SHAN
“You have no shame anymore, Alfred!
Shame on you!
Shame on you!
Get off me!
Take responsibility for what you did!”
I was just watching them fight in front of me while I was reviewing for my test tomorrow.
For a 6th grader, I already lost all the hope and love I felt for this family.
I took my earphones and put them in my ears so I wouldn’t hear them fighting anymore.
“You’re so shameless!
You even have a child outside, huh?!
How many years did you hide that, huh?!
Answer me!”
I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes, covering my face with the book.
I was getting so frustrated.
They were so loud that I could still hear them even with my earphones on at maximum volume.
I just took them off because they were useless anyway.
I put the book on the coffee table and looked at both of them.
My mom was crying in front of my dad because of too much anger, while my dad did not even look regretful of what he did.
I knew.
I knew all of it even before.
From his countless women to his other family… I would always catch him in action.
At some point, I got tired of crying.
I got tired of the pain he was causing me and my mom that all I felt was hatred.
The hatred I felt for him for years grew and grew until I just completely lost the light I tried so hard to see in this household.
Mom was no different… and it broke me.
I was in 4th grade when she went home with another man.
She even introduced the man to me… but I knew… because that night, Dad and she fought.
It was her ex… the ex that she could not get over.
“And you’re even bringing that man into my house!” my dad shouted.
I was in my room the whole time but I still could hear their voices.
I closed my eyes and just let the tears run down my cheeks.
“You’re acting like you never brought your women here, huh?!
You think I don’t know?!” my mom yelled back.
“You cheated on me first, Ciana!
You!
You made me like this!
And who knows?!
Maybe Shan isn’t even my son!
He’s your son with that man, you bitch!
You’re such a flirt!
He was probably one of your accidents!”
“How dare you say that about our kid?!
Are you even hearing yourself?!”
My sobs weren’t as loud as before anymore.
I was slowly getting used to them fighting every night.
I was also getting used to the pain they were causing, whether emotional or physical.
“I already told you not to touch my things!
I told you!” My dad hit me again with his hand.
I was crying but I wasn’t making any sounds.
4th grade.
He just became more impatient after knowing that my mom brought the man into the house.
I did not touch his things.
I was trying to find my report card that I gave him to sign.
I was holding my card in my hands.
It was slowly getting crumpled because of how hurt and angry I was getting.
I was… just a kid.
“And you’re even proud of your grades?!
Huh?!
What are you doing?!
You’re not even studying well!
I’m wasting my money on your tuition!”
I took a look at my card.
It was all lines of 9.
My lowest was 93.
Not enough… Still…
It was not enough to get his validation.
It was not enough for praise… even when I studied all by myself because none of them were trying to help me… Except one person.
He hit me again.
I didn’t know what I wanted at that moment.
For it to stop?
No… I wasn’t even wishing for that.
I wanted him… gone.
I wanted him to vanish in front of me.
“Sir!
Sir, that’s enough!
He’s just a child!” I looked at my dad’s driver when he ran into the room and knelt in front of me.
I was looking at him as if he were the ounce of hope I wished for.
“Ciandrei, come here.” He helped me up and even carried me before walking out of the room.
I hid my face on Kuya Roel’s shoulder while he was running down the stairs.
My other hand was holding my report card with my grades.
It was wet and crumpled now.
When I felt safe, I started crying loudly.
He placed me on top of the car’s trunk after getting the medicine kit from the backseat.
I was crying so loudly in the garage while he was trying to wipe my tears.
He even got some ice to put on my jaw.
“Are these your grades?” he asked me when he saw what I was holding.
When he looked at it closely after straightening out the creases, he covered his mouth.
I saw the happiness in his eyes.
“Wow, you’re amazing!
Your grades are so high!
Good job!”
I stopped crying when I heard that from him.
He smiled and ruffled my hair before putting a Band-Aid on my knee.
“How are you at school?
Is anyone bullying you there?” he asked me again, and I shook my head at him.
