MAKE UP  Acceptance. An easy word to speak, a hard one to do. And what makes it harder is the fact that you don’t want to accept it. You resist that certain force to accept what is presented to you.As for me, that is what is happening.I am trying my best to try to convince myself to accept the reality but it just wouldn’t work. Every time I think about it—every time I think about her—everything in me just repulses. Like every cell in my body hates me for even considering the idea of accepting her into the family.It’s not like Bianca has done something really bad to me. But yeah, she somehow did. When she broadcasted in the whole Chicago that she and Kristoff had this history, she had done the worst thing to me.I just couldn’t get the fact that she knew that we are sisters—half-sisters—and she still came into our house, begging Kristoff to choose her. Well, aside from the

KRISTOFF  I know I have hurt Ashanti. I have crushed her heart. I lied to her. I have stepped on her feelings more than I could ever imagine. I have done the worst things a husband could do.But for everything that I have done, I have a reason.“Kristoff, I want to talk to you.” Ashanti’s dad, came into my office, Monday last week.I was shocked because never have I expected Shan’s Dad to appear in my office, any day of the week. But here he is. I looked at him and led him to the couch. “What is it, Dad?” I asked. He sighed really hard. “Promise me not to tell Ashanti about this. Don’t tell her that we talked. Not even a sound about this,” he told me with a serious face. I was intimidated. So, I nodded. He smiled weakly. For the time that I have known him, this is the first time that I have seen

LEAVE   I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe I was this close to actually accepting her. I’m relieved I didn’t get to accept her that much. Because if that happens, then I think it might hurt even more now that I have actually given in and submitted.I am walking on the streets of Chicago. I don’t really know where I am about to go.Then my phone rang. I smiled. I almost forgot I got a best friend.“Hello?” I answered Genevieve’s call.“Hey! Where are you?” she asked as soon as she heard my voice.I looked around. “Uhm… walking around?” I replied unsure. I don’t really know where I am. I was walking to a random place again.I heard her sigh on the other line. “Okay. Come to me. I am with some of Chester’s friends. We are at a café near 7th district.” She told me.I smiled and nodded.

MOVE ON  “So where do you plan to go now?” Genevieve asked me. We are still at the café and I am still sulking over this decision of mine. Which, I am trying to convince myself that I am right.I shrugged. “I don’t know. I actually plan on taking a leave from work because I don’t think I can handle working with this kind of situation,” I replied, lifeless. Honestly, I feel like a zombie.I haven’t even been working now because of all the things that has happened to in a span of a single month. I can’t believe there could be tragic things happening all the way.Genevieve sighed hard. “Yes. I think you should relax first and free your mind from everything that bugs you right now.” She agreed. Of course, she would agree. She is my best friend in the first place.I nodded. “Although, I don’t exactly know where or when to start moving on,” I r

NEW ASHANTI MICHAELS   I felt better after the talk with Hunter. He seemed to have triggered my determination because, right now, I know I want to live for myself. I have to put myself first from time to time.“Oh, are you free tonight?” Hunter asked me.I gave him a look. “Why?” I asked, pretending to be intrigued.He chuckled and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you want to grab dinner together,” he replied.I smiled at him. Perhaps, if there is someone I have been most grateful of in my life—aside from Mom and Genevieve—it is Hunter Looney.It was true that I hated him to the bones. Oh yeah, I even wanted to kill him or choke him to death or whatnot. And that’s the reason why I can’t believe that he has this inner alter ego that makes me feel safe whenever I hear his advices.He has this somewhat invisible force that makes me feel like a