," I whined.

I tried to stand up but I was too dizzy so I moved my hands up, lowkey
asking him for help. He sighed heavily before walking towards me to pull
my hands. I gave him a cute smile before standing up to leave the room. He
called my name but I already locked the bathroom when I went inside.

I took my clothes off and went inside the shower. I closed my eyes and
almost fell asleep while the water was running through my body. I only woke
up when I heard Clyden knocking outside.

"Are you still alive?" He asked, his voice muffled because of the door.

“Y-yes!” I shouted.

"I have your clothes. Call me when you're already finished."

What? He went through my closet? My brows furrowed as I tried to recall what was inside
my closet. I just shook my head and finished my shower. Just fast because I already felt
sleepy. I put my robe on and opened the door, only to see Clyden sitting on the floor,
holding my clothes on his hand.

"You're done?" He stood up, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
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"Can you help me with my skincare? I'm dizzy." I opened the door wider so he could come
in. He nodded and went inside, putting my clothes on the empty countertop.

He got my purple toothbrush out of the glass and washed it before putting toothpaste. I
leaned on the countertop and got my brush out of his hand to put it inside my mouth. I
closed my eyes while brushing my teeth slowly.
My hands were weak and my head was spinning.

When I opened my eyes, he was already holding a glass of water. I took it and rinsed it
in the sink before wiping my mouth with a tissue. I was about to get my makeup remover
when he suddenly carried me and put me on the countertop like a child.

He sighed before putting drops of my makeup remover on the cotton pad.

He held my chin up and softly wiped my face with it. I closed my eyes so he could take
my eyeshadow and eyeliner off too. Good thing I didn't put mascara or else I would look
like a panda after taking a shower.

"You know, it's good to have someone beside me," I said. "My best friend, Yanna, is in
Nueva Ecija and the only person who knows about my problems other than
Yanna is Sevi. The guy I was dancing with? Do you remember?"

"Like it didn't happen just a few hours ago," he replied sarcastically.

"I miss Yanna," I whispered, tearing up a bit. He suddenly stopped wiping my face when
he heard how my voice broke. I covered my face when I felt my tears falling.

He remained silent while I was trying so hard to stifle my sobs. I felt his hands pulling
my wrists away so he could see my face. I bit my lower lip and looked away, getting
embarrassed now. I was so emotional because I was drunk. On normal days, I wouldn't
even cry like this. At least not in front of him.

"You can open up to me," he whispered. "I am willing to listen."

Machine Translated by Google

"Of course. We're going through the same thing but the only difference is that you are
getting recognized for your efforts but mine was never enough for my dad. It's so hard
trying to live up to their expectations, you know? I always have to be like this. I always
have to be like that. I am Samantha Vera, I should act like this, I should act like that. I
just want to be free," I said while crying.

"I'm sorry." He sighed, not knowing what to say.

"You don't have to say anything. You just have to listen." I gave him a small smile.
"Actually, you're the only person who can understand me the most. You haven't done
anything about it so of course I understand why you can't give me advice right now. You
know, maybe someday, we can finally learn how to turn our backs against them and just..
run free."

"Just walk. At your own pace, Samantha. You don't have to rush it." He also gave me
a small smile.

"Thanks." I leaned to give him a light kiss on the cheek.

My eyes widened when I realized what I did. I looked away and jumped off the countertop
to act like nothing happened. I washed my face again after applying cleanser. I didn't
finish my entire skincare routine because of the shame. Oh my god, what the hell did I do?
I blamed that on alcohol.

"Get dressed," he simply said before leaving the bathroom awkwardly.

When I locked the door again, I leaned against it and held my chest, panting. I
was holding my breath for too long! The atmosphere suddenly became heavy after that
stupid kiss. I wanted to bang my head against the wall.

"Oh my god." My embarrassment increased when I saw my white pair of underwear on

the countertop, along with my black nighties. I swallowed hard when I closed my eyes.
He even went through my pairs of underwear, huh? So what made him choose white?
What made him do this?!
Machine Translated by Google

After getting dressed, I opened the door and made sure that he wasn't
around before running inside my room and locking it. I went to the bed and
closed my eyes as I dozed off to sleep. Good thing the next day was Saturday
so I had enough sleep.

I woke up twice. On the first one, I was so dizzy I had to vomit again inside the
bathroom before going back to sleep. For the second one, my head was
lightly being hammered but I could still manage. I went to the bathroom
again to wash my face before going downstairs. It was already 12 PM and
Clyden was outside, feeding the dogs.

That was a good thing because I didn't know how to face him after kissing
him like that last night. I silently ate my lunch, thinking if pretending that I
don't remember any of it will work. No, I wasn't that drunk to not
remember anything. Maybe I should have drunk more!

My eyes widened when Clyden went inside the house and looked at me.
I quickly finished my meal and took the plate to the kitchen to avoid it. I
heard his footsteps on the stairs so he probably went to his room already. I
sighed in relief and went to the living room to watch something just to get
over my light headache.

I was watching a Korean drama when Clyden suddenly put a small paper
bag on the coffee table in front of me without saying anything. My eyes
were wide when I looked at him in question but instead of saying
something, he just put his hands inside his pockets and walked away to go
to the garden.

I paused the show to check the small paper bag. There is medicine there
for my headache and a bottle of orange juice. I was confused but I still took
it and opened the bottle so I could have something to drink while watching.

When Clyden went inside the house again, I quickly adjusted my seat and pretended to
be busy watching. I was silently praying that he wouldn't talk to me because it would just
make the atmosphere awkward. I can't get my mind off what I did last night. Well, look
at the positive side, Samantha! At least you didn't kiss me on the lips! That would make
things even weirder!
Machine Translated by Google

"Summer, go to your mom," Clyden said before going upstairs.

I smiled widely when Summer went up on the couch and sat next to me. I
gave her body rubs while watching. After two episodes, I turned off
the television and went upstairs to work out inside my room.

I took a shower to get the sweat off my body before deciding to leave the
house for a moment to buy a gift for Naomi's birthday. I was just wearing a
black cropped top shirt and a pair of denim shorts. I went to the nearest
mall and searched for cameras Naomi could use for her photography thing.
She didn't want to take my camera so I should just buy her a new one.

“Yeah, I'll get that,” I told the guy employee. I took out my card and
placed it on the counter. I will just pay my father back using my savings.

After buying a gift, I went to a bookstore to find a new notebook. My brows

furrowed when I saw a familiar face. I had the urge to hide behind the shelf
when I realized that it was Naomi, my sister. She was with a guy. I
recognized him. He was Jaron from Ateneo. A SOM student and a year
younger than me. My damn ex-suitor.

My eyes widened when he put his hand on my sister's waist. I had to walk away from them
before they could even see me. I knew Naomi was already turning eighteen this year but
seeing them together was so uncomfortable for me. The last time I checked, Jaron was in a
relationship with Raylee's sister.

I was so bothered while driving. I never bought a notebook.

Naomi was grounded, right? Good thing Mom actually let her out? I had
nothing against that but seeing him with that guy just didn't sit right with
my spirit.

I felt even more bothered when I saw Clyden in the living room, eating
sushi. I almost forgot what happened last night but seeing him reminded me
of it! I looked away and went upstairs without saying anything to him.
Summer followed me from behind so I opened my bedroom door to let her in.
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I put the box of camera inside my cabinet before sitting on the edge of my bed. That was
the only time I saw the piece of paper on Summer's neck collar. It was stuck there so I
took it and opened it. I laughed when I realized who wrote it.

'Are you angry?'

He thought I was mad again because I was ignoring him? I chuckled and wrote a little
'No' on the bottom of the paper before folding it and putting it on Summer's collar. I opened
the door and she ran away. I was sure Clyden would see it.

I studied inside my room until I was called for dinner by a helper. Clyden stayed in the
living room, studying, while I was at the dining table, eating dinner. He was probably
drunk from eating sushi or maybe he was trying to avoid me too? We haven't talked
directly today.

I stopped eating when I got a text from my mom. I opened it and sighed heavily when
I read the text.

From: Mom

Clear your schedule tomorrow. We're going to ride a cruise for my friend's birthday. Semi-
formal. 4 P.M. Bring your fiancé.

I took a screenshot and sent it to Clyden so he could read it himself. I saw him reading
the text before looking at me to give a nod. After eating, I went upstairs to take a shower
and do my night care routine. Just like that, we didn't talk the whole day.

The next morning, I woke up early to take a run around the village. Clyden was asleep the
whole day I had to wake him up around 1 PM so he could finally prepare for the party.
Maybe he was up all night studying again.

"Yeah, I'm up," he whispered with his eyes still closed.

"No. You need to stand up. You might fall asleep again." I held both of his wrists so I
could pull him out of the bed. I laughed when he almost fell
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because I pulled too hard. He threw the pillow on me when I ran away.

I already took a shower so I just took my time putting makeup on. I tied my
hair in a braided half-ponytail and put some hair pins on it to add some
style. My mom delivered a new dress this morning and good thing it did fit
me. It was a burgundy satin bodycon dress ending inches above my knees.
A thin strap was holding it and the neckline was deep on my chest,
revealing my cleavage a bit.

I partnered it with a black purse and a pair of black heels. I took the ring out
of the necklace so I could wear it. I also wore a pair of black diamond
earrings and a silver necklace. Clyden and I went down almost at the same time.
He stopped on the stairs to fold his sleeves up. He was wearing the
burgundy dress shirt from my mother and a pair of black slacks, matching
my color. He tucks it under his pants and even puts on a designer leather belt.
He had his ring on and a silver watch.

"Are we taking my car or yours?" He asked while fixing his hair using his
hand. I could smell his perfume from where I was standing.

"It won't matter. Let's just take yours," I said.

We didn't talk to each other while we were on our way. Good thing we had music on or
else it would have been so awkward. Since when did the awkwardness between us start?
It was getting annoying. It wasn't like this then.

It was a long drive to the port but we still arrived on time. A woman was in
front to check the names so Clyden and I stopped walking. The woman got
distracted for a bit when she glanced at Clyden's intimidating aura.

"Samantha Vera," I said. "And Clyden Ramirez."

"Vera and Ramirez.." The woman nervously looked at the list, glancing at
Clyden a bit. I looked at him and furrowed my brows. Was there something
wrong with his face? He looked at me too and raised an eyebrow. "Here.
Thank you, Miss Vera and Mr. Ramirez. Someone will assist you inside."

"Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez would sound better." Clyden chuckled.

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"Ew." I elbowed him as we walked in. He laughed before wrapping his

hand on my waist. I had no choice but to let him because we were
welcomed by my parents. His parents weren't around this time, huh.

"Maui, darling," my mom greeted, kissing me on my cheek. "Hi Clyden.

Thank you for keeping my daughter company.”

"No problem," Clyden simply answered.

"Come. Let me introduce the two of you to my friends." My mom gestured

for us to follow her so we did. I tried to glare at Clyden because of his hand
but he just tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me closer to him.

"We're so close," I whispered under my gritted teeth.

"You didn't think of that when you kissed me the other night," he
whispered back.

I quickly plastered a smile on my face when my mom looked at us again.

Clyden chuckled at the sudden change in my facial expression.

"This is my daughter, Samantha Vera and her fiancé, Clyden Ramirez," my

mom proudly introduced.

“Ramirez Medical?” The woman asked, smiling.

"Yes, Ma'am." Clyden shook her hand and flashed a fake smile. I was the
only one who could see through him.

"And this is the daughter of Senator Vera!" The woman smiled at me as she held my
hand. I subtly stepped on Clyden's leather shoe when I heard him scoff beside me.

"Take off your foot. It hurts," Clyden whispered in my ear, still smiling so
people would think that he was whispering something sweet.

I looked at him and gave a wide smile before leaning back to whisper.
"Let's not embarrass ourselves here."
Machine Translated by Google

He laughed in exaggeration like I said something so funny before pulling me closer so

he could whisper again in my ear. The woman, my mom, and some of her friends were
watching us, smiling.

"The only one who could embarrass himself right here is your father," he whispered.

"Oh, silly you!" I faked a laugh and hit his chest playfully like we were flirting with each
other. He also laughed and gave me a subtle glare.

"Okay, lovebirds. You can now get some food right there." My mom pointed at the
other side of the restaurant.

Clyden and I excused ourselves to go get some food like what my mom said.
Somehow, we managed to make my mom and her friends feel awkward by just
whispering to each other. We could actually get paid for being so good at acting.

"Hello, Cy." His brother suddenly appeared on his side while we were getting food. I
was actually surprised to see Charles here. I thought his family wasn't invited. "Oh,
I'm here to represent the family."

"Who asked?" Clyden didn't even give him a glance.

"Are you jealous because dad chose me instead of you?" Charles made it sound like a
joke but I knew it was a serious question to piss Clyden off.

"You're here because I declined dad's invitation but sure." The side of Clyden's lips
rose up, mocking his brother with a smirk.

"Then what are you doing here?" Charles asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Because my fiancée asked me to come. Is that enough reason for you?"

Clyden looked at him without any emotion on his face.

"You are unbelievable, Cy." Charles scoffed sarcastically. "You sure know how to ruin
someone's mood."
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"You're the one who approached me, bragging about how Dad chose you instead of me
like a whiny teenager." Clyden laughed at that. "Grow up, Charles. The only thing you
develop is how to be better at disappointing Dad."

“You fucking asshole!”

"Hey, stop!" I went in between them when Charles was about to punch
Clyden. I almost hit the table when Charles pushed me away so he could
grab Clyden's collar, causing me to let go of the plate and fall on the floor.

Clyden glanced at me for a moment before looking at his brother with so

much anger. My eyes widened when Clyden placed the plate down on the
table and suddenly grabbed the collar of his brother.

"Oh my god!" I covered my mouth when Clyden punched Charles so hard

he fell on the floor with a bleeding nose. Clyden wasn't even satisfied with
that. He knelt on one knee and grabbed the collar of his brother again,
almost choking him.

"You sure do know how to get on my fucking nerves," Clyden hissed,

tightening his grip.

"I'm-" Charles couldn't talk more. He was getting out of breath.

"The next time you touch her, I hope you know it's going to be fucking over
for you," Clyden said before letting his brother go.

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:)

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10
"Someone clean this mess, please!"

I was still on the floor, surprised about what happened in front of my eyes.
Clyden stood up and went towards me to hold both of my hands, pulling me
up until I was already standing beside him with shaking legs. My dress was
all messed up because of the wasted food. My mom immediately went to
me to clean the hem of my ruined lovely dress.

"My god! This is expensive!" My mom was panicking while wiping my

dress with a table napkin.

"I am so sorry for this," Clyden apologized to my mom's friend. "I didn't
mean to ruin your party. I just had to protect my fiancée."

"I know, I know! I.. I understand!" My mom's friend couldn't talk. I knew she
wanted to say more but she was also shocked from the mess and so
were her guests who were watching closely in circles. "Clean this mess,
please! My god!"

"My dress is ruined. I think we need to go," I told my Mom. She sighed heavily and
gave me a nod before placing the table napkin on the nearest table.

Charles was already gone when I looked around, feeling a little awkward.
Clyden glanced at me and I tried to communicate using my eyes. I wanted
out. He seemed to understand what I was trying to say so he held my hand
and pulled me out of the cruise. Good thing we were still at the port.

Clyden opened the door of the car for me before he walked around and
went inside the driver's seat. I silently put my seatbelt on as my eyes
remained in front. He started the engine and gave me a glance.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

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I didn't talk. I didn't know what I was feeling exactly. I wasn't mad at him but I was
just thinking that violence wasn't necessary, especially if it was his brother. I
remember Naomi. Sometimes, I would get hurt by her physically but deep
down I knew she didn't mean it but Clyden looked like he didn't regret what he did
to Charles. I mean, he pushed me, yes, and I was also mad at him for doing
that but they could have resolved it in a less violent way.

"You shouldn't have done that to your brother," I said, still looking in front.

"That was the only time I resorted to violence, Sam. That was a one-time thing.
Even after everything he did to me, I never hurt him back," he said under his
gritted teeth.

Because of the anger in his voice, I knew it wasn't the only reason. Maybe there
was something deeper. Maybe something even worse happened to them so I
realized that it was wrong for me to judge by just knowing the surface. Like
what he said, I didn't know his struggles.

"I have never watched a fight. That was a first." I looked at him and gave him a
small smile just to calm him down.

"You should have covered your eyes," he sarcastically said, which made me laugh.

"Where did you learn how to swing it like that?" I continued teasing,
mimicking the way he punched his brother with his fist. That was a
powerful move. "What are you, really? A member of a gang?"

"If so?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Then it's good to know that you can fight. You can protect me," I joked.
He looked at me for a second before letting out a sigh. "What?"

"I can protect you in any way," he said before shifting gears and driving away.

That caught me off-guard. Ever since I got drunk and kissed him on the cheek
without thinking, I started feeling awkward around him, especially
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when he's acting like that, even though I know it's just a joke.

I hated giving him a reaction. Hell, I never gave him a reaction because I
was afraid that he would tease me about it. The thing about Clyden was that
he could make you feel like you know him but when you actually think
about it, you can't really read his inner thoughts or even assume what he's
feeling.

One day, he was easy to read but the next day, he had his walls built up
again. I could never expect or assume anything from this guy. Was he really
hard to read or was I just making it complicated? Maybe I'm the only one
who overthinks everything.

"Is Charles a good guy?" I asked randomly.

"He is, in your eyes, because you only like seeing the good in people," he
answered back in all honesty.

At this point, I no longer get offended when he says this because he was
right. Always. And maybe that was his way of making me realize what was
wrong. Maybe all I really needed was someone who could tell me the truth,
even if it would hurt me. I knew my friends valued me the most and the
kindness I had presented to them was always reciprocated. They couldn't
hurt my feelings.

"Don't you believe that there's always good in every person?" I asked him.

"If you believe that there is always good despite the fact that they have
done more evil, you can never open your eyes to injustice," he said while
driving.

“Why?”

“Because you're always hoping that they will change. That's the thing about
being so nice, Samantha. Because you're so nice, you're living in an ideal
world where only your perspective matters. 'He could change, maybe he's
not like that'. You can say that because you're not the one affected. You
are very privileged and I am too but we can
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both do something about our privileges.” He glanced at me for a second

before turning the steering wheel.

"I am trying," I whispered.

“I know, but I also know you're doing it because you're kind and guilty, not
because you know the suffering of the people on the streets. The real
fight is outside. Immerse yourself when you're ready and you will see how
bloody it is outside our privilege bubble.”

I nodded and looked outside the window. Clyden didn't sound mad at all.
He was very patient and calm with me and he never forced me to do
anything. I was just glad that I was slowly starting to feel comfortable with
this topic. He was right and it made me realize that I used to avoid that topic
too much because I was scared that I would hear my own father's name.

"I admire you," I told him. "I wish I could be like you."

"Don't wish for that." He glanced at me again and gave me a small smile.
"Because you are your own person, Maui."

Why does everything he says make sense? Well, except when he was
being so sarcastic. I remained silent the whole ride, just looking outside the
window and hoping to see the world in another perspective. I reflected on
his words and it made me realize a lot of things, but I knew it was not
enough. Not until I could finally go against my own family.

"Can you stop by a convenience store? I want to buy some beer," I told him.

He gave me a silent nod. Like I said, he stopped the car in front of a

convenience store and even parked it so he could go inside with me. I
assumed that he was also going to buy something so I just let him follow
me.

I put 6 cans of beer in my basket while Clyden was walking around to find something. I
also bought a bottle of vodka and a few bags of chips. I stopped walking when
Clyden suddenly put four bottles of coffee in my basket.
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"You are so unhealthy," he said while looking at my chips.

“Okay, Doc,” I sarcastically replied, rolling my eyes. I walked past him to the
counter.

"It's still a long time." He chuckled and followed me from behind.

"Who knows? Maybe my daughter could be your patient the next time we meet?"
The side of my lips rose when I glanced at him. "After ending this stupid
engagement."

He didn't answer. He just stared at me for a moment before looking away, getting
his wallet from his back pocket. I knew what he was planning to do so I preceded
him and handed my money to the cashier guy. He looked at me in betrayal but
he didn't complain anymore.

"I'll pay you back for my coffee," he said in a low voice.

"No need. That's my payment for your gas." I was about to get the paper bags
but he already reached for them.

“Then you need to pay me more. Gas is expensive.” He grinned before passing
me. I frowned and frowned before following him out of the store.

I thought we were going straight home but he suggested that we should just grab
dinner outside since our helpers knew we would have dinner on the cruise. What
a surprise that he wasn't in a hurry to go home to study.
Maybe he already finished studying yesterday.

"I want pizza," I told him.

“Pizza it is.” He nodded.

We parked in front of a famous Italian restaurant I searched on Google that was

just around the corner. It was the nearest one and he didn't scream so I guess
it was fine for him. I was going to cheat on my diet because this day was
stressful for me.
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There were a lot of people but since there were only two of us, we easily got a table. Was
it my first time dining in a restaurant with him? I can't remember. I was just hoping
that I wouldn't see anyone I knew.

Clyden let me order first before saying his order. When the waiter left, silence
surrounded us again. We were seated in front of each other so it was even more awkward. I
don't know if he, too, has been counted. He looked so casual and calm.

"Do your friends know that we're engaged?" I asked randomly. I was just trying to look for
something we could talk about. Communicating with people was never hard for me but
everything was different with him.

"Ridge knows," he said. "He was at my graduation party."

"Your other friends?" I asked again. "I could remember the lady's name. Is it Eva?"

"Evianne?" He raised a brow after remembering his friend's full name. I assumed Eva was
her nickname. "No, she doesn't know, as well as my other friends."

"Are you close to her?" I couldn't stop myself from asking. I just remembered how
she leaned on him and whispered to him casually while smiling.

"We're friends." His brows furrowed when he looked at me, leaning his chin on his palm
while his elbow was placed on the table. He was watching me intently like I said something
wrong.

"Really?" I bit my lower lip, still looking at him. I could sense that there was something
more than that. "Did you date her before?"

“What kind of question is that?” His brow furrowed even more. Why couldn't he answer, huh?

"It's a yes or no question." I shrugged and sipped on my glass of water casually even
though my heart was already beating so fast inside my chest.
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"Did you and your Sevi date before?" He raised an eyebrow.

I choked.

I choked on my water when I heard Sevi's name! How the hell did he remember
that name when I only said it twice? Was it twice? Ah, I was drunk! I thought I already
explained what happened with Sevi? This guy likes holding grudges!

I coughed and put the glass down on the table before wiping my mouth with the table
napkin. The water was dripping down my throat, almost making me cough. His reaction
did not change at all. He was raising a brow at me, waiting for my answer.

"I told you. We're just friends!" I sounded so defensive. "And why are you asking me
that?"

“You too. Why are you asking if Eva and I dated?” He fired back.
“Are you jealous?”

“What?!” My eyebrows furrowed. I was about to lash out when the waiter arrived to
serve our food. I sat quietly in my seat and waited for the food to be placed on the table.
Clyden was already smirking while sipping on his glass of water. He looked so
satisfied when he got a reaction from me.

I smiled at the waiter when he left the table. I was just waiting for him to go before arguing
with Clyden again.

"Then why are you asking about Sevi? Are you jealous?" I asked him too.

"Why would I be?" He looked so cocky when he smirked after saying that.
He looked like he even wanted to laugh at it.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

His lips formed an amused smile after letting out a small laugh. "Who's your fiancé,
Samantha?"
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That made me silent! He took advantage of that moment to put food on his plate.
He was still smiling when he bit on his pizza while looking at me like he wanted
to laugh. It was obvious he wanted to tease me and of course, it worked! I
just smiled and started eating.

I could still hear his laugh while eating but when I looked at him, his face changed.
He would look at me with his innocent eyes and it was more irritating. I just
smiled and tried to finish my food.
He took out some leftover chicken for the dogs.

"Why are you so angry?" Clyden asked while driving home.

"You are pissing me off." I glared at him.

“I was just joking, okay? You're welcome.” He chuckled again. The sound
of his laughter was even more annoying.

When we arrived at home, the dogs welcomed us with their wagging tails.
Clyden carried around Maple like a baby even though the dog was big. I caressed
Summer's head and also Hail's before placing the leftover food and the
drinks we bought inside the fridge. For sure the helpers already fed them for
tonight.

“Who didn’t eat?” Clyden talked to the dogs after checking their food bowls. “Hail,
it wasn’t eaten.”

Hail howled like a wolf like he was trying to talk back to Clyden. Clyden frowned
and bent his knees to talk to Hail like he was talking to a child. His voice was very
calm and soothing. Pedia is his thing.

I smiled and went upstairs to take a shower. I was still wearing my dirty dress.
After taking a shower and doing my night care routine, I already slept so I could
wake up early for my class the next day.

I woke up around 4 AM to prepare for school. I was still sleepy when I went
outside my room with a towel on my shoulder. I was about to enter the
bathroom when it suddenly opened, revealing Clyden's half-naked body. Hey
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was drying his hair with the towel placed around his neck. Another towel was wrapped
around his waist. I woke up!

"Ugh." I looked away from him. It felt like a sin.

“That's what you look like when you're awake.” He pointed at my face. “You look
like a sleepy panda.”

“Get out of my way!” I pushed him in annoyance before entering the bathroom. I closed
the door and locked it before taking my clothes off to take a shower and also brush my
teeth after.

I was wearing a white off-shoulder top and a simple pair of high-waisted ripped jeans
partnered with my white pair of shoes. I only brought a tote bag when I left the kitchen.
Clyden was already in his uniform when I saw him leaning against the countertop.

I poured water inside my hydroflask while he was watching me from behind. He

was holding a bowl of cereal. That was his breakfast. Me, I'll just order from the
coffee shop. I wanted to leave the house early. It was Monday so the traffic was bad.

"Good morning?" He greeted me but it sounded like a question.

“Good morning,” I said while closing the lid of my hydroflask. I put it back in my bag
before grabbing my car keys hanging near the door. “I'm going now.”

“Be careful,” he simply said.

"You, too," I said without looking at him. The dogs were still sleeping so I left the house
without kissing them goodbye.

It was still early when I arrived at Ateneo so I still had time to buy my breakfast in
Starbucks. I met Raylee there so we walked back together. I suddenly remembered
Jaron, the guy who was with my sister the other day.
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"Hey, you know Jaron, right? The guy from SOM? Your sister dated him, right?" I
asked her.

"Dated? I think they still have a thing on. I'm not so sure, though. Jaron hasn't visited
the house since last month," she said before sipping on her tea. "Why are you
suddenly bringing him up? Did something happen?
"Is he still teasing you?"

"No, uh, never mind." I couldn't look at her. Why was Jaron with my sister the other day?
Maybe just friends, right? But why would he hold her waist? Wait, Sevi is doing that to
us. Maybe I was just judgmental or protective because it was my sister.

“Hey, by the way! Why did you suddenly disappear from the party, huh?! It was too early
when I saw you walking out with a guy! You, huh! Who did you hook up with?” Raylee
nudged me, smirking.

"T-that was my friend!" I lied. "He brought me home after a few drinks, Raylee! I
shouldn't have taken consecutive tequila shots."

"It's really you! You get drunk when there's a handsome guy!" Raylee laughed again.

"How judgmental!" I glared at her. "My head was really spinning that night so I had to go.
I didn't get to say goodbye to you guys but I messaged the group chat the next day!"

"Yeah, so did you have sex?" She asked, smiling.

"Why the hell-" I looked at her with wide eyes. "Hey, we didn't. I told you we're just
friends, right?"

“With benefits?” He didn't give up. “I mean, I was kind of drunk too so I couldn't see his
face clearly but I remember his side profile and he looks hot! Where are your friends
from and how handsome they are? And until now, I still don't have a boyfriend?! Explain!”

"Why? You want me to reto?" I laughed.

Machine Translated by Google

“I'm going to tell the guy who brought you home!” She hit my arm softly out of excitement.

"What?! No way!" I shook my head immediately. She looked at me for a second before
her smirk became wider. She just trapped me with that.

"Friends, huh," she repeated, mockingly. "Oh, sure! It's friends. Maybe the reason you
left your condo is because you're already living with your secret boyfriend? Oh my gosh,
that sounds so exciting!"

"I'm not living with my secret boyfriend!" I denied again. Well, it wasn't a lie. Clyden wasn't
my boyfriend.

Raylee wasn't convinced with that. I actually felt bad that I had to lie to my friends but I was
the one who told Clyden not to tell anyone about our engagement. I didn't want my
own words to bite back.

The whole day was just a normal day. I had org stuff after school and while we were having
a meeting, Luna sent a message in the girls' group chat.

Luna: Isn't there anything there?

Via: girl Monday Monday

Kierra: if that's Yanna, G immediately.

Luna: HE'S GONE GIRL LEAVE HIM ALONE. Let's go, nomi :( I'm with you, Sevirous.
We're together now.

Kierra: I hope everyone is with their boy best friend

Via: Huh

Our group thought that Yanna transferred to a school in Nueva Ecija because of
financial problems. Luna actually offered to help with money but Yanna refused, of
course. To this day, they are still sulking a bit.
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Sam: there is class tomorrow girls. drink responsibly. why don't we just eat dinner
together? can i go there in spain?

Luna: GG, as long as you bring food <3, come here to the roundabout, we'll be
together here in the condo.

Via: girl it's getting dark

Luna: My vision of you will also be darkened.

Via: HAHAHAHAHA THIS IS IT

I laughed before hiding my phone again. After the meeting, I drove straight to España just
to eat dinner with my friends at Luna and Kierra's condo.
They are together in the unit since they are cousins and that is more economical. That was
good since Kierra needed a companion, especially now. Luna shouldn't leave her
alone and I also didn't think that she would.

I also went through the drive-thru so I could buy extra food. I was just in the hallway of the
condo when I heard Luna's noise. She was the loudest among us and also, the
nastiest. They left the door open for me so I didn't knock. When I went inside, Luna was
throwing pillows at Sevi while Kierra was cooking something. Via was just doing her plates
on the table.

“If I do this, it will break, you two will be cut off from me,” Via warned Sevi and Luna.

“Luh, it's just an apple.” Luna hit Sevi's head with the pillow again. She had to tiptoe just to
reach his head. “Hi, Sam! You're here! Omg, he's bringing food! Please tell me if it's
fries or a burger!”

"You're right." I placed the paper bag on the dining table. "Are you here often, Sev?"

"Because that's a parasite in the food," Kierra answered. "Too lazy to cook."

"No. He doesn't have anyone to eat with. He doesn't even have a boyfriend!" Luna laughed
at him hysterically.
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Sevi also laughed sarcastically and pointed at Luna's face. “Ah, swapped
nearby! Haha!”

Via sighed heavily when the two started hitting each other with pillows again. I just laughed
and sat on the couch while waiting for the food. I took my phone out to send Yanna a picture of
the group. She replied in an instant.

From: Yanna

I miss you girls :(

To: Yanna

We miss you more. Sevi, don't you miss her?

From: Yanna

No.

I laughed and hid my phone again when Kierra placed the food on the table.
She also served the plates so I stood up to help her. I called everyone so we
could finally sit together in one table. Being with them was still so
comforting for me even though they didn't know about my problems. They had
already become my comfort ever since highschool.

“I’ll pray,” Kierra said.

"Hey, pray. Get out first." Sevi elbowed Luna.

“Girl, let's see who gets burned first,” Luna fired back.

“Stop it, okay? It’s at the table,” Via scolded the two of them.
Luna frowned and fell silent to pray.

We ate after that. They were talking about UST that I couldn't relate to. I was
just laughing at their stories.
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“There's an outsider here. Guys, let's help the Atenean,” Luna whispered. They
all looked at me with a creepy smile.

"This is unfair." I rolled my eyes.

"Luna, it seems, has a grudge against Atenean," Kierra teased.

"Hey, foul, sis!" Luna complained.

After eating, I helped with washing the dishes. It was already around 9 PM and I already
knew there would be traffic on the way home so I was planning to stay for a few more
minutes. Besides, the house is just a short distance away.

“Sam, someone is calling! Should I answer?” Sevi shouted from the living room.

"Yeah, okay!" I said. It was probably Raylee. She was calling me earlier to ask about the
assessment. I forgot to send her a reply.

I wiped my hands after washing. When I went to the living room, I caught Sevi placing my
phone back inside my bag with a scared look on his face. My brows furrowed with his
reaction.

“Come on, Sam!” Sevi covered his mouth. "I'm angry!"

"What?" My forehead furrowed even more. Sevi gestured for me to follow him inside the
bedroom so we could talk about it. That was when I realized that he belonged to Clyden.
Clyden was the one who called me!

“I said, hello, Sam is washing the dishes. Why did you call?”
Sevi's story after entering the room. "I thought he was okay, bro! Why do you look angry?!
Where are we?! I didn't say, we're at the condo!"

"Oh my gosh, you dumb ass." I massaged my head. I forgot to tell Clyden that I was going
out for dinner with my friends. "I think I need to go home now."

"Hey, Sam! Is he mad, Sam? Sam!" Sevi was panicking. He followed me from behind
when I left the bedroom.
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"Don't worry. It's fine," I assured him while getting my bag. "Girls, I need to go now.
Thank you for tonight!"

I kissed them on their cheeks before leaving the unit. I drove straight home, thinking
about Clyden's reaction. I knew Sevi's words sounded so wrong but why would he
care, right? He shouldn't care.

I inhaled a large amount of air before going inside the house. Summer came to me so I
gave her a pat on the head before looking around. Clyden wasn't around so he was
probably inside his room. I went upstairs and stopped in front of his room. Should I greet
him and let him know that I was already home?

"Should I?" I asked myself.

I was about to knock when Clyden suddenly opened the door, making me step
backwards. Hail left the room and ran in the hallway, leaving me with Clyden. He was
wearing a white shirt and a pair of sweatshorts. He had his specs on so he was probably
reading something.

"What?" He raised a brow and fixed his hair using his hand.

"Nothing. I'm home," I told him casually. At least I tried to make it sound casual.

"Oh, I thought you're going to stay in your boyfriend's condo." He laughed sarcastically,
crossing his arms on his chest.

"That's not my boyfriend and it's not his condo," I defended myself.

“So it's yours?” He leaned sideways against the door frame.

"Does it matter?" I asked again, raising my eyebrows. "Do you care? Why are you so
curious about my love life? Who cares if I'm dating someone?"

"Me," he replied seriously.

"What?" My brows furrowed.

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He put his tongue on the inside of his cheek before pursing his lips and
looking at me again. He looked like he was trying to stop himself from
talking but failed.