“Your daddy?
Does this happen all the time?” It seemed like he was hurt by his own question too.
I didn’t say anything and just looked away.
He let out a sigh and took out his cellphone, so I got scared.
“No…” I lied.
“No… It’s just… this time.
Dad was just mad… That’s all…” I kept on making excuses for him.
At least my mom was kind enough not to hurt me back… but she did… when she introduced me to that man.
I saw in her eyes the love I never saw when she looked at my dad.
Time did not make me feel any better.
It just made me feel numb.
Now that they were fighting in front of me, the only thing I wanted was peace so I could study.
“Son, pack your things!
We are leaving this house.
Let your other family live here!
The hell I care!
I am taking our son with me!” My mom looked at me but I did not budge.
I was just staring at them with no emotion on my face.
“Do whatever you want!
Leave!
You were the one prolonging this marriage because you were scared your son would know everything you did!” Dad pointed his finger at my mom.
“Ciandrei, go to your room and pack your things!
Now!”
I stood up and went to my room to pack my things like what she said.
I didn’t find anything sentimental among my things, so I just packed whatever.
Kuya Roel was already waiting outside my room to help me with my luggage.
“Can I at least say goodbye to my friends?” I asked Kuya Roel.
My mom and dad were still fighting inside their room.
He gave me a painful smile and sat down on the stairs so we could be on the same level.
He touched my face gently before giving my head a pat.
“You and your Mommy have to leave now…”
“I should talk to Hiro first… and Acel…” I didn’t want them to worry about me suddenly leaving the neighborhood.
I didn’t even know where my mom was taking me.
“I’ll be the one to tell them.
Come on now… Don’t stay here anymore.
This house isn’t for you.
You might just get hurt again…” He stood up and held my hand to support me as we walked into the car.
I just waited there while looking outside the window.
My mom followed with two big pieces of luggage.
She wiped her tears before getting inside the car.
She thanked Kuya Roel first before driving away.
I didn’t know where we were going.
It was already dark outside, but she was still driving.
I was so sleepy when my mom woke me up because we had already arrived.
I rubbed my eyes before getting out of the car.
My mom was hugging… the man she introduced to me before.
We were going to live with him.
It was a long drive.
“The annulment is already in process,” I heard my mom say.
I was so confused while looking around.
It was a huge house, but I didn’t know where we were.
“Son, we’re in Bataan.
We’re going to live here starting from now, okay?”
I blinked twice.
I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
The next thing I knew, I transferred schools in the middle of the school year.
I became a new student in a new school with a new environment.
All of them already knew each other.
I didn’t have any friends.
“Another high score from Mr.
Lopez!
Amazing!” my teacher complimented.
I lived by that name.
Ever since my parents got annulled, I started using my mom’s last name.
That was what she wanted.
When I went home, my mom’s boyfriend was already waiting in the kitchen.
He smiled at me and asked me how school was.
I didn’t hate him… but I didn’t like him either.
I was civil with him.
I couldn’t feel anything.
He was a nicer person than my dad.
My mom felt happy with him… but I still could not accept it.
It was not easy to start building a new family again.
It wasn’t that easy.
“Wow, great job!
Is this Science?
Such a high score!
You’re probably the highest in this!” He complimented me when he saw my exam paper.
I just gave him a small smile before I went inside my room.
I heard him let out a heavy sigh… because he had been trying so hard to build a nice relationship with me, but I just couldn’t.
My view of relationships changed.
I could not build a new one.
I could not handle relationships anymore.
One way or another, they were just bound to end.
People could be easily replaced.
“Love has no meaning,” I told my teacher when she asked me about my homework.
I was asked to define what love was, whether it was about my family, friends, or crush.
“How could you say that?” She looked concerned about what I wrote.
“Because I grew up watching two married people become the worst people for each other after swearing that they would love each other for better or for worse until death,” I told her with no emotion on my face.
“And you also said here… that you don’t want to get married in the future,” she pointed out.
