Bea's chance to receive the promotion she's been hoping for has finally arrived. After the previous general manager resigned, the position had been vacant for weeks. She is regarded as one of the candidates for the role. She worked hard for this and can't let an opportunity like this slip away.
Bea got up early and made all of the necessary preparations for her upcoming presentation. However, things do not go as planned; her car's tire flattens, and she has little time to fix it.
"The heck! Of all days, why now?"
Urgh. She tries to book an Uber but there's no available nearby. Austin left early so she had no choice but to take the subway. It was a rush hour and the ticket line was too long. She kept checking her wristwatch and she still had time though.
"Be patient Bea, you'll go there on time."
She tries to calm herself.
Despite the fact that the train was overcrowded, she forced herself inside. She waited for a taxi after taking the subway. She was about to board one when she accidentally eyed someone familiar.Is that Lauren? She's sure, it's her. Fear covered her. She saw it right at the mini-park.
"Miss, are you going to ride or not?"
The taxi driver asked. Bea slid open the car's door and stepped inside."Can you follow that car please, hurry!"
Bea ordered the taxi driver. She had the urge to confirm rather than die out of curiosity. When she spotted her at the mini-park, she thought everything was just her imagination, hence ignorance might be the best thing to do to survive.
"Faster mister driver, we're losing her."
She's getting more frustrated with the situation, not sure what to think. What if it's her? What should I do? Should I go and ask her what she's doing here?They followed the car until it stopped in front of a cafe, Bea stepped outside and paid her fare.
"Thank you."
She hurriedly went inside the cafe trying to chase Lauren, wishing she was wrong. As she pushed the door open, her heart pounds too fast for no reason. It was like she was about to witness something that would turn things around. She stepped inside and look around the cafe. Her world crumbled at what she had just witnessed.
"Instinct never lies."
She murmured to herself. It was indeed Lauren, in front of her was her fiancee, Austin.
Austin never mentioned seeing Lauren. When did they start seeing each other? She wants to invade their conversation yet she got stuck. She can't move. Memories suddenly flash in her head.
"Street food later?"
Bea happily asked Austin after taking an exam in math. They are in the tenth grade and share a seat, which has brought them closer together. Bea would always complain about how much she hates mathematics, whilst Austin enjoys solving equations. During their free time, Austin would tutor her so she won't receive failing grades anymore. Everyone thought they are dating but they are not.They got some street food and went to their favorite hangout, a town plaza. They will always go there and chill. They also carved their names in a stone- Bea and Austin.
"What was your answer to the bonus question?"
Bea started the conversation as they sat down on the grass."What did you answer?"
Austin asked back. He slurps his fruit juice and took a big bite at his burger."Stop answering my question with a question. But I am confident with my answer."
She boasted. She saw one of her classmates' papers a while ago and they got the same answer so she's confident that she got it right. She didn't cheat, she saw it by accident and compared their answer.
"It's fifty-two." She continued. Austin laughs as if she said something funny.
"What? It's fifty-two. I even solved it. Clara got the same answer too."
She explained but Austin didn't stop laughing.
"Will you stop laughing! What did you answer?"
She smacked Austin on his right shoulder to stop him.
"Did you even read the problem?"
Austin teased her."Yes, of course." She answered defensively. She even read the problem a hundred times and did lots of computation and she always got the same answer.
"You need to study more."
Austin said and patted her head like a pet.Without Austin by her side, she wouldn't be able to survive her studies. Those little gestures of Austin could send thousands of electricity down her spine. Butterflies are celebrating within her."The question is a bit tricky, False is the right answer."
He said as he finished his food."What? How come?"
She exclaimed. How come it's a true or false question? Math is truly a pain in the ass and most people would probably agree with Bea."Don't think about it, let's go. Let me send you home."
Austin stands up and extends his right arm toward her, offering to assist her in standing. She grabs him and pulls herself to her feet. Austin had always been a caring man, who would resist a guy like him? Definitely no one.
That would always be their bonding time after school. One time, Bea attended their classmate's birthday and some guy tried to hit on her on the dance floor. Austin is watching her intently not leaving a glance. So she flirted back to see his reaction.
"You look beautiful, what's your name?"
The guy she's flirting with asked. It's not their schoolmate and Bea had also no idea who this guy is, yet Austin keeps on starting so she needs to keep going with his plan. Bea placed her arms around the guy's nape and leaned a bit closer to whisper into his ear."Thanks for the compliment."
She whispered as she stares back at Austin. 'C'mon take the bait Austin', she yells in her head yet Austin is not moving, but she knows, he is glaring."My name is Kyle, how 'bout you?"
The guy asked as he advanced its moves and placed his hands on her waist. He stinks into alcohol. She became uncomfortable and was about to remove Kyle's hands from her waist when suddenly someone pulled her. It was Austin."Excuse me, who are you? "
Kyle asked with furrowed eyebrows. Austin pulled her placing her at his back and faced Kyle."Back off man."
Austin said in a serious tone. Uh-oh, he is not enjoying this. Kyle is drunk and was about to punch Austin but thank goodness, our classmates were able to stop him."Sorry,"
one of his friends apologize and took their friend away."Let's go, Bea,"
he held her hand and pulled her outside."Austin, where are we going?"
Austin, on the other hand, kept walking and dragging her outside."Austin wait,"
She pulled her arm, releasing it from his grip successfully. Austin faced her angrily."Are you that naive Bea?" He yelled.
She was caught off guard, Austin got mad but afterward, she felt butterflies in her stomach. Is he jealous?"Why? What's your problem?"
She acts as if she doesn't get what he is talking about. She is enjoying this."That guy is trying to harass you."
Instead of feeling sorry, she chuckled. Austin became more handsome in her sight. Having someone to scold you when you have done something wrong is the best feeling ever. You know that that person cares for you.
"You are overreacting Austin, we are just dancing."
She tried to explain but that only made him more frustrated. He brushed his fingers in his hair whilst Bea stares at his delicate movements.
"I am sending you home."
He then pulled Bea, she was tired also so she goes with the flow. It's not a secret to everyone that she had a crush on him, only Austin is not aware of it or he just doesn't care. A lot of men are trying to hit on her but she refused because of him."Both of you look lovely and sweet together." One of their classmates complimented them.
"Thanks, we're just friends."
Bea would always reply whenever they mistake them for a couple."Nah, I don't think so," they wouldn't believe that they're just friends. Well, who wouldn't? Their actions toward each other are alike with couples, just with no label.
Yet those magical days with her prince vanished when they enter senior high. They don't have the same section anymore and Austin would seldom go to the plaza, their favorite place and Bea would always wait for him there.
"Sorry, I have a lot of things to do today," Austin explains.
Bea would always wait for him even though she already knew, he wouldn't come. Austin changed but Bea blinds herself from the truth.
"Hey Bea, I thought you and Austin are dating?"
One of her classmates suddenly asks.
"Why?"
"There's a rumor circulating the whole campus that she's courting Lauren."
Her eyebrows furrowed with what he heard."Who's Lauren?"She asked. She never knew someone named Laure.
"The muse of section A. I thought you are close with Austin? Didn't you know?"
Her classmate said. She never knew about it so she shakes her head a bit as a response."They are already official, I heard one of his classmates talking about it in the hallway when I was heading towards the canteen,"
another classmate rebutted.Is that the reason why Austin never goes to plaza anymore? Day and night she'll wait there, rain or shine, without a leave. They will bump into each other in school but Austin would only smile at her and the end. No more hi's and hello's, no more hugs and chills in the plaza.
"Austin. can we talk?"
Bea would go to Austin's classroom during breaktime and look for him."I would love to Bea but we are doing our research right now."
His groupmates glared at her for interrupting. Bea squeezes her pinky finger to calm herself.
"Sorry, but, it's break time. Just five minutes."
She even made a number five gesture in her hand. She's desperate to talk to him. Austin look at his groupmates for permission but they ignored him.
"A minute would do."
She pleaded desperately."Excuse me Bea but can you come back next time? We are rushing this paper now."
One of his groupmates said."S-sorry."
Maybe, Austin is just busy with his studies she thought, trying to convince herself. So she went back to her classroom with dismay and decided to go back again later. She won't lose hope."There's a show in the oval." A student shouted.
They all headed to the oval, just to witness Austin holding a flower and a life-size teddy bear, in front of Lauren."Lauren, happy monthsary!"
Austin said as he handed her the flowers and stuffed toy. Everyone shouted in awe.
"Thank you!"
Lauren took the flower and holds the teddy bear with her wide smile. "Hooo!!"On the other side cheered, his classmates. Everyone looked too happy for the both of them."They are perfectly matched in heaven. I envy the girl. He is too sweet."
Other students said as they giggle.Some of her classmates would look at her with confusion and pity in their eyes. That was a painful scene she had ever seen."Isn't that guy your boyfriend Bea?" Someone asked pointing their fingers at Austin.
"They already broke up." Someone would reply.
"They're just friends."
"I thought Austin and Bea was a thing before. What a pity, though Lauren is more a beauty."
"Isn't he your boyfriend Bea?"
Her classmate talked at the same time asks questions like a reporter, questions after questions, making her more confused."Huh?"
She couldn't answer, so she run away instead. She went to their favorite place and cried. She has no right to call him her boyfriend since they never had a label in the first place.She picked up the stone engraved with Austin's name.
"You changed suddenly without even giving me a warning. You are an asshole!"
She throw the stone as tears flowed down her cheeks. She's mad at the same time hurting. Is everything just her imagination? He made her feel special and suddenly ghost her? Or what if she had just assumed things? Austin is her first love, also now her first heartbreak. And ending a relationship that only she knew would be the hardest thing she would do. It's drowning her.
Who would have thought that it would be this painful to be ghosted? Hurting because you have no idea what had gone wrong between the two of you, waking up and realizing that everything is gone.
After hours of traveling, Evan finally arrived at his destination, a private island. There are no public boats available to go on that island, making it difficult to travel."I would like to take this project." Evan pointed out."Are you sure Evan?"His father asked, a bit confused by his sudden suggestion."I want to take it."Weeks have been too hectic lately and when he saw a picture of the island whilst going through the pending projects, he got the urge to take it. Work on it."The location is not advisable for you to work on. There are no ships or boats all the way there."His father said as he took away the papers in his hands. That's solely the reason why he chooses this project, he wants to go somewhere far away."I am no longer a child Dad! And also, I can borrow my friend's ship to send me there."Referri
As the daylight breaks, Evan hurriedly packed his things, already decided to leave the island. For him ghosts are superficial but due to the incident last night, it's appropriate to leave."The owner's wife jumps off from the rooftop. It was believed that her spirits linger around the house."He could hear her sister talking in his head. He didn't care, all he wants was to travel away from the noise and find peace yet he can't deny the fact that he somehow feels the uneasiness in the mansion.He carried his backpack and stepped out of the room quietly. He walks down the stairs as quietly as he could or he might attract a bad spirit with just a bit of sound. Holding his breath, motioning to open the main door, he looks around to see if there is someone outside yet he sees none. He let go of his breath and stepped outside. After locking the door, he suddenly froze when he heard someone whimper."Uh!"It was like a woman who's having a hard time, crying and was like asking for help.'Is
Bea planned on spending her time on the island alone when she left. It never occurred to her that she might meet Evan here. Evan of all people, why does it have to be him? The world's indeed small.She keep pinching her pinky finger, realizing what he had done. She just threw a spoon at Evan. She can't forget how his face darkened when he exited the room. "Oh god, Bea!"She blurted out in annoyance to herself. "It is unintentional, it is just an act of adrenaline rush."She tried consoling herself. She straightened her back when the door opened and saw Evan with a blank face. In his right hand is a new spoon.'Is he mad?'For a short while, their gazes locked, but Bea averted her gaze. Her heart is racing too fast. She can't focus on what to do next.She watched him walk near the table and took the bowl of porridge."Eat this."He handed her the bowl. "Uhm.""I cooked this for you. C'mon, let me feed you."He said in a monotone. Evan sat next to her and took a spoonful of food and
Evan is busy observing and studying the whole structure of the mansion from the outside. It gives an aura of the history when the country had been seized by the Spaniards. The entire structure is beautifully-designed. It had many arches and curves dominating aesthetics. They also used a terracotta roof tiles. Though, some part of it was already damaged since no one is taking care of it to maintain its beauty. Evan lists down everything he observed for the renovation, planning to make it a bit modern without removing its Spanish look."Evan."He faced Bea who is walking toward him. She was dressed in a white t-shirt with a 'vote for congresswoman Salazar's embossed on it and a shaded circle with a number seven on its side. She tucked it into her high-waisted denim shorts, flaunting its long and smooth legs. Not even a single scar can be seen. Her shoulder-length loose hair is hung behind her right ear."Are you campaigning?"He asks suppressing his laughter."What?"Her eyebrows wrink
It seems like Evan can't focus on drawing. He had been playing with the pencil in his hands for hours and thinking of what to draw yet the paper is still blank. Being an architect had always been his all-time dream, he enjoys making his ideas into reality. Well, he came from a family of architects and engineers, and no doubt he always tops in school. His mom is an architect whilst his father is an engineer, such a perfect couple, isn't it? Her sister is an engineer as well. "Urgh."He continued to play with the pencil in his hands and tried to focus yet his mind is filled with Bea's angelic face. Evan got out of his room and went straight to the right corridor. In the end, you'll see shelves of books. A button to open the door is located at the very edge of the bookshelves. He rotated it and heard a click, indicating that it was successfully opened. When he walked in, he was greeted by an empty room. A grand piano draped in white cloth sits in the center.Spider webs are scattered
Bea and Evan are riding in a motorboat heading to a nearby island. She has no idea where Evan got it, she rode with him since she had been locked for more than a week inside the mansion. Therefore, when the young man asked if she wants to come, she abruptly said yes. Whilst sailing, she couldn't help herself to be astonished by the beauty of the ocean. The seawater is clear as crystal that you could see what's beneath it. "WOOO!"She shouted in amazement. When her parents died, she never had the chance to enjoy her life by going out. If she did, it would be in cities. She became too focused on work as if she is feeding ten families on her own, that going to this kind of place would only rot on her to-do list. They are close to the shore, and she notices that there are people around. Some are busy fishing whilst some are just having fun swimming. Her heart was filled with excitement as if it had been too long since she had seen anyone other than Evan."Evan, I saw a lot of people on
Bea is sitting on the couch in the living room while reading a book she couldn't understand. She had been stuck on chapter one and can't seem to get over it even if she already had read the first sentence over a hundred times. Her mind continually drifts away somewhere because of the text he received the other day."Urgh."She tried to focus on the book and continued to read from the start. She rolled over the couch and fixed her composure in different styles to find comfort yet it was ineffective."Bea?"Evan called her attention but the woman seemed to be distracted with something else."Beatriz!"He tried to call once more."You're calling my name?"Bea gazes at him."Yes. You okay?"He asked with concern. Ever since they got back from Mr. Mando's house, Bea had been out of focus since then. She cook for breakfast this morning but instead of putting the cooking oil into the pan, she accidentally poured vinegar. "Oh my god, sorry."Bea immediately turned off the fire and washed the
Bea had been away for weeks and she wonders what happened to Alphabette during those days. Did they look for her? Therefore, she decided to pay a visit to their house. She pressed the doorbell hoping for Alpha to open the gates for her yet no one is answering. "Alphabette, it's me Beatriz!"She talks on the camera located beside the doorbell. She tried to have a peep inside the gate and was sure she saw a person behind the curtain. She pressed again the doorbell hoping that this time Alpha would open the gate. Their car is also parked in the garage which confirms that they are inside. Bea took her phone out of her bag and tried to call Alpha. "Answer the phone, Alpha."She was clueless why Alpha ain't answering the phone, it keeps ringing on the other line though.She was excited to meet her but for no reason, she couldn't find her. Maybe Alphabette is avoiding her."Bea?"She turned when she heard someone calls her."Finn."She called his name."What are you doing here?"Finn aske