“Date me,” he whispered.

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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11
“What? Are you serious?”

My brows furrowed after hearing what he said. There was no inch of regret in his eyes
but he just stood there without saying anything. I was waiting for him to say that he wasn't
serious about it but it never came.

"What do you mean date you? Date? As in.. Date?" I blinked twice, still confused.

He closed his eyes for a moment before shaking his head like he was disappointed
in me for not getting what he meant. What really did his words mean? He said 'date me',
right? Did I hear that right? Was I delusional?

"Let's try to make this work," he said. Finally, he talked!

"What do you mean? What are we going to work on?" I already knew what he was talking
about but I was just waiting for him to say it out loud. It should come from him, right?
I didn't want to assume things anymore. With Clyden, everything was uncertain.

"Our non-existent relationship," he answered sarcastically. "I mean, if we want to

continue living with each other, we need to make this work."

"So you want us to date?" I almost laughed at that. It sounded so funny after saying
it out loud. It was just ridiculous.

"Let's hang out," he corrected what I just said.

"Why? Because you don't date and you don't want to break that?" I asked
sarcastically, raising my eyebrows. He clearly said he didn't like dating, right? So what
changed his mind?

“Honestly, I don't care about what I could break, Samantha,” he replied seriously to
me. He adjusted his stance, shifting his weight on both feet. “I can date if I want to.”
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"Don't worry about 'living together' because first, I'm already moving back to
my condo next week and second, we won't be 'husband and wife'. We're
breaking the engagement, right?" I asked him once again. That's
what we agreed on and I wanted to follow the rules.

"Of course," he answered in a low voice. "You're moving next week?"

"Yes. My mom said I should live with you for 2 weeks or even a month so I
can already move out next week. I'm tired of waking up early and driving to
school everyday. Aren't you?" I asked him back.

"I can't leave my dogs," he told me. "So I'm staying here."

The dogs! I also didn't want to move out because of them but I wanted to be
practical. It was so tiring to deal with traffic from Monday to Friday and gas
is also expensive. Maybe I can just visit during the weekend? I should!

"Do what you want. I can visit the dogs on the weekend. I hope they won't forget about
me." I gave him a small smile before going inside my room, ignoring what he said earlier
about us 'hanging out'. Gosh, it was so awkward.

It was even more awkward the next morning because when I went
downstairs around 5 AM, he was already seated on the breakfast table with
a coffee beside his book. He looked like he didn't sleep but he was already
ready for school in his uniform.

"Did you sleep?" I asked him while getting breakfast.

"No," he answered shortly and immediately got off the high chair to put away
the things.

Was his answer cold or was I just overthinking it? He always answered
like that, right? But there was something wrong with it this time. I wanted to
talk to him again but he already left the house without interacting with me
again. He didn't even look at me.
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"Okay," I whispered to myself. "It's okay. He's just in a bad mood because
he didn't sleep. Poor him."

Oh well, I just did my morning routine before driving to school. I was just wearing a
simple Ateneo shirt and a pair of white shorts. I was kind of lazy to pick an outfit today so
I resorted to that one. I just took back the white scarf in my hair. I tied it in a ribbon.

"Good news! I'm moving back to my condo next week!" I told my friends
while we were eating bread at Matteo Up after our classes in the morning.
"We can finally go back to our old routine."

"Yes, hang out at Sam's condo after class with chicken and beer!" Ayessa
sounded excited. "Why are you moving back, by the way? Where are you
staying right now?"

Raylee let out a meaningful laugh after the question so I gave her a soft
glare. She almost choked on her food because she was laughing too hard.
The girls looked at her in confusion, wondering what was funny about the
question.

"At the house, of course," I answered. They would automatically think of

my father's mansion even though I was belonging to the house where
Clyden and I were staying in. It wasn't a lie! Their interpretation is just different.

Michel was talking about some school related stuff when someone caught
my attention. I made sure that it was Jaron with Raylee's younger sister.
They were walking together and he was even carrying her things. I looked
at Raylee and nudged her.

"They're still together?" I asked.

“Who?” He followed my gaze. “Oh, I told you, I don't know.

Riya and I have nothing to worry about but yeah, I guess they still are.
Why? Do you think it's weird because he used to be your suitor?"

"No," I whispered and shook my head. “It's nothing.”

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I just decided to ask Naomi about it so after class, I drove straight back to the mansion,
hoping that she was already there but instead, I ran into Mommy. She was talking to
someone on the phone and she looked so stressed out.

"I don't care! Make up a story!" Mom said. "Fix that. Make sure the business is
safe or we might lose our clients. You know, they will come at our families."

She suddenly stopped talking when she saw me enter the living room. She put the phone
down and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek as a greeting. She smiled at me like she wasn't
going on full monster mode earlier. It was kind of scary.

"What brings you here, Maui?" She asked in a soft voice. She was soft-spoken and I
got it from her. "Do you need anything? Do you and Clyden have a problem? Don't worry
about what happened at the party. The Ramirez family already reached out and sent
their apologies. I made sure your name will not be hurt."

"No, we don't have a problem and I already told you that I'm moving out of the house next
week, right? I'm still doing that," I told her because she was expecting for me to change my
mind. “Where's Naomi?”

"Right. I don't know if he's home or not." She looked at the stairs, trying to remember if
Naomi already went to her room today.

"How could you not know?" My brows furrowed. "Mom, she's a kid. She needs attention.
Especially motherly love."

"I am not her mother!" She looked disgusted when I said it. My lips parted in shock after
realizing how cruel she was. "And her mother died because of her. It's her fault."

"Mom, do you even hear yourself?" I tried to tone my voice down. As much as possible, I
didn't want to shout at her. I was afraid Naomi would hear our conversation if she was
around.
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"Yes, I hear myself. Her mother died because that kid wanted so badly to swim at
that stupid beach." My mom rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, my heart started to race so fast after feeling so heated. It wasn't my first time
hearing about how her mother drowned saving her but the way my mom said it with intended
harshness just made me feel so mad. I wanted Naomi to live with me. I wanted her out of
this house.

I was about to lash out when the door opened and Naomi went inside, her clothes a little
wet from the rain. I didn't even know that it was raining.
I only heard when she came in. She gave me a glance before going upstairs. I looked at
my mom before following Naomi from behind.

"Hey," I tried to call her but she was ignoring me. I followed her through the hallway but
she immediately went inside her room. When she was about to close it, I placed my hand
on the door to stop her. I screamed when my hand got stuck.

"Oh my god!" Naomi opened the door and immediately held my hand in panic.

"Hey, it's fine, it's fine," I assured her even though my knuckles were all red. Three
fingers were bleeding after hitting the broken door frame.

"Oh my god!" Naomi didn't know what to do. She let go of my hand and ran around her
room just to look for something to treat my hand with. She went back, holding a clean
cloth. She tried to hand it to me with shaking hands.

"It's okay," I told her, getting the cloth from her using my other hand so I can wrap it
around my knuckles. She didn't slam the door so hard so my hand was luckily fine. I
could feel that no bone was dislocated or fractured, but it was bleeding because it
hit the broken frame.

"Why would you do that?!" She yelled, still panicking.

"I wanted to talk to you," I honestly answered. "I saw you with Jaron the other day. Is
there something going on between the two of you?"
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"No, we're just friends!" She told me. "Please, don't meddle with my relationship
with other people. I'm not a kid anymore! I can make decisions for myself!"

"Even though it will hurt you?" I looked at her, still holding my hand.

"Everything hurts me, Sam. I'm already numb," she said without any emotion
in her face. That one scared me. "So please, just go away. I don't need your
protection."

"You can always go to me." I gave her a smile. I wanted to give her a hug but my
hand was injured a little and she would probably just push me. She didn't say
anything. She just closed the door and locked it to prevent me from going inside.

I sighed heavily before leaving. I didn't say goodbye to Mommy. I couldn't even
face her after hearing everything she just said about Naomi. If she can't act as a
mother for her, then I will, whatever the consequences might be.

Good thing my car was parked at the garage so I didn't have to worry about
rain. I drove straight home but still got stuck in traffic because it was already night so
it took me a while to get home. I parked my car beside Clyden's.
Since I didn't have an umbrella, the rain was heavy, and the door was far away, I just
made sure my phone was inside my bag before deciding to run.

I was about to go for it after closing the door of my car when Clyden suddenly
appeared in front of me, holding an umbrella. I almost bumped into him after
turning around so fast.

“Hey,” I whispered, a little surprised.

I saw him glance at my hand before getting my bag so he could carry it.
Without saying anything, he started walking so I followed him. The umbrella was
right next to me so I was the one reading from his shoulder. He was still wearing his
uniform so he was probably just going home.
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"Thank you," I told him when we reached the doorstep. The dogs welcomed me
inside so I gave them kisses on their heads. I went straight to the bathroom
so I could take the dirt off me. My clothes are also a little wet.

I was wearing my sky blue pajamas when I went downstairs just to get some
beer. Clyden was already at the living room with his polo opened, revealing
his maroon shirt inside. A medicine kit was placed on the coffee table, beside his
book.

"Come here," he suddenly said.

I thought he was pertaining to Summer so I ignored him. I took a glass to put ice
in but he talked again.

“Summer, get your mom.”

I blinked twice and placed the empty glass on the countertop when Summer walked
to me and moved her paw up like she was telling me to come. What a smart girl. I
caressed her head before walking to Clyden.

“Why?” I asked him.

"Show me your hand," he gestured for me to take a seat beside him.

I sat beside him but he stood up and sat on the wooden coffee table in front of me
so we could see each other clearly. He held my hand carefully to look at the wound.
It already stopped bleeding. It was a good thing, right?

“What happened?” he asked.

“It got stuck in the door and it hit the broken door frame so it got hurt,” I explained.
Of course, I didn't include the explanation why my hand got stuck. I didn't want
Naomi to get a bad reputation.

“Are you moving?” He asked again.

I tried moving my hand and fingers. "Yes, but my knuckles hurt because there is
a wound so when I stretch it, he gets stretched too. Why?"
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"Does your hand feel numb?" I shook my head. "Does it feel cold?" I shook my
head again. "Luckily, the bleeding already stopped then. If you want to see a
doctor just to make sure that you did not damage your hand, please do.
The least I can do is treat your wound.”

He opened his emergency kit and placed my hand on his thigh. My hand
position was so awkward so I looked away. I shouldn't even feel like this!
Samantha, get a grip! I wonder what he'll think of me.

"Why do you want to become a doctor?" I asked him. "Is it not because of
your family?"

"It was at first," he answered while treating my hand. He looked so serious in

what he was doing. "But Charles used to hit me physically when we were kids.
I learned how to treat myself, to cope with it since I didn't want to tell my
parents about it. It occurred to me that I wanted to treat more people other
than myself. Kids, especially."

"So that's why you chose Pedia."

"I wanted to help people." He let go of my hand so he could find something to

cover my knuckles with. "In all aspects. Fighting against the injustice,
standing with them, donating, treating them. Whatever I can do to help. I
have the privilege to do something. I don't want to close my eyes and ignore
everything that is happening."

"Do you think bad politicians regret what they're doing?" I asked him. I
remembered the conversation with my mom. She was as harsh as my father.

“You know, for me, once you enter a job where you are in charge of the lives
of so many people, you can't just make mistakes.
"Especially if you are what the people expect," he answered back.

He looked a little irritated now but I'm sure it wasn't because of me. Maybe
he remembered something or someone.

"Doctors, if they make a mistake, can be sued, their license revoked. What
good is your repentance if so many lives have already been saved?"
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lost? First of all, you should be careful. You don't just 'regret' it. You should
be held accountable,” he added.

I heard so many bad things about my father but he never mentioned

anything to the family so I didn't know what to believe in. It was hard for
me. I grew up seeing him as a man I could trust but that trust got tarnished
ever since he got involved with another woman. I felt betrayed.

And, I could say that he was still continuing to betray me after hearing all
the news about him. Not only do I trust him but many people trust him too.

Clyden placed my hand on my thigh after wrapping it with a bandage.

While he was putting the kit back inside the cabinet, I stood up and got
myself a can of beer. I put ice on an empty glass before pouring beer on it.
It tastes better when it's colder.

I sat on the couch and sighed heavily. Clyden sat beside me and started reading
something. He already changed his shirt after getting wet in the rain earlier. I was just
watching him study while drinking my beer. The conversation stressed me out.

"Have you ever talked back to your parents?" I asked him.

"If I could, do you think both of us would be here?" He asked without

looking at me. I slowly nodded, realizing how we got into this situation in
the first place.

"Right," I whispered. I didn't want to bother him anymore so after finishing

one can, I already went upstairs to do my night care routine.

Nothing really happened the whole week. Clyden did not go home for two
nights straight but he informed me that he was studying with Ridge in his
condo. It was Friday when Mich invited us to a party. She said her friend's
friend and they wanted the party to be big so she asked her to invite a lot
of people.

When I got home to get dressed, Clyden's car was still gone. I was just
wearing a black leather skirt and a velvet cropped top partnered
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with my black heels and black sling bag. I heard they rented a house for the
party so I was excited.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to be here?" I asked Michel again.

"Oh come on! It's a birthday party! Just once!" Raylee pulled me inside
the house. It was a bit noisy inside because of the loud music and people
having fun in the backyard. I guess we were already a little late to the party
since I could see some people making out. I laughed and just went with Mich
and Raylee.

"Here! This is Elle! She's from UP!" Michel introduced us to the birthday girl.
"Elle, here are my Atenean friends."

“Hello!” Elle looked so nice when she shook our hands. “Just take a look.
"The drinks are in the kitchen!" She was about to say more when she got distracted.

"Elle, we're going to open the Jack Daniel's, ah." I looked at the woman in
shock. It was Eva! Clyden's friend. She seemed to recognize me
because she gave me a smile.

“Okay.” Elle gave her a nod before Eva left. “Sorry. It's my sister. Just
wait, ah. I'm just going to get something. Just go around!”

“Happy birthday!” I told him before he left. I suddenly felt uncomfortable after
seeing a friend of Clyden. Was he around? I kept looking around. “Let's go
outside, Raylee.”

Raylee nodded and pulled me towards the backyard. There were chairs and
tables there and at each table, there were people drinking. It wasn't as big as
the parties Raylee and I threw but it was still fun. If only I hadn't been more
aware that Clyden might be around.

"Oh god," I whispered when I saw a familiar face.

"Samantha?" Ridge, Clyden's friend, stopped walking when he saw me.

“Hey! You're here. I'm Ridge, by the way, if you don't remember. See you later.
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"We went to the club last time. I think we always meet for drinks, huh?"

He offered his hand so I took it. "Hi, Ridge." I looked behind him
consciously.

“Are you looking for Cy?” He laughed after realizing it. “He was with Eva
inside to get a bottle but that was just for a moment. That's our table, oh.”
He still teaches.

I nodded and he left after Mich and I sat down at the table.
Some random people sat with us and I interacted with them. Some were
from La Salle and others were from UST and FEU. I was talking to the guy I
met when I suddenly saw Clyden walking towards their table. He was
with Eva and he was holding a bottle.

When he sat down, Ridge whispered something to him so he looked around.

At that point I looked away and just focused my attention on the man I
was talking to. He was telling me a story and I could feel that he was a little
drunk.

When I looked at Clyden again, he was already pouring water on his glass.
Next to it was a glass of whiskey. He hadn't even touched it yet. He looked
at Eva when she leaned on him and whispered something to him. He gave
her a small smile and nodded.

I was just drinking a cocktail. I wasn't in the mood to get drunk. I also don't
understand why I was looking at their table earlier. I caught Eva and Clyden
whispering to each other again. Eve smiled and looked at Clyden's lips. I
could see her affection for him. I knew it.

They were playing cards. I still don't see Clyden drink alcohol. He was just
drinking water. Ridge and Eva were both a little drunk, judging by the color
of their faces. They were already a bit red.

I glanced at Clyden's hand and noticed that he wasn't wearing his ring. I laughed
sarcastically before taking another shot. I didn't know why it was making me mad. I
wasn't wearing mine either but he told me that he never took it off. What a lie!
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"I'm going to the restroom," I told Raylee. I just wanted to retouch my makeup. It
was a little hot outside or maybe it was the madness I was feeling inside me?

I had a hard time finding the restroom. Good thing someone pointed to the stairs so
I went up to the second floor and found the powder room at the end of the hallway,
next to the balcony. I retouched my makeup inside and also sprayed perfume.

After I left, I was taken aback again when I saw Clyden outside. I don't know if he
was waiting for me or if he was waiting to use the
restroom.

"You can go inside now." I pointed at the door before walking away.

He held my arm to stop me from walking away. There were people at the other end
of the hallway and we were at the dark side of it so I hoped no one would see
us together. I was scared of Raylee's reaction!

"Why are you here? You know Elle?" He asked with curiosity. He didn't drink
alcohol. He doesn't smell like alcohol, huh?

"No, my friend is a friend of hers so she invited us," I answered in a cold voice.

"Let's go home together," he told me when I was about to walk away again.

"No, thanks. I'm with Raylee. You can just drive your friends home." I faced him
and gave him a fake smile. His brows furrowed a bit when he realized that my
tone was a bit off.

“Is there a problem?” He asked again. “Are you angry because I didn't come home?
I texted you, huh?”

"I'm not mad," I whispered softly. I didn't want people to hear us. It will just catch
attention. "You know what? I think it's better to bring your friend, Eva, home."
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“Why would I do that?” His brow furrowed even more. “It's his sister's birthday. They're
going home together.”

"Oh, okay." I shrugged and tried to walk away again but he held my arm and pulled
me back. I scowled and glared at him. "What?!"

"Are you jealous?" He asked again, his eyes piercing into mine, trying to find answers.

“I am not,” I denied again. I wasn't even sure of what I was feeling at the moment. I
was so confused. Why am I feeling this? I shouldn't be, right? Before, I didn't care!

“If not, we can go home together,” he told me again. “Did you bring your car?”

"No! And I don't want to be with you!" I frowned even more. My voice sounded like a
kid! It was annoying to my ears. "Where's your ring, by the way? Why do you need to lie
that you never took it off?"

"What?" His brows furrowed more. "Why are you looking for my ring?"

I stepped forward and pointed at his chest. "You're engaged to me."

The side of his lips formed an amused smile. "I know that," he whispered.
He looked like he was enjoying it.

"So where is it?" I asked again, taking another step forward until he was already
leaning against the wall with me in front of him. The smirk on his face did not go away
when he looked down on me. "I looked for it and-"

I suddenly stopped talking when he held my chin and moved his face near mine. My
lips parted in shock when he stared at my eyes. I swallowed hard as my eyes
automatically closed when I felt his lips on mine.

I held on his shoulders for support as his other hand circled around my waist to
deepen his kiss. When he let me go, I was already breathing so heavily.
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“Here.” He showed me his other hand with the ring on it. "I guess you were
looking at the wrong hand."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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12
“Oh my god.”

I pushed him away immediately as he loosened his hold on my waist. He

looked away and bit his lower lip. I could see the instant regret in his eyes
for kissing me. Kissing me! He kissed me! He suddenly kissed me and I
closed my damn eyes!

"Oh my god," I whispered again, stepping away from him, holding my

lower lip with my thumb.

I looked at him who was still leaning against the wall with his hands inside
his pockets. He couldn't look at me now. He licked his lower lip and
swallowed hard without saying anything. He looked like he was stopping
himself from saying anything.

"You.. You're really unbelievable!" I gasped dramatically before marching

away from him so fast I bumped into Raylee on my way down the stairs.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She held my arm in concern when she saw my face.
"Do you want to go home now? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I want to go home now, Raylee," I said firmly.

She furrowed her brows in confusion but she still nodded and went with me downstairs so
we could find Michel. I was looking around consciously just to see if Clyden was following
us. When we saw Michel and Elle, we bid our goodbyes before leaving the house. Good
thing Raylee was already sober so she drove for me.

My mind was so clouded and confused the whole ride! I kept on touching
my lips with wide eyes while looking outside the window. I knew Raylee
was already getting weirded out because of my silence. I'm not that quiet.
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Did he just kiss me? I mean, it wasn't my first kiss since I already dated a lot of
guys before but this was the only time I got so weirded out and confused!
What was that kiss for? Does he like me? Oh my god. I couldn't stop
thinking about it. The kiss replayed inside my head. It was more embarrassing
that I even closed my eyes for him!

"Seriously, are you okay?" Raylee asked for the 5th time since we left. "Did someone
violate your personal space back there? Do you want me to turn the car around
and give that man a smack?"

"Have you ever been kissed by a man you're not even dating?" I asked her while
looking in front.

I saw how she glanced at me through my side with wide eyes before turning her
attention back on the road. She suddenly made weird seal noises out of excitement.
I looked at her with a soft glare just to make her stop screaming.

“Oh my god! Who the hell kissed you? You said you were just going to the
restroom and then you were kissing someone upstairs?!” She sounded so
excited. “I mean, there were a lot of handsome guys at that birthday party but, oh my
gosh, who is the lucky guy?”

"Raylee, I'm not happy! It will make things so awkward between us!"
I complained to him.

"Oh, so you know him as in you KNOW him? That's why you're so concerned
about being awkward around him?" She asked again and I nodded. "Well, he likes
you, obviously. Why would he kiss you if he doesn't?"

"What?! No way!" I denied. She held her chest for a moment out of surprise by my
sudden snap. "No way, Raylee. He doesn't like me. Why would he like me? We
never got along! We're the total opposite of each other!"

"And that's what makes you compatible." She laughed and playfully winked
at me. "You see, it's not about your similarities and differences. It's how you work
them out to fit."
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"I swear, Raylee. We're not even friends. We're just strangers who.. know
each other." That sounded so dumb after saying it out loud.

"Then you're not strangers. You're more than being just 'strangers'. What if
you try to be honest with yourself this time, Samantha? You're so honest
with other people but you seem to enjoy lying to yourself," she told me.

Oh my god. I needed to talk to Yanna. Maybe I could stay with her this
weekend? I was already planning to pack my things tomorrow and move
out on Sunday but I guess the plan changed. When I got home, I went
straight to my room to pack my clothes.

I had to hit my head softly with my hand because I couldn't think of

anything but that kiss. His lips were so soft against mine, like they were
perfectly made for each other. Like they really fit. Oh my god, what was I
thinking?

I left some of my clothes since I plan to visit every weekend, just for the
dogs. I also left some of my essentials. I will just buy another set for my condo
so I don't have to carry a lot. I already finished packing but Clyden still hasn't
come home.

I checked the time after putting my things at the back of my car. There
weren't many of them since I left my other things behind. When I saw a car
approaching, I immediately went inside my car and drove away, not
knowing where to go.

"Can I still drive?" I asked myself. I checked Waze to see my estimated

time of arrival in Nueva Ecija. I didn't know where to go and I obviously
needed Yanna's blunt words so I took my time to travel.

I stopped at the convenience store to buy coffee and at the gas station to
refill my tank. I would usually have stop-overs just to stretch my legs in the
middle of the night. I left early yesterday so I feel like I'm chasing the sun
now. I could see the sun rising while driving.

I didn't even tell Yanna that I was coming. I stopped the car in front of her
grandmother's house and walked towards the mini-gate to call her name. I was
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about to yell again when she suddenly went out through the backyard,
holding a hose.

“Hey!” I called her.

I saw how her eyes widened when she saw me in front of the gate. She held her
chest dramatically as the hose fell from her hands. I gave her a sweet smile
and a small wave. She looked around before opening the gate for me.

“What are you doing here, you idiot?!” He asked me.

"God, I'm so sleepy. Stop shouting." I held my head and went inside the
house, pulling my small luggage with me. She suddenly hit my back with her
palm so I looked back at her and glared. "What?"

“What are you doing here?! You're from Manila?! You haven't slept yet?!
You didn't even tell me you were coming?!” He asked one question after
another.

“I knew you were sleeping already and what will even change if I tell you or not?
Are you getting ready?” I asked, smiling.

“They're not there, Grandma. I'm the only one left now. You go sleep in my
room,” she said when I walked inside the house. It was just a small one.
Probably smaller than their house in Laguna but the air was cleaner. Their
house here is more lush with trees and grass. It's also quieter around here.

“No signal?” I asked when I checked my phone.

"No. There's only one in another part of the house. The internet is also a
bit weak, but don't be choosy. You're the one sleeping there," he said
grumpily.

"I just asked!" I defended myself.

She went inside a small room and prepared the bed for me. She even
changed the bed sheet like we weren't sleeping next to each other? This woman,
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really. I actually felt bad for her. She didn't need to do all of these things for
me, especially when she's pregnant!

“I can do it. Don't you need some rest?” I took the bed sheet he was holding
so I could put it on the bed.

"Girl, I just woke up," she sarcastically said, rolling her eyes.

"You don't feel nauseous anymore?" I asked again while putting the sheet
on the foam. "You're on your 4th month, right? Going 5?"

“Not much. My appetite has increased. I'm gaining weight!” She

complained to me and sniffed. She held her tummy while scowling. Her
stomach wasn't that big yet but I could already see the baby bump.
It was fascinating.

"It's okay. That's normal. Don't forget to exercise, ah. I'll just sleep. Why did
they even leave you here alone? What if something happens to you?
Good thing I came!" I said one after the other. I was just that worried for her
and the baby. I couldn't lose them both.

“It's okay. They'll be back soon and they didn't expect me to wake up so
early,” she explained. “Go to sleep. We'll talk later.”

"Wow, that's scary." I sat on the bed and got my towel out of the luggage. I
was planning to shower first before sleeping. I'm still from the party. "What
are we going to talk about?"

“What's bothering you. That's why you're here, right?” She raised her brows.
Right. She could really read me that easily huh? “I guess it's a guy, right?”

"Hey!" I pouted. She just knew where to hit it! "Yes, but I'm so sleepy. I
don't want to talk about it right now."

“Okay. Take a bath. The CR is there” She pointed at the door outside.
“You know how to use a cup and a bucket, right? You’re not allowed
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"complain here."

I wasn't even saying anything. I just gave her a smile before she left.
I took my clothes and went into the bathroom to take a shower. After that, I brushed my
teeth and did half of my skincare routine since I left some products back at the house.

I slept peacefully for a few hours before Yanna went inside the room, pushing me
over to the wall so she could lie down beside me. The bed was small so I had to adjust for
the pregnant woman. I slept again for a few more minutes before I decided to go to the
restroom to pee. That woke me up.

It was already 12:30 PM. Yanna also woke up when I got up so when I returned,
she was already making the bed. I ran towards her when I saw her holding her tummy
with her brows furrowed.

"Why? Why? Are you okay?!" I panicked. "Do you want to go to the hospital?"

“Gaga, it's nothing. It's not, oh!” She pointed at my face and laughed.
“I’m just feeling sorry for you!”

"Hey, when are you planning to tell our friends about your pregnancy?" I sat beside her
and held her hand. She stared at me for a moment while thinking deeply about it.
"It's okay if you're not ready yet. It's your choice."

"They might think I'm a fool." She laughed sarcastically, looking away from me. I could
feel her hand trembling so I squeezed it softly just to make her realize that I was there.

"Trust me. They would never think of that," I assured her. "Our friends do not judge. They
might even be happy. It's the first baby in our group. Your child will become so spoiled."

“I'm still ashamed, Sam. I can't even forget the shame I felt when I had to stop my studies
for this. It's embarrassing.
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Mom. It's embarrassing for everyone.” Her voice broke so I scooted over and gave her
a hug.

"I understand what you're feeling right now. If you're not ready yet, it's okay. I just
want to let you know that I will never leave your side, okay?
Like what I promised you, we'll get through this together,” I whispered as I caressed her
hair.

"Won't they think I'm stupid enough to get pregnant by the man I pushed away?" I could
feel her shoulders shaking so I hugged her tighter.

"No. I think you're so brave for that." I let go of her and held her chin up so I could see her
face. "You are the bravest woman I know."

She laughed and wiped her tears away. “And you? Are you a coward that you are
now having problems with your future husband?”

"You changed the topic real quick." I laughed, letting go of her hand. "Uh, he.. kissed me."

“What?!” He suddenly shouted. I was surprised so I moved away from him.

“Just a kiss?” He asked more softly now.

"Yes, kiss," I answered, nodding. "Just a kiss, okay? We attended a party and for some
reason, I think I got jealous for a moment? Then he suddenly kissed me."

"Sheth." She covered her mouth with wide eyes. “Delicious?”

"Yanna! This is not the right time to ask that!" I glared at her and she laughed. "I'm
confused. Does he like me? Why would he kiss me? If he does, then why couldn't he tell
me?"

"What are you? Are you innocent, huh? This innocent feeling! You thought no one
was dating a man. Is this your first time, girl?" He asked sarcastically.
“He probably likes you! Why would he kiss you then? Are you free taste, huh?”

"But he never told me that. I also don't want to assume because it's Clyden!
Everything's uncertain with him. I'm just.. scared, I guess,” I admitted,
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looking away from her while playing with my hands.

“What do you think? Is it that easy to admit that you like that person?” She asked me. “I
never told Hiro that I loved him for so many reasons. Maybe he feels the same way. Maybe
he's scared because you're not sure yet. How do you feel?”

"I couldn't tell, really. He's just.. not like the other guys." I sighed. It sounded so corny
after saying it out loud! "Back then, I could easily tell when I like the guy. Swipe right on the
dating app, we will meet, and then we will date for a moment. Everything's just different with
Clyden maybe because our starting line is also different."

“Not really, eh. You can easily admit to the people you've dated in the past that you like
them because you know you won't give everything to someone. You know they're
only temporary but with Clyden, you're afraid because you know you can risk it all. You're
afraid to admit it because you're afraid of getting hurt when you're done.” She let out a
short laugh. “See? I know you more than you know yourself.”

That made me silent for a moment. I took some time to reflect on her words without letting my
denial side get into me, but I just couldn't accept it, you know? Maybe.. Just maybe I liked him
a little. Just a little, and the proof was my jealousy at the party.

But he was the type of guy to leave, and I was the type to get easily scared of commitment.

"It just won't work between us, Yanna," I told her. "It just won't. Maybe it's because I'm not
seeing other guys at the moment. Maybe if I download dating apps again, I could take
my mind off him?"

“Sure,” she said, not even convinced. “Do what you want until you get stuck and realize why
you’re no longer interested in others, why you don’t want others anymore. Based on
experience, by the way.”
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"Oh, this is different," I still tried to convince her but she just laughed and shook her head.

We went down to eat our lunch. I greeted her aunt Isabel and her grandmother
when I saw them preparing food. Her aunt told me that Yanna's mom went home
to Laguna to get some things and to pay for their bills.

“Where are you planning to give birth, Ashianna?” Her grandmother asked while we were
eating. “It’s better in Manila, hija, and the nearest hospital in the other barangay
doesn’t have enough supplies.”

"I can bring her to Manila," I told her grandmother.

“Oh, that's good, Sam!” Her grandmother smiled at me. “This Ashianna, she's stubborn
and seems to have something to hide if she says no when you take her to Manila! Your
friends are from there, after all.”

Yanna and I looked at each other before she scowled at her grandma, refusing to
answer. We were the only ones who understood now. Her grandma asked me some
personal things like where I went to school and who my parents were. I was actually
surprised that she didn't know who my father was.

“I don't know anything like that! Ah, maybe I've forgotten. I'm really getting old,” her
grandma said. “I don't even remember who got my granddaughter pregnant again! I'll die
before I know her.”

“Grandma! Don't talk like that, okay,” Yanna warned her.

She told me a month ago that her grandma was sick. It was because of her old age that
she was having complications. She didn't know if she would make it when she gave
birth. It actually made me sad, though I never met my grandparents. I don't know if they
are still alive or not. My parents never mentioned them before.
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Maybe because my parents were mad at them for fixing their marriage. My grandparents
took away their freedom and my parents were doing the same for me. I didn't understand
that one. They should already know the feeling.
Sometimes I think they are retaliating like I should suffer too because they did.

I wasn't planning to stay the whole day. I played with Yanna's sticky notes and wrote down
some healthy baby tips for her to remember while I was away. I taped it all to her wall
so she could read it easily.

"You haven't thought of a name yet?" I asked her again.

“Not yet,” she answered. “That's it. My due date is still a long way off.
There is still plenty of time.”

"You want me to ask Hiro for a name?" I let out a laugh when she glared at me for saying
her lover's name. “I'm just kidding!”

“Don't expect me to tease you on your honeymoon with Clyden.” She smirked. “I have a
lot to say that you won't like.”

"You know? I think it's weird that he said he doesn't date but he knows how to kiss?" My
brows furrowed when I remembered that. "What do you think?"

“Well, you can kiss him even if you're not dating him, okay? Or maybe if Clyden is a
bit of a saint and doesn't have any experience, maybe he's watching porn.” She shrugged.

"Or maybe you like watching romance movies," I suggested to another one.

"Is it really that good? Test it. Try it again," she teased, letting out a laugh.

Around 5 PM, I went home to Manila. It was already night when I arrived and I went
straight to my condo to drop off my things. I wanted to bring Yanna with me but she
was just too scared that our friends would find
out.
Machine Translated by Google

I didn't receive anything from Clyden all weekend even though I knew
he was aware that I had left home. My things were gone already. He never
even tried reaching out to ask me. I thought Yanna's signal was just weak.
He really didn't text. I sighed and put my phone down.

"Why am I even looking for his message?" I asked myself, confused.

I cleaned the whole condo and organized my things the whole night until I
got tired. I showered and did my skincare routine before going to bed. I
checked my social media notifications and also scrolled through Instagram
until I thought of something.

I couldn't find Clyden's profile the first time I searched for him but when I
searched for the letter 'c' on Ridge's following list, I found his account. He
had Instagram after all. I didn't think he really had any social media.
I also only found out about Ridge's account when I searched for him through our common
friend.

@c.jaile

OceanofPDF.com
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9 posts - 481 followers - 226 following

Clyden Ramirez

Always, for the people. Continue.

That was his display name and bio. His account was private so I couldn't see his posts.
I was thinking if I should send a follow request but I knew I would be too shy so I
didn't. He might even think that I was curious about him!

I tried searching if he had Facebook and Twitter but I couldn't find his account! That
guy was too private! I searched for Ridge's name again but I didn't know his full name so
I got stuck with 'Ridgen'. I just gave up in the end. I won't stalk him anymore.

"Oh my gosh!" I said when I remembered something. "Kalix is his friend!"

I opened Facebook again to search for Kalix's name. I frowned again when I saw that his
friends list was private. I knew it. What did I even expect from this guy? I rolled my eyes
and just went to sleep.