“I won’t get married… or get into any romantic relationship with another person, Ma’am.” I gave her a genuine but painful smile.
“Because all of those… are fake.
I do not believe in marriage… or even love itself, especially when it involves family.”
My mom was called to school after that, so she had to talk to me about it, but I didn’t know what to say.
How could I explain it?
She knew exactly what I was talking about.
I wondered why she was crying so hard after reading what I wrote.
“You’re too young to think like this, my love…” she told me.
“And I was too young to experience all of that, Mom,” I whispered while looking at my hands.
I didn’t even notice the tears falling onto them.
“You… and Dad… opened my eyes too early.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, son…”
“You lied.” I cried on her shoulder when she hugged me.
“You couldn’t give me the perfect family you promised.”
KIERRA
“Okay, promise.
We won’t talk about that anymore!”
Just like what I wished, we didn’t talk about that night anymore.
But ever since that night, I started going out.
Luna accompanied me wherever I went so I wouldn’t be afraid outside.
Slowly, I started to go back to my normal life… except for the nightmares.
“Just admit it already!
You’re cheating on me!
I already told you to stay away from these men, didn’t I?!” he shouted inside the car.
“Those are my friends!
They’re harmless!
Why?!
And keep your eyes on the road, please!”
“Kierra, damn it, you’re such a flirt!
You can’t even stay away from them!
Why?!
You’re in a relationship with them, aren’t you?!
You’re cheating on me with these men!
Just wait, you’ll get what’s coming from me!”
I held my chest again when I woke up before dawn.
I quickly stood up and took my medicine while trying to catch my breath.
I was always reminded of those memories… especially the night when I passed out and woke up in the hospital.
I remembered becoming numb to the pain… and getting weaker and weaker.
I refused to sleep again.
I just closed my eyes and did some breathing exercises to calm my mind.
The next thing I knew, it was already the first day of my third year, first semester.
I stood up to cook breakfast before waking Luna up.
We went to school together.
I couldn’t go alone.
I was holding her hand the whole time while looking at the floor.
Although Miguel had already graduated from Political Science, I was still scared of the space we used to share together.
“Ke, Luna!” Via greeted us when we arrived at the room.
She smiled at me too and held one of my hands.
She asked me how I was before we sat down.
Just having my friends around me calmed me down.
“Is the party later still happening?”
“What party?” I asked in confusion.
“Ah, the block is going drinking later because it’s the first day, but you don’t have to go, Ke!” Luna immediately answered for me because she didn’t know if I was ready to go to things like that.
“I’ll go,” I told her.
I didn’t want to be left alone at the condo again.
I wanted to have fun… if I could.
I was trying so hard to go back to my normal routine.
I wanted to go back to how things used to be.
I’m tired of living like this.
I should try harder.
“Ke, it’s okay even if you don’t…” she said to me worriedly.
“Can you do it?” Via asked me.
“Of course.” I can do it.
I can’t stay like this forever… I have to move forward.
I don’t want to be locked up in my room anymore.
But on the inside, I was so nervous.
While we were getting dressed that night, Luna asked me again if I was sure, and I said yes.
There was nothing else she could do.
She just told me to let her know when I wanted to go home.
I promised her.
I was playing with my hands while we were on the way.
He wouldn’t be there, right?
Miguel wouldn’t be there.
He wouldn’t.
I kept convincing myself over and over again.
“I won’t leave you, don’t worry.” Luna held my hand again.
I was so thankful for her existence.
She never left my side ever since we were kids.
She was my constant.
“Thank you, Luna,” I sincerely said.
When we arrived at the club, I was just holding on to Luna while she was walking toward our reserved table.
I greeted my blockmates before we sat down.
They offered me a shot, but I shook my head.
I told them I would be driving home even though I wouldn’t.
“Are you okay?
Do you want some water?” Via asked me.
I was actually surprised because she was here too.
“I’m okay,” I told her.
