Chapter 2
As soon as his car stopped in the hotel parking lot, I quickly got out, leaving him alone. Despite feeling a bit dizzy, I managed to enter the hotel and head straight to the elevator. I reached the floor where I had checked in, still feeling nervous.
I couldn't believe what he had said. Not because it was impossible, but because my heart responded to him. It was as if I liked him too. I shook my head at my own thoughts.
Entering the room, I immediately went to sleep. The alcohol had made me drowsy, and I didn't struggle to find sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early to prepare for my flight to Tagbilaran, Bohol. My flight was at 8, and it perfectly aligned with my arrival at the airport. Throughout the flight, I slept, only waking up as we neared landing. An hour passed before I finally saw the beautiful scenery of Bohol. I could almost smell the sea, which lightened my heart.
This is what I need. Fresh air and space.
Exiting Tagbilaran Airport, I quickly hailed a taxi to take me to the Belian Hotel where I had made a reservation. I planned to stay there for a few days while I searched for a house to rent. Perhaps I would stay here for a month or even a year. I wanted to experience being independent, something I had never done before. I would also look for a job to support myself.
"Your name, Ma'am?" the hotel receptionist asked.
"Euzette Chan." She looked up my name on the computer and handed me a card.
"Room 308, Ma'am." With that information, I headed to the elevator. A bellboy accompanied me, carrying my suitcase and backpack. I only had a shoulder bag with me, containing my wallet, kit, phone, and other essentials.
Once the bellboy dropped me off at my room, he left, and I was left alone. I surveyed the room—simple yet elegant. My eyes were drawn to the window, and I approached it to take in the view. From here, I could see Tagbilaran, and beyond that, the beautiful sea. It made me forget everything that happened yesterday.
I picked out clothes to change into before I set out to explore Tagbilaran and find a place to rent.
I chose a spaghetti-strap tank top, high-waisted denim shorts, and a blue checkered shirt. I paired it with black Adidas sneakers that I had brought with me. I only packed three pairs of shoes—sandals and two pairs of sneakers, excluding the sandals I wore earlier. As I left, I grabbed my shoulder bag and an envelope containing my resume.
Leaving the hotel, I decided to walk around while searching for a place to stay. I didn't know the area, and I could also use this time to look for job opportunities.
I passed by a fast-food chain and suddenly felt hungry. It was already lunchtime, and I hadn't eaten yet. I decided to eat alone before proceeding with my plans. I had no knowledge of this place, and even looking for an apartment seemed like an unfamiliar task.
The fast-food restaurant was crowded due to lunchtime. Fortunately, I found an empty table. My phone was on the side as I ate. I planned to deactivate my accounts to avoid being tracked by my dad.
"Hi, mind if I share the table?" I looked up at the person who spoke. A woman stood in front of me with a tray of food. I nodded, granting her permission.
"Are you new here?" I was surprised by her question in the middle of our meal. I nodded again.
"Are you a tourist?" Another question, and I shook my head.
"I'm planning to stay here in Bohol for good." I answered her with a simple statement. We weren't close, but out of courtesy, I responded, continuing with my meal.
"Oh, where are you staying?"
"At Belian Hotel. I'm still looking for a job and an apartment." I took a sip of my soft drink before looking at her again. I noticed a sparkle in her eyes at my words. I furrowed my brows at her reaction.
"I'm looking for a bedspacer in my condo. You can stay there. And we're hiring at my workplace. By the way, did you finish your studies?" Her offer sounded like a blessing. I nodded quickly.
"Yes, Business." I smiled at her, seeing her nodding enthusiastically.
"Perfect. You fit right into our company. So, is that your resume?" She pointed to the envelope I had brought, and I nodded, handing it to her.
"Okay, sure. Hmm, I gave you my number, and you give me yours. I'll clean up one of the rooms in my condo for your move-in; by tomorrow, you'll be able to move in. I'll also take care of getting you started at work. By the way, I'm Casey Ramirez," she explained, extending her hand to me.
"I'm Euzette Chan," I introduced myself. We exchanged phone numbers before parting ways. Having met someone, I no longer had any problems, so I just went back to the hotel and slept. I woke up only for dinner and slept again. The next day, I spent my time exploring Bohol, visiting famous landmarks. Around lunchtime, Casey texted me.
Casey:
Hi friend. This is Casey. Remember me? Haha. By the way, can we meet? I'll show you my condo, and we can discuss the room price.
I didn't hesitate to reply.
Me:
Sure. Where is your condo? I'll come to you.
She sent me the address, and I promptly went there. Her condo was quite far from Tagbilaran, located near Panglao. It was in a well-known condominium, and I visited it immediately.
