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When A Bully Falls In Love 68
~Xander~As Brandon introduced himself to me, I noticed a furrowed brow and a scrunch of his face, as if he were trying to recall where he had seen me before.“Xander,” he exclaimed, patting our handshake with his other hand. “Brandon from middle school?” I blurted out, my words muddled in confusion.Indeed, Brandon and I were friends back in middle school. However, when his father’s business relocated, he moved away from our hometown and ended up in San Francisco.“It’s nice to see you again. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” he said, pulling me into a warm embrace.Aoife observed our interaction, her professional demeanor momentarily resembling that of friends casually catching up. “Yeah, what happened to your braces?” I playfully tease, bringing up memories of his middle school days. We shared a chuckle, settling comfortably into Brandon’s office.Aoife followed us inside, her presence a constant reminder of the professional context of our meeting.“I didn’t realize Raphael was y
When A Bully Falls In Love 69
~Aoife~It’s a beautiful day. The three of us went to a carnival near Chinatown. It’s not only Valentine’s Day but also the Chinese New Year. We wanted to surprise our nanny, who is of Chinese origin. She’s a wonderful woman, and I consider her one of my strongest supports.Living in San Francisco, I feel fortunate to experience the richness of different cultures; Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and more. We entered the carnival together and indulged in some delicious Chinese dishes like mooncakes, dumplings, and spring rolls. Alex was overjoyed. I never wanted him to feel the absence of a father, although he once asked me about his dad, and I wasn’t sure how to explain it. It was a painful question for me, but I answered him with a smile. “You can choose anyone you like as your dad.”It started as a joke, but he took it seriously. From that moment on, he picked different actors, sports figures, and anyone he admired, as his dad. Today, he chose the great Jackie Chan.“Mom, I love Chinese f
When A Bully Falls In Love 70
~Aoife~After helping Alex settle into his room, I couldn’t shake off the weight of my thoughts. It was no wonder that he harbored such insecurities, fearing that I would abandon him. But the truth was, the fault lay with me. I was the one who had kept his father’s identity a secret all these years.As I lay in bed, sleep eluded me. Xander’s face haunted my thoughts, and I grappled with how I would navigate the situation without revealing my vulnerability. Tossing and turning, I finally gave in and got up, seeking solace in the living room. I poured myself a glass of wine and settled in front of the TV, hoping to distract myself. It was no use when the memory from my past haunted my mind.***Flashback - Six years ago…I left everything behind and found myself standing in front of an unfamiliar door, my father’s house. I swallowed my fear and knocked softly, anxiously awaiting a response.“Coming,” a lady’s voice answered from the other side.The door creaked open, revealing a beautifu
When A Bully Falls In Love 71
Suddenly, the alarm rang, and my eyes snapped open. I hadn’t been asleep; I remembered every moment of tossing and turning over the past few hours. With a weary body, I stood up, unable to find rest throughout the entire night.“Aoife, you didn’t sleep again last night, did you?” Jing emerged from her room with concern etched across her face. I mustered a smile with my eyes heavy from fatigue and traces of tears from the restless night.Jing knew I needed a comforting embrace and wrapped her arms around me, offering solace, before Alex joined in.“Mommy, I need a hug, too!” he exclaimed, bounding towards us, and jumping into the embrace.Though the night had been filled with exhaustion and darkness, the sun began to rise. We gathered ourselves, preparing for the day ahead, and getting ready for work and school.***~Xander~A lot has changed about her. She isn’t the same innocent girl who used to run into my arms whenever I called her. She appears more mature and composed now. I wonde
When A Bully Falls In Love 72
~Aoife~It’s a beautiful evening, and I’m dressed in a solid V-neck short maroon dress that falls just above my knees. The dress hugs my curves, accentuating my figure, and the color complements my flawless skin. I’ve applied a touch of makeup to enhance my cheeks and my deep oceanic blue eyes.As I stand in front of the mirror, putting the finishing touches on my lipstick, my son Alex enters the room. He looks at me with curiosity and asks, “Mommy, are you going out?”“Yes, baby,” I reply with a smile. “I’m going out for dinner with my boss.”Just as I finish speaking, the doorbell rings, and Alex eagerly runs to open the door. A handsome man stands there, holding a bouquet and a box of chocolates. He smiles warmly at Alex and introduces himself, saying, “Hello, I’m Brandon Arix. Is your mom inside?”Alex, ever the protective little detective, scrutinizes him and asks, “How do you know my mom?” He raises an eyebrow, not allowing Brandon to enter the house just yet.“I am her boss.”“
When A Bully Falls In Love 73
~Aoife~FlashbackAs I progressed in my pregnancy, my mind engaged itself in taking care of my swollen belly. I was in the last stage of my second trimester when I experienced my baby’s movements in my tummy. Slowly, Amara and I developed a bond, like that of a mother and daughter. I couldn’t help but feel that if my mother were here, she would have taken care of me just like this. Amara became a mother figure to me, and I started to appreciate the town more as its people began to show love and support for my unborn child and me.However, I had yet to decide anything about my future. How would I be able to provide a good life for this child? To keep myself occupied, I started engaging in community service. I spent time with the elders at the community center, assisting them with various tasks. I also helped the young children who came to learn painting and participate in kindergarten activities.One day, while I went to the community center to spend some time, I noticed a team of docto
When A Bully Falls In Love 74
~Aoife~We started our journey towards our destination, navigating through the heavy traffic of San Francisco. Once we reached the highway, I activated the car’s cruise mode, allowing me to relax a bit.I remained quiet, lost in my thoughts, while Xander seemed lost in his world. There was an unspoken tension between us, a storm brewing in our hearts. What was he doing with Amber? And who was that woman who came over for dinner? I turned my head and glared at him with a mixture of anger and frustration, and he smirked as if reading my thoughts.“So, are we going to sit like this for the next three hours?” Xander rolled his eyes, attempting to open the glove compartment.“Don’t touch that,” I snapped. Inside that drawer was Alex’s birth certificate, something I didn’t want anyone to disturb.He raised his hand and backed away, letting out a heavy sigh. “So, what do you want? To talk to you? About what? Your kids?” My tone was laced with sarcasm. I looked ahead, focusing on the road. Be
When A Bully Falls In Love 75
~Xander~As I held Aoife in my arms, an overwhelming sense of guilt and remorse weighed heavy on me. Seeing her injured and in pain, all because she had rushed to save me, made me realize the depth of her love and selflessness. It was a wake-up call, a piercing reminder of the consequences of my past. At that moment, my perspective shifted. The walls of self-centeredness I had built around myself began to crumble. The pain etched on Aoife’s face mirrored the pain I had inflicted upon her with my thoughtless behavior. I couldn’t deny the truth any longer. I had taken her love for granted, hurt her deeply, and left her scarred, both physically and emotionally.As I gently placed her in the car, my hands trembled with a mix of concern and regret. I made a silent vow to myself that I would do whatever it took to make amends. I would prove to Aoife that I had changed, that I was capable of love and deserving of her forgiveness.Her vulnerability and the weight of her words echoed in my mind
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