I was slowly warming up.
I was getting used to my surroundings, so I took a shot and drank it.
I was also laughing with my blockmates the whole night.
I was slowly getting used to my environment.
“Take it easy, Ke,” Via reminded me when I drank another shot.
She wasn’t drinking today.
“Yes, Ma’am,” I teased.
I took a glass of water so I could sober up a little bit.
My eyes were looking around, trying to look for Luna because she went to the restroom.
Something might have happened to her there.
I was surveying my surroundings when a pair of eyes caught my attention.
It was that guy!
“What the…” I whispered to myself.
He was leaning against the couch, with a few buttons of his polo unbuttoned and his sleeves folded up to his elbows.
He was holding a glass of whiskey in one hand while the other was resting on the armrest of the couch.
He looked like he was having fun.
There were even two women sitting beside him.
The others were men as well.
My lips parted when our eyes met.
He raised his brows in surprise before his lips slowly formed a playful smile.
He played with his lower lip using his thumb when he looked away, trying to hide his smirk.
I looked away too, shocked because this was the first time I had seen him again.
My heart was beating so fast because of nervousness.
What made me think that we would never see each other again?!
Oh my God!
I held my head, already planning to go home.
This can’t happen!
I swore to myself that we’d never see each other again!
Why is he here?!
“I’m just going to look for Luna,” I told Via.
She was supposed to come with me, but I told her not to because I’d only be gone for a moment.
I stood up and went to the restroom, but she wasn’t there.
I just retouched my makeup and washed my hands before walking out.
“Hi, Miss.” I flinched when a stranger touched my wrist.
I froze where I stood, not knowing what to do.
I started breathing heavily while he was talking.
I couldn’t hear what he was saying.
I could only hear my heartbeat.
“Let go, man.” I came back to my senses when that guy held the stranger’s wrist and pulled it away from me.
What was his name?
Oh… Ciandrei.
He even talked to the man before making him leave.
After that, he leaned against the wall and stared at me with that smirk plastered on his face.
I immediately raised an eyebrow at him.
What is he smiling about now, huh?
It only annoyed me even more.
“I told you there’s a next time,” he said in his seductive voice.
“I’m sorry… Have we met before?” I asked, pretending not to remember.
“Oh, sorry, would you like me to make you remember?” he asked and even held his chest, acting as if he were surprised.
I rolled my eyes at that.
He got me!
I wanted to walk away, but my feet remained on the floor, unable to move.
That stranger earlier scared me.
I was now afraid to leave where I was standing.
How annoying.
“Are you good?” He raised a brow when he saw my face.
“Would you like me to walk you to your table?”
“I-I’m… I’m fine.” I looked away from him.
I didn’t want to be indebted to him again.
Damn it, why did I run into him again?!
I had already forgotten my mistakes.
“Really?
I don’t think you are.” His eyes pierced into my soul.
I felt like he was reading me, so I looked away.
“Come on.
I’ll accompany you.”
“No, thanks.
I can handle myself.
Besides, you’re also a stranger to me,” I said back to him.
Instead of getting offended, he just scoffed and then let out a short laugh while scratching the tip of his nose.
“I thought you already remembered my name… judging by the number of times you called me that night,” he smoothly said before flashing his annoying smirk.
“Still can’t remember?”
“Stop it,” I said to him irritably.
“Alright.” He immediately complied and raised both hands.
“But you know…” He leaned forward, but I didn’t budge.
I just stared at him and raised a brow while crossing my arms.
“You did not have to pay me for my service that night.”
“What?” I frowned.
He asked me to show my palm, so I did.
Then, he reached for his wallet and took out four one-thousand-peso bills.
I looked down at my hand when he placed them there.
“Truth be told, I was offended,” he said, letting out a sarcastic laugh.
He stared into my eyes again and lifted my chin.
“But you cooked me breakfast, so I’ll let that slide… Although I originally planned to take you out on a breakfast date that morning.”
“Stop lying to my face, playboy,” I told him, rolling my eyes.
He laughed and grazed his thumb over my lower lip.
“Delicious, by the way,” he whispered before smiling and walking away.
I wasn’t sure if he was still talking about the food.
I just rolled my eyes and walked away too.
That’s it, my night is ruined!
I want to go home already!
“Where are you now?
I’m going home already!”
Luna and I could barely understand each other while we were on the phone because she was inside the club while I was outside so it wouldn’t be noisy.
I got annoyed, so I just ended the call and texted her that I was already going home.
I also told Via to look after Luna because she seemed drunk too.
I couldn’t book a ride, and I didn’t want to take a taxi because I was scared, so I just sat on the side, thinking about who I should ask to pick me up.
Sevi suddenly came to mind, so I immediately called him.
“Hey, why?!
Did something happen?!
Where are you?!” was the first thing he said when he answered the call.
I shook my head at him.
I could hear loud music in the background too, and it seemed like he was also out drinking.
It was the first day, after all, so everyone wanted to drink with their blockmates.
“Where are you?
Come pick me up,” I told him.
“BGC!
We’re drinking too!
Where are you?!
I’ll come get you!”
The music slowly faded, meaning he had walked away from the table, wherever he was.
“I’m also in BGC.
I’ll just come there,” I offered.
I felt embarrassed, and I didn’t want to bother him.
He was having fun with his friends, and then I would suddenly ask for a ride.
“No!
Wait, wait!
Send your location!
I’ll send someone to get you!
Don’t walk here alone!”
He must have been drinking too.
It was obvious from his voice that he was a little drunk.
I ended the call and sent him my location.
I just waited outside while watching the people outside the club.
I frowned when I saw people kissing over there on the side, next to the wall.
It was a little dark there.
“What is that,” I whispered.
“Get a ro-”
My eyes widened when the two of them were illuminated by a car’s headlights.
It was that guy!
He was making out with a woman, and I even watched them do that!
I immediately looked away when our eyes met.
What the fuck!
I acted as if I hadn’t seen anything.
He might assume I was watching him!
I checked again to see if he was still looking, but they weren’t there anymore.
I looked around, hoping to see if Sevi was already there, but I froze because the man suddenly sat beside me.
He was trying to fix his hair and polo to look presentable.
“You didn’t have to watch.
It just made it awkward for me.
Tsk…” He sighed with so much exaggeration!
“Do what you want.
I don’t care about you,” I said to him.
When I looked at him, he licked his lower lip and let out a short laugh.
“You never told me your name,” he suddenly said, resting both elbows on the stairs.
We were sitting on the steps.
“You don’t deserve to know my name.” I gave him a fake smile.
“You’ll probably just forget it the next day.”
“I don’t think so, Kierra.”
The corner of his lips slowly formed a playful smirk as soon as he saw my reaction.
My lips parted.
How did he know my name?!
Is he a stalker?!
I immediately moved away from him to put some distance between us, so he just stood up and stepped down onto the stairs so we could see each other properly.
“It turns out that we have a common friend.
Small world.
Are you from UST?” He raised a brow.
“Let me guess… Architecture?”
“How did you know?
Creep.” I rolled my eyes.
“Wait… I was right?!” His eyes were filled with joy.
“Damn, I’m really good at this.
Let me make another guess… Hmm… You’re in your fourth year?”
“You’re wrong.
Third.”
I grinned because he got that one wrong.
I felt like I had won.
Proving people wrong was an achievement.
“Damn it.” He shook his head and leaned against the metal railings of the stairs.
“Do you smoke?”
He took out his cigarette pack, and I shook my head.
He nodded and put it back into his pocket.
I thought he was going to smoke in front of me.
I was really going to leave.
“Are you still in college?” I asked him back.
I was curious how old he was.
He played with his lips to hide his smile when he heard me ask.
“No.” He looked straight into my eyes and gave me a small smile.
“I’m in law school.”
“You’re kidding,” I immediately said.
He didn’t look like someone from law school!
Not like I knew what they would look like… but he didn’t give off that vibe!
“I just graduated from DLSU Psychology, took a year off to have fun, then decided to go to law school.
It just looked challenging… and hell, I love challenges.
You’d know, right?” He playfully winked before smiling again.
“Because we’re the same.”
“We’re not the same.” I shook my head at him.
I couldn’t accept what he said.
It was just annoying to be compared to him!
“I don’t make out with multiple women in public.”
“Hmm… Is ‘multiple women’ the problem there or the ‘in public’?” He raised his brows, teasing me.
I mocked his words and made a face before looking away.
Where was Sevi already?!
I wanted to stop talking to this man!
He was only annoying me!
“First, it was just one woman.
‘Multiple women’ is wrong,” he pointed out.
“Second, in public?
Oh, don’t worry… I also prefer it in private.
My bad, sorry.”
He even held his chest and bowed to me.
Wow, could he be any more annoying?
“Why are you apologizing to me?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Well, it looked like you didn’t like me kissing other women.
I mean… I won’t do it again if you say so.
I didn’t know you were the jealous type…” He shrugged, trying to hide his smirk.
I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek and let out a scoff.
He was so good at getting on my nerves.
“Kierra!
Sorry, I’m late!
I got lost!”
I looked at the man who was hurriedly walking toward us.
I looked Ciandrei up and down before laughing sarcastically and leaving him there.
The idiot was still grinning and even waved as I walked away.
“You took so long!
Where’s Sevi?!” I lightly pushed Theo with my bag while we walked.
Ashro Theodore Lavin, Sevi’s classmate in UST Engineering, who was also my friend.
“Ow!
He’s drunk already, so I was the one who came to pick you up!” he answered me.
“Who were you talking to?
Do you know him?” he asked me in confusion.
“No,” I immediately denied.
“How would I know him?!
He just suddenly keeps coming up to me!”
We stopped for a while at the convenience store because he said he wanted to buy something.
It turned out he only bought me water and Band-Aids because he noticed that my feet were already getting wounded from the heels I was wearing.
He had me sit on a bench for a while so he could put Band-Aids on my feet.
“Are those new heels?” he asked me afterward.
“Yeah.
I’m going to have Mommy return them.
They’re actually loose on me.”
I stood up so we could walk again until we reached where Sevi and the others were drinking.
It was a rooftop bar, and they were playing jazz, so the atmosphere was very chill.
“I was wondering where you two were!
You took so long!” Sevi complained, looking like he was completely wasted already.
“Let’s go home?
Come on, I’ll take you home… Guys, I’ll be back.
I’m just taking her home!”
“Hey, Master, you’re just trying to escape!” one of his blockmates complained.
“Don’t fool us!
Take a shot first!
You’re trying to run away!
Weak!”
“Me?!
Weak?!
Maybe all of you will already be passed out while I’m still awake!” Sevi bragged.
“If you’re really that strong, drink this first.
You talk too much!” Someone handed him another drink.
“No way.
I’m taking my friend home first!
You guys are crazy!
I’m coming back anyway!
It’s like you’re always joking around!
Do you think I like running away?!
You’re wrong, bro!
Do I look like the others here?!”
Sevi was saying so many things.
He definitely wasn’t sober yet.
“I’ll take her home,” Theo said to Sevi.
“You stay here.”
“Hey, damn it, Lavin!
If Kierra doesn’t get home properly and safely, don’t even come to school tomorrow!
I’ll smash your head!” Sevi even threatened while we were walking away.
“Hey!
Lavin!
Hey!
Take care of her!
Hey!”
I covered the side of my face because Sevi was so embarrassing.
He was still shouting, so the other customers were looking over.
Theo really did drive me home in his car.
He just stopped the car in front of the building, and I got out.
“Thank you!”
I waved at him before entering the lobby.
The next day, Luna couldn’t go to school because of her terrible headache.
“There you go.
You kept drinking and drinking,” I told her while fixing my things.
“You deserve that, sis.”
“Be quiet!” She was holding her head and really couldn’t get out of bed anymore.
I just laughed and left the condo by myself.
The moment I let go of the doorknob, the smile disappeared from my lips.
I stood frozen where I was for a long time while trying to gather my courage.
“I can do this,” I whispered to myself.
“I can go to school alone…”
I convinced myself over and over again.
Every step I took only scared me more… but I had to.
I decided to commute so I could be surrounded by people.
He can’t harm me with other people around.
He can’t… So I chose this.
I let out a huge sigh when I finally arrived at our classroom.
Via immediately stood up and came over to me to ask if I was okay.
“Why?
Does something hurt?” she asked worriedly.
I shook my head at her and smiled.
“Nothing.
I did it!”
It took her a while to realize what I was referring to.
She smiled at me and stroked my hair.
“Good job,” she said.
“Keep it going.”
I went through the week trying to conquer my fears… but I woke up again on Saturday at midnight after having the same nightmare from that day.
“It’s obvious that guy likes you, and you still won’t stay away from him?!
Huh?!
Do you really want to get hurt first before you come to your senses?!”
“That’s enough… That’s enough… People are already looking, please… Calm down first.”
“Get in the car.
Damn it, hurry up!”
I clenched my fist against my chest, trying to catch my breath.
My world was spinning.
I was covered in sweat.
I tried to stand up, but I just collapsed onto the floor.
I stared at the ceiling, letting my tears flow.
I was trying to stifle my sobs so they wouldn’t wake Luna up.
I intertwined my hands together and pressed them against my lips while crying and begging for it to stop.
I was tired of it.
I was tired of reliving the same moment over and over again.
“Please… Make it stop… Please…”
I begged the heavens… if only they could hear me.
I didn’t know how long I had been lying on the floor until my tears stopped.
I tried to control my breathing before finding the courage to stand up.
I sat on my bed and drank water, feeling so weak.
I needed to go out.
I couldn’t sleep again.
I didn’t want the nightmare to come back, so I just changed into my jogging outfit and went out for a run.
It was still dark because it was still before dawn.
I just kept going around the condo park until it slowly became brighter, so I decided to buy breakfast for Luna and me.
I went to a nearby café to get some coffee and bread, but as I approached the counter, I started seeing a familiar face.
“Damn it,” I whispered to myself, and I was about to walk away when he spoke.
“Good morning, Ma’am!
What can I get for you?”
I looked back at Ciandrei and saw him smiling at me while wearing his barista uniform.
Oh my God…
I’m really seeing him everywhere now.
“One Americano,” I told him while looking at the menu.
I was really avoiding looking into his eyes.
I was also avoiding looking at his face because he looked so clean and proper.
The girls in the café were all staring at him and admiring his face and his charisma.
He even fixed his hair, huh?
“Iced?”
The playful smile on his face didn’t fade.
I just nodded at him.
“Is that all?
How about a hot chocolate?”
“No.
I’ll have one chocolate chip and two cinnamon buns,” I ordered for Luna.
“Also, a fruit cup.
Thanks.”
I tapped my card, and he gave me the receipt before I went to the waiting counter.
He looked so serious while preparing the coffee now.
What’s this?
His side job?
Part-time?
He was in law school, right?
“One iced Americano, one chocolate chip, fruit cup, and two cinnamon buns for Kierra.”
He smoothly pushed the paper bag across the counter so it would reach me.
He even leaned forward and gave me a wink before walking away.
I just rolled my eyes and went back to the condo.
Luna still wasn’t awake, so I took her order first so I could put it in the refrigerator.
“Huh?”
I frowned when I saw the Post-it note stuck to my cup.
I took it off and read it.
“Don’t be so grumpy in the morning, Kierra.
Have a great day ahead :)”
“Ah, this jerk…” I scoffed.