The place was beautiful, and you could tell it was a tourist attraction. Her unit was on the 10th floor. I rang the doorbell, and she opened it, casually dressed.
She looked as beautiful as when we first met, and I couldn't help but admire her. She invited me inside her unit, which was spacious with two bedrooms. The living room was sizable, and the kitchen was separate. Her unit was clean, and it was evident that she lived here alone.
"Come, let me show you the room that will be yours," she invited me to one of the rooms.
"This will be your room. I'll be in the one next door," she pointed to the right room. "It's my cousin's room, but she's not here right now, she's in Manila, and it seems she might be moving out soon," she explained. I nodded in understanding.
After she toured me around her unit, we discussed the payment. Because she was kind, she said I only needed to pay ₱5,000 a month. I agreed, and she gave me the key to her unit for my move-in tomorrow morning. She also mentioned that my resume was already in process.
"Thank you so much, Casey. You're truly a godsend. Okay, I'll go ahead so I can organize my things," I thanked her after dinner. We also had dinner together, and she shared a lot with me. It reminded me of Kyle. He's talkative too.
I just smiled at the thought. It hasn't been a week, but I already miss my best friend. What more my Mommy. I frowned at the thought of Mommy.
I was surprised when my phone suddenly rang. It was Mommy calling. I quickly thought about whether I should answer it since I hadn't properly informed them. Due to guilt, I answered it.
"My god! My child! It's good that I reached you! Where are you? Why did you do that? It's a big embarrassment to our family, especially to the Del Prenas! Come back! We'll continue with the wedding; I'll talk to the Del Prenas!" I couldn't help but sigh at what Mommy said.
"Is that more important than what I feel?" I said coldly to Mom. I heard her pause.
There was a coldness that enveloped my heart. Anger surged within me. Is that wedding more important to them than their own child? My eyes warmed.
"Ch-Child! What kind of question is that? Your Daddy and I are just thinking about your future! So come home so the wedding can proceed; I'll talk to the Del Prenas!" My tears finally fell.
"My future? Whoa! Maybe for you! Not for me! Besides, Mom, I don't love him. I can't marry him," I quickly ended the call. I burst into tears; I now released all the pent-up frustration.
I don't need a lavish life to ensure my future. All I need is love. Love from anyone.
Chapter 3 When I regained my composure, I decided to take a short break from the hotel and went to the nearby 7Eleven. I wanted ice cream to relieve stress. "149 Ma'am," I handed my payment to the cashier. I grabbed the solo ice cream and some snacks before taking my change. I stepped outside 7Eleven, where they had chairs and tables. I opened the ice cream, unable to resist its tempting allure. Despite the cold, I wasn't going to let it go to waste. Ice cream has a way of melting away stress. I also opened the big pack of Vcut that I bought. In this way, the heaviness I felt was lifted. I ate alone, in silence. It made me reflect on the times when I used to obediently follow Mommy and Daddy. My heart ached at the memories. *** "89? Well, it's not bad..." Daddy said with disappointment. The smile on my face quickly disappeared. I did everything I could to maintain straight 9s in my grades, but my Math grade fell short at 89. Just one line of 8, and they were already disappointed.
Chapter 4 'Then, I'll be your boyfriend started today.' 'Then, I'll be your boyfriend started today.' 'Then, I'll be your boyfriend started today.' His words didn't immediately register in my mind. Didn't he say it was just a "like"? Why did he declare himself my boyfriend? "But I don't love you," I blurted out, trying to regain my composure. I saw the surprise in his eyes at my straightforwardness. "Then, I'll court you," he said. I felt a sense of disappointment. I thought we were already something. Why court me? "No need. Like you said earlier, you're my boyfriend. So you'll be," I responded. He looked at me, and I saw the intensity in his eyes. "Okay, then. You're mine." Slowly, he approached me, and nervousness overwhelmed me. I took a step back, but I may have made a mistake. I ended up leaning against the balcony door, and he quickly cornered me. "You are my Euzette. Forever mine." He kissed me, reminiscent of the bar kiss – deep and intense. I almost stumbled, but luc
Chapter 5 I had just come out of the bathroom after taking a shower. I quickly changed to see what I could cook for dinner for Casey and me. Upon opening the refrigerator, I was surprised to find nothing that could be cooked except for half a tray of eggs. There was a pitcher of water and a gallon of ice cream. I tried checking the kitchen cabinets, but all I found were a few cup noodles and snacks. "Does one survive on this? Tsk." I closed the cabinet I last checked. I grabbed my phone, planning to text Casey, but I immediately received a message from him. Casey: Friend, sorry if you won't find anything to cook in my unit except eggs. I usually eat out with my boyfriend. I apologize. I sighed at what he said. I guess I'll just go grocery shopping. I went back to the room to get my wallet. I went to the nearest market to do some grocery shopping. I bought what I needed, such as napkins, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and more. For food, I bought canned goods, several packs of noodl
