Bethy Hillstorm*I look up to see Collin Raye, with a camera dangling on his neck as he waves at me. I recognise him as the guy I met at the elevator this afternoon. "Mr. Raye, hi!" I nervously say while trying to get Emilo's hand off my thigh but he would not budge.Instead he pins me down that I could not even stand up to greet Mr. Raye."Oh, you have company." Mr. Raye looks at Emilio sitting beside me."Mr. Mendez." Emilio offers his hand in a handshake but his left hand is still resting firmly on my thigh.Mr. Raye accepts his handshake gladly and naively. "It's Collins Raye. I met Miss Hillstorm a while ago. I didn't know you would be coming here too."I glance at Emilio and his eyes are shooting daggers at Mr. Raye. I mentally curse. What the hell is wrong with Emilio? He's looking like he's becoming the scary Emilio again.I laugh nervously trying to enlighten the mood."Uhm, yeah, we just finished having dinner. How about you? Are you here with someone?"I jerk forward a lit
Bethy Hillstorm*"To Bethy!" They gleefully shout and clink their glasses with mine before we drink in unison.The others get back to the food while some resumes their chitchat after saying their thanks and goodbyes to me. I smile contentedly as I look around me."Thank you, Bethy, It was really great working with you even though it was such a short period of time." Mr. Parker sincerely expresses his gratitude as he sits beside me."It was an honor to have worked with you, Mr. Parker. Thank you for doing this for me." I reply back.Since this is the last day I would be working filling in one if their workers position, they all insisted we have a simple goodbye party for me right after office hours. We finished our work early just to give time to this simple tribute for me.I refused at first when they told me but they were already so enthusiastic and excited about it. They took care of all the food deliveries and the drinks.They even rearranged the tables that we have a wide snack to
Emilio Mendez*"Justin, why did you offer me that kind of a deal?"As soon as that question came out of her mouth, she bends over and vomited probably all of what she ate tonight. I hastily seize her hair out of the way and pat her back.I can't believe she's drunk like this. I had a hunch they would be celebrating tonight since its her last day at work as she once mentioned it to me but I didn't expect her to be this drunk. But somehow, seeing her alone waiting for me at the lobby made me smile. At least that jerk Mr. Parker is not withher.When she finished throwing up, I offer her my ash handkerchief and she wipes her mouth. I resume guiding her until we reach her front door. I glance down at her door and notice that it has two locks."Keys, Bethy."Instead of giving me her keys, she looks up at me with shock clouding her eyes."You want a kiss right now, Emilio?""What!" I stare at her in horror as I realize she had misunderstood me. "No! Jesus Christ Bethy, I mean...the keys to
Bethy Hillstorm*"Lilian!" I squeal in sheer excitement once I saw the caller ID of my bestfriend flashing on my phone."Bethy!" Lilian on the other line greets me in equal excitement."How have you been?""Where the hell have you been?"I laugh at our excited questions to each other so I have to keep quiet and let her ask me first."Bethy, where the hell have you been this past years or was it month? Last time, I couldn't get a hold of you cell.""Oh, that must have been when I was away for Prague." I explain recalling the two days I spent with Emilio in Prague."Prague? How did you get there? I mean, really?That was your dream and I can't believe you already made it!""Uh, yeah. I did." I laugh then try to steer the topic away from me. "Hey, Lilian how was your honeymoon?""Bethy, we just arrived from Canada, are you free or are you still doing tutorials?"I glance at my obedient students in my living room who are busy solving the math equations I got them. I was in the middle of m
Bethy Hillstorm*"Are you there yet?" Lilian anxious voice over the phone greets me as soon as I pick up her call. “Lilian don't worry. I'm meters away from the meeting place." I continue walking while keeping an eye for my steps. "Okay, remember, Bethy, you have your own choice. Do not feel pressured just because I set you up. You can leave if you don't feel like it." I smile at her apprehension. "Where's the stubborn Lilian who convinced me nonstop yesterday to say yes to this date?" "Shut it, Bethy. I just want to make you happy and I hope you will find each other interesting.” "Okay bye Lilian." I say as the front door sign of the Pals cafe appears in front of me. "I've got a date I can't miss." "Okay, bye,Bethy. Enjoy!" I sigh and put my phone in my small pouch bag. I would be meeting Jason’s cousin whom Lilian set up for me. I can't believe I agreed and came here. With Lilian’s non-stop bickering yesterday, I enter the quiet café. I glance around and a few people are sitt
I curse loudly at the involuntary contractions while I drown in pain on my bed. It's still ten in the morning and after I had breakfast, I went back to bed because of the pain. Damn this cramp!It's the curse to some ladies like me who doesn't have their regular cycle of menstruation.I get my periods at random days and the curse of extreme cramps that comes with it would stay with me for two to three days. At times, it's a torture that I have to take painkillers when I couldn't bear it anymore. Oftentimes it's bearable and I can just sleep it off but for this time, its pain level is 1, 000 to the highest.After discovering yesterday that my period came, I still proceeded with my tutorials and finished it before the worst pain came.Today, the menstrual cramps made it worse and the shooting pain from my navel area is making me cry out in pain. I already went through my stocks of medicine but I couldn't find any pain killers. This is the sad part of living alone when no one can loo
As soon as I said it, I search his face for any emotion."Oh," Emilio's troubled face visibly relaxes and he slumps his back on my couch. "I thought I hurt you." He whispers and chuckles lightly. "Since when?" he glances at me without any accusing traces in his eyes."It’s yesterday."A moment of silence follows and I just stare down at my fingers. I feel anxious of what would his reaction be. Surely we didn't discuss what we should do in times like this during our deal."I'm sorry." Emilio suddenly apologized.I look up at him and he moves closer to me wrapping an arm around my shoulder."I'm sorry." He apologizes again. "I was a bit... rushed and...forceful a while ago. How are you feeling?"I look at him in utter shock. I didn't expect him to apologise like this. I thought he would be disappointed and leave immediately."Well, I had cramps this morning but I feel better now.""Is it that bad? The pain?" he asks curiously, And I laugh at his vacant face. Men really have no
Bethy Hillstorm* I close my eyes in sheer frustration while trying not to cry. I clutch my belly as the severe contractions simultaneously rip through my uterus. Damn it! I just woke up this morning with severe cramps and I couldn't even get up from my bed. I glance at the small clock on my bedside table and it reads 6:50. So I've been turning and writhing on my bed for at least 30 minutes. I face down and scream furiously on my pillow. I should have gone and bought some pain relievers yesterday when the pain subsided. For now, I can only rely on Emilio to come on time. Emilio stayed with me until ten in the evening and left after stubbornly getting my own keys from me saying he would come by again today. At first, I refused to give it to him in defense that he's over reacting but he insisted and so I had no choice. At that moment, I hear the faint opening of my front door. A flicker of hope lights up in me, that should be Emilio then. I turn on my side facing my bedroom door whil