The next morning was a Sunday. Suddenly, my condo felt so empty.

I've been living here alone for a long time but it was my first time feeling so.. alone. I just
did everything to distract myself. I cleaned the condo again and cooked something. Still,
there was no message from Clyden the whole day.

Weekdays came and every day, I almost lived outside. I would go home at 9 PM after
going out for drinks with my friends, or from dinner outside. That used to be our
routine. I didn't deal with traffic the whole day but I still felt drained.

"Really? You can't set me up on a date with some of your friends?" I asked Adonis
again. I was still teasing him on Monday.
Machine Translated by Google

“Bro, they're all taken, except for Kalix. But it's taken by heart so it's okay. Swear! If
you want to find a date, download Tinder again,” Adonis answered. We were walking
back to school after he treated me to Starbucks.

"I want to go out on a date with someone I know," I told him.

“Why? Are you and Doc having a problem?” He asked, letting out a
teasing smile. I frowned and shook my head at him.

“Come on! Even your football player friends? Really nothing?”

I'm sorry. "Just one date. We can just eat outside or something."

“I’ll text you when I have it.” He scratched his head.

He really did set me up on a date! He introduced a football player to me and

we both agreed to eat outside on a Friday night. He was tall and good-
looking but I felt nothing when I saw him.

"Hey," I greeted and smiled. “Lewis, right?”

"Hey, Sam. Yeah, Lewis." He smiled at me and offered his hand. He looked
like a nice person so I felt a little bad when I felt nothing about him. My
heart did not even race by the sight of him. "Do you want to go inside so we
can order already?"

"Yeah, sure." I nodded and followed him inside the restaurant. I was just
wearing a white tank top and a pair of gray slacks with a designer belt on
partnered with a black sling bag and a pair of gray heels.

We ordered pasta and he tried to strike up a conversation with me so I

went along with him. We tried to get to know each other but I kept on looking
at my phone, waiting for someone else's text. I was going crazy.

"Do you want to go out for a drink?" He asked. I knew he would. That was
the usual line, and I knew where we were headed next but I just wasn't
having it this time.
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"You know, I actually have an emergency." I gave him an awkward smile and
stood up. "So I need to go now. I already paid for our food, though, so don't
worry about it."

He was about to say something when I already left. I went straight inside my
car and drove back to my condo. It's close so I got there right away.
While I was inside the elevator, I was already determined to pack my things
again and go back to the house.

Whole week without him felt so empty. I thought going out with other guys would
help me get over my feelings for him but I couldn't. It was still there.
It wasn't even infatuation or anything like that. It was something deeper. I also
couldn't explain why, or how, or when did it even start.

I got out of the elevator and walked through the hallway, finding my keys inside
my bag. I stopped walking when it fell on the floor. When I stood up, I was
surprised to see Clyden in front of my door. He had his fist up like he was about
to knock. He was also surprised to see me.

"H-hey," I whispered. My heart suddenly started racing. That was supposed to

happen earlier with the other guy but it didn't.

"Hey." He took a step backward, looking embarrassed, like I just caught him
doing something illegal.

He was wearing a white sweater with a design in front and a pair of black
shorts partnered with his white sneakers. He was also wearing specs.
He was carrying only his cellphone and wallet in one hand and the car key was
hanging from his finger. He fixed his hair using his other hand, letting out a heavy
sigh.

"W-why are you here? How did you know my.. Uh.. Condo unit?" I stayed in my place,
standing two meters away from him. I just couldn't go near him.

"I asked your mom," he answered, still refusing to look at me. I saw his
Adam's apple move when he swallowed hard.
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"What are you doing here?" I asked, walking towards the door. He took
another step backward until he was leaning against the wall in front of my
door. I turned my back against him as I tried to open my door with my key.
“Did I forget something?”

“I missed you.”

The key suddenly fell from my hand. I immediately panicked and picked it up.
My hands were shaking as I tried to open my door again. Then, I
opened the door a little before facing him.

"What?" My brows furrowed. It wasn't like I didn't hear him or anything. I just
wanted him to repeat it.

"I thought I could study better when you're not around. I swear, I tried." He bit
his lower lip and looked down on the floor, embarrassed. "But I couldn't focus,
knowing that you left because of me. I'm sorry about the kiss."

"So you regret kissing me?" My heart suddenly fell.

"No." He scoffed. "That's the best thing I did."

My hand was still holding the door knob. It served as a support for my
knees because they were already getting weak. My heart was beating so fast
I was afraid it would jump out of my chest. The hallway was too quiet. I
was also thinking if he could hear my heartbeat.

"Why did you kiss me?" I asked, looking at him.

He looked up and our eyes met. He licked his lower lip a little while staring at
my eyes. He parted his lips like he wanted to say something but he closed
them again, looking away from me.

“Say it,” I urged.

He stared at me for a moment before letting out an amused smile. "I like
you."
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That was it. I felt like my heart jumped out of my chest. I reached for his
hand and suddenly pulled him inside my unit, pushing him against the door.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed me, moving his other hand
up to my neck.

I encircled my arms on his neck to pull him closer to me. I moved my lips
and pushed my tongue inside his mouth. I stopped kissing him after a
moment just to catch my breath. We stared at each other's eyes without
an inch of regret.

“What now?” he asked.

I caressed his cheek as the side of my lips rose. "Let's date?"

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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13
"I was already planning to pack my things when I saw you."

I sat down on the floor after getting my luggage bag, putting all my things inside.
Clyden was busy looking around my unit until he went back inside my bedroom.
He looked a little fascinated by the pastel design. It described me. It's the same
in my room at home, ah. Why does he look so surprised?

"And I came here to convince you." Clyden carefully sat down on the mini couch
inside my bedroom. He looked so uncomfortable while looking around. "I
want you back, Maureen. In the house."

"I also want to go back," I whispered. "Everything's not the same without you.
Sounds so cheesy and corny, right? Ew, why did I even say that?"

He let out a small laugh before standing up to help me get some of my things. He
helped me pack again and since I didn't bring much here, I only had to bring a
little.

“So where are you from?” He asked while closing the luggage.

I suddenly stopped walking, holding some of my skincare products on my arms.

They almost fell when he caught me off-guard with the question.
How should I say it?! I came from a date with another man and then I came back,
asking him to date me? I would sound like a player.

"I ate dinner," I simply said, putting my skincare products inside the paper bag. I
couldn't even look at him.

"With?" He asked again. God, can he please just stop asking? I ate dinner!
That's it! I also didn't want to lie because I knew it would just make things
worse so I decided to just change the topic.
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“Have you been waiting outside my condo all this time?” I asked him
back, refusing to answer his question.

“Maybe,” he answered after pulling my suitcase upright. He looked at me

again and his brows furrowed when he noticed my awkward reaction.
Maybe I looked guilty. "I had a hard time in the lobby. Good thing Kalix was
there to pick me up."

"Oh, right. He lives here, too." I nodded. He finally forgot about his
question. Thank God.

“Who are you having dinner with?”

Oh, damn. Just when I thought that he already forgot about it, he asked
again! He just couldn't let it pass, huh? I forgot that this med student was so
good with memorization. I remembered how he memorized my phone
number in just a few seconds. It looks like he won't stop until his question
is answered.

“I was with a friend,” I kept stalling. I picked up the paper bag and
walked out of the room. He followed me from behind.

"I asked who," he said sarcastically. I could now hear the annoyance in his voice.

"Lewis," I answered in all honesty. "He's Adi's friend. Football player."

“Just the two of you?”

Ugh! He kept on asking unnecessary questions! Wasn't it enough that I

already answered the name? Okay, maybe I'm just really guilty that's why
I'm annoyed. I couldn't answer properly. I couldn't even lie to him.

"Yes," I answered, pulling the luggage with me. "Let's go. I'm taking my car
and you take yours. Let's see each other in the house." I changed the topic
again.

"So it was a date, huh?" He still couldn't let it go!

Machine Translated by Google

"Maybe it was but I bailed, okay? Come on. It's already getting late so there's
traffic." I tried to open the door so we could leave the unit but he pushed the door back
with his other hand, creating a loud slam noise. I bit my lower lip, avoiding his eyes.

"Then let's stay here and wait for the traffic to ease off," he said seriously.

I nodded like a kitten before walking back to the living room with him behind me.
I sat on the couch and put a pillow above my thighs, looking around like a visitor in
the house. He stood in front of me, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked so
disappointed in me.

"So you came from a date, then you kissed me after?" He asked, making me sound so bad!

"When you put it like that, you're making me sound like a player," I said in a soft voice.
"I just wanted to go out with a random guy because I thought my feelings for you
weren't that serious at all."

"What feelings?" He urged, raising a brow.

"Feelings," I repeated. I couldn't even say it! "You already know it."

“No, I don’t.”

He played innocent! I mean, yes, I didn't even say it back but I already asked him
to date me. Was that not enough? What else does he want?

I was aware that I was just making excuses because I was too shy to say it.
Oh come on, Sam! You're the coward here, aren't you?

"W-we like each other," I stuttered.

"Really?" He replied sarcastically, parting his lips in exaggerated surprise.

He even covered his mouth to mock me. "I didn't know that."

"Fine! I like you, okay?!" I yelled at him, getting pissed off and embarrassed
at the same time.
Machine Translated by Google

God, this wasn't even my first time confessing feelings for a man!
Everything was just so different with him. Maybe I knew my old flirty tricks
won't even work on him. He was just too intimidating for me.

"So why did you go out on a date with a fucking football player?" He hissed,
raising his eyebrows.

"You sound mad but you look calm." I let out an awkward laugh just to ease the
heavy atmosphere around us but his emotion didn't change. He was still waiting for
my answer. "Hey, are you hungry?"

"Yes. I'm hungry for answers," he answered seriously.

I tried to change the topic again but it didn't work. Ugh, the conversation was
making me feel like a criminal, hiding things from the authorities.

"I already told you. I went out with him because I wanted to see if my feelings
for you were real! Why do I have to repeat everything? Why is it such a big deal?
I came home to you, right?" I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my
chest.

"Did you kiss me?" he asked directly.

"No, of course not!" I denied in an instant. "I only kiss the guys I like, okay?"

"Ah.." He let out a sarcastic laugh, pushing his tongue on the insides of his cheek.
"So how many are there, Sam?"

Oh god, that sounded so wrong. I pulled on my hair using my two hands in

frustration. I let out a groan and a heavy sigh to make him realize that his
questions were starting to drain me. Is he really a doctor or a detective? He really
wanted to know everything, huh?

"One, okay? And it's you. We are engaged for Pete's sake." I showed him my
necklace with the ring on it.

“Wear it,” he ordered me.

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“Okay, fine.” I shrugged and reached for the back of my neck so I could take the
necklace off. Clyden noticed that I was struggling so he sat beside me and made me
turn around. I put my hair on one side of my shoulder so he wouldn't have a hard
time.

I almost hissed when I felt his cold touch on my neck. I could feel his breathing
behind me, making my heart beat so fast. My thoughts got distracted when he
reached for my hand and placed the necklace on my palm.

I turned back to him again and took the ring off my necklace. I was about to put it on
my ring finger when he held my wrist to stop me, getting the ring from my hand. It was
so quiet in the unit, I felt like he could hear my heartbeat.

"Don't take this off," he told me while sliding the ring on my finger. I stared at his
serious face, unable to talk.

"You never texted me." It was almost a whisper. He let go of my hand and looked at
me straight in the eyes.

“I didn't know you were waiting,” he pulled my arm so I could sit closer to him. “I
thought you were leaving because you were angry with me.”

"No, I was confused." I tried my best to keep staring at his eyes but my gaze went
down when he licked his lower lip. His simple gesture was making me feel
things. God, am I that thirsty?

"I thought you were angry because I kissed you," he continued talking while I was
staring at his lips. He probably didn't even notice because he was busy reaching
for my hand.

"No, I like kissing you," I unconsciously said.

"What?" His brows furrowed as he looked up at me. I immediately stood up and looked
away so I could avoid him. I stepped backward and pretended that I was looking at
the time so I wouldn't see his teasing smile.
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"I think there is not much traffic. Let's go." I tried to walk away from him but
he caught my arm and pulled me back.

I almost bumped into his chest when I turned around. He was standing
so close to me I had to look up just to see his face. He held my chin and
lightly pushed me backwards until I was already leaning against the wall.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" He whispered on me.

"We can stay here." I bit my lower lip and wrapped my arms around his
neck, waiting for him to make the move.

I looked so thirsty for him. Yanna would probably tease me about this if she
only saw me. Yanna and I used to be competitive in finding guys to flirt with
especially at the club. He always won, though.

He was staring at my eyes, trying to read my thoughts. I tiptoed so I could

reach his lips. He looked down on me, wrapping his arm around my waist,
when I gave him a soft kiss. I was about to kiss him again but he covered
my mouth with his other hand.

"That's the last kiss you will receive from me," he suddenly told me.

"What? Why?" I asked after pulling his hand away.

“Next time, when we leave.” He let out a small smile before pulling my
luggage out of the unit, leaving me dumbfounded.

I sighed in annoyance before I grabbed my other things and chased

him out. I turned the lights off and locked the door. Luckily I caught up
with him on the elevator going to the parking lot. I glared at him but he
looked like he was enjoying it.

So no kiss policy while dating, huh? The next kiss when we're officially
in a relationship? Is that right? For Pete's sake, we were already
engaged! Isn't that enough for him? He doesn't want to just go to the dating
stage?
Machine Translated by Google

I was starting to sound like a thirsty demon so I calmed myself down. It seemed like
Clyden was the only one who could bring out the other side of me. I should be more
understanding. Maybe he was trying to take it slow. Of course. I can do that.

Clyden took his car with him and I took mine. I just followed him until we
got to the house. He helped me with my bags but the moment I entered the
house and saw the dogs approaching me, I immediately dropped my
things.

"Ah! I missed you!" I bent my knees and hugged the dogs. Summer licked my
face while I was hugging Maple. Hail rolled over so I gave him some belly
rubs.

"I brought your mom back," Clyden told the dogs before going upstairs,
carrying my bags.

"No, I came here on my own. Your dad's a liar," I defended myself like the dogs
would understand me.

After playing with the dogs, I went upstairs and took a shower before going back
to my room to put my things back in its place. Clyden already stayed inside his
room the whole night. Maybe he was studying so I didn't bother him anymore.

I thought I would finally get a peaceful sleep that night but the next
morning, I woke up when Summer ran over me. I opened my eyes and looked
around, still confused why Summer was in my bed.

“Wake up. We're leaving.” I heard Clyden's voice.

"Huh?" I held my head and looked at the time. "It's 8 AM, Clyden! Where the
hell are we going?"

"We're going on a date," he simply answered. "Get dressed."

That was the last thing he said before leaving my room with Summer
behind him. I quickly stood up and took a shower when I realized
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he said. A date! He was going to take me out on a date for the first time!
Finally, a normal one and not the pretending date!

I didn't know what he was up to so I had a hard time picking the right
outfit. I just wore a black sleeveless turtleneck top, a pair of high-waisted
mom jeans with a designer belt on, a pair of white shoes, and a black mini-
bag. I wanted to wear heels but I didn't know where Clyden would take me
so I just went with the safest option.

I braided my hair into a half-ponytail, leaving some short strands at the side
of my face. It was too early. I brought a pair of sunglasses. I put on a light
make-up and sprayed perfume before going downstairs. I also made sure
that I was wearing the ring. I also accompanied it with earrings. Clyden was
already outside, playing with the dogs while waiting for me.

“Let’s go?” I told him.

He stood up when he saw me. He was wearing a beige short-sleeved button-

down dress shirt with all buttons opened, revealing his white shirt that was
tucked inside his jeans. He was also wearing a pair of white sneakers like
me. His glasses were hanging from the collar of his white shirt.

“I'll just give them water. Get in the car first. It's open,” he told me before
getting the dog bowls.

I nodded and went inside his car. It was already cold inside because the
car had just started. I was even more surprised when he opened the door
and got into the driver's seat. His masculine scent suddenly invaded the car.

"Seatbelt," he reminded me.

“Oh, right.” I put on my seatbelt and looked at him. “Where are we going
exactly?”

"First, breakfast," he told me.

A breakfast date. I never had one before. Usually it's only lunch and
dinner so this was probably the first time someone took me out for breakfast.
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The idea was so wholesome it made me smile.

"Are you happy?" He asked. I didn't know if it was sarcastic or not!

"Yeah, so don't ruin it." I rolled my eyes. "It's my first time going on a breakfast date."

"It's also my first time," he replied.

My brows furrowed. "What? Going on a breakfast date?"

"Going on a date in general."

My lips parted as I stared at him with wide eyes. I was waiting for him to say that it was
a joke but he didn't so maybe he was telling the truth after all. wow

"How about the kiss? Was that your first time?" I asked out of curiosity.

"No." He let out a small laugh which made me scowl. I crossed my arms over my chest
and just stared in front, refusing to say another word.

He glanced at me and his smile faded when he saw my reaction. I took out my phone
and just browsed on my social media account. Don't have a date but have kissed a lot?
Was he a player or what? Yanna's guy version?

“What? Are you angry?” He asked, confused.

"No. I'm just thinking if you're an expert player and if you're just playing me right now. No
date but maybe a kiss? How's that?" I couldn't even stop my mouth from talking.

"You're making me sound bad. I have only kissed three women during college," he
tried defending himself.

"And during med school?" I asked again, expecting him to say more.

"Just you," he casually answered.

Machine Translated by Google

I bit my point finger to hide a smile while looking outside the window. Why did it even make
me so happy? Well, I was the first woman he ever dated. I had an advantage on that part.
Wait, since when did 'first's become so important to me?

He parked the car in front of a breakfast cafe. Good thing there weren't many people so
we got a table right away. The interior of the cafe looked so calming and it really fit their
breakfast concept. They serve all-day brunch or breakfast food.

I ordered one chocolate waffle, one slice of cheesecake, and a fruit shake while Clyden
ordered two pieces of pancake and a cup of coffee. He immediately gave me his card so
I wouldn't get ahead of him later.
That was tricky.

"Let's get to know each other," I suggested, moving closer to the table so we can hear
each other clearly. He was seated in front of me with his elbow on the table. “What's your
favorite color?”

"Blue. Yours is purple. Sometimes pink." What the hell! He didn't even ask!
He already knew the answer.

"How the hell did you know that?" I asked.

"Because I pay attention to you," he said before sipping on his coffee.

That made me feel bad. I already had a feeling that his favorite color was blue but I
wanted him to confirm it first. I just shook my head. "So what's your favorite ice cream
flavor?"

"Cookies and cream. Yours is coffee crumble." I frowned again when I heard that. He
probably noticed because there is only coffee crumble ice cream in the freezer, huh?
"Stop asking about our favorites and just go straight to interesting things like do you
prefer the soft type or the hardcore?"

“The what?” My lips parted in shock. I wasn't sure if we were on the same page. Am I
thinking right or maybe he meant something else? “Are you
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talking about sex?” I whispered so no one would hear us.

"Huh?" His eyebrows furrowed.

I felt the sudden embarrassment creeping inside me. Good thing the waiter
saved me when he started serving our food. As much as I wanted him to
stay on the table so I wouldn't have to face Clyden, he had a job to do so he
immediately left.

"Personality. I'm talking about personality," he corrected me. "Stop

thinking about sex, Sam, it's 10 AM," he scolded me.

"It's your fault! You were not clear with your question!" I blamed him, still
embarrassed. "Fine, I'm going to answer both. For personality, I prefer the
middle. For the other thing, I prefer hardcore. Okay?"

“I didn't ask the other one.” He shook his head before getting the syrup for his
pancake.

"Just saying," I said, getting my utensils so I could finally start eating. I was
starving. The food was delicious and when I took a bite, I didn't even get
disappointed. It was so good.

He quietly ate his food while I glanced at him from time to time. I looked away
when our eyes suddenly met. He stopped chewing to sip on his coffee, still
staring at me.

“What? Do you want to taste?” He looked down on his plate.

"Is it delicious? Can I take a bite?" I leaned over the table to look at his plate.

I took my fork to get something from his plate but he used his fork instead
to give me a slice. I blinked twice before opening my mouth.
After he gave me a slice of pancake, he put the fork back on his plate and
gave me a tissue.

“It's good. You want mine?” I also offered him my plate but he just shook his
head. Good, because it's gone, eh. I have nothing left to give. I just
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started eating a slice of cheesecake. "Where are we going after this? Can we
go to the mall? I need to buy a notebook."

“Okay.” He nodded.

After we finished eating, he already drove us to the nearest mall. I walked

with him first after going through security check because I wanted to locate
the bookstore. I was too busy searching on my phone when he suddenly called
me.

"Maui," he called. "You're walking too fast."

“Oh, sorry.” I stopped walking to look at him. He fixed his hair and put on his
glasses as he walked closer to me. I saw some girls looking at him. They
even stopped walking.

When he caught up with me, I started walking again, still searching on my

phone. I bumped into someone so I looked back to apologize before
walking again. I stopped when Clyden suddenly held my hand to pull me back.

“Where are you going?” His brows furrowed, getting annoyed now.

“Bookstore?” I showed him my phone. "I was searching for it."

"Well, you're going the wrong way." He intertwined our hands before pulling me to
the opposite direction. I hid my phone inside my bag and just focused on his hand on
mine. My face started to heat up and I prayed that he wouldn't notice.

He wouldn't let go of my hand even after arriving inside the bookstore so I

had to walk around, pulling him with me. I searched for some notebooks,
only using one hand, while he was stalking me from behind.

I took a basket and he carried it so I just put my two notebooks in there. After
that, I went to the pen section. I stopped walking when he got distracted with
the highlighter pens.

He tested the highlighter using his right hand before getting some and
putting them inside the basket. He gestured for me to continue walking so I did
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did. We were like handcuffed to each other!

“Remember when you told me that my hands were numb and I couldn't hold them
here?” I asked while I was looking for my favorite brand of pen.

"That was me. I was nervous." He let out a short laugh.

"Now you wouldn't let go of my hand." I showed him our intertwined hands. "Really,
Clyden? You really won't let go?"

"No, I won't," he answered seriously.

I rolled my eyes and just continued walking until I saw my favorite pen.
I took three and put them in the basket before I pulled him back to buy a set of A4
papers. He was already talking to someone on the phone using his other hand.

“I'm at the mall, bro,” I heard him say. “Yes, with the one we discussed last time. Don't
call anymore. You're a nuisance, man. Yes, I studied last night.
"I can't go later, I'm with Sam."

I turned to him for a moment when I heard my name. He just glanced at me for a
moment before letting go of my hand so he could walk away. I felt a little disappointed
when he let go of my hand. I walked around and looked for some room designs while
waiting for him to come back.

My brows furrowed when I saw a familiar face. It was Jaron with Raylee's sister, Riya.
They were holding hands when they walked inside. I remembered Naomi
saying that he was just a friend. Was that even true?

Speaking of Naomi, it's her birthday next Friday. I needed to ask about her plans again so
I could do something to help. I just hoped she wouldn't invite Jaron in the house, or
she actually could so I could talk to him.

“Who are you looking at?” I almost jumped when I heard Clyden's voice behind me.
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"Oh, there you are. I'll pay for the items." I was about to get the basket from him but he
was already holding a paper bag. "What the hell."

"Come on." He offered his hand again but I just stared at it. "What? Why?"

"You said you won't let go, huh? But the moment you received a phone call, you left
me here alone," I scolded him.

He stared at me for a moment before licking his lower lip and shaking his head, laughing
at me. I frowned even more and raised my eyebrows at him.

"You're clingy, aren't you?" He raised a brow, teasing.

“I am not!” I denied. I just wanted him to tell me who he was talking to.

Oh gosh, I was never the jealous type. Yanna would probably laugh at me when she
found out. I also didn't know what was happening to me.
Small things were starting to become bigger. Samantha, get a grip.

“That's Ridge. We have an exam on Monday. He's just asking about coverage,” he
explained. “Can I hold your hand?”

I pouted and held his hand, pulling him out of the bookstore. We were both still full
from lunch so we didn't eat. We just walked around and tried to find some clothes to
buy. He also took me with him.
I also went with him to buy his shake.

“Sam?” My eyes widened when I heard Nicole's voice. My blockmate!

I suddenly had the urge to run away or just pretend that I didn't hear anything but
I couldn't do it to my friend so I slowly turned around and gave her a genuine smile.
Clyden also looked at her with no emotion on his face.

“H-hey!” I greeted Nicole.

"Hey," Nicole replied awkwardly, staring at my hand intertwined with Clyden's. Her
lips parted as she slowly looked at Clyden from head to toe,
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obviously checking him out in front of me. "Your..boyfriend?"

"Uh.." I couldn't answer! I looked at Clyden who was also waiting for me to
talk. He doesn't seem to care. He just casually sipped on his watermelon
shake, looking away.

"Or just.. one of the boys you're dating?" Nicole tried to tone it down but
Clyden still heard her because he looked back and raised an eyebrow.

"W-what?" I acted innocent before glancing at Clyden. "N-no, and he's also not
my boyfriend!"

Clyden rolled his eyes and tried to let go of my hand but I tightened my grip.
Nicole slowly nodded, her mouth forming an 'o'.

"So he's a.. friend?" Nicole asked again.

Clyden tried to pull his hand away again, annoyed, but I pulled him back.
He stopped sipping on his shake to glare at me.

"What?" he asked me annoyed.

I gave my blockmate a small smile. "No, he's my fiancé."

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:)

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14
“Fiance?!”

My smile turned into an awkward one when Nicole suddenly looked like she was going
to faint out of shock. I consciously looked at Clyden to see his reaction but he was just
looking at me with parted lips, also surprised by what I said.

"It's a long story," I tried to explain to Nicole. She held her chest and slowly
inhaled a large amount of air to calm herself.

"Oh my gosh, why didn't you say anything? Does Raylee know?" Nicole
whispered like she was scared someone would hear us.

"So many questions," Clyden whispered, looking away and sipping on his shake
again. I gave him a glare to shut him up.

"Not yet. I'll tell her soon so just keep this a secret for now." I gave her a smile
and she nodded with determination like keeping a secret of mine was thrilling for
her. "Anyway, we need to go."

"Yeah, sure! Uh, enjoy your date!" Nicole waved before walking away, still unable
to process what happened.

I turned to Clyden after Nicole left, and he looked back at me, raising a brow.
He stopped drinking his shake to stare at me, waiting for me to say something.

“Are you okay with me telling her that we're engaged?” I asked for his
permission. Maybe he didn't want to and then he'd get angry because I told him.

"I prefer that," he replied seriously.

“Okay. Where are we going? Are we going home or do you want to come
with me? I'll be by the house to speak to Naomi about her birthday celebration,” I
told him about my plan.
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“Yes, I'll come with you. I'll just buy something for Hail before we leave,”
he said before walking away again. He still didn't let go of my hand.

We walked inside a small pet shop selling some pet accessories, clothes,
and food. I just followed him around like a lost girl. I stopped walking
when I saw the grooming section through the glass wall. I unconsciously
smiled while watching the cute puppy getting trimmed.

"Okay, Sam," Clyden talked so he could get my attention back.

I looked back at him and saw that he was following my gaze. He also let out
a small smile when he saw the cute puppy. “He’s so small.”

“Yeah. Your dogs are all huge. When Hail and Maple grow up, they won't
be able to be lifted,” I talked like I was pertaining to my children.

"Our dogs," he corrected before walking away to pay for the items.

My face heated up when I realized that he was starting to include me in

his life. His dogs are very important to him so the fact that he was willing to
share a big part of his life with me was already meaningful to me.
He was starting to be open and I was also starting to let him into my life,
too, not just because we were forced to live together but because he already
became a part of me.

He bought a bottle of shampoo for the dogs and also some new collars
before we left the mall. We got back in his car and he drove to the mansion.
I was just playing music in his car while looking out. He looked like he was
thinking so deeply about something else.

"What's the problem?" I asked.

"Is your father there?" He asked back. I bit my lower lip, realizing how much
he hated to stand in the same place as my father.

“I think he's out. He's always out and only comes home once in a while or
maybe I can't catch him. He's always with his co-politicians or business
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partners," I answered him.

"What business?" He frowned. The moment he asked that question, I realized that I
didn't know the answer. I just assumed that my mom and dad were doing a business
together because of some men visiting the house, exchanging bags of money.

"I.. don't know." I looked outside the window. "But I'm hoping that it's a good one."

"Pray that it's legal rather than good. A good business is not always legal," he corrected
me.

I bit my lower lip as my heart started beating so fast just by thinking about what my parents
were up to. I was never scared of my surname being tainted because the moment
my dad entered politics and decided to become a shitty one, the elegance of my own
surname was already gone.

"If you're worrying about your dad going to jail, you're lucky because the justice system is
currently fucked." He let out a sarcastic laugh.

"You know, if they're really doing something bad, I'm hoping for them to get caught." I
gathered the strength to say that. I never said anything against my parents to anyone else
before. I was slowly making a stand.

"Yeah? I wonder if my dad is involved in that." Clyden shrugged. "We never know
what they're up to, honestly. If he's not, then I wonder what his reaction would be."

We also arrived at the mansion right away because the mall we were going to
was nearby. I thought Clyden would stay inside the car but he accompanied me inside
instead. He put his hand around my waist while walking.

"Is my mom around?" I asked the helper while looking around the living room
room.

"I'm leaving for a moment, Ma'am, but I might be back," she answered.
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"Okay, thank you." I gave her a smile before walking upstairs to find Naomi.
Clyden followed me from behind, removing his hand on my waist. I looked back at
him and pouted a little before continuing up.

I went inside my room first so I could check if Naomi got my new makeup
collection. I purposely left it above my desk so she could borrow them or it
could be his. I just imagined how hard it was for her to live without asking my
father for anything. Everything he needs, he finds a way. I wanted to provide
everything for her.

"This is my room," I told Clyden.

“I know,” he interrupted me while looking around.

He was walking around, looking at some framed pictures displayed on the wall
and above my side table. My high school graduation picture was there and also
there was a picture of me and Luna, Yanna and I, a family picture, and also some
pictures when I was young.

“Is this you?” he asked in surprise, showing me a picture frame.

That was a picture of me in Los Angeles when I was still in high school. I had long
hair before so he probably wasn't used to it. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen, I think?” I looked at the ceiling while thinking. "Yes, sixteen indeed.
Why?”

“You look familiar. Maybe we've met at the gathering.” He placed the frame down
and got another one.

I walked towards him to see the photo he was staring at. He was still surprised
when I suddenly appeared next to him. He showed me the picture frame and
pointed at Yanna's face. It was Yanna and I's high school graduation.

“Your best friend?” He asked. “What's her name again? Alyanna?”

“Ashianna,” I corrected him. “Yes, that's Yanna. She's in Nueva Ecija right now. I think I
told you when I was drunk. What's your first impression of her?”
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"I don't know. I don't care." He shrugged, putting the frame down on the table.

I frowned and adjusted his placement. He walked around the room again like he just
came inside a hidden cave full of treasures. My room is not very useful anymore because I
brought it to our house so there are only old things left.

“Who gave this to you?” He took the pink teddy bear from the sofa and showed it to
me.

My brows furrowed, trying to remember who gave me that. I think it was my high school
boyfriend? Or was it Sevi?

"I can't remember. Maybe it was my ex when I was in high school," I answered
honestly. It wasn't even a big deal to me. I already forgot about him. I couldn't even
remember his face now.

"You like teddy bears?" He raised a brow, waiting for my answer.

"I'm more of a 'flowers and chocolates' type." I shrugged, closing the drawer of my
makeup collection. I also got some so I could bring them home. Naomi didn't touch
what I put above the table this time.

"People still give flowers?" He curiously asked.

"You really don't know how to date, huh?" I rolled my eyes before walking away. "Stay
here. I'll just talk to my sister."

He nodded so I already went out, closing the door behind me. I stopped walking in
front of Naomi's bedroom door and softly knocked on it. When she didn't answer, I
knocked again, a little harder this time so she could hear it.

"Naomi? Are you there?" I asked.

I was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened, revealing her in full face make-
up. She was still holding her eyeliner when she opened the door like I just interrupted
her while she was putting it on.
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"What?" She asked, rolling her eyes.

"I like your make-up," I complimented, giving her a genuine smile.

She looked surprised with my compliment, not knowing how to take it. She
pursed her lips and looked away as her cheeks started to heat up. This
wasn't even her first time receiving a compliment from me.. or was it?

"You have a nice eye for art," I added. "Next time, practice on my face, too, if
you want."

She bit her lower lip, still looking away from me. "What do you need?" She
even tried to sound grumpy.

"Your birthday's getting near. Do you have any plans? The final one? I
could help you," I offered.

"My birthday?" He frowned. "Oh, right. I forgot about it." She laughed
sarcastically, shaking her head a little.

How could someone forget about her own birthday? I immediately got
worried about how bad she was being treated by my mom. He is the only
one who is always with her at home. My mom should be the one
asking for Naomi's birthday plans especially when it was a debut. It was her debut.

"I don't want to celebrate it," she said, about to close the door.

"Hey." I stopped her again so she opened the door wide, maybe afraid that
she would hurt my hand again because she glanced at it with wide eyes.
"Why not? I thought Dad offered to take your friends to a beach resort?"

"Yeah, I don't want it." She rolled her eyes, getting annoyed now.

I blinked twice, confused now. "Why not?"

"Stop asking, okay?!" She raised her voice at me, causing me to take a step
backward. When I saw a hint of pain in her eyes, I pursed my lips and
decided not to say another word. I suddenly remembered why it was painful
for her to go to the beach. “Geez!” She closed the door loudly.
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"I'm sorry," I whispered like she would hear it. I sighed, hitting my head lightly
with my hand. "How insensitive of you, Sam!" I scolded myself for not remembering
about her mother's death.

“She’s a mad kid.”

I almost jumped out of surprise when I heard Clyden behind me. I

wondered if he heard the whole conversation or not. I didn't notice him standing
there earlier but it was still possible that he heard it inside my room.

"She's hurt," I defended my sister. "That's why."

"I know. I didn't say her anger's not valid." He glanced at the door again like he
was worried for her, too.

I sighed and just walked downstairs with him stalking me from behind. I suddenly
stopped when I saw my mom entering the main door holding two designer paper
bags. She was talking to her newly hired secretary when she
saw us.

"Maureen! You're here!" She smiled and gave me a soft hug. "And Clyden too. It's
nice seeing you together."

"Good evening, Ma'am," Clyden greeted her formally. My mom just gave him a
nod before dismissing her secretary.

"Mom, we need to go now," I told her because I noticed that Clyden was starting
to get uncomfortable. He was looking around now to avoid talking to my mom.

"That fast? Let's eat dinner first! I think dinner's ready!" She placed the paper
bags above the coffee table before walking to the dining room, gesturing
for us to follow her. I looked at Clyden and gave him an apologetic smile.
He just nodded and put his hand on my waist.

I sat in front of my mom and Clyden sat beside me while the helpers were
serving food on the table. I also stood up to help serve food.
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plate but they all didn't want me to touch them.

“Oh, please don't, Ma'am Samantha.” The helper even looked nervous.

"Okay, I'll just call Naomi." I was about to walk away when I realized that Clyden would
be left alone with my mom so I sat beside him again. "We should call, Naomi, Mom."

"She eats dinner around nine so I think she won't go down. Let that kid go." My mom
shrugged it off in a snobbish manner. My lips parted and looked at her in disgust.

"You don't even call her to eat?" I tried to tone my voice down. Clyden stayed silent
beside me, looking down on his plate.

"If she wants to eat, then she will go downstairs to eat. I called her once and she didn't
respond." My mom was slowly starting to get mad. I could hear it in her voice.

"Maybe check up on her? Maybe there's something wrong with how you're treating her
that she would rather stay inside her room than to eat dinner with you?" I still tried so
hard to sound calm but my mom's reaction was getting on my nerves.

"You are my only daughter, my dear." She gave me a smile. "Now, let's eat."

I was about to stand up and throw the table napkin on the table when Clyden
suddenly held my hand. I went back to my seat before looking at him, confused.

"I'll call her," he simply said before standing up and leaving the dining room
room.

I inhaled and exhaled before silently putting food on my plate, ignoring my mom. She
looked like she wasn't even bothered by it. She was still busy with her phone, talking
with some of her business partners.
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I stopped getting utensils when Clyden returned. He sat beside me again while I
looked around, expecting to see Naomi with him but she was nowhere to be
found. I raised my eyebrows at Clyden, asking.

"She doesn't want to," he told me. "She said she's still busy watching 'get ready
with me' videos on YouTube."

My forehead furrowed but I didn't complain anymore. Maybe she was really
busy practicing her make-up. Forcing her to go down will just make our
relationship worse so I just ate silently. Clyden did the same.

"So Clyden, are you okay with Sam moving out of the house?" My mom tried
to strike up a conversation.

"She can do what she wants," Clyden simply answered without looking at her.
"As long as she's happy with it."

"I moved back, Mom," I told her.

"Really?" My mom looked amazed for no reason. "You were so determined to

move out the other week. I guess you like living with your fiancé."

It's better than living in here. “Yes,” I answered shortly.

I hurried my food so we could leave immediately. Mom was talking to Clyden

about studying in med school so I had time to calm myself. I also didn't
want to talk to her because I might just end up yelling out of anger so I was
thankful Clyden was there.

"That house is a disaster," I said while we were on our way home.

"I know the feeling." He gave me a comforting smile while driving.

"Maybe moving together was a nice idea, although I hated it before."

"You were so mean to me!" I complained when I remembered. "Do you sometimes
feel guilty after being so mean to me, huh? Of course not. You're a cold
person."

"I do," he said in a soft voice. "Always."

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"I don't believe you." I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.
"You're the most sarcastic asshole I ever met."

"Until now?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm treating you nicely."

"Where? I can't see it." I put my hand above my eyes to act like I was
looking for something. He let out a small laugh, making me fight the urge to
smile. His laugh sounded sexy. It was contagious, too.

"You'll see it," he simply said.

When we arrived home, I went straight inside the bathroom to take a

shower and Clyden also went inside his room to study. I remembered that he
had an exam on Monday so I just gave him time to study. I did my night
care routine before I went to sleep.

The next morning was a Sunday but I still woke up early. I just went straight to the
bathroom to wash my face before going downstairs to find something to eat. I was
surprised to see Clyden serving breakfast on the table.

"You're up early.. or did you even sleep?" I asked after taking a seat.

"I slept," he said, taking a seat in front of me. "Good morning, by the way."

"Good morning. Are these for me or for the dogs?" I asked while looking at the
plate. He cooked eggs, bacon, ham, with toasted bread.

The side of his lips rose up, forming a smirk. "They already sister."

"You like sunny side up more than scrambled?" I noticed the way he
cooked the egg.

"Are you asking me how I like my eggs in the morning?" He raised a brow,
trying to hide a smirk.

My brows furrowed, a little confused why a teasing smile was plastered on his
face. I was just genuinely curious about the egg, though. He was making
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it sounds so weird! I hoped he wasn't talking about anything sensual

especially when we were in a 'no kissing' policy.

"You know what? Just eat." I rolled my eyes and just put some bacon and eggs on
the bread. Maybe he also wasn't the type to eat rice for breakfast.

After eating, I went upstairs to finish typing a paper while Clyden went out to check on
the dogs. It was quick and I went down right away. I went outside to play with the
dogs but I saw Clyden rubbing Summer's body with shampoo instead.

I screamed when Hail came closer and dried his body, splashing water around
the place. Clyden looked back at me when he heard my sudden scream but he just
ended up laughing at me.

“Hold Summer for now. I'll just get the hose,”

Clyden told me.

Since I was also a little wet, I went over and knelt down in front of Summer. I
started rubbing her body with shampoo while she sat there like a good girl, waiting for
me to get finished. I smiled when she closed her eyes while I was rubbing her head
carefully.

“Oh my god!” I stood up immediately when the hose suddenly wet me.
Because of that, Summer got out of my hold and ran around the garden.
Clyden put the hose down to come after her.

“Summer!” He called.

I laughed and took the hose from the grass, targeting Clyden this time.
He immediately turned to me and pulled his hand away when he realized it was wet.
He glared at me so I gave him a smirk. My shirt was already wet because of what
he did! It wasn't even an accident! He did it on purpose!

"Summer, come here," he commanded in a serious voice this time. Summer

immediately walked to him. "Shit."
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I approached and helped Summer rinse. Hail and Maple were running
around the other side of the yard, after bathing. I laughed when Summer
tried to dry herself by also splashing water on me and Clyden.

Clyden put the hose down and pushed his wet hair back. The smile on my
face faded when he suddenly reached for the hem of his shirt before taking it
off. My lips parted as my eyes roamed down to his chest. When our eyes
met, I looked away in an instant.

"I'm wet." I heard the annoyance in his voice before drying Summer up with a
clean towel. He was doing that without a shirt.

"Yeah, me too," I unconsciously said.

He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. When I realized how wrong it

sounded, I stood up and pointed at my wet shirt and shorts. Good
thing I was wearing black.

"I mean, my shirt is wet," I defended myself.

"What else is needed?" he asked, puzzled.

I just shook my head and went inside the house again to take a shower.
After dressing up, I walked downstairs again to watch Netflix in the living
room. Clyden was still outside with the dogs but minutes later, he also went
upstairs to take a shower.

He sat beside me, fresh from the shower. I could smell his soap and
shampoo while he was drying his hair with the small towel. He was wearing a
simple navy blue shirt and a black pair of sweatshorts.

"You want to watch?" I gave him the remote but he shook his head.

"I'll just watch what you're watching right now."

He really did but he kept on asking questions about it because he didn't

even start! This guy! I was confused watching it. After the movie, he
even complained that it was confusing and he didn't get it.
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"Of course! You didn't watch it from the beginning!" I hissed.

“Shut up,” he replied nonchalantly. “It's just really messy. It's all over the
place.”

I rolled my eyes and just let him pick the next movie. It was a miracle that
he wasn't reading a book so I just made the most of his free time. It was
rare! I wanted to make the most of it so I scooted over, leaving no
space between us while watching.

I wasn't expecting him to do anything but I still felt butterflies when he

silently put his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. I leaned my
head on his shoulder while watching. I actually couldn't understand the
movie because I was too distracted with his warm hold. My heart was
beating like crazy.

My face suddenly heated up when the two main characters started kissing each other.
Clyden didn't have any reaction at all so I tried to contain my thoughts inside me.
I stood up and excused myself so I could go to the bathroom. It was so awkward I
had to leave!

I washed myself in the bathroom before I went back. Good thing the
scene was already finished. I sat beside him again and he renewed his
hold on me, making me bite my lip to hide a smile.

"Ah, the baby girl looks cute," I pointed at the screen. "I also want to have a
baby girl. How many children would you have in the future?" I asked him.

"How many are you willing to take?" He asked back.

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked at him. When he stared back at me,

I looked away and faked a cough. My face heated, making my cheeks
blush. Did he really just say that?

"Uh, for me, I'll just.. Uh.. have two," I told him. "I want a daughter. I have
always wanted a daughter."

"What would you name her?" He asked again.

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"Hmm." I looked up while thinking about the name. "Maybe April? Sounds
cute, right? April for spring. Blossom. Pink. Or Avril? Something like that."

“Sounds good.” He nodded. "I'll go with that."

"Sweet talker." I rolled my eyes, trying to contain my emotions inside.

The characters were kissing again when we looked back at the screen so it
made the atmosphere awkward. I faked a cough and shifted on my seat
uncomfortably. He must have noticed because he moved a little away from
me.

"I'll just get a beer." I stood up to excuse myself again.

I took two cans of beer just to see if he would drink. If not, I can drink them
by myself. I placed the can on the table and opened one before taking a
seat beside him. He didn't hold me this time.

"You want some beer?" I asked without looking at him. The characters were
making love now!

“Yeah, I guess.” He took a can and opened it. He took a gulp before putting
it back to the table.

I held the can of beer with my two hands, obviously feeling so awkward now. I don't know
where to look. When will they finish making love for Pete's sake? I couldn't even look
at Clyden to see his reaction.

When the scene finished, I let out a heavy sigh. Finally. I glanced at Clyden
who had his elbow on the arm rest, holding his head. When our eyes met, I
immediately looked away, holding my can tightly with both hands.

"Why did you even choose this movie?" I tried to ease the tension around
us.

He didn't answer so I looked back at him. I was about to say something but
stopped when I noticed his stare. I swallowed hard when he moved closer to
me and held my chin up, looking down on my lips.
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"I thought-" I couldn't even talk. "Y-you will wait for.. Uh-"

I stopped talking when he suddenly kissed my forehead, making me close

my eyes for a bit. When I opened them, he was already taking a sip on his
can of beer while looking at the screen.

"What are you thinking?" I asked when I noticed him zoning out.

He glanced at me for a moment before taking a sip again on his beer,

looking away. I moved closer to him to take a better look at his face.

"Maui." He looked at me again and our eyes met. "How will you know if
you're already falling in love?"

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15
"I also don't know the answer to that. I'm sorry. Do you want me to ask my
friends?"

His question got me so confused. It suddenly made me realize that I had no

idea what love felt like or how I would differentiate 'love' from simply just
'liking' someone. My idea of love came from fictional books, movies, not
from experience and definitely not from my family. I couldn't imagine my
parents loving each other ever.

Were they in love? Did they also fall in love during the process of their
engagement like how Clyden and I were now beginning to like each other?
I wondered if at some point, they also became happy with their marriage but then my
dad cheated with Naomi's mom and it was all gone. It was all ruined.

I couldn't put my idea of love into words because I never experienced it. I
dated before, had a boyfriend, but I couldn't say that it was love. Maybe it
was something less than that. It was never as powerful as the love that I saw
in my friends. Love was so powerful it made my friends devastated, hurt,
broken. I have never experienced crying like that because of love.

I knew platonic love. It was the love I felt with my friends and my sister. It
was the love that I could easily express with messages like 'text me when
you're home!' or 'see you tomorrow!'. The love that was so easy to give.
The love that was so easy to express.

But I knew Clyden wasn't talking about platonic love. He phrased it as

'falling in love'. It was the kind of love that was unexpected. It was the kind of
love that you wouldn't know unless you admit it to yourself. It was slowly
burning in flames until you felt it.. and the idea was scary.

I didn't want to get burned, because my love had always been selfless.
Platonic or not.
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"Have you ever loved someone before?" I asked Clyden this time. I knew the answer
would be no because if he did, he wouldn't ask a question like that.

"If we're talking about the same type of love then the answer is no," he answered
seriously. “I only know the science behind it but when you finally experience it, suddenly
there's no definite meaning or process.
It’s just.. there.”

"You're not sounding like yourself." I laughed to ease off the atmosphere. It was too serious
for me. "I'll get back to you when I finally realize the answer to that."

I stood up and placed the pillow back to the sofa before standing up to throw the
empty can of beer away. When I came back, the movie was already finished and
Clyden was also busy talking to someone on the phone so I just went upstairs. I didn't
notice that it was getting dark because of what we were watching.

I didn't go down for dinner so Clyden went up, holding the tray and placing it down on my
side table. I was busy doing some school work on my laptop so after putting the tray down,
Clyden tried to sneak a glance at my screen.

"I'm not hungry," I told him. "Get the tray back."

"Eat at least a little." I thought he would leave but he sat on my couch instead of watching
me do my business.

"I'm not hungry," I told him again while typing something. I was trying to do a sample
resume I could use after my graduation.

“Running for Latin honors?” He asked me, still looking at my laptop screen. I was
sitting on the floor with the laptop on the bed while he was behind me, sitting on the
couch.

"I hope so," I answered back. The main reason why I wanted to do well in school was to
make my parents proud. I knew with my surname, a lot of
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privileges could come with it, especially in job opportunities, whether I like
it or not. I didn't want my parents to get disappointed.

I feel like I always have something to prove. I used it as a mask to hide

my career uncertainties. I could always say 'at least I'm doing well in this
program' to cheer myself up and to convince myself that I chose the right
path but I still felt empty. It still didn't feel right. I couldn't identify myself. I
didn't know what I wanted. It was always what they wanted. It was always
what my parents would want to see. I was trying to do well so they could
say 'She didn't choose PolSci but at least she's doing well in school'
when bragging.

I asked for a condo and a car, I moved out and chose my own program
to finally feel free but it still wasn't the case. I was still trapped inside,
conforming to the rules. Samantha Vera, never a disappointment. The
epitome of grace.

"I don't know what I want anymore," I told him after the long silence. "I
refuse to believe that this is the product of letting my parents choose my
path because it's different in your case. You like what you're doing."

"People respond differently to similar situations. If you think it's a product of

bad parenting, it is. If you think they fucked your life so bad you couldn't even
decide for yourself, then that's the truth because that's what you feel and
you shouldn't invalidate your feelings," he answered while playing with
my rubik's cube.

"I hate what they're doing to me but I can't say that I hate them. I am mad
but I can't say that I want to get rid of them and completely take them away
from my life. Do you understand me?" I was just hoping that he could. I
never told this to anyone before, not even to Yanna because I was afraid
she wouldn't understand or I was afraid I would add up to her problems.

"I am mad at my brothers but I still feel bad when my dad talks shit about them in front of
other people," he told me. "But still, our anger is valid. I don't think they know about our
feelings, though, because we never told them, and it's not easy to speak about it so take
your time. I'll also take mine."
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I wondered if Naomi was feeling the same way? Trapped. She couldn't speak up for
years, keeping all the pain inside her. She was doing the things she needed to cope and I
understood that. I'm not saying it's right that he's hurting me but I understand why. I
was just hoping that someday, she would finally open up her doors to me because I was
willing to help her get out of the situation I was still in.

“You're really not going to eat?” Clyden asked again, putting the cube back to its place.

“I will,” I said, closing my laptop. I lost my appetite to do it. I wasn't passionate about it.
I couldn't think of my future so I just ate it. “Who cooked this? The helpers?”

"Yes. Why? Do you want me to cook for you?" He asked with a frown.

“I would prefer that,” I joked around, hiding my smile. I just imagined him cooking for me
every day. He cooks breakfast deliciously, eh. I just don't know if he cooks lunch and
dinner as well. I haven't tasted any of his other dishes yet.

"I only know a little about cooking." He suddenly looked nervous.

"Hey, it's fine!" I immediately took it back because he looked serious. He looked
like he was already thinking of the next dish to cook. "Same with me. I also don't cook
that much but I know how to and I could follow cooking videos."

“What time is your lunch hour?”

"Around 11 usually. Why are you asking?" I frowned and looked at him. He just
shook his head before standing up to leave the room. He still reminded me to finish my
food before closing the door.
What will he do? Maybe study. He has an exam.

I returned the tray downstairs before taking a shower and preparing for bed time. I went
to bed early so I woke up early the next day. I
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was just wearing a simple tee and a pair of denim shorts to school. I was putting on my
ID when I saw Clyden eating breakfast on the breakfast table.

"Hi, good morning!" I greeted him with so much energy. He was the
complete opposite of me. He looked so tired from studying.

"Good morning," he greeted me back, getting his finished bowl of cereal to put
it on the sink.

He went inside the bathroom to brush his teeth before putting on his white
polo to complete his uniform. He also sprayed perfume while I was putting
water in my hydroflask. Maybe he didn't sleep again.

"Are you leaving?" I asked, a little disappointed. We didn't even talk this
morning.

"I have an exam," he said while wearing a backpack over his shoulder. I
thought he was already going to leave but he still walked towards me to hand
me a cute white paper bag. I stared at it with my brows furrowed, confused.

“What is this?” I took it from his hand and opened the paper bag only to see a
cute lunch box there. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. “You
cooked for me?”

“Yeah,” he looked shy when he said that. He couldn't even look at me and
grabbed my neck. “Uh, I'm leaving.”

“Thank you for this!” I sounded so excited. I gave him a cute smile and he
returned it with a shy one before leaving.

I even saw him kiss Summer on the head before going to the garage.
Summer was outside, playing in the backyard even though it was still early. I
didn't open the lunch box so it would surprise me later. I just ate bread before
going to school.

"Sam's in such a good mood!" Raylee commented when I went inside the
room, smiling. I greeted the girls before taking my seat. I looked at
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Nicole and she looked away, pursing her lips.

“What's this?” Ayessa pointed at the white paper bag. She tried to peek but I hid it next
to my chair.

"It's just food," I answered, taking my notebook out of my bag.

"Wow, Samantha, you packed your lunch for the first time!" Raylee sat beside me
and clapped her hands. "Did you cook that? I can rate your food!"

“No!” I laughed it off. It was good that Raylee didn't speak because the professor had
arrived. I was so inspired the whole day and I couldn't even wait for lunch time. I
had never been so excited to eat lunch.

After two subjects, everyone stood up and left the room. The girls were still busy deciding
where to eat when I received a text from Clyden.
I'll step away from them first to look at it.

From: Clyden

Enjoy your lunch. Don't judge me lol

I bit my lower lip before hiding my phone. I was planning to reply after tasting the
food. It's good that Raylee and I had decided where to eat so we walked away. We
just went to Regis and luckily, we found an empty table. I thanked my orgmates for
lending it to us before they left.

I placed the paper bag on the table and took out the lunch box. It was beige in color and
had two layers. I removed the lock before putting the first box down. The first box had rice
with vegetables on the side and the second one had sweet and sour pork, then fruits
on the side. I also took out the utensils inside the paper bag and a pabaon for juice. It
was adorable.

"Sam, your smile will reach the sky," Raylee told me. "Why are you so happy about your
lunch box? Oh my gosh, did your boyfriend give that to you?!"
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Nicole almost fainted because of that. I looked at Raylee with a smile on my face, shaking
my head a little. I didn't give her a verbal answer and just started eating my lunch. He
clearly didn't know my diet so I will forgive him this time.

They still tasted good, though. I finished the rice and pork before taking my phone out to text
him back.

To: Clyden

They taste good, don't worry. Next time, don't give me rice. I'm on a diet!
Grrr.

He texted back in a few seconds.

From: Clyden

You're still picky.

I laughed before hiding my phone again to finish eating the fruits and vegetables. I
already expected his sarcastic reply but it still made me smile.
Wait, why did it make me smile?! I used to get annoyed when he did that to me. What the hell.
Everything was starting to change.

While putting the lunch box back inside the paper bag, I saw Naomi with her friends,
taking their seats on the table near us. I stared at her and unconsciously smiled
when I saw her laughing with them. I just looked away before he saw me. I didn't want to
ruin her good mood.

Naomi stood up to go downstairs so I also left our table to follow her. I suddenly stopped
walking when I heard her friends talking.

"Ugh, she's so annoying, no? So dramatic," the girl said.

“Who? Naomi? Yes, of course. I was just about to say that. She just joined us again but
she really has that attitude, doesn't she?” The other girl said.
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I looked at them with my brows furrowed. "Excuse me, it's not good to talk about people
behind their backs. If you have a problem with her, just say it to her face."

"What?" They looked at me confused. I knew it wasn't my place to pick a fight with
freshmen but I just couldn't stand hearing them talk about my sister like that. "Who are you
and why are you even listening to other people's conversations, huh?"

"I'm your senior," I told the girl. I looked at her ID lace and noticed that she was on the
same org as me. "Your org must be ashamed to have you as a member."

“Excuse me?” He frowned. “Why are you being so weird?”

“Sam?” I looked back when I heard Naomi's voice behind me.

He looked at me and his friends in confusion. “What are you doing?”

"God, you know her? She's so weird. Suddenly she's coming here to pick a fight?" Her
friend told her. "What is her problem, really? Talk to her."

Naomi looked at me with so much disappointment. She sighed heavily and put her drink
on the table before pulling me on my wrist. When we were far away, she let go of me and
glared at me. I couldn't talk when I saw how mad she was.

"What the hell is your problem?! What did my friends do to you?! Are you planning to push
them away from me too?!" She kept on yelling at me.

“No, I was just-”

"Cut it out, Samantha! Stop meddling into my life!" She looked like she wanted to cry
out of frustration. I kept my mouth shut. "Can't you see that the more you try to meddle,
the more you push everyone away from me!
Dad, your mom, and now, my friends?! Who else are you going to follow?! Jaron?!
You're trying to keep him away from me too, right?!”
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I bit my lower lip and looked down on the floor without saying anything.
There was no point in explaining because she was too mad. I knew she wouldn't
accept any explanation right now. I will just wait for her to calm down or I will just come
back on her birthday. People close their ears when they are angry. Any word I will
utter would be useless.

At least now I know what she was feeling. She was blaming me for the treatment of
my mom and also for my dad having his favorites. I was the only one introduced to the
public, leaving her behind. Her anger was misplaced but if I were in her place, I
would be mad at me too. It was frustrating.

"Please, just stop, okay?! Just stop playing the 'good sister'! It doesn't suit you!" She told
me before walking away.

I remained standing there, exhaling the breath I was holding for too long. I crossed my
arms over my chest and looked up to stop my tears from falling.
When my tears started to flow, I immediately wiped them away using the back of my hand.
I inhaled and exhaled before going back to our table, smiling like nothing happened.

"Hey! Are we going back?" I asked them with a smile plastered on my face.
They nodded so we started cleaning the table before leaving. I also made sure I was
carrying the lunch box with me. It was the only good thing that happened today.

My mind was too clouded during our next class. I was thinking if I should really just stop
meddling into her life. Maybe I should stop trying.
I'm tired. I didn't know what to do anymore. It was starting to get tiring. She clearly didn't want
me to go near her. She didn't want me to care anymore.

I should rest first, but I shouldn't stop trying. I knew at some point, she would see that
my intentions were clear and good. I was the only person she could trust because I wanted
nothing but the best for her.

To: Yanna
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I feel tired haha :(

I sent that around 1 PM and she didn't reply, maybe because she was taking a
nap. I immediately regretted texting him. I wanted to take it back. I didn't want
her to worry about me too. She should just worry about herself and the baby.
I didn't want to stress her out especially when she's pregnant.

My class finished around 5 PM and it was the exact time I received a

message from my mother. I closed my eyes and massaged my head before
reading it.

From: Mom

I sent you three dresses for an event this Friday. Pick something that will suit
you. Make sure you will look elegant in that dress.

I was about to drive myself home but I was still too drained so I sent
Clyden a text that I will be home late. I went to my condo instead and just drank
beer alone in my balcony while looking at the view. I already had three bottles
when I got a call from Luna.

[Where are you?] He opened it to me. It was still a bit noisy in the background.
[We're at Katip! No class tomorrow!]

“Yeah,” I said after realizing the date. “All of Manila? Or just you?”

[I think you're with me! Anyway, we're bored here with Ke! Let's go there!
Are you in your condo? We're with Sevirous too!] She sounded excited. I
even heard Sevi's voice next to her. They're always together now, huh. Sevi
would always skip drinks because he was an athlete and we were the only girls
who always went together.
Usually, Sevi and Arkin are always together. Now we couldn't even reach the
other guy.

"Come here. I'm at the condo," I told her. "Bring drinks. I'm having a bad day."
Machine Translated by Google

[Is it true? What happened, sis?] She sounded concerned now.

"Nothing. Just school stuff," I lied. "Anyway, hurry up!"

She said okay before ending the call. I went back inside my unit to clean
while waiting for them. I was surprised Luna offered to come to my condo
knowing her ex lived in the same building. I laughed by myself before
taking my phone out to inform Clyden that I will be drinking with my
friends since there is no class tomorrow.

From: Clyden

Okay. Be careful. Don't go home if you can't. Sleep there. Don't drive.

I smiled and typed 'okay'. I immediately hid my phone when I heard Luna's
voice at the door. I opened the door for them and welcomed them with a
smile but Luna welcomed me with a hug instead. I was shocked and stepped
back before hugging her back.

"Love you," she whispered before letting me go. She smiled at me before
going inside my condo.

Ke, Via, and Sevi also entered. They were all complete. I closed the door
again and watched them invade my unit. Sevi put the alcohol on the coffee
table and they started opening it. I leaned against my study table and watched
them talk about some funny stuff. All of them were still sober. They had no
effect from what they had drunk.

“Hey, Sev! I'm going to open it! You're stupid to open it!” Luna snatched the
opener. I smiled while watching them fight.

"I'm just stupid for opening. You're stupid tomorrow and the day after
tomorrow," Sevi retorted.

"You know a lot!" Luna rolled her eyes.

Kierra was busy talking to Via. I even heard Arkin talking to them. We weren't
that close to Arkin since Via was really the one
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The reason why we were friends, like how the main reason why Sevi became
our friend was because of Luna and Arkin. Originally, we were really just
girls who always got along.

“He's busy taping. I don't talk to him much anymore,” Sevi said when Kierra
asked him about Arkin. “Maybe Via talks to him.”

Via just shrugged, refusing to give an answer. I bit my lower lip to hide a
smile when she reached for the bottle of beer to take a gulp. She looked
mad again. They always fight, huh?

I looked at the door when I heard a knock. Luna said she ordered something
through Grab food so I was the one who offered to open the door. I
was expecting a guy in uniform but I saw a woman in a gray tee and
black leggings instead.

"What the hell," I whispered, leaving my lips parted.

“Are you okay? What's your text?” Yanna looked so worried in front of
me.

“Sam, who's that?” Luna yelled inside. “Is that the Grab? Wait, let me
get my payment!”

Yanna's eyes widened when she realized that I wasn't alone in my unit. I
immediately closed the door behind me and held on to the door knob, still
staring at Yanna with wide eyes. What the hell, why is he here?!

"Did you go to Manila alone?!" I asked, getting concerned now. "How?!

Why did you do that?! You should have called me! I would have picked you
up!”

“I took the bus. I was in a hurry because of your text. I wondered what had
happened to you,” she explained.

"Who are you with? My god, Yanna!"

“Just me, why? I know how to commute! You didn't say they were there! I've
been texting you for a while, huh!” She pointed at my face,
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panicking.

My eyes widened when the door suddenly opened. “Sam, here's the payment for-”

Luna suddenly stopped talking when she saw Yanna in front of me.
He dropped his wallet, causing the coins to roll across the floor.
Luna looked away and started getting the coins. I also knelt down to help her while
Yanna just stood there, unable to kneel down.

“Hey, what took so long? Where's the-Putang-!” Sevi stopped when he saw Yanna. “Hey,
you're still alive, huh?! Why aren't you showing up?!”

“It's not Grab,” Luna said after we were settled. She immediately went inside and Sevi
followed her.

I looked at Yanna and gave her an apologetic smile. "Do you want to go inside?" I
carefully asked.

She shook her head. “I’m scared.”

I walked towards her and held her hand to make her feel that I was with her.
I knew she was scared to tell everyone the truth. She was ashamed and scared to be
judged again because all her life, people did nothing unless they were judged. She was
the bravest, but even the bravest could break down.

"Come on." I slowly pulled her inside my unit and she nodded. She closed the door behind
her before we walked towards the living room where everyone was waiting. No one
talked when they saw Yanna with me. "Hey, guys. Uh, Yanna's here."

Yanna bit her lower lip and looked away, unable to talk. Everyone was quiet and no one
dared to talk. Via stared at Yanna before her eyes went down to her tummy. The baby
bump was now visible through her tee when Yanna put her hands behind her. Kierra
was looking down on the floor while Luna and Sevi were trying to busy themselves with the
bottle.
Machine Translated by Google

"B-are you pregnant?" Via asked with so much surprise.

Everyone suddenly looked at Yanna in shock. Their gaze dropped to her stomach,
making her conscious.

“Sorry,” Yanna whispered. “I.. I made a mistake-”

She didn't finish her sentence because Luna suddenly stood up and ran towards
her to give her a tight hug. I suddenly became worried for the baby but Yanna seemed
fine when she hugged her back, trying to stop the tears from falling.

Kierra stood up and joined the hug too. I let go of Yanna's hand so she could
hold them in her arms. I heard Luna crying on her shoulder saying how sorry she
was for getting mad at her.

"I'm sorry, it's just that.. You were suffering alone and we didn't even know,"
Luna cried, letting go of her so she could wipe her tears. "I'm so sorry."

“I didn't tell Sam. I was scared,” Yanna's voice broke. She looked up to stop her
tears from falling. “Maybe you'll tell me I'm stupid.. that I should have expected this
because of what I'm doing.”

“Don't say that.” Via gave her a hug. “We're sorry for making you want to hide your
pregnancy from us. We understand.”

“Sorry.” Yanna started crying, making me so worried for her. I immediately

grabbed a glass of water to give her. “I don't know what to do. I don't know how to
say it because to this day, the pain is still so painful for me.”

"Who.." Kierra wanted to ask about the father but she stopped herself.
“Nevermind. It doesn't matter anymore. We can be the father of your child!”

"I'm the father of that, I agree," Sevi added, letting out a teasing smile.
"Do you want it, Yanna? I'm willing!"
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“You really are stupid.” Yanna stopped crying to hit Sevi with the pillow. “What are you
going to teach my child, huh? How stupid are you?”

"That's it, oh! Maybe I'm really the father. I think I got you pregnant during our first kiss,
huh," Sevi continued teasing to make everyone laugh.

"You're stupid, Sevi," Yanna said, laughing. I made her drink a glass of water before
wiping her tears with my handkerchief.

“I'm really sorry,” Luna said, still crying. Sevi started laughing at her for crying so
hard. “If only I had known, I wouldn't have been listening to you in the group chat
missing in action all the time. I didn't know you were going through something.
I'm sorry.”

“Is this drunk?” Yanna asked me, pointing at Luna.

“Drink that!” Sevi teased Luna again.

"You're such an idiot, Sevi! You're ruining my moment, huh!" Luna threw a shoe she
picked up from the floor at him.

Yanna sat with Kierra and they talked about her pregnancy. Via and Kierra looked so
worried and hurt for her. It made me happy that they made Yanna feel welcomed and
accepted. It was what she needed.

“Do you love me?” Kierra asked.

“Of course.” Yanna tried to hide her pain with a laugh. She looked down on the floor and
suddenly remembered her memories with him. “I have no regrets when it comes to him,
Ke. Even if I had to repeat everything that happened to us, I would do it again and again.
I love him that much.”

My lips parted when her words gave me an idea of love, the thing Clyden was asking
before. I sat with them and started listening to their stories, realizing how strong
love was.

“I can't say I feel the same way,” Luna said, about to cry again. “I'd be jealous if I
were the one to choose,
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"If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't because it would be too painful. You're so
brave, Yanna."

“If I were given the chance to do it all over again, I would also prefer to just walk
away. There are beautiful loves, like yours, and there are ugly ones, like mine,”
Kierra also said. “Is that you, Sevi?”

"I, uhm." Sevi pretended that he was thinking before smiling. He glanced at
Luna for a second before looking away. "I'll say it again.
I will still love you because my love, even if it hurts me, it's okay, okay?
Sometimes, you're satisfied just to see him happy.
"You're happy with simple things like that. That's what love is all about, right? It can't
just be happy. It has to be painful too?"

Contentment, sacrifice, bait. Mixing them together was my idea of love based
on what they said. Suddenly, I felt brave to face it. Watching how Yanna and
Luna talked about their experience made me feel so many things.

“I don't know anything about that,” Via said, shaking her head a little. “Thank you
all.”

I grabbed a bottle of beer before I stepped out onto the balcony. I immediately felt
the cold air hitting my face when I opened the door. I leaned my elbow on the railings
while looking at the lights. Everyone looked happy, but deep down I knew they were
also suffering like me.

I heard the sliding door open but I didn't bother looking back. Yanna was suddenly
beside me, holding a glass of water and leaning against the railings without
looking at me.

"How are you?" She asked like it was her first time seeing me after so many days.

I gave her a glance and a fake smile before looking away again. The air was so cold,
matching the gloom I was feeling inside for so many reasons. The harshness of
the cold was suddenly replaced with warmth when Yanna wrapped her arms
around me for a hug. I leaned my head on her shoulder while she caressed my
hair.
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"I'm just here," she whispered.

I nodded. "I know," I whispered back.

I didn't know how to say it. I also didn't know what I was feeling. I just felt tired of
caring. I felt tired of trying. They and Clyden are the only reasons why I keep going.

I suddenly wished I was hugging him right now. I knew he would make me feel so much
better.

"Do I love him?" I asked Yanna. "How did you know that you were already in love with
Hiro?"

“Hmm, how is that?” Yanna sighed. “Maybe it's because I started getting hurt with every
kiss he gave me, because I thought maybe that's all it would be.
"Maybe that's all I can do. Us. But this doesn't apply to you, eh. If you want to know if
you love him, face it."

"And what if he doesn't feel the same way?" I asked her again.

“Did you hear what Sevi said? That's okay. You're just in love, Sam.” She tapped
my shoulder and gave me a smile.

“You stay here. I'm going somewhere,” I told Yanna. “I'll be back tomorrow. Just
stay here.”

"Just go." She gave me a smile and a thumbs up. "Go home to him."

That was what I did. I think I was ready to face him. Him, at least. Next time
someone else. I was ready to open up to him. I was ready to share my life with him.

Even though I drank several bottles, I still felt sober. It didn't have any effect on me
so I drove myself home safely. When I went inside the house, I wasn't expecting to see
him in the living room, watching a cooking video while taking down notes.

"It's hard," he told Summer. "The sweet and sour was easier."
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I smiled and suddenly walked towards him, placing my bag on the coffee table. His
eyes widened when he saw me. He immediately panicked and turned off the TV
before standing up.

"I thought you weren't coming home," he said, looking like I caught him
doing something unusual.

"Well, I'm here now." I gave him a smile.

His face changed when he saw my expression. "Are you okay?"

I suddenly had the urge to cry. I bit my lower lip and looked away. I failed to contain
my emotions inside me when he suddenly wrapped me around his arms for a tight
hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist in return and leaned my head on his chest.

“Shush,” he whispered.

"I'm tired." I cried on his chest.

"I'm sorry." He kissed the top of my head repeatedly to calm me down.

"I'm here. What's our problem, love?"

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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16
"I don't know. I feel drained."

Clyden sat down on the couch with me with his arms around my shoulder, gently
brushing his fingers on my arm to calm me down. His eyes did not leave my face. He
was staring at me for so long, ready to listen.

"I had a fight with Naomi. I just feel like I'm always misunderstood. But I just.. It's so
frustrating when people misunderstand your intention," I said while looking on the floor.
I couldn't look at him with tears streaming down my face.

"Give her time and give yourself a rest. You don't have to always be there for other
people if you're missing yourself," he said in a soft voice.

"Maybe I'm just overreacting. Why the hell am I crying right now?" I tried wiping my tears
away but they just wouldn't stop.

He held my chin up and gently made me face him so I could see him clearly. "You
are not overreacting. Your feelings are valid. Crying is valid."

"Besides that, I also received a message from my Mom to attend an event this Friday
but I'm just not in the mood to meet other people again and force myself to act like
everything's good, like everything is going okay," I told him without taking my eyes off him.

“Then don’t attend.”

I had so many events coming up and so many events I skipped like Elyse's debut. My
parents attended the party for me since they were invited by Mr.
Ledezma and I just asked them to send my regards. Wait, I suddenly remembered
Naomi's birthday. On that Friday, ah!
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"It's Naomi's birthday but my mom has an event to go to." I suddenly realized that.
"Maybe it's a surprise party for Naomi? You think so?" I looked at him.

"Uh, no," he said, avoiding my eyes like he was embarrassed to tell me that I
was wrong. "But we could check if you want to attend. I will accompany you."

"Like my mom would allow me to say no," I said sarcastically.

That was the problem with me. One day, I'd be having the courage to speak
up against my parents but the next day, I was still the coward who couldn't
say no to the people who provide for my needs simply because they were
the reason why I was still living. I had this toxic mindset that I couldn't go
against the people who provide for everything, including my education.

That was the reason why I wanted to move out and earn my own money but I
knew they would just stop me. The last time I told my mom that I wanted to
earn by myself, she just laughed at me and told me not to tell my Dad. I
knew Dad would just say 'You have money. You don't need more'.

Maybe I'll just hold on until I graduate. Maybe I'll get the freedom I've
been longing for. Maybe. Just maybe it would happen. I wasn't thinking of
achieving my dream job anymore, if I really had one. I just wanted to be free.

"Let's show up and then bail," he suggested, letting out a small smile.

"We're like rebels," I told him, laughing now. I saw how his smile widened
when he suddenly heard me laugh. He didn't say anything. He just stared at
me like he was so delighted to see me smiling.

I moved closer and gave him a peck on the cheek. When I moved away, the
smile was now gone on his face. It was replaced by a surprised and amused
look. I suddenly remembered how he called me 'love' earlier. It was like
music to my ears.

I couldn't believe one word could make me feel butterflies in my stomach.

It sounded so cheesy, yet calming, and I appreciated the way he said 'our
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problem' instead of 'your problem' like he was sharing everything with me and vice versa.
Like we were part of each other. Clyden really knew what I wanted to hear.

"Are you sure you haven't dated anyone before me?" My brows furrowed,
accusing him now. How could he be so smooth like it wasn't his first time?

“Yes, of course. Why don't you believe it?” He scowled, showing how
disappointed he was at me for asking that again.

"You just know how to flirt like it's your expertise." I shrugged before
standing up to go upstairs. I was dying to take a shower now. I just realized that
I spent all day out in school and here I was, being so close to him. I suddenly
felt conscious.

He asked where I was going and I told him I was going to take a bath. He
didn't say anything after that and just let me leave like that. I took a shower for
fifteen minutes before doing my night care routine. I wore my navy blue pajamas
and went inside my room to check my phone.

Like what I expected, my inbox was bombarded with messages from the
girls, asking where I went and why I left them. I suddenly felt bad for
leaving like that so I sent an apology in the group chat. I was sure Yanna
would explain for me.

Tomorrow, since there is no class, I will take Yanna back to Nueva Ecija. I
would visit my condo first since that is where she will be staying. I was sure the
girls wouldn't leave her alone there especially after knowing that she was
pregnant so I was confident that she would be with someone.

I thought I would be able to sleep after checking my inbox but Clyden

suddenly knocked on the door. When I told him that it was open, he went
inside without hesitation. I raised my brows, lowkey asking him why he was
inside my room.

"Uh, are you feeling better now?" He asked to check on me.

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I suddenly let out a smile after realizing that it was so rare for me to hear that question.
I only received it from my friends but not often. Somehow, Clyden's presence made
me feel secured, like he was always going to make sure that I was okay and I was really
thankful for that.

"I am," I answered, still smiling. "How about you? Are you okay?"

“Why not?” He raised an eyebrow at me, still holding the door with one hand and the other
on the doorknob. He looked like a kid asking his parents to buy him a toy. He looked shy.

"Nothing. I just want to do the same to you so our relationship is balanced,"

I told him while fixing my bed. I suddenly stopped after realizing what I just said.

"What relationship?" I could hear the tease in his voice. I fake coughed to clear my throat
before fixing my bed again. "What relationship are you talking about, Maui?"

"We're engaged," I said as an excuse. I was pretty sure he didn't buy that but I was
thankful that he didn't talk anymore. I was pretty sure my feelings were already deep for him
but I was still too shy to admit it out loud.

"When we leave, are we going to sleep in the master bedroom?" He suddenly asked,
making my head turn in his direction so fast he ended up laughing at my reaction.

"I mean, uh, if you want," I whispered, looking away from him again. Oh my gosh, just
thinking about going to bed every night with him sent shivers! My face heated,
making my cheeks red.

"I want to," he said directly.

"Um, okay." I cleared my throat again before sitting at the edge of my bed.
When I looked at him, he was already closing the door with a teasing smile on his face. I
just breathed a sigh of relief when he left my room.
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I woke up early so I could visit Yanna in my condo. I showered and brushed my teeth
before going down. I even caught up with Clyden cooking breakfast while reading a
book. I thought he was reading a recipe book but he was actually studying while
cooking. Who knew he was capable of doing both at the same time?

“Oh, wake up.” He put the book down on the breakfast table when he saw me. He was
even wearing an apron as if he had made cooking his career. “Wait, you're leaving?”

"Yes, I need to pick my best friend up and drive her back to Nueva Ecija," I told him.

"Just wait, just take it." He suddenly panicked, afraid that I would leave without eating
the breakfast he prepared for me.

He took the lunch box and put what he had cooked in it. Those were just pancakes and he
put syrup in a small container. I sat on the couch and waited for him to finish packing my
breakfast. I was smiling while he was getting himself busy.

"You're cute," I told him, biting my lip to stifle a smile.

I saw him roll his eyes before putting the lunch box inside the paper bag.
He walked towards me and handed me the white paper bag without saying anything. I
stood up and took it from his hand. He even put two bottles of juice inside.

“For your friend,” he explained when he noticed me looking at the bottles.

“How sweet of you,” I teased. He raised a brow and scowled, looking at me with disdain.
I laughed and waved at him before leaving.

"Text me!" He yelled inside the house and I shouted 'okay' from the garage.

I drove away, the smile on my face never fading, and to think that I was on my way to
see my best friend just made me even happier. I focused on
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being positive today and decided to give myself a rest from my own
problems. I wanted to forget it just for today.

When I arrived in front of my unit, I immediately heard Luna's voice from the
outside. When I entered, the volume of his voice only got louder. I looked
around and only saw Luna and Via. Sevi and Kierra were gone so I assumed
that they didn't spend the night here.

“Sit down, pregnant woman! I'm here!” Luna yelled at Yanna who was trying to
help make the breakfast.

“This is going to happen, if you don't break up, you'll be pregnant too, you idiot!” Yanna
fired back.

Luna glared at her and rolled her eyes, unable to say anything. I laughed
and greeted them before placing my things on the coffee table. Via was
busy cleaning the mess from last night. I suddenly wondered what the
hell happened here last night. Did they get drunk?

“Where did you go last night? You left me here,” Via complained to me.

"I'm sorry, I had an emergency." I gave her an apologetic smile. "What

happened here last night? Did Luna cry again or what? I'm surprised she
didn't rush to Kalix's unit."

"Almost," she whispered like she was afraid Luna would hear her.
"Kierra just stopped me but Luna almost got into the elevator, my gosh!
Nothing much really happened. Yanna slept early and Kierra was sober.
Sevi, I don't know if he was drunk or what. He just acted the same when he
was drunk and when he wasn't."

"That's true," I said while taking my lunch box out. Via looked at it with her
brows furrowed but she didn't ask anymore.

I started eating pancakes while Luna was busy cooking their own breakfast.
Yanna sat beside me and leaned her head on my shoulder while touching
her baby bump. I suddenly got worried that maybe she was hurting or something.
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“I'm just feeling sorry for you,” she told me again. “What happened last night?
"Have you kissed yet?" He asked me.

“No!” I denied so fast. "It was just wholesome."

“Did you tell him that you love him?” She whispered again. I looked at Via and Luna and
they were both busy preparing breakfast. They were a little too far away from us so
they couldn't hear.

"No, I haven't. I'm scared to say it," I whispered back. "I'll just wait for him to say it first
and then I'll follow. Anyway, it's for you." I handed her the juice.

“Hala, why? He has a crush on me?” Yanna teased. The smile on my face faded which
made her laugh at my reaction. “You're nervous. Rawr.” She even winked at me.

I just chuckled because it was an inside joke between us. Back when we were still
having a competition with guys before, we used to joke around that we could steal from
each other in a second but those days were already over ever since she fell in love.

They ate breakfast together but I was already full so I just helped fix Yanna's things so
we could leave right after breakfast. Good thing Luna offered to come with us or else I
would be sad on the way home because I was alone. Via had plates to do and I thought
they were going to meet Arkin so she already left.

“Why am I sitting here?” Yanna complained from the backseat.

“When pregnant, in the back!” Luna, who took the shotgun seat, told her. Luna was
carrying snacks like she was going camping. She was the one playing music so the song
was sad. “I thought why is the sky like this, I'm far away from you,” she sang.

"Change the song to a happy playlist. Yanna might end up crying here," I told Luna.
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“What am I? That's the one who was acting up last night, huh!” Yanna pointed at Luna.
“Kalix, why did you do this to me? Kalix, let's go, okay,” she mimicked.

“Hey, I didn't say that!” Luna looked back at her like she was ready to fight. “Why would I
say that?! Am I stupid, huh?!”

"Oh, you're not sure," Yanna fired back, laughing.

Luna sighed and adjusted her seat. In the middle of the trip, Yanna fell asleep on the
backseat and Luna suddenly looked like she was filming a music video with a sad
song on the background so my car was quiet.

"Hello?" I answered my phone while driving. Luna even turned to her but she went back to
filming her music video and just minded her own business.

[Where are you?] Clyden asked.

"I'm near Nueva Ecija. I might be back before dinner." I felt a little conscious because
Luna looked at me again with judgmental eyes.

[Nothing. I'm just thinking if I should prepare dinner but now I will since you're going
home.] His voice sounded low through my phone. [Take care.]

"You too," I said before ending the call. I focused my eyes on the road while Luna
was still staring at me with a meaningful look. "What?" I asked without glancing at her.

"I hope everyone," she whispered before looking outside the window again.

When Yanna woke up, we were opposite her house. Her aunt invited us inside and Luna
being Luna really went inside to look around the house. I told her that we couldn't take
long since I had to go home before dinner but Yanna's grandma offered us snacks and I
didn't have the heart to refuse.

We finished eating around 4 PM so we left late. I texted Clyden that I might be late to
dinner and he replied it's okay. Luna was talking non-
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stopped during the whole trip until she fell asleep.

It was already night when I dropped Luna off at her condo before heading home.
When I entered the house, I caught Clyden studying in the living room,
wearing his glasses. He stood up and put the book down when he heard the
opening of the door.

I greeted him with a smile and he walked towards the kitchen so he could heat
the food he cooked for me. I suddenly felt bad because he looked tired from
studying and here I was, making him do things for me.

"I can do it myself," I told him while he was plugging the microwave.

“Don't worry, I'll take it,” he told me. “Just sit there. You look tired from the
trip.”

And just like that, the days went by smoothly. Clyden would always cook lunch
for me every morning and I would bring it to school so I saved more money
than ever. He cooks something different every day. Some were perfect and
some were a failure but at least he was trying. He was really eager to learn
how to cook other food. Sometimes, I would catch him watching cooking
videos on YouTube. I appreciate all his efforts.

Friday came and right after getting home from school, I went straight inside the
bathroom to take a shower so we could attend the event my Mom was inviting
me to. I picked the black satin halter neck dress because it was the most elegant
one. I braided my hair and went down with my silver purse.
Clyden was already ready, wearing his black dress shirt.

It was just a casual gathering so when we arrived at the party, everyone was already in
their own circles, talking about business with champagne glasses on their hands. My
mom greeted Clyden and I before introducing us to her other friends.

"Clyden Ramirez and his fiancée, what a surprise!" The man greeted with a laugh.

"Samantha Vera," Clyden corrected. "Her name is Samantha Vera."

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"Samantha Vera," the man awkwardly said before giving me a smile. "I heard from
your father that you're inheriting Ramirez Medical."

Clyden's brows furrowed in confusion but he still managed to make up a fake smile. "Is
that so?" He asked in a low voice.

"Your father really likes bragging about you, like how you're the best son among the
three! Now, I get why. I admire you for that." The man tapped his shoulder.

“Thank you,” Clyden said before excusing us. When we were gone, he irritably set the
champagne glass down on the cocktail table. He didn't even take a sip on it. “Come. Let's
get out of this shithole.”

"Let's go." I gave him a smile and he returned a small one despite how angry he was.
He held and intertwined my hands with him before pulling me out of the venue. I didn't
even say goodbye to my mother, like she would actually notice that I wasn't around.

"See how tiring it is to act like everything's a praise?" I said, shaking my head a bit.

"Those people are so high up in the ground that they think everything they say is fine. And
what the fuck is the inheritance bullshit? They didn't even tell me about it," Clyden said in
frustration.

"Don't you want it?" I asked.

"No, it would drive Charles crazy. I'm fine with becoming a pediatric surgeon and
your husband. I don't need anything else."

I bit my lower lip to stop a smile. I was waiting for him to say that he was joking but it
didn't come. So he really meant that one? He was really planning to marry me? I
was included in his plans now?

The smile on my face faded when I got a text from Naomi. I had her number saved
but she never texted me so this was probably the first time.

From: Naomi
Machine Translated by Google

Help

My eyes widened while staring at the message with her shared location on it and a unit
number. "Turn the car around!" I told Clyden. He looked so confused at first but he
really did turn the car around when I told him about the text.

Naomi never texted me and this was the first message I ever received from her? I
suddenly felt nervous. I already texted her a 'happy birthday' earlier and was planning
to visit her tomorrow because I thought giving her space was the right thing to do. This
message changed my plans.

It was a condo building near mine. It was already so late in the evening!
What the hell was she doing outside? Were her friends celebrating her birthday?
Could be.

I called a friend to help us get inside the building so after parking the car, we went
straight up. I was so nervous I couldn't walk properly because my knees were so
weak. Clyden was beside me, trying to catch up.

I stopped in front of the unit and I heard loud music from the inside. I knocked
repeatedly but no one answered. Clyden gently made me step sideways so he
could smash on the door with his fist. The music suddenly stopped and the door
opened, revealing Naomi's girlfriend. The one on the same org as me.

"Where's my sister?" I asked her.

"She's having fun. Go away," she said, about to close the door.

I was about to put my hand on the door to stop her but Clyden pushed the door open,
making the girl stumble backwards. I ran inside and looked around, only to see
birthday party designs that were already ruined. I saw the other girl on the balcony,
smoking.

My eyes widened when I heard Naomi's muffled voice inside the bedroom.
I tried opening it but the room was locked.
Machine Translated by Google

“Naomi?!” I yelled outside.

I heard loud noises inside before the door opened. I almost fell on the floor when Naomi
suddenly took me into her arms, shaking.

“Sam!” She cried on my neck.

“What the fuck is happening around here?!” I yelled at Naomi's friend. I felt more
anger when I saw Jaron coming out of the room with a cigarette on his finger. He put
it down immediately when he saw me.

“Sam!” He looked surprised to see me. "What's up?"

"What the fuck did you do to my sister?!" I yelled, not letting go of Naomi.
Jaron's brows furrowed before looking around like he was expecting someone to
answer for him.

"Her friends told me to celebrate her birthday with them because she has a crush on
me and I thought it would make your sister happy. Am I wrong?"
Jaron raised an eyebrow.

"Do you think she's fucking happy right now?! She's crying!" I continued raising my
voice at him. Naomi cried harder on my shoulder like she was going to collapse.

"Oh, come on! We were playing truth or dare! Why are you crying? We just dared you to
stay in the same room with Jaron for 30 minutes!" Naomi's friend rolled her eyes.

"No, you shut up!" I pointed at her. "We're going. Don't ever talk to my sister. And oh,
by the way, find another org that will take you out," I hissed before leaving the unit with
Naomi.

Clyden stayed silent behind us until we reached the parking lot. I sat with Naomi
on the backseat while she was still crying. I was trying to comfort her until she finally
calmed down. We took her back to the mansion and I made her drink a glass of water
before talking.

"I'll go to your room," Clyden said, giving us privacy.

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I gave him a nod before looking at Naomi again. She was wearing a white dress that
really suited her and her makeup was smudged due to crying so I also got a cotton pad
to wipe her makeup.

"What happened?" I asked. "Did he do anything to you?"

"No," she answered, shaking his head. "He was telling me all about his girlfriend,
Rina, and the things they do together. He even told me that if I really like him
that much, we could get in a relationship together without Rina knowing.. Like I'm a
desperate woman."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, looking down on the floor. "I.. already knew about him and Rina. I
should have told you."

"It's not your fault," she said in a soft voice. "Maybe I was really desperate.
"Maybe I was a fool."

"No, you're not," I told her.

"No, just admit it, Sam. I was a fool because I defended my friends instead of you. I was
a fool to believe that they were really true to me," she said in a cold voice. "And I was
desperate to keep them as my friends because I had no one."

"You have me," I assured her.

"And you have it all," she whispered, biting her lower lip to stop her tears again from
falling. "It's so easy for you to say that because even if you give a part of you to people,
the people around you are also willing to fill up the void by giving you a part of theirs."

"T-that's not true," I tried to deny even though I saw her point.

"No, it is true. You have everything. You have everyone and the only person I have is me, but
it's better that way because the last time I had someone, she died because of me." I could
hear her controlling her emotions with her voice.
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With the mention of her mom, I became silent. I didn't know what to say. I just realized that
she was opening up to me this way and somehow, she was slowly making her feelings known.
I understood why she was trying so hard to push me away, and because of what happened
with her friends now, I was afraid her trust issues would worsen.

"I just want to live my life, Sam." She started crying again.

"I'm.. I'm sorry." I wanted to hold her but I was afraid she would push me away so I just sat
beside her and watched her cry. She tried wiping her tears away but they just won't stop
falling. "I'm sorry you had to deal with this."

"Eighteen years of existence but half of it was barely living," she cried
more.

I scooted over and slowly put my arms around her, leaning her head on my shoulder. I tapped
her shoulder lightly to calm her down. I suddenly had the urge to cry too because of how
painful it was for me to see her like this. I didn't like seeing people in pain, especially those
who were close to me. If only I could take everyone's sadness and make them mine, I would.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm here for you. You might not accept me now but I hope that you
will, soon. We'll get through this together, okay? I'll do my best."

We stayed like that for a few minutes after she calmed down and told me that she wanted
to be alone. I stalked her from behind until we reached the door of her room. She opened it
and went inside but also stopped to look at
me.

"H-happy birthday. I placed my gift on the desk inside my room. You can check it tomorrow."
I gave her a genuine smile.

She nodded before closing the door. I turned around and was about to walk away but I heard
the door open again.

“Sister.”
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My eyes widened before turning around. Naomi bit her lower lip and looked away
after calling me her sister for the first time. My lips parted, not knowing what to say.

"Thank you," she whispered before closing the door.

I was about to say something but she was already gone. I blinked twice before my
lips formed a small smile. Baby steps. At least we were making progress.

I went inside my room and saw Clyden sitting on my bed, looking at my stolen picture
in frame. It was during his graduation party. My mom loved my photo so she had it
framed. When Clyden noticed my presence, he looked at me and gave me a smile.

"How did it go, love?" He asked smoothly.

My stomach felt butterflies again. I slowly walked towards him and stopped in front of him.
He slowly placed the frame down on my side table before putting his hands on my waist.
I put my hands on his shoulder for support.

"Baby steps," I told him, smiling.

“That's good.” He nodded, licking his lower lip a little.

I went closer and sat on his left thigh, leaning my head on his shoulder blade. His
arm automatically went around my waist to support my back. He also placed my legs over
his other thigh so my feet were now hanging on his other side.

"You smell good," I gave him a compliment.

I adjusted my seat to see him properly. My face heated when I saw him staring at me like
he was trying to get through my soul. I looked away and still felt his stare on me even
after a few moments.

"What are you thinking?" I asked him, biting my lower lip.

"I'm thinking if I should kiss you," he said in a low voice.

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I looked back at him and parted my lips in shock. His gaze went down from my
eyes to my lips, making me conscious. I stared back at him until he held my chin to
stop me from moving. I automatically closed my eyes when he leaned and gave
me a soft kiss.

My grip on his shoulder got tighter when he moved his lips and moved his hand
on my nape to deepen our kiss. He bit my lower lip and pushed his tongue
inside my mouth, letting out a groan. I pushed my thighs together when he
expertly explored my mouth like a hungry man.

When he let me go, I was already panting. I licked my lower lip and looked away
from him. I was pretty sure my cheeks were already red. I stood up immediately
and adjusted my dress, which had risen a little when I sat up.

“L-let's go,” I told him.

I was about to walk away but he held my hand and pulled me back. I
bumped on his chest so I stepped back to give us space.

"What?" I asked because he was staring at me again like he wanted to say

something. "What is it? Come on say it. It's getting late. We need to-"

"I love you," he cut me off.

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

Happy 1M in advance.

Always always thankful to you, Areums. I love you through thick and thin.

Let's do our best and give love to each other.

- Gwy

OceanofPDF.com
Machine Translated by Google

17
“You mean that?”

I looked so hopeful while staring at his eyes, realizing how serious and sincere he
was. His gaze never left mine while I felt his hands encircling around my waist. His
other hand went up to the back of my head, making me lean against his chest. He held
me in silence for a moment, like we were connecting through our hearts.

"I can hear your heartbeat," I told him while my ears were slightly placed against his
chest. It was like he was purposely making me listen to his heart.

I could also almost hear mine if I would focus my attention on it. I wondered if
he was hearing it or if he could feel it. This was the moment I had been waiting for. Him,
confessing his feelings for me.

For a moment, I remembered myself being so clueless about love. I defined it before with
so many words like sacrifice, contentment, and pain, but now that I was already feeling
it, I couldn't even describe it with a word. It was just there. It was longing to be felt. It
existed without me knowing.

It was so powerful that I was even scared to say it. I was afraid that after saying those
words, I would experience the same pain my friends went through and I didn't want
that. I don't know how I will accept being hurt here by what I will enter but I would still
choose to love. I will always choose to love despite the pain it will bring, because
that was me, the nature of Samantha Vera.

"I love you," I whispered.

I felt him stiffen a bit until he relaxed again and held me even tighter and closer to him
like he was afraid I would run away, like he couldn't even let me go. There was
something about barely just being with him that made me feel so at ease.

"Let's go home." He kissed the top of my head before letting me go.

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I gave him a genuine smile when our eyes met again and he gave back a small one, but
his eyes were so full of admiration. I took my bag and left the room. I glanced at Naomi's
closed door for a moment before leaving. I couldn't explain how good I was feeling tonight
because of everything that happened. Everything felt so good I felt so afraid that
tomorrow would feel different.

While Clyden was driving home, I checked my phone and saw messages from my mom,
asking where I went. He said, Clyden's parents came and I should go and greet them but
we were already gone when it happened.

"Your dad almost announced you as the heir of Ramirez Medical but you weren't around.
It was a surprise," I told him when I read the last message from my mom.

"I know. That's why I bailed," he simply answered like it wasn't a big deal when in fact, it
would cost him so much.

"Don't you want to inherit your family business? They chose you for a reason."

I didn't want to butt in but it was a big deal and he was treating it as if he just rejected a
candy offer. If he refuses, he should refuse properly because if he wouldn't say 'no' in his
father's face he will just continue running away from it like what happened earlier, his dad will
just force it onto him.

After meeting his siblings, I really did realize how different he was and I understood why
his dad would choose him instead of the two, but I also understood why Clyden would
reject the offer, not because he wanted to but maybe he was also afraid that his brothers
would feel more anger towards him. If I would put myself in his shoes, I would do the same.

"I told you, I don't want it. I know nothing about business," Clyden answered.
"Speaking of business, any news about what your family's really up to? I just remembered
now."
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“Uh, no. I'm not home often anymore so I wouldn't know. I.. I'll ask my mom next time
about it.”

I suddenly felt extra anxious about it. Suddenly I couldn't be bothered because of what
was going through my mind. I was judging my parents in my head already so I needed
to stop. Clyden probably noticed how uncomfortable I was so he offered his hand
for me to hold while he was driving.

I held his hand in silence and the warmth of his palm automatically brought me comfort. I
exhaled a large amount of air before staring outside the window. He didn't let go of
my hand the whole night even though he would occasionally move the gear.

When we got home, the dogs were asleep so we went straight upstairs. I went inside the
bathroom to take a shower and he went inside the master bedroom so he could
also shower in the CR inside that room.

"Oh my," I whispered when I realized that we could be staying in the same room tonight.

We already confessed that we were in love with each other, right? So it automatically
meant that we should be in a relationship by now? Or should we talk about it first? Wouldn't
it be awkward to ask if it's us?! Shouldn't he be the one to ask?! But he already got brave
and confessed his feelings first. I should also do the same. I should take the initiative.

I spent so many minutes in the shower thinking about how I should ask him about it. I
practiced inside and talked to myself in the mirror like a foolish woman. I was even
whispering because he might hear me outside the bathroom.

"So are we like, together now?" I practiced in front of the mirror.

I shook my head after realizing how silly it sounded. Damn, I wasn't good at this. I wouldn't
usually ask guys about this matter! I don't reach this far. Clyden was taking me into
places I hadn't gone into and I didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing! It's annoying!
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"So, what's our deal?" I tried again. "Are we boyfriend-girlfriend already? I know we're
engaged? Like we can now say that we're in a relationship? Damn, I'm talking too
much."

I shook my head again and just wrote a script inside my head while getting dressed.
When I came out, I even checked if he was around before I went inside my room
and started drying my hair. I kept whispering my script while drying my hair, praying that
he won't suddenly appear or else I will forget my script.

I applied my face cream and was about to end there but I suddenly realized that there
was a chance that we would sleep in the same room tonight so I sat in front of my
vanity table again and started applying lip tint and gloss. I slapped my cheek a few times
so it would come off as naturally pink but I kind of failed.

I changed my clothes into a satin night dress and sprayed perfume in the air before
running towards it, hoping that the smell would stick to me. I didn't want to spray it on my
skin because he might tease me about it when he realizes that the smell is strong. Oh
my gosh, I was starting to overthink it! What was my script again?

The door suddenly opened, causing me to hide the perfume behind my back.
Clyden looked at me with furrowed brows, wondering why I looked so surprised to
see him. I slowly walked back until I reached my side table. I smoothly placed the
perfume there and acted like nothing happened.

"Yes?" I asked him, smiling nervously. Inside my head, I was trying to remember
my script! Damn, I already forgot about it!

“Have you-”

"Okay, wait, before you start, I know where this is going already," I cut him off. His brows
furrowed again while staring at me, waiting for me to finish.
"I know that you're going to ask if we're together already and actually, I'm
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wondering the same thing! Maybe this is the right time to talk about it! If your answer is
no, then it's okay! Maybe we need more time! But if your answer is yes, then that's
good! We can now sleep in the master bedroom and use it, not treat it as an empty
storage-”

"Have you seen my phone?" He cut me off. "I was about to ask that when I entered the
room."

My body suddenly felt cold after I realized how embarrassing that was! I saw how he
bit his lip and looked away to stop his lips from forming a teasing smile but he
couldn't contain it! I pursed my lips and also looked away out of embarrassment.

"Yeah, you put it inside my purse earlier," I said, feeling a little disappointed.
I walked towards my desk to get his phone inside my purse before handing it to him.
He took it while smiling at me, watching my reaction.

"Thanks," he said, obviously teasing me.

“Yeah, you can leave now.” I turned my back on him and walked towards the bed.

I removed the comforter and folded it so I could lie down and sleep, but he was still
standing there like he was waiting for me to say something.
What? He was still expecting me to talk after I was embarrassed, huh?! Why didn't
he speak? Or better yet, he left my room. He was making things weird.

"Fix your bed. We're sleeping together," he said in a low voice before leaving my
room.

My eyes widened and my body froze, still holding the comforter with my two hands. I
immediately put the comforter back and looked at myself in the mirror just to check if
I looked okay. I even curled my lashes and slapped my cheeks again. I brushed my hair
again and tried to smell it before leaving my room.
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I was panicking so I did some breathing exercises before opening the door of the
master bedroom. He wasn't inside so I had time to fix myself and adjust to my new
sleeping environment tonight. I turned the air conditioner on and sat on the edge of the
bed, feeling how soft the mattress was.

I suddenly stood up when Clyden went inside the room, wearing his grey sweatpants
and a black shirt. He was carrying a book and wearing glasses, he looked like a student.
He looked at me quickly from head to toe before his lips formed a smile.

"You're going to study?" I asked while he was walking towards me. I stepped
backwards when he stopped in front of me, hitting the back of my knee against the bed,
causing me to sit down.

"Yeah, I have an exam on Monday," he answered. "But.." He took his glasses off
and put them on the side table.

“But what?”

My lips parted when he lightly pushed on my shoulder until my back hit the foam. He put
his knee on the bed and his arm encircled on my waist, smoothly adjusting my
position. He pushed me back on the mattress again until my feet were already on the
bed. He slowly placed the books on the side table before going on top of me, placing
his body in between my legs. I blinked twice in shock while staring at him.

"I even tinted my lips," he said before letting out a small laugh.

I frowned and pushed him away from me. He sat on the bed and continued laughing
to tease me. I immediately got angry and went to the other side of the bed to sleep. I
covered myself with the comforter and faced on the other side so he wouldn't see me.

“Hey,” he called, pushing on my shoulder a little bit. “Here it is.

"That shade is nice, huh?"

God, he was even making it worse! I wished he would stop talking because every word
coming out of his mouth just made me feel more embarrassed! I
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I really shouldn't do extra things for this guy! He'll just tease me!

"I'm just saying that you've applied lip tint, it'll come off."

"I don't know about you." I rolled my eyes, although he wouldn't see it.

“I don't know about you,” he mocked and probably made a face even though I
couldn't see it. “Sam, it's easy. I'm not joking anymore, ah.”

He tugged lightly on the comforter but I tugged it harder, rolling it over my body a bit.
I heard him sigh heavily, probably giving up now. I didn't feel his weight anymore
on my side and I heard the door open so I slowly peeked in.

“What the fuck!”

I screamed when he suddenly tugged on the comforter so hard I rolled on the bed,
bringing myself to his side. He smirked and put the comforter on the edge before
going on top of me again, holding both of my wrists above my head with one hand.
His hold was purposely loose and I could easily get out of it but I chose not to. I liked
it that way.

"What now, huh?" I glared at him and scowled. "You are so stupid! I thought
you left the room! What a fool!"

"Am I the fool?" He scoffed. "Samantha, respect your boyfriend."

“My what?!” I frowned and glared at him. “Ahuh? So we're together now?”

"We have always been," he whispered before leaning in to kiss me.

My eyes automatically closed when I felt his lips on mine. His other hand went down to
my waist while his other hand was still holding my wrists in place. His lips massaged
mine before biting my lip and pushing his tongue inside me. I sucked on it before he let
me go, wiping his lower lip with his thumb.

"I thought you're going to study?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

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"Yeah," he whispered but his actions contradicted his words. He leaned

again and rested his face on my neck, smelling it before he started
showering it with hot kisses. I got out of his hold and grabbed his hair while
his tongue expertly licked on my soft spots. I craned my neck to give him
more access, letting out a moan.

I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes, feeling his pleasuring kisses on my
neck, up to my jaw. His other hand suddenly held my thigh, rubbing it and
slowly pushing the hem of my dress upwards to reveal my panties. I started
panting heavily, feeling hot now.

His kisses went back to my lips now, exploring my mouth like an expert.
He moved his hand away from my thigh and just held my waist again. I
wanted to push my legs together but he was in between, causing me to
spread it wider.

I let out a moan against his mouth when his hand reached my chest. He
slowly massaged my mounds against my satin dress, and then suddenly
stopped, causing me to glare at him. He sat down beside me and looked
away like he did something illegal.

"What?" I curiously asked.

"Nothing," he said, reaching for his books now so he could start reading.

What the hell was that? He suddenly acted like we weren't doing
something! Like we weren't trying to reach something! I sat on the bed
and fixed my dress, staring at him and wondering why he was acting up
after touching me..

Oh my gosh. My lips suddenly formed an amused smile after realizing

something.

"Is it your first time?" I asked curiously, smiling.

His head turned towards my side with a surprised look, like I hit the spot. I
smirked and scooted over to his side so I could see his reaction up close.
His lips parted like he wanted to say something but he couldn't.
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"What? Don't tell me you don't know what to do with boobs?" I whispered, looking
down on my chest.

"I'm studying, Sam." He tried to make me shut up but it was just so fun having
a reason to tease him. He looked shy and it was cute. "You are rude.
"Tsk."

"Isn't it?" I'm sorry again. So I was right? He wasn't even denying it. It was my
first time meeting an innocent guy. Or was he really? "Is it true? I don't want to
conclude. I mean, you really don't know how?"

"I know what to do with it. I'm not dumb," he answered, rolling his eyes a bit. "It's
just my first time touching one for real."

"Oh my gosh, really?" I didn't know if I would be amazed or not. I was still 50/50
on him. Maybe he was just trying to come off as innocent so he could surprise me
or something. Can I believe it?

"Just go to sleep." He reached for the remote to turn the lights off, leaving the
lamp on beside him so he could still read.

I didn't know how I would sleep that night. Everything felt so surreal.
I thought I would have a hard time sleeping, but when I lay down, I fell asleep
quickly, maybe because knowing that he was with me inside the room made
me feel safe and comfortable, like nothing else could go wrong.

I woke up close to noon after arriving home so late last night. I was about to stand
up when I felt an arm around my waist. I tried to look back and saw Clyden
sleeping peacefully with his face near my neck. He looked like a baby. I
couldn't stop smiling.

I tried to go back to sleep but the feeling was just too good and strong I
couldn't sleep again. Good thing it was Saturday so we were allowed to stay like
this for a while. I took a picture of his arm on my waist while half of our bodies
were both covered with a gray comforter.
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I put my phone back on the desk when he suddenly moved, holding me tighter
and pulling me closer to him. I slowly took his arm off me before standing up to
go to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face so I would look
fresh. I also took my phone and went down from the kitchen to cook.

He was always the one cooking breakfast for me so today, it's me. I guess he
studied so late that's why he's still sleeping until now. I wasn't sure if he was
going to wake up for breakfast so I just cooked simple pancakes so I could
give them to the dogs if he won't be up until lunch.

After cooking, I went outside and walked the dogs. I was holding three
leashes and I honestly thought it would be hard but good thing Maple and Summer
were both calm. Hail is the only naughty one who always wants to run
maybe because of his breed. He liked pulling heavy things like a human for
example.

When I went back to the house, Clyden was already awake and he was
already eating the pancakes I made. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows
when he saw how sweaty I was. He still had a bite of the pancake.

"I walked the dogs," I told him while getting water.

“All three of them?!” He asked me in surprise.

"Yes, why? Is it wrong?" I suddenly felt worried. Is that not possible? I didn't
know! I never owned a dog! Damn, I should have asked him first.

“No, it's fine. You just require so much strength in order to walk those three.
What are you, Wonder Woman?” Her eyebrows were still raised.

"It's okay, ah," I defended myself. I looked at the time and suddenly remembered
that I was supposed to visit the mansion today for lunch. "Hey, I'm going out for
lunch."

"Will you leave me?" He playfully pouted and acted so sad about it.
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My eyebrows furrowed. I made a disgusted face before rolling my eyes,

making him laugh a bit. He was obviously just teasing me about it. That
wasn't right for him! He just looked like a dog, but less cute.

"Where are you going?" He asked before drinking water through his glass.
He put it back on the table and wiped his mouth using the tissue. "Same."

"What? No! I'm going to the mansion. What, are you coming?" I smirked.

"Hard pass." He suddenly changed his mind.

I went upstairs to take a shower and brush my teeth before getting dressed. I
just wore a simple pair of high-waisted mom jeans and a yellow cropped
top. I also put on a white headband and white shoes before going down.

Clyden was watching Netflix when I went downstairs. He paused the movie
when he saw me leaving. He even followed me with a look like he was
waiting for me to say something. I decided to tease him and just said
nothing until I was already at the door.

"Hey, you're not going to say goodbye?" He asked like a kid.

“Okay.” I looked at him, trying to keep a neutral face. "Goodbye."

"Text me, love," he said before playing the movie again.

I bit my lower lip and closed the door, smiling like an idiot. Until I got in my
car, I was still smiling. Gosh, is this how it is every morning when there is
school? What a day starter.

My playlist is full of love songs, making me feel even better. It was like my first time having
a boyfriend! I'm like high school! Samantha, get a grip. I inhaled and exhaled to calm
myself while driving until I reached the mansion.

“Sam! What brings you here?” I met Mommy at the main door.
She was just about to leave, wearing a black elegant dress and big shades.
She still looked so young at her age.
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"Just paying a visit. Are you leaving?" I asked curiously, putting my car keys inside my
bag.

"Yeah, I have a meeting with a client. I'll see you later if you're staying.
I'm in a hurry right now.” She quickly kissed my cheek before going inside the car. In just
a few seconds, she was already gone.
Not having her for lunch will make Naomi more comfortable with me.

When I went inside the mansion, Naomi was going down the stairs, trying to see if my
mom already left but she saw me instead so her expression went from being nervous
to being surprised. I gave her a smile and she returned a small one.

"Have you eaten lunch?" I asked her while taking my heels off so I could wear the
house slippers.

"I was about to," she answered in a monotone. She left immediately and went to the
dining room so I followed her, hoping that I wouldn't irritate her that much. She still looked
and sounded distant but it was okay. At least she was talking to me without yelling and
looking mad.

The food was already served on the table when I sat down in front of Naomi. She
looked at me with so much confusion but she chose not to ask.
I also got some food after him. It was just the two of us so there was an awkward
silence.

"Are you feeling better now?" I asked while eating.

"Yes," he answered briefly. She couldn't even look at me while she was eating. I
thought that was the end of the conversation. I was already thinking of another
topic but she talked again. "Thank you.. for.. the gift."

"You saw it?" My eyes lit up and my lips formed a wide smile. "How is it?
Do you like it?

"I haven't tested it out. Do you.. Uh.. have time?" She looked away and started
chewing slowly. She looked so nervous to ask.
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I felt bad that she had to feel that way when asking me about something, like she
wasn't used to asking anyone about anything. Maybe she really wasn't. Ever since
she started living with my parents, she was quiet and she never asked my father about her
needs. She just waited for them to provide what they could. She settled for that.

Also, asking me if I had time for her almost broke my heart. I may be busy but I will always
have time for my family, for her. Did I give off the vibe that I was hard to reach? I
worried that maybe her perception of me was twisted.

"I always have time," I assured her, giving her a small smile.

"Okay, can I.. take a photo of you? To test the.. camera." She was stuttering.
Maybe she really felt so nervous and afraid to ask but I appreciated her effort.
We were finally having progress.

"Of course. Can you do my makeup?" I even suggested. I wasn't wearing any makeup
today. "I might look ugly in the camera."

"You still look good with your bare face, though.." She whispered.

I heard that but I just pretended that I didn't. I tried to contain the happiness inside me and
just continued eating until we were both done. She stood up and even washed the dishes
by herself, making the helpers panic. When they arrived, she was already done.

She glanced at me before going upstairs, making me follow her. It was probably my
first time seeing her room clearly after a year. It was never this bright. Her room used to be
dark but I think she redecorated it last year so it looked different. White and pastel yellow
are the dominant colors.

I saw an unfinished painting on the floor and he quickly put it next to the cabinet so it
wouldn't be scattered. I felt that she was conscious with the look of her room, afraid that
I would judge. I gave her a smile to assure her that it was fine.
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“Here.” She suddenly handed me a makeup bag. When I opened it, I saw some
of my missing products. "I.. didn't use them. I just.. I checked what shade y-you
liked getting.. I'm sorry."

“Hey, it's fine! You can keep them!” I gave the bag back to her but she shook
her head. I just nodded and set it aside.

She shyly gestured on her vanity table so I sat there. Her hands were shaking while
preparing the makeup products that she will use. She looked uncomfortable but she was
still trying. I didn't know how to assure her that she could relax.

"Hey, no pressure," I told her.

"I'm.. I'm not a pro, okay? I'm still learning how to do makeup through 'get ready
with me' videos on YouTube," she said as a disclaimer.

I laughed and remembered what she said to Clyden when she was asked to go
down for dinner. She was really busy watching YouTube that time, huh.
She had an eye and passion for art so I knew that she would do well with
makeup. She was painting, too.

"You met my fiancé," I said while putting on moisturizer.

"Yeah, I think so." She shrugged while checking her foundation shade.
She didn't know if she would suit me because her skin was a shade darker than
mine. “I think he's okay for you.”

"You think?" I asked, smiling. We were talking about boys while doing makeup.
For a moment, I finally felt that we were really sisters.

"Yes, although he looked scary when he asked me to go down for dinner."

She rolled her eyes before putting alcohol on her hand. I also put on the headband.
"He said 'Go down for dinner' with no expression on his face.
That brother is scary.”

Brother I suddenly laughed, but I appreciated that she called him brother, like she
already accepted him as a part of my life and she also accepted me as
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her sister already. I also felt that she was slowly getting comfortable by the way she was
talking. Her tone sounded casual now.

I never knew she was a little talkative. I just realized that I don't really know her. She
closed her doors for so many years, not allowing me to get to know her more, but at least she
was opening the door for me now. We can get to know each other now.

"Sister, close your eyes." She said while holding a pink sponge.

I closed my eyes and waited for her to finish doing my makeup. She applied foundation and
concealer. She decided to go with a simple look, afraid that she would take too much time. I
told her that it was fine but she insisted that I was busy.

"Is this okay?" She asked and our eyes met through the mirror. "I think I messed up with
the eyeliner. Oh no."

"Hey, I think it's fine! Really!" I looked at the mirror closely. She really did it so well even as a
beginner! "Come on! Let's test the camera now. Have you tried opening it?"

She said yes and even told me about her watching YouTube earlier this morning on how
to set up the camera. She even felt bad because it was expensive when she searched
for it on Google. I just smiled and told her that it was fine.

She opened the curtains to let a natural light in and she made me sit on a chair. She was
going around, trying to find a good spot and angle.
She removed some of my gear to make it look neat. I told her that it was fine. We were just
about to test the camera anyway, but she was taking it seriously.

"Is it okay now?" I asked her.

She nodded so I started posing. I smiled at first like it was for an ID picture. After
taking one shot, she checked it and bit her lower lip to stop herself from letting out a laugh.
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"You looked stiff. Loosen up a bit. Think that you're modeling for a
magazine," she told me.

I adjusted my posture and parted my lips a bit before looking at the camera
with a fierce look. She took a shot and gave me a thumbs up. She took more
pictures and I just kept on making poses. I liked reading magazines before
so I just tried to do poses I would often see with models.

"You know, you would pass as a model," she suddenly said while looking at
the pictures.

Her comment made my heart jump. I didn't know what to say so I just gave
her a smile as a sign of appreciation. She bit her lower lip and gave me back
a shy smile before looking away.

"Really?" I asked just to make sure.

"Of course," she answered without looking at me. "I will learn more about
photography so you can hire me for your modeling portfolio! That sounds
so nice, right?"

I bit my lower lip to stop a tear from falling. "It does," I whispered.

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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18
"Next time, Sister, let's try baking! I'm craving brownies!"

I looked at Naomi who was already skipping through the stairs like an excited kid
holding her camera. She said she will edit the photos first before sending them to me so I
won't judge the raw ones. I said I wouldn't do that but she still insisted that it could serve
as a practice to her.

"Do you want to go to some photography workshops? I can get you slots," I told her. Some
orgs in Ateneo liked holding workshops for photography and I knew a lot of people who
could help her. She looked very much determined to learn more about it.

"Really?" She asked as her eyes lit up. Now, she was finally accepting my help. She used
to reject everything I offered back then. It was a sign that she was already accepting me
and my clean intentions.

"Of course. I'll see what I can do. I'll text you right away," I told her, smiling a little. "The next
time I come here, I'll bring baking ingredients! Or can you come to my house?"

"Brother Clyden is scaring me." She scowled and rolled her eyes. She even hugged
herself and acted like she was shivering, which made me laugh.

“No, he's not that.. grumpy,” I tried to defend my boyfriend but he was really scary at
first glance. Maybe because he had this intimidating aura around him wherever he
went. The glasses were already one thing but his overall look screamed intelligence.
Just by looking at him, you knew he knew a lot, it was scary to make a mistake in front
of him.

But in all fairness, Clyden wasn't like that. He was very patient with me, even though I
was like that. Even though I thought like that, sometimes we didn't get along. He would
sometimes look pissed but he was always willing to educate me on things I was unaware
of. I loved that about him.
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"Mom is already here," I said as I looked outside the window. Naomi suddenly went
quiet. Fear and nervousness were both evident in her eyes.
My lips parted as I realized her attitude towards my mother. "Go upstairs now."

"I will." She nodded and gave me a small smile before running upstairs to avoid seeing my
mom. She was like a monster she couldn't face. Was she that cruel to her?

My mom entered the house looking angry while talking to someone on the phone. I heard her
shouting to clean something or else she will come for the person's family. My brows furrowed
as I watched her get inside the mansion, holding her paper bags. She threw them
over the couch and ignored me. Or maybe she didn't see me at all beside the staircase.

"You will pay for that amount! How could you lose it?! You have until tomorrow to bring
it back, or else you're out?" My mom continued yelling. When she finally ended the call,
she frustratingly held her head before looking at my side, parting her lips. "Maureen! You're
still here!"

She looked like she was caught doing something I shouldn't see. I still gave her a fake smile
before showing her my car keys. "I'm on my way out. Who were you talking to?"

"It's just an employee of mine. Take care on your way back, dear." The anger in her face
suddenly vanished, replacing it with warmth. I almost got fooled.

She was that good of an actress. She could easily cover her original emotions. That
was the reason why I found her a little scary. You wouldn't really know what she was thinking
because most of the time, the look on her face did not reflect the thoughts running inside
her.

"I will." I didn't know what to say anymore. I was about to go out the door when I thought of
something I could ask. "What are you up to these days, Mom?"
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My question didn't even surprise her. She looked like she was expecting me to ask
that, or she just already knew what her answer would be. She was very much prepared to
answer everything thrown at her like a professional actress in an interview. That was one
of her skills.

"Helping your dad, going out to meet some of my friends. Nothing much, I could say.
What are you up to these days?" She asked me back, smiling.

"Yes, we are okay," I answered. She just nodded and asked the helper to get her some
tea. That was my cue to leave. I knew she would just find a way to dodge my next
questions so I just left.

Or maybe I was just scared of the answer.

I shook my head and calmed myself down while driving back to the house.
The sun was setting so it was getting darker and darker as I was going home. It was
already 5 PM when I arrived home. I was surprised to see another car parked outside
the house. It was unfamiliar to me like I had never seen it before so it wasn't probably
from Clyden's family or my family.

“I'm home!” I yelled in the house just in case Clyden was upstairs. The dogs ran to
me so I gave them a pat on their heads as I hugged them one by one. "My good girls and
one good boy! How are you? You missed me?"

"Hello, Sam!" I suddenly stood up when I heard an unfamiliar voice. My head

automatically turned to the right side, only to see Clyden's friend, drinking water from
the glass. "Ridgen! We met last time!"

"Y-yes, of course! I'm so sorry for looking like this!" I laughed to hide my
embarrassment. I didn't even look so presentable. “Where's Clyden?”

"I'm sorry I forgot to inform you. He just barged in here." I heard Clyden's voice behind
me so I turned around and my lips automatically formed a smile. He also smiled at
me and encircled his hands around my waist.
“How’s your day?”
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“Jusko naman,” Ridge suddenly whispered, coughing a little. He seemed to be

choking on the water he was drinking.

"What? Get your stuff upstairs. We'll study on the sofa," Clyden's voice suddenly
changed when he turned to Ridge.

“Just tell me if you want me to leave because that's how I feel, huh.”
Ridge dramatically held his chest and closed his eyes in pain.

“Really,” Clyden answered, rolling his eyes.

"Sam, oh," Ridge reported shaking his head. When Clyden raised an eyebrow,
Ridge immediately went upstairs to get his things like what Clyden told him. He
was even murmuring hateful things about his friend's attitude.

I laughed and waited for Ridge to vanish before wrapping my arms around Clyden's neck.
He leaned me on the breakfast table and tightened his grip on my waist. He was staring at
me for so long but the only thing I could think of was his manly scent. He smelled like he
just showered which made him look sexier.

"He just barged in here, asking for help. We have exams on Monday, right?" He
was explaining it to me, probably because we told each other back then that we
wouldn't let visitors in the house without telling the other one.
“He didn't understand the lesson last time.”

"Hey, it's okay. Your friends are my friends," I said, smelling him a bit.

"I can't say the same to you or else I'd be friends with everyone in Manila," he
whispered, getting closer to me. When he noticed that I was wearing makeup,
his brows furrowed. "You weren't wearing make-up earlier."

"Oh, you noticed." It amazed me how he could notice even the smallest detail.
"Naomi and I had a bonding together. She did my makeup and we did a small
photoshoot to test her new camera. My gift."
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He was staring at me, waiting for me to say more so I did. He was just listening to
me intently while I was telling him about how good it felt to finally exist in the same
room as Naomi without her yelling at me. A small smile was plastered on his face while
listening to me.

We suddenly heard a cough so I moved my hands away from his neck. He looked at
Ridge and pursed his lips, trying to contain the irritation inside him. I smiled at his friend
before pushing Clyden away from me so I could shower and they could finally start
studying. Clyden looked like he didn't want me to leave him alone but I should.

I took a shower and went down wearing my satin purple night dress ending inches above
my knees. I tied my hair in a bun before going downstairs to look if the helpers were
already preparing dinner. When I passed Clyden, they both looked at me but Ridge
immediately looked away when Clyden suddenly hit him with the book he was holding.

The helpers were already preparing dinner so I just went back to the living room and sat
on the other sofa to watch them study. Clyden got a little distracted when I sat down
near them but he still continued explaining something to Ridge. He showed him
something in his laptop before reaching out for my hand. I handed it to him and
he pulled me to the floor where they were seated.

I sat on the floor, between his legs because it was where he wanted me to be. He wrapped
his other arm around my waist as I leaned my back against his chest. I could feel his chest
vibrating when he talked. Ridge scowled when he looked at us, shaking his head.

“This is stupid, I obviously want to get rid of it,” Ridge whispered while writing
something.

"Good you know," Clyden answered back before kissing the top of my head just to piss off
his friend more. He smirked at him and kissed my cheek this time.

“You whore,” Ridge complained. “You’re such a slut. I remember you were like that when
we were at their condo-” He suddenly stopped
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talking when he realized something. I saw how his eyes panicked, turning his attention
back to the paper.

"They?" I asked, looking at him. I felt Clyden's heavy sigh behind me, his hand forming
a fist. "You said you never dated anyone?" I looked back at him.

"Not really," Clyden defended himself. "What, Ridge?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No, Sam, because, what." Ridge was trying to find the right words to say. I wasn't even
looking mad. I just wanted to know what he was about to say.
“I once took him to my date's party, but when he got a little drunk, he started flirting with
a girl at the party! He was still in college!
You weren't engaged then, were you?"

"What? So that girl was one of the girls you kissed during college?" I looked back
at Clyden again and now he was looking guilty.

"Yes, but that's not important. Ridgen, just go away."

Clyden looked so pissed now. I stood up and sat on the sofa again, imagining
how he flirted with that woman back then. I wondered what he looked like during
college. Did he have the same aura? Or was he cool?
Everyone was changing during college.

The thought of him kissing another woman still came back to haunt me. I knew it wasn't
his fault and that I was probably doing the same thing back then but it was pissing me
off. I knew it was also unreasonable so I just refused to talk. Just forget it! It wasn't even
a big deal.

"What's the girl's name?" I asked Ridge but he automatically looked at Clyden for help.

“That’s not important,” he said without looking at me. He was busy reading the book. I
bit my lower lip and nodded before crossing my arms over my chest. He looked at me
when I suddenly leaned back on the sofa. “Samantha.”

"Clyden," I called his name too.

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“Why do you want to know?” He frowned and lowered the book he was holding.
“Can't you sleep at night if you don't know the name?”

"Why? It's just a name. Why are you refusing to answer?" I asked back. If it wasn't
a big deal then why can't he just answer the question? I was just going to check
if I knew the woman. I won't even do anything! Just curious!

"Why are you still asking?" Clyden sighed heavily before reading again.

"Nothing! Curiosity! Why not answer?" I fired back.

“You're like a high school student, huh? You said it wasn't important, so don't
think about it anymore, okay?”

Ridgen was looking at us, changing sides. Whoever was talking, was looking
there. He smiled awkwardly when our eyes met, then he immediately
collected his books to put them inside his bag.

"Maybe I should exit here," Ridge awkwardly said.

"Aren't you going to stay for dinner?" I asked in a soft voice, still giving him an
apologetic smile. He didn't have to see us arguing. I felt bad for him. It was
probably so awkward. "You should stay for dinner."

"Go home," Clyden said opposite.

"Right, Sam! I'm going home!" Ridge looked a little nervous while putting on the
strap of his bag on his shoulder. He gave me a smile before mouthing something
to Clyden. Clyden nodded and stood up to see him out.

I rolled my eyes and sat on the dining table to start eating. I didn't wait for Clyden.
When he sat in front of me, I already finished eating so I stood up, holding my plate. He
watched me walk away before shaking his head and moving his chair closer to the table
in a manner that created a loud sound.
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I went upstairs and instead of sleeping in the master bedroom, I decided to sleep in
my own room tonight. I went inside the bathroom first to brush my teeth and do my
skincare but when I opened the door, Clyden was already waiting outside. Our eyes
met for a moment before I looked away and opened the door of my bedroom.

“Where are you going?” He suddenly asked in a low voice.

“I’m going to sleep,” I said without looking at him.

“Are you going to sleep there?”

I nodded before closing the door. I turned the lights off and turned my
lampshade on before going to bed. I couldn't sleep so I just scrolled through my phone
and also searched for some baking ingredients for Naomi.
Tomorrow is Sunday so it should be Clyden and I's date day but since he was
acting up, I decided to just go to the mansion tomorrow.

Unless we get along tonight. The fight wasn't even a big deal but he was making it
bigger and it pissed me off. All I wanted was a name but he went overboard with it,
making me think that maybe he was hiding something.

“Oh,” I whispered when I saw Hiro's Instagram post. It was a photo with his older
brother, Haze, who was about 4 years older than him. The caption was 'Happy
birthday, bro' so I also typed a comment to wish him happy birthday. I already
had a few interactions with him during gatherings and I was pretty sure he knew
me.

I scrolled again and checked Clyden's account on Instagram. He was still in private
and we still didn't follow each other. He wasn't even following me since there
was no 'follow back' option. This guy!

I turned my phone off when I heard a knock. I immediately lay down on the bed and
covered myself with a comforter to pretend to be asleep. I heard footsteps
which made me nervous. I felt Clyden's weight on the bed when he sat down there.
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“Aren't you going to stay with me?” He asked in a soft voice.

I remained silent but my heartbeat was so loud. I still pretended that I was sleeping so
he could finally leave my room. I held back my movements because he might notice.

"Sam, I know you're awake. I saw you cover up when I came in." Clyden sighed heavily.

I rolled my eyes and took the comforter off before standing up to fix my bed. I took
my phone and went straight out of the room to the master bedroom. He followed
me from behind and tried so hard to keep up with my fast-paced walking but failed. I lay
on my side and covered myself with the comforter again.

He sighed heavily again before pulling the comforter so he could cover his body too
beside me. I felt him lying down and coming closer to my side so I moved away from him
until I was already on the edge of the bed.
If I step back any further, I'll fall to the floor.

"Alessandra, Leanne, Eva," he said, touching my shoulder so I would face him but I
refused to do so. "The names of the women I kissed back in college. It's nothing
serious. I'm sorry. Please talk to me."

I suddenly felt bad for him for apologizing but then I realized something.
"Eve?" I took the comforter off and sat on the bed so I could look at him with my
brows furrowed. "Your friend? You kissed her?"

"First year, I think. I already forgot about it. Was it a dare?" He looked up, trying to
remember what happened. "Ah, that's it. Freshman year was my dumbest year."

"Ew, you kiss friends." I rolled my eyes, trying to stop sounding jealous. He was friends
with her! She was probably his first kiss or whatever! And she liked him. Of course, she
liked him. I saw it in her eyes.

"Are you still mad?" He asked, ignoring my rude remark. He looked so hopeful that I
would say no but I refused to answer. I pouted and just looked away
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from him.

He sighed heavily and massaged the bridge of his nose for a bit to calm
himself and probably to convince himself to be more patient. He looked at
me and reached for my hand so he could intertwine it with his. I looked
down on it and stared at our rings. God, we were engaged already! I
shouldn't even be jealous!

"I will only marry you," he suddenly told me.

I was surprised to see him. He smoothly touched the ring on my finger while staring
at me. He leaned closer and caressed my cheek before giving me a soft kiss. I parted
my lips to welcome him like I didn't get mad earlier.

I thought it was just a simple kiss but he suddenly moved his lips and bit
my lower lip, tugging on it a little before pushing his tongue inside my
mouth. I slowly lay down while he was on top of me. I held the hem of
his shirt while he was kissing me and exploring my mouth. I closed my eyes
when his kisses went down to my neck.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I answered back.

"Don't say 'too'. It's like you're just saying it for the sake of replying." He
looked at me and kissed the tip of my nose.

"I love you," I corrected, panting a little.

The side of his lips rose up before pushing the hem of my night dress up,
revealing my shorts and my stomach. He started kissing my neck again as I
craned it to give him more access. I let out a moan when he suddenly
grabbed my mound through my bra.

He bit the sensitive skin on my neck while his thumb was making small
circles on my nipple, refusing to take my bra off. I bit my lower lip and
closed my eyes. He massaged them alternately, pleasing me.
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"Yes, I know what to do with them," he whispered in my ear before letting out a small
sexy laugh.

"Tomorrow is date day," I reminded him, opening my eyes.

“I know, love.”

He kissed my nose before pulling my bra down to my stomach. I looked at him with wide
eyes when he went down and licked on my left mound while massaging the other one. I
grabbed a handful of his hair while he was doing it alternately. He kissed, sucked, and
licked on it until I was moaning.

When his kisses went up to my lips again, my hand traveled down to his crotch.
"Whoa, okay, that's enough." He moved away from me and sat down on the side
of the bed.

I scowled and glared at him. He was hard as steel but he refused to let me touch him!
He awkwardly looked away and turned the lights off so we could finally sleep. I
complained but he just covered my mouth and told me to go to sleep.

“But you were hard-”

"Go to sleep," he cut me off again.

I frowned and just lay down to sleep since I also needed beauty rest for our date tomorrow.
He hugged me from the back and pulled me closer to him. He played with my hair
until I already fell asleep.

I woke up early but Clyden woke up earlier. When I came down after washing up, the
breakfast he cooked was ready. We just took a bite because we were planning to take a
run around the village with the dogs. We'll eat again later when we get back.

"Wait for me!" I yelled at him when he was already getting far, holding the leash of Hail
and Maple. I was the one holding Summer. He stopped running and waited for
me, wiping his sweat a little.
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"Hurry up or I will cool down!" He yelled back. He was wearing a white

shirt, gray Nike jacket, and a pair of black athletic shorts. I was wearing a
purple cropped top and a pair of black leggings.

I ran again so Summer ran with me. Among the three, she was the calmest
and the most patient so Clyden gave her to me. I stopped in front of
Clyden and he suddenly wiped the sweat on my face using his other
towel. I felt like he brought it specifically for me.

He even took the bottle and made me drink water like I couldn't do it
myself. "Thanks," I said before I started running again. This time, he went
with my pace. He slowed himself down so we could run together.

When we arrived home, we ate breakfast before taking a shower.

"Let's go together," he even suggested, earning a smack. I was sweaty

and disgusting. I didn't want him to see me like that!

I showered and brushed my teeth before going back to my room to do a simple

makeup. We were planning to buy groceries today. We couldn't go far since he still has
exams tomorrow so we have to go home early. Grocery shopping was already enough
for me, though. As long as I was with him.

"You don't like cucumber?" I repeated what he just said while we were
going around the grocery store. He was the one pushing the cart, following
me wherever I went. "How about tomatoes? You eat tomatoes, right?"

"Yes," he answered back. "Aren't you looking for baking ingredients?"

I followed him through the other section. I followed the ingredients on my list
and he helped me find some of them. He also added the equipment I needed
to the cart. Since our house was new, the kitchen equipment was not yet
complete, especially for baking since we didn't bake much.
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“Buy more of this. I'll bake some too.” The side of his lips rose up after saying that like
he was proud of himself.

“Are you serious? You're making cooking your career, huh,” I said, adding more flour
to our cart.

"Anything to serve my wife." His hand went around my waist before kissing my
cheek. My face heated up as I looked around to check if anyone saw us. That was PDA!
He was making me blush!

I bought some alcoholic drinks to store inside the house just in case I would need it. He
bought more energy drinks and coffee before we finished shopping. I was about
to pay for it but he already gave the woman his card.
I glared at him and took out cash from my wallet to give him.

"Half-half," I told him. Good thing he didn't argue anymore and just accepted my
money. It was just reasonable to do so. They weren't just his food! They were mine,
too!

After putting the grocery bags in the car, I turned around and got into the shotgun
seat. I suddenly remembered his Instagram account so I waited for him to get inside the
car before showing him his account on my phone.

"What?" He asked while putting on his seatbelt.

"You're not following me," I told him.

"I was following you back then." He rolled his eyes a bit. "But I unfollowed."

“What?” I frowned. “Why?!”

He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head a little. He started the engine and
turned on the air conditioner. I thought he would drive away but he reached for his
phone and searched for my username too.

“I was irritated by your Instagram story with your Sevi,” he answered while scrolling
through his phone.
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“What?” My eyebrows furrowed even more. “So you used to check my Instagram story,
huh? Thank goodness I didn’t check my views!”

A notification popped up on my Instagram so I checked it. I smiled when I saw his

username. He had unfollowed me on Instagram.

"12 posts. What are you posting?" I asked him but he just shrugged. "Let me see!
Accept my follow request!"

He sighed and opened his phone again to accept my follow request, which made me
excited. He handed me his phone so I could put it inside my bag before he drove away.
I checked his Instagram profile and scrolled through his feed.

There were photos of him in a protest, photos with his friends, his graduation
pictures, and some pictures in other countries, but what caught my attention was his
recent post. There were three of them and all of them
It was me.

The first one was the picture frame in my room. The one that was taken during his
graduation party. The second was a picture of me playing with the dogs, smiling. Both
didn't have a caption, except the most recent one.

The most recent photo was the one he posted earlier. It was a photo of my back with
half of my body covered with the comforter. I was probably sleeping. My hair was
beautifully arranged on the pillow like he combed it with his fingers.

c.jaile: Wife.

"Wife?" I asked him. "We're not married yet."

He glanced at me for a moment before bringing his attention back to the road. He
reached for my hand and gave it a soft kiss.

“We will be.”

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. "So we're not breaking the engagement
anymore?" I asked in a hopeful voice.
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"We're not breaking the engagement," he answered. "Whatever happens. I

promise you that."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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19

tw: self-harm

"Do you have any plans for your birthday, Sam? Like last time, club again?"

My chewing slowed down after Luna asked the question. It was another Saturday and
we were eating along España because I didn't want to eat alone. Clyden went out to
a coffee shop today to study with his friends the whole day. He is gradually getting busier
as December draws closer.

I almost forgot about my birthday. These past few weeks, I had been focusing
more on my studies and also on my new relationship with Clyden.
If Luna didn't remind me about it, I would have just let it pass.

"I think so. I have no other way to celebrate but to be with my friends. Yanna can't go,
though," I said with a hint of loneliness in my voice.
I knew Yanna won't go even if I invited her because there would be so many people and
she didn't want to be found. Maybe we'll just celebrate my birthday on another day.

“Sam, I might not be able to go. UAAP season, e. Training,” Sevi said as he was typing
on his phone. He didn't even look at us. He was just texting and sometimes laughing. I
don't know if he was looking at memes or what.

"It's okay. Fight well!" I gave him a smile though he didn't see it because he didn't even
give me back a single glance. Luna stared at Sevi for a moment before smirking
and rolling her eyes.

"Sam, please don't invite him," Luna suddenly begged after realizing that I was also friends
with her ex. "Please! Please!"

“Luna, if he finds out you're invited, I think he won't go,” I told her honestly. Kalix was
always like that.
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Upon mentioning Luna's name, he would automatically say no to my invites. Sometimes,

he would ask if Luna was invited beforehand before he went and I didn't want to lie even though
I really wanted them to finally see each other. There was too much avoiding on both sides. I
didn't know how long they could go. They were both so good at avoiding. These bitter people,
really.

"Who will you choose? Me or him? Isn't it me?! I'm your friend since high school! I'm
supposed to be the one attending your birthday and he's not so don't invite him or else I
won't go!" Luna sounded like a kid.

"You're bitter." Kierra laughed at her before taking a bite on her pizza.

"Because you..." Luna glanced at Kierra and suddenly stopped talking.

The side of her lips slowly formed a devilish smile before taking a sip on her juice like she
was holding so much power against her cousin.

"Via, where's Arkin?" I asked her when I noticed that she was extra quiet today. She was
staring at her plate for too long but when I asked her about her best friend, her head shot up
to look at me with wide eyes.

“Shooting,” he replied shortly. “Dad,” she added. “I don’t know. Ask Sevi.”

“Hala, bakit ako?” Sevi held his chest like he was attacked by the tone of Via's remark. “Why
do you seem angry with me, Avianna? The last time I saw you was when we were at the gym!”

"You're already taking her away from her best friend!" Luna interjected into the conversation.
“There! You're always a thief, that's why so many people are angry with you! Look, even Via is
angry with you! Actually, it's just jealousy! Yieee!”

"You're really cute, Luna. Nothing can be snatched away if no one wants to be snatched away."
Right? Oh, my mouth is closed. Sorry!” Sevi covered his mouth dramatically and raised his
other hand as a sign of apology but his expression said otherwise. He looked like he
just achieved something.
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"That's why no one flirts with you because that's how you act, you animal!" Luna yelled
back at him, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Are you sure no one is flirting with me?” Sevi raised a brow, smirking now.

I laughed and shook my head before finishing my plate. I just let them quarrel on
the table because it was their normal bond. Good thing Yanna wasn't around or else
the table would have already turned by now. Those three were so good at pissing each
other off and knowing Yanna, that doesn't make you lose.

In the table, Kierra and Via were the most responsible but their difference was that Via
was calmer than Kierra. Ke had always been hot-headed.
He gets irritated and angry easily so I don't know how he manages to keep up with Luna
knowing how loud and carefree she was.

When I went home, Clyden was still out so I just spent the whole day planning my
birthday. I made calls and invitations after reserving a club with the help of Raylee. I
also informed my dad about it and actually, they are used to it because every birthday has
something like that. Although my mom was never in favor of it that's why I always say
that it's a formal and elegant party so she agrees. My parties were the total opposite of
formal and elegant. It was always a beautiful disaster because guests came from
different schools and circles of friends.

I was also already planning to introduce Clyden to my friends but I still wasn't sure if
he was available. He is very busy and occupied with his studies now but he still
doesn't forget to cook for my lunch box that I bring to school. He was really determined
to learn how to cook various dishes and he was improving day by day.

I just finished brushing Hail's fur when the door opened. The dogs automatically
ran to Clyden when they smelled his presence. I stood up and smiled at him. He looked at
me after giving the dogs a pat on their heads. He looked extra tired today. I just knew
that he didn't sleep at all last night because when I woke up, the bedsheet was still in its
place.
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"Hey," he greeted me while walking towards my direction. I placed the brush down
on the table so I could welcome him with wide arms. He automatically went to me
and gave me a tight hug, leaning his head against my shoulder and relaxing his body. "I
missed you," he whispered.

"You should rest more. You studied all day. I think that's enough," I told him as I
played with his hair.

“It's never enough,” he said, laughing a bit. He straightened up and grabbed my

waist. I looked up to him because of his height.
I'm tall, but he's even taller than me.

"Relax your brain tonight and come sleep with me, please?" I pouted, hoping that
my tactic would work. I really just wanted him to rest. I think he was really pushing
himself too hard.

He stared at me for a moment before giving my forehead a kiss. "Okay. I'll just take a
shower."

I already took a shower so I just went up to brush my teeth and do my skincare

while waiting for him to finish taking a bath. I sat down on the bed and leaned my back
against the frame while scrolling through my phone. I received so many replies on my
invitation and almost all of them said yes so I was a bit nervous about the chaos
approaching.

I looked up when Clyden sat beside me, fresh from the shower. He was using the
towel placed around his neck to dry his hair. His masculine scent invaded the room,
which made me feel so many things. Even though we had been sleeping together for
a few weeks now, we didn't really make progress and I wasn't even sure if we should
talk about it or not.

Not that I was that thirsty for him, geez! I was just.. conscious because I didn't know if
he wanted to talk about it or not, if he wanted to do it or not, if he had any plans or not.
Oh well, I'll just go with the flow.

“Why is your phone ringing?” he asked in surprise, looking at my phone. It looked like he
wanted to pick it up but he didn't.
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"Nothing. I was sending invites earlier to my party. D-do you want to come? It's
next week, Saturday." I didn't know if I should mention my birthday or not. I don't
even know if he is aware of my birthday. I wanted to test if he would remember it.

“Saturday?” He looked up while he was thinking, then he checked the calendar

on his phone. I thought he was going to mention my birthday but he didn't. “I can't.
We're going to visit Ridge's hospital and then we'll go to school. We have two
major exams on Monday. I'm sorry.”

Although I felt a slight pain on my chest, I still gave him a small smile. "It's okay.
Your exams are more important! Ace it! Relax your brain for now.
Let’s rest!”

He nodded before putting his towel inside the bathroom. I lay down on the bed and
put my phone on the side table after turning off the light. I also turned the
lamp on, leaving a little source of light around the room.
I felt him lie down again and cover his eyes with his arm, a sign that he was still
thinking. I could hear him whisper some medical terms like he was memorizing.

"I told you to sleep," I said to him annoyed. He stopped mumbling and let out a
small laugh like he purposely did that to annoy me.

"I'm just checking to see if I remember anything from what I studied earlier. I
always do it before I sleep," he explained and continued mumbling.

I closed my eyes and just waited for him to stop but he just wouldn't. Did he study
all of those in just one day? How come he could still remember?
He was so good at memorization.

When the mumbling stopped, I felt his arms on my stomach, pulling me closer
to him so I moved with my eyes still closed. He planted a soft kiss on my shoulder
before whispering good night. I checked if he was already asleep after a few
minutes before giving him a kiss on the tip of his nose. I admired him for a moment
before I actually fell asleep.
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The next morning was a Sunday and it was a rule between us that on
Sunday, we should go out and do something. I wondered what it would be
today. We failed to talk about it last night so I had no clue what it would be.

I woke up before him because he was catching up on sleep and it looked

like he wouldn't wake up after lunch so I just ate alone.
I also bathed the dogs and let them run around to dry themselves.
I took so many pictures of Maple because she was so cute, like a bear.
I posted it on my Instagram story and Luna replied a 'bb bear!!! <3'.

Even after taking a shower, Clyden was still asleep so I just went to the living room to
arrange his things. He left his books on the coffee table and I got curious so I opened the
thickest one only to be surprised to see so many highlighted words and post-it bookmarks
on the corner with different colors. He still looked so organized when studying. His
highlights are color-coded. I suddenly felt bad for him. It must be hard to study all
of these.

He also has a lot of ballpoint pens and highlighters in his pencil

case. His handwriting looked a little messy but I still understood. He was
probably practicing his signature because I saw a paper full of them,
which made me laugh a little. It was also the time when I discovered that he
drew well! He drew so many illustrations and he was also good at coloring
them and labeling them. They looked so great.

I just realized that we really didn't know much about each other, especially
small things like this. I sighed and just finished arranging his things inside
his bag before going up to change my clothes. It looks like he won't wake
up until later so I'll go to the mansion to bake with Naomi. She was really
looking forward to it.

I just left a note beside the table to let Clyden know that I was leaving, even
though I could have texted. I just wanted to be extra. I drove to the
mansion after that, bringing the ingredients and materials Clyden and I bought.
I left out the other ingredients because Clyden said he would be baking
too.
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"Sister!" Naomi ran down the stairs when she saw my car through the window. I
welcomed her with a warm smile. Mom probably wasn't around because Naomi could act
freely like this. "Are we baking brownies?!"

She sounded so excited, which made me smile wider. "Yes! Let's go! I even bought
matching aprons!"

She almost jumped out of joy before we went to the kitchen to prepare. I had my laptop
beside the table so we could check the instructions. It wasn't my first time baking so I kind
of already knew what to do but it was still better to have a guide. I taught Naomi how to
mix and what to mix. I also helped her crack an egg, which she wasn't really good at but
it was fine.

“It's so hard to mix!” She complained, looking like she was already about to cry.

“Here.” I held her wrist to guide her but suddenly stopped when she flinched. I
looked at her with wide eyes when I felt a scar against my palm.
I parted my lips and slowly let her go when she looked uncomfortable.

She pursed her lips and gave me a small smile that didn't even reach her eyes. "Okay!
Next step!" She sounded enthusiastic to cover up what just happened. I felt like she
really didn't want to talk about it so I just remained silent.

“L-let's go with the frosting!” I also matched the tone of her voice, but deep inside, I was
already overthinking.

After doing everything, we just waited for the brownies to bake. She sat on the high-chair
and watched some photography videos in YouTube. I heard that she attended the
photography workshop I recommended last week. She was really determined to learn.

"Did you really want to take Pol Sci?" I asked, sitting across her.

Her head shot up to look at me, not pausing the video on her phone. She looked like
she was still thinking of what to say. She also didn't seem to know what to say.
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"I thought I wanted it," she said in a soft voice before looking away. "Turns
out I just wanted validation."

I pursed my lips. I didn't know what to say because I knew how hard it was
for her and how I got it all so easy. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

I thought she wouldn't reply back but she actually held my hand above the
table and gave me a smile. "It's not your fault that your parents love you."

"And everything that's happening is also not your fault." I suddenly had the
urge to cry but the alarm went off so I had to get the brownies inside
oven.

They turned out so great. We added frosting and waited for it to cool down
before we actually took a bite. It was a little sweeter than usual but Naomi
still loved it and she looked so proud that she baked something.

"You look great when you're happy," I suddenly told her.

Her smile faded a bit when she looked back at me but it returned wider.
"Come on, stop being so cheesy." She rolled her eyes and laughed.

When I came back to the house, Clyden was finally awake, but he was too
busy studying to even notice me. I was annoyed with him because we
didn't do anything today but it was okay because I went to Naomi. I didn't
know what to feel. I kind of wanted to get mad at Clyden for sleeping for
too long but it was such a lame reason to get mad and he probably won't
even get bothered by it. He was too busy studying to even notice me
being angry so I just let it pass.

I was about to go upstairs but he suddenly talked. "You won't greet me?"
He said without giving me a glance. He was highlighting his book.

"Hey," I said, giving him a fake smile.

He sighed before looking at me, still holding the highlighter on his hand. "I
know you're mad. I'll get back to you."
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"Hey, no, it's fine!" I panicked and waved my hands in front of me. "Just focus on your
exam. I'm tired from baking so I'll just sleep early."

I didn't wait for his answer anymore and just went upstairs, feeling a bit mad now.
Maybe it wasn't because he slept for too long but it was because there was still no mention
of my birthday! Does he really not know? Or was he just pretending? I doubt! Maybe he
was just too busy and forgot!

It was really annoying that he couldn't come to my party but his reason was acceptable. He
had to study but I can't help but feel sad about it. Ugh, I didn't want to feel like this. I didn't
want to be 'that' kind of person.

"Get over it, Samantha," I whispered.

The next morning, Clyden woke up earlier than me, or maybe he didn't sleep at all. I
couldn't really tell. My lunchbox was already left on the breakfast table and he was
already gone. He still left a note saying that he had to go early so he could still study
before his exam. I accepted that one, of course.

Days went by so fast. Nothing really changed except the fact that Clyden slept 3
consecutive nights in his condo because he said driving was a waste of time during his
busy week. I was so close to getting mad at him but his reasons were all valid so I
couldn't do anything about it! I just can't help but sulk on it alone.

“Yo! Let's party tomorrow, huh? I have my attire!” Adonis sat beside me while I was eating
at Gonz with my friends. “Wow, there's a lunch box! That's cute! Are you saving money,
Sam? That's new, huh!”

"No, Clyden made it for me," I said, still staring at my food. "By the way, is Kalix coming to
my birthday? Did you force it?"

“No, he doesn't want it. You know! It's art, huh!” He said out loud he had to look around
to check if Kalix heard him or not. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kalix busy
buying a shake. “Don't worry about it.
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"Report, ah! But Leo and I are going! I'll just pass by the chicks, dude!"

"Wow, you have someone you like now?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"I have someone who likes me now," he corrected. "Just kidding!"

“Hey, I liked you before, remember?” It's funny when I remember.

He used to tease me about it ever since we became friends. Now, I'm also
wondering about myself. How embarrassing.

“Yeah, but I'm not really your type, Sam.” He fixed his hair before smirking at me. “Excuse
me, ah,” he said arrogantly which made me roll my eyes. This guy, really.

While I was on my way home, I called Yanna just to check on her. He is due a few
months from now. As it got closer and closer, I was worried that it would hurt more for
her. I watched so many labor videos so I knew how painful it was to go through
pregnancy, especially when she's alone without her family.

[Happy birthday!] Yanna shouted when she answered the call.

"It's just Friday, Yanna," I corrected her although I knew she did that on purpose.
"You probably can't come to my party, right? Let's just video call on Sunday."

[Are you sad? What are you doing, that's okay! You've celebrated so many birthdays
with me! That's okay because you celebrate better with your partner!]

"I don't even know if he is aware that my birthday is on Sunday." I rolled my eyes in
annoyance.

[She probably knows that! Don't worry! You should worry more about your penis
because until now, you still haven't been able to get wet! Hahahaha!] She laughed so
hard to piss me off but her laugh was contagious so I just ended up laughing with her.
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When I got home, I noticed Clyden's car in the garage so he was probably home already
after 3 days without him! This jerk! I didn't pay attention to him when I entered. I
gave all my attention to my dogs.

"Hi," Clyden greeted me but I purposely ignored him. He was at the kitchen,
cooking something while holding a book. I didn't even give him a glance and just went
straight upstairs.

I took a shower and did some school work before going downstairs only to see Clyden
serving the food he cooked. He looked like he wanted to invite me to eat dinner with him
but he couldn't seem to open his mouth to talk.

I just sat in front of him so he breathed a sigh of relief. He also sat in front of me and was
about to put rice on my plate but I shook my head.

"Diet," he said, nodding and putting the bowl down. "I cooked vegetables for you." His tone
was so careful like I was a monster he didn't want to offend.

"Should I thank you for that?" I asked without looking at him.

He pursed his lips and shook his head slightly which made me feel guilty.
That was so mean, Samantha! I can't stand it anymore!

I wanted so bad to apologize but my pride was so over the top at the moment
because he obviously forgot about my birthday. If he hadn't mentioned it tonight, I
wouldn't know what to do with him!

“I'll go get my plate,” he said when I was about to get my plate. I let go and turned away.
I heard his heavy sigh before I went upstairs.

I was cursing the mirror while I was brushing my teeth, imagining that it was Clyden. I
never wanted to fight with the mirror so bad! I kept pointing while whispering. That's how
I behaved with him. I sighed again to calm myself before I went inside the master's bedroom.
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I lay down and closed my eyes. Tomorrow will be my celebration so I needed some beauty
sleep. I didn't wait for Clyden to come up and I just went to sleep.

When I woke up, he was already gone. I didn't even expect him to be downstairs
anymore since he already mentioned last week about his hospital visit with Ridge
today. I was right and he left early, but he still left a text message to inform me. My crush
on him only got worse but I couldn't do anything.

I just rested the whole day while waiting for the right time to prepare. It was around 5 PM
when I started getting ready for the party. I decided to just wear a black bodycon strap
dress with a deep v-neck. It was also backless, ending just above my hips with a crossed
strap. My hair was already ending below my shoulders. I just curled them a bit to achieve a
wavy hair before braiding a few strands in front.

I sprayed perfume before getting my silver purse partnered with my silver heels. I had to
be extra because it was my birthday so I also put on some jewelry. I kind of wished
Clyden was around to see my outfit for today but he wasn't. He was busy studying. It was
fine. It was for his future all along.
For our future.

I went to the club early so I could coordinate with the organizers about the design. I also
helped arrange tables for the visitors, putting their names per table. I made sure everything
was okay before 10 PM.

Little by little, the venue started to get crowded. I was in the main door, greeting my
friends and guiding them to their tables. Almost everyone was holding a present so I put
on a gift corner so they can leave their gifts right there.

“Happy birthday, Sammy!” Luna gave me a hug. “Sev is gone! Ke and Via are with me!”

"It's okay! Thank you!" Kierra and Via also gave me a hug after greeting me a happy
birthday. Luna was consciously looking around so I laughed.
"He's not here, don't worry."
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"Are you looking because you don't want to be seen or are you looking because you want to be seen?"
Kierra asked, smirking.

"Happy birthday, Sam!" I looked at Shan who just entered the club with his other friends.
They are Neil.

Shan bumped against Kierra, making her step backwards a bit. She glared at him before
walking away to find their table. I laughed and just continued greeting other guests until
the party started for real. I went to the stage to drink the first shot for the night before
everyone started drinking.

I couldn't drink since I was busy going around to welcome everyone in my party. "Hello!" I
greeted Lewis, the one I dated back then. 'The football player that Adonis directed.

"Hi, Sam. Happy birthday!" He gave me a small hug before getting a bottle of beer. We
talked about Adonis for a bit while his hand was still on my waist. I think it was just a
friendly habit. I laughed when Adonis pointed at him.

"Hey, backstabber!" Adonis scowled. "Hey, Luna! She's here!

It looks blooming, huh!”

"I'll just go to my friend's table," I said goodbye to Lewis.

When I turned around, I was shocked to see Clyden holding a small paper bag. He was
wearing a dark blue button-down polo shirt tucked inside his black slacks with a
designer belt on. His hair was brushed a bit to the side, making him look more formal than
usual. However, his eyes were fixed on my waist.. with Lewis' hand holding it.

He sighed heavily before turning around and pulling Ridgen with him.
Ridge looked so confused but he still put the bottle of beer down on the table and
followed Clyden out. I massaged my head and muttered a curse before running to catch
up on him.

"Hey!" I shouted but he still continued walking to the parking lot. The club had its own
parking lot with two floors. Clyden probably parked on the
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underground level since he stopped in front of the elevator, letting go of Ridgen's

sleeve.

“Don't get me wrong, man! It's still wrinkled!” Ridgen tried to straighten the crease on his
shirt.

Clyden didn't respond to him. He just put his hands inside his pocket and when the
elevator opened, he went inside and pushed the close button so fast but I also
managed to put my hand in between the doors. When Ridgen saw me, he stopped and
just let me walk inside the lift.

“I'm back inside, ah,” Ridgen carefully said before running away like he was scared of
Clyden.

Both of us were quiet inside the elevator. I bit my lower lip, a little nervous about the
overall aura of his. It was too dark, heavy, and serious. I hadn't even drunk yet and it
was just a shot of tequila but I felt like I was getting hot because of the nerves.

The elevator opened and he left me again. He was taller than me so it was so easy for
him to keep distance using his legs. He opened the door of his car and went inside. The
light on the side where he parked was broken so it was a bit dark. Fortunately, I also
opened the door and sat in the shotgun seat.

"What are you doing? Go back there. It's your birthday," he said, looking at me with his
brows furrowed.

"So you know about my birthday?" I raised a brow.

"How could I not? I spent the whole fucking day looking for a nice gift only to see you
having fun with another fucking guy. Who has the right to get mad now, huh?" He was
controlling his anger so much. It was so evident in his voice.

He started the engine and turned on the air conditioner. He sighed heavily and
leaned his elbow against the steering wheel, massaging the bridge of his
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nose. I looked in front and crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for him to calm down
before I talked.

“Come back,” he said more calmly now. “I’m leaving.”

"No, you can't leave," I said in a stubborn tone. He looked at me with frustration in his
eyes before pushing his chair backwards to give himself more space.

[r-18.]

“Who is it?” He asked now, trying to control his emotions. “Why are you so happy?
You were ignoring me the whole week. Is there someone else?”
He sounded in pain now. “Is that so? Are you tired of me?”

I felt a punch on my chest when I saw his doubtful eyes. I bit my lower lip before facing
him to touch his face. I forced him to look at me and leaned to give him a soft kiss. He
closed his eyes a little when he looked down on me but he was so unresponsive.

"No. I love you, okay? I just thought you forgot about my birthday so I was mad," I
explained softly, my lips still inches away from him.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if you knew," he whispered back, getting hypnotized

by my kisses and my scent.

He stared at me for a moment before holding my nape and pulling me closer to

him so he could kiss me deeper. I opened my mouth and sucked on his tongue when he
pushed it inside me. His hands slowly reached for my waist and pulled me towards his
position, forcing me to move from the shotgun seat to his seat.

I straddled his hips, the hem of my dress going up to my legs, revealing my lace panties.
He placed his hands on my thighs before kissing me again. I was now hovering on top
of him so he had to look up. I almost yelled in shock when he pushed the backrest a
little backwards.

"Is it okay to do this here?" I consciously looked around only to see no one.
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"It's tinted," he whispered before pulling on my nape to kiss me again.

His kisses went from my mouth down to my neck where he playfully licked
and sucked lightly, careful not to leave any marks. I bit my lower lip when
his hand slowly brushed on my thighs, pushing the hem of my dress
upwards until it reached my stomach. I could now feel his bulge in between
my legs, making me feel more heated and wet down there.

"Take it off," he said as he played with the strap of my dress.

I nodded like a good girl and took the straps off my shoulder. As soon as it
left my arms, he pulled it down, revealing my mounds. I didn't have time to
react anymore because he started kissing and sucking on it while he
was massaging the other one, brushing his thumb on my nipples.

"Cy," I moaned when he grabbed me harder. He massaged and licked

alternately to give both of my mounds equal attention before kissing my
neck again down to my collarbone. He was playing with my chest with both
of his hands now like an expert.

My hands started unbuttoning his polo while he was kissing me, pushing his
tongue inside my mouth to taste every corner of me. When I successfully
unbuttoned his shirt, I pushed it over his shoulders so he could take it off,
and so he did. He threw it on the backseat and went back to kissing. I hissed
when I felt his hand slowly going in between my legs. He stopped kissing
me when he pushed my panties aside to touch my wetness with his fingers.

"So this is what it feels like," he whispered, laughing a little.

"Do you know what to do?" I teased him back. I was about to laugh at him
when he suddenly dug a finger inside me, making me moan in his ear.

"I think so," he answered, smirking now.

His finger suddenly left me when I was already feeling it. I looked at him in
confusion and he looked back at me with serious dark eyes.

"Turn around," he commanded.

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I changed my position from facing him with my legs straddling his hips to
just sitting pretty on his thighs with my body facing the steering wheel.
Good thing the backrest was reclined so I wouldn't hurt my head.

His hand went in between my legs again to pull my panties down to my legs. My eyes
widened when I saw a group of people walking in the parking lot, near us. Clyden wrapped
his arms around my waist to pull me in place when he successfully pushed my panties
down. I helped him take it off.

"Someone, Cy," I looked back at him.

"It's okay," he whispered before pushing my hair away from my shoulder

so he could kiss my neck. "Aren't you thrilled?"

"Aren't you? It's your first time," I teased back.

"My goal is to not make you feel like it's my first time. Tell me if I'm doing
something wrong," he said before pushing a finger inside me, making me
moan. He covered my mouth with his other hand when the group of people
walked past his car. “Shush.”

He started thrusting his finger inside me and stopped to massage my clit

with his thumb. I was shocked that he found it so fast. Did he study that one
too? Probably one of the perks of analyzing the human body.

I leaned my back against his chest when he started thrusting his fingers
faster inside me. He touched my thigh and hung it on his other thigh so he
could spread my legs wider. I bit my lower lip and held on his arm while he
was adjusting his pace.

"Is it okay?" He asked and I nodded. I yelled his name when he adjusted his
hand and hit the right spot.

“That's better.” I can hardly speak. When I felt like something was
already building up on my stomach, he stopped fingering me and made
us change our positions. He made me go back to the shotgun
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seat before spreading my legs wider while facing him. I never felt so
exposed!

“What are you-Oh my god.”

I held on the backrest when he started sucking on my wetness before

pushing his tongue inside me. He looked at me for a moment to see my
reaction before pushing another finger. His finger's thrusts mimicked the
pace of his tongue inside me, making me explode.

"Please, let's.." I couldn't talk anymore.

He nodded and made me move back to the driver's seat, with him seated
and leaning against the reclined seat and me on top of him, straddling his
hips. I fumbled on his belt and pushed it down until he was only left with
his black designer boxers. I licked my lower lip and touched the bulge on it,
feeling how big it was.

"Ah," he groaned when I started rubbing on him.

I pushed it down on his legs again and he helped me with it. My eyes
widened when his member proudly stood in between my legs. He looked
away, feeling a little embarrassed now. I laughed at his reaction before
wrapping my hands around him, making him close his eyes.

"Do you have a condom with you?" I asked him while I was moving my
hands up and down his member. He nodded and licked his lower lip before
reaching for a box inside his mini compartment. "Why the hell do you have
a box with you?" I frowned.

"I bought one for you. God, don't hold it too tight." He sounded in pain
because I unconsciously squeezed his member on my hand when I asked
the question.

"Do you know how to put it on?" I teased again, trying to stop myself from
smiling.
Machine Translated by Google

“What do you think of me? I was just born yesterday?” he said angrily, taking the pack
out of the box. Upon opening the foil pack, the condom almost slipped on his fingers
because of the lubricant. I laughed when I noticed that he was nervous.

"Hey, relax, I got this," I whispered, smirking.

He looked at me with dark eyes before smoothly sliding the condom on his member. I
didn't have time to react because he held my waist to push me up, positioning his
member in between my legs. I held on the backrest and slowly pushed my hips down but
I had a hard time because of the pain I felt.

Damn, he was fucking huge. I felt like my insides were being stretched. He looked at my
face, closely watching my reaction and panicking a bit.

"Does it hurt?" he asked worriedly.

"No," I denied but my expression said otherwise. I pushed my body down until he was
completely inside me, making him sigh. I was already panting while adjusting to his size.
I shouldn't fail him! I had to move!

I started moving my hips on top of him until the pain was already gone. I held on the
back rest, just beside his head, and started moving my hips up and down over him. He
held my waist so tight and guided me, groaning a little.

"Cy," I moaned on his ear as I adjusted my position, making him hit my most sensitive
spot. His hands went around my ass to help push my hips against him. I circled my
hips before going down on him again.

"Fuck," he whispered before wrapping his arms around my waist, keeping me in place. I
moaned on his neck when he started pushing himself up to meet my hips. I started
kissing his lips but the kisses were getting sloppier as I felt my stomach tighten.

I was giving out small moans until I felt my legs shaking. He gave one full thrust before I
felt my release. He gave more slow thrusts inside me while
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releasing his juice. I just rested my head on his shoulder while I caught my breath.
We were both sweating but it felt so good.

"Clean up. We need to go back to the party," he whispered while playing with my
hair. "How was it?"

"You feel so good," I whispered in a small voice. I was too tired to talk. "I'm tired. Let's
go home."

"The party hasn't even started yet, are you going home right away? Get dressed."
We'll go back there.” He kissed my forehead before lightly pushing me away. “Get
dressed, Maui.”

I sighed and nodded before going to the shotgun seat to fix my dress. There was
already a crease on it but since it was black, it wasn't that obvious. I fixed my hair
and wiped my sweat. I also retouched the makeup while he buttoned his polo shirt.

"Maureen," he suddenly called.

"Yes?" I looked at him and waited for him to talk.

He glanced at the time before giving me the small paper bag. "Happy birthday,
love."

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)

OceanofPDF.com
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20

“What is this?”

I asked that as soon as I opened the small paper bag he gave me. He was putting
alcohol on his hands when he stopped to look at me. Slowly, I saw how his cheeks
blushed as he looked away in embarrassment.

"Why? Why are you getting shy now?" I asked one question after another. When I
received no response from him, I started to just find out myself.

I took out the thing inside the bag and I was shocked to see a small velvet box. I looked
at him in confusion but he was playing with his lower lip while looking outside the
car's window. I blinked twice when I saw a ring inside. It was a simple one with a rose
gold band and a small diamond in front.

"W-what.." I didn't know what to say. I was confused and out of words. I looked at the
ring I was wearing and it was actually more extravagant by this one. The simpler ring
was more like him.

"I didn't choose the ring you're wearing right now. Our parents chose it for us. I think it's
just right to give you a ring that I picked myself," he explained, a little nervous.
“If.. If you don't want to wear it, it's fine-”

"Oh my god," I whispered, still staring at the ring. My lips slowly formed a smile out of so
much happiness. How sweet of him. I never even thought of it that way! I was actually
fine with the ring I was wearing. Little did I know that he was thinking about it that
way. "You're wearing it!"

He looked at me for a moment before smiling a little and reaching out for the small box
in my hand. He removed the ring and held my hand. I was looking down on my hand,
waiting for him to slide the ring on my finger but I immediately looked up when his other
hand touched my chin to give me a soft kiss.
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I automatically closed my eyes to welcome his lips on mine. When he let go, his eyes went
down to my hand, admiring the ring on my finger. It looked so pretty on me. I have two
rings now!

"I'm going to marry you," he suddenly said.

"Don't be so sure, Clyden. You're giving me false hopes. What if something big
happens that will force us to be apart from each other?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

I knew I was the one who asked that question but I felt a sting on my chest just by thinking
about it. I probably couldn't be apart from him for a long time. He was the only one that was
keeping me sane apart from my friends.
I found comfort in his arms. I couldn't live again in a world with us treating each other as
strangers.

"Even if the world forces me to leave you, I wouldn't," he answered seriously. "I will
stay by your side whatever happens so do the same for me."

"I also want to stay with you," I said in a small voice. "You will always be there for me, right?"

“Of course, love.”

I smiled and gave him a short kiss before we decided to come back to the party. I hoped I
wasn't gone for too long! When we entered the club, his hand automatically went around
my waist to pull me closer to him. I almost fell when I bumped against Kierra on my way out.
She looked so mad!

"Sorry, Sam! I'm going home!" She gave me a wave and a forced smile before walking away
again, holding her bag so tight like she wanted to hit someone with it.

“Hey, wait!” Clyden pulled me away when I almost bumped against Shan this time. He
looked back at me and gave me an apologetic smile before running out of the club.
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“Ke! Huwag mo 'kong iwan!” Luna was running, too! She looked so scared
to be left inside that she even ran wearing high heels. She no longer
cared if she tripped or what.

My brows furrowed, now getting so confused why everyone was running.

Are my guests drunk? I thought it was the end of it but I saw Via being
pulled away by a mysterious man wearing a black cap and a black
jacket. I was about to butt in when I heard Via's yell.

"Larkin! What?!" Via sounded so frustrated.

"Wow," I whispered when I realized that all of my friends were now gone!
I was going to introduce Clyden! I just disappeared, they all went home?!
“Ugh. Come on. Let's just get a drink.”

"Those are your friends, huh?" He asked while I was pulling him towards
the counter to get us some drinks. I gave him a nod and an awkward smile.
“How chaotic.”

"Oh, wait 'til you meet my best friend." I laughed.

We sat on a couch after I ordered us some cocktail drinks to start with.

I was sitting on Kierra's couch earlier but since they're gone, it's just Clyden
and I left. I looked at him and watched him smell the cocktail. He made a
disgusted face before putting it down.

"It's okay. You don't need to drink if you don't want to," I told him. I was
not the type to peer-pressure my visitors into drinking. It should be their
choice so they wouldn't blame me for their hangover afterwards.

"I want to drink," he told me before getting the glass and taking a large
sip. His brows furrowed when he tasted it. The taste of alcohol was too
strong, obviously, but he pretended that it was good. “Wow.”

"It's strong because that's mine." I laughed before switching our glasses.
He drank mine. I ordered the one with less alcohol content for him. “Drink
this instead.”
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Instead of drinking the one I was giving him, he finished my glass and got another one.
I didn't know if he was purposely trying to get himself drunk!
I couldn't lose to him but I also wanted to supervise him so I just slowly drank tequila
with him. I saw some girls eyeing him while he was busy drinking so I scooted closer
to him and took his other hand so I could intertwine it with mine.

"Don't get yourself drunk. You used to preach about alcohol drinking back then," I teased
him, laughing a little.

“Just now. I'm still a little embarrassed,” he whispered on my ear. The music was so
loud so he really had to whisper to me.

“Embarrassed? Why?” I asked, puzzled. “About?”

"About what happened earlier." He looked away before taking another shot.
I frowned, wondering what he was referring to.

What happened earlier? About the ring? Was he embarrassed to give me a ring? Looks
like it. Earlier he was still shy to give it, e. Wait, so the hospital visit was a lie, huh?
What a good liar! I didn't even notice it!

"Hey, it's okay. You don't need to feel shy about giving me a ring," I assured him.
His brows furrowed when he looked at me.

"Our sex, Sam," he clarified.

My lips parted when my brain suddenly played some flashbacks from earlier. I felt
heat on my cheeks so I had to look away from him. Maybe he can read my mind! I
put my legs together when I suddenly remembered how it felt. Damn, yeah, that
was embarrassing. In the car, really? Samantha Vera?!

"Wait, was that your car?" I asked him back. It was different from the white one he used
to bring. This time, it was silver. “Oh god, don't tell me we did it on Ridgen's car?!” The
thought horrified me!
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He looked at me for a moment before calmly putting the glass back on

the table. The side of his lips slowly formed a smile like he wanted to laugh
but he couldn't. I was still waiting for his answer! His silence was starting
to horrify me more!

"It's my car. An old Benz I used to own. It was my dad's graduation gift,"
he clarified, laughing at my reaction. "I don't use it that much anymore."

Okay, I breathed a sigh of relief there. Speaking of Ridgen, where is he?

Clyden looked like he didn't care at all. I hoped that he was still sober so
he could drive for Clyden. I came here with my car so I had to drive it
home, too.. Or I could just ask someone to drive it for me. I don't know. I
was still feeling sober even after drinking shots. The alcohol wasn't working.

“Sam!” My eyes widened when Raylee and my other friends from Ateneo
suddenly stopped in front of our table. Her eyes automatically went down to
my hand holding Clyden's hand. "Ooh. Is this the lucky guy?!"

"More like Samantha, the lucky girl. The man's hot," Ayessa said to tease
me, touching her lower lip a little.

“Uh, Cy, my blockmates.” I stood up to introduce him. Clyden also stood

up and gave my friends a small smile before shaking their hands. It seemed
like my other friends were blushing when he held their hand. He really had
that kind of effect, huh. “This is Clyden, my boyfriend.”

"Boyfriend, but you're wearing a diamond ring." Raylee looked at my

hand again, smirking. "Hey! I hope it's all right!"

They had to go to the restroom so I went back to our seat. Clyden pulled
me closer to him until our legs touched. He was extra clingy so I concluded
that he was already drunk. His alcohol tolerance wasn't that good. I already
know that.

“Come on! Let's dance!” I stood up and pulled him with me so I could
get him some. I knew he was drunk but he could still
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walk properly. It's not obvious that he's drunk. Or maybe he's not and I was just assuming
it?

"I don't want to dance but I'll join you," he said.

I went to the dance floor and greeted some of my friends. I kissed the girls on their cheeks
and talked to them a bit before dancing with them. Clyden was just standing there and
watching me with his arms crossed over his chest.

I waved my hand at Adonis when I saw him walking over to their table with a bottle on his
hand. The smile on my face faded when I noticed that he was with Kalix! It looks like it just
arrived because it is holding car keys. I blinked twice and remembered Luna leaving
earlier. They missed their chance! These dummies!

I knew I expected Clyden to be the drunk one but after chugging on some bottles from
random people, I ended up getting wasted. Clyden was also tipsy but he managed to
talk to Adonis and Kalix while pointing at the gift section like he wanted them to bring it
tomorrow.

"You can't possibly drive in that state," Kalix replied, getting his car keys.
"Come on. I'm driving. Adonis, drive Sam's car. Leo, take Clyden's. I'll take mine and
use it on our way back."

"Your logic, Kalix!" I laughed hysterically and clapped my hands. "You are so brilliant! I
wonder why you're so dumb with Luna!"

"Hey, foul!" Adonis covered my mouth but Clyden slapped his hand away.
“Oh, I’m sorry, bro!”

That was what they did. I can't believe I was troubling Adonis and Kalix again like last
time! I should really stop getting wasted at my own party! It was even more embarrassing
because Clyden had to witness all of it! I was hoping he was as drunk as me so he wouldn't
remember this tomorrow.

"Hey, forget about this, okay?!" I pinched Clyden's cheek while we were on the backseat of
Kalix's car. "But don't forget about what happened to us
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earlier! In your car!”

"The fuck," Kalix said while he was driving. I bit on my lower lip when Clyden glared
at me to make me shut up.

I didn't even mention anything! I just leaned on Clyden's shoulder to get rid of my
dizziness. Kalix was a smooth driver so my dizziness came to an ease for a moment.
Good thing I wasn't feeling like I wanted to throw up. It would drive Kalix crazy if I
threw up in his car.

"Luna was there earlier!" I told him again. He didn't answer me back and just focused
on driving. Maybe he's regretting driving us now. "Too bad, you didn't see her
because she left already! I thought you wouldn't go? Why did you change your
mind?"

"The babbling, sorry." Clyden covered my mouth but I pulled his wrist away.

Kalix did not answer any of my questions and just remained silent all throughout
the ride. I wanted to ask more but Clyden's glare was scaring me so I had to shut up. I
waited until the car stopped in front of our house before getting down to throw up on the
nearest garbage bin.

"Hey, thanks." I heard Clyden's voice while I was busy throwing up. He was holding
my hair up while touching my back.

The next thing I knew, I was already in the shower, forcing myself to sober up. I brushed
my teeth and changed my clothes before Clyden, who was waiting outside the
bathroom, carried me to the master's bedroom. I kind of expected him to dress me up
himself but I guess he didn't want to feel like he was taking advantage of me when I
could still do it myself.

The next day, I woke up with a little hangover. My phone had been ringing for a while so I
answered it even though I was still in shock and didn't know where I was or what had
happened last night. I was about to talk when I heard Yanna's loud voice.
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[HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE!] She shouted so loud I had to move the phone away
from my ear. I woke up immediately from her scream. [Happy happy happy birthday!
The drink is yours! The party is yours! Happy happy happy birthday! I hope you get
us drunk!] She sang.

"Thank you," I said in my tired voice.

[What? Are you okay? Why is your voice like that?] She was suddenly worried.
Or.. that was what I thought. [Oh shit! Are you wet?!]

"Hangover," I reasoned out, holding my head. "Last night was wild. Our friends left me
there! Good thing you didn't go because Hiro's friends were there."

[Ahh.] She suddenly sounded so down with the mention of Hiro's name.
[In December, before my due date, I'll be leaving Manila with Mama. I don't know
where we'll be staying yet.]

"My condo's vacant! I can lend it to you! Or you can live here with me!" I suggested.

[Don't do it. It's embarrassing. Just go to your condo.]

“Okay, I’ll pick you up.”

My plan was to pick Yanna up all by myself when December came but when I
accidentally told Luna about my plan, they all wanted to come. For the past two months,
everything was just going smoothly even though Clyden was mostly occupied with his
studies. I was also busy with mine so just quit. I waited for my finals to be over before I
organized a charity work for Christmas.

I didn't have much to do on Christmas since my parents were always busy even
during holidays so I just decided to celebrate it myself. I accepted donations from
different people and Sevi and others helped me with it. The beneficiaries would be
the victims of the recent typhoon and earthquake.
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“It's early. I'm sleepy,” Sevi complained after getting into the van. I rented a
van so we could all fit in. Luna and I will take turns driving.

While we were on our way, I was thinking if I should tell Yanna that Hiro
actually went home and he texted me about her but I felt like she didn't
want to know since it would just hurt her. Even though Hiro went home, he still
had no plans to tell about the baby. I felt bad for him but I should be loyal to
my best friend. Yanna made me swear my life that I wouldn't tell anyone
about her being pregnant so I protected that secret for months, even hiding it
from our friends.

It was hard to watch your friends suffering with you in the middle. Maybe this
is also the problem for many friends. When they are connected to each other,
you don't know how to act. I was being extra careful the whole time. With Hiro
and Yanna, Kalix and Luna. I wanted them to give each other a chance but I
didn't want to butt in. Besides, it's their relationship.
They chose to be that way.

"Sam, I'm going to add a cash donation to your charity," Sevi said.

"Wow, Sevi, will take out cash," Luna teased, laughing.

“It's not from me,” Sevi said, handing me an envelope. “I might forget, eh! Here,
oh. I might pocket that. I'll buy it for diamonds at ML.”

"What rank are you now? I'll carry you." Luna smirked at him, boasting.

"Crazy, maybe I'll carry you. Didn't Kalix carry you all the way to Mythic, but you
broke up so you went back to Legend? Haha, you're rotten!" Sevi laughed
so loud.

Kierra and Via were both sleeping. Good thing they were still sleeping despite
the noise of Sevi and Luna. They were just teasing each other the whole
trip. Since we left early in the morning, we also arrived in Nueva Ecija right away.
Yanna was already waiting outside with her bags and her mom was with
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her, too. My eyes widened when I saw how big her tummy was already! It looked like it
hurt!

“Support the pregnant woman,” Via teased.

“Thank you for the pick-up. Whose van is this?” Yanna's voice changed a bit. It was
calmer now. I don't know if it was because she was a mother or if she was just sleepy
because it was early in the morning.

"Sam rented it," Kierra answered. Yanna sat on the second row while Sevi was putting
her bags at the back. He insisted just to flex his biceps.
“Hello, Auntie.”

While we were on our way back to Manila, they started playing a game where they
will throw out some names for the baby. Of course, the dumbest and ugliest names came
from Sevi. Yanna massaged her head in frustration after hearing their suggestions.

When we arrived at my condo, Sevi and the others had to go home immediately
so they could get some sleep while I helped Yanna with her things. Her mom went
out to buy some food. I'm sleepy too but I have to look after Yanna.

"How about April?" I suggested the one I wanted for my child. "Or like..
Avi? Since her parents like aviation.”

“Yes.” Yanna looked up while thinking. “Avrielle? It’s almost April.. she’s been doing it
since April.”

“Second name could be related to the sky? What do you think?” I wanted so bad to
connect the kid to Hiro as much as possible. That's all I could give. I didn't want the kid
to be away from her dad, even just in name.

"Haven," Yanna said like she already thought of it beforehand. "Avrielle Haven."
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I realized that she purposely made the initials 'A.H'. Ashianna and Hiro, I guess. Maybe
she was thinking the same way. He also doesn't want his son to be far from the father.
Even if she wasn't voicing it out, I knew Yanna wanted Hiro to be by her side. Who
doesn't want that? But well, I couldn't judge her decision. It was selfless and not necessarily
right but it was for Hiro's future anyway.

I also went home after his Mommy arrived. I invited them to spend Christmas with me
but I figured out that it wasn't good for Yanna to do some work during Christmas day.
Later that day, I met with Clyden at the mall so we could buy some Christmas decorations
for the house. I really wanted to get a Christmas tree.

"Done with your exams, right?" I asked him after giving him a hug. I missed him so
much. We became busy with finals that we barely even saw each other in the house but
now that the sem was over, we can finally spend time with each other.

"Yes. Let's get that Christmas tree you've always wanted." He wrapped his hand around
my waist after giving me a kiss on top of my head.

I never knew shopping for Christmas decorations would make me feel so excited. It was
even more exciting when we were hooking it up at home. We even bought some
Christmas costumes for the dogs, which they loved, except Hail. Hail didn't want a
dress! At least Summer and Maple loved the cute reindeer headband.

"Uh, Cy, our families are coming over," I informed him when I received a
text.

I heard his tired groan which made me laugh. We finished setting up the decorations
before I went up to get dressed. According to my mom, it was the only available time they
had so they decided to have our Christmas dinner earlier than usual. They were
bound to go out of the country for two weeks.

To: Mom
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Bring Naomi or I won't join the dinner.

I had to message her that so she would have no choice but to bring my sister with them. I
couldn't leave Naomi alone so I wanted her to stay with us while my parents were
out. She had to escape from that mansion to get some fresh air.

I was putting on my red dress in front of the mirror when Clyden suddenly hugged me
from behind wearing his unbuttoned maroon dress shirt and black slacks with a belt
on it. I leaned my back against his chest and craned my neck when he started kissing me
there.

"They're already on their way, babe," I said, biting my lower lip to stifle a
moan.

"I know," he whispered back before tightening his hold on my waist. His other hand
went up to my chest, pulling the dress down to my tummy to reveal my strapless bra.
“Let's be quick-”

“Shit!” I panicked when I heard the doorbell. Clyden automatically let me go to button
up his dress shirt. I quickly put on my dress before going down.

I greeted his parents and my parents with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
My smile widened when I saw Naomi at the back, wearing a white dress and holding
a bag with her. She was uncomfortably looking around, unfamiliar with the place.

"Hey, come. Let's get inside." I wrapped my arms around her shoulders to pull her with
me towards the dining room. Clyden was already there, greeting my parents. I
saw how the smile on his face faded right after turning his back against my dad.
This man, really.

The food was already served on the table so after settling down, we started eating right
away. I helped Naomi with her steak and Clyden helped me with mine. Our parents
were busy discussing the inheritance of Ramirez Medical when Clyden's brothers
arrived. They were a bit late.
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"Hey, Sam. Long time no see, huh." Charles leaned to give me a kiss on the
cheek. Clyden stared at him before looking away and pursing his lips. Colin
silently sat down beside Clyden's mom, not greeting any of us.

"Sam's graduation and Clyden's clerkship are coming soon. After that, we can now finally
set the date for their wedding," Mr. Ramirez said. "And at their wedding, I will announce
Clyden's inheritance of our family business."

Charles and Colin suddenly stopped eating to look at their father with
horrifying reactions. Charles then looked at Clyden with a glare like he
wanted to kill him with his own hands. Clyden sipped on his glass calmly
before looking back at Charles and raising a brow, not a bit scared.

"You didn't have to make a decision that fast. Your health is still good,"
Colin said. "Don't think of passing the business yet."

"It's better to be ready, son," Clyden's father, Christopher, said. "Besides, I

don't need you to prove anything to me anymore. I gave you a chance
and you wasted it for years."

"I can do better than him!" Charles stood up in anger. Clyden's mom
suddenly panicked and begged for him to sit down. My parents were just
watching, a little disappointed and entertained at the same time.

"In which aspect?" My eyes widened when Clyden suddenly spoke.

"Love," I whispered, holding his hand below the table. It was not a good
time to lose patience. It will just do him bad.

Naomi, on the other hand, was just eating, not minding the commotion
happening around her. Besides, he wouldn't understand and he really
shouldn't interfere. She was still young.

"How does it feel taking all my leftovers, Clyden?" Charles displayed a

mocking smile on his face. "You steal everything that should have been
mine in the first place. The company, this house, your fiancée!"
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"You're the one who fucked up your life. Stop finding someone to blame,"
Clyden calmly said, his hands playing with the wine glass.

"Manners! Please!" Clyden's mom yelled at both of them. "I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.” She started apologizing for my parents for what happened.

"You shouldn't have been born," Charles told Clyden under his gritted teeth
before leaving the dinner table.

"Harsh," Colin whispered, shaking his head a little.

I looked at Clyden who was now staring at the wall. His grip on his glass
was so tight I was afraid it would break. I squeezed his hand to calm him
down but he suddenly moved it away. He stood up and placed the table
napkin beside his plate.

"Would you excuse me, please," he said before walking away.

"I'm sorry," I apologized before running to catch up on him.

He was so fast I didn't know where he went. I looked for him upstairs but
he wasn't inside any of the rooms, including the balcony so I went down
again and opened the sliding door to the garden. There, I saw him sitting on
the bench beside the pool. The light reflected on his eyes so I saw how
he was trying to stop himself from tearing up.

I walked towards him and sat beside him without saying anything. I felt like
he didn't want me to talk so I just stayed there beside him. I just wanted to
let my presence known so he knows I'm here for him.

"It wasn't the first time he said that," he whispered, letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry." I looked down on the floor and noticed some little drops of his
tears. My chest tightened, hurting for him.

"The hell with that fucking inheritance. If he wants it that bad, I'll give it to
him. I'm tired of always receiving shit for putting hard work on everything
that I do. Do I deserve nothing? Should I always be considerate to those
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fuckers who did nothing but to make my life a living hell?” He clenched his fist out of
frustration.

"You deserve every good thing in this world, love." I scooted over to hug him sideways.
He leaned his head over my shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh.

"You're the only good thing in this world," he answered back.

"No, there are many and we are going to explore them together." I stood up and offered
him my hand.

I gave him a smile when he looked up at me. It took him a moment before holding my
hand and standing up to go back inside the dinner table.
However, when we went back, they were already preparing to leave.

"I'm so sorry, Samantha," Clyden's mom apologized again. "It's so awkward

now that we have to leave. Next time, I won't invite the two anymore. We really
can't be complete without the boys fighting."

I nodded and gave her a smile before saying goodbye to my parents. Naomi was at the
living room, watching them go. I saw Clyden's mom caressing her son's face and
whispering something to him before giving him a tight hug.

“That family is so chaotic!” My mom whispered to me. “If we didn’t need them, I would
have pulled you out of that engagement already. My gosh!”

"What?" My brows furrowed. "Why do we need them?"

"You need them, Maureen." My mom smiled at me and caressed my hair.

"You need Clyden to save you if anything happens to us. With him, your future is
secured so just lean on him, okay, darling?"

_____________________________________________________________
___________________

:)
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OceanofPDF.com
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21
"Let's go! We're going to be late!"

I clapped my hands to pressure Clyden and Naomi more. Clyden was busy carrying the
boxes to the van I rented while Naomi was busy putting on her earrings. It was probably
her first time attending a charity event, and her first time actually celebrating Christmas.
I chose to spend this special holiday with the children who do not have family to
celebrate it with.

I guess it was a reflection of me, huh? It had been my tradition every year to celebrate my
Christmas with orphanages because although I had my parents with me, I never
celebrated Christmas with them. Maybe when I was young, we did celebrate it for like.. less
than 5 times, I guess. Usually, they would leave me alone in the house, opening gifts by
myself. I knew exactly how they felt. Children needed someone to lean into. Even now, I
wanted to be their light.

Holidays had always been lonely for me until I met my friends. With them, I felt a different
feeling. It was the sense of belongingness. They became my family and they treated
me the same. When I felt that kind of comfort with my high school friends, I decided to
make more friends to fill in the emptiness inside me, hoping to feel the same way.

"Some of my friends are going to be there," I told Clyden and Naomi while we were inside
the car. Clyden was the one driving and Naomi was at the backseat alone.

"How many are 'some'?" Naomi raised a brow, doubting my choice of words. I laughed
at her remark, knowing where she was coming from.

"Don't worry. I only invited my high school friends. About 4 of them will be there," I answered.

I was so excited while we were on our way and became even more excited when Clyden
parked the car. I immediately went down and helped him with
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the boxes. Some of the staff from the orphanage also helped us. I also invited
children who were victims of the last typhoon disaster in the area and when I saw all of
them lined up with smiles on their faces, I felt glad.

Luna and Sevi were already there, talking with some children and laughing with them.
When Sevi saw me, he stood up and went for a hug.

“Oh.” He suddenly stopped midway when he saw Clyden behind me, carrying a box
and staring at him with no emotion on his face. "Hello, Sam!" He just gave me an
awkward wave instead.

"You can help carry the boxes. There are more left in the van," Clyden told him before
walking away. I gave Sevi an apologetic smile because of the way Clyden said it! He
didn't even ask if it was okay for Sevi to carry the boxes!

"What are you doing, Sam! It's okay! I'm macho, huh!" Sevi rolled his sleeves up and flexed
his biceps. I can't help but cringe and walk away, ignoring him. He probably felt like he
was Johnny Bravo or something.

After placing the box on the table, I opened them and helped some staff in placing the
food on the tables prepared in the covered court. The contents of the other box are
donations from my friends. Some toys and clothes the kids could use.

For clothes and pre-loved items that are not for kids, I decided to leave them at home
and just donate it to other beneficiaries. For cash donations, I donated it to the
families in this area affected by the typhoon.
Some of the cash donations, especially from Elyse, I bought relief.
She actually donated the largest amount of money. I don't know how she found out about
the charity event.. and how she knew Sevi because Sevi was the one who reached out to
me. It was a bit weird but I guess they knew each other because they both attend the UAAP?

On the other hand, Clyden and Naomi helped me with everything, including packing. It
wasn't easy to get them both in the same room since Naomi felt like Clyden would
suddenly hit her with a metal pan or something. She
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was scared of his facial expression, and maybe his overall aura, but it still went fine.

They prepared a program for the event and we couldn't start late so while I was still
preparing the food, I asked them to start already. The children lined up in front with Luna
guiding them to their seats. I hadn't even introduced Clyden to him. He didn't even
ask. With the number of friends I have and because of who I'm with, it's probably
normal for them to think that he's just my friend.

"Sister, where do you put it?" Naomi approached me, holding some gifts I prepared.
"Also, they're calling you on the stage to introduce yourself."

"Huh?" My brows furrowed before glancing at the stage. The one heading the orphanage
home were making hand gestures, calling for me. "Damn, I didn't prepare a speech. Oh,
just place those beside the boxes."

I wiped my hands and went up the mini-stage to get the microphone. "Hi!
I'm Samantha," I introduced myself. I didn't mention my surname because I didn't
want them to get the wrong idea of me doing this for my dad's future campaign.

I really didn't know what to say next and I even saw Clyden trying to stop himself from
laughing. Good thing the head of the orphanage already started to fill the kids in on
why I was there. From that, I started talking again on the reason why I was doing this.

“Actually, I came here 2 years ago but you might not remember me. That's okay! I'm
here again to celebrate Christmas with you. I hope you enjoy it and like the food!” I
smiled. “Merry Christmas!”

I was so careful with my words. I didn't want the children to feel like I was there as their
'savior' or that they needed help. I wanted to make them feel that I was there because I
enjoyed being with them and I wanted to spend Christmas with them. It was also
important to use a language that everyone could understand.
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“That was short. I don't know if it even made sense,” I said to Clyden after I got off.

He laughed and placed his hand on my shoulder. "A child's attention span is not that long
so a short message can do. Don't worry about it."

Right. He was actually the one making sense. I just finished preparing the food
before the introduction to the program was over. When it was announced that they
could eat, the kids suddenly went wild out of excitement. I also sat at other tables
to eat with them.

“Hello, what is your name?” I asked the little girl.

“Mika po,” she answered in a soft voice. “You and Ate Sam, right?
"You asked me before what I wanted to be when I grew up."

“Oh.” My mouth formed an 'o', amazed that she actually remembered me. I tried so hard
to remember what she answered back then but I couldn't grasp it. "What did you answer?"

“I want to be a model. Just like you.” She looked at me and smiled. My eyes
widened when I realized that she got the wrong idea.

“I'm not a model,” I told her the truth. “How did I become a model?”

“No? You told me before that you wanted to be a model.” Her brows furrowed in
confusion.

I blinked twice, trying to remember if I really said that. I can't believe I said that before.
Maybe I panicked at that moment and said the first thing that came into my mind. I
can't believe I was really seeing signs to pursue becoming a model. Maybe I really
could? Maybe after my graduation?

“Hey, Albert, who's your idol again? The one you imitated earlier,” Sevi asked the little
boy, smiling to tease him. I was guessing that they already got close. Sevi was
good with kids.
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“Ah, Kuya Arkin! I watch that every night! That's just like me!” The boy smirked
and made a 'pogi' sign.

Clyden sat down beside him and handed him his pair of sunglasses when he
noticed the boy reaching for it. He even helped him put it on.

"Pogi, no?! I'm cool!" The boy crossed his arms over his chest. I laughed
and sipped on my juice.

"Of course. You can be an artist," Clyden said, giving the kid a smile.

“Hindi naman pogi 'yung idol mo, eh,” Sevi argued. I didn't know Arkin was
popular with kids, huh. Maybe because he actually landed on an early evening
show so kids had time to watch him. His genre was also making him cool.
There's action.

“Via is taking so long,” Luna complained as she passed by, taking turns with the little
girl. I was guessing that the girl was the youngest among the children. “I just got dessert
for the kids, it’s been a while!”

Via was going, too. Kierra was supposed to be here but she suddenly
canceled. Maybe something happened. There might be an emergency.

“Why?! Brother Arkin is better than you! Bleh!” The boy stuck his tongue out.

“That's it. Who's more handsome? Me or him?” Clyden asked the boy,
pointing at him and then pointing at Sevi. I saw how mortified Sevi looked, which
made me laugh.

“Rearrange your answer, I have a toy prepared for you, ah,” Sevi blackmailed.

I stood up and sat with the other kids while the boys were arguing there.
They were all together like children. I was helping a kid open her bottle of water
when Via suddenly arrived in a car. Arkin went out of the
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driver's seat and opened the backseat to get boxes of cake. Via helped him with it.

“Hey, Albert, do you want to see your idol?” Sevi teased the boy. “Your idol is here, oh!”

“Weh, you're kidding me, huh!” The boy rolled his eyes before taking a bite on his chicken.

“It’s true!”

I looked at Clyden who was feeding the little girl who injured her hand because of
the recent calamity. I heard their house collapsed, causing her injury. Clyden was
talking to her in his calmest voice, the kind of voice he used when talking to children. I
suddenly imagined him in a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck while talking
to a child. I couldn't be prouder to see him wearing those soon.

“You took so long!” Luna complained after taking a box of cake from Via’s hand. “You
even brought an artist! Hey, I hope that’s all!”

Sevi stood up to call Arkin. “Hey, Kino! I have someone to introduce to you, hurry up!
Come here! You're so slow! You know I didn't believe you'd really come because you don't
care about your friends anymore, right? You're already famous, huh?” Sevi suddenly
became so dramatic.

"You idiot, we were just talking last night," Arkin said after placing the box on our table.

"Uh, Via, Arkin, Clyden," I introduced. Clyden looked surprised but still stood up to offer a
hand.

“Hello, sir, you probably know me so I won't introduce myself!” Arkin took
Clyden's hand with a smile.

"I don't know you," Clyden replied.

As expected, Sevi bursted out laughing while holding his stomach. His laughter was
so loud that the other children looked at him.
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Luna's laughter was accompanied by a laugh that almost made her fall to the floor in
sheer joy. Those two started hitting each other while laughing. Arkin held his chest and
pouted a bit.

"Larkin S-sanchez.. Bro.." Arkin put on a sad face.

"Clyden Ramirez." Clyden gave him a small smile before looking at Via, raising his
eyebrows.

“Via,” Via introduced herself. “Sam's boyfriend, right? You're cute! You two are a good
match. Don't break up, okay?”

“That's what you told us, Via. Your words are unlucky.” Luna rolled her eyes.

"You're just unlucky," Sevi replied. I knew a fight would start eventually so I started
walking away to serve the cake.

I looked around and tried to find Naomi. I could see her blending well with the children so
I didn't disturb her earlier. She was actually enjoying their company. I was worried that
she would have a hard time communicating with other people but she
really did well. I guess maybe because she felt like she was in the same position as
them.

"Hey," I held Naomi's shoulder so she looked up at me. "Want to help me serve the
cake?"

She nodded and stood up to help me place slices of cake on the plates.
While we were doing that, I felt the need to ask about her experience. She looked like
she was thinking deeply.

"Are you happy?" I asked without looking at her. "Are you enjoying this?"

It took her so long before she could answer. I looked at her and caught her looking at
me, her lips forming a smile. "Yes, I'm happy, Sister."

I stared at her for a long time and noticed how much she changed. Those good
changes made me want to shed tears but I didn't want her to worry so I just looked away
and continued slicing the cake.
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"That's good," I whispered. "It's good that you're happy. I want you to be
happy."

"A person can't be happy all the time," she said, laughing a bit. "Though I
also want that for myself. It's just not possible."

"Naomi, I.." I bit my lower lip, a little hesitant to continue but I had to. "I
know.. a doctor.. D-do you want to meet her?"

She suddenly went silent so I panicked. Maybe it wasn't the right time to
bring it up? But I was so worried for her ever since our baking moment. I
couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to help her get through it.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'm fine. I'm happy." It sounded like she was
convincing herself. She was repeating it because she wanted to believe it.

"You are happy right now. What about tomorrow? And the following days?
Naomi, I want to help. I'm your sister," I said softly.

She looked at me again and noticed that I was already close to crying. She
bit her lower lip and slowly nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I'll do it so you won't cry every time you see me. I
don't like seeing you cry so stop being sad because of me, okay?” she said
firmly before walking away, carrying the two plates.

I had to put on a smile again when I faced the kids. After eating, they rested
for a bit before they started playing games like Bring Me, dance battle, rap
battle, and hep hep hooray.

“‘Bring me a man’ is so long. I’m getting bored of this, oh.”

Sevi sighed.

"Please don't. I don't want to cause trouble. I'm just one, oh." Arkin sighed
and massaged his head, acting frustrated.

Clyden just looked at them with his brows furrowed, probably getting
weirded out. When he noticed that I was looking at him, he looked back and
raised an eyebrow. I gave him a smile before looking away.
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After playing games, the children started opening the gifts I prepared for them.
It was the looks on their faces that made me so happy. While I was admiring
them, Clyden suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek
from behind.

"Hey, there are kids around," I told him while looking around.

"Here's my gift." He showed me the black paper bag he was holding.

I took it and looked inside but all I saw was a black box with a silver ribbon.
“Open it.”

"After coming home so I could have my moment. Thank you. I also have a gift for
you but I left it at home."

"Don't tell me it's sex?" His brows furrowed.

"Hey!" I looked around with wide eyes. Good thing no one was close so no one must
have heard. Everyone was busy with their gifts. "We can't! We're with Naomi at home.
It feels like a sin."

"Hey! Picture-taking!" Via suddenly interrupted us.

I nodded and walked away, pulling Clyden's hand with me. We took a picture
with the kids as requested by the owner of the orphanage. Arkin also took a picture
with his fans. They were all so playful. Arkin's presence as a celebrity made
everyone happier, including the staff who took pictures with him.

"Thank you for today," I thanked my friends after we cleaned up the venue.
"It really means a lot to me and to the children."

“What are you doing, little thing! I don't have any plans this Christmas either, huh!”
Luna said after giving me a hug. “We're leaving. Be careful on the way home, ah.
"Hey, Sevi, hurry up."

“Thank you, Sam.” Via also gave me a hug. “We’re leaving.”

When they left, we also got into Naomi's car. She got so tired she ended up falling
asleep the whole ride. When we arrived home,
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She went straight upstairs to the guest room to rest while Clyden and I stayed in the
living room so I could open her gift.

"Oh my gosh. My dream heels!" My eyes twinkled when I saw the beautiful pair
of heels he gave me. I was talking about wanting to buy it last month. I can't believe he
really remembered it.

"I hope someday, you could wear that pair of heels on the runway." Clyden said, staring
at me.

I stared at him for a long time before I hugged him tightly. It was a simple gift but it
meant a lot to me. At that moment, I was finally sure of what I wanted to become.

"Here's my gift," I gave him a small box. He opened it and smiled when he saw a necklace
with a small stethoscope attached to it. "To motivate you.
You have a long way to go. With that necklace, you'll know that I will always be
there with you through the process.”

"Thank you for this," he said while putting the necklace on his neck. He touched it with
his fingers, admiring it before giving me a soft kiss.

Naomi stayed with us until New Year. It was again a wonderful event to spend with
my family. Good thing there were no fireworks around the village because the dogs
were scared of the sound. We went with lusis instead and a picnic in the yard.
Clyden really cooked sotanghon because it is said to prolong life.

"You want to be a doctor and you believe that?" I laughed.

"You can't take a joke?" Clyden rolled his eyes before placing a bowl of fruit down.

He sat down next to me and poked at the watermelon and gave it to me to bite into
before he ate it. Naomi was looking at us with her brows furrowed, a little annoyed
that she had to third-wheel.
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"Let me get my camera so I could take pictures." She stood up and went inside the
house.

As soon as she went inside, Clyden leaned to give me a soft kiss on the lips.
I was lost again when he moved his lips and held my waist to pull me closer
to him. I immediately pushed him away when I heard Naomi's footsteps.
Clyden then lay down on the grass.

"Here! I have my-What happened to him?" Naomi glanced at Clyden who

was trying to get the dirt off his sweater.

"He's.. He's admiring t-the sky," I answered.

Good thing Naomi bought that excuse or she just really didn't care.
She took pictures of Clyden and I, then the three of us. Clyden also offered
to take a picture of Naomi and I, which made me so happy because it was
actually our first photo together without actually fighting.

"You're going home tomorrow, right?" I asked her while Clyden was
checking the dogs.

I actually didn't want her to go back to the mansion but she insisted because
she wanted to give Clyden and I some privacy. I felt like she was thinking
that she was a burden to us. It seems that until now, he still has a problem
dealing with me. Of course, it was a process.

"Home," she repeated, smiling a bit and looking down.

"It's not home," I whispered when I realized what she was thinking. "I
know the feeling of not treating your home as your 'home'."

"Did you move out of the house to get rid of me?" She suddenly asked,
making me part my lips.

I didn't expect her to ask that, or even assume that that was the reason why
I moved out when I went to college. It was true that she contributed to the
reason but it was because I thought she wanted me out. That she wasn't
comfortable with having me there.
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"Why would I do that? All I wanted was to make you comfortable with living in that
house."

She looked up at the sky and admired the moon, giving herself a fake smile.
"When you moved, it just seemed harder for me to breathe in that house. I couldn't
understand myself either. When you were still around, all I could feel was envy and
anger but when you went away, I felt fear. I felt.. scared.
That night.. My birthday.. I didn't know why I texted you. My hands moved before I could
even think.”

"But you made the right choice."

"It was one of the few things I decided on that actually brought good things." She
extended her hand and covered the moon from afar. "I want to go there."

"Where?" My brows furrowed.

"To the moon. Or just beside it. I want to be one of the stars." She moved her hand to
reach out to the brightest star she could see in the sky.

I looked at her and noticed that she was trying so hard to stop her tears from falling. "You
shine bright in my eyes, Naomi," I whispered.

"Do you think there's pain there, Sister?" She asked now with her lips curved into a smile.

"I don't know. I haven't gone to the moon."

I didn't know what to say. When she looked back at me and moved her hand down,
tears fell from her eyes but along with those tears was a genuine smile. I bit my
lower lip to prevent myself from crying with her.

"Thank you for making me happy, even for a short period of time," she suddenly said.

"I will be with you throughout your healing process. May this year become a wonderful
year for both of us." I smiled and sipped on my wine.
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“I hope so.”

Just like that, the celebration ended. I took her back to the mansion the next day and
she promised to call me when she felt like talking to someone. Mommy and I
are not home yet from their trip so she still has time to rest.

"Babe, my phone," I said while my eyes were still closed. It was several days after
New Year and to make up for the time, Clyden and I had been tiring ourselves out
by going on dates, learning new things, or just anything to spend our time together.

“Later,” Clyden answered back, still sleepy.

I moved my hands so I could hit him on the back. He groaned and reached out for my
phone beside him. It was ringing a while ago so I woke up. Who the hell would call so
early?

"Hello?" I asked, closing my eyes.

[I think I'm about to go into labor.]

It was as if I was doused with cold water and I woke up immediately. I even fell on
the floor when my leg got tangled with the sheets, causing me to sit there in a weird
position, only wearing my underwear.

“Ooh,” Clyden teased, smirking. “Come on, another one.”

"No, shut it!" I picked up his shirt and put it on before walking out of the room.
"Hello? What?! How are you feeling?! Where are you?!"

[It's okay. I'm already at the hospital. Sevi and Luna picked me up at the condo last
night. I'll just wait to give birth here.]

"I'm on my way! I'm not going into labor yet!" I was panicking so bad. I ended the
call immediately and ran to get a towel.

I had a quick shower and even packed some things if ever I would stay there for
a night. Of course, I would. I would probably stay there! Clyden
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was watching me by the door, all relaxed with a cup of coffee in his hand
while I was here, panicking.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

I was about to say that Yanna was having a baby but I promised her that I
wouldn't tell anyone so I kept it a secret. "My best friend went to Manila so I'll
spend time with her."

Not that I didn't trust Clyden but I really didn't want to tell somebody else's
secret. Luna, Sevi, Via, and Kierra also probably didn't tell anyone.

“Are you that excited to spend time with her?” He frowned.

“I am! I am so thrilled!” I acted so stupid and suspicious but good thing he

didn't ask anymore. It's good that he's a good empath.
Clyden knew when to mind his own business. I also knew that he trusted
me so it didn't really bother him.

Just when I was about to leave, my orgmate texted me to run an errand in

Ateneo so I had to go to Katipunan first but I texted Yanna that I would be
late. She said it was fine since Sevi was with her. I also ate lunch there
before I actually drove to the hospital.

When I went inside the room, Yanna was alone, watching television with a
smirk on her face. "Where's your mom?" I asked her.

“Get some clothes,” she answered. “Sevi just left. Kierra, she’s here but
went out to buy food.”

Kierra went back but she had to go home at 6 so I was left with Yanna and
her mom. Yanna wanted me to go home but I refused to leave. I wanted to
wait and be there for her during her labor.

“I'm going to buy us dinner, Auntie,” I said goodbye to his Mommy before
I left the hospital. Good thing there were so many restaurants around.

I was looking at the menu when my phone suddenly rang. I answered

immediately when I saw that it was Yanna calling. “Hello? What do you want-”
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[I'm going to blow water, sis.]

"What?!" I yelled, standing up now and getting my bag so I could leave

without ordering. It was a little embarrassing to the waiter but she must
understand that an emergency came.

I immediately ran back but when I entered her room, they said she
would be moved to a bigger room to get ready for her labor. I actually
requested that one because I wanted to be there for her. I would help pay
the bills.

A few moments later, Yanna was already crying in pain because of her
contractions. I sat there beside her wearing a hospital gown and a hair cap,
holding her hand tightly. It hurts me to see her like that. Yanna was so
strong in my eyes but at that moment, she just look