Chapter 6 The days passed quickly, and Carlew and I frequently communicated through calls, texts, and video calls. Currently, I was talking to him on the phone. Fortunately, we never seemed to get tired of each other, even though it was just the two of us most of the time. "Who are you shopping with?" I shook my head at his question. I told him I was going to buy clothes for my upcoming job, even though it was still a week away. I didn't have anyone to accompany me to choose office attire. I had plenty of clothes at home, but I didn't bring any with me. If I did, I might be suspected because, initially, I thought we were going on a honeymoon after the wedding, which never happened due to my foolish actions. So, I only brought a few casual outfits. "How about you just delay starting work? Let's do it later." I frowned at what he said. "Are you always like this with your girlfriends? Do you not want them to work?" "Nope, just you," he replied. "Why? Have you had many girlfriends bef
Chapter 7 "Ohh? You miss me that much huh?" I blushed as he whispered those words while hugging me. "Of course. I'm tired of talking to a cellphone. Always accompanied by a laptop. I want something real." I said sadly, pulling away from the embrace. I heard his soft chuckle, and I frowned, biting my lip. "How did you end up here? Weren't you in Manila?" "I filed a leave for 1 week. I really missed you, baby. I can't take it anymore. That's why I didn't tell you, because I know you'll insist." I pursed my lips to hide my smile. "I love you." I said with my eyes closed, feeling his lips on my forehead. I couldn't hide my smile. "I love you too." I said with a closed smile. This is the first time I've said it back to him, and I didn't know how he'd react. "W-What did you say?" He seemed to be having a hard time believing what I said. I blushed again. I didn't want to repeat it because of embarrassment, but I wanted to make it up to him, so I said it again. "I love you too." I said
Chapter 8 When Carlew stopped his car, I quickly opened the door to get out. "Stay here. I'll be the one to get the things I need," I said coolly. I was still annoyed with him for making a decision without my knowledge. After closing my door, he closed his as well. I couldn't help but frown as he followed me to the elevator, but a smile escaped when I realized the situation was ticklish. There seemed to be some creature in my stomach, tickling me and making me smile uncontrollably. Weird! As the elevator rang on the correct floor, I quickly exited, and he followed. I frowned again, realizing how close we were when I turned to face him. I took a step back to ease the nerves. A sharp gaze was given, questioning him why he was so close. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked. I just rolled my eyes at him. "I told you to stay inside your car," I retorted, trying to keep my stern expression, but deep down, I wanted to take back my sternness from earlier. He was pouting rig
Chapter 9I woke up feeling like someone was watching me. I opened my eyes to see Carlew smiling widely at me. It's my first time waking up to him, and I can't explain how happy I am."Good morning, baby," he greeted. I blushed at the endearment, finding it sweet music to my ears."Good morning too," I replied, meeting his gaze, but I sensed disappointment in his eyes."Baby," I bit my lip, feeling shy. His intense stare made me uneasy, and I couldn't face him.He touched my chin, urging me to look at him. Nervous, I couldn't meet his eyes."Say it again, baby," he insisted. The term echoed in my ears like a hypnotic melody.I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and uttered, "Good morning too... baby." I couldn't open my eyes, overwhelmed by shyness."I love you, baby," he said, planting a quick kiss on my lips. I felt electrified, unable to move.As I slowly opened my eyes, his smile and happy gaze made me feel responsible for his joy."Get up, baby. Breakfast is ready," he said, ext
Chapter 10I marveled at the vast sea of El Nido, Palawan as our plane prepared to land. Soon enough, we were in El Nido, and a car was waiting for us, likely arranged by the hotel."Name, Sir?" the woman at the front desk asked."Carlew Del Prena.""One room with two beds, Sir?" she double-checked. I raised an eyebrow. Two beds? Why not just one? Haha. Just kidding!"Yes.""Here's your key, Sir. Room 106." Carlew quickly took the key and thanked the woman."Let's go, Baby. We'll have lunch," Carlew whispered to me. I blushed, a different thought crossing my mind—kissing Carlew flashed in my mind, and I quickly shook my head to dismiss it."Grrr." I muttered in frustration at my thoughts. Am I becoming a pervert?"Hey." Carlew's voice snapped me back, and I rushed to catch up with him."You're spacing again, huh?" he teased with a smile. I rolled my eyes."Shut up," I retorted, quickening my pace."It's beautiful!" I exclaimed, thoroughly impressed with the place.We were on